He is a person. He is God co-equal with The Father and The Son.
In the Old Testament the Spirit of God is in Genesis 1:2, Isaiah 11:2, Isaiah 61:1
In the New Testament: Matthew 1:18,20, Luke 1:35
The Holy Spirit "descended like a dove" Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10
Luke wrote Acts and said most about the Holy Spirit. All were told to wait for His arrival at Pentecost Acts 2
Jesus introduced His disciples to the Holy Spirit, now they met Him and understood why Jesus died.
Paul began where Jesus ended John 16:12 Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit John 14:16
Paul taught what Jesus could not, because the disciples were not ready and knew little about the Holy Spirit.
In other books the Spirit is known: Hebrews 2:4, 3:7, 6:4, 9:14, James 4:5, 1 Peter 1:2, 3:18, 2 Peter 1:21
Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit as another Counsellor – just like Jesus; One who comes alongside.
The Father had sent Jesus into the world. The Spirit came from the Father and Son.
The Holy Spirit came through Jesus’ prayer John 17 It was carried out after Jesus ascended Acts 2:33
The Holy Spirit would never leave them Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5
He can be grieved Ephesians 4:30
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, He cannot lie Hebrews 6:18, Titus 1:2
He witnesses to and leads to the truth.
We must be honest with the Holy Spirit Psalms 51:6
Nothing must come between us. We must not lose respect for Him.
Three things are required before the Spirit can be received:
Convicted of sin, of righteousness, of judgement. Conversion must take place. Darkness to light.
Jesus was with the disciples, but through the Holy Spirit in them Jesus would come alongside.
Jesus would be as real by the Spirit as He had been real to the disciples alongside them for 3 years.
The Disciples knew Jesus at the natural level 1 John 1:1
They knew His appearance, height & walk, the sound of His voice, heard his teaching, and parables, saw signs and healing. They stayed with Him.
The Holy Spirit made Jesus as real without His physical appearance.
His departure was for the good of the disciples John 16:7 They did not like that John 16:6
Jesus said to them that soon they would not see Him, but then after a little while they would see Him John 16:16
They would not see Him when He ascended into Heaven Acts 1:9
Then they would see Him at Pentecost. And never lose Him.
Jesus was as real to them by the Spirit as He was when He was physically present.
How does the Holy Spirit teach us?
He reminds us what we have been taught. And through sermons, parables, dialogues, ministry, prayer.
The Holy Spirit would remind them and help them understand what they heard.
The Holy Spirit would help them by taking them from what they knew & heard, to what they still had to hear
John 16:13 Jesus had still much to teach them John 16:12
What will he reveal? 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
A guide shows what is already there.
The Holy Spirit will not speak on His own John 16:13
Jesus took orders from the Father John 5:19,30 so does the Holy Spirit John 16:13. There is no new truth, Revelation of old.
The Holy Spirit: Glorifies Jesus John 16:14 Witnesses to Jesus John 15:26 Who Jesus is John 1:1,14
What He came to do John 3:16
Why? 1 Peter 2:24
Why He rose? Romans 1:4, Romans 4:25
Where is Jesus now? Acts 2:33 Why there? Acts 2:36 Hebrews 7:25 Why His return? 2 Timothy 4:1
Does the Holy Spirit call attention to Himself? Jesus did John 14:6
The Holy Spirit directs attention on the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit directed the writing of the New Testament which describes His role.
When Spirit filled, the disciples referred to Him Acts 5:32 We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 We are told to desire earnestly the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We should allow the Holy Spirit to be Himself and play His role.
He is a sensitive Person and can be grieved Ephesians 4:30
By what? Our attitudes: Ephesians 4:30-5:7 bitterness, anger, slander, holding grudges, sexual immorality, greed. Obscene.
We are not aware how we grieve the Holy Spirit, we only find out later 1 Kings 13:1-30
We can be restored after losing the sense of the presence of Jesus, no longer being reminded of the truth, losing our way.
We can quench the Holy Spirit 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Hurt a weaker brother 1 Corinthians 8:9 judge Romans 14:10
Opposing what God wants to do. Set in our ways. Causing schism, bringing about division.
The Holy Spirit seems to drop out until there is a longing for restoration.
The body of believers must remain united. The Holy Spirit must be welcomed and made to feel at home in our lives.
If He is not Lord of all then He is not Lord at all. He is the Lord, The Spirit.