BETA: FOUNDATION SCHOOL- MODULE 4

CLASS 4

401 THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

INTRODUCTION

The person of the Holy Spirit is vital to the existence of the Christian. It would have

been impossible for Jesus to accomplish His earthly ministry without the Holy Spirit.

In fact, Jesus would not have been born without the Holy Spirit. Today, What

differentiates Christianity from all the religions of the world is the presence and

power of the Holy Spirit that resides in the church (the body of Christ).

Objective A: clear and proper understanding of the person of the Holy Spirit, His

ministry in and through the Christian is vital if we must walk in all the fullness of the

provision of our Heavenly Father. This study is designed to accomplish just that, But

to do this we must first look at the Trinity. The Trinity: Trinity Depicts the Godhead

that operates in three personalities, yet ONE. According to 1 John 5:7, “ there are

three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit; and these

three are One”. It is therefore important to note that in discussing the person of the

Holy Sprit, we are invariably discussing the whole personality of the Godhead: God

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

4.1.0 WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The Holy Spirit, Who is the third person of the Godhead, is the Spirit of God and the

Power of God. He is that Spirit that proceeds from the Father and made manifest

where the Father pleases, and in the same wholeness of God as He is on the throne.

The Holy Spirit is not in any way lesser than God the Father or God the Son. He is co-

equal with God; and He is Himself God in all of God’s Omnipotence.

4.1.1 The Holy Spirit is a person

Until we begin to appreciate the Holy Spirit as a person and relate to Him as such,

we’ll not be able to enjoy the full benefit of His presence. He is a person with a

purpose to reveal to us the things that God has prepared for us that love Him, and that

we might know the things that are freely given to us by God (1 Corinthian 2:9,

10&12).

4.1.2 How do we know that the Holy Spirit is a person?

A person has a will, emotion and intellect: A will to determine or to take action,

emotion to express feelings, and intellect to understand, apprehend and perceive. The

Holy Spirit has all of these three. His will is to dwell in us so that we could have the

fullness of His benefits. The Holy Spirit has an unlimited reservoir of intelligence as

evidenced in His revelation of hidden wisdom; and through revelation of deep truths

of God to us (1 Corinthians. 2:10). The Holy Spirit could be angry, grieved and

blasphemed; but He loves us with an everlasting love and has shed His love abroad in

our heart (Romans 5:5).

154.2.0 HE IS ‘ALLOS–PARAKLETOS’ i.e. another comforter of the

same kind (John 14:16-20).

The character of the Holy Spirit is properly described in the Greek word,

‘AllosParakletos’. The word ‘Allos-Parakletos’ has seven synonyms: Comforter,

Counselor, Teacher, Helper, Strengthener, Intercessor and standby.

4.3.0 SEVEN SYNONYMS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AS RELATED TO

THE CHRISTIAN I.E. WHO HE IS TO THE CHRISTIAN.

4.3.1 He is the Comforter (John 14:16; 2 Corinthians 1:3)

As a comforter, the Holy Spirit was sent primarily to comfort God's people. We

(Christians) live in a world that is largely anti-God. God, knowing the opposition and

persecution we would face as Christians, sent the Holy Spirit to us to be our source of

comfort. The early disciples during the time of persecution walked in the fear of the

Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit; and they were greatly multiplied (Acts

9:31).

4.3.2 He is the Counselor (Isaiah 11:2; Romans 8:14)

Have you ever been faced with a moment of great decision? At such times you should

turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is available to

every child of God. We should all expect the Holy Spirit to be our guide. After all, for

as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). Proverbs

20:27 says, "the spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward

parts of the belly". To live in continuous victory, we must be led by the Spirit of God.

4.3.3 He is the Helper (Romans 8:26)

Help as defined by oxford-advanced learner's dictionary means "to make it easier for

somebody to do something, to assists somebody. The Holy Spirit as our Helper,

assists us to do all that God has called us to do. He makes it easy for us to live

successfully as Christians in this corrupt world. There are times when you are faced

with a great task and you are wondering how you would succeed. Be sure of this, you

are not walking alone. For example, Gospel Addicts is a ministry that God has

marvelously helped. In just a short time of our starting, we have achieved so much, if

it were not for the help of the Holy Spirit; we would not have achieved this much. We

are conscious of this fact, that is why we know what we have done so far is just the

beginning. With His help, there is no telling what we can do and where we can go.

Glory to God!

4.3.4 He is the Strengthener (Philippians 4:13; Isaiah 11:2)

God's Spirit gives strength to our inner man. Paul declared that He could do all things

through Christ which strengthens him. Isaiah 11:2 calls Him the Spirit of might. In the

Old Testament, men like David, Samson, Elijah etc, did mighty things by the power

of the Spirit. In our days we can do much more. I heard the story of a woman whose

son was involved in a car accident, when she got to the car she single handedly lifted

up the car and rescued the son. People who saw her were amazed afterwards four

strong men couldn't lift up that same car. The Holy Spirit resident in our spirit is a

source of great strength. If we stay full of Him, we can never experience defeat in our

lives.

164.3.5 He is the Intercessor (Romans 8:26)

An intercessor is one who stands in the gap for another. According to Romans 8:26,

we don't always know what to pray for as we ought. We can't possibly know in our

natural mind everything we should pray about in every situation and circumstance.

The Holy Spirit assists us in our prayers with groaning, which cannot be uttered in

articulate speech.

4.3.6 He is the Teacher (1Corinthians 2:9-11; 1 John 2:20; John 16:13)

As a teacher, the Holy Spirit carried on the ministry of Jesus, which was to a large

extent a teaching ministry. When we receive the Holy Spirit, He indwells our spirit

man; He serves as a Teacher to our spirit. We must realize that the things of God

cannot be understood by the natural mind, but they are revealed to our spirits; it is

with our spirit that we contact God. As a teacher, He reveals to us the hidden

mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Non-Christians cannot understand why we do the

things we do. But we have an unction from the Holy One and we know all things (1

John 2:20). As our Teacher, He also reveals to us things to come (John 16:13). We

must realize that the Holy Spirit is in us to teach us all things. A simple prayer like

this, “O blessed Holy Spirit, unveil the truth unto my spirit that I may stand in the

fullness of the provision of my Father, for He is my Father, I love Him and He loves

me”; that will bring about deep revelations. The Holy Spirit makes studying God's

word a joyful experience.

4.3.7 He is the Standby (2Corinthians 12:9-10)

Anytime we are in church during a service and there is an interruption in power

supply, we always put on our standby generator. The Holy Spirit is also referred to as

the standby. In John 14:17, Jesus said the Holy Spirit shall be in us and with us. Paul

went through different experiences that revealed certain weaknesses in his life. The

good thing was that even in the midst of his weakness, the Holy Spirit was at hand to

strengthen him. We can also enjoy this ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. There

are times when we are overwhelmed by issues and circumstances that reveal

weaknesses in us. At such times we should remember the Holy Spirit as our standby.

God has promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

4.4.0 EVERY CHRISTIAN CAN RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The scriptures let us know that the Spirit has been poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28,

Acts 2:17). This means the Holy Spirit has been made available for all to receive. The

only requirement for receiving the Holy Spirit is for one to be born again. (Acts 2:38-

39). The Holy Spirit responds to hunger and fills those Christians who desire Him.

(Luke 11:13, Isaiah 44:3). If you are not desiring Him yet, start now and see what He

will do in, for and through your life.

4.5.0 FELLOWSHIP WITH THE SPIRIT

Fellowship is explained in the Chamber’s English dictionary as “Companionship”.

The dictionary further calls it a “ Laying together“. It is a relationship, a process that

circles around two or more individuals. It is an affair; Fellowship with the Holy Spirit

is a love affair between the Spirit of God and us. The word fellowship is best

described by the Greek word ‘Koinonia ‘. Koinonia is an all round word for

fellowship, which gives a further insight with three words: Communication,

Communion and Transportation.

174.5.1 Communication

It is simply the transference of information between two or more individuals with

feedback. In our fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we are engaged in communication

with Him. A communication that comes about as a result of our relationship with

Him. We speak to Him knowing that He will surely answer (1 John 5:14-15).

4.5.2 Communion

This is oneness, togetherness, a binding, a gluing, and identification. Communion

with the Holy Spirit tells us who we are, and that we are one with Him, “For by one

spirit are we all baptized into one body and have all been made to drink into one

spirit”. (1Corinthians 12:13).

4.5.3 Transportation

This is the conveyance (movement) of goods and people from one place to another.

You may ask how does this concern the Christian and his relationship with the Holy

Spirit? There are times when you fellowship with the Holy Spirit and He will carry

you (John 16:13). He will carry you into the realm of the spirit.

4.5.4 THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN THE

CHRISTIAN’S LIFE

The life of the Christian should be different, and this can be made possible only by the

infilling of the Holy Spirit. In John 16:12-13, Jesus Himself said, “I have yet many

things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of

truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth…” The unbeliever does not know the

things to come, but the Holy Spirit reveals this to the Christian. The Christian is the

man that has hope in this world. The Holy Spirit makes the life of the Christian

fruitful. Without Him, the life of the Christian is like a flower that does not receive

daily nutrient (Isaiah 32:15). This is the difference between the Spirit filled Christian

and the Christian that is not filled with the Holy Spirit. With the infilling of the Holy

Spirit, any dryness in the Christian turns to fruitfulness; and fruitfulness to abundance

(forest). The person of the Holy Spirit is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians

1:27).

4.7.0 HIS MINISTRY THROUGH CHRISTIANS

It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can be effective witnesses of the

death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ said to his

disciples that they would receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon them (Acts

1:8). This power is to enable them to fulfill the ministry that He has called them into.

All Christians have been called into this ministry (Ephesians 4:12). Luke 4:17-18

records our function or responsibilities in this ministry. The Holy Spirit empowers all

Christians to do the following:

a. Preach the gospel to the poor

b. Heal the broken hearted

c. Preach deliverance to the captives

d. Recovery of sight to the blind

e. Set at liberty them that are bruised

184.8.0 CONCLUSION

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. He helps the Christians to live

victorious lives, and do this through His character: comforter, counselor, teacher,

helper, strengthener, intercessor and standby. It is very vital for a Christian to be

intimately related to Him, by constantly fellowshipping with Him.