Last night, my husband shared something he learned while spending time with God. He shared how little we think about the Holy Spirit as a person. It can be easy and normal to think of the Holy Spirit as an attribute to God and Jesus, but the Bible refers to Him as a person. If you already knew this, that’s great! I had heard this from when I was a little girl, but honestly, looking back, I have never treated Him as a person. I want to share his thoughts with you today. It’s such a privilege to learn with my husband and see how much we can grow together.
“I remember as a young boy my mom seemed like superwoman. When I step back and see my two-year-old son look and treat my wife the same way, it brings me back to those feelings I once had. She was here for me when I was born, continuing to tend and care for my every need growing up. She seemed to be able to do anything and everything. It wasn’t until I got older that I started personifying my parents. I realized at some point that she was once a little girl. She had all the firsts I did, driving a car, getting a job, or getting married, and they were all unique to her. She went from someone there to fulfill my childish needs to a respected peer, a person in her own right.
Which, of course, sounds incredibly obvious, that is until it isn’t.”
The Holy Spirit Himself
As Christians, we seem to do this regularly and unknowingly with God, more specifically, the Holy Spirit. At least, I know I have. Do you find yourself referring to the Holy Spirit as a “thing” or an “it”? (Romans 15:13) “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Hoy Spirit.”
We have all probably heard once or twice someone talking about how God is not a genie, which is correct, and the Holy Spirit isn’t either. We often pray for healing or power from the Holy Spirit, but how often do we give him the same honor and respect we give to God? I know I am guilty of inadvertently seeing the Spirit as “under” God and Jesus. More like a force of their will as opposed to His own personhood.
It’s already a challenging subject, the Trinity. I know enough to realize that I know almost nothing about the trueness and reality of the Godhead. How can a mortal truly understand the infinite? How can our minds grasp eternity? The only understanding I can gain is from His word and His work in my own life. And let’s be honest, if we break the Bible into Three sections, one for the Father, another for the Son, and the last one for the Holy Spirit, I’m confident the Holy Spirit’s part will, by far, be the smallest…at least if we sort by text alone.
We don’t mention the Holy Spirit’s involvement enough. But there is so much more about Him that we may know. He helps us in ways we don’t think about. We end up turning to God and asking Him to do things, which is great, but the Bible says that we should ask of the Holy Spirit or tells us that the Holy Spirit is who provides and does and gives such things. Let’s take a look!
The Holy Spirit- A Key Player In Our World
According to Romans 8:11, We not only have the Holy Spirit to thank for raising Jesus from the dead but for giving us spiritual life itself.
John 14:26 says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” It’s because of Him that we discern, learn, and understand.
We don’t give the Holy Spirit enough credit. It’s through Him that we can fight temptation and triumph over sin. He provides us with the strength and tools necessary to win our battles.
Galatians 5:16-25, Goes on to tell us that if we walk by the Spirit, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh. Sin. It lists sins such as idolatry, sensuality, jealousy, and outbursts of anger. Then lists the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, etc.
This, I feel, is so important to note. The fruit is the Spirit’s attributes. And He helps us fight against sin by filling us with His attributes. When we have a love for God and others in our hearts, it’s because the Spirit is inside of us, teaching us and helping us. He fills us with Himself so that we can live lives that glorify Him.
The Holy Spirit Is On The Same Level As God And Jesus
In Matthew 28:19, we are commanded, by Jesus, to baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the…Holy Spirit.
(Acts 5:3-4) “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? After it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.'” Peter is very serious about how Ananias misled God and the Holy Spirit.
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)
Did you know that in Acts 5:32, the Holy Spirit is counted as a witness, given to people, by God, who obey Him.
The Holy Spirit Has Feelings/Emotions
In Isaiah 63:10 and Ephesians 4:30, We can read how the Holy Spirit can be grieved. Websters 1828 dictionary defines Grief as “The pain of mind produced by loss, misfortune, injury or evils of any kind; sorrow; regret.”
This should change how we see God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are people. They have different things they do to aid us in our christian walks. I have to say, after learning this, I have changed how I pray and approach God. He has shown me more of Himself and used my husband’s time with Him to teach me something new and wonderful.
I realize now that His role is much more involved than I understood. I heard these things before but never put this information together. It never crossed my mind. The Holy Spirit gives our spirit words to say when we have none. He gives us understanding, a heart for Himself, through His teaching and pouring into you and me. When I need help showing patience or grace to someone, I’ll ask Him now. Let’s find ways we can see the Holy Spirit at work in our lives this week as we embark on this road of understanding and see where He takes us, shall we?
