Who is the Holy Spirit?

When we think of Jesus, we know He had a human body so we have no difficulty in thinking of Him as a person. But to think of the Holy Spirit as a Spirit, and still a person is a bit harder for us to do. So we often hear it asked: Who is the Holy Spirit? What does He do? Where is He?

First of all, Who is The Holy Spirit? In Anne Graham Lotz’ book "Just Give me Jesus", she states that He is "another Jesus". When Jesus told His disciples another would be sent after He was gone, He said it was another just like Himself: He is exactly like Jesus, the Spirit of Jesus. In John 14:16 Jesus told them the Father would send "another counselor". In the Amplified Version it gives six other descriptions: Comforter, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and He Stands by. Can you imagine this? You have someone in your life to meet all these needs.

Another aspect of "Who the Spirit is", is that He is a person. Though He is a Spirit, He is a personality. He is co-equal, co-existent and co-eternal with God the Father, and Jesus the Son.

What the Spirit is NOT, regardless of our human imagery, He is NOT a ‘dove’, or a ‘flame of fire’, or an ‘experience’ or an ‘it’, or a ‘ghost.’ He is a spirit-person. He has a mind, intellect, and a will. Being one with the Father and Son, they have one will and work together in everything.

Where is the Holy Spirit now? Since that day of Pentecost over 2000 years ago, the Holy Spirit has dwelt within any person who has invited Jesus to come in. Anyone who has put their faith and trust in Jesus, accepting the sacrifice which He made at Calvary’s Cross, the Holy Spirit will make His residence in that life. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to His children. He is a permanent resident in the lives of each believer. He will never leave us or forsake us.

What does the Holy Spirit do? His main purpose for man is to reveal the Truth of God. He also convicts us of sin. The Holy Spirit gives power. At creation it says in Genesis 1 that He hovered over the ‘face of the deep’. He hovers over our minds to help us understand the truths of God. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power that dwells within each believer. This same power that hung the stars in place now resides in every believer.

The Nicene Creed, which I have quoted from before, also pays tribute to the Holy Spirit as being Himself God and equal to the Father and Son:

I believe in the Holy Spirit
The Lord and giver of life,
Which proceedeth from the Father and the Son,
Who with the Father and Son together
Is worshipped and glorified.