Who is the Holy Spirit?


The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit has all the attributes of personality and is not merely an impersonal force. In John chapters 14, 15, and 16, for example, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as “He”. Jesus also referred to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter or the Counselor (John 14:16 and 15:26). This title conveys the ideas of advising, exhorting, comforting, strengthening, interceding, and encouraging.

It's hard to have the same fruit as the early church when we value a book they didn't have above the Holy Spirit they did have. Click To Tweet

In order to have relationship with the Holy Spirit we must understand the following three truths:

  1. The Holy Spirit is God. He is called God (Exodus 17:7; Psalm 95:7 comp. Hebrews 3:7,11). Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as God (Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20). Apostle Peter called the Holy Spirit God (Acts 5:3-4).

Divine attributes are ascribed to Him:
He is present everywhere – Omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-12)
He knows everything – Omniscience (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
He is all powerful – Omnipotent (Psalm 104:30)
He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14)
Creation is ascribed to Him (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30)
He is worker of miracles (Matthew 12:28; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 11)
Worship is required and ascribed to Him (Isaiah 6:3; Acts 28:25; Romans 9:1; Revelation 1:4; Matthew 28:19)

The Holy Spirit is very important. Click To Tweet

What does that mean? Many Christians treat Him as third in rank of importance. Every person of the Trinity is equally important. The Holy Spirit was here in the beginning (Genesis 1:2). When human race continued in evil ways the Lord cut our years because “His Spirit shall not strive with man forever” (Genesis 6:3). The Lord turned against Israel because they grieved His Spirit (Israel 63:10). Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit in His life on earth from birth to resurrection. When Pharisees credited Jesus’ miracles to the devil, He revealed something shocking, that blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven yet blaspheme against Him or the Father will be (Mark 3:28-30). That’s the value of the Holy Spirit. He is God. God is worthy to be worshipped, adored and exalted.

Read: 5 Steps to Know the Holy Spirit More

2. The Holy Spirit is a Person. What makes someone a person? Is it life? Trees have life but they are not people. Person is a being with personality. A person is a being with a soul. The soul is the mind, emotions and the will.

We know God has a soul. “In whom My soul is well pleased.” Matthew 12:18, God the Father was speaking about the Son during the baptism. Jesus has a soul. “My soul is distressed.” Matthew 26:38, Jesus spoke before His crucifixion. The Holy Spirit has a soul. We know He has a mind (Romans 8:27), a will (Acts 16:6) and emotions (Galatians 5:23; Ephesians 4:20). 

The Holy Spirit is a person, not a power. Click To Tweet

We should not refer to Him as “it”. He is not a force, or a feeling, He is a real person. We can have a relationship with Him as with any other person.

Read: What to pray for? And how to pray?

3. The Holy Spirit is Here. John Bevere mentioned in one of his books that, “If Jesus could physically minister 14 hours a day, He would see 840 people for 60 seconds. It will take 1,190 days (3.26 years) to see 1 million people and 2,147,239 years to see 7 billion people.”

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

Read that again, it is to YOUR ADVANTAGE that I go away. The reason is you will not have the access to the Holy Spirit if Jesus does not depart. This is powerful!

I got baptized in the Holy Spirit with speaking of tongues at the age of 16. But I did not have much change in my life. I still struggled with the same things. I did not have power in my life. I was bit confused because Scripture promised power when the Holy Spirit comes, not just tongues. I felt like I only got tongues. It was only decade later that after much reading and praying, reality that the Holy Spirit is a person and He is here now on earth became a revelation. I knew it as information but when it comes a revelation then it changes your life. I believe in tongues and speak a lot in tongues but I love the Person of the Holy Spirit more.

I believed in God who lives in heaven, now I believe in God who lives in me.

What did you get taught on the Holy Spirit when you grew up?

Thanks for reading 

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This blog was written by Vladimir Savchuk.

Pastor Vlad is the lead pastor of Hungry Generation Church, an author of “Break Free” and “Single, Ready to Mingle” and a founder of free online school “Vlad’s School.” To download free e-books, sermon series, small group study guides go to vladimirsavchuk.com

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