The Holy Spirit Lesson One – Who or What is the Holy Spirit?
The subject that we are now going to cover is one of the most miss taught and abused doctrines in the entire Bible. There is more miss information out there on this, than there is truth. Most of what has been written on this subject, most of what you see on T.V. concerning this, and most of what is preached from most of the pulpits across America is utter nonsense. And I am talking about the Holy Spirit.
A few years after I had gotten saved, I heard someone talking about this slayed in the spirit business. Now I had read my Bible thru completely and I was sure that I never ran across that. And what he was telling me sounded so crazy that I thought that he was just pulling my leg. So I decided to take a look. Could people really believe something that silly? Something that is not in the Bible at all? So I turned the Idiot box on and went to the “religious” channel. A lot of men will say they ran across it channel surfing. I don’t have enough time to waste watching much T.V. let alone channel surfing.
I found the channel and sure enough there was some guy in a white ice cream suit. He was saying a bunch of stuff that is not in the Bible and then they brought up two people onto the stage area. And he went over and hit both of them on the head. They both fell down and started flopping around like a fish out of water. A moment later they started to get up and he went over and hit them on the head again.
I said yep, it really is that stupid. Click. About 90 seconds was enough of that nonsense for me.
The Bible warns us to beware of this kind of teaching.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Being slayed in the spirit is not in the Bible. Those who teach it are teaching philosophy and not the Word of God. And God tells us to Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,
There are many false teachings about the Holy Spirit. The two most prevalent are the Charismatics who elevate the Holy Spirit to a position that He would not seek, and teach that the Holy Spirit does things that the Bible does not teach. And then there are those who teach that the Holy Spirit is just a force. A force for us to get a hold of and use. Many cults deny He is a person and that He is God, saying the Holy Spirit is just a "force" or an "influence."
We are to get our teaching from the Word of God and not thru philosophy.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
It is the Word that is profitable for doctrine.
It is God’s words that are perfect.
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.
It is God’s words that are pure.
Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psa 12:7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
And God promised to preserve them. So we must have them somewhere. And for the English-speaking people that is in the King James Version.
We have God’s truth in our hands.
So who is the Holy Spirit according to the Bible?
Is the Holy Spirit a force or a person?
Joh 14:17 [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.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Joh 16:7 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.
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
By the use of the personal pronouns of He and Him, the Bible clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit is a personal being and not just a force or influence.
Personal Characteristics Ascribed to the Holy Spirit.
Knowledge is ascribed to the Holy Spirit.
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Will is ascribed to the Holy Spirit.
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 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:
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Love is ascribed to the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in [your] prayers to God for me;
Grief is ascribed to the Holy Spirit.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Characteristics that only a person can possess that are ascribed to the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
The Holy Spirit speaks.
Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
The Holy Spirit cries out.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
The Holy Spirit intercedes.
Rom 8:26 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.
The Holy Spirit testifies.
Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
The Holy Spirit teaches.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Holy Spirit leads. He directs believers in what to do.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The Holy Spirit commands.
Act 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Act 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
The Holy Spirit calls us to work and appoints our role or office.
Act 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.
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Personal treatment ascribed to the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit can be lied to.
Act 5:3 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?
The Holy Spirit can be blasphemed against.
Mat 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Is the Holy Spirit God?
Act 5:3 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?
Act 5:4 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.
Verse 3 tells us that the lie is being told to the Holy Ghost and verse 4 tells us that the lie was told to God. The only conclusion can you draw from comparing these facts is that the Holy Ghost is God.
1Jo 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
This verse tells us the Holy Ghost is one with the Father and the Word (Son).
Compare John 1:1 and 1:14 for an understanding of Who the Word is (The Word is Jesus).
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Notice the word "name" is singular; this indicates that the Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Holy Trinity.
The Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is a personal being infinitely wise, holy, and tender. He is not a force for us to get a hold of and use. He is a personal being who is to get a hold of us and use us.