WHO THE HOLY SPIRIT IS

1. WHO THE HOLY SPIRIT IS

The Holy Spirit is part of the Three-in-one God. The Holy Trinity

A. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD

Acts 5:3-4 says, “Peter said, Ananias, why did you let Satan fill your heart? He made you lie to the Holy Spirit … you have lied to God, not to men.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

He is as God is.

(1) He has all power. Luke 1:35 says, “The Holy Spirit will come on you. The power of the Most High will cover you.” (Romans 15:13-19)

(2) He knows all things. (1 Corinthians 2:10) says, “It is the Holy Spirit Who looks into all things, even the secrets of God.” (Luke 2:25-32)

(3) He is everywhere. Psalm 139:7-10 says, “How can I go from Your Spirit? Or how can I run away from where You are? If I go up to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in hell, You are there! If I take the wings of the morning and live in the farthest parts of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your Right hand will hold me.

(4) He is alive forever. Hebrews 9:14 says, “…He gave himself as a perfect gift to God through the Spirit that lives forever.”

This is also shown by Christ when He told His followers to preach the Good News everywhere. He said to baptize in the name of all three of the Three-in-one God. Matthew 28:18-20 says, “Jesus came and said to them “All power has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go and make followers of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do all the things I have told you. And I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”

To end a letter, the missionaries would often write, “May you have loving-favor from our Lord Jesus Christ. May you have the love of God. May you be joined together by the Holy Spirit.” The early missionaries spoke of him as God.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John tells of the Holy Spirit as Someone Who should be listened to, “Then listen what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:22)

The work of the church is done by people through gifts given by the Holy Spirit. “There are different kinds of gifts. But is the same Holy Spirit Who gives them….But is the same God Who uses all these ways in all people.” (I Corinthians 12:4-6) God and the Holy Spirit are spoken as One in the Bible. (I Corinthians 3:16-17)

2. NAMES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

It is hard for people to understand or learn about someone they cannot touch with their hands or see with their eyes. This is the way with the Holy Spirit. He is part of the Three-in-one God, but He cannot be touched or seen. The Holy Spirit should not be called it. The Holy Spirit is a person and should be called He. He has the power to know, the power to feel, and the power to choose. In John 14:16; 16:7 He is called Helper, or the One called alongside to help. Such a name can be given only to a person. The Holy Spirit took Jesus’s place when Jesus left earth. Such a work as the Holy Spirit does can be done only by a person.

It is important to learn some of the names of the Holy Spirit and then He can be understood better.

1. NAMES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

A. The Holy Spirit – Matthew 4:1 says, “Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to the desert. There He was tempted by the devil.”

B. The Spirit of Truth – John 14:17 says, “He is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot receive Him. It does not see Him or know Him. You know Him because He lives with you and will be in you.”

C. The Helper – John 14:26 says, “The Helper is the Holy Spirit. The Father will send Him in My place. He will help you with everything and help you remember everything I have told you.”

D. God’s Spirit – Romans 8:9 says, “But you are not doing what your sinful old selves want you to do. You are doing what the Holy Spirit tells you to do, if you have God’s Spirit living in you. No one belongs to Christ if he does not have Christ’s Spirit living in him.”

E. Christ’s Spirit – (Romans 8:9)

F. The Spirit of the Living God - II Corinthians 3:3 says, “You are as a letter from Christ written by us. You are not written as other letters are written with ink on pieces of stone. You are written in human hearts by the Spirit of the living God.”

G. His Holy Spirit of promise – Ephesians 1:13 says, “The truth is the Good News. When you heard the truth, you put your trust in Christ. Then God marked you by giving you His Holy Spirit as a promise.

H. His Spirit - Ephesians 1:17 says, “I pray that the great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may give you the wisdom of his Spirit. Then you will be able to understand the secrets about Him as you know Him better.”

I. God’s Holy Spirit - Ephesians 4:30 says, “Do not make God’s Holy Spirit have sorrow for the way you live. The Holy Spirit has put a mark on you for the day you will be set free.”

J. The Spirit that lives forever – Hebrews 9:14 says, “How much more the blood of Christ will do! He gave Himself as a perfect gift to God through the Spirit that lives forever. Now your heart can be free from the guilty feeling of doing work that is worth nothing. Now you can work for the living God.

K. The Spirit – Revelation 2:7, 11, 29 say, “You have ears! Then listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the fruit of the tree of life in the garden of God to everyone who has power and wins.” “You have ears! Then listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The person who has power and wins will not be hurt by the second death !” “You have ears! Then listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!”

3. WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LIKE

Men cannot see the Holy Spirit as they saw Christ when He was on earth. Just as no one has seen God the Father at any time, no one has seen the Holy Spirit. The Bible gives different pictures what the Holy Spirit is like.

1. WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LIKE:

A. He is like a dove. John 1:32 says, “The Holy Spirit come down on Jesus like a dove from heaven. The Holy Spirit stayed on him.”

B. He is like water. In John 7:38 Jesus says, “ The Holy Writings say that rivers of living water will flow from the heart of the one who puts his trust in Me. John 7:39 says, “Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit Who would come to those who put their trust in Him. The Holy Spirit had not yet been given. Jesus had not yet been raised to the place of honor.” What water means to thirsty lips or rain to dry ground, the Holy Spirit means to a Christian. Nothing makes thirst end like water and nothing makes the heart as happy as the Holy Spirit!

C. He is like oil. I Samuel 16:13 says, “Then Samuel took the horn with which he carried oil and poured it over him while he was standing among his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day on.” When people poured oil over someone it was a way to show that God was covering them with Himself. When a person was being set apart to be a religious leader, oil was put first on his ear so he would always hear God’s word. Then oil was put on his thumb so everything he did would bring shining greatness to God. And then oil was put on his toe because he was to walk with God. These things are what the Holy Spirit does in the life of a Christian.

D. He is like wind. John 3:18 says, “The wind blows where it wants to and you hear its sound. You do not know where it comes or where it goes. It is the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit of God.” When the Holy Spirit came down upon the followers after Jesus went to heaven, it says in Acts 2:2, “all at once there was a sound from heaven like a powerful wind. It filled the house where they were sitting.” You cannot see wind, yet you can feel it and see its power. It is this way with the Holy Spirit.

E. He is like fire. Acts 2:3 says, “Then they saw tongues which were divided that looked like fire. These came down on each one of them.” After Jesus went to heaven, the Holy Spirit was sent to come on his followers. Tongues of fire were seen above their heads. Fire burns away waste and makes things clean. Burning gives heat. It also gives light to see, and can give power and strength to things being made. All these are pictures of the Holy Spirit. He takes the bad out of men’s lives and makes them clean. He makes their hearts hungry for God and gives them a desire to love God. He also tests them to see if they are faithful to God.

F. He is like clothing. Judges 6:34 says, “The Spirit of God came upon Gideon.” The word came means putting on clothes. He covered Gideon. The Holy Spirit covers His people.

4. HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN BE HURT

It must be remembered that the Holy Spirit is a person, just as the Son and the Father are persons. With this in mind, it is easier to understand that the Holy Spirit can be hurt. It is because of his loving-kindness that He can be hurt.

1. HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN BE HURT BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT CHRISTIANS:

People who have not put their trust in Jesus Christ can hurt the Holy Spirit. He wants to work in their lives so they will put their trust in Jesus Christ. Here are three ways people who are not Christians can hurt the Holy Spirit when He tries to show them the truth about sin.

A. The Holy Spirit can be hurt by those who have hearts that will not listen to Him. Acts 7:51 says, “You have hard hearts and ears that will not listen to me! You are always working against the Holy Spirit. Your early fathers did. You do too.” It is sad to see how the Holy Spirit is hurt when He is working in the lives of people to bring them to see their need of putting trust in Jesus Christ.

B. The Holy Spirit is hurt when He is showing the sinner God’s loving-favor, but is laughed at.

C. The Holy Spirit can be hurt if bad words are spoken against Him. The person who does this will not be forgiven. Matthew 12:31-32 says, “I tell you, every sin and every bad word men speak against God will be forgiven, but bad words spoken against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this life or in the life to come.”

This could mean that anyone who says bad words against the special birth of Christ, or says that Gods Word is not true, or says that God did not make the world is saying bad words against the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the One Who made the world, as it is written in the first chapters of Genesis. To say things against what the Holy Spirit has done is hurting Him. The Bible says that a person who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.

2. HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN BE HURT BY CHRISTIANS

A. The Holy Spirit lives in the Christian to be his Helper. He wants to work in the Christians life to make him free from his sinful old self. In Galatians 5:16-17 it says, “I say this to you: Let the Holy Spirit lead you in each step. Then you will not please your sinful old selves. The things our old selves want to do are against what the Holy Spirit wants. The Holy Spirit does not agree with what our sinful old selves want. These two are against each other. So you cannot do what you want to do.” (Also read verses 19-21 because they tell what the old sinful self is like.)

B. In Ephesians 4:30 it shows how the Christian can hurt the Holy Spirit and cause Him to have sorrow for the way he lives. It says, “Do not make God’s Holy Spirit have sorrow for the way you live. The Holy Spirit has put a mark on you for the day you will be set free.”

C. The Christian can stop the work of the Holy Spirit in his life if he stops obeying Him. Acts 5:32 says, “…God gives His Spirit to those who obey him.” I Thessalonians 5:19 says, “Do not try to stop the work of the Holy Spirit.”

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PEOPLE

1. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN SINNERS

A. He does not live in the sinner. (John 14:17)

B. He works with people to make them want to put their trust in Christ. (John 16:6- 11) He will not always do this. John 6:44 says, “The Father sent me. No man can come to the Me unless the Father gives him the desire to come to Me. Then I will raise him to life on the last day.”

C. He shows the world about sin. John 16:9 says, “He will show the world about sin, because they do not put their trust in Me.”

D. He tells sinners not to run away from God, but asks them to come to God. Hebrews 3:7-10 says, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘If you hear his voice today, do not let your hearts become hard as your early fathers did when they turned against Me. It was at that time in the desert when they put Me to the test. Your early fathers tempted Me and tried Me. They saw the work I did for forty years. For this reason, I was angry with the people of this day. And I said to them, “They always think wrong thoughts. They have never understood what I have tried to do for them.” ‘ “

E. He makes God’s Word alive. John 6:63 says, “It is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh is of no help. The words I speak to you are spirit and life”.

F. He tells sinners the truth that Jesus is the One Who saves from sin. Acts 5:30 says, “The God of our early fathers raised up Jesus, The One you killed and nailed to a cross. God raised this Man to His own right side as a leader and as the One Who saves. He makes it possible for the Jews to be sorry for their sins. Then they can turn from them and be forgiven. We have seen these things and are telling about them. The Holy Spirit makes these things known also. God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him.”

G. He gives power to the Word of God as it is preached to sinners. I Corinthians 2:4, 13 says, “What I had to say when I preached was not in big sounding words of man’s wisdom. But it was given in the power of the Holy Spirit.” “We speak about these things also. We do not use words of man’s wisdom. We use words given to us by the Holy Spirit. We use these words to tell what the Holy Spirit wants to say to those who put their trust in Him.” (Thessalonians 1:5)

H. He is the Spirit of life making men free from the power of sin and death. Romans 8:2 says, “The power of the Holy Spirit has made me free from the power of sin and death. This power is mine because I belong to Christ Jesus.”

I. He takes away sin and gives new life. Titus 3:5 says, “…by saving us from the punishment of sin. It was not because we worked to be right with God. It was because of His loving-kindness that He washed our sins away. At the same time He gave us new life when the Holy Spirit came into our lives.”

2. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CHRISTIANS

A. The Holy Spirit gives new life. II Corinthians 5:17 says, “For if a man belongs to Christ, he is a new person. The old life is gone. New life has begun.” (John 3:5-6; I Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5)

B. The Holy Spirit sets the believer free from sin and death. Romans 8:2 says, “The power of the Holy Spirit has made me free from the power of sin and death. This power is mine because I belong to Christ Jesus.”

C. The Holy Spirit makes the Christians heart strong. Ephesians 3:16 says, “I pray that because of the riches of His shining greatness, He will make you strong with power in your hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

D. The Holy Spirit leads Christians to a life set apart for God. Romans 8:14 says, “All those who are led by the Holy Spirit are sons of God.”

E. The Holy Spirit tells Christians that they are children of God. Romans 8:16 says, “For the Holy Spirit speaks to us and tells our spirit that we are children of God.

F. The Holy Spirit brings fruit into life of the Christian. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith, being gentle, and being the boss over our own desires. The Jewish law is not against these things.”

G. The Holy Spirit leads the Christian into all truth. John 16:13 says, “The Holy Spirit is coming. He will lead you to all truth. He will not speak His Own words. He will speak what He hears. He will tell you of things to come.” (John 2:20)

H. The Holy Spirit helps the Christians to remember things Christ said, John 14:26 says, “The Helper is the Holy Spirit. The Father will send Him in My place. He will teach you everything and help you remember what I have told you.”

I. The Holy Spirit shows Christians things about God and helps them to understand.

I Corinthians 2:9-14 says, “The Holy Writings say, ‘No eye has ever seen or no ear has ever heard or no mind has ever thought of the wonderful things God has made ready for those who love Him.’ God has shown these things to us through His Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit Who looks into all things, even the secrets of God, and shows them to us. Who can know the things about a man, except a man’s own spirit that is in Him? It is the same with God. Who can understand Him except the Holy Spirit? We have not received the spirit of the world. God has given us His Holy Spirit that we may know about the things given to us by Him. We speak about these things also. We do not use words of man’s wisdom. We use words given to us by the Holy Spirit. We use these words to tell what the Holy Spirit wants to say to those who put their trust in Him. But the person who is not a Christian does not understand these words from the Holy Spirit. He thinks they are foolish. He cannot understand because he does not have the Holy Spirit to help him understand.” (Isaiah 65:17)

J. The Holy Spirit makes the Christian able to tell others the Good News in power. Acts 6:10 says, “Stephen spoke with wisdom and power given by the Holy Spirit. They were not able to say anything against what he said.”

I Corinthians 2:1-5 says, “Christian brothers, when I came to you, I did not preach the secrets of God with big sounding words or make it sound as if I were so wise. I made up my mind that while I was with you I would speak of nothing except Jesus Christ and of His death on the cross. When I was with you I was weak. I was afraid and I shook. What I had to say when I preached was not in big sounding words of man’s wisdom. But it was given in the power of the Holy Spirit. In this way, you do not have faith in Christ because of the wisdom of men. You have faith in Christ because of the power of God.”

K. Holy Spirit helps, leads, and gives power to the Christian in prayer. Jude 20 says, “Dear friends, you must become strong in your most holy faith. Let the Holy Spirit lead you as you pray.” (Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 6:18)

PRESENTED & SUPPLIED BY: Bottorf's Prison Ministries

RESEARCHED & WRITTEN BY: REV. JOSEPH & MARJORIE CANNON

When You Need Comfort from the Holy Spirit

John 14:16-18 KJV, 18 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John

John 14:26 KJV, 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:7 KJV, 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 KJV, 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

1 Corinthians 14:2-3 KJV, 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV, 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Jude 20 KJV, 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

1 Samuel 30:6 KJV, 6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

Psalm 55:22 KJV, 22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 56:8-13 KJV, 8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? 9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. 10 In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word. 11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. 12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. 13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Psalm 119:50 KJV, 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Psalm 119:52 KJV, 52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.

Psalm 119:54 KJV, 54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

33:27 KJV, 27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Deuteronomy

Psalm 23:4 KJV, 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 27:5-6 KJV, 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

Psalm 30:5 KJV, 5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Psalm 31:7 KJV, 7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

Deuteronomy 33:27 KJV, 27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Psalm 23:4 KJV, 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.