Series: Holy Spirit
The Person of the Holy
Spirit
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
As we read Acts, we discover
that the Holy Spirit played an indispensable role in the birthing of the Church
(Acts 2:1‑41), and in fact throughout the entire Book of Acts. And He still
plays the same indispensable role in the life of the believer today. As
Christians, it is important for us to understand who the Holy Spirit is, and the
kind of help He gives us:
The very first thing we must understand about the Holy Spirit
is that He is indeed God. In Acts 5:3‑4, we read:
"Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so
filled your heart that you have lied TO THE HOLY SPIRIT . . . You have
not lied to men BUT TO GOD' " (see also 2 Corinthians 3:17).
God has chosen to express Himself to mankind as Father, as
Son, and as the Holy Spirit. These are three distinct Persons, yet the three are
one.
''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 .
After Jesus ascended to the throne of His Father, He kept His
promise and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell the believer (John 14:17; 1
Corinthians 2:12; 3:16). And this promise is also for the believer today! On the
Day of Pentecost, Peter boldly declared:
" . . . you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The
promise is for you and your children AND FOR ALL WHO ARE FAR OFF ‑ for
all whom the Lord our God will call'' Acts 2:38‑39(read also John 14:16,26;
15:26).
"While they were worshipping 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.
While Jesus was on the earth, He gave His disciples
directives through His own audible voice. When He left, He sent the Holy Spirit
to fulfil this same ministry "for ever'' (John 14:16) ‑ now on a far
wider scale. The Holy Spirit can speak to our hearts at any time and at any
place (see also Acts 10:19‑20; 16:6; Romans 8:14; Revelation 3:13).
NAMES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Throughout the Bible, the Holy Spirit is called by a number
of names which describe His character and ministry:
''For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave
again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship (or adoption). And by
him we cry, 'Abba, Father '' Romans 8:15 (see also Galatians 4:6).
The very first work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to
give us spiritual "birth" into God's family (see John 3:3,5‑8), and His
continuing ministry in this capacity is to testify to our new relationship and
help us grow in it.
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are
God's children" Romans 8:16.
''And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another
Counsellor to be with you for ever ‑ the Spirit of truth . . . " John 14:16‑17
(see also 16:13).
One of the Spirit's ministries is to be a witness to the
truth ‑ that Jesus is the Son of God, that He came and died for mankind, that He
is alive today, and that He brought "many sons to glory'' (Hebrews 2:10). Jesus
called Him ''the Counsellor" ‑ the One who teaches and guides the
believer. He is also called "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation''
(Ephesians 1:17) and "the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit
of counsel and . . . of knowledge . . . '' (Isaiah 11:2) (see also 1 John
2:27).
" . . . And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the
Spirit is the truth'' 1 John 5:6.
"How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be
punished . . . who has insulted the Spirit of grace?" Hebrews 10:29.
Grace is the God‑given ability to do what we cannot do
ourselves. We could not save ourselves, but God by His grace saved us. We could
not live lives pleasing to God, but by His grace, through the Holy Spirit, God
has made this possible. Through the grace of God's Holy Spirit, we receive
salvation, forgiveness, a brand new life, and the ability to ''live by the
Spirit'' (Galatians 5:16,25).
''And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that
in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every
good work . . because of the surpassing grace God has given you" 2 Corinthians
9:8,14.
4. THE SPIRIT OF POWER, LOVE AND SELF‑DISCIPLINE
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit
of power, of love and of self discipline'' 2 Timothy 1:7.
Love, power and self‑discipline are three of the Spirit's
main ministries to the believer:
Power (Ephesians 3:16,20‑21; Isaiah 11:2).
Love (Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:7‑16).
Self‑discipline (Galatians 5:16).
5. THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS
'' . . . who through the Spirit of holiness was declared
with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus
Christ our Lord" Romans 1:4.
God is a holy God, and as an expression of God's character,
the Holy Spirit's ministry in our lives is to sponsor holiness and a pure heart
before Him. The first step in His work was to make us righteous in God's sight
(2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:18), but His continuing ministry is to
encourage us to walk daily in that righteousness.
" . . . And he is able to keep you from slipping and
falling. away, and to bring you, sinless and perfect, into his glorious
presence with mighty shouts of everlasting joy. Amen'' Jude 24‑25 (TLB).
"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into
our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father' '' Galatiancs 4:6.
The Holy Spirit is called in Philippians 1:19 "the Spirit of
Jesus Christ"! The continuing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to renew
our minds so that we think like Jesus (Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:16) ‑ but
His ultimate aim is that we might be completely conformed to the very likeness
of Jesus (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
'' . . . Having believed, you were marked in him with a
seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
until the redemption of those who are God's possession..."Ephesians 1:13‑14.