THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BELIEVER

                                               THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BELIEVER

Introduction

Joel 2:28- 29, John 14: 16, Acts 1:4- 8

As a whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool’s back so a believer without a proper fellowship with the Holy Spirit cannot live to enjoy all the blessings of the divine throne of God. To live to the standard of God in this evil, crocked, sinful, demonic and depraved generation is solely a function of ones (the believers) total dependence on the Holy Spirit.

                                                          

                                                            A. WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Sadly, the holy sprit is the least known member of the Godhead. There is a sad lack of knowledge about him due to who he is.

1.       The holy spirit is God  Acts 5:3- 5

2.       He is the third person of the trinity 2 Corinthinas 13: 14

3.       He is a person. John 14: 17, 16: 7- 13, 15: 26

Note: personal pronouns are used when referring to the Holy spirit.

4.       Divine attributes are ascribed unto Him to denote that he is God, that is

·         He is omnipresent Ps 139: 7- 12

·         He is omniscient 1 Cor 2: 10, 11

·         He is Omnipotent Lk 1: 35

·         He is eternal (immutable/ unchanging)

B. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

God	Father	Son	Holy spirit
creator	Gen 1:1	Jn 1:3, 10, Col 1:16, heb 1:2, 10	Gen 1:2, Job 26: 13, 33
God	Gen  1:1	Jn 1:2, 20:28, Rom 9:5, Phi 2:6	Act 5:3
Eternal (Immutable)	Mal 3:6, Mtt 19:26, Ps. 90:37	Heb 13:8	Heb 9:14
Omnipresent	Pro 15:3	Mtt 18:20, 28:20	Ps 139:7- 12
Omniscient	Ps 139:1-6	John 16:30	1 Cor 3:10, 11
Omnipotent	Job 42: 1-2, Lk 2:37, Mtt 19:26	Mtt 28:	1 cor 12:11, Lk 1:35,

From the above, we can see that, the three persons in the Godhead are all equal in glory, power and characteristics. They all have the unique attributes of God.

C. EXPRESSING OF PERSONALITY ATTRIBUTED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

·         He can be grieved Eph 4: 30 – 32

·         He can be lied Acts 5:1-3

·         He can be tested Acts 5:9

·         He can be resisted. Acts 7:51

·         He can be quenched.  1 Thess 5:19

·         He can pray Acts 13:2

·         He can comforts Acts 9:31

·         He can feel Acts 4: 30

·         He can teach John 14:26

·         He can think Romans 8:6

·         He can guide John 16:13

·         He has a will 1 Cor 12:11(the capacity of choice and decision)

·         He has an intellect (the ability to think and reason) 1 Cor 2:11

D. DIVINE NAMES AND TITTLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

·         Spirit of God.  1 Cor 3:16

·         Spirit of Christ Rom 8:9

·         Spirit of life Rom 8:2

·         Spirit of grace Heb 10:29

·         Spirit of truth John 16:12

·         The comforter John 16:26

·         Counselor John 16:7

·         Spirit of the Lord Acts 8:39, 2 Cor 3:17

·         Spirit of holiness Rom 1:4

·         Spirit of glory 1 Pt 4:14

·         Spirit of might Isaiah 11:2

·         Spirit of wisdom   Isaiah 11:2

·         Spirit of understanding Isaiah 11:2

·         Spirit of the Lord God Isaiah 61: 1

·         Holy spirit Ps 51:11, Eph 1:13

E. EMBLAMES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

There are six main emblems of the Holy Spirit that throws light upon both His nature and mission.

·         The dove, purity, harmony, peace. John 1:32

·         Water: it indicates his life and cleansing ministry. John 7:37- 39, Isaiah 44:3

·         Oil: it indicates light, healing, and anointing for service. Luke 4:13, Acts 10:38, 1 John 2:20

·         A seal : it indicates worship, finished, transaction, identification, security, genuineness, value, authority Eph 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, Acts 2:1-2

·         Wind: it indicates approval, purification, gifts, and judgment. Ex 3:2, Lev 9:24, Heb 4:29

·         Fire  It indicates approval , purification, gift, judgment  Exa 2.3 , Lev 9 24 Heb 12 29

TERMINOLOGIES REGARDING THE OPERATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

a)      Being led: this simple mean being controlled Rom 8:14 by the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, you think like, walk like, talk like and do everything like Jesus

b)      Full of the Holy Spirit: It denotes the measure to which one is submerged in the Spirit. It is the daily flow of the spirit in ones life and ministry. In other words you are fully controlled by the Spirit. Acts 6:3 ,7:35

c)       Being baptized by the Holy Spirit this means you are being immersed submerged buried, completely surrounded by, enveloped wholly by the Holy Spirit. Note: the purpose of being baptize in the Holy Spirit is not speaking in tongues but for power for divine service. Acts 8:14-17,10:44-48

In dwelling: this means that Christian now has the Holy Spirit in his life to help him to live for the Lord. One can be indwell with the Holy Spirit without necessarily being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:15-17 Fruit of the spirit Gal 5:22-23

1.       Love- lovely within

2.       Joy-joyful within

3.       Peace-peaceful within

4.       Patience-patient with others

5.       Kindness-kind to others

6.       Goodness-good to others

7.       Faithfulness-faithful to God yourself and others

8.       Gentleness-before God and others

9.       Self control-towards yourself and others 

H. MEANING OR SOME EXPRESION OF THE PERSONALITY HOLY SPIRIT

·         Grieve him Eph 4:30 – 32. Grieving him means being disobedient to his guidance and his directives.

·         Resist him Acts 7:51. To resist him is to stand against his will. This is mostly done by unbelievers.

·         Lie to him. Acts 5:9, Eph 4:13

·         Test him. We should not do any thing in the hiding, thinking he will not see it. Remember he is an omniscient.

·         Quench him 1Thess 5:19. To quench the spirit is to be in consistent constant disobedient to his word, directives and direction. NB. Sinner can resist, insult and blasphemy the Holy spirit, while believers can also grieve, lie to, test and quench him.

I.THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BELIEVER

·         He leads the believer into all truth. John 16:13

·         He is the believers’ counselor. John 14:16, 16:7

·         He is the believers’ teacher. John 14:26

·         He gives the believer power for divine service

·         Helps the believer in his weakness Romans 8:16, Joel 3:10

·         He helps the believer to live a holy life. 1 Corinthians 2:10- 11, 1 Thess 1:5

·         Helps the believer to pray better. Romans 8:26

·         He produces conversion and regeneration Titus 3:5, Eph 2:1, John 6;63 Romans 8:2

·         He liberates us from the power of sin and death. Romans 8:16, 10

·         He gives us an inward assurance of salvation. 1 John 5:6, 8

·         He brings conviction. John 16:8- 11

·         He dwells in the believer. 1 Cor 3:16, Romans 8:9

·         He gives wisdom to the believer. Eph 1:17,

·         He gives the believer boldness to preach the gospel. Romans 5:15, 2 Timothy 1:7b

·         He directs the believer’s course of witnessing. Acts 16:6-7, Acts 18:7- 10

·         He seals the believer for the day of redemption. Eph 4:30, Romans 8:16

·         He feels the believer to work supernatural miracles. Acts 6:8, 2 Timothy 1:7b

·         He has fellowship with the believer 2 Cor 13:14

·         He helps the believer to bear the fruit of the spirit. Gal 5:22-23, Eph 5:9

·         He adopts the believer into God’s family. Romans 8:15, John 3: 5, 6.