To know the Holy Spirit and who He is, is a vital part of the walk of every believer in Christ. The Holy Spirit is never referred to as ‘It’ in the Bible.

God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One in the great I Am That I Am, Exodus 3:14. All are to be worshipped equally for everything God did in creation and redemption He did through Christ and by His Spirit.

A Person

God is spirit, John 4:24. Yet there are three Persons in the Triune God. Our difficulty is comprehending that there are three to the Trinity, yet they are One. Our problem is that we are finite and in our very limited capacity, we must try to comprehend the infinite. The spiritual world is such a different realm to our physical world.

Wherever one Person of the Godhead operates the other two are always involved. That is why all three should be given honour and glory for no One is more important than the others. In fact, each gives preference to the Others.

Symbolism

While the Holy Spirit is a Person, the presence of the Holy Spirit is represented in many different forms.

These include such things as a hovering presence, Genesis 1:2. A dove, Matthew 3:16, 17. A cloud, Luke 9:34,35. Breath or wind, Genesis 2:7, John 3:8, John 20:22. Fire, Acts 2:1-4. Other symbolisms of the Holy Spirit are oil, Psalm 45:7, water, John 7:37-39, and a light, Psalm 119:105.

First Appearance

The Holy Spirit is as present as the Father and Son throughout the Bible. The Spirit first appears in the second verse of the Bible as part of the creative work of God. He was moving over the surface of the waters, Genesis 1:2.

In the Old Testament, the Spirit of the Lord came upon God’s servants, to do His will on earth. This is seen in Judges 3:10-14; 1 Chronicles 12:18; 2 Samuel 23:2, Isaiah 59:21, Ezekiel 11:5, Michah 3:8, to mention just some incidents.

The last mention of the Holy Spirit is in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible. The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come’, Revelation 22:17.

Holy Spirit Inspired

All Scripture is inspired by God or breathed out, 2 Timothy 3:16. No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men were moved by the Holy Spirit and spoke from God, 2 Peter 1:21.

The Holy Spirit is an inspired gift from God, Acts 2:38, to the believer. He gives life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwells in you, Romans 8:11, among many other things.

Holy Spirit in Salvation

Salvation is an act of Divine Exchange which is both a gift of grace and a transformative process. This alone restores the condemned sinner to a right relationship with God and ensures eternal life. The Father is the architect who chose us before the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1:4. He plans and initiates salvation, John 3:16, but His will is executed through the Son and the Spirit.

The Son accomplished and mediated salvation through His life, death, and resurrection. Christ paid the price for the atonement of fallen man, satisfying divine justice and reconciling humanity to God, Romans 5:8,9. None comes to the Father except through Him, John 14:6, drawn by the Spirit of God.

Everyone who receives Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord is born again and receives the Holy Spirit at that point. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of your inheritance, Ephesians 1:13,14.

Helper

Jesus was the fulfilment of prophecy. He was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit. Seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory, 1 Timothy 3:16.

Jesus said, I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever, that is the Spirit of Truth. Whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you, John 14:15-17. If anyone loves Me he will keep my word and My Father will love him. And We will come to him and make Our abode with him, John 14:23.

Holy Spirit and Power

Although Jesus was fully God, He did not begin His ministry until God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, Acts 10:18. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form, like a dove and a voice came out of heaven. ‘You are my beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased’, Luke 3:22.

We too need to be clothed with power from on high, Luke 24:49. Everything man does in his own strength is for time alone and the quality of eternity is not in it. Only what is done through the Eternal Spirit will abide eternally.

As was recorded in the book of Acts, they were full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Acts 6:5. The only power God recognizes in His true church, is the power of His Spirit, not the power of man.

Temple

Or do you not know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you and whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:17. We are set aside as His own possession, 1 Peter 2:5.

Jesus said, The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you, John 14:26.

When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears He will speak. And He will disclose to you what is to come, John 6:13.

Baptism

The baptism of the Holy Spirit may be a later experience subsequent to salvation, the same as is water baptism.

It is in this second experience that you come to know the Holy Spirit as a Person. Just as you know God as Abba Father, Galatians 4:6, and Christ as your personal Saviour. It is where you finally surrender all to the leading of the Holy Spirit and truly know you are a son of God.

How to Know the Holy Spirit

It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit, John 14:23, that you get to ‘know’ the voice of the Shepherd, John 10:27,28. Those who reject, or underestimate the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire, Matthew 3:11, will never fully experience the richness of dwelling in His presence in the now, for you become what you love.

Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts, Hebrews 3:7. Having acknowledged the need to know the Holy Spirit it is time to look further at the work of the Holy Spirit.

Photo Source

Dr. Wendy Stenberg-Tendys is a freelance writer and servant of the Lord who enjoys researching a topic and sharing words of encouragement from the Word of God.

Check out our other posts at Whispering Encouragement. We are here to inform and encourage. Subscribe for free so you can keep up to date with topics that interest you.

________________________Whispering Encouragement_______________________