A. He is Given a Name.

B. He has Attributes of Personality.

C. He has Appeared on Earth.

D. He is Rational.

E. He has Personal Characteristics.

A. He is Called God.

B. He has Divine Attributes.

C. He Performs Divine Acts.

A. He Glorifies Christ.

B. He Convicts.

C. He Regenerates.

D. He Commissions.

E. He Empowers.

F. He Produces Fruit.

A. As Impersonal.

B. As Removing Responsibility.

C. As Exclusive.

Gen. 1:2; 2:7; Job 33:4; Ps. 139:7; Matt. 3:16; 10:19,20; 12:28; John 6:63; 14:17,26; 15:26; 16:8,13,14; Acts 1:8; 5:3,4; 7:51; 13:2; Rom. 8:26,27; 15:13; 1 Cor. 2:7-14; 3:16; 6:19; 12:7-11; Gal. 5:22,23; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 9:14; 2 Pet. 1:21.

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 (John 14:26).

It is impossible to live a victorious Christian life unless we are aware of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. We should know Him as a divine person of the Godhead trinity and not as an impersonal force. This divine person was active in creation and is evidenced throughout the Old Testament. In the New Testament period, He convicts of sin, is active in the new birth, seals, endues, teaches, and guides the Christian. It is important to sort out fact from fancy in this crucial doctrine. Men have created much confusion and error concerning the personality, operation, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit is not just a force or an impersonal power. He is a genuine person. Several things indicate this:

Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter (John 14:26). He also referred to Him as the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17).

B. He has Attributes of Personality.

He is described as one who will guide us into all truth. The guiding aspect is that of a person (John 16:13). The Scripture also tells us that He will bring to our remembrance certain things (John 14:26). John 15:26 tells us that He testifies of Jesus Christ. This is a designation of a personal activity. John 16:14 tells us that He glorifies Jesus Christ. In 1 Cor. 12:11 we are told that He distributes divine gifts. In Eph. 1:13 and 4:30 we are told that He seals unto the day of redemption. We are told in Rom. 8:26,27 that He heals our infirmities and that He intercedes for us in prayer. These are all attributes of personality.

He distinguished Himself as an individual person of the Godhead at the baptism of the Lord Jesus when He appeared in a visible form that in the manner of a dove descended from above (Matt. 3:16).

In 1 Cor. 12:7-11, Paul tells us that Christian gifts are from the Spirit. The Spirit distributes these gifts severally as He will. "As He will" indicates that the Holy Spirit acts at His own choice and judgment. 1 Cor. 2:7-10 tells us that the "wisdom of God is made known to us by the Spirit of God who searches all things". He intelligently looks beyond all that the eye can see, to those regions where God's plan for man developed. He reveals these things unto men.

He can exercise power (Rom. 15:13). The Holy Spirit is treated as a person. He is grieved (Eph. 4:30). He is resisted (Acts 7:51). He may be lied to (Acts 5:3,4).

When Peter rebuked Ananias, saying he had lied to the Holy Spirit, he repeated the charge, saying that Ananias and Sapphira had agreed to lie to God (Acts 5:3,4). In 1 Cor. 3:16, Christians are called the temple of God. Later, we are called the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Both of these cases indicate that God and the Holy Spirit are one.

He is called eternal in Heb. 9:14. That He is all-wise, or omniscient, is indicated in 1 Cor. 2:10, for we are told that He searches all things. According to Ps. 139:7, the Holy Spirit is able to be present everywhere at once, or omnipresent. The Holy Spirit is all-powerful, omnipotent. Christ was put to death in the flesh, but was quickened, or brought to life, by the spirit (1 Pet 3:18). Power to overcome death is a divine capacity.

The Holy Spirit was active in creation of both matter and life (Gen. 1:2; 2:7; Job 33:4). Only a divine individual is capable of creation, Jesus cast out devils by the Spirit of God (Matt. 12:28). Divine gifts were given by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7,10). Writers of Scripture were moved to write by the Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). The Spirit gives life to the souls who believe in Jesus Christ (John 6:63)

Jesus promised to send a Comforter following His ascension into Heaven. According to John 16:14, one of the major activities of this Comforter, the Holy Spirit, is to bring glory to Jesus Christ.

John 16:8 says that the Spirit reproves, that is, convicts or convinces the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come.

C. He Regenerates.

As we have already seen, it is the Spirit who quickens, or gives life (John 6:63). In Tit. 3:5-7 He is described as washing or renewing us.

It was the Spirit of God who designated Paul and Barnabas for a missionary ministry (Acts 13:2). Chooses the field of operation (Acts 16:6).

The Holy Spirit gives Christians special power in several areas: the power to witness (Acts 1:8); to understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:7-14; 12:3,4); to remember (John 14:26); and to preach (Matt. 10:19,20); guides in all truth (John 16:13).

Gal. 5:22,23 list the fruit of qualities, the Holy Spirit will produce in the lives of believers. Notice that He produces this fruit because He dwells within the believer. The Spirit does not indwell the believer because the believer produces fruit. (I Co 3:16-17)

The Holy Spirit is regarded by some as a de-personalized force. Some people think the Holy Spirit is not a person, but rather a nonpersonal entity, in the wind, rain, mountains, force of good, etc. They need to consider the scriptures we have pointed out above.

Some think the Holy Spirit is to provide them "happiness without responsibility". They are seeking only to gain special joys, special hallelujahs, finances, good ‘feelings’, or things, without recognizing that the Holy Spirit came to give us power to perform certain duties while obediently walking holy before our Lord.

There's an error of the exclusive, elite, proud attitude that "we have the whole gospel." With an emphasis placed on the Holy Spirit and the "gifts" he gives. In contrast, those who have the Spirit are meek, gentle, and humble. Phil. 2:5-8 describes those who have the mind of Christ as making themselves of no reputation and making the Lord all-and-all. The Holy Spirit always glorifies Christ, and not himself. (John 16:13)

The Holy Spirit is a person. He is part of the Holy Trinity. He is the activating force in the life of all Christians. Without His ministry - Christians are powerless and fruitless. The Holy Spirit is as invisible as the wind, He is still a very real and very active person who is always ready to guide and assist Christians in their daily living. Believers ARE the temple of God, God the Holy Spirit dwells within us – Awesome realization, I Co 3:16-17.

1. The Holy Spirit was called: ___________________(John 14:26) ____________________ (John 14:17).

2. The Holy Spirit has personality attributes of: __________________ ________________ ______________ __________________ _____________________.

3. The Holy Spirit has personality characteristics of ________________ _______________ _________________.

1. Ananias and Sapphira not only lied to the _____________________ but also to _____________________ (Acts 5:3,4).

2. The Holy Spirit's divine attributes are: __________________ __________________ ____________________ _____________________ ________________________ and others.

3. Writers of the Scriptures were moved by ____________________ inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

1. He ____________________________ Christ (John 16:14).

2. He ____________________________ the world of sin (John 16:8).

3. He ____________________________ or gives new life (John 6:63).

4. He produces _________________ because He dwells in the _______________________ (Galatians 5:22,23).

Memory Verse: 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 (John 14:26).

Short Version: The Holy Ghost . . . shall teach you all things.

Brief Studies