Who is the Holy Spirit and what does He do?

Personal Attributes of the Holy Spirit

While in Genesis 1:2 we see the “Spirit of God” moving upon the face of the waters during creation, there is a very important and often overlooked verse in which the prophet Isaiah reveals that the Holy Spirit is more than just some type of Star Wars spiritual force. Isaiah 63:10 reads,

“But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them.”

The word “vexed,” as used above, is the Hebrew word “atsab,” which means “to worry, pain, or anger; to grieve, hurt, or make sorry” (Zodhiates Old Testament Word Study – Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary section, page 91). The question, of course, is, how can some inanimate force be angered or grieved, as we see occurred in the above passage? Only if the Holy Spirit were alive and possessed personal attributes could He experience these types of emotions. The Holy Spirit must therefore be a person.

Other personal attributes of the Holy Spirit:

1. The Holy Spirit “testifies” (Nehemiah 9:30).
2. The Spirit “instructs” (Nehemiah 9:20).
3. The Spirit “strives with men” (Genesis 6:3).
4. The Spirit sends messengers (Isaiah 48:16).
5. The Spirit enabled Joseph to interpret Pharoah’s dreams (Genesis 41:38).
6. The Spirit gives wisdom (Exodus 28:3; 31:1-6; 35:31).
7. The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Wisdom” (Isaiah 11:2).
8. He is the Spirit of Knowledge (Isaiah 11:2)

Notice clearly that all of the things that the Holy Spirit does requires intelligence of the variety that God alone possesses.

The Holy Spirit is God – the Third Person of the Trinity

Acts 5:3-4 – Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Christian author and theologian Kevin J. Conner provides the following scriptural evidences of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (source: “The Foundations of Christian Doctrine” – Kevin Conner):

1. The new birth is brought about by the Spirit (John 3:5-6).
2. The Spirit indwells the believer’s spirit (Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 3:16; 6:17).
3. The Spirit gives assurance of salvation (Romans 8:16).
4. The Spirit fills the believer with Himself (Acts 2:4).
5. The Spirit speaks to the believer (Acts 8:29; I Timothy 4:1; Revelation 2:7).
6. The Spirit provides understanding about the things of God (I Corinthians 2:12)
7. The Spirit teaches and guides the believer (John 16:13; I John 2:27).
8. The Spirit imparts life (John 6:63; II Corinthians 3:6).
9. The Spirit brings about renewal (Titus 3:5).
10. The Spirit strengthens the believer’s inner being (Ephesians 3:16).
11. The Spirit enables the believer to pray (Jude 20; Romans 8:26-28).
12. The Spirit enables the believer to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24; Philippians 3:3; I Corinthians 14:15).
13. The Spirit leads the believer (Romans 8:14).
14. The Spirit enables the believer to put carnal works to death (Romans 8:13).
15. The Spirit produces Christ-likeness in character and fruit in the believer’s life (Galatians 5:22, 23).
16. The Spirit gives a calling to the believer for special service (Acts 13:2-4).
17. The Spirit guides believers into their ministry (Acts 8:29; 16:6-7).
18. The Spirit empowers the believer to witness (Acts 1:8).
19. The Spirit imparts spiritual gifts as He wills (I Corinthians 12:7-11).
20. The Spirit will bring about the resurrection and immortality to the believers’ bodies in the last day (Romans 8:11; I Corinthians 15:47-51; I Thes. 4:15-18).

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