Who is the Holy Spirit?

(King James Version of Bible) - Words in parenthesis are added for clarity
Used this online resource for Scripture lookup...  http://www.biblegateway.com/

Is the Holy Spirit Really God?

• Acts 5:3-4 - ³ But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?  ⁴ Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
• 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.
• Romans 8:9 -  ⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
• Ephesians 1:13 - ¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,
• Hebrews 9:14 - ¹⁴ How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal (always existed) Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Is the Holy Spirit Really the Third Member of the Trinity? (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

• Genesis 1:1 - ¹ In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth.  (Elohim is the name for God used in the Hebrew.  Anything in Hebrew with the 'im' on the end means plurality or more than one.  Therefore all of the Trinity existed or was there at creation.)
• Proverbs 30:4 - ⁴ Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in His fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is His name, and what is His son's name, if thou canst tell?
• Job 26:13 - ¹³ By His Spirit he hath garnished the heavens; His hand hath formed the crooked serpent.  (Garnished means to have decorated or embellished)
• Colossians 3:1 - ¹ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
• John 1:3 -  ³ All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
• John 1:10 - ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.
• Colossians 1:16 -  ¹⁶ For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:
• Revelation 4:10-11 - ¹⁰ The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ¹¹ Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
• Hebrews 4:12 - ¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• Matthew 28:19 - ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
• II Corinthians 13:14 - ¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
• I 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.
• Exodus 20:3 - ³ Thou shalt have no other gods (Elohim) before Me.
• Psalm 110:1 - ¹ The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  (Two Lords, Father & Son)
• Zechariah 2:10-11 - ¹⁰ Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.  ¹¹ And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.  (Two Lords.  ⁴ Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our Elohim is one Yaweh:/ ⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:  Deut 6:4 - Jewish Old Testament names Yahweh and Elohim.)

Is The Bible Really God's Word? Yes!

• 2 Peter 1:19-21 - ¹⁹ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  ²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  ²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Characteristics of the Holy Spirit...

• Spirit of Grace - Zechariah 12:10 - ¹⁰ And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
• Spirit of Holiness - Romans 1:4 - ⁴ And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
• Spirit of Knowledge - Isaiah 11:2 - ² And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
• Spirit of Life - Romans 8:2 - ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
• Spirit of Love - Galatians 5:22 - ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 
• Spirit of Promise - Ephesians 1:13 - ¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,
• Spirit of Prophecy - Revelation 19:10 - ¹⁰ And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
• Spirit of Supplication - Ephesians 6:18 - ¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
• Spirit of Truth - John 14:17 - 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.
• Spirit of Wisdom - Isaiah 11:2 - ² And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

All Knowing...
Acts 15:18 - ¹⁸ Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.
I Corinthians 2:10 - ¹⁰ But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Omnipotent/All Powerful - I Peter 3:18 - ¹⁸ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Omnipresent/Everywhere - Psalm 139:7-11 - ⁷ Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? ⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; ¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  ¹¹ If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

The Holy Spirit is a Person (Paraclete/Comforter) - John 16:13-14 - 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.  ¹⁴ He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

We can use His name when we pray. We can meditate and wait upon Him for His Guidance - Romans 8:26 - ²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Attributes as a Person...

• Speaks - Acts 13:2 -  ² As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
• Strives - Genesis 6:3 - ³ And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
  Acts 7:51- ⁵¹ Ye stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
• Vexed/Irritated - Isaiah 63:10 - ¹⁰ But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them.
• Grieved - Ephesians 4:30 - ³⁰ And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
• Quenched - I Thessalonians 5:19 - ¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit.

Did the Trinity spirit exist in the beginning?  Yes.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit
John 4:24 - ²⁴ God (The Father) is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Hebrews 9:26 - ²⁶ For then must He (Christ, the Son) often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
John 16:13 - 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.

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament Came and Went - Psalm 51:11 - ¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.  (The Holy Spirit would visit, fill the person with power for the task and leave)

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament Dwells in All Believers ...
John 14:16-17 - ¹⁶And I will pray to the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;  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.
Acts 2 (Pentecost) - Link to whole chapter
I Corinthians 3:16 - ¹⁶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
I Corinthians 6:19 - ¹⁹ What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Those indwelt by the Holy Spirit will become miserable when in sin.  The Holy Spirit is grieved when a believer sins.  The believer will have a contrite heart - Contrite heart means "to be completely penitent, feeling remorse and affected by guilt, deeply regretful and wishing to atone for sin."

Work of the Holy Spirit ...

• Regenerates... Romans 5:5 -  ⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  John 3:5-7 - ⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  ⁷ Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
• Striving - Genesis 6:3 - ³ And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
• Illumination - II Peter 1:21- ²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  Psalm 119:105 - ¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  I Corinthians 2:10 - ¹⁰ But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.   I Corinthians 12:13 - ¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
• Restraint - Galatians 5:22-23 - ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  II Thessalonians 2:7 - ⁷ For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.   Matthew 5:13-14 - ¹³ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  ¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
• Comfort - John 14:16-18 (Comforter/Paraclete) -  ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;  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.  ¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Baptism of/Receiving the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation when you make Jesus Lord of your life.
I Corinthians 12:13 - ¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Ephesians 4:3-6 -  ³ Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.   ⁴ There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  ⁵ One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  ⁶ One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

There can be many fillings of the Holy Spirit.  We need to ask for a daily filling of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work that God has given us to do.  Without that filling we can do nothing. 
Zechariah 4:6 - ⁶ Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

There are 19 gifts of the Holy Spirit and every single believer gets one or more gifts. 
I Corinthians 12:7 - ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Charisma in the Greek means a gift.  Charismatic believers have received gifts and all Christians are Charismatic! 

Ephesians 4:11-12 - ¹¹ And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Romans 12:4-8 - ⁴ For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  ⁵ So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;  ⁷ Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;  ⁸ Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

I Corinthians 12:8-11 - ⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  ⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  ¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  ¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Meanings of Gifts...

• Wisdom - The ability to speak with discretion and tact.  To say the right thing at the right time. 
  I Corinthians 12:8-11
• Knowledge - The ability to delve into the deep things or mysteries of God.  Then be able to communicate them in an understandable way to others.  I Corinthians 12:8-11
• Faith - The ability to attempt the impossible for God.  Faith in combination with the Holy Spirit's leading.  Always be sure your venture is the will of God.  Hebrew 11:6
• Healing - Be very careful!  Some have wrongly said so and so wasn't healed because they didn't have enough faith.  In Bible times it was the one doing the healing that had to have the faith.  John 11  Example:  Raising someone from the dead.  The dead have no faith, it's the faith of the healer.
• Miracles - An extraordinary event with divine intervention.  (Webster's Dictionary)
• Prophecy - The gift to tell good news with power.  II Peter 1:19  You don't say I predict, I predict, you use the word of God.
• Discernment - The ability to judge weather the message is from God or Satan.  Whatever you hear you are to test the spirits to see whether their of God.  I Timothy 4:1 and II John 1:9
• Tongues - Acts 2:4-8;  I Corinthians 12:14;  I Corinthians 14:28;  James 3:2;  I Corinthians 14:5

God gives us whatever gifts He chooses for us.  You don't have a say and you can't change it.
I Corinthians 12:15-18; I Corinthians 12:22; I Corinthians 12:29-31;

Fruit of the Spirit - The Holy Spirit's Fruit can't be duplicated but the gifts can.
Matthew 7:21-23;  John 10:27;  Galations 5:22

• Love - There are those who minister the gifts but don't do it with love.  They're mechanical and go through the motions.  I Corinthians 13:1-5  Gifts are meaningless unless they're preformed under the administration of the Holy Spirit and with love!
• Joy - Is not happiness, it's something different.  I Peter 1:8  J = Jesus First; O = Others Second; and Y = Yourself Last.
• Peace - Peace of God. Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:6-7; Peace that passes all understanding is within.
• Longsuffering - Opposite of impatience.  II Peter 3:9;   I Thessolonians 5:14;  Matthew 11:28-30 
• Gentleness - We were gentle among you.  I Thessalonians 2:7
• Goodness - Luke 18:19;  Romans 15:13
• Faith - Faithfulness Lamentations 3:23  Faithfulness in serving God.  II Timothy 2:15  Study to show thyself approved under God.  Psalm 119:11
• Meekness - Meek and lowly in heart.  It doesn't mean you let people walk all over you or take advantage.  It means meekness and boldness.  Isaiah 14:12-14;  Matthew 3:16;  Matthew 23:33
• Temperance - Philippians 4:5

Power of the Holy Spirit - Special power that believers get when they allow the Holy Spirit to control their lives.  Acts 1:8 - ⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother's womb.  Luke 1:15 - ¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

Source:  Baptism of the Holy Spirit by Jack Van Impe
 

Link to Video:  Getting to Know the Holy Spirit by Dave Wilkerson

Link to Printable Online Newsletter:  Getting to Know the Holy Spirit by Dave Wilkerson

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