SYMBOLS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Lesson 6 Breath of God
1. A) Describe the wind. _________________________________________________________
B. How can we liken the Holy Spirit to the wind? See: John 3:8; Ecclesiastes 11:5;
Ezekiel 37:9, 10; Acts 2:2 ___________________________________________________
John 3:8 (AMP) 8 the wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet
you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So, it is with everyone who is born
of the Spirit.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 (AMP) 5 As you know not what is the way of the wind, or how the spirit comes
to the bones in the womb of a pregnant woman, even so you know not the work of God, who
does all.
Ezekiel 37:9-10 (AMP) 9 Then said He to me, Prophesy to the breath and spirit, son of man, and
say to the breath and spirit, thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath and
spirit, and breathe upon these slain that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me,
and the breath and spirit came into [the bones], and they lived and stood up upon their feet, an
exceedingly great host.
Acts 2:2 (AMP) 2 when suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent
tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting.
2. A) Describe the uses of water. __________________________________________________
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B. How does water symbolize the Holy Spirit? See; John 4:14; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Ezekiel
47:1-12; Isaiah 12:3; John 7:37-39; Isaiah 44:3; Revelation 21:6; Psalm 72:6; Joel 2:23;
Hosea 14:5 ______________________________________________________________
John 4:14 (AMP) 14 But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no
never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water
welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (AMP) 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from
all your uncleanness; and from all your idols will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart will I give you and
a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give
you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes,
and you shall heed my ordinances and do them.
Ezekiel 47:1-12 (AMP) 1 THEN HE [my guide] brought me again to the door of the house [of the
Lord—the temple], and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the temple
toward the east, for the front of the temple was toward the east; and the waters came down
from under, from the right side of the temple, on the south side of the altar. 2 Then he brought
me out by way of the north gate and led me around outside to the outer gate by the way that
faces east, and behold, waters were running out on the right side. 3 And when the man went on
eastward with the measuring line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused
me to pass through the waters, waters that were ankle-deep. 4 Again he measured a thousand
cubits and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that reached to the knees. Again, he
measured a thousand cubits and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that reached to
the loins. 5 Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the
waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over or through. 6 And he
said to me, Son of man, have you seen this? Then he led me and caused me to return to the
bank of the river. 7 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many
trees on the one side and on the other. 8 Then he said to me, these waters pour out toward the
eastern region and go down into the Arabah (the Jordan Valley) and on into the Dead Sea. And
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when they shall enter into the sea [the sea of putrid waters], the waters shall be healed and
made fresh. 9 And wherever the double river shall go, every living creature which swarms shall live. And
there shall be a very great number of fish, because these waters go there that [the waters of
the sea] may be healed and made fresh; and everything shall live wherever the river goes. 10 The
fishermen shall stand on [the banks of the Dead Sea]; from En-gedi even to En-eglaim shall be a
place to spread nets; their fish shall be of very many kinds, as the fish of the Great or
Mediterranean Sea. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become wholesome for animal life;
they shall [as the river subsides] be left encrusted with salt and given over to it. 12 And on the
banks of the river on both its sides, there shall grow all kinds of trees for food; their leaf shall
not fade nor shall their fruit fail [to meet the demand]. Each tree shall bring forth new fruit
every month, [these supernatural qualities being] because their waters came from out of the
sanctuary. And their fruit shall be for food and their leaves for healing.
Isaiah 12:3 (AMP) 3 Therefore with joy will you draw water from the wells of salvation.
John 7:37-39 (AMP) 37 Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and
He cried in a loud voice, if any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! 38 He who believes
in me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on me] as the Scripture has said, from his
innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water. 39 But He was
speaking here of the Spirit, whom those who believed (trusted, had faith) in Him were
afterward to receive. For the [Holy] Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet
glorified (raised to honor).
Isaiah 44:3 (AMP) 3 For I will pour water upon him who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry
ground. I will pour My Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing upon your descendants.
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Revelation 21:6 (AMP) 6 And He [further] said to me, it is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I [Myself] will give water without price from the
fountain (springs) of the water of Life.
Psalm 72:6 (AMP) 6 May he [Solomon as a type of King David's greater Son] be like rain that
comes down upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
Joel 2:23 (AMP) 23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for He
gives you the former or early rain in just measure and in righteousness, and He causes to come
down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.
Hosea 14:5 (AMP) 5 I will be like the dew and the night mist to Israel; he shall grow and blossom
like the lily and cast forth his roots like [the sturdy evergreens of] Lebanon.
3. Give the benefits of fire
A) Ephesians 1:17-18; Hebrews 6:4 _____________________________________
Ephesians 1:17-18 (AMP) 17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and
secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, 18 By having the eyes of your heart
flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you,
and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones).
Hebrews 6:4 (AMP) 4 for it is impossible [to restore and bring again to repentance] those who
have been once for all enlightened, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift and have
become sharers of the Holy Spirit.
B) Romans 5:5 ______________________________________________________
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Romans 5:5 (AMP) 5 Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has
been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.
C) Acts 2:3, 4; Leviticus 9:24; 10:2 ______________________________________
Acts 2:3 (AMP) 3 and there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated
and distributed and which settled on each one of them.
Leviticus 9:24 Then there came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering
and the fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 10:2 (AMP) 2 and there came forth fire from before the Lord and killed them, and they
died before the Lord.
D) Malachi 3:2 ______________________________________________________________
Malachi 3:2 (AMP) 2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He
appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.
E) 1 Corinthians 3:13, 14 _____________________________________________________
1 Corinthians 3:13-14 (AMP) 13 The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known
(shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be
revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the
work each person has done. 14 If the work which any person has built on this Foundation [any
product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will get his reward.
4. What are the benefits of Salt? See: Matthew 5:13 and Mark 9:49, 50 ___________________
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Matthew 5:13 (AMP) 13 you are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its
quality), how can its saltiness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be
thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.
Mark 9:49-50 (AMP) 49 for everyone shall be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good (beneficial), but if
salt has lost its saltiness, how will you restore [the saltiness to] it? Have salt within yourselves,
and be at peace and live in harmony with one another.
5. Oil.
Mixed with food. Compare: Leviticus 2:4, 5 with John 6:35 ___________________________
Leviticus 2:4-5 (AMP) 4 when you bring as an offering cereal baked in the oven, it shall be
unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers spread with oil. 5 If your
offering is cereal baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil.
John 6:35 (AMP) 35 Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to me will never be
hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on me will never thirst
any more (at any time).
Light. (In the tabernacle) Exodus 25:6; Matthew 5:16; 25:4___________________________
Exodus 25:6 (AMP) 6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil and for sweet incense,
Matthew 5:16 (AMP) 16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral
excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise
and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.
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Matthew 25:4 (AMP) 4 But the wise took flasks of oil along with them [also] with their lamps.
(Understanding) Psalm 119:18 ____________________________________________
Psalm 119:18 (AMP) 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
Anointing. Acts 4:27; Acts 10:38 _________________________________________________
Acts 4:27 (AMP) 27 For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy
Child and Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate
with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel,
Acts 10:38 (AMP) 38 How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit
and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular,
curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him.
2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:20 _________________________________________
2 Corinthians 1:21 (AMP) 21 But it is God Who confirms and makes us steadfast and establishes
us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and has consecrated and anointed us [enduing us with
the gifts of the Holy Spirit].
1 John 2:20 (AMP) 20 But you have been anointed by [you hold a sacred appointment from, you
have been given an unction from] the Holy One, and you all know [the Truth] or you know all
things.
6. Wine.
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Refreshing, gladdening influence of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 104:15; Ecclesiastes 10:19 _____________________________________________
Psalm 104:15 (AMP) 15 And wine that gladdens the heart of man, to make his face shine more
than oil, and bread to support, refresh, and strengthen man's heart.
Ecclesiastes 10:19 (AMP) 19 [Instead of repairing the breaches, the officials] make a feast for
laughter, serve wine to cheer life, and [depend on tax] money to answer for all of it.
Acts 2:13-15 ______________________________________________________________
Acts 2:13-15 (AMP) 13 But others made a joke of it and derisively said, they are simply drunk
and full of sweet [intoxicating] wine. 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and
addressed them: You Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be [explained] to you so
that you will know and understand; listen closely to what I have to say. 15 For these men are not
drunk, as you imagine, for it is [only] the third hour (about 9:00 a.m.) of the day;
Matthew 11:19 ___________________________________________________________
Matthew 11:19 (AMP) 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking [with others], and they say,
Behold, a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and [especially wicked] sinners!
Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by what she does (her deeds) and by her children.
7. Seed.
John 14:16 with 1 John 3:9 __________________________________________________
John 14:16 (AMP) 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter
(Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain
with you forever
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1 John 3:9 (AMP) 9 No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually]
practices sin, for God's nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains
permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.
8. Seal.
Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Timothy 2:19 _________________________
Ephesians 1:13 (AMP) 13 In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings
(Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were
stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:30 (AMP) 30 and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or
sadden Him], by whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day
of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).
2 Corinthians 1:22 (AMP) 22 [He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as His by] putting
His seal upon us and giving us His [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as the security deposit and
guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise].
2 Timothy 2:19 (AMP) 19 But the firm foundation of (laid by) God stands, sure and unshaken,
bearing this seal (inscription): The Lord knows those who are His, and, let everyone who names
[himself by] the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it.
John 6:27 ________________________________________________________________
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John 6:27 (AMP) 27 Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and
decomposes [in the using], but strive and work and produce rather for the [lasting] food which
endures [continually] unto life eternal; the Son of Man will give (furnish) you that, for God the
Father has authorized and certified Him and put His seal of endorsement upon Him.
Hebrews 1:3 ______________________________________________________________
Hebrews 1:3 (AMP) 3 He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-
raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature,
upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of
power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of
guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,
9. Earnest.
2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13, 14 _____________________________________
2 Corinthians 1:22 (AMP) 22 [He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as His by] putting
His seal upon us and giving us His [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as the security deposit and
guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise].
2 Corinthians 5:5 (AMP) 5 now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this
very thing is God, who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His
promise].
Ephesians 1:13-14 (AMP) 13 In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings
(Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were
stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. 14 That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our
inheritance [the first fruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in
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anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it—to the praise
of His glory.
10. Clothing.
Luke 24:49; Isaiah 61:10 ____________________________________________________
Luke 24:49 (AMP) 49 And behold, I will send forth upon you what My Father has promised; but
remain in the city [Jerusalem] until you are clothed with power from on high.
Isaiah 61:10 (AMP) 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has
clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11. The number 7. (Symbolic of the Spirit as the perfection of Deity).
Zechariah 3:9; 4:10 _________________________________________________________
Zechariah 3:9 (AMP) 9 For behold, upon the stone which I have set before Joshua, upon that
one stone are seven eyes or facets [the all-embracing providence of God and the sevenfold
radiations of the Spirit of God]. Behold, I will carve upon it its inscription, says the Lord of hosts,
and I will remove the iniquity and guilt of this land in a single day.
Zechariah 4:10 (AMP) 10 who [with reason] despises the day of small things? For these seven
shall rejoice when they see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. [These seven] are the eyes
of the Lord which run to and fro throughout the whole earth.
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Revelation 5:6 ____________________________________________________________
Revelation 5:6 (AMP) 6 And there between the throne and the four living creatures (beings) and
among the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been
slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God [the sevenfold
Holy Spirit] Who have been sent [on duty far and wide] into all the earth.
Revelation 1:4 ____________________________________________________________
Revelation 1:4 (AMP) 4 John to the seven assemblies (churches) that are in Asia: May grace
(God's unmerited favor) be granted to you and spiritual peace (the peace of Christ's kingdom)
from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits [the sevenfold
Holy Spirit] before His throne,
Revelation 4:5 ____________________________________________________________
Revelation 4:5 (AMP) 5 Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals
of thunder, and in front of the throne seven blazing torches burned, which are the seven Spirits
of God [the sevenfold Holy Spirit];
12. Why do you think it is helpful to “see” The Holy Spirit as described by these everyday
examples? _____________________________________________________________________
SYMBOLS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Syllabus 6
The Bible contains the mind and will of God communicated to man in human everyday
language. It uses symbols and metaphors that we can associate with. Types, parables and
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emblems abound to illustrate the work of the Father, Son, and the Spirit as well as the Bibles
own nature and ministry.
In the book, Emblems of the Spirit, by Dr. F. E. Marsh he summarizes these emblems.
1. Inanimate nature: Air, water, fire, earth, oil, wine, seed, earnest, seal
2. Animal nature: Dove, peace, beauty, innocence, patience, sincerity
3. Human Life: The Finger of God, The Porter of the Flock, The Number Seven, The
Paraclete
The Holy Spirit is the secret of all blessing. He is:
1. Breath, wind, secret of vitality – life; speech – testimony; motion – activity
2. Dew, water, rain, secret of satisfaction – thirst; beauty – green/fresh/flourishing, vegetation –
flowers; fertility – crops, harvests
3. Oil, the secret of joy – cheerfulness; an easy flowing manner – readiness; fragrance – unction
(anointing)
4. Fire, the secret of light – knowledge; heat – love; power – conquest
Wind. (John 3:8)
The wind is invisible, inscrutable, not amenable
to human control. It is not seen but definitely felt.
Wind has great power, yet it can be modified.
Sometimes it comes as a mighty tempest – cyclone – tornado. Other times a light refreshing
breeze.
Water. (John 4:14) From the context we have the idea of the clear, clean, refreshing work of
the Spirit who alone can quench the thirst of the human heart. He brings satisfaction for the
soul’s deep thirst. Cleansing (Ezekiel 36:25-27), life, fertility, beauty (Ezekiel 47:1-12), joy (Isaiah
12:3).
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There are rivers - “Rivers of living water…the Spirit” (John 7:37-
39. There are many rivers on the earth and no two are alike. The
Lord’s prophecy indicates the many-sidedness of the Spirit’s work.
He is not confined to one way of expression
There are floods – “Floods upon the dry ground” (Isaiah 44:3). Just as God flooded the earth
with a judgment of water He can flood the earth with blessing. Floods then can stand for the
fullness, superabundance of the Spirit’s supply.
There is rain - “He shall come down like a rain” (Psalm 72:6). Absence of rain means famine,
scarcity, ruin. As rain the Spirit is the fertilizing, life-giving power of God. He can transform the
desert causing it to blossom as the rose (Joel 2:23).
There are springs - “A well of water springing up” (John 4:14). “All my springs are in Thee”
(Psalm 87:7). The Spirit is the continuing source of supply.
There is dew – “I will be as the dew” (Hosea 14:5). Here is the secret unnoticed, yet effectual
work of the Spirit. He is the early dew of the morning.
Fire. Fire gives warmth and light. It consumes what is combustible and tests that which is not.
It cleanses even what air and water cannot. Its action is life-giving. A forest fire is a raging force
but in its wake, it eats up the debris that litters the forest floor. It kills the pine beetle that kills
the trees. It opens the passageway for sunlight to penetrate the ground once again. There are
trees that can only reproduce if a fire passes over the seed in order to germinate.
Fire is the consistent symbol of the holy presence and character of God (Deuteronomy 4:24;
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Hebrews 12:29). It is applied to the Spirit (Isaiah 4:4; Acts 2:3).
Fire gives light indicating knowledge, illumination.
Fire gives heat – warms cold things (hearts)
Fire gives power – generates steam – a driving force and
Represents the energizing Influence of the Holy Spirit.
Salt.
Salt was taken to express the influence of the saint spiritually in a
corrupt world.
Salt preserves our character from deadly insipidity and gives us a
distinctive quality.
Salt gives us power to arrest the “decay” all around us.
To be salted with fire implies that the Spirit first cleanses the life of the believer,
consuming all uncleanness and putrefaction, then He keeps the believer clean, preserving him
day by day from sin’s corruption. The Bible warns us about losing our saltiness. (Matthew 5:3;
Colossians 4:6)
Oil. Oil supplies illumination. We are lamps and the Spirit is the oil.
Oil was used for various anointing's. For healing. For service.
Wine. Refreshing – stimulating – gladdening influence.
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Seed. As an emblem “seed” is applied to Christ
(Galatians 3:16), the Scriptures (Luke 8:5), and the Spirit (1 John
3:9): “His seed remains in him” (1 John 14:16). As seed the Holy
Spirit imparts a new nature, this new nature cannot sin.
(However, the old still can.) As we are to allow Him (the Seed) to
grow and reach full fruitage.
Seal. We are sealed with the Spirit. We are “stamped” with a Holy Monogram. The
monogram implied a finished transaction. Are we carrying the correct impression? Is the Holy
Spirit stamping our life with divine holiness? Or, is the wax of our hearts
to hard? Jesus was the perfect reflection of the Father – we are to be
reflections of Christ.
Earnest. An “earnest” was a deposit paid by a purchaser to give validity to a contract. The gift of the Spirit is the pledge,
deposit of our complete inheritance. Right now, we only are
entrusted with a part of our inheritance but the day is coming
when we shall receive in full. The Holy Spirit who lives in us is our
guarantee!
Clothing. Used in conjunction with the Spirit’s empowerment. “Tarry … until you be endued”
(clothed with power from on high).
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Seven. Representing perfection. Perfection of Deity. Perfection of His work.
He possesses perfect obedience.
He possesses perfect holiness
As the sevenfold Spirit, He is related to the Seven Churches (Revelation 1:3, 4) suggesting
a separate aspect of His ministry for each separate church. He is not the same to all but give
Himself to each as specifically as a mother gives her whole self to each of the seven children she
may have.
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