The HOLY SPIRIT is a PERSON

In John chapter 16:11-15, Jesus is explaining to His disciples whom He will leave with them when He is gone!  “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I don’t go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak.”

And not only that, but Jesus tells them that this truth is actually better for them!  “I tell you the TRUTH, it is expedient (better) for you that I go away: for if I go  not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will  not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) unto you.”  (Jn 16:7)

Jesus was revealing to the disciples that when He would leave them that another “person”, by the name of the Holy Spirit, would come to them and be for them a personal representative of Himself and also of the Father.   God is in Heaven, Jesus is at His right hand, and the Holy Spirit is given for us on earth.  Therefore, the Holy Spirit should be regarded with honor, just like we honor the Father and Jesus!  The Holy Spirit gives to us the abundant wealth of the Father!

Jesus explained to the disciples very clearly that the Holy Spirit would tell them everything they would need to know for the life they would live for Jesus!  “When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth, for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak, and He will show you things to come.  He shall glorify Me, for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father has are Mine: therefore, said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you!”  (Jn 16:13-15) So, again, the Holy Spirit represents all that the Father has and gives for and to us.  Access to infinite spiritual wealth, blessings and provisions, guidance, understanding…everything is from the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit!

For this reason, it is very important to realize and acknowledge that everything that the Holy Spirit does glorifies Jesus, as Jesus told His disciples, and recorded in verse 14 above.  “He (the Holy Spirit) shall glorify Me.”  When we stop glorifying Jesus in our fellowships, our lives, our speech, our teachings and our actions, the Holy Spirit just withdraws.–Cause if it isn’t Jesus, it is just us! Paul the Apostle said, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” (Eph 4:30) The Holy Spirit only gives Himself, imparts His grace and wisdom and His power when we glorify Jesus!

The Holy Spirit is so pleased when we glorify Jesus!  And when He (the Holy Spirit) is pleased, He endorses and anoints our actions and speech and He flows through us in all His power!  “But you shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto Me.” (Acts 1:8) The Holy Spirit is very powerful when Jesus is glorified!  Why?  Because our main responsibility is to glorify Jesus in all we do and say.

In John 3: 5-8, Jesus explains very clearly the two essential roles of the Holy Spirit.  “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God! That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it listeth, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell from where it comes and to where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

Jesus just explained clearly that there is no other way to become a child of God than through the Holy Spirit, and being born again.  The Holy Spirit comes in through our faith in Jesus, the Word, and He gives to us a totally new life–a spiritual life! –The life of God!  In the flesh we are born as sons of Adam, but by the Holy Spirit we are sons of God, a new birth. 

Then in Romans 8:14, Paul says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”  A son of God is what we become by the Holy Spirit.  We are born as babies, then children and into full sons as the Holy Spirit leads us, teaches and grows us into the plan that God has for us!

As grown sons of God, we become responsible, in control of our lives as the Holy Spirit leads us.  We gain authority and maturity.  There is no other way to become mature in the Lord than to be “led by the Spirit”.

To be “led” by the Holy Spirit is a present tense verb…continually led every day, every hour and in every situation by the Spirit of God!