What does the bible tell us about Him?

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit (also known as the Holy Ghost) is God in a non-physical form. He is the comforter, teacher, proxy, and guide. Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the comforter (John 14:26). Jesus affirms that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things. The Holy Spirit reveals wisdom, and He is there to help us understand the things of God (spiritual gifts, etc.) (1 Corinthians 2:10-13). The Holy Spirit guides us into truth, and he declares the things that are to come (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit speaks for us when we are persecuted (Mark 13:11).

We can be filled with the Holy Spirit but this is different from receiving Him when we are baptised (Luke 1:15). In the bible, when people are filled with the Holy Spirit, their intensity for God increases, which results in them proclaiming the gospel and praising God. A newfound passion for God is experienced when filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the one that can get through to our hearts. Romans tells us that we have hope because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Spiritual understanding is taught not by man but by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13). The Holy Spirit lives in those of us who are saved. The bible tells us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 6:19) and so, we need to keep our bodies free from sin. The Holy Spirit is everywhere; He is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10). Hebrews tells us that the Holy Spirit is eternal (Hebrews 9:14). He has no beginning and no end. He is God.

The Holy Spirit – The old testament

The Spirit of the Lord was helping man even before Christ came. David, in Psalm 51, prayed that the Holy Spirit would not be taken from him (Psalm 51:11). This implied that he knew the Holy Spirit was with him. David said that the Spirit of the Lord speaks through him (2 Samuel 23:2). Peter identified that David was a prophet and knew of God’s promise of salvation (Acts 2:29-31; Psalm 110:1; Mark 12:36). And the bible says that prophecy does not come from man, but from God through the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). In Acts, we learn that David prophesied by the Holy Spirit concerning Judas, and it was fulfilled (Acts 1:16). We see that the Holy Spirit spoke through David. Paul also mentioned that the Holy Spirit had spoken through Isaiah, the prophet (Acts 28:25). Through these accounts, we can conclude that all the prophets in the bible would have been led by the Spirit of God to communicate prophesy to God’s people.  

The Holy Spirit – The new testament

The first mention of the Holy Spirit in the new testament was with Zachariah (Father of John the Baptist). An angel came to Zachariah and told him that his wife would have a son and that the son will be filled with the Holy Spirit from in his mother’s womb. And he shall turn many to the Lord. (Luke 1:15-16). John the Baptist came to prepare the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3). He knew that Jesus was coming, and he knew that people needed to repent and be baptised. He knew this through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and every account of him in the bible reported of him doing God’s work. His Father too experienced the Holy Spirit. After Zachariah witnessed the word of the Lord, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he praised the Lord (Luke 1:67-68).

Jesus and the Holy Spirit

Jesus operated in the Holy Spirit while he was here. In the beginning, His mother was with child from the Holy Spirit. This was confirmed to her by an angel from the Lord (Matthew 1:18-20; Luke 1:35). Luke tells us that Jesus was filled with the Holy Ghost and was led into the wilderness (Luke 4:1). When the right time came, Jesus was baptised by John, and the Spirit of God descended onto Him. Jesus taught the disciples about the Holy Spirit. He said that the Holy Spirit would speak for them when persecuted for the sake of the gospel (Mark 13:11). Jesus spoke of casting out demons by the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28). Jesus also instructed them that all manner of sin shall be forgiven of men, but blasphemy (evil speaking, slander, reproachful speech intended to injure one’s good name) against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven (Matthew 12:31-32). This tells us how important it is never to disrespect Him.

Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would be sent to them when He left. The Holy Spirit would be given, after Jesus was glorified, to the ones who believed in Him (John 7:39). Jesus said that the Holy Spirit (the comforter, advocate, the helper) would be sent in His name to teach them all things and bring to remembrance all Jesus’ teachings (John 14:26). Acts tells us that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, guided the apostles in their ministry of sharing the gospel (Acts 1:2).  

The Arrival of the Holy Spirit

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit came. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with the sound of rushing wind (Acts 2:1-4). They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in different languages. Others around were confused by this display of the Spirit, but Peter reassured them. He reminded them that the prophet Joel prophesied that in the last days that God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh and they shall prophesy, have visions and dreams (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:14-21). They had received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit. Then Peter told the others to repent, be baptised in the name of Jesus, and they shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

Even before Christ came, John the Baptist testified of someone who would come to baptise with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8). And after Christ died and was risen again, all who accepted Him was baptised with the Holy Spirit. So, when we too repent and receive Jesus as our Lord and accept that He died for our sins, we also will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise was for all those who would come to God. We are all baptised in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).

The Apostles and the Holy Spirit

The apostles refer to the Holy Spirit as a person who was with them. For instance, Peter asking Ananias about lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). Peter reported that the apostles, along with the Holy Spirit, were witnesses to Jesus being raised from the dead (Acts 5:32). The apostles heard clearly from the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2). Acts 15:28 shows how the apostles made decisions in agreement with the Holy Spirit. He was a part of everything that they did.  Acts 16:6 tells us that the Holy Spirit forbid them from preaching the gospel in Asia at that time and they listened. Again, showing how the Holy Spirit guided them.

Paul spoke of knowing what awaited him in his future travels to share the gospel because of the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:23; Acts 21:11). The apostle’s speech was often guided by the Holy Spirit when sharing the gospel (Acts 4:8; Acts 13:9). The Holy Spirit caused men to hear and understand the gospel. While Peter was speaking to the people, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who listened to the word (Acts 10:44; Acts 11:15-16). However, this is not something forced on anyone as people can still resist the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). The church continued to walk in fear of the Lord and with the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and it multiplied (Acts 9:31).

The Holy Spirit with Us

When Jesus was leaving, He gave us His peace and told us not to be troubled. And furthermore, the comforter (the Holy Spirit) would come to teach, comfort, counsel and be an advocate for us. Yet still, we find ourselves on a daily basis troubled (John 14:26-27). We worry for things which we cannot control and instead we should rejoice for once we do our part, and it’s not in our control then it’s all up to God. And if we remind ourselves of who God is, why should we be trouble about ANYTHING, for He is with us in the Holy Spirit.

The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (14:17).

All photos by Kyle