You are listening to:Holy Spirit Series: Characteristics of Holy Spirit
Theme Scripture: John 14:16-17 –
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (NIV)
There are many misconceptions about the identity of the Holy Spirit today. Some view Holy Spirit as a mystical force. Others understand the Holy Spirit as the impersonal power that God makes available to the followers of Christ. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, a being with a mind, emotions, and a will.
Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. The Trinity is made up of 3 distinct persons: God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As a member of the Godhead, Holy Spirit had no beginning and has no ending just as the Father and Son. Holy Spirit dwells in Heaven as well as here on Earth in the heart of believers.
He is a perfectly holy and spotless God, free of any sin or darkness. He shares the strengths of God the Father and Jesus, such as omniscience, omnipotence, and eternality. Just like our Heavenly Father, He is all-loving, forgiving, merciful and just.
The following describes better the characteristics of Holy Spirit
- The Holy Spirit has a Mind: Romans 8:27; “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will”. (NIV)
- The Holy Spirit has a Will: 1 Corinthians 12:11; “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills”. (NASB)
- The Holy Spirit has Emotions, he can be grieved: Isaiah 63:10; “Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them”. (NIV)
- The Holy Spirit gives joy: Luke 10: 21; “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure”. (NIV) 1 Thessalonians 1:6; “You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit”.
- He Teaches: John 14:26; “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (NIV)
- He Testifies of Christ: John 15:26; “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me”. (NIV)
- He Convicts: John 16:8; “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt [Or will expose the guilt of the world] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: (NIV)
- He Leads: Romans 8:14; “…Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (NIV)
- He Reveals Truth: John 16:13; “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come”. (NIV)
- He Strengthens and Encourages: Acts 9:31; “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord”. (NIV)
- He Comforts: John 14:16; “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (KJV)
- He Helps Us in our Weakness: Romans 8:26; “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express”. (NIV)
- He Intercedes: Romans 8:26; “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express”. (NIV)
- He Searches the Deep Things of God: 1 Corinthians 2:11; “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God”. (NIV)
- He Sanctifies: Romans 15:16; “To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit”. (NIV)
- He Bears Witness or Testifies: Romans 8:16; “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (KJV)
- He Forbids: Acts 16:6-7; “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to”. (NIV)
- He Can be Lied to: Acts 5:3; “Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?” (NIV)
- He Can be Resisted: Acts 7:51; “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (NIV)
- He Can be Blasphemed: Matthew 12:31-32; “And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come”. (NIV)
- He Can be Quenched: 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. (NKJV)
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