WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the most mysterious member of the Trinity, which includes God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. Many struggle with the idea of God's being three persons, yet one. Quite honestly, we will never fully grasp the concept this side of heaven. Some have wrongly thought of the Holy Spirit as an impersonal force rather than a person. Perhaps this comes from descriptions of his being like the wind or coming upon Jesus in the form of a dove. Yet these are simply metaphors used in Scripture to help communicate something of God's character. Similarly, Jesus described himself as "the Bread of Life" and "the Good Shepherd." Jesus said of the Holy Spirit: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.... He will tell you about the future." Note the use of the pronoun he. The Holy Spirit has a distinct personality, and he has specific work that he wants to do in our life.
Why God Gives Us the Holy Spirit
EPHESIANS 1:9-14
'God's secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure. And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. "Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago. "God's purpose was that we who were the first to trust in Christ should praise our glorious God. And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us everything he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.
INSIGHTS FOR LIFE
You might say that the Holy Spirit is our "identifying mark" as believers in Christ. In verses 13-14 we see three reasons why God gives us his Holy Spirit: First, God promised to send the Holy Spirit to those who trust Jesus Christ as Savior. The Holy Spirit also serves as a mark of ownership, showing that we belong to God. Lastly, the Holy Spirit represents God's guarantee or pledge to bring us to our final spiritual inheritance. This word translated "guarantee" could also be translated "first installment signifying that this is just a small portion of what is awaiting us in heaven. God gives us the Holy Spirit not only to enable us to live out the Christian life but also to prove that we are precious in his sight.
How the Holy Spirit Works in Our Life
JOHN 14:12-21
"The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. "You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. "Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it! "If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. In just a little while the world will not see me again, but you will. For I will live again, and you will, too. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them."
INSIGHTS FOR LIFE
The New Testament describes three ways the Holy Spirit works in our life. Verse 17 shows two of these ways, and a third can be found elsewhere in Scripture. First, he works with us as non-believers. Before coming to belief in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and reveals Christ as the answer. Second, he comes into our life when we turn to Christ. Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and invite him into our life, the Holy Spirit moves into our life and sets up residence. Third, he empowers us as believers. This aspect of the Holy Spirit's work is described in Luke's Gospel, where Jesus says, "And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised."
Why We Need the Holy Spirit
GAIAITANS 5:16-26
So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. "The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law.
"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, "idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.
INSIGHTS FOR LIFE
Living the Christian life is impossible without the Holy Spirit's help. This passage gives four reasons why we should relinquish control of our life to the Holy Spirit. First, he helps us make the right decisions if we listen to his advice. Second, he gives us the power to live by God's guidelines. Third, when we live by the Holy Spirit, he develops godly qualities—the fruit of the Spirit—in our life. Fourth, the Holy Spirit encourages us to seek God's approval above the approval of other people. In essence, the Holy Spirit enables Christians to live a life that is pleasing to God—something that is impossible to do on our own. He makes following Christ a joy rather than a duty.