The Holy Spirit
Herein is the promise of the indwelling of The Holy Spirit by the Lord Jesus Christ which is the hope of everyone who believes in Him.
“If ye love me, keep my commands.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever;
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.”
St John 14:15-17
The delivery of that promise!
“AND when the day of Pentecost was full come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2:1-4
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. Understanding who He is and what He does is critical for the believer/preacher. The reason for this article is to confirm to the preacher, indeed to all believers, who should already know Him and His nature.
The Holy Spirit is God. Therefore, no one can control, manipulate, fake Him in or out, alter His plans or will, even order Him to do their biding. Without question He is altogether unlike His creation (we are like Him).
The Bible brings to our remembrance many things about His who-ness and do-ness; His personality, His power, His purpose and His Godhead.
Yet, many have tried (and still at this time) to make Him someone other than who He is… He is not an it, He is not spooky, He is not derived from superstition—there is almost a universal ignorance concerning the ministry of the third Person of the Trinity.
So let’s take a look at the personality profile of the Holy Spirit as given in the Holy Bible:
- The Holy spirit has a mind;
“And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
(Rom. 8:28)
- The Holy Spirit searches out the human mind;
“But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
(1 Cor. 2:10)
- The Holy Spirit has a will;
“But all these wortheth that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.”
(1 Cor. 12:11)
- The Holy Spirit forbids;
“Now when they had gone throughout Phygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”
(Acts 16:6, 7)
Here are additional aspects of the personality profile of the Holy Spirit, other scriptures indicates that He permits, He speaks, He loves, He grieves and He prays.
(Acts 16:10, Acts 8:29, Rom. 15:30, Rom. 8:26)
Work of the Believer
As believers know, ministry cannot start unless and until the Holy Spirit is present in the life of those who accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Further, He directs the missions/goals/ministry of all those in the Kingdom of God.
“It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.
But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Acts 1:7-8
While it is valid that Christians can do good things the closer we are to following the directions of the Holy Spirit the greater the eternal value.
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