Fonakwoprince
10 min readApr 1, 2024
Love is Divine

The Seven Spirits of God

Introduction

• In the Bible, the term Seven Spirits of God appears four times in the book of revelation.

• The Book of Revelation 1:1–4 (with the reference to the Seven Spirits) from the Bamberg Apocalypse, 11th century

• The seven Spirits of God (Greek: τα ἑπτά πνεύματα του θεού, ta heptá pneúmata tou theoú) are mentioned four times in the Book of Revelation, and in the Book of Isaiah it names each Spirit.

Reference in Revelation 1:4

• Revelation 1:4: John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

• File:Papyrus 18 POxy1079.jpg

Reference in Revelation 3:1

• Revelation 3:1: And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Reference in Revelation 4:5

• Revelation 4:5: And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Reference in Revelation 5:6

• Revelation 5:6: And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Interpretation

• The sevenfold ministry of the Spirit of God.

• In one interpretation, the "Seven Spirits" represent the sevenfold ministry of the Spirit as depicted in the Book of Isaiah.

• As it is written: "The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD, and He will delight in the fear of the Lord."

• Isaiah 11:2–3 (NASB).

Seven Spirits Before the Throne of God

• Including the Spirit of the Lord, and the Spirits of wisdom, of understanding, of counsel, of might, of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, here are represented the seven Spirits, which are before the throne of God.

Seven Spirits in the Bible

Seven Spirits and Jesus

• The reference to the lamb in Revelation 5:6 relates it to the Seven Spirits which first appear in Revelation 1:4 and are associated with Jesus who holds them along with seven stars.

Seven Graces and Seven Spirits

• An alternative view is that the seven graces ("charisma") of Romans 12:6–8 reflect the seven spirits of God.

• The Holy Spirit manifests in humankind through these graces, reflecting the seven spirits of God.

• The seven graces are:

• insight (prophecy);

• helpfulness (service or ministry);

• instruction (teaching);

• encouragement;

• generosity (giving);

• guidance (leadership); and

• compassion.

• This agrees with Isaiah 11:2–3 if "the Spirit of the Lord" is recognized as categorical and "the delight in the fear of the Lord" is added.

• (Isaiah 11:3, Berean Study Bible)

• Seven distinct spiritual beings

• In the New Testament, the Greek term "Dunamis" (translated by some as "Power") suggests a class of exalted spiritual beings; perhaps parallel to the "chief Princes" (Sar rishown) in the Old Testament, of which the Archangel Michael is stated to be one(Daniel 10:13).[6] "Dunamis" is used by the Apostle Paul to refer to spiritual beings in Romans 8:38; Ephesians 1:21, 3:10, 6:12; and Colossians 1:16, 2:10, 2:15. "Powers and principalities" can apply to both angelic and devilish beings, but more often in the New Testament to devilish beings.

• However, most modern Protestant translators take "Dunamis" to mean "strength", "power", or "ability", whereas the ancient and modern Catholic conception of activity or power was often understood as "virtues".

Seven Angels and the Lamb

• Others follow this line of thought, though find the connection to "dunamis" referred to by Paul less likely.

• It is possible that these seven angels are a special entourage charged with special duties by the Lamb, about whom we have little to no specific knowledge.

Seven Angels in 1 Enoch

• Still others look to the apocryphal work 1 Enoch which refers to seven angels who are "watching" creation: Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sarakiel/Suriel (in 9.1), Gabriel,
and Phanuel, who is mentioned as one of the four chief angels in 40.9.

The Seven Spirits of God

Symbolic of Perfection

• Sevenfold may also be connected with the biblical understanding of the number 7 representing perfection.

• The "Seven Fold Spirit of God" could be the "perfect" Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit

• The Seven Spirits in details

1.The Spirit of Wisdom

• Spiritual wisdom can be defined as the understanding and knowledge that comes from a deep connection to one's inner self and the divine.

• It is the ability to see beyond the material world and to understand the interconnectedness of all things.

• Wisdom enables a man to give spiritual guidance in relation to God's perspective and direction.

• According to the Bible, anyone who seeks Wisdom should ask from God, implying, God is the architect of wisdom.

• According to ‭‭James 1:5 NIV‬‬

• According to ‭‭James 1:5 NIV‬‬ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

• Proverbs 2:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30;

• ‭‭James 3:17 NIV says "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere".

2.The Spirit of Understanding

• Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Ghost, helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy religion.

• By faith we know them, but by Understanding, we learn to appreciate and relish them.

• It enables us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths and through them to be quickened to newness of life.

• Job 32:8-10 puts it this way;

• Job 32:8-10 puts it this way; But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.

• It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.

• "Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know"

• Job 28:28: Proverb 1:7; Proverb 2:6; 1 John 5:20

• With the Spirit of Understanding, you will be able to unveil spiritual truths and explain with clarity to whosoever is in need of Enlightenment.

• You can obtain understanding by obeying all of God's word.

Theological Virtues and Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Understanding

• Understanding perfects the theological virtue of Faith.

• It enables one to see more deeply into the mysteries of the faith and judge with certainty all created things.

3.The Spirit of Counsel

The Gift of Counsel

• Counsel refers to the ability to give wise and right judgment that will bring a positive result in a given scenario.

• With the gift of counsel, the Holy Spirit speaks, as it were, to the heart and in an instant enlightens a person what to do.

• It is the gift that allows us as Christians to be assured that we will act correctly in times of trouble and trial.

• Counsel.

• The Gift of Counsel is also known as a Gift of Right Judgment.

Counsel and Prudence

• Counsel, the third gift of the Holy Spirit, is the perfection of the cardinal virtue of prudence.

• Prudence can be practiced by anyone, but counsel is supernatural.

The Gift of Counsel in Action

• Through the Gift of Counsel and the Holy Spirit we are able to judge the best way to act in any situation that we may find ourselves in.” The Gift of Counsel helps people to judge what is right to do, especially in difficult situations.

Biblical References

• Isaiah 11:2

• Psalm 32:8 Psalm 73:24 Pro 11:14.

• ‭‭Psalms 16:7 NIV‬‬ I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

4.The Spirit of Might or Power

Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Might. The term might used in this verse is a derivative of a Hebrew word called gibbor, which means, “champion,” “strong,” “mighty,” or “he who excels.” That term is also associated with a name of God, El Gibbor, which translates to The Mighty God (Gen. 49:24; Ps. 50:1).[i] The Spirit of Might is the manifestation of Holy Spirit revealed when God wants to show Himself strong. He always wants to do this during the establishment of an ordained work so it will be clear that He is its source and sustainer.

We call on El Gibbor to see

Might enables you to overcome challenges even when the seem to be no way, it propels you to move forward.
‭‭Micah 3:8 NIV‬‬ But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.

Ephesians 6:29 AMP
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might

The Significance of Knowledge and Piety in the Christian Life

The Gift of Knowledge

5.The Spirit of Knowledge

• The spiritual gift of knowledge is also known as the “word of knowledge” or “utterance of knowledge.” The Greek word for this gift is Gnosis and it simply means knowledge and understanding.

• The Scriptural emphasis in 1 Corinthians 12:8 is on the ability to speak this knowledge to others in a given situation.

Knowledge: A Vital Element for Success

• Over the years, I have noticed that the difference between Christians and their performance is as a result of the knowledge they possess with respect to the scripture.

• Hosea 4:6 NIV‎‏ says my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

• “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.

The Power of Knowledge

• Knowledge is vital for success in the Christian race, just as in the business world.

• To be distinguished in any platform, is to have a degree of knowledge that surpasses what your peers possess.

• We say knowledge is power, true knowledge brings solution at all times.

Knowledge: A Divine Attribute

• To be quickened in the things of God, you need knowledge to scale, and to navigate the corridors of influence requires knowledge.

• ‭‭Proverbs 1:7 NIV‬‬ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

• To be knowledgeable is divine.

6. The Spirit of Piety

• The Spirit of Piety refers to giving reverence to God, and worship him in a manner that emanates from a holy life.

• Piety includes the sense of being dedicated, consecrated, earnest, faithful, and loyal with an implication of intensity and intrinsic sanctity.

• Jesus begins by describing three acts of piety: giving alms, praying, and fasting.

• These are ways for the religiously devout to enact their faith.

• But they are also disciplines that strengthen our faith and orient it properly toward God and others.

The Essence and Manifestation of Piety

The Essence of Piety

• The goal of piety, as well as the entire Christian life, is the glory of God—glory that shines in God's attributes, in the structure of the world, and in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• Glorifying God supersedes personal salvation for every truly pious person.

Piety in the Bible

• In Acts 17:23, the Greek verb of Piety is rendered "ye worship," as applicable to God.

Piety and Human Relationships

• In the Bible, piety is used to mean proper honour and respect toward parents, as a son of God, you should have respect for others and devout yourself completely in the service of God and his kingdom.

The True Aim of Piety

• The aim of Piety is not to become pious; the aim is a whole life lived in relationship with God, not outward religiosity, but a genuine openness to God.

• It is when we choose a relationship with God as our life's priority.

• It means giving our hearts to God.

• It is not limited to a narrow religious aspect of one's life.

7. The Spirit of the Fear of God.

• This gift of the Holy Spirit gives us the desire not to offend God, as well as the certainty that God will supply us the grace that we need in order to keep from offending Him.

• Our desire not to offend God is more than simply a sense of duty; like piety, the fear of the Lord arises out of love.

The Meaning of the Fear of the Lord

• The “fear of the LORD” means giving God your Undivided Attention.

• Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

• Psalm 86:11 (NIV) According to the Psalmist, an undivided heart leads to the fear of the Lord.

The Fear of the Lord and Love

• The fear of the Lord refers to love for him and not the fear of punishment because God is love, we fear him in love and respect for his magnificence.

Abraham's Demonstration of the Fear of God

• Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Genesis 22:12).

• Abraham was ready to offer his son to God because of the fear of God, which was a demonstration of his love towards God, knowing that God's desires are best for us.

Compiled and edited by Prince Fonakwo Edward Tawa.
Research project.
Motivated by Gospel Queen 1