Who Is The Holy Spirit
by: Dalton Gilreath

I.              Introduction

A.   We know that the Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead (Matt 28:19)

                                          i.    We understand that as deity He is eternal (Heb 9:14)

                                        ii.    Luke even calls Him God (Acts 5:3-4)

B.   But what do we know about His personality?

                                          i.    His attributes?

                                        ii.    His characteristics?

C.   I think many are distant from the Spirit for a few reasons

                                          i.    People do not like controversial topics

1.    We debate His indwelling

2.    We debate His miracles

3.    We debate His role today

                                        ii.    People do not understand Him

                                       iii.    People cannot picture Him like they can Christ and even God

D.   Consider 5 key characteristics of the Holy Spirit

II.            He has a mind

A.   The Spirit has His own mind, intellect, and will (Rom 8:27)

                                          i.    Of course, it lines up perfectly with God the Father and Son’s will

                                        ii.    But He is not a robotic ghost controlled by God

B.   The Spirit reveals God to us as He knows Him better than anyone else (1 Cor 2:9-11)

                                          i.    When we read the Bible we learn the will of the Spirit

                                        ii.    He also gives gifts as He wills (1 Cor 2:11)

                                       iii.    Certainly He has a mind and will

III.           He is a teacher

A.   We know that Jesus is a teacher (John 3:3-5)

                                          i.    However we must realize the Spirit is as well (John 14:26-28)

                                        ii.    He is not just a teacher but a Comforter, a guide (John 16:13)

1.    Some teachers simply stand at the board and talk

2.    Good teachers spend time with students individually and guide them along the way

B.   The Spirit is a teacher, a guide, and does so perfectly

                                          i.    Why is it we read the same words our ancestors before us read?

                                        ii.    How do we know our children will read the same words we read in the Bible?

1.    Jesus said His words will not pass away (Matt 24:35)

2.    The Spirit made sure that was true (1 Cor 2:12-13)

IV.          He loves you

A.   We think of God and think of love (John 3:16)

                                          i.    We think of Christ and think of love (Eph 3:19)

                                        ii.    But what about the Spirit? (Rom 15:30)

B.   Some might think the Spirit’s love is simply bringing us the Bible

                                          i.    There is more to His love than that

                                        ii.    Consider Jesus’ being tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1)

1.    Jesus set an example of how to resist Satan (Heb 4:15)

2.    We can read and gain strength through His trials

3.    Who led Him into those trials for us?

V.           He is good

A.   Again, we know God is good (Psa 33:5)

                                          i.    We know Christ is good (John 10:11)

                                        ii.    Do we consider the Spirit as being good too? (Neh 9:20)

B.   In addition, one of the fruits of the Spirit is goodness (Gal 5:22-23)

                                          i.    We must remember the Spirit is God as well

                                        ii.    That which is true of God the Father and God the Son is also true of the Spirit when it comes to attributes and characteristics

VI.          He can feel pain

A.   We may not think about it often but the Godhead feels grief

                                          i.    God felt it when man betrayed Him in the days of Noah (Gen 6:6)

                                        ii.    Christ felt it when Lazarus died (John 11:35)

                                       iii.    The Spirit also feels grief and pain (Eph 4:30, cf. Isa 63:10)

B.   How do we pain Him today?

                                          i.    When we read His book and knowingly turn away from it by sinning (Heb 10:29)

                                        ii.    When we sin we stomp on the crucified Savior and do “despite” to the Spirit

1.    One of our greatest motivators to refuse sin is knowing how it makes God feel

2.    I do not want to grieve God, Christ, or the Spirit