LESSON 1: Spirit Foundation & Support Infrastructure

Spirit foundation: The sevenfold spirit influence

Holy Spirit in the Bible

The terms Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, and the Spirit of God are used somewhat interchangeably in the Bible. These designations cover the references in the Urantia Book of the following different Spirit realities:

1. Personality circuit of the Universal Father.
2. The spirit circuit of the Eternal Son.
3. The omnipresence of the Infinite Spirit.
4. The Thought Adjuster bestowals of the Father.
5. The Holy Spirit presence of the local universe Mother Spirit.
6. The Spirit of Truth.
7. The seven adjutant mind-spirits of the local universe mind endowment.
   

Some main attributes of Spirit are (with Biblical references):

• Spirit has creative functions
  And the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2.
  When thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the ground. Psalm 104:30.
  The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4.
  
  
• Spirit imparts intelligence and ability
  And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship. Exodus 35:31.
  Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them. Nehemiah 9:20.
  But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. Job 32:8.
  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things. John 14:26.
  
  
• Spirit provides endowments
  The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. Proverbs 20:27.
  Let thy good spirit lead me on a level path. Psalm 143:10.
  The spirit of the Lord speaks by me, his word is upon my tongue. 2 Samuel 23:2.
  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. Acts 1:8.
  
  
• Spirit establishes Divine presence
  For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10.
  In him you also, who...were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13.
  Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? Psalm 139:7.
  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10.
  
  
• Spirit gets poured out upon all flesh
  I will pour out my spirit on all flesh. Joel 2:28.
  I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. Acts 2:18.
  The Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. Acts 10:44.
  

The Urantia Book expands our comprehension of Spirit

In a way, mankind is subject to the double influence of the sevenfold appeal of the universe spirit influences. The early evolutionary races of mortals are subject to the progressive contact of the seven adjutant mind-spirits of the local universe Mother Spirit. As man progresses upward in the scale of intelligence and spiritual perception, there eventually come to hover over him and dwell within him the seven higher spirit influences.
And these seven spirits of the advancing worlds are:

1. The bestowed spirit of the Universal Father — the Thought Adjusters.
2. The spirit presence of the Eternal Son — the spirit gravity of the universe of universes and the certain channel of all spirit communion.
3. The spirit presence of the Infinite Spirit — the universal spirit-mind of all creation, the spiritual source of the intellectual kinship of all progressive intelligences.
   Note:  These first three Spirits are part of circuits originating beyond the boundaries of Nebadon.
4. The spirit of the Universal Father and the Creator Son — the Spirit of Truth, generally regarded as the spirit of the Universe Son.
5. The spirit of the Infinite Spirit and the Universe Mother Spirit — the Holy Spirit, generally regarded as the spirit of:
6. The mind-spirit of the Universe Mother Spirit — the seven adjutant mind-spirits of the local universe.
7. The spirit of the Father, Sons, and Spirits — the new-name spirit of the ascending mortals of the realms after the fusion of the mortal spirit-born soul with the Paradise Thought Adjuster and after the subsequent attainment of the divinity and glorification of the status of the Paradise Corps of the Finality. 

The following three distinct spirit circuits originate in the local universe of Nebadon:

1. The bestowal spirit of the Creator Son, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth.
2. The spirit circuit of the Divine Minister, the Holy Spirit.
3. The intelligence-ministry circuit, including the more or less unified activities but diverse functioning of the seven adjutant mind-spirits. These are the 7 spirits mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

The Urantia Book identifies these seven adjutant mind-spirits of the Book of Revelation.
These mind-spirits function in the human mind in accordance with its capacity of receptivity.

1. Spirit of Intuition.
2. Spirit of Understanding.
3. Spirit of Courage.
4. Spirit of Knowledge.
5. Spirit of Counsel.
6. Spirit of Worship.
7. Spirit of Wisdom.
   

This simple chart illustrates the relationships between these various Spirits. In combination they form the Spiritual infrastructure which guides all intelligent life to discover itself and the very source of life and creation. Spirits-chart.pdf

A solid Spiritual foundation provides the Divine downreach to man, but does not begin and end merely in the Spirit realm. Man finds himself in the mortal-physical realm, and as such must also provide his own upreach to Divinity through his own initiatives and co-creative efforts, in response to the gentle and loving promptings of his Spirit helpers. One such co-creative upreach initiative is known as A Spiritual Bill of Rights for Humanity.

This Spiritual Bill of Rights can help prepare the way for many to discover their own relationship with the Creator, regardless of their religious status. The principles of spiritual freedom they offer encourage people to consider perspectives beyond their own tradition, and express truth from their own personal experience. Go to: A Spiritual Bill of Rights