Introduction
Is it a force? Is it just a spirit? Is it God? Is He a person? Who really is the Holy Spirit?
These are some of the most confusing questions that new believers struggle to answer. In this module, we embark on an in-depth review and understanding of the person of the Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is one of the primary revelations that believers must understand.
In this module, you will understand that the Holy Spirit is not just some force or power responsible for creation. His residence is not just in heaven; He is with us at all times and indwelling in the believer. He is the person through whom the divinity of God meets humanity in man.
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was reserved for the chosen and anointed men of God, such as kings, craftsmen, priests, prophets, and psalmists.
Scriptural References:
- Exodus 35:30-32: “Then Moses said to the Israelites, ‘See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and He has filled him with the Spirit of God…”
- 1 Samuel 16:13: “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David.”
- Numbers 11:25: “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and He took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied…”
In the Old Testament, the presence of the Holy Spirit was also temporary and not permanent—implying that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were revocable. As seen in Scripture, David pleaded with God not to take away the Holy Spirit from him, as was the case with his predecessor, Saul.
Scriptural References:
- Psalms 51:11: “Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.”
- 1 Samuel 16:14: “Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul…”
In the New Testament, however, the liberty of the Spirit is freely given to everyone who believes. His residence is also permanent.
The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the new creation, evidences the birth and indwelling of the Holy Spirit—He models the life of the New Testament believer.
Jesus Christ was born of the Holy Spirit—a birth of divine measure and by the will of God.
Scriptural Reference:
- Luke 1:35: “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Similarly, the new birth (birth of the Spirit received by faith) resembles the birth of Christ, making us to be known as the sons of God.
Scriptural Reference:
- John 1:12-13: “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
When you are born again, it means you are born in a similar fashion to Jesus Christ—born of the Spirit of God and not by natural birth or human descent.
In the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit also anointed Him and enabled Him to perform miracles, signs, wonders, teachings, and healings.
Scriptural References:
- Luke 4:1: “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led into the wilderness.”
- Luke 4:14: “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit…”
- Acts 10:38: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.”
The Promised Holy Spirit
Jesus Christ, at the dawn of His death and resurrection, promised that He would not leave the disciples as orphans but would send them the Holy Spirit.
Scriptural Reference:
- John 14:16-17: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
To some people, the person of the Holy Spirit is like a myth or misconception. Such people do not know Him or see Him. But as a believer in Christ, you need to have the consciousness that this person of the Holy Spirit is always with you and is residing in you.
The Holy Spirit in the Life of a New Testament Believer
There are two primary conditions to receiving the person or gift of the Holy Spirit:
a) Hear and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 1:13: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.”
b) The faith that you have in Jesus Christ.
- Galatians 3:14: “So that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit concerns the acknowledgment (witnessing) by the Spirit of God that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. As a New Testament believer, you need to know that there is one and the same Spirit, which is from our Lord Jesus Christ. He testifies that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Scriptural References:
- Ephesians 4:4: “There is one body and one Spirit…”
- Ephesians 4:5: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
- 1 Corinthians 12:13: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…”
Now, there is a danger of questioning the legitimacy or authority of the Holy Spirit. Some encounter evil spirits or familiar spirits yet claim to be anointed by the Spirit of God. Such claims should be tested against the truth of Jesus Christ.
Guidance of Familiar Spirits vs. the Holy Spirit
Some individuals develop doctrines, start religious or occult groups, perform miracles, or build ministries based on guidance from familiar spirits or spirits of darkness. When Jesus Christ was questioned by the Pharisees and Scribes about the authority behind His miracles, He responded by asking whether John’s baptism was from heaven or man.
Scriptural Reference
- Mark 11:30: “The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of man? Answer me.”
As believers, we must not emulate the Pharisees and Scribes in doubting the authenticity of the Holy Spirit. The only way to recognize the Spirit of truth is by acknowledging that He testifies Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
Scriptural References
- John 15:26: “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me.”
- 1 John 4:1: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
- 1 John 4:2-3: “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”
Discerning the Spirit of Truth
The spirit at work in the Pharisees and Scribes was antichrist in nature, seeking to dispute and replace the authority of Jesus Christ. This same antichrist spirit manifests today in various forms:
- Emphasis on signs, wonders, and miracles without adherence to the Word of God.
- Prophesying spirits claiming knowledge of the future (e.g., palm readers, fortune tellers, horoscopes).
- Works-based doctrines, teaching salvation by works rather than grace and truth through Jesus Christ.
- Sacrificial demands for spiritual rewards, seen in practices like wizardry, witchcraft, or gospel peddlers.
- New Age practices, such as astrology, meditation, materialism, and stoicism.
Parakletos – The Holy Spirit
The Comforter (Greek: Parakletos) is the name Jesus Christ gives to the Holy Spirit. In the life of a New Testament believer, the Holy Spirit performs six primary roles:
- Intercessor – He helps us pray according to God’s will (Romans 8:26).
- Advocate – He defends us before the accuser, ensuring mercy in times of stumbling or persecution (Luke 12:12).
- Counselor – He provides wisdom, understanding, and divine counsel from God (John 7:38-39).
- Comforter – In moments of despair, He encourages and strengthens us (John 14:16).
- Helper – He reveals Jesus Christ and testifies of Him as the Son of God (John 15:26).
- Consoler – He reminds us of our freedom from the curse of sin and death (John 14:16 TPT).
The Teaching Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit’s paramount role is to teach. Jesus affirmed this ministry by declaring that the Spirit would teach us all things and reveal future truths (John 14:26; John 16:13).
Through the Holy Spirit, believers gain understanding of God’s Word and its application to life, including purpose, calling, career, and relationships.
Scriptural References
- 1 John 2:20: “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”
- 1 John 2:27: “… the anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth…”
The Holy Spirit is the one who teaches us all things concerning the word of God. He reveals to us the mind of God concerning the scriptures and how they relate or connect to our current situations.
Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation
The Holy Spirit imparts wisdom and revelation to reveal the will of God, guiding us in every aspect of life.
Scriptural References
- Ephesians 1:17: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.”
- Ephesians 1:18: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints…”
If you want to understand God’s will for any issue or situation in your life, this verse serves as a key to unlocking His mind.
The Holy Spirit can reveal what your future holds and the inheritance you have in Christ Jesus after being born again. God has something special in store for each of us. All we need to do is seek Him through the Holy Spirit, who will reveal these things to us.
The Infilling of the Holy Spirit
The infilling of the Holy Spirit is a continuous process characterized by boldness, love, and wisdom to face life’s challenges.
Scriptural Reference
- Ephesians 5:18: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.”
Evidence of Being Filled with the Holy Spirit:
- Yielding completely to Him in worship and prayer.
- The Word of God dwelling richly within.
- Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
- Abandoning old sinful habits and nature – sexual immorality, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, idol worship.
- Manifesting the fruits of the Spirit – love, peace, joy, gentleness, patience, humility, faithfulness (Galatians 5:22-23).
- Speaking in tongues as the Spirit leads.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifold and are revealed by the Holy Spirit to each believer. They are categorized below according to scripture.
Digest Questions
- Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does He do?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. In the Old Testament, the Spirit was reserved for anointed men of God, such as kings, prophets, and priests. However, the Spirit now dwells within New Testament believers. He teaches and guides us into all truth and empowers us through a myriad of gifts to fulfill different areas of our calling. - Why do we need the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is our primary teacher in prayer and reading the Word of God. He intercedes for us when we pray to the Father and gives us revelation of the Word. - How do I know and understand the Holy Spirit?
You will recognize the Holy Spirit because He is the only Spirit that testifies that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (1 John 4:1-3). - What are the attributes of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit has multiple attributes, including Helper, Comforter, Consoler, Advocate, Intercessor, and Counselor (John 14:16, TPT). - What are the special duties of the Holy Spirit?
The special duty or primary function of the Holy Spirit is to teach. He teaches us all things concerning our lives. He is the one through whom we receive special gifts, such as wisdom, revelation, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). - How do I know if the Holy Spirit is telling me something?
The Holy Spirit requires you to first yield to Him. You must allow Him to lead you in prayer, worship, and reading the Word of God. Cultivate a habit of reading the Word, replace secular music with worship songs, and strive to avoid old habits and harmful associations. Allow the Spirit to freely give you the gift of speaking in tongues. - What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The gifts are manifold. According to 1 Corinthians 12:6, they include: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, miracles, healing, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. Romans 12:6 lists: prophecy, ministering, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy. Finally, Isaiah 11:2 identifies: wisdom, revelation, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord.
This is profound, can you also share pdf copies that one can read and refer to larer
Thank you, Mary.
Working on the PDF, preferably for the whole discipleship program.