Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai
Introduction
It is a fundamental revelation in the Christian circle that the Holy Spirit is a person, just in the same sense that God the Father is a Person and God the Son is a Person
His Personality
Personality of the Holy Spirit Affirmed By His Attributes.
*He possesses the essential of mind or intelligence. 1 Corinthians 12:11
*He possesses life which is an essential of personality. Romans 8:2
On the human level, the possession of life is taken as proof of possession of personality, one without the other is impossible.
Personality of the Holy Spirit Affirmed By His Works.
*His work in creation -Genesis 1:2
*His work in empowering -Zechariah 4:6
*His Teaching Ministry -John 16:13
*His Guidance -Romans 8:14
*His Comforting -Acts 9:31
*His work of convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgement -John 16:8
*His Prayer -Romans 8:26
*His Restraint of Sin -Isaiah 59:19
*His Authoritative Commands -Acts 8:29; 13:2; 16:7
He is God
*Seen by comparison (Isaiah 6:8-9 and Acts 28:25-26) also see Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrew 10:15-17
*The term God as found in the translations of the Old and New Testaments is frequently identified with the Holy Spirit. 2 Samuel 23:2-3, 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19 & Matthew 12:31-32
His deity is found in His works
*The work of the Holy Spirit in creation (Gen.1:2) by its very nature could be accomplished only by one who is God.
*His work in regeneration (John 3:6; Rom.8:11) likewise is clearly in the realm of a work of God.
*The ministry of the Holy Spirit in effecting the sanctification of the believer (2Thess.2:13)
Salvation and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
There are schools of thoughts (within Christendom) that erroneously believe that at salvation, we are already filled or baptized in the Holy Spirit. But there’s a difference
*Philip’s Encounter in Samaria; Acts 8:5-8, 12 & 14-17
*Saul’s Encounter with Jesus ACTS 9:15-17
Clearly here even though Saul had received Jesus as his Lord, he was not yet baptized in the Holy Spirit until Ananias came and laid hands on him to receive the Holy Spirit; showing us that receiving salvation and receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences.
The Holy Spirit Within: His Indwelling Presence
*At salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us –this is referred to as His Indwelling Presence
*John 14:17: " Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
*1 John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU, THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD."
The Holy Spirit Upon: His Infilling Power
1. The Promise of the Holy Spirit: "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper. . . [John 14:16-17]
2. The Gateway into the Supernatural: The bible teaches of the nine-fold manifestation of the fruit of the born-again human spirit that is listed in Galatians 5:22, 23.
3. God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit upon us through the baptism of the Holy Spirit so that believers might enter into all the fullness of God [Ephesians 3:19, 20].
4. Power To Put Us Over In Life: Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us," [Eph.3:20]
Seven Steps to Receiving the Holy Ghost
Step 1 –Help: Help the Believer see that God has already given the Holy Spirit and it is His/ Her responsibility to receive God's free gift.
Step 2 –Show: Show the person that anyone who is saved is ready to immediately receive the Holy Spirit. [Acts 2:37-38]
Step 3 –Tell: Tell them that when you lay hands on them, they are to receive the Holy Ghost.
Step 4 -Still Tell: Tell them what to expect as he receives the Holy Spirit.
Step 5 -Get over Fears: May be necessary to help some people get over their fears before they can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Step 6 -Open Your Mouth: Tell the candidate to open his mouth and be ready to use his own mouth and vocal chords
Step 7 -Avoid Distraction: Keep the candidate from distraction.
The Importance of Speaking in Tongues
*Speaking In Unknown Tongues
(a) Needed For Devotion & Prayers: (1 Cor.14:2, 4).
(b) Needed For Fulfilment of Scriptures: (Eph. 5:8, Rom 8:14, Gal. 5:16, 25, John 4:23
(c) Needed For Spiritual Edification & Spiritual Refreshing(1 Cor. 14:4).
(d) Needed To Best Give God Thanks: 1 Cor. 14:16-17
(e) Needed To Exercise, Activate and Stimulate our Faith: (Jude 1:20)
(f) Needed For Spiritual Warfare: Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
*Speaking With Diverse Kinds of Tongues
(a) Needed For Ministration: (1 Cor. 14:22a AMP):
(b) Needed by God when He Chooses To Use It for His Glory: Acts 2: 11 (KJV)
(c) Needed For Supernaturally Magnifying God: Acts 10:46
Understanding the Gifts of the Spirit
GIFTS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND OPERATIONS (1 COR. 12:4-6)
*There are different spiritual gifts, but all of them stem from the one and only Holy Spirit.
*We may administer (serve with) these gifts differently, but we serve the same Lord.
*There are different types of operations (procedures), but it is the same God who does the work in all of us
THE NINE GIFTS CATEGORIZED
1. Revelation Gifts: Spiritual Gifts That Reveal Something:
The Word of Wisdom: Enables one to express the Holy Spirit's revelation/knowledge/answers to either an individual or to a group of people, church, etc.
The Word Of Knowledge: Supernatural insight or understanding of circumstances, situations, problems, or a body of facts by revelation
The Discerning Of Spirits: The ability to quickly perceive whether such things as people, events, or beliefs are from God or Satan
2. Power Gifts: Spiritual Gifts That Do Something
The Gift Of Faith: The special gift whereby the Spirit provides Christians with extraordinary confidence in God's promises, power, and presence so they can take heroic stands for the future of God's work in the church.
The Working Of Miracles: The ability given by the Holy Spirit to perform miracles
The Gifts Of Healings: The ability given by the Holy Spirit to perform miracles of healing
3. Utterance or Inspirational Gifts: Spiritual Gifts That Say Something
Prophecy: A supernatural ability to declare the divine will, to interpret the purposes of God, or to make known in any way the truth of God which is designed to influence people.
Divers Kinds Of Tongues: A supernatural utterance in an unknown Tongue (language).
Interpretation Of Tongues: A supernatural showing forth of that which has been said in an unknown Tongue (language).
