The Holy Spirit A Study in the Scriptures

THE HOLY SPIRIT

"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 show you things to come. He shall glorify Me ..."
John 16:13, 14

I. The Holy Spirit is not an inanimate power or force, but a Person.

A. Jesus and Paul both continually referred to the Holy Spirit as "He," not "It."

John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 8, 13, 14

B. The Spirit intercedes "with groanings which cannot be uttered."

Romans 8:26

C. He speaks to man.

Luke 2:26 "And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost ..."
John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he ... shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak ..."
Acts 8:29 "Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot."
Acts 10: 19, 20 "While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them."
Acts 11:12 Acts 13:2 "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."
Acts 21:11; 28:5; 1 Timothy 4:1
Hebrews 3:7 "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice"
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 14:13; 22:17

D. He can be grieved (Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30); resisted (Acts 7:51);
insulted (Hebrews 10:29); and lied to (Acts 5:3).

E. He has a will (exercises choice, discretion). 1 Corinthians 12:11

F. He has the capacity to love (Romans 15:30), and we can have fellowship with Him (2 Corinthians 13:14).

G. He has intelligence and is capable of making decisions.

1 Corinthians 2:10, 11; Isaiah 40:13; Acts 15:28

H. He has a personality, and specific qualities are attributed to His character.

1. Goodness. Nehemiah 9:20; Galatians 5:22, 23

2. Holiness. Romans 1:4, etc.

3. Truth. John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13

4. Grace. Hebrews 10:29; Zechariah 12: 10

5. Comfort. John 14:26; 15:26

6. Patience, love, gentleness, etc. Galatians 5:22, 23

II. The Holy Spirit is one with God.

Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3, 4; 1 Corinthians 3:16 with 6:19;
12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7

A. He has all the attributes of God.

1. He is eternal. Hebrews 9:14

a. He was present with God in the creation of the world.

Genesis 1:2, 3; Job 26:13; 33:4; Psalms 104:30

b. Many Old Testament scriptures speak of the Spirit of God.

Isaiah 11:2; 42:1; 48:16; 61:1; 63:9; Ezekiel 36:26, 27

2. He is everywhere (omnipresent). Psalms 139:7-10

3. He knows everything (omniscient). Isaiah 40:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11

4. He is all-powerful (omnipotent). Psalms 104:30

B. Yet He is a distinct personality apart from both the Father and the Son.

Matthew 12:31, 32 (Mark 3:29, 30; Luke 12:10); John 14: 16; 16:5-15

III. What is the function of the Holy Spirit? What are His responsibilities?

A To instruct, teach, reveal. Nehemiah 9:20; Job 32:8; Luke 12:12; John
14:27; 15:26; 16:13, 14; Acts 13:2; 1 Corinthians 2: 10, 13; Ephesians 1:16, 17;
3:5; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 2:20, 27

B. To counsel, guide. John 14:26; 16:13; Acts 11:12; 16:6, 7; 20:22, 23;
Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18

C. To intercede and assist in prayer. Romans 8:26, 27; Ephesians 2: 18; Jude 20

D. To comfort. John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:17; Acts 9:31

E. To commission to service (ministry). Isaiah 48: 16; Acts 13:2; 20:28

F. To convict of sin, to strive with sinners. Genesis 6:3; John 16:8-11

G. To give power and boldness. Acts 1:8; Acts 4:31; Ephesians 3: 16; I Timothy l :6, 7

H. To testify that we are the children of God. Romans 8:16; Galatians 4:6

I. To testify of Jesus. John 15:26

J. To empower the believer to have victory over the flesh.
Romans 8:4, 13; Galatians 5:16, 25

K. To inspire to prophesy. Numbers 9:30; 11:25, 29; 2 Samuel 23:2, 3;
2 Chronicles 20: 14, 15; Acts 21:4; 28:25; 2 Peter 1:21

L. To impart life (I Samuel 10:6, 9; Ezekiel 37:9, 14; Romans 8:11);
hope (Romans 15:13); joy (Romans 14: 17; I Thessalonians 1:6;
Galatians 5:22); love (Romans 5:5); skill (Exodus 31:2-5); and even
physical strength (Judges 14:6, 19; 15;14, 15), as well as spiritual
strength (Ephesians 3:16).

IV. Scripture uses many types or symbols for the Holy Spirit.

A. Water. Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 7:38, 39; 4:14;
Ephesians 5:26; Revelation 22:17

B. Fire. Exodus 13:21; Psalms 78:14; Isaiah 4:4; Malachi 3:3, 4;
Matthew 3:11; Hebrews 12:24; Acts 2; 3:6-11

C. Wind. 2 Kings 19:11; Ezekiel 37:9; John 3:8; Acts 2:2

D. Oil. Isaiah 61:1, 3; Hebrews 1:9; 1 John 2:20, 27

E. Rain; dew. Psalms 68:9; 72:6; Isaiah 32:15; Hosea 6:3; 10:12; 14:5

F. Dove. Genesis 1:2 ("moved on" = "brooded over" or "fluttered," Heb.);
Matthew 3:16

V. The work of the Trinity can be seen in that, even as the Son came to glorify the Father
(John 17:4), so was the Spirit sent to glorify the Son (John 8:55; 16:14).

A. The Father's promise to send the Spirit was given long before Jesus ever came to earth.

Isaiah 44:3 "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring."
Isaiah 32:15 "Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest."
Ezekiel 36:27 "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."
Zechariah 12:10 "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 ..."

B. The Lord Jesus Himself promised that when He should leave He would send the Spirit of Truth.

Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever."
John 16:7 "Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?"
Acts 1:4 "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me."

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