The Holy Spirit Person or Force?

Introduction

Today we are talking about the Holy Spirit. Something that was introduced in Acts 2. It is an aspect of God that separates us from other believer using similar terms And many different groups claim beings that are similar to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in the Christian world view describes the Holy Spirit as Distinct Person within the Triune Godhead. Distinct from the Father and the Son. Possessing all the Attributes of Person-hood. Possessing All the Attributes of Deity.

Today I want to look at that "Personhood" of the Holy Spirit. This is a subject that we need to mention to understand Acts as we move forward.

Acts 2:1–4 LEB

And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in the same place. And suddenly a sound like a violent rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. And divided tongues like 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 languages as the Spirit gave them ability to speak out.

Pray

At this point of the Story of the Christian faith in which The Holy Spirit came as a gift from Heaven and landed on the 12 and all who will believe will be given this Gift that Jesus promised in John 14:26.

It is the gift that is still giving. It has not left us it has not Gone away.

You can be in the spirit and you can be out of the spirit. There are times when you are abiding by the spirit and times when you are not. Sometimes with in the same five minutes.

But all the time The Holy Spirit is there: Empowering, Giving assurance, Giving life, Giving power for service, Guiding, directing, Illuminating, Purifying, Teaching, Unifying.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful part of The Trinity that is here with us now in this very room.

Yet it is often misunderstood and even ignored by many Christians.

Many Questions whether the Holy Spirit is indeed a distinct person or just the force of God at work in the world.

And this is the focus.

Is the Holy Spirit a Force or a Distinct person part of the Holy Trinity?

As I say that I believe it is clear that the Holy Spirit is a person of the Trinity not just a force at work in the world as some will claim.

The logical jump that the Holy spirit is a person in the Trinity not just a force in the idea that on multiple times we see the three aspects of the trinity together. And since the Father and Son are individual persons we can say that the Holy Spirit is as well.

Look at Matthew 3:16; 1 Peter 1:2 just as examples.

We an also look at the use of Personal Pronouns being used when the Holy Spirit is being Used

Acts 13:2 LEB

And while they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart now for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

John 16:13–14 LEB

But when he—the Spirit of truth—comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will proclaim to you the things to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and will proclaim it to you.

Romans 8:16 LEB

The Spirit himself confirms to our spirit that we are children of God,

Notice that the Holy Spirit is discussed as a person. The Spirit even helps us and intercedes on our behalf.

In the scripture it is clear that, though some want to make the spirit some force of God and not its own person, Holy Spirit is its own person.

God is three in One. One God but Three Persons. God the Father, God the Son, God the Sprit.

So What?

"So what?" is probably the question you are asking about this point. Isn’t this all academic. What does this matter to you. You could be golfing or fishing or sleeping.

If we take seriously the idea that the Holy Spirit is a person of God not just a force. It effects the way we act and live.

Let me ask you a question: Have you ever prayed to the Holy Spirit?

Most will answer No. and why not? We pray Heavenly Father. we pray Dear Jesus. Why not Holy Spirit. We often ignore the personhood. We ignore the power that is in it. Is it Jesus in my heart? Not really it is the HS that moves within you. Empowering you through the blood of Jesus Christ, For the Glory of the Father.

If we ignore the personhood of the Holy Spirit, we ignore the gift.

Picture this: Your child ask for a bike for Christmas. That’s all they are wanting a bike. It’s expensive, not one of them cheap models, a good bike that can last for years. Christmas comes around and you say, “well, your last gift is in the garage.” Where you stayed up and put it together last night after they went to sleep. When they finally went to sleep and it’s the reason the pot of coffee is empty. They get out to the garage and ask, “Can I go outside?” What about the bike. I'll play with it later.

We ask God to move.

We ask God to empower us.

We ask God to hear our prayers.

We ask God for guidance.

We ask God for help.

We ask God to bless us, And he has

It's the Holy Spirit. That Person of God that is Gifting us right now in this Church age.

But we ignore. We think we have to have other emissaries. Pray to Michael, or Mary

Think we have to do Prayer in a special way so that our voices reach heaven.

Think we need to go find the lost blood of Christ to have God with us.

Think God is some force that is just out there and doesn't really work in our lives.

But if The HS is a person of God. Then we know that He is living inside of us and we have been given the authority by Christ to Live as He lived

If you have ABC, you have the HS. In you.

Do you believe, treat, and live like it?

Pray

Bibliography

http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/what-does-christianity-say-about-the-holy-spirit-three-important-attributes