The Holy Spirit

[nebula]

I thought this would make for an interesting discussion.

It would seem that very little is ever spoken of about the Spirit of God, so how about we speak of Him here?

Please share!

[EricH]

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is co-equal and co-existent with the Father and the Son (Matt. 28:19). The Holy Spirit is a personal being in the strictest definition of the term demonstrating emotions (Eph. 4:30), intellect (1 Cor. 2:10-11), and will (1 Cor. 12:11). The Holy Spirit is also divine as demonstrated by his attributes (Ps. 139:7-10) and the direct claims of scripture (Acts 5:1-4).

The Holy Spirit works to convict the unbelieving world of its sin and the truth of the Gospel (Jn. 16:8-11). He also indwells believers (1 Cor. 6:19), baptizes them into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) and seals them until the return of Christ (Eph. 4:30). The Holy Spirit also teaches (Jn. 16:12-15), guides (Rom. 8:14), gives assurance (Rom. 8:16), and assists in the believer

[Fiosh]

You guys covered it well!

I would add one of my favorite passages:

Romans 8: 26-27 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

Some of my most intense moments of prayer have occurred when I could not find the words and cried out to the Holy Spirit to intercede for me.

Love,

Fiosh

[Giaour]

Serious question so don't beat me up over it.

How can the Holy Spirit bring you to Christ if you don't receive the Holy spirit until AFTER you are saved?

[Fiosh]

Serious question so don't beat me up over it.

How can the Holy Spirit bring you to Christ if you don't receive the Holy spirit until AFTER you are saved?

I'm honestly not totally clear on that myself. But perhaps this passage (where Jesus addresses the 11 Apostles on the night He is arrested) speaks to your question:

John 14: 17 "..even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dewlls with you, and will be in you."

In one case the Holy Spirit is "with" you; in the other He is "in" you.

[Giaour]

Wasn't there a passage that talked about believers who were trying to cast out a devil but couldn't because they hadn't received the HS and were told it was because they were baptised under Johns baptism and not Jesus?

[Giaour]

ok I mixed up 2 passages. LOL

Acts 19

1. And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2. He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7. And all the men were about twelve.

[Scarletprayers]

Nebula, excellent topic for discussion and way to go to everybody who has posted! More please!

[Giaour]

So, let me see if I have this straight. These guys were beleivers that had not received the Holy Spirit yet because they were not baptised in Jesus name?

[Pilgrim7]

Nebula,

Good Question. You wrote:

'It would seem that very little is ever spoken of about the Spirit of God, so how about we speak of Him here?'

He is everything to the Believer. He is the Spirit of Christ. Christ dwells in out hearts through the Holy Spirit. He is our connection with God. Seems pretty important to me. Scripture says:

Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

8:6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.

8:7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity (hatred) against God: for it is not subject to the law of God (will not obey the law of God), neither indeed can be.

8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

8:10 And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.

8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

The Holy Spirit leads us into the possession of all truth, the ability to do all truth, not just correct understanding of doctirnes of truth. Those who have only doctrinal truth speak only of doctrines, those who have the Spirit speak of the inworking of holiness and the outworking of righteousness, for 'out of abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks'. The Holy Spirit is fulness of the power and fire of God.

Mt 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and [with] fire:

3:12 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

May we all worship in Spirit and in Truth,

Dennis