The Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son and He is mighty and holy, He is God!

We read in 1
Corinthians 8:6, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and
one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” From this verse we see that all things
are OF the Father, but BY the Son. The Father is the Source or INITIATOR of all things and Jesus is the
MEANS. The Father makes the decisions, but Jesus carries out the work. It was the Father who initiated
our redemption, but it was Jesus who carried out His plan of redemption. For example, we read in John
3:16, “For God (The Father) so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son (Jesus)…”

What is then the role of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the power of God. The Father makes the
decisions, the Son carries out those decisions and the Holy Spirit empowers Him to do so. We have the
example of creation in Genesis 1:1-2, it says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. …
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, let there be light…” When God
spoke, the Holy Spirit’s power was released to create the universe. We see the three members of the
Trinity working together in Acts 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and
with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was
with Him.” We can summarize the work of the Holy Spirit in one sentence: The Holy Spirit gives us the
power today to carry out the will of the Father in the name of Jesus.

The importance of the Holy Spirit: In John 16:17, Jesus said, “… It is expedient for you that I go
away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto
you.” Jesus said to His disciples, “It is better for you to have the Holy Spirit with you than to have Me
with you.” When Jesus lived on the earth, He could only be in one place at one time, for He was restricted
by a human body. But the Holy Spirit could be with all of them everywhere at the same time.
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit would live in them and empower them to do the will of the Father. In Luke
24:49, Jesus said to His disciples, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye
in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” He would not allow them to go out
and preach, or do anything, until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, knowledge and
training is not enough to do the work of God, we must also have the power and the anointing of the Holy
Spirit.

Functions of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the Comforter: Jesus said in John 16:7, “If I do not
go away, then the Comforter will not come to you.” The Holy Spirit is called our Comforter. In Isaiah
61:1, it says that the “anointing (of the Holy Spirit) heals the broken heart.” The Holy Spirit is tender
hearted and compassionate. The Holy Spirit called the Helper. The Holy Spirit is the power of God that
enables us to do what God wants us to do. We read in Romans 8:26 that “He helps us with our
infirmities (weaknesses).” We can do nothing without the Holy Spirit. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9,
“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
The Holy Spirit reveals to us the words of the Father and the Son: We read in John 16:13, “He will
not speak of His own, what He hears He will speak and tell you of things to come.” Therefore, the best
way to hear from the Father and the Son is to develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit. We also read
here that He will show us things to come and will warn us about the future!

The Holy Spirit convicts us. We read in John 16:8, that when the “Holy Spirit is come, He will convict
the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.“. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin so that we can repent
and maintain our relationship with the Godhead. We have an example of this in Acts 2:37, “Now when
they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, “Men
and brethren, what shall we do?”” Without the conviction and work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we
cannot repent! The Holy Spirit teaches us and guides us into all truth: In John 14:26, we read that,
“He will teach us all things.” It also says in John 16:13 that Holy Spirit “guides us into all truth.” He
guides us when we read or hear the words of the Bible and by an inner voice in our hearts. In 1 John
2:27 we read, “… but as the same anointing teaches you of all things.” This is especially true when we
hear someone preach or teach. We will have a witness in our hearts whether or not, what we hear is from
God. The Holy Spirit leads us: We read in Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God.” There are many examples in the Bible of those who were led by the Holy
Spirit. Our greatest key to success and blessing is to be led by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives us victory over the desires of the flesh: In Galatians 5:16, we read, “Walk in the
Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the desires of the flesh.” Instead of trying so hard to conquer the desires of
the flesh, it is better for us to be full of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when we walk in the Spirit, we will
overcome the desires of the flesh!

The Holy Spirit makes Jesus real to us: Jesus said in John 15:26, that the “Holy Spirit would testify of
Him.” One of the important goals of the Holy Spirit is to point us to Jesus. Therefore as we yield to the
Holy Spirit, Jesus will become more and more real to us.

The Holy Spirit makes the Father real to us: In Romans 8:15 we read, “but you have received the
Spirit of adoption by which you cry ‘Abba Father.” It also says in Ephesians 2:18, “For through Him
(Jesus) we have access by one Spirit to the Father.” The more we fellowship with the Holy Spirit, the
more we will become aware of the Father’s love for us. We also read in Romans 5:5, “The love of God is
shed abroad on our hearts by the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit shows us all the wonderful things that God has for us: We read in 1 Corinthians 2:9-
10 “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has
prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit gives us power to tell others about Jesus: In Acts 1:8 we read, “You shall receive
power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” We have an example in Acts 4:31, “and they were all
filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” When we are filled with the
Holy Spirit, we will not be ashamed to tell others about Jesus.

The Holy Spirit changes us to become more like Jesus: We read in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all,
with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory
to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” In Romans 15:16 it says that “we are sanctified by the Holy
Spirit.” He is a Holy, and as we yield to Him, He will manifest the holy life of Christ in us.

The Holy Spirit heals our physical bodies: Romans 8:11. “The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the
dead quickens (or gives life to) our mortal bodies.” We also read in Acts 10:38, “How God anointed,
Jesus of Nazareth, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.”

The Holy Spirit fills us with great peace and joy: In Romans 14:17 we read, “The Kingdom of God is
not meat or drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” In Psalm 16:11, it says, “In His
presence there is fullness of Joy, at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

The Holy Spirit gives us power over the devil: Jesus says in Matthew 10:28, “But if I cast out demons
by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.” Therefore, the Holy Spirit empowers us
to defeat the enemy and cast out demons. We also read in Isaiah 61:1-3, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is
upon me, because the LORD anointed me … to set the captives free and to open prison doors.”

The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of eternal life: We read in 2 Corinthians 1:22 “Who has sealed us
and given the Holy Spirit in our hearts as a deposit.” The experience of the Holy Spirit’s presence on
earth is a deposit of the life that we will one day enjoy in heaven. In Romans 8:16 we read, “For the Holy
Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s
beloved child!” (The Passion Translation) He changes us to become like Jesus:

The Holy Spirit causes us to abound in hope: We read in Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit .” Hope is a
joyful expectation of good things to come in the future.

Five important values we need to have with regards to the Holy Spirit:

Firstly: Dependence on the Holy Spirit. Jesus, who is our greatest example, always depended on the
Holy Spirit in everything that He did. He said in John 5:19, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but
what He sees the Father do…” It was the Holy Spirit who gave Jesus the power to perform miracles. We
read in Matthew 12:28, “If I by the Spirit cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come unto you.”

Without the Holy Spirit we can do nothing. However, with the Holy Spirit, nothing is impossible! When
Mary asked the angel Gabriel, how Jesus would be born, he said to her in Luke 1:34, “”The Holy Spirit
will overshadow you…” He then says to her in a few verses later in Luke 1:37, “For with God, nothing is
impossible.” If we work with the Holy Spirit, everything will be possible!

Secondly, the leading of the Holy Spirit: In Romans 8:14 we read, “… as many as are led by the Spirit
of God, they are the sons of God.” To be led by the Holy Spirit, is one of the greatest privileges we have
as Born-Again Christians. The Holy Spirit leads us because He lives in us. In Galatians 5:18 we read,
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” As Christians, we do not live by rules and
regulations, but we are led by the Holy Spirit. We will go into greater detail in the study called, “How to
be led by the Holy Spirit.

Thirdly, the Baptism and continual infilling of the Holy Spirit: There are many examples in the Bible
of those who were filled with the Holy Spirit and were greatly used by God. We read in Ephesians
5:18, “Be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit...” This is not an optional extra for our
Christian lives, but a command that we must obey. This subject is covered in more detail, in the study:
“The anointing of the Holy Spirit.”

Fourthly, relationship with the Holy Spirit: It is a great privilege to have a relationship with the Holy
Spirit. We read in 2 Corinthians 13:14 about the “communion of the Holy Spirit.” Furthermore, the Holy
Spirit longs to have a relationship with us. We read in James 4:5, “Or do you think that the Scripture
says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?” In the Passion Translation say, “The Spirit
that God breathed into our hearts is a jealous Lover who intensely desires to have more and more of
us.” In Acts 15:28 we read, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and us…” The early disciples had a
vibrant relationship and partnership with the Holy Spirit. It was as if the Holy Spirit personally attended
their meetings!

Fifthly, honoring and respecting the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is not just a presence or an influence,
He is a Mighty God! In the Acts chapter 5, Ananias and Sapphira dropped down dead because they lied to
the Holy Spirit. Jesus also warned us that there is no forgiveness to those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
We need to honor His presence and be sensitive to His voice. We are commanded, not to “ quench the
Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and not to “Grieve the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 4:30)
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We have a warning in 1 Corinthians 3:17, “If any man
defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
Therefore, we need to treat the Holy Spirit with great respect and awe.

Finally:

We receive the Holy Spirit into our human spirits when we give our lives to Jesus and we are born again.
Therefore, every Born Again Christian has the Holy Spirit inside of him! However, in order to have the
power of the Holy Spirit, we need to have an additional experience, called, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
This will be covered in the study called the “Baptism in the Holy Spirit.” Amen