Who is the Holy Spirit?

Feb 6

A dynamic Christian life awaits! Want to know the difference between a dull faith and one full of power? Fire, wind, and creativity: the Holy Spirit in action; In this blog, Pastor Paul dives into the teachings of Acts 1:8 and the power of the Holy Spirit. Explore how being baptized with the Holy Spirit brings about a change in our lives.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

A Dynamic Christian Life

What's the difference between a dull Christian life versus a dynamic one? To some of us, that may sound like an exaggeration, but if we look at Jesus' words in Acts 1. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you…". (Emphasis added)

The Greek word for power is "dunamis." This word is also where we get the English words dynamic and dynamite. With that in mind, I suggest that this is no exaggeration. That's why a gospel with no emphasis on the Holy Spirit is flat. But, on the other hand, a gospel that contains the "Spirit of God upon us" enables us to proclaim a truth that not only redeems us from dark places but also binds broken hearts and sets people free.

That's why a relationship with God without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is anemic.

God wants you to see and experience what has been made available. Many symbols of the Holy Spirit are found throughout the Scriptures that describe the power of the Holy Trinity member.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is a Person

Often, when people experience the Holy Spirit, as a pastor, I hear things like, "Did you sense/feel/experience it?"

The Holy Spirit is not an it; The Holy Spirit is a person. The Bible illustrates that the Holy Spirit has feelings, emotions, a mind, and a will because it is also God.

We've likely seen it before, where someone made claims to experiencing the Holy Spirit; however, their behavior was peculiar. I want to lovingly remind us that the Holy Spirit does not make people weird. Instead, the Holy Spirit makes us more like Jesus. His role is to develop the Christian into a life that flourishes because we are in communion with our Creator.

The Holy Spirit is God

The Holy Trinity is comprised of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

God uses symbols in the natural world to represent things in the supernatural realm that describe the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is part of the Holy Trinity. While we'll go more in-depth into this in a coming blog, I want to get it out there that the Holy Spirit is God.

The Holy Spirit is Like the Wind

When the Holy Spirit came to us on the day of Pentecost, Luke wrote that He came like the power of a rushing wind. [READ MORE: Setting the Stage for the Holy Spirit]

Think of the impact a strong gust of wind can have. It can knock down rooted trees, move our feet from under us and even topple large buildings. The Holy Spirit, illustrated as wind, is in the natural so we can begin to understand the depth and reality of what's available to us as followers of Jesus.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" Isaiah 40:31

These believers in Isaiah were in a waiting period, yet they weren't twiddling their thumbs. Instead, they were in a posture of action by praying and communing with God. Their prayers were that the Holy Spirit would come like a rushing wind because they knew He could renew their strength. That's the kind of dynamic life that God is inviting you into.

For more, see Acts 2:2; Ezekiel 37:9-14; John 3:8; John 20:22

The Holy Spirit is Like a Fire

"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Matthew 3:11

Fire is a source of energy and illumination.

Imagine we build a large bonfire and place a sword in the fire. After several hours we removed the sword, but the weapon did not become the fire. However, it did take on the nature of the fire.

When we become baptized with the person of the Holy Spirit, we take on His nature.

The Holy Spirit is Infinitely Creativity

"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." Genesis 1:2

The Bible teaches us about the creativity of the Holy Spirit. God is the author of life and the creator of our dwelling. The benefit of the Holy Spirit is the gift of inspiration. Your ability to imagine possibilities and see solutions increases with the Holy Spirit's infilling because He initiates and leads.

The Holy Spirit is a Helper

At some point in our lives, we will all cry to God for help. Jesus once told John, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper to be with you forever."

The Greek word for helper is Paraclete, which means the one called alongside to help you. The Holy Spirit is a helper and will come alongside you to empower your walk with Christ.

The Holy Spirit is a Teacher

JESUS: "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 have said to you." John 14:26

Sometimes when we study Scripture, we stare at the words on the page, unsure of what we just read. However, when we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, He illustrates the Words and brings them to life through life and new circumstances.

The Holy Spirit Convicts Us of Our Sins

"When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment." John 16:8

Part of the teaching that comes from the Holy Spirit is the conviction of sins. Prevenient grace is what convinces our hearts that we need a Savior. But we cannot come to God on our own. To receive God, we need Jesus to bridge that gap and draw us to a place where the Spirit breathes new life into us. This is part of the Holy Spirit convicting us of our sins.

The Holy Spirit is a Revelator

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better." Ephesians 1:17

The Holy Spirit works to supernaturally reveal things in our life that we've never seen before.

For non-believers, the Bible is not something easily understood or particularly captivating. However, when we meet Jesus, reading the Bible can be set ablaze by the illuminating fires of the Word. When we know Christ and read the Word, the Holy Spirit will use the words to nourish our souls and replenish our spirits.

The Holy Spirit is the Manifest Presence of God

Is God everywhere? Yes, theologians call that omnipresence, which is illustrated throughout Scripture and recorded history.

But even on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came while Peter preached a sermon, he was aware of the manifest presence of God.

"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus," Acts 3:19-20

When he uses the word "refreshing," it refers to experiencing the life-giving impact of the living God. Therefore, times of refreshment come from the presence of God.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

We gather weekly to recognize that we need God in our daily lives, neighborhoods, schools, churches, cities, and nations. When we come together to pray, there is a manifest presence of God wed to the Word of God that brings the healing nature of God as Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the Source of Reviving Power (Spiritual Awakening)

Young people are leaving the church (I don't find that to be true of all young people—but I am concerned for Gen Z and emerging generations). The Church in the West is in decline (The data supports that consumerist Christianity is in decline, but those who are committed to Christ are as steady as ever).

Here are a few stats to consider before we go any further.

21% of adults in the US are illiterate in 2022.
54% of adults have a literacy rate below the sixth-grade level. (Democracy cannot thrive when roughly ¼ of the population can't read, and over half a population can't read above a 6th-grade level.)
From 2019 to 2020, our country witnessed a 28.64% increase in crime.
Chronic levels of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25% through the pandemic due to isolation.

You may be wondering, "Where is Paul going with all of these stats?"

Every time there has been a sustained touching down of Go dead the Holy Spirit in a region, darkness lingers heavier than what seems possible to escape. When the Wesleyan revival began in England, the country was on the verge of a revolution because of poverty, destruction, and brokenness. The Holy Spirit's power and a renewed love for God came out. Generations were radically changed.

Are we in a place as a nation where we will bow to any god but God?

A Dynamic Life with the Holy Spirit

Sometimes we have a greater revelation of the news than we have of the Good News. And when you have a greater revelation of the darkness we see in the news than the good news, sometimes we can lose sight of what's possible with our God.

Fortunately, we serve a God who wants to draw near to us. He loves to make Himself known. We were created as believers with the capacity to not only know Him but to experience Him. Therefore, our highest purpose is to know, experience, enjoy and glorify God.

We are not called to a dull Christian life. On the contrary, we were created to have "dunamis."

"I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?" Galatians 3:2

No one receives the Holy Spirit based on what they do. To receive the power of God, one does not need a religious formula but rather a relationship with a person: Jesus.

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