Notes compiled by Marty Zide and Steve McAtee
The Bible’s teaching on the person of the Holy Spirit is one of the least understood, the most overemphasized, and the most neglected (at the same time by different groups) of the doctrines in the Word of God. He deserves better than that and we hope to show His greatness and how necessary it is that we have a good Biblical understanding of Him. It seems in our day, that there is either an over-emphasis or an under-emphasis on the person of the Holy Spirit. Either, He is hardly ever mentioned, or He preoccupies almost all the teaching in some circles.
Our goal is to follow His example. His primary goal is not to bring attention and glory to Himself, but the Lord Jesus. While at the same time we want to discover what the Word reveals about Him.
John 15:26 -When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me.
To understand the greatness of the gift of the Holy Spirit to all believers, consider the esteem that the Lord Jesus had for the gift of the Holy Spirit’s presence after His ascension back to heaven.
John 16:7 -But 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 go, I will send Him to you.
The Personality Of The Holy Spirit
The truth about the personality of the Holy Spirit is very important. He is as much a person as the Father and the Son are persons. To deny it is to deny the Trinity, and the clear teaching of the Word of God
Many of the cults deny the Holy Spirit’s personality. They say that He is a force, or power, or the energy of God, but not a person. Jehovah’sWitnesses, Mormons, Moonies, Christian Science, and Unitarians are just some of the cults who deny the Holy Spirit. To deny His personality makes one guilty of blasphemy and unbelief.
Proven by His Attributes of Personality
Personality has been defined as “possessing the essential elements of intellect, emotions, and will.” That being the case, it can easily be demonstrated from the Word of God that the Holy Spirit possesses personality.
Some of His attributes that prove His personality:
He has a mind
He searches out the mind of God
He has a will
He forbids
He speaks
He loves
He can be grieved
He prays
Rom8:26 -He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God
1 Cor 2:10 -For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
1 Cor 12:11 -But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
Acts 16:6 -They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
Acts 13:2 -While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
Rom15:30 -Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.
Eph 4:30 -Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Rom8:26 -In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.