TUESDAY July 5, 2022

The Person of the Holy Spirit

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
John 16:13

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is a Person; He is not an essence. “He” is a personal pronoun. It is important that we understand the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. In Scripture, the nature of the Holy Spirit is revealed in His many names: The Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2), Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), Comforter (John 14:26), Holy Spirit of Promise (Ephesians 1:13-14), Spirit of Truth (John 16:13), Spirit of Grace and Supplication (Zechariah 12:10), Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2), and the Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8:15).

It is also important to understand that the Holy Spirit, symbolically speaking, can also be referred to in Scripture by certain symbols used to represent Him: fire, wind, water, seal, oil and dove. Mark those references when reading your Bible.

Some churches have placed more emphasis on the Holy Spirit than on the teaching of the Word of God. They hold Holy Spirit meetings and give more glory to the Holy Spirit than to Jesus Christ. Often this is men at work––not the work of the Holy Spirit. It is emotionalism, and it has caused churches to become unbalanced in their teachings.

The Holy Spirit always brings attention to Jesus Christ, who died for us on the Cross. He stands as Mediator between God and men (1Timothy 2:5). He is the Bridge Builder. No one can come to the Father unless they come through Jesus Christ. It is the Holy Spirit, the Helper, who brings conviction to people’s lives. He shows them their need for Christ:

“...It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:7-8).

When Holy God draws near in true revival, people come under terrible conviction of sin. The outstanding feature of spiritual awakening has been the profound consciousness of the Presence and holiness of God.
~Henry Blackaby~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!