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The Holy Spirit is part of the triune nature of God, but the Holy Spirit also has an individual
personality. The subject of the Holy Spirit is so vast that an entire course entitled "The
Ministry Of The Holy Spirit" is offered by Harvestime International Institute. This course is
recommended for more detailed study of the Holy Spirit.
PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Bible reveals that the Holy Spirit:
Has a mind:
And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what
is the mind of the Spirit... (Romans 8:27)
Searches out the human mind:
But God hath revealed them unto us by His
Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea,
the deep things of God. (I Corinthians 2:10)
Has a will:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame
Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will. (I Corinthians 12:11)
The will of the Holy Spirit guides believers by denying permission for certain actions:
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and
the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the
Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to
go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them
not. (Acts 16:6-7)
The will of the Holy Spirit also guides believers by granting permission:
And after he had seen the vision, immediately
we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly
gathering that the Lord had called us for to
preach the Gospel unto them. (Acts 16:10)
Speaks:
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and
join thyself to this chariot. (Acts 8:29)
Loves:
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus
Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that
ye strive together with me in your prayers to
God for me. (Romans 15:30)
Intercedes:
The Holy Spirit intercedes (prays to God) on behalf of believers:
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray for as we
ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession
for us with groanings which cannot be uttered
(spoken). (Romans 8:26)
From this list of personality traits you can immediately recognize the important functions of
the Holy Spirit in spiritual warfare. The Holy Spirit guides your warfare. He reveals spiritual
things that cannot be known naturally. The Holy Spirit speaks the will and words of God to
you. He also intercedes for you as you are engaged in spiritual battles.
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
There is a spiritual experience called the baptism of the Holy Spirit which involves the sign of
speaking in other tongues (Acts 2) and the evidence of power to become an effective witness of
the Gospel (Acts 1:8).
To wage successful spiritual warfare, it is important for you to experience the baptism of the
Spirit. This is the source of power for spiritual battles. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is
discussed in the course "The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit".
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Holy Spirit gives special spiritual gifts to believers. These spiritual gifts are discussed in
detail in the course on the Holy Spirit. The main references listing the gifts of the Holy Spirit
are:
-Romans 12:1-8
-I Corinthians 12:1-31
-Ephesians 4:1-16
-I Peter 4:7-11
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are necessary to equip the believer for combat against the forces of
evil. The gifts of the Holy Spirit include the following:
Special gifts to equip God's people:
Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.
Speaking gifts to explain God's truth:
Prophecy, teaching, exhortation, word of wisdom, word of knowledge.
Serving gifts to enable God's work:
Serving, helps, leadership, administration, giving, showing mercy, discerning of spirits, faith,
hospitality.
Sign gifts to establish God's authority:
Tongues, interpretation, miracles, healings.
FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Holy Spirit also develops spiritual fruit in the life of the believer. The "fruit of the Holy
Spirit" refers to the nature of the Spirit revealed in the life of the believer. It is spiritual
qualities which should be evident in the lives of all Christians.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are for power. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is for character in the
life of a believer. If you do not develop Christlike character traits then you will become a
victim of the forces of evil. Spiritual fruit is evidence of spiritual maturity. Like fruit in the
natural world, it is a product which is the result of the process of life.
There are two types of spiritual fruit. There is the spiritual fruit of reproduction:
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,
and ordained you, that ye should go and bring
forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain...
(John 15:16)
There is also the inner fruit of Christlike qualities. These qualities are completely opposite of
the fleshly nature of man:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which
are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and
such like: of the which I tell you before, as I
have also told you in time past, that they which
do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of
God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no
law. (Galatians 5:19-23)
Although the power of the flesh was defeated at the cross, as a believer you experience this
only to the degree that you practice faith in the finished work of Jesus. Therefore, to be
effective in denying the power of the sinful nature of the flesh, it is necessary that you develop
or "put on" the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
WHERE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
Jesus promised His followers that upon His return to Heaven He would send the Holy Spirit to
earth to comfort them:
And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you
another Comforter, that He may abide with you
for ever;
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. (John 14:16-17)
One of the main functions of the Holy Spirit is to direct attention to Jesus Christ:
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will
sent unto you from the Father, even the
Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the
Father, He shall testify of me (John 15:26)
God the Holy Spirit, in spirit form and invisible to the natural eyes of man, is in the world
today. He is active in convicting men of sin, drawing men to Jesus Christ, equipping believers
with power for spiritual warfare, guiding them, and testifying of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit ministers in many other ways in the world. These are discussed in detail in the
Harvestime International Institute course entitled "Ministry Of The Holy Spirit."
SENSITIVITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Holy Spirit has a sensitive nature. This means He has feelings that can be affected by the
actions of man. Because of the sensitive nature of the Holy Spirit the Bible warns that we
should not lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4), resist the Spirit (Acts 7:51), quench the Spirit (I
Thessalonians 5:19), grieve the Spirit (Psalms 78:40 and Ephesians 4:30), insult the Spirit
(Hebrews 6:4-6), blaspheme the Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32 or vex the Spirit (Isaiah 63:10). These
actions are discussed in detail in the Harvestime International Institute course on "The Ministry
Of The Holy Spirit."
It is important that you do not offend the sensitive nature of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy
Spirit is offended by your actions He will withdraw His presence. You cannot wage effective
spiritual warfare without the power of the Holy Spirit.
TITLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
There are several titles used in the Bible to describe the Holy Spirit. A title is a descriptive
phrase which explains a person's position and/or function. It is important that you know the
function of the Holy Spirit as you enter spiritual warfare. Look up the following references in
your Bible to study the titles given the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is called:
The Spirit of God: I Corinthians 3:16
The Spirit of Christ: Romans 8:9
The Eternal Spirit: Hebrews 9:14
The Spirit of Truth: John 16:13
The Spirit of Grace: Hebrews 10:29
The Spirit of Life: Romans 8:2
The Spirit of Glory: I Peter 4:14
The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation: Ephesians 1:17
The Comforter: John 14:26
The Spirit of Promise: Acts 1:4-5
The Spirit of Holiness: Romans 1:4
The Spirit of Faith: II Corinthians 4:13
The Spirit of Adoption: Romans 8:15
EMBLEMS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Bible uses several emblems to represent the Holy Spirit. An emblem represents or stands
for something. It is a symbol which has a special meaning. Look up the following references
in your Bible. They each use emblems which represent the Holy Spirit:
The dove: John 1:32, Song Of Solomon 6:9
Oil: Luke 4:18, Acts 10:38; Hebrews 1:9
Water: John 7:37-39; Isaiah 44:3
A seal: Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; II Corinthians 1:22
Wind: John 3:8; Acts 2:1-2
Fire: Exodus 3:2; 13:21; Leviticus 9:24; Acts 2:3
The meaning of each of these emblems of the Holy Spirit is explained in the course on the
"Ministry Of The Holy Spirit."
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