Who is the Holy Spirit?
For us to understand the Holy Spirit, we first need to know what a ‘’Spirit’’ is. The Spirit is the invincible, none-physical part of a ”living being”. Previously in one of our articles, we learned that man is made up of the Body, Soul and Spirit. Additionally, the Soul is the part of man that is responsible for attributes like personality, character, feelings and emotions. Man is a living soul in a physical body. A person’s behavior, speech, body language and countenance can be used to determine the state of their soul and spirit . The Spirit is the innermost part of man. The human spirit makes interractions with spirits. These spirits can be the Holy spirit or evil spirits.
The Holy Spirit is the presence of God.
Our Heavenly Father is the creator. His presence and power is manifested through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of God (The Father, The word-Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit).
1st John 5:7. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
1st Timothy 3:16. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
God confirms to us the three of His persons during the creation. He said ‘’Let us make man in our image” in Genesis 1:26
Genesis 1:26. 26 And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. The Three persons of God are the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
As the Father is eternal, so is His Spirit and the Word in Jesus Christ.
Before the creation, The Father, The Holy Spirit and the Word existed.
Genesis 1:2. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Job 26:13. 13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
John 1:1-3. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In the past during the time of the Fathers, the Spirit of God came upon His prophets and servants.
Many times in the past the Holy Spirit came upon the prophets and servants. This was to enable them to hear God, discern spiritual matters and to perform duties The Holy Spirit empowered the prophets and gave them visions and dreams. The Holy Spirit also empowered workers with skills for construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple.
The artisans who made the priestly garments for Aaron were filled with the Holy Spirit that gifted them with artistry and wisdom in their duties for the Kingdom.
Exodus 28:3. 3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
The builders of the Tabernacle were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Exodus 31:1,6. Bezaleel and Aholiab were filled with the Holy Spirit of wisdom in understanding and knowledge in all manner of workmanship for the building of the tabernacle.
6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;
The Holy Spirit empowered Jephthah to conquer the Ammonites who had risen up against the Israelites.
Judges 11:28,32. 29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.
32 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
Every faithful believer receives the Holy Spirit when he/she accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
John the Baptist declared that Jesus Christ will baptize every repented and faithful believer with the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mark 1:8. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
This was a fulfillment of the prophecies by prophets Ezekiel and Joel
Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26,27. 19And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Joel 2:28. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:”
After His ascension to Heaven, Jesus Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit.
John 7:38,39. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 14:16,17. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
17 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.
John 16:7. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John 16:13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Acts 2:1-4. 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Holy Spirit becomes the light, helper, teacher, councillor, enabler and comforter for a believer.
The soul and body cannot discern or learn things of the Holy Spirit. This means that the carnal man is deficient in his ability to intereact with the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit a believer cannot walk with God. To solve this problem, believers receive a measure of the Spirit of God. This is the Holy Spirit and we become one with the Almighty God in Christ Jesus. 1st Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
As believers we are to grow in the faith steadily right from the day, we receive Christ. This is made possible by the Holy Spirit. A believer receives the Holy Spirit immdiately he accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. However, one must submit to the Holy Spirit for Him to manifest Himself. Do the following for the Holy Spirit to manifest in your life:
- Have a daily bible study routine
- Live a prayerful life and this means that you constantly communicate with God in Jesus Christ
- Desist from sinful lifestyle and avoid all avenues of temptation
- Become a member Holy spirit filled Bible believing church
- Have a passion for working for the Kingdom e.g., intercession, soul winning, evangelism, church cleaning etc