The Holy Spirit is what we generally call the third Person of the God Head. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Here are some insights to the person of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ Promise: (John 14:16-17) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— {17} the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Four Points in Jesus’ Promise:
1) The Holy Spirit is ANOTHER Counselor (or Comforter, Helper).
2) The Holy Spirit is to be with us FOREVER.
3) The Holy Spirit is not KNOWN or ACCEPTED by everyone.
4) Since the Apostles knew JESUS they knew the Holy Spirit.
1. The Holy Spirit, like Yahweh (Father), and Jesus (Son) is a PERSON.
A. Personal Pronouns are used of the Holy Spirit.
– (John 16:8) When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
- The Holy Spirit SPEAKS as a Person.
– (John 16:13) 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.
- The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.
- The Holy Spirit was active in CREATION
– (Gen 1:2) Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
– (Gen 1:26) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
- In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came upon SPECIFIC people God had chosen, not upon the masses.
– (Num 11:25) Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again.
– (Num 11:27-29) A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” {28} Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” {29} But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!”
– (Judg 3:10) The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. (Othniel)
– (Judg 6:34) Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon,
– (Judg 11:29) Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah.
– (Judg 13:25) and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
- The Holy Spirit in the New Testament (Today)
- The gift of the Holy Spirit is promised to EVERY saved person.
– (Acts 2:38) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
– (Acts 5:32) We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
– (Luke 11:13) If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
– (1 Cor 6:19-20) Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; {20} you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
- The Holy Spirit Ministers in a variety of ways.
- He TESTIFIES of Christ.
– (John 15:26-27) “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. {27} And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
- He Gives LIFE
– (John 6:63) The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
- Makes the Unknown KNOWN
– (1 Cor 2:10) but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
- He INFLUENCES us through the INSPIRATION of the Word.
– (John 14:26) 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.
– (1 Cor 2:13) This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
– (2 Tim 3:16-17) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, {17} so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- He Intercedes for us when we PRAY.
– (Rom 8:26) 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.
- We are commanded to be FILLED with the Holy Spirit.
– (Eph 5:18) Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
– Being Filled with the Holy Spirit does not mean we receive more of the Holy Spirit, but that we give more of ourselves over to His control!