Ephesians 4:3  Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

One of the most serious errors in the minds of many people concerning the  Holy Spirit is that He is simply a principle or an influence.  On the contrary, the Holy Spirit is a much a person (individual existence of a conscious being) as the Father and the Son.

 

The personality of the Holy Spirit.

   The Bible speaks of the mind (Romans 8:27) and the will (1 Corinthians 12:11) of the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 8:27 And he that searchs the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  The Spirit in the heart never contradicts the Spirit in the word.  Those desires that are contrary to the will of God do not come from the Spirit.  The Spirit interceding in us evermore melts our will into the will of God.  Not as I will but as you will.  1 Corinthians 12:11 But all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.  It is not as men will, nor as they may think fit, but as the Spirit pleases. The Holy Spirit is a divine person.  He works divine effects and divides divine gifts as he will, by his own power, and according to his own pleasure, without dependence or control.  But though he distributes these gifts freely and uncontrollably, they are intended by him, not for private honor and advantage, but for public benefit, for the edification of the body, the church.

  He is often described as speaking directly to men in the Boook of Acts.  During Paul's second missionary journey the apostle was forbidden by the Spirit to visit a certain mission field (Acts 16:6,7) and then was instructed to proceed toward another field of service (Acts 16:10).  It was God's Spirit who spoke directly to Christian leaders in the Antioch church, commanding them to send Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:2).

Acts 16:6,7 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and  the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word to Asia.  7 After they were gone to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.  We find an Old Testament minister forbidden to preach at all (Ezekiel 3:26) : Thou shall be dumb.  But these New Testament are only forbidden to preach in one place, while they were directed to another where there is more need.  The would have gone into Bithynia, but were not permitted: the Spirit suffered them not.  They came to Mysia, and, as it should seem, preached the gospel there; for though it was a very mean contemptible country, even to a proverb, yet the apostles disdained not to visit it, owing themselves debtors both to the wise and to the unwise.  

Acts 16:10  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.  The interpretation made of the vision:  They were ready to go wherever God directed.  We may sometimes infer a call of God from a call of man.  If a man of Macedonia says, Come and help us, Paul thence gathers assuredly that God says, Go and help them.  Ministers may go on with great cheerfulness and courage in their work when they perceive Christ calling them, not only to preach the gospel, but to preach it all this time, in this place, to this people.

Acts 13:2  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.  Diligent faithful ministers do truly truly minister unto the Lord.  Those that instruct Christians serve Christ; they really do him honor, and carry on the interest of his kingdom.  Those that minister to the church in praying and preaching (both which included here), minister unto the Lord, for they are the church's servants for Christ's sake, to him they must have an eye in their ministrations, and from him they shall have their recompence.

 

The deity of the Holy Spirit.

    He is not only a real person, but He is also God.  As is God the Father, He too is everywhere at once (Psalms 139:7)  Where will I go from your spirit? or where will I flee from your presence?.   God is a Spirit. and therefore it is folly to think that because we cannot see him he cannot see us: Not that he desired to go away from God; no, he desired nothing more than to be near him; but he only puts the case, "Suppose I should be so foolish as to think of getting out of your sight , that I might shake off the awe of you, soppose I should think of revolting from my obedience to you, or of disowning a dependence on you and of shifting for myself, alas! where can I go?"  As the Son is eternal, the Holy Spirit has also  existed forever (Hebrew 9:14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without a spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?   He is often referred to as God in the Bible.  Acts 5:3,4  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back the part of the price of the land?  While it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own power?  Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? you have not lied unto men, but unto God.

The Spirit of God in Peter not only discovered the fact without any information (when perhaps no man in the world knew it but the man and his wife themselves), but likewise discerned the principle of reigning infidelity in the heart of Ananias, which was at the bottom of it, and therefore proceeded against him so suddenly.  Had it been a sin of infirmity, through the surprise of a temptation, Peter would have taken Ananias aside, and have bidden him go home, and fetch the rest of the money, and repent of his folly in attempting to put this cheat upon them; but he knew that his heart was fully set in him to do this evil, and therefore allowed him no space to repent.

 

Finally, the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and Son.  This is seen during the baptism of Christ (Matthew 3:16, 17) and is mentioned by Jesus Himself just prior to His ascension from the Mount of Olives (Matthew 28:19, 20).

Matthew 3:16,17  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.  And,,,, lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom  I am well pleased.

Matthew 28:19,20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

   The commision he gives to those whom he sent forth;  Go ye therefore. This commission is given, to the apostles primarily, the chief ministers of state in Christ; kingdom, the architects that laid the fdoundation of the church.  Now those that had followed Christ in the regeneration, were set on thrones; Go ye.  It is not only a word of command, like that, Son, go to work, but a word of encouragement, Go and fear not, have I not sent you?  Go, and make a business of this work.  They must not take state, and issue out summons to the nations to attend upon them; but they must go, and bring the gospel to their doors, Go ye.  They had doted on Christ's bodily presence, and hung upon that, and built all their hopes and joys upon that; but now Christ discharges them from further attendance on his person, and sends them abroad about other work.  As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, to excite them to fly, so Christ stirs up his disciples, to disperse themselves over all the world.  It is given to their successors, the ministers of the gospel, whose business it is to transmit the gospel from age to age, to the end of the world in place, and no less necessary.  The Old Testament promise of a gospel ministry is made to a succession; and this must be o understood, otherwise how could Christ be with them always to the consummation of the world?  Christ, at his ascension, gave not only apostles and prophets, but pastors and teachers.