Who is the Holy Spirit?

This is an excerpt from a live teaching series we conducted to help believers understand who the Holy Spirit is, why He is important, and why it matters.

The objective is to understand the Holy Spirit’s identity as a person, His role in the Trinity, and His presence in the lives of believers.

The Holy Spirit is a person. He isn't a force or an energy, but the Holy Spirit is God, the same as the Father and Jesus. The Holy Spirit has emotions, intellect and will. He feels Eph 4:30, He speaks Acts 13:2, and He guides John 16:13.

The precious Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity. He is co-equal with the Father and Son; they operate as one. The Father is the one who knows what must take place. Jesus said He only does what the Father tells Him to do, and the Holy Spirit is the one who does it. We can see the trinity in operation in Genesis 1:2. The Holy Spirit isn't a junior partner; He is fully God.

The role of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to help us and to glorify Jesus, as Jesus glorified the Father. In Greek, it reads that He is the parakletos, which translates to advocate, comforter or counsellor. He convicts us of sin (John 16:8), teaches truth, and empowers us to be witnesses for Jesus.

In our relationship with the Holy Spirit, we can envision Him as a best friend who is always with us, listening to us, offering guidance, and encouraging us. The Holy Spirit knows exactly what we need and when we need it.

The Holy Spirit is eternal (Hebrews 9:14), all-knowing (1 Cor 2:10-11), all-powerful (Luke 1:35), and omnipresent (Psalm 139:7). He is loving and gentle.

So, as a believer, why does this matter?

Knowing the Holy Spirit as a person builds a relationship with Him. It builds intimacy, not just functionality. It's the difference between knowing a person's name and knowing the person.

Take some time today and say, “Holy Spirit, you’re here with me. Speak to me. Keep a pen and notepad nearby and write down any thoughts, scriptures or impressions you get. This will help you develop a habit of not only spending time in prayer but also listening to the Holy Spirit.

Reflect on how knowing the Holy Spirit as a person will change the way you relate to Him, not as a mysterious force, but as a person.

A while ago, I was ministering on the streets. I saw a very large, strong, and angry-looking young man, and the Holy Spirit gave me an impression that he had a calling to be a pastor, but he ran from the calling because he felt ashamed. I approached the man and told him what the Holy Spirit had told me. He rededicated his life to Jesus and became involved in serving at a local church. Jesus removed his shame and filled him with a sense of purpose. These are the things you can expect to encounter when you befriend the Holy Spirit.