I. HOW WE LEARN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We learn of the Father God through His working in historic events, i.e. personal experiences of Abraham, bringing Israel out of Egypt, prophetic events, the ministry of Jesus, etc. We learn of Jesus through his spoken word, earthly ministry, eyewitness accounts of the disciples, etc.

How then do we learn of the Holy Spirit? I Corinthians 2:12-15 tells us that "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things freely given to us of God" and that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God...neither can he know them, because THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED"!

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit is unique to Christianity and apart from the Holy Spirit Himself, the Bible is the only source that we can gain information about Him. Let's keep in mind that Christ is the center of all Scripture, for the Holy Spirit does NOT displace the Son of God but comes to testify of Him, Christ, and not Himself. Yet it is essential that we understand the purpose and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, John 3:8, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." We can see the work or effects of the Holy Spirit in the world, upon persons and events, but, like the wind, He Himself is unseen.

II. THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

A. The Holy Spirit is NOT an "IT"!

Let's not confuse personality with visibility, personality is an attribute of the spirit, not the body. This is true even of us. The Holy Spirit IS NOT a personification of, say, power or of anything else; He is a person!

B. The Holy Spirit possesses and exhibits the attributes of a person.

1. HE POSSESSES INTELLIGENCE. He possesses a mind (Romans 8:27); He is able to teach people (I Corinthians 2:13).

2. HE POSSESSES A WILL. He uses this in distributing gifts to the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:11); He directs the activities of Christians (Acts 16:6-11).

3. HE POSSESSES FEELINGS. He can be grieved by the sinful actions of believers (Ephesians 4:30).

4. HE POSSESSES POWER. He is our strengthener (Romans 15:13, Acts 1:8).

5. HE POSSESSES KNOWLEDGE. He knows and searches the deep things of God (I Corinthians 2:10-11).

6. HE POSSESSES LOVE. His love beseeches us (Romans 15:30).

C. The personal name of the Holy Spirit is not revealed in Scripture.

The title "Holy Spirit" designates what He is; this is not His name.

The silence of His name is significant, since we may infer that His name is withheld that the name of Jesus Christ may be exalted. The title "Holy Spirit" is neuter in Greek; but always accompanied with masculine pronouns. We see the significance and clarity of this in John 14:16,17,26.

D. The Holy Spirit exhibits the actions of a person.

We act like human beings because we are human. The Holy Spirit acts like a person because He is a person.

1. HE TEACHES (John 14:26).
2. HE TESTIFIES (John 15:26).
3. HE CONVICTS OF SIN (John 16:8).
4. HE GUIDES (John 16:13).
5. HE PERFORMS MIRACLES (Acts 8:39).
6. HE SPEAKS (Acts 13:2).
7. HE COMMANDS (Acts 16:6,7).
8. HE OVERSEES (Acts 20:28).
9. HE INTERCEDES (Romans 8:26).

E. The Holy Spirit likewise receives ascriptions which could only be given to a person.

1. HE IS TO BE OBEYED (Acts 10:19-21).
2. HE CAN BE LIED TO (Acts 5:3).
3. HE CAN BE RESISTED (Acts 7:51).
4. HE CAN BE GRIEVED (Ephesians 4:30).
5. HE CAN BE BLASPHEMED (Matthew 12:31).
6. HE CAN BE INSULTED (Hebrews 10:29).

1. TO THE APOSTLES (Acts 15:28). He is a Person as they are persons; yet He is a distinct and identifiable Person.

2. TO THE TRINITY (Matthew 28:19).

3. TO JESUS (John 16:14). We must conclude that Jesus has one personality and the Holy Spirit another. He is distinct from Christ.

4. TO HIS OWN POWER (Luke 4:14; Acts 10:38; I Corinthians 2:4). The Spirit is related to His own power yet distinguished from it so that we may not conclude that He is merely a personification of power.

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD:

He is not only a personality, but He is a divine Person, in as much as HE IS GOD; co-equal, co-eternal, co-existent with the Father and the Son. However He is designated as the Third Person of the Trinity just as with people there may be persons of equal station, but in position they are subordinate to others. It is the same with the Holy Spirit. As a being He is equal with the Father and the Son, but in position He is subordinate to the Father and gives precedence to the Son. NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO JEALOUSY IN THE GODHEAD!

Proofs of personality are not necessarily proofs of Deity; but proofs of Deity are also proofs of His personality. If God is a Person, and if the Spirit is also God, then He is a Person also.

The Holy Spirit is identified in the Old Testament as Deity. Compare Jeremiah 31:33 with Hebrews 10:14-16.

A. He is called God (Acts 5:3,4, II Corinthians 3:17).

B. He possesses divine attributes:

1. OMNIPOTENCE (Luke 1:35).
2. OMNISCIENCE (I Corinthians 2:10).
3. OMNIPRESENCE (Psalm 139:7-10).
4. ETERNALITY (Hebrews 9:14).
5. LOVE (Romans 15:30).
6. HOLINESS (Ephesians 4:30).

C. He performs the works of God:

1. CREATION (Genesis 1:1,2).
2. REGENERATION (John 3:3, 5:5).
3. RESURRECTION (Romans 8:11).
4. TRANSFORMATION (Romans 8:10).
5. SALVATION (I Corinthians 6:11).
6. CAUSE OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH (Luke 1:35).
7. AGENT IN GIVING THE INSPIRED SCRIPTURES (II Peter 1:21).

IV. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

A. In the Old Testament:

The Holy Spirit is mentioned 88 times in the OLD TESTAMENT with the following manifestations:

1. AS COMING UPON MEN (I Samuel 10:5-7).

2. AS CLOTHING MEN (Judges 6:34), the expression "came upon" in Hebrew means to "clothe itself with". Genesis 3:21, God "clothed" Adam with skins. In Luke 15 the prodigal son was clothed. In Luke 10 the good Samaritan poured oil and wine, representing the Holy Spirit, onto the wounds of the injured man. These are all external applications!

3. AS POURED OUT UPON MEN (Isaiah 32:13,15).

4. AS FILLING MEN (Exodus 31:3).

5. AS RESTING UPON MEN (Numbers 11:25).

In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit filled men, but never took abode within them. Also, no Old Testament saint was ever baptized with the Holy Spirit.

B. In the New Testament:

The work of the Holy Spirit in the NEW TESTAMENT as seen in the Life of Jesus Christ:

1. THE BIRTH OF JESUS (Luke 1:35).
2. THE BAPTISM OF JESUS (Luke 3:21,22).
3. THE TESTING OF JESUS (Luke 4:1,2).
4. THE ANOINTING OF JESUS (Luke 4:18,19; Acts 10:38).
5. THE TEACHING OF JESUS (John 3:34).
6. THE MIRACLES OF JESUS (Matthew 12:28).
7. THE LIFE OF JESUS (Luke 4:1,14).
8. THE DEATH OF JESUS (Hebrews 9:14).
9. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS (Romans 8:11).
10. THE PRE-ASCENSION COMMANDS OF JESUS (Acts 1:1,2).

1. CONVICTION (John 16:8-11) pertaining to;

2. SIN. It is not the business of the Holy Spirit to convict the world of murder, adultery, etc. The Law of the Lord does that. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of this one thing: UNBELIEF, "because they believe not on me," (John 16:9). We get the word "convict" confused with "feeling guilty". But, that is not what it means; it means to be found guilty as charged, whether you feel it or not. For the sinner is already convicted, condemned and waiting to be sentenced. "He that believeth not is condemned already" (John 3:18) so the Holy Spirit comes to convict of ONE sin only: UNBELIEF.

3. OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. The Holy Spirit does not convict the world of the righteousness it has, but convicts the world of where righteousness is (in Christ): "Because I go to my father" (John 16:10).

4. OF JUDGMENT. If the world rejects Christ, there is nothing left but judgement because "neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

D. The work of the Holy Spirit and the CHURCH:

1. HE ABIDES IN THE CHURCH (I Corinthians 3:16).
2. HE BUILDS THE CHURCH (Ephesians 2:22).
3. HE ADMINISTRATES THE CHURCH.

a. HE APPOINTS OFFICES (Acts 20:28).
b. HE DIRECTS THE WORK (Acts 13:2).
c. HE WORKS THE GIFTS OF GOD AS HE WILLS (I Corinthians 12:11).

4. HE EMPOWERS THE CHURCH.

5. HE IS THE REVEALER TO THE CHURCH OF THINGS TO COME.

6. HE BRINGS UNITY TO THE CHURCH.

7. HE BRINGS DISCIPLINE AND CORRECTION TO THE CHURCH.

E. The work of the Holy Spirit and the CHRISTIAN:

1. WE HAVE BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT (Galatians 3:1-3).

2. HE INDWELLS EVERY BELIEVER (John 4:13-14, I Corinthians 6:19).

3. HE SEALS US (Ephesians 1:13; John 7:37-39). A baptism into the body of Christ, salvation; a baptism of POSITION. This sealing signifies ownership, identification and security.

4. HE GIVES THE BELIEVER POWER TO BE WITNESSES WITH THESE RESULTS: (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:17-18)

a. THEY WILL REPRODUCE CHRIST (His ministry in the earth).
b. THEY WILL CONVICT THE WORLD.
c. THEY WILL LOVE THE WORLD.
d. THEY WILL BE FILLED WITH POWER (John 14:12).
e. THEY WILL BE FULL OF LIFE.
f. THEY WILL BEAR FRUIT.

5. Jesus spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit in believers in John 14:15-26; 16:12-15). HE WILL BE A COMFORTER, TEACHER LEADING YOU INTO ALL THE TRUTH (John 14:12-26; I John 2:20,27).

6. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 2:2-4; John 7:37-39; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 10:44-46).

a. A baptism of POWER (Acts 1:8). Interpersonal penetration of the Holy Spirit and the believer. An act subsequent to the "seal" of the Holy Spirit. Literally a baptism or immersion in the Holy Spirit. According to Acts 2:1-4, this baptism of power is not simply speaking in tongues, but is a baptism preceded by a baptism of the "rushing mighty wind," expressing a cleaning of a threshing floor, and a baptism of "fire," expressing the burning away of all our own works and of the old man. The Baptism of power is subsequent to the first two baptisms. "Revival is not a 'nice' thing, but a stirring up of men's hearts which when stirred brings all that is within to light for all to see!" This is the baptism of fire!

b. The Holy Spirit is God's PROMISE (Acts 1:4,5; 2:38,39) to us that He will fulfill His covenant!

c. We are to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Wherever the Spirit goes we go - the will of the Spirit is our will. We should sow to the Spirit, for the Christian can sow to the flesh, that is live in sin, but the time will come when we reap what we sow!

V. THE EMBLEMS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

A. THE DOVE (John 1:32, Genesis 1:2).

The Holy Spirit is pictured as moving upon the face of the waters as a dove brooding upon her eggs. The dove is a gentle, clean bird and particular about its food and so are they who are of the Spirit. Be harmless as doves. Truly an emblem of the Holy Spirit.

B. WATER (Isaiah 44:3).

What water is to thirsty lips and parched land, the Spirit is to the individual.

C. OIL (I Samuel 16:13).

When the priest was anointed with oil, it took place in this manner. First his ear, he was always to hear God's Word. His thumb, his actions were to be for God's glory. Third, his big toe, he was to walk with God.

D. WIND (Ezekiel 37:9,14).

Wind suggests activity. You cannot see the wind, yet it is powerful. The wind also speaks of cleansing (Job 37:21).

E. FIRE (Acts 3:2).

It is fire which purifies, consumes, warns, tests, illumines and energizes. It is the same with the Spirit!

F. CLOTHING (Judges 6:34).

The expression to "come upon" means to "clothe" Clothing speaks of protection from the elements. The Spirit is our protection from the base elements of this world.