I get this question too

I get this question a lot these days when I minister online. “Who is the Holy Spirit?” Well, the Sunday School answer is “He’s part of the Trinity” with the Father and the Son. But there’s a lot more to it. So, I did what any practicing journalist does and dug in to try and find the answers for you.

First of all, He is part of the Trinity. That’s obvious. The saying is “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” But he’s more. In fact, if you call yourself a Christian and follow Jesus, you can’t do it without the Holy Spirit’s help.

The Billy Graham website puts it this way: The moment we receive Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts. He’s all-powerful and present everywhere, teaching us and taking us into a deeper understanding of God and the truth in His Word. So, He knows what goes on in our hearts and minds, and nothing gets hidden from Him.

Just who IS the Holy Spirit anyway?

The term “spirit” may imply to some that He is not a person, but the Bible disagrees with that thought. To begin with, blueletterbible.org says the Holy Spirit isn’t an impersonal force or influence. He’s not the “living energy field” described in Star Wars. That’s make-believe. The Holy Spirit has the characteristics of a person, He’s treated like a person, and He is the divine third person in the Trinity.

His attributes point to His personality. Romans 8:2 says the Spirit has life – “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

He has a will in 1 Corinthians 12:11 – “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

The Holy Spirit is omniscient (He knows everything), as it says in 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 – “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches (and knows) everything, even the depths of God.”

He is eternal. As it says in Hebrews 9:14 – “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

He’s also omnipresent (everywhere at once), just as it says in Psalm 139:7 – “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?”

He also feels, just like we do. The fact that the Spirit can feel grief over our sinful behavior proves He’s a person and not some impersonal force.

Did you know the Holy Spirit is the first member of the Trinity you interact with before becoming a Christian? That tugging in the back of your mind that things weren’t right just before you asked Jesus to come into your life is the Holy Spirit calling you home.

Gotquestions.org says the Spirit applies God’s truths to men’s (and women’s) hearts to convince them they are sinners. He calls to your hearts through the conviction we are not worthy of a Holy God, that we need His righteousness (and not our own), and that judgment is sure to come to all men one day. That’s where repentance comes in. You admit you are a sinner and can’t be what He wants you to be. ALL have sinned and fallen short, as the verse says.

Those folks who deny this truth are rebelling against the Holy Spirit and His work.

What happens when you convert to Christ and the Spirit comes to live in your heart? It means you aren’t doing life alone anymore.

First, the Billy Graham website says He gives us new life. Remember that “no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.” The Spirit is the one who makes you born again. It’s a supernatural act that has nothing to do with “how good you are” or your works.

Gotquestions.org says the Spirit is our “Comforter/Counselor/Advocate.” Remember when Jesus went back to Heaven? His disciples were distressed to be without Him. But He promised to send the Spirit to comfort, console, and guide each of us who belong to Jesus.

The Holy Spirit encourages, teaches, and intercedes

One thing He does is intercede for those He inhabits. I can recall many times when words just wouldn’t come because of the stress and worry. That‘s when the Spirit steps in and prays for us. Have you ever been unable to describe how you were feeling in prayer? It happens to all of us. That’s a big part of what the Holy Spirit does. Ask Him to intercede for you because He knows what you want to say.

Lastly, He’s a “teacher” and a “witness.” Jesus promised His disciples that the Spirit would teach them all things and help them remember what He said while Jesus was with them. The Spirit is a witness because He verifies and testifies to the fact that we are children of God.

The Holy Spirit has a big role in our lives, one that we can’t live without. Thank the Lord for His Holy Spirit! 