The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead. He is God the Holy Spirit – a person. He is the Triune God. The Scriptures unfailingly represent God the Father as a Person (Genesis 3:8-9; Exodus 33:11). The Second Person of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ, is both God and man. In the account of the ascension (Luke 24:50-53), the Lord Jesus extended His hands to bless the disciples who worshipped Him as God. He was God. He was a Person.
But what about the Person of the Holy Spirit? There is no question that the Bible presents the deity of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a Person, and He abides in every believer. Prior to Pentecost, He dwelt with the disciples but not in them (John 14:17). In this era of the church – the age of grace – the age when Christ is calling out for Himself a Body – the Holy Spirit abides in a new temple – YOU (if you believe). He takes up His abode at the time you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (1 Corinthians 12:13).
I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD
The Scriptures also testify to the fact that the Holy Spirit is God, co-equal with the Father and the Son, yet a distinct person in the eternal Godhead.
A. In Acts 5:3, Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost. Who did Peter say he had actually
lied to in verse 4?
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B. Who knows the deep things of God? (1 Corinthians 2:10)
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II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
What is the difference between the Old Testament believers and the New Testament
believers in terms of their relationship with the Holy Ghost? Read the following
scriptures and write a short summary.
OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT
Numbers 11:25 John 14:17
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The Holy Spirit is a Person
We should refer to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, as a divine personality, possessing individual substance, intelligence, and will. We must not refer to Him as “it.” His personality appears from His attributes and works. He is God because we find godly attributes.
1. In the following verses, underline the pronouns he, him, or himself that refer to the
Holy Spirit. Then total the number of pronouns you have found altogether.
This is the Holy Spirit’s way of saying that He is not an “it” or some kind of “wind”
or force, but a person.
John 14:16-17, 26
John 15:26
John: 7-8, 13-15 TOTAL: __________
2. The definition of a person is one possessing intelligence, emotion or feeling, and
will. Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit possesses all three, proving that He is a
person, not an “it” or a thing.
The Holy Spirit’s Personality Characteristics
The Spirit is said to do that which is possible only for a person to do. List the personality characteristics of the Holy Spirit in each scripture below.
1. “He shall _________________________________ you all things.” (John 14:26)
2. Galatians 5:18 ________________________________________________________
3. “…but the Spirit Himself maketh ___________________for us…” (Romans 8:26).
4. Acts 10:19 ___________________________________________________________
5. Acts 13:2 ____________________________________________________________
The Spirit has emotions and feelings and can be affected as a person by other beings, as we are.
1. In Isaiah 63:10, the Spirit can be _____________________________(or displeased).
2. In Ephesians 4:30, the Spirit can be______________________ (or made to sorrow).
3. In Acts 5:3, He can be ______________________________________________ too.
4. What emotion does the Spirit exhibit in Romans 15:30? _______________________
5. What can we determine about the Holy Spirit’s intelligence in 1 Corinthians 2:10?
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6. What is the Holy Spirit called in John 14:26? _______________________________
The Holy Spirit’s Names
The Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Ghost all refer to the same person.
1. According to Genesis 1:2, in what work did He have part? _____________________
2. According to the book of Job, who made us? (Job 33:4) ______________________
3. The Bible teaches us that God is omnipresent, or everywhere at the same time.
Can this divine attribute be a characteristic of the Holy Spirit? Explain
(Psalm 139:7)
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4. Through what person are sinners born into God’s Kingdom? (John 3:5-8)
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5. What Jesus said about the ministry of the Spirit? (John 14:16-17)
A. What did Jesus call Him?(verse 16) _____________________________________
B. How long would He be with us? (verse 16) ________________________________
C. He called Him the Spirit of what? (verse 17) ______________________________
D. Can the world (sinners, unsaved) receive Him? (verse 17) _________________
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E. How is the Christian able to know the Spirit? (verse 17)___________________
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The Holy Spirit’s Indwelling Power
6. Where does the Spirit of God dwell today? (Romans 8:9) ______________________
7. When a person is saved, the Spirit comes to live or dwell inside the believer. If the
Spirit does not dwell inside a person, what does Romans 8:9 say about him/her?
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8. What does the believer’s body become to the Holy Ghost once the believer is saved?
(1 Corinthians 6:19)
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9. When we truly trust (believe in Jesus Christ as personal Savior), what does the
Holy Spirit do for us? (Ephesians 1:13)
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10. How long is the believer sealed by the Holy Spirit? (Ephesians 4:30)
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The day of redemption is the day when Jesus comes back to receive all believers. This means that the Holy Spirit keeps us safe and sealed in God forever.
The Convicting Work of the Spirit
11. What special work does the Holy Spirit do? (John 16:8) ______________________
12. The Spirit reproves or convicts believers about what main sin? (John 16:9)
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13. How does God reveal the deep truths and treasures of His Word to us? (1 Cor. 2:10)
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14. Can anyone truly acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior apart from the Holy
Spirit’s work in the heart? (1 Corinthians 12:3)
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The Holy Spirit Concerning the Ministry of Jesus
15. The man establishes the bloodline in a child. That is why Jesus was born of a virgin
– to ensure that He did not have the blood of sinful men in him. How was Jesus
conceived? (Matthew 1:20-21)
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16. Who led Jesus into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1) ___________________________
17. Throughout Jesus’ test and trial in the wilderness, the Holy Spirit was with Him,
guiding Him and helping Him overcome the temptations of the devil. After all the
tests were over, how did Jesus return to Galilee? (Luke 4:14)
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Remember, it was by means of the Spirit that Jesus’ human nature was given the strength to overcome the severe temptations placed before Him. People think that, because He was God, He achieved victory by pulling divine qualities from His divine nature into His human nature, which enabled Him to resist. This is not the case. Otherwise, He would no longer have been a man. Instead, being a complete man, He relied upon the indwelling of power of the Spirit to resist the devil. Jesus performed His miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit, not because He was God.
18. What did the Spirit anoint Jesus to do? (Luke 4:18) _________________________
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19. What else was Jesus able to do by the Spirit of God? (Matthew 12:28)
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20. What was Jesus able to do after God anointed Him with the Holy Ghost?
(Acts 10:38)
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21. Who raised Jesus from the dead? (Romans 8:11) ____________________________
If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to do the works He did, how much more do we need the Holy
Ghost?
The Holy Spirit and the Believer
22. What does the Holy Spirit bear witness to our spirits? (Romans 8:16) __________
23. Where is this witness (Holy Spirit)? (1 John 5:10) __________________________
24. All who believe in Jesus Christ are placed in the Body of Christ. Who places the
believer into Christ’s body? (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
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Who does the Holy Spirit come to glorify to believers? (John 16:13-14) _________
Does He come to tell us what He says? Explain. (John 16:13-14) _______________
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25. List some things that the Spirit does for the believer, according to the Scriptures
listed below.
John 14:26a ________________________________________________________
John 14:26b ________________________________________________________
John 15:26 _________________________________________________________
John 16:13 __________________________________________________________
John 16:14 _________________________________________________________
The Holy Spirit and the Word
26. How were the holy men of God in the Old and New Testaments able to write the
Scriptures? (2 Peter 1:20-21)
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The Holy Spirit is a Person indwelling all believers in Christ. He is the Teacher, the Comforter, the Paraclete (the one by our side), the Guide in our lives.
The Holy Spirit was sent by God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is an ascension gift of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit always magnifies Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is “the promise of the Father.” There are more than 3,000 promises in Scripture, but only one is called “the promise of the Father.” (Acts 1:4; Luke 24:49).
This truth assures all believers that the Holy Spirit indwells them and never leaves them.
WHAT A THRILLING TRUTH! HE ABIDES IN US!
The Holy Spirit’s Work in Our Ministry and Service
1. How did the Lord say we would be able to do His work? (Zechariah 4:6) “Not by
might, nor by power, but __________________________________________.”
2. The promise of the Father was the Holy Spirit that would come upon the disciples.
Why did Jesus want them to wait for this promise? (Luke 24:49)
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3. What happens to the believer after the Holy Ghost comes upon them? (Acts 1:8)
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And what are we able to do after the Holy Ghost comes upon us? (verse 8)
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The Difference Between Being Born of the Spirit
and Being Filled With the Spirit
There is a difference between being BORN of the Spirit and being FILLED with the Spirit. Being born of the Spirit is the new birth of salvation.
It is when the Holy Spirit comes inside to live and bring a rebirth to our spirit man, which has been separated from God because of sin. However, being filled, or being baptized with the Spirit involves the Holy Spirit coming upon us to empower us for service.
Tradition has erroneously taught that when we are saved, we receive all we will ever get of the Holy Spirit. Scripture, however, proves that being born of the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit are two separate experiences.
Read Acts 8:12-17. Notice that the people in Samaria heard the Word of God, they believed, and were baptized (verse 12).
Mark 16:15 states, “He that BELIEVETH and is BAPTIZED shall be SAVED.”
4. The Samaritan believers were saved after hearing Phillip preach the Word. If they
received all the Holy Ghost they needed at the moment of salvation, then why did
Peter and John come down to help them receive the Holy Ghost much later.
Notice what happened in verse 17. “Then laid they their hands on them, and they
received the ______________.”
The Day of Pentecost was the day that the Holy Spirit came to live inside man to dwell in him and empower him for service. On that day, 120 believers (Acts 1:15) had assembled themselves together to wait for the promise of the Father which was the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5).
5. Acts 1:5 states that they would be _____________________ with the Holy Ghost.
6. Acts 2:1-4 describes what happened to those believers on that day. Verse 4 states,
“And they were all _______________________________with the Holy Ghost.”
We can see that the [terms BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost and FILLED with the Holy Ghost have the same meaning.
Speaking With Other Tongues
7. After they were filled, what did the 120 believers begin to do? (verse 4)
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8. Acts 9 explains the salvation experience of the Apostle Paul. After humbling himself
before the Lord, Paul called on the name of the Lord in verse 6.
Romans 10:13 says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall
be__________.”
The moment Paul called upon the Lord, he was saved. But notice what happened
three days later (Acts 9:9).
9. What experience, other than receiving His sight, did Ananias say that the Lord
Jesus wanted Paul to receive? (verse 17)
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It is evident from this scripture that Paul, after being saved, did not receive all the Holy Spirit’s ministry he needed to receive because he had another experience three days later. Tradition, however, has told us that we receive all of the Spirit at salvation. Notice that Ananias did not get Paul to receive salvation, but the Holy Ghost.
10. According to Luke 11:13 the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who _______.
To be saved, we must believe and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. However, to receive the Holy Spirit, we (only believers) must ask for Him.
11. What was the sign that let the Jews who were with Peter know that the Gentiles
had received the Holy Ghost? (Acts 10:44-46)
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In Acts 19:1-2, Paul came across some Ephesian believers. They were called disciples, which indicated that they were already saved. In verse 2, Paul asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed. Why would Paul have asked this question if, at salvation, the believers had already received all the Holy Ghost they would get? Because there is another experience after salvation.
12. After Paul laid his hands on those Ephesian disciples, they received the Holy
Ghost. What did they do as a result of receiving the Holy Ghost?
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Speaking with other tongues is the evidence that one has received the baptism with the Holy Ghost or has been filled with the Holy Ghost. Please read the book Why Tongues by Kenneth Hagin to help you understand why you should speak with other tongues.
13. Did Jesus confirm believers speaking in tongues? (Mark 16:17)
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14. Did the Old Testament confirm that God’s people would one day speak in tongues?
(Isaiah 28:11)
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15. What did the Apostle Paul say about him speaking in tongues? (1 Cor.14:18)
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16. What did Paul say was happening when a person spoke in tongues? (1 Cor. 14:14)
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Begin to ask God for this experience, as it will strengthen you, comfort you, and empower you for service. If you would like to receive the Holy Spirit, please pray the following prayer. If you do not receive this experience alone, call the church office at (901) 844-3000, and staff personnel will assign an elder or minister to assist you.
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to be with us forever. He is the Paraclete, the Divine Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth. Thank You for Your promise to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask You. Fill me with Your Spirit, Lord.
I receive Your Holy Spirit now, Lord, with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I want to live in such a way that I would never grieve Him. Because the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me, I have newness of life. Thank You for the convicting and transforming power of Your Spirit, Lord. What a miracle it is to realize that the Spirit of my Lord Jesus Christ dwells in me!
Because Your Spirit dwells within me, Lord, I can be led by Him just as Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Help me follow the leading of your Holy Spirit, for as many as are led by the Spirit are Your sons, Lord.
You promised that You would not leave us comfortless, so You sent Your Spirit to fill us and guide us. You, Lord Jesus, possess all power in heaven and earth, and You promised to empower me with Your Spirit.
Because You have gone to be with Your Father, I am able to accomplish the things You desire, for Your life and power dwell within me by your Spirit. Your Spirit gives me power to be Your witness and to speak Your Word with boldness.
Being filled with Your Spirit, Lord, I will give myself continually to prayer and Your Word. Help me remember that the infilling of the Holy Spirit brings wisdom and faith. Help me draw upon the power of Your Spirit each day of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.