I asked the Holy Spirit what to title this blog post, and I heard, “Get to know Me.” Wow, that stirs up emotion in my heart for sure. He wants to be known by you!
Do you know Him? Yes, the third person of the Trinity is a He, not an it. I have heard the Holy Spirit referred to as an “it” in songs and in general conversation, but He is so much more! He is a personal being and he indwells every believer!
What do we know about the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit was in the beginning.
Genesis 1:1-2
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in Our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
He was there when the world was created and was with God when mankind was made as well.
In the Book of John, Jesus told His disciples how God the Father was going to send the Holy Spirit when He left. As a matter of fact, Jesus said it was better that He leave and that the Holy Spirit come. Jesus, in human form, couldn’t be with everyone at once, but our Comforter and Counselor (the Holy Spirit) could.
The Holy Spirit is our Advocate.
Merriam-Webster’s definition of advocate is: One who pleads the cause of another; specifically : one who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court.
The Holy Spirit is on our side. He pleads our cause!
John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Some versions call Him our Comforter or Counselor.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth.
John 15:26
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father — the Spirit of Truth who goes out from the Father — He will testify about me.
John 16:13
But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you.
Just from those verses we learn that He is our advocate and that He testifies about Jesus. He is also known as the Spirit of truth. God does not lie, therefore what He says is TRUE. Whatever the Holy Spirit tells us (and yes, He speaks to us) is what He hears Father God or Jesus speak to Him. Does that excite anyone else? God has given us an ADVOCATE! The devil is always accusing us, but Jesus AND the Holy Spirit are on our side!
Did you notice in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit will also tell us WHAT IS TO COME? God wants His people to be aware and alert. He wants to communicate with us. We need to spend time with the Lord so that we recognize His voice. The Holy Spirit has so much to teach and reveal to us!
Matthew 3:11
I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
You can also be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Read about the day the Holy Spirit was sent to us by clicking here.
The Holy Spirit distributes gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:4
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Now to each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines.
The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives brings FRUIT.
Galatians 5:22-24
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
The Holy Spirit is not limited by time or space. He lives in each Christian and gives us the strength and ability to do what God has asked us to accomplish.
There is so much more to be said about our God, Comforter, Counselor, Teacher and Advocate, but I’ll bring this post to a close.
I pray this has sparked a desire in your heart to know Him better!
Get to know Him.
God bless you!
Beth
