The gift of the Holy Spirit

Who is He?

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the trinity or the triune God. The Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood of the three Persons of the Godhead, however there can be no Christian life without His work in both the world at large and in our individual lives.

We know the Holy Spirit is a person because of how Jesus describes in John 16:8-11 8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;

9 concerning sin, abecause they do not believe in Me;

10 and concerning righteousness, because bI go to the Father and you no longer see Me;

11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, Volume 17, Number 1, Spring 2006 Brief Historical Background

Theologians and church leaders have wrestled for centuries over the nature and work of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity was the first doctrine dealt with in Christian history after the apostles passed on from the scene of their labors. However, there is evidence to suggest that the doctrine of the Holy Spirit was not fully treated until the 12th century.15 By the late second century there developed a growing emphasis on the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

It is difficult to understand who the Spirit is because He did come to reveal Himself.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 14)

26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

What is His Role?

The Lexham Bible Dictionary The Spirit as Transforming Power

In Scripture, the Spirit transforms God’s people

The Lexham Bible Dictionary The Spirit as Power for Ministry to Others

Throughout Scripture, the Spirit empowers God’s people for various tasks—especially speaking for God.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary The Spirit as Power for Ministry to Others

In the Old Testament, God empowered some of His people with artistic skills (Exod 28:3; 31:3), special strength (Judg 14:6, 19; 15:14), and leadership (Num 27:18; Deut 34:9; Judg 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 1 Sam 11:6–7; 16:13–14).

Helps us to under stand prophecy

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Empowerment for Witness

Empowerment for Witness

He helps in the conversion of souls.

He Gives us the gifts of the Spirit. . Wagner identified 28 spiritual gifts, and there are more… 4 Now there are avarieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Co 12:4–6.

The Holy Spirit also give us the fruit of the Spirit; according to Galatians 5: 22 & 23

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 5)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The Christian cannot survive in this world without the aid of the Holy Spirit; So then the next obvious question is how do we get the Holy Spirit? well its a lot easier than you think. you see the question is not how do you get the Holy Spirit but will you let Him come into your heart today? The Bible is clear that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

We must open our hearts through Prayer and Fasting.

We must open our hearts through Worship and Praise

Spend time meditating on the word of God.

The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the Day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service. To all who have accepted Christ as a personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit has come as a counselor, sanctifier, guide, and witness. The more closely believers have walked with God, the more clearly and powerfully have they testified of their Redeemer's love and of His saving grace. Acts of the Apostles pp. 49