The Holy Spirit.
This Bible Study looks at the Personality of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:26,27 NKJV. Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. (He is our helper) For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us (He intercedes with God for us), with groanings (He expresses Himself) which cannot be uttered. Now He (the Lord) who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Note: The Spirit is pleading with God on our behalf. He cannot be the Father or an extension of Him, for He does not plead with Himself.
The Spirit must be a separate person like Jesus Christ who “also pleads” (V.34)
John 16:13 NKJV. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority (the ultimate source of authority is God), but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (Jesus also said, that He had not spoken on His own authority, “but the Father who sent Me, gave Me a command what I should say and what I should speak”.
John12:49.14:10)
Note: The Spirit hears what the Father tells Him. He then in turn “will guide YOU into all the truth”. Once again this is not the Father talking to Himself! The Spirit is a separate person.
NOTE THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS:
Romans 8:26,27 NKJV. Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. (He is our helper) For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us (He intercedes with God for us), with groanings (He expresses Himself) which cannot be uttered. Now He (the Lord) who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Note: The Spirit is pleading with God on our behalf. He cannot be the Father or an extension of Him, for He does not plead with Himself.
The Spirit must be a separate person like Jesus Christ who “also pleads” (V.34)
John 16:13 NKJV. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority (the ultimate source of authority is God), but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (Jesus also said, that He had not spoken on His own authority, “but the Father who sent Me, gave Me a command what I should say and what I should speak”.
John12:49.14:10)
Note: The Spirit hears what the Father tells Him. He then in turn “will guide YOU into all the truth”. Once again this is not the Father talking to Himself! The Spirit is a separate person.
NOTE THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS:
John 16:14. NKJV. He (the Holy Spirit) will glorify Me (Christ), for He will take of what is mine, and declare it to you. (He supports Christ’s work)
Acts 13:2 NKJV. …the Holy Spirit said… Now separate to Me Barnabus and Saul for the work to which I (the Holy Spirit) have called them, (He has authority to speak).
Acts 10: 19,20. NKJV. While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I (The Holy Spirit) have sent them.” (The Holy Spirit is active in the lives of men).
PERSONALITY OF THE SPIRIT:
Note: A personality must have, emotion, intellect, and a will. The Holy Spirit has all three.
1. A WILL: 1 Cor 12:11. NKJV. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He (the Holy Spirit) wills.
2. MIND AND THOUGHTS. Rom 8:27. NKJV. Now He (God) who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He (the Holy Spirit) makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (God knows the desires the Holy Spirit inspires in our hearts: the Holy Spirit understands the anxious longings of the heart and is ready to aid and bless; the Holy Spirit thinks and has compassion).
3. INTELLECT. 1 Cor.2:11. NKJV. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man (a man’s private thoughts, desires, intentions and plans are only fully understood by himself) which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit has intelligent knowledge of God).
Acts 13:2 NKJV. …the Holy Spirit said… Now separate to Me Barnabus and Saul for the work to which I (the Holy Spirit) have called them, (He has authority to speak).
Acts 10: 19,20. NKJV. While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I (The Holy Spirit) have sent them.” (The Holy Spirit is active in the lives of men).
PERSONALITY OF THE SPIRIT:
Note: A personality must have, emotion, intellect, and a will. The Holy Spirit has all three.
1. A WILL: 1 Cor 12:11. NKJV. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He (the Holy Spirit) wills.
2. MIND AND THOUGHTS. Rom 8:27. NKJV. Now He (God) who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He (the Holy Spirit) makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (God knows the desires the Holy Spirit inspires in our hearts: the Holy Spirit understands the anxious longings of the heart and is ready to aid and bless; the Holy Spirit thinks and has compassion).
3. INTELLECT. 1 Cor.2:11. NKJV. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man (a man’s private thoughts, desires, intentions and plans are only fully understood by himself) which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit has intelligent knowledge of God).
4. LOVE. Rom. 15:30. NKJV. Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit (the love that the Spirit inspires), that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me.
5. FELLOWSHIP. 2 Cor.13:14. NKJV. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (This is the most complete and explicit summary of the doctrine of the Trinity.)
6. FEELINGS. Eph. 4:30. NKJV. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (The personality of the Holy Spirit is here clearly implied: only persons can be grieved).
7. TALK and DIRECT: Acts 8:29, 10:19. 13:2, 4. NKJV. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
8. FORBID. Acts 16:6, 7. NKJV. Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
9. TEACH: John 16:13. NKJV: However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
10. HELPER: John 14:16, 17. NKJV. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (helper is translated comforter in the KJV) (Comforter – Greek, Parakletos, the literal meaning is “one called to the side of: elsewhere in non-Christian literature parakletos has the general meaning of one who stands up in behalf of another – a mediator, an intercessor or a helper)", that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
11. AUTHOR PROPHECY. 2 Pet. 1:21. NKJV. For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
5. FELLOWSHIP. 2 Cor.13:14. NKJV. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (This is the most complete and explicit summary of the doctrine of the Trinity.)
6. FEELINGS. Eph. 4:30. NKJV. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (The personality of the Holy Spirit is here clearly implied: only persons can be grieved).
7. TALK and DIRECT: Acts 8:29, 10:19. 13:2, 4. NKJV. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
8. FORBID. Acts 16:6, 7. NKJV. Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
9. TEACH: John 16:13. NKJV: However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
10. HELPER: John 14:16, 17. NKJV. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (helper is translated comforter in the KJV) (Comforter – Greek, Parakletos, the literal meaning is “one called to the side of: elsewhere in non-Christian literature parakletos has the general meaning of one who stands up in behalf of another – a mediator, an intercessor or a helper)", that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
11. AUTHOR PROPHECY. 2 Pet. 1:21. NKJV. For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2. GIVER of GIFTS:1 Cor 12:7 -11. NKJV. The manifestations of the Spirit are given to every man.....To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
13. LIED TO: Acts 5:3,4. NKJV. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (This is a very strong text to confirm the Holy Spirit’s deity).
14. GRIEVED: lsa 63:10. NKJV. But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; He then turned into their enemy, And He fought against them.
15. DESPISED, Insulted: Heb. 10:29. NKJV. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace (The Holy Spirit through whose agency the grace of Christ is applied to each repentant sinner).
Having established that the Holy Spirit is a separate person, proceed to the Deity of the Holy Spirit.
DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Is God. Acts 5:3,4. NKJV: Acts 5:3,4. NKJV. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
2. As Creator. Job 33:4.
(KJV) “Spirit of God hath made me”
(ASV) “Spirit of God hath made me”
3. Is Eternal. Heb. 9:14.
(KJV) “the eternal Spirit”
(ASV) “the eternal Spirit”
4. Is Lord. 2Cor.3:17. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty…(there is unity of purpose and operation between the Lord and the Holy Spirit). But we are all being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Matt.28:19. NKJV. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (The nature of the Holy Spirit is a divine mystery, one on which inspiration has not seen wise to speak, here He is linked with the Father and the Son)
13. LIED TO: Acts 5:3,4. NKJV. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (This is a very strong text to confirm the Holy Spirit’s deity).
14. GRIEVED: lsa 63:10. NKJV. But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; He then turned into their enemy, And He fought against them.
15. DESPISED, Insulted: Heb. 10:29. NKJV. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace (The Holy Spirit through whose agency the grace of Christ is applied to each repentant sinner).
Having established that the Holy Spirit is a separate person, proceed to the Deity of the Holy Spirit.
DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Is God. Acts 5:3,4. NKJV: Acts 5:3,4. NKJV. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
2. As Creator. Job 33:4.
(KJV) “Spirit of God hath made me”
(ASV) “Spirit of God hath made me”
3. Is Eternal. Heb. 9:14.
(KJV) “the eternal Spirit”
(ASV) “the eternal Spirit”
4. Is Lord. 2Cor.3:17. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty…(there is unity of purpose and operation between the Lord and the Holy Spirit). But we are all being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Matt.28:19. NKJV. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (The nature of the Holy Spirit is a divine mystery, one on which inspiration has not seen wise to speak, here He is linked with the Father and the Son)
5. Can Be Blasphemed Against.
Matt.12:31. NKJV. “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. (This group of Pharisees had attributed the power of the Holy Spirit to the devil, by declaring that Christ was demon possessed. Jesus told them that “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,” You can only blaspheme against God or sacred things).
Note: This last text alone proves the Deity of the Holy Spirit, for one can only blaspheme against a person who is Divine, for blasphemy is speaking evil of God!
Matt.12:31. NKJV. “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. (This group of Pharisees had attributed the power of the Holy Spirit to the devil, by declaring that Christ was demon possessed. Jesus told them that “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,” You can only blaspheme against God or sacred things).
Note: This last text alone proves the Deity of the Holy Spirit, for one can only blaspheme against a person who is Divine, for blasphemy is speaking evil of God!
