The Person of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is not only an influence or a breath, but one of the three Persons of the divine Trinity; He is God and His nature is eternal. He was there in the beginning; He has all the power of divinity, His will (1 Corinthians 12:11) and gives as He wants to whomever He wants. Ephesians 4:30 tells us that we can grieve the Holy Spirit. We can only grieve a person who has emotions, who feels things.
1 Corinthians 12:11 « 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. » KJV
Ephesians 4 : 30 « 30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. » KJV
The Holy Spirit has the five characteristics of God:
He is ubiquitous;
He is omnipotent;
He is omniscient;
He is eternal;
He is holy.
Jesus is no longer physically with us, but He dwells in us and speaks to us through the Spirit: « Christ in you, the hope of glory » (Colossians 1:27).
We must let the Holy Spirit work, be willing to listen and obey Him; for from the time of the Acts of the Apostles until today we are in the age of the Holy Spirit.
Doctrinal errors about the Holy Spirit
Pneumatology is the discipline which seeks to discern the spiritual message concerning the third Person of the Trinity, namely the Holy Spirit.
There are many doctrinal errors about the Holy Spirit, such as: the Holy Spirit would be a force, power, atmosphere, energy, a created being (Macedonian), a part of God (Partialism), one God among three (Tritheism) or one of the three forms that God takes (Modalism).
How to receive the Holy Spirit?
God has already given the Holy Spirit to believers and it is up to each one to receive Him. God has already fulfilled His promise to send Him on the day of Pentecost. Since the day of Pentecost, it is for believers to receive the Holy Spirit.
Two adjectives are often used in the Bible when referring to the Holy Spirit and the believer: « full » and « filled. »
Full » speaks of fullness (Luke 4:1; Acts 6:3). It is the Holy Spirit who fills us, who comes upon us in fullness. We do not receive a half-measure of the Spirit for the Holy Spirit is a Person, which cannot be divided. There may be differences in His manifestation according to the level of faith, sanctification and communion with Him of each individual.
Luke 4:1 « 1And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness » KJV
Acts 6 : 3 « 3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. » KJV
“Filled” speaks of a one-time event: the Holy Spirit comes to fill us in order to proclaim the Word of God with boldness, on very specific occasions such as at Pentecost (Acts 2).
One does not use the Holy Spirit but one must learn to work with Him, to receive His communications.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit
In the Old Testament, under the Old Covenant, God’s presence was confined to the most holy place. No one dared approach it except the High Priest, and he did so with great care. If anyone else would dare to enter it, he would fall dead.
Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, God Himself, comes to make His dwelling in us. He ceases to dwell in a « most holy place » made by the hand of man. Our human bodies have become His temple.
The Holy Spirit is a gift (Acts 2:38), the baptism of the Spirit a gift that every believer can receive instantly.
Acts 2: 38 « 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. » KJV
It is Jesus Christ who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. From that time on, the Holy Spirit dwells in us at all times; He dwells in our minds. We no longer need to ask Him to come because He is already there, in us. It is for us to exploit this inexhaustible source that is in us instead of asking more and more of the Spirit.
It is at the baptism of the Holy Spirit that we are filled with the Holy Spirit and the door of gifts opens. And the first one that is opened is the gift of tongues.
Matthew 3: 11 « 11You, I baptize you with water to bring you to repentance; but he who comes after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to wear his shoes. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. »
The New Birth
When a person is born again, he becomes a new creation in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The New Birth does not come from psychology, philosophy or the power of man. The new creature is the work of the Holy Spirit, a perfect work.
All that is old has passed and everything is now new. The New Birth is working spiritually for the physical body remains unchanged when one receives salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are past; behold, all things have become new.” KJV
For God, all our sins and past life are erased. We have passed from death to life (1 John 3:14). The Holy Spirit acts in the New Birth and this work is called « being born again » or « receiving eternal life. »
The communications of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit does not speak to our intelligence but to our mind, and He has five ways of communicating, sometimes called the «5 I» as : Intuition, Illumination, Impulse, Inspiration and Instruction.
Intuitions : our mind is endowed with sensitivity which is called intuition; it is through this intuition that the Holy Spirit will communicate with us, through an inner witness;
Instructions : these are precise directives on what to do; the Holy Spirit guides us through His authoritative voice;
Illuminations : the Bible often talks about illuminating our heart’s eyes. Enlightenment gives a spiritual intelligence: God wants to communicate us an ability, wisdom and intelligence.
Impulses : the Holy Spirit can push us to engage in something or to go towards someone;
Inspirations (charismatic dimension of the Holy Spirit): there are three types of inspirations: visions, dreams and prophecies.
