Who Is The Holy Spirit
The Preacher’s Horse: A circuit-riding preacher trained his horse to go when he said, “Praise the Lord,” and to stop when he said, “Amen.” One day, the horse ran toward a cliff. The preacher panicked, tried to say “Whoa,” but remembered to say “Amen,” stopping the horse just in time. The preacher looked up and said, “Praise the Lord!The Father’s Powerful Word
Like many acts of the Trinity, the Father is the main agent in creation (Isa. 44:24 says, I am the Lord, the maker of all things). We read before…In the beginning, the Father created the world out of nothing by the power of his word (Gen. 1:1, Heb. 11:3). The very first verse of the Bible declares the Father to be the sovereign Lord and Creator over all things. Old Testament scholar Meredith G. Kline writes, “Genesis 1:1 sets the Creator at the beginning in holy majesty above and apart from all creation visible and invisible as the One eternally before all things.”
While acknowledging the Father’s work in creation, it is important that it does not detract from the Son and the Spirit’s work in creation. Dutch theologian Louis Berkhof writes, “The work was not divided among the three persons, but the whole work, though from different aspects, is ascribed to each one of the persons. All things are at once out of the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit.” Understanding both the Father’s role and the joint work of the Trinity in creation sets before us a key piece of the picture for a well rounded biblical doctrine of creation.
Creation Through the Son
Scripture shows us that Jesus is the eternal Creator of all things, actually testifying to his divinity. In showing that Jesus is indeed God, the Gospel of John’s opening chapter declares, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). If Jesus created all things, and from all eternity was with God and is God (John 1:1), it becomes plain that Jesus himself was not created. Several other New Testament authors also identify Jesus as the Creator of the world (Col. 1:16–17, Heb. 1:2–3). Far from denying his divinity, because Jesus is the Creator, this knowledge gives us another occasion to ascribe glory and praise to him (Rev. 4:11).
The Life-Giving Spirit in Creation
Recognizing the Spirit’s work in the creation event helps identify Him as being there from the very beginning. Genesis 1:2 states, “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” This beautiful imagery illustrates that the Spirit gives life and production to creation, bringing order out of chaos. Furthermore, in addition to his power, there is a beautiful joy in the work of the Spirit here. Said by Michael Horton ,,,“The Spirit was hovering over the waters, both to organize and fertilize it but also to cherish it.” Michael Horton is a prominent American Reformed theologian, author, and professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California.
The Spirit not only gives life in the very beginning, but also to Adam, by breathing the breath of life in his nostrils (Gen. 2:7). In both of these cases, the early chapters of Genesis draw our attention to an important feature of the Holy Spirit, namely, that he gives life. Furthermore, the Spirit is not only active in the work of creation, but also the preservation of the world, too (Ps. 104:30). Outside of creation, that the Spirit gives life where things are barren (Gen. 1:2) is rich with significance for the virgin birth of Jesus (Luke 1:35). In our own lives and salvation, the rest of Scripture teaches that the Spirit is the one who gives new birth to God’s people (John 3:3–8, Titus 3:5), taking away our hearts of stone and giving us hearts remade (Ezekiel 36:26–27).
Salvation and Creation
Understanding that the Trinity created the world helps us better understand the doctrine of creation and our own salvation. The fact that God created the world out of nothing shows that God brings that which did not exist into being. So it is with our salvation. God calls us from death to life, bringing about a new reality. Romans 4:17 says that God “gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” Because of our God’s great power, we can trust that he is the God who is powerful enough to save us from our sin and ourselves through the salvation he provides in his Son. In contemplating God’s power in both creation and our salvation, may we declare the Psalmist’s words for ourselves, “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures” (Ps. 104:24).
Ruach is the Hebrew word used in scripture for the breath of God and used here in Genesis. It is wind, Spirit, breath. It’s not so much a physical force but an essence—God’s essence that sustains life. It’s sometimes also translated as Spirit of God, such as in Genesis chapter 1. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. Synonyms: Core, heart, soul, spirit, nature, substance, crux and character.
Ruach as the Hebrew word for “spirit,” “wind,” or “breath,” appears nearly 400 times in the Old Testament to denote God’s life-giving force, power, or human breath. Key verses include Genesis 1:2 (Spirit of God hovering), Ezekiel 37:14 (putting Spirit/breath into the dry bones).
All Hebrew words are identified as grammatically male or female. Though ruach is grammatically feminine, this grammatical gender does not necessarily mean the divine Person of the Spirit is female but rather reflects the linguistic structure of the language. Interesting. The best description of Ruach (Hebrew) and the Holy Spirit (Greek NT: Pneuma) as a person is that He is the active, intimate, and divine breath/presence of God that empowers, guides, and dwells within individuals. While Ruach literally means “wind” or “breath,” Scripture portrays the Holy Spirit not as an impersonal force, but as a personal being who possesses intellect, emotions, and a will. The Greek word for spirit Pneuma is grammatically neutral as the Greek language has three grammatical categories for each word: female, male or neutral. In English the best description of Ruach (Hebrew) and the Holy Spirit (Greek: Pneuma) as a person is that He is the active, intimate, and divine breath/presence of God that empowers, guides, and dwells within individuals..
Here is a detailed breakdown of this description:
- The Personal Nature of Ruach/Holy Spirit
Although “wind” and “breath” are dynamic, impersonal forces, the Bible describes Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) with personal attributes:
He has a Mind and Intellect: He searches the hearts and minds of people and teaches or reminds believers of truth.
He has Emotions: The Holy Spirit can be “grieved” by the actions of humans (Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30), a reaction only a person can have.
He has a Will: He distributes spiritual gifts to believers according to His own purpose and will (1 Cor 12:11).
He Acts and Speaks: The Spirit speaks to individuals (e.g., to Philip in Acts 8:29) and gives counsel, acts as an advocate (helper/comforter), and guides believers. Acts 8:29 (ESV) states: “And the Spirit said to Philip ‘Go over and join this chariot.'” This verse depicts the Holy Spirit guiding Philip to approach an Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah, facilitating a divine appointment for evangelism where Philip explains the scripture, leading to the eunuch’s baptism.
- As we’ve already seen today: Ruach as the “Holy Breath” of God. The Ruach is the “breath of life” that animates humanity (Genesis 2:7) and brings spiritual life to “dry bones” (Ezekiel 37).
The Spirit’s Role: The bones are assembled but lifeless until the second prophecy brings the “breath” (Spirit) into them. Guzik connects this to the necessity of the Holy Spirit to turn structural restoration (bones/sinews) into spiritual life.
An Exceedingly Great Army: The resulting army signifies that God can transform a shattered, dead nation into a living, vibrant force.
The Promise to Israel: These verses represent God’s promise to bring the Jewish people back to their land and put His Spirit within them.
Ruach signifies that God’s Spirit is as close as our own breath, hovering over creation in Genesis 1:2 and filling believers.
Like wind, the Ruach is invisible yet powerful, acting and moving in the world.
- 3. Roles of the Holy Spirit as a Person – the Ruach/Holy Spirit acts in specific roles within the biblical narrative:
Counsellor and Helper: Jesus refers to the Spirit as the Paraclete (Advocate/Comforter/Helper) who comes alongside believers.
Convictor: The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Revealer of Truth: The Spirit illuminates Scripture, guiding believers into all truth and opening their eyes to see who Jesus is. Remember Jesus said, I am the way, the TRUTH and the life.
Creator and Sustainer: The Ruach is responsible for the creative power of God in the universe and renewing the earth. Active Presence, Life-Giver
Ruach HaKodesh (Hebrew: רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ) translates to “Holy Spirit” or “Spirit of Holiness“. It refers to the divine force, inspiration, or presence of God, often associated with prophecy, wisdom, and empowerment in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). The term combines Ruach (wind, breath, or spirit) and Kodesh (set-apart, holy, or sacred). Holy Spirit/Breath Counselor, Helper, Guide, Pneuma Spirit (Greek equivalent); Third Person of the Trinity
In essence, the Ruach is the “person” of God in action—the intimate breath that fills, comforts, and guides humanity.
Key details about Ruach Hakodesh include:
Meaning: It denotes God’s active, sanctifying presence in the world, often described as a “still small voice” or a “rushing wind”.
Biblical Usage: While appearing directly only a few times (e.g., Psalm 51:11… Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.) eg of Kathryn Kuhlman, it is synonymous with the “Spirit of God” (Ruach Elohim) that came upon prophets, judges, and leaders like Moses, David, and Saul to accomplish tasks.
In Judaism: He is often understood as a divine quality or attribute of God. He is linked to the spirit of prophecy. In Scripture: He is described as a “Helper, Teacher, Guide, Comforter, Counsellor, Advocate. The Scriptures (both the Tanakh Hebrew Bible) and the Brit Chadashah) reveal that the Ruach HaKodesh clearly has divine attributes and works and is spoken of in the same way that the Father and Son are. The Holy Spirit is intelligent and speaks and acts as a Person.
Ephesians 4:30 While this verse implies that believers can sin against the Holy Spirit, it does not suggest that a person can lose their salvation. Instead, it serves as a motivation for godly living, encouraging believers to live in a way that aligns with their identity as sealed children of God.
Grieving the Spirit: To “grieve” (Greek: lypeō) means to cause sorrow, pain, or distress. This language highlights the personality of the Holy Spirit; you cannot grieve an impersonal force, only a person who loves you.
The Seal of Ownership: Being “sealed” refers to an ancient practice where a seal signified ownership, authenticity, and security. The Holy Spirit Himself is the seal, acting as God’s mark on the believer.
The Day of Redemption: This refers to the future moment when salvation is fully realised—the final deliverance from sin and the resurrection of the body.
The Full Deity of the Holy Spirit
Here are some additional considerations about the Person of the Holy Spirit that clearly indicate that He is a coequal member of hashilush HaKodesh (the “Holy Trinity”), and therefore is none other than God Himself:
Certain passages discuss the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as coequal. For example, Paul puts the Spirit, the Lord, and God in grammatically parallel constructions (1 Cor. 12:4-6) and closes a letter with a three-part prayer: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14). Peter begins a letter with this three-part formula: “who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood” (1 Peter 1:2). The baptismal formula has an even stronger implication of echdut (unity) — “in the name [singular] of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). The Father, Son, and Spirit share a common Name, indicating common essence and equality.
Word Exchanges: Holy Spirit is identified as YHVH.
In Exodus 17.7 we read: “And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarrelled and because they tested YHVH – Yahweh or Jehovah. saying, “Is YHVH among us or not?” Elohim is a generic term for deity (plural in form, but singular in meaning) focusing on God as the Creator, power, and judge. Yahweh (YHWH) is the personal, covenantal name of Israel’s God. In the New Testament we read, “So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did” (Heb 3.7-9 ). Further light comes from Isaiah 63.10: “Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit.” Clearly the Holy Spirit is equated with the God of the Israelites.
Compare these verses:
2 Sam 23:1: “These are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs:… “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God.'”
Acts 28.25: “They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet: “`Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” The Holy Spirit is explicitly called God.
Acts 5:3 records that Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit; but verse 4 says that Ananias lied to God. The Holy Spirit is considered to be fully God, yet they are not strictly interchangeable in all contexts. They are distinct persons within the Trinity—the Holy Spirit being the third person, rather than the Father or the Son.
Equal Deity: The Holy Spirit is not a lesser force but is God Almighty, sharing the same essence as the Father and the Son.
Interchangeable Usage: In some biblical contexts, such as Acts 5:3-4, the terms are used interchangeably, where lying to the Holy Spirit is equated to lying to God.
Distinction in Roles: The Holy Spirit is God’s active presence (breath) and power in the world, applying the work of salvation to believers, while the Father initiates and the Son accomplishes.
Distinct Personal Being: The Holy Spirit is a person—not an impersonal force—who can be grieved, has a will, and communicates, thus making the term “Holy Spirit” specifically designate the Third Person of the Godhead.
In summary, the Holy Spirit is God (deity), but the Holy Spirit is not the same person as God the Father or God the Son.
The Spirit of God is indeed God Himself… In Acts 13:2 “The Holy Spirit said, `Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Here the Holy Spirit speaks on behalf of God, as God.
Compare where the phrase “temples of God,” and “temples of the Holy Spirit” are equated.
1 Cor 3:16: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”
1 Cor 6.19: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”
2 Cor 6.16: “For we are the temple of the living God.”
A temple, of course, is a habitation for YHVH, not a habitation for an impersonal power. When Paul writes “temple of the Holy Spirit,” he implies that the Holy Spirit is God.
Paul further wrote: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3.17,18).
Notice that this passage explicitly identifies YHVH with the Ruach HaKodesh.
Like Begets Like.
Yeshua was begotten by the Father (John 1:14) but Mary was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35), thus indicating that the Spirit of YHVH and YHVH are One (the full divinity of the Son (Col. 1:19) implies the full divinity of the Begetter).
Divine Intercession.
The Holy Spirit makes personal intercession for us: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-7) This role of the Holy Spirit is similar to the Intercessory work of Yeshua Ha-Mashiach as our High Priest (Hebrews 7:25).
Divine Gifts. We will look at the gifts in the next week or two.
The Ruach HaKodesh gives gifts and special abilities to the church (1 Cor. 12:11). Compare this with Ephesians 4:8, where it is written that Yeshua gave gifts to men.
The Agent of God’s Love.
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5.5). Note that the Holy Spirit is the “agent” of the very love of the Father! How could this make any sense at all if He were not Himself at one with the Father?
Blasphemy.
Only God can be blasphemed, yet it is clearly stated that it is possible to blaspheme the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31).
Personality of the Holy Spirit.
Yeshua called the Ruach HaKodesh called the “Helper” or “Comforter,” indicating His personal involvement in our daily struggles (John 14:16; 14:26; 16:7). In addition, the personality of the Holy Spirit is shown through the study of the following:
He speaks: 2 Samuel 23:2; Acts 8:29; Revelation 2:7; etc.
He prays: Romans 8:26
He guides: Romans 8:14; John 16:13
He calls and commissions: Acts 13:2, Acts 20:28
He commands: Acts 8:29
He indwells believers: John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19
He teaches: John 14:26; 1 John 2:27
He reproves: John 16:8
He sends: Acts 13:4
He empowers: Acts 1:8, 2 Peter 1:21
He testifies: John 15:26,27; John 16:13,14
He can be vexed: Isaiah 63:10 disturbed, troubled or provoked
He can be grieved: Ephesians 4:30
He can be lied to: Acts 5:3
He can be quenched: 1 Thessalonians 5:19
He can be blasphemed: Matthew 12:31
He can be revered: Psalm 51:11
He gives gifts: 1 Corinthians 12:27:28
He convicts of sin: John 16:7
He intercedes: Romans 8:26:27
Don’t Be Ignorant About The Holy Spirit – “He is a Real Person”
Genesis 2: 5-7 At the time God made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground—God hadn’t yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)—God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul!
Before anyone can correctly understand the work of the Holy Spirit, They must first of all know the Spirit Himself. A frequent source of error and fanaticism about the work of the Holy Spirit is the attempt to study and understand His work and power without first of all coming to know Him as a Person.
It is of the highest importance that we decide whether the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, worthy to receive our adoration, our faith, our love, and our entire surrender, or whether he is simply “an influence” emanating from God or a “power” imparted to us.
If the Holy Spirit is a person, and a Divine Person, and we do not know Him in this way, then we are robbing a Divine Being of the worship and the faith and the love and the surrender to which He is due.
It is also of the highest importance that we decide whether the Holy Spirit is merely some mysterious and wonderful power that we in our weakness and ignorance are somehow to get hold of and use, or whether the Holy Spirit is a real Person, infinitely holy, infinitely wise, infinitely mighty and infinitely tender who is to get hold of and use us.
He speaks: 2 Samuel 23:2; Acts 8:29; Revelation 2:7; etc.
He prays: Romans 8:26
He guides: Romans 8:14; John 16:13
He calls and commissions: Acts 13:2, Acts 20:28
He commands: Acts 8:29
He indwells believers: John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19
He teaches: John 14:26; 1 John 2:27
He reproves: John 16:8
He sends: Acts 13:4
He empowers: Acts 1:8, 2 Peter 1:21
He testifies: John 15:26,27; John 16:13,14
He can be vexed: Isaiah 63:10 disturbed, troubled or provoked
He can be grieved: Ephesians 4:30
He can be lied to: Acts 5:3
He can be quenched: 1 Thessalonians 5:19
He can be blasphemed: Matthew 12:31
He can be revered: Psalm 51:11
He gives gifts: 1 Corinthians 12:27:28
He convicts of sin: John 16:7
He intercedes: Romans 8:26:27The conception of the Holy Spirit as a Divine influence or power that we are somehow to get hold of and use, leads to self-exaltation and self-sufficiency.
It is of the highest importance from the standpoint of experience that we know the Holy Spirit as a person. Thousands and tens of thousands of men and women can testify to the blessing that has come into their own lives as they have come to know the Holy Spirit, not merely as a gracious influence but as a real Person, just as real as Jesus Christ Himself, an ever-present, loving Friend and mighty Helper, who is not only always by their side but dwells in their heart every day and every hour and who is ready to undertake for them in every emergency of life. Thousands of ministers, Christian workers and Christians in the humblest spheres of life can speak to the complete transformation of their Christian experience that came to them when they understood that the Holy Spirit was a Person and came to know Him.
There are at least four distinct lines of proof in the Bible that the Holy Spirit is a person. Today we will look at two of them.
- The Three Distinctive Characteristics Of Personality Are
Attributed To The Holy Spirit In The Bible.
The three distinctive characteristics, or marks, of personality are: * Knowledge, * Feeling or emotion, * Will.
Any entity that thinks and feels and wills is a person. When we say that the Holy Spirit is a person, there are those who understand us to mean that the Holy Spirit has hands and feet and eyes and ears and mouth, and so on, but these are not the characteristics of personality but of a physical body. All of these characteristics or marks of personality are repeatedly attributed to the Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments.
But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
Here knowledge is attributed to the Holy Spirit. We are clearly taught that the Holy Spirit is not merely an influence that illuminates our minds to comprehend the truth but a Being who Himself knows the truth.
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. – 1 Corinthians 12:11
Here will is attributed to the Spirit and we are taught that the Holy Spirit is not a power that we get hold of and use according to our will but a Person of sovereign majesty, who uses us according to His will. This distinction is of fundamental importance in our getting into right relations with the Holy Spirit.
It is at this very point that many honest seekers after power and efficiency in service go astray. They are reaching out after and struggling to get possession of some mysterious and mighty power that they can make use of in their work according to their own will. They will never get possession of the power they seek until they come to recognize that there is not some Divine power for them to get hold of and use in their blindness and ignorance but that there is a Person, infinitely wise, as well as infinitely mighty, who is willing to take possession of them and use them according to His own perfect will.
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. – Romans 8:27
In this passage mind is attributed to the Holy Spirit. The Greek word translated “mind” is a comprehensive word, including the ideas of thought, feeling and purpose. It is the same that is used in Romans 8:7:
The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Romans 8:7
So then in this passage we have all the distinctive marks of personality attributed to the Holy Spirit.
We find the personality of the Holy Spirit brought out in a most touching and suggestive way in Romans 15:30: 2I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
Here we have “love” attributed to the Holy Spirit. We would do well to stop and consider these five words, “the love of the Spirit.” We often dwell upon the love of God the Father. It is the subject of our daily and constant thought. We also often dwell upon the love of Jesus Christ the Son.
Who would think of calling himself a Christian who went a day without meditating on the love of his Savior, but how often have we meditated upon “the love of the Spirit”?
Each day of our lives, if we are living as Christians should, we kneel down in the presence of God the Father and look up into His face and say, “I thank You, Father, for Your great love that led You to give Your only Son to die upon the cross of Calvary for me.”
Each day of our lives we also look up into the face of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and say, “Oh, glorious Lord and Savior, Jesus Son of God, I thank You forYour great love that led You to empty Yourself and forsaking all the glory of heaven, come down to earth with all its shame and to take my sins upon You and die in my place upon the cross of Calvary.”
But how often do we kneel and say to the Holy Spirit, “Oh, eternal and infinite Spirit of God, I thank You for Your great love that led You to come into this world of sin and darkness and to seek me out and to follow me so patiently until You brought me to see my utter ruin and need of a Savior and to reveal to me my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as just the Savior who I need.”
Yet we owe our salvation just as truly to the love of the Spirit as we do to the love of the Father and the love of the Son.
The God Head is made up of three Divine PERSONS.
If it had not been for the Grace and Mercy of The Father sending His Son then the plan of salvation would not have been put into place
If it had not been for the love of Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God, looking upon me in my utter ruin and in obedience to the Father, putting aside all the glory of heaven for all the shame of earth and taking my place, the place of the curse, upon the cross of Calvary and pouring out His life utterly for me, I would have been in hell today.
But if it had not been for the love of The Holy Spirit, sent by the Father in answer to the prayer of the Son (John 14:16) leading Him to seek me out in my utter blindness and ruin and to follow me day after day, week after week, and year after year, when I persistently turned a deaf ear to His pleadings, following me through paths of sin where it must have been agony for that holy One to go, until at last I listened and He opened my eyes to see my utter ruin and then revealed Jesus to me as just the Savior that would meet my every need and then enabled me to receive this Jesus as my own Savior; if it had not been for this patient, long-suffering, never-tiring, infinitely-tender love of the Holy Spirit, I would have been in hell today. Oh, the Holy Spirit is not merely an influence or a power or an illumination but is a Person just as real as God the Father or Jesus Christ His Son.
Many Acts That Only A Person Can Perform Are Attributed To
The Holy Spirit.
If we deny the personality of the Holy Spirit, many passages of Scripture become meaningless and absurd.
John 16:7, John 16:14
One of the primary assignments of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Jesus to us; the visions, words of prophecies, miracles etc are all extracurricular activities that must have Jesus at the endpoint.
Everything that the Holy Spirit brings our way, for example, family, career, ministry, etc. is for Jesus finding expression and not man. John 3:30
Matthew 14:3 – The woman broke the alabaster flask because she had a revelation of Jesus.
Remember, it is the Holy Spirit that takes what we are doing and gives it life. This is why Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Promise of the Father because He knew that it would take the Holy Spirit to fulfil the commission He had left them with.
Waiting on the Holy Spirit doesn’t necessarily apply to only the preacher but also to those in the business, career world, family etc; our greatest help comes to us when we yield to the Holy Spirit.
Further study: Hebrews 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2 Peter 1:17-19; Acts 1:4; John 6:63; John 15
- The Holy Spirit Searches. But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10
- The Holy Spirit Speaks.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7
- The Holy Spirit Prays. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express Romans 8:26
- The Holy Spirit Testifies.
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” John 15:26
- The Holy Spirit is a Teacher. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” John 16:12-14
- The Holy Spirit is a Leader. Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:14
He is not merely an influence that enables us to see the way that God would have us go, nor merely a power that gives us strength to go that way, but a Person who takes us by the hand and gently leads us on in the paths in which God would have us walk.
- The Holy Spirit Can Command. He is a Person of Authority Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
Acts 16:6-7
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” – John 16:7
Is this Counsellor whom Jesus was to send simply an impersonal “influence” or “power”? No, …it is so important for us to grasp that one Divine Person (Jesus) was going, another Person (The Holy Spirit) just as a Divine Person was coming to take His place…..and He is just as real as God the Father or Jesus Christ His Son.
- The Holy Spirit Can Be Grieved.
There is perhaps no passage in the entire Bible which shows us that the Holy Spirit is a very real person than in
Ephesians 4:30:
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. – Ephesians 4:30
Here grief is attributed to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a blind, impersonal influence or power that comes into our lives to illuminate, sanctify and empower them.
No, He is immeasurably more than that, He is a Holy Person who comes to dwell in our hearts, One who sees clearly every act we perform, every word we speak, every thought we entertain, and if there is anything in act, or word or deed that is impure, unholy, unkind, selfish, mean, petty or untrue, this infinitely Holy One is deeply grieved by it.