THEOLOGY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PART 2 (THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT)

Source: livinghopetc.org

THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Many people have different understanding about the Holy Spirit. If you interview ten persons on the street they will give ten different meaning or understanding of the Holy Spirit.

For instance; some believes that the Holy Spirit is an active force that comes like a rushing wind to move the people of God do the will of God. Some of them derived their knowledge from what happened on the day of Pentecost as the Bible recorded it.

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing might wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting.” Acts 2:1-2.

Others believed that the Holy Spirit is like a white Dove, Still there are some who believe that the Holy Spirit can be loosed as if he is bound somewhere; for I hear them praying “I loose the Holy Spirit now in Jesus name”.

I want to clearly state that the Holy Spirit is not an atmosphere, active force, wind, white dove, fire, oil or rain as people have believed him to be like. All these mentioned so far are mere symbols that represents the presence of the Holy Spirit not Holy Spirit himself.

For instance, when God came down to talk with the children of Israel at mount Sinai, the Bible says that there was thunders and lightening and tick cloud upon the mount and the voice of the trumpeting so that all the people that were in the camp trembled Ex. 19:16, can we because of these representations say that God is thunder, lightening or tick cloud? Off course no? That is exactly what happens when we are talking about the Holy Spirit. All we see are mere symbols that represent his presence, not what he is.

1. The Holy Spirit is a divine person. I want you to note that a person is a living being who is conscious of his existence and that consciously thinks, wills and acts.

Source: spiritualquestions.org

A person is not only one who possesses physical body as we have them. The reason why many people think this way is because; while we are physically alive here on earth our personality is closely linked up with our body.

The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 14:19-31 will help us to understand that a person is not only one who is living in this physical body. In Hedges the Bible recorded that the rich man could still recognize Lazarus, he could still feel pain resulting from torments he was going through. He could also speak and take decisions. On the other same hand, we read about Abraham talking with him and also making decisions based upon the request of the rich man. All these show that the dead retains their personality even after putting off this physical body.

Moreover, those who believed that except one has this physical body he is not a person are indirectly telling us that both God, Jesus Christ, angels, demons and Satan cannot be addressed as persons because they do not possess physical body like ours.

Now let us see some of the characteristics of a person the Holy Spirit possessed.

(a). A person must have a will, which gives him the ability to make choice and decides on what to do.

(b). A person must have intellect, which gives him the ability to think and reason.

(c). A person must have emotion (or sensitivity) which gives him the ability to feel things.

You can see all these attributes in the Holy Spirit. Jesus recognized him to be a person; that is why he used personal pro-noun “He” when referring to the Holy Spirit. Jn. 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:13-14.

Another argument about the person of the Holy Spirit is that you cannot lie to an active force (which has no life in it – an in animate object) but you can lie to a person. Also, you cannot grieve an object, or active force that has no personality trait in it- like emotion.

But the Bible says that the Holy Spirit can be lied to. Acts. 5:3,

He can also be grieved:

Ephesians 4:30-31 (KJV)

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

The Holy Spirit can think:

Romans 8:6-8 (KJV)

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

He can do what he likes:

1 Corinthians 12:11 (KJV)

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

He can give comfort:

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Acts 9:31 (KJV)

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

He can speak:

Acts 13:2 (KJV)

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

He can teach:

John 14:26 (KJV)

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

He can stop the believer from doing something:

Acts 16:6 (KJV)

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia

He can lead or guide a person. With these few explanations no one will doubt the personality of the Holy Spirit.