The Holy Spirit
What is the Holy Spirit like? Who is He? How does He play a part in the Trinity? Here are a lot of verses discussing the Holy Spirit.
Lord God, before I start, I pray that You and Your Spirit would guide me, through the right conclusions and to grow in a better relationship with You as I make this study. If it is Your that I do this, please bless it. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
First, we look in the Old Testament, because there is always something in there that has to do with the New Testament. Now, if we look at the very beginning, we see God the Father is talking to the two other Persons of the Trinity.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26.
God uses the word us and we find out in other parts of the Bible that Jesus is part of the us.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1. And also in John 10:30. I and the Father are one.
So, we know that Jesus is part of the Father, and also the Holy Spirt is part of the Trinity. In Isaiah I noticed that it said that “But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.” See how is says his Holy Spirit. How can it be His Holy Spirit unless They were One? And it says also says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom…. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
When God make man He suggested it to the Trinity, so here is the first implied mention of the Holy Spirit.
As we look into the Bible, we see that the Spirit of the Lord is powerful. We see this power primary displayed in Jesus, our Lord. He was also given the Spirit without measure.
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness. Luke 4:1 and. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. John 3:34.
Jesus was full of the Spirit and did many mighty miracles. Acts 10:38 “…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
At Pentecost the Spirit of the Lord is like a powerful wind. Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
When the Spirit of the Lord fell upon the Apostles, they also could do the works that Jesus did.
You may ask yourself if the Holy Spirit is still working today. Are the early Apostles the only ones with the Holy Spirit? This verse answers this question.
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
So, to be saved, one must repent and be baptized and then they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This must mean that everyone who is saved is given the Holy Spirit.
Remember this is a gift. Luke 11:13 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” God gives the Holy Spirit. You cannot buy it. In Acts this happened.
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:18-19.
Peter rebuked him for thinking that he could buy God’s gift with money.
Now this he said about the Spirit,whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37
The Spirit must be given.
The Holy Spirit gives life. He raised Jesus up from the dead, and if you have died to yourself and dwell in Jesus, the Spirit will raise you from the dead, the second death that is. The second death is indescribably worse than you could ever imagine.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11. And Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
The Holy Spirit sanctifies us as well. We cannot sanctify ourselves just as much as we can save ourselves. “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11.
The Holy Spirit has the power to heal both physically and spiritually and when we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, because we have believed in Christ, we are given the power to heal physically through Jesus Christ.
They will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:18.
This is the power of the Holy Spirit. We know that there is nothing that we can do to make anyone well or be able to pick up serpents even.
