Understanding and Knowing the Holy Spirit

If we want to understand who God is in his entirety, we need to understand all the aspects of God. Understanding the distinctions between Jesus as God the son and God as the Father is one thing, but what is truly understood about God the holy Spirit.

There are many misconceptions about the identity of the Holy Spirit. Some view the Holy Spirit as a mystical force. Others see the Holy Spirit as an impersonal power that God makes available to followers of Christ.

What does the Bible say about the identity of the Holy Spirit? Simply put, the Bible declares that the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, a being with a mind, emotions, and a will.

When we speak of the triune God, we are referring to GOD as God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. Everyone who surrenders their life to Christ must understand the Holy Spirit's identity, his position within the Holy Trinity, and the function in the believer’s life.

The fact that the Holy Spirit is God is clearly seen in many Scriptures, including Acts 5:3-4. In these verses Peter confronts Ananias as to why he lied to the Holy Spirit and tells him that he had “not lied to men but to God.” It is a clear declaration that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God. We can also know that the Holy Spirit is God because He possesses the characteristics of God.  In Psalm 139:7-8 he is seen as omnipresence, then in 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 we see the Holy Spirit having the characteristic of being omniscience.

The Holy Spirit thinks and knows all things - 1 Corinthians 2:10. The Holy Spirit can be grieved – Ephesians 4:30. The Spirit intercedes for us – Romans 8:26-27. He makes decisions according to His will – 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
As God, the Holy Spirit can truly function as the Comforter and Counselor that Jesus promised He would be – John 14:16

We will learn the Holy Spirit has a profound impact on our lives because He is the channel through which we encounter the life of God. This is how he transforms the believers in Christ.

When we say Christ comes in our hearts in the form of the Holy Spirit, we are describing the 3^rd person of the Trinity. The Bible describes the Spirit as the “breath” of God - John 20:21-22.

When you place your faith in Jesus as your savior, the Holy Spirit takes on the role of the source of the new life that God gives you within. Just as your human body requires oxygen to survive, it is through the power of the holy spirit dwelling in the heart of the believers that brings life. Romans 4:24-25

You no longer just relate to God as a higher power outside of yourself. God, through the holy spirit transforms you from within so that you become more like Jesus.