THE PERSONALITY AND MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: A REGENERATED MIND’S APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

Many people, in a bid to describe the Holy Spirit have fallen into serious heresies simply because their efforts were based merely on their personal knowledge of the Bible. For anyone to understand the Holy Spirit, it takes the grace of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit Himself. So many arguments have been raised concerning the personality of the Holy Spirit. Many have advanced a lot of postulations to prove that the Holy Spirit is not a person but an ordinary influence. Some people especially the anti-Trinitarian groups use some biblical passages to deceive people saying that the Holy Spirit is not a person. For example, the say that the Holy Spirit is directly called the power of God in Luke 1:35 and hence, cannot be a person but a mere power. They also say that the Holy Spirit is neuter gender in scripture proving it is an "it" not a person. Other questions being, “how could the Holy Spirit fill 120 disciples at the same time?” The Holy Spirit, Father and Son all comprise a unified Godhead known in Christianity as the “Trinity.” A common misconception is that Christians believe in three different gods. This isn’t correct. While each “personage” is distinct in function, each shares together in the same deity and each reflects the divine attributes of the one living God. It is therefore my intention in this piece of work to present my understanding of what the Bible teaches about the personality and the Ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons (Trinity) of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For many of us, this is a very difficult concept to comprehend. The Bible clearly makes us to understand that there is only one living God, yet we learn from scripture that He comprises three separate personages. One way to partially visualize this concept is to examine the nature of water (H2O). Water is a single compound that can exist in three states – liquid, ice and vapor. An egg is another picture. It is comprised of the white, the yoke and the shell, yet it is still one egg. Of course, by no means do these examples paint a complete picture of our God, but they are illustrative of the fact that His three “persons” in no way invalidate His oneness.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A PERSON

The questions here are: Is the Holy Spirit a person, one that possesses "personality"? Or is the Holy Spirit simply an "influence", or "impersonal force “that emanates from God? Members of the Watchtower Society (who call themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses"), would have us believe for example that, "As for the 'Holy Spirit', the so-called 'third person of the Trinity', we have already seen that it is, not a person, but God's active force”. I wish to refute this erroneous claim by stating categorically that the Holy Spirit is a person, the third person in the Blessed Trinity. As a person, the Holy Spirit possesses personal characteristics just as a normal person does. The Holy Spirit is not a vague, ethereal life force. He is not impersonal or unthinking. The Holy Spirit is a “person” equal in every way with God, the Father, and God, the Son. The Bible tells us that all the characteristics of God apparent in the Father and the Son are equally apparent in the Holy Spirit He has a mind as in "the mind of the Spirit" (Rom. 8:27).this means that the spirit of God being a person is capable of thinking on its own. The Holy Spirit equally knows things just as the spirit of human beings know certain things. This is seen in the Bible, He "knows the things of God"(1 Cor.2:11). An ordinary impersonal force does not possess feelings or affection. The Holy Spirit of God does, hence, He can love as in "the love of the Spirit" (Rom. 15:30) according to St. Paul. Like human beings have will, the Holy Spirit of God also has will and determines what gift should be given to anyone. "The same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills" (1 Cor. 12:11).

The Holy Spirit equally performs activities as a person. The Spirit speaks to people and the people understand Him clearly. The Spirit spoke and gave directions to Philip( Act. 8:29).He spoke to Peter and gave him charge concerning the Gentiles (Act. 10:19-20).He spoke to the brethren at Antioch concerning Paul and Barnabas where He said that the people should set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work which He had assigned them.(Act.13:1-4). The Holy Spirit teaches as teacher. He was to teach the apostles all things (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit also bears witness. He was to testify of Jesus (John 15:26-27).Just as the apostles (who were "personal beings") would bear witness, so also the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides, hears, speaks and tells…”He would carry on and complete the work started by Jesus” (John 16:12-13). He also forbids things or actions just like you and I do. He prevented Paul and his companions from going into certain areas of Asia (Act. 16:6-7). This He did by "forbidding" them, and "not permitting" them, despite their initial efforts. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us just Moses did for the Israelites in the wilderness. The "Spirit Himself (note Paul's use of the personal pronoun) makes intercession for us" (Rom.8:26). Just as Christ "also makes intercession for us" (Rom. 8:34).All these works of the Holy Spirit manifest personality. In a nut shell, this could be summarised as follows: He communicates ('speaks') (Acts 13:2), (steps in on behalf of someone) (Rom. 8:26), intercedes and testifies (John 15:26), guides (John 16:13), commands (Acts 16:6,7), appoints (Acts 20:28), leads (Romans 8:14), reveals to someone how wrong, foolish, or sinful he/she was (John 16:8). Seals God's promise in believers' hearts (Ephesians 1:13-14), shapes the life of each person and community to Christ's (Romans 8:1-17).

The Holy Spirit can equally be insulted, grieved or disrespected as the case may be. "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God"(Eph. 4:30) He can be made sorrowful through our willful neglect. This shows that the Holy Spirit as a person suffers slight pains as we do. Note that the unforgiveable sin one can commit is to blaspheme the name of the Holy Spirit. That is, to be spoken evil of, in attributing His deeds to the works of Satan, the "unforgivable sin"(Mt 12:31-32). Just the way we insult one another`s personality at times, the Holy Spirit of G od can equally be insulted. One who has "trampled the Son of God underfoot" has also "insulted the Spirit of grace"(Heb. 10:29).This is done by sinning "willfully"(Heb. 10:26 ). The Spirit can be lied to because He is a person as Ananias and his wife Sapphira were guilty of doing. "...why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit...?" (Act. 5:3). He can be resisted as Stephen charged the Jewish leaders of doing (Act. 7:51 ).This they did by resisting the message and persecuting the messengers who were inspired by the Holy Spirit (Act. 7: 52-53).

From the evidence presented above with their corresponding biblical references, it is of paramount importance to note that a mere principle or influence cannot sustain these slights, only a personal being; so it is clear therefore, that the Holy Spirit is one. The Bible presents the Holy Spirit as a personal being. We should regard the Holy Spirit as a "He", not an “it”.

THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The promise made by Jesus to the disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit was fulfilled officially on the day of the Pentecost. This however does not mean that the Holy Spirit has not been manifesting before then. God's Spirit moved upon the Old Testament writers and prophets in a remarkable and powerful way. Some of them may not have been unaware of this fact, but they were granted revelations direct from God, so that His word could be spread abroad. As we read the Prophets we understand that His will, plans and purposes were being made known to Israel and the nations. This inspirational ministry of the Holy Spirit was largely on a personal level, that is, through individual men (and sometimes women such as Miriam, Esther and Ruth.). Therefore, one of the works of the Holy Spirit is to inspire. The Holy Spirit is the principal efficient cause in the writing of the sacred scripture whereas those who were inspired to write are the material cause. This means that inspirari, which means to breathe into or to inspire, is the sole function of the Holy Spirit of God. I know that many people will argue, and ask whether the presence of the Holy Spirit was not with the people of the old. The Holy Spirit came upon the people in the Old Covenant instead of actually filling them with His presence. When it is said that He did fill them, it was only for a certain period of time rather than having His continuous presence. The continuous abiding presence of the Holy Spirit could only be given after the death, the resurrection, and the ascension of Christ. … "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7) … "He that believeth in me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified (John 7:38-39). Such a promise is misleading if the Holy Spirit dwelt within Old Testament prophets on a continuous basis. The Spirit of God was however continuous on earth prior to the day of Pentecost. His Old Testament ministry was predominately amongst the nation of Israel. God said, "For I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts: according to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not(Hag.2:4-5).
The spirit leads and guides us as He did even in the Old Testament. If we read the account of Israel's history, we will find out that the Israelites often fell away from God because they refused to obey the voice of His Spirit … "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness" (Heb. 3:7-8). However , He never took His Spirit away from them, for they still needed His guidance and leadership even though Moses was there for them… "As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever" (Isaiah 59:21). The punishment for disobedience included falling into the hands of their enemies, but even when God withdrew divine protection and aid, He was still working to bring Israel to repentance. This is exactly what the Holy Spirit has been doing since the Jews rejected Christ as Messiah and Lord. One day, through His ministry, "all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26). Therefore, the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament cannot be over emphasized. He worked as the creator, as the inspirer of men like: Men like Moses, David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah wrote under His inspiration, for we are told by the apostle Peter that "the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21). The apostle Paul adds, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16), therefore the inspiration must have been the work of the God the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit also guided the Israelites through the wilderness.

Now, in the New Testament, the Holy Ghost is often referred to as Holy Guest. The word "ghost" in this case was an old English word supplied by the King James translators to indicate a (guest.) In those days if one was invited for a meal, a place was set at the table for that unseen guest. He was referred to as a "ghost" because he was yet unseen. The Holy Spirit is the “unseen invited guest” who comes to dwell in us with the character of God; providing partnership in prayer. He is the character of the Holiness of God for He is God's nature revealed through the personage and ministry of the Holy Spirit's occupation of the regenerated human spirit. The Holy Spirit as promised by our Lord Jesus is the comforter. While preparing His disciples for His ascension, our Lord promised the provision of a Holy partnership which would come shortly after His departure. The "Comforter," (Paraklete), would be sent as The (One called along side). He, the Holy Spirit, would parallel our lives; affording us oneness with God through His ministries of comfort. He would be sent, not to speak of Himself, but rather to glorify our Lord as well as to guide us into all truth. This partnership with the Holy Spirit would constitute a new and unique relationship with God hitherto unknown to Believers for He would "dwell with us and in us." We enjoy an association with our Heavenly Father through partnership with the Holy Spirit. We have been eternally joined together with the Holy Spirit through the finished work of Christ upon the cross. The purpose of our partnership with the Holy Spirit of God is for spiritual unanimity and completeness through revealed truth. He arranges spiritual mutuality and even provides a language of agreement, "groaning which cannot be uttered," to assure precise communication with God in our behalf.

The Holy Spirit is also the Helper who has been sent to us by our Lord Jesus Christ to help us. Know that the primary work of any helper is to make work or activities easier for the person being helped. The Greek word translated "helpeth" in (Rom.8:26). "Likewise the Holy Spirit also helpeth our infirmities," means to take hold, together, against. The ministry of the Holy Spirit therefore is one of intercessory prayer which parallels our own. It is interesting to compare the interpretation of "helpeth" with the word translated "Comforter" in John's gospel; (Paraclete.) "clete," and "para," (along side). Literally the One who (parallels). He is sent to parallel our prayers by providing counteracting spiritual balance through intercession. In this way we can achieve greater supernatural distance when we pray. Without His help, we will fall time and time again; unable to maintain continuity or direction when we pray. It is additionally important to note that the Holy Spirit "Helps our deficiency: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought." Our human inability to pray does not give us license to neglect prayer. The Holy Spirit parallels, or takes hold with us, as we pray. If we do not pray, He does not pray. His ministry of intercession is engaged as we fellowship with God. We must learn the importance of reaching out in partnership with the Holy Spirit when petitioning God. We must learn to pray in the Spirit. And God that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

As the advocate and the spirit of truth, Jesus summarizes the role of the Holy spirit to the disciples:


I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.(John 16:4-15).

St.Paul, as a well-enlightened scholar of the law immediately continues his letter, emphasizing the Defense Attorney function of "the Spirit" in language that evokes images of court proceedings. Further describing the interceding, protective, guiding, and triumphant activity of that "Spirit of truth" (the Comforter, the Advocate) on our behalf in the defeat of Satan (the devil, the Accuser, the Slanderer, the Prosecuting Attorney). Apostle Paul writes:

Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8: 33-39).

Another important ministry of the Holy spirit is that of gift-giver. First Corinthians 12 describes the spiritual gifts given to believers in order that we may function as the body of Christ on earth. All these gifts, both great and small, are given by the Spirit so that we may be His ambassadors to the world, showing forth His grace and glorifying Him. The Spirit also functions as fruit-producer in our lives. When He indwells us, He begins the work of harvesting His fruit in our lives - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). These are not works of our flesh, which is incapable of producing such fruit, but they are products of the Spirit’s presence in our lives. The knowledge that the Holy Spirit of God has taken up residence in our lives that He performs all these miraculous functions that He dwells with us forever and will never leave or forsake us is cause for great joy and comfort. Thank God for this precious Gift – the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives!

In summary, we see the Holy spirit in (John 14:26), where we are made to understand that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor and teacher: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” In ( Cor.3:16), we see that the Holy Spirit lives inside us: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” In (Acts 1:8), we understand where our power comes from: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." In (Rom. 8:14), we understand where our direction comes from: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” In (Rom 8:26), we learn that the Holy Spirit is there for us in times of weakness and prayer: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.” In (Heb. 9:14), we see that the Holy Spirit is eternal. In (1 Cor. 2:11), we are made to understand that the Holy Spirit is all-knowing. In (Psalm 139), we see that the Holy Spirit is everywhere, that is, He is Omni-present.

HOW AND WHEN DO WE RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Having carefully elucidated on the personality and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the need arises therefore on how to receive the Holy spirit in order to share in those afore-mentioned benefits coming from His roles in our lives. Then 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 (Acts 2: 37-38). Anyone who is saved is ready to received the gift of the Holy Ghost now”. Some very religious people think that there are certain things they have to do to qualify to receive the Baptism. However, if a person is saved, he couldn't possibly be any cleaner than he is right then. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins. We believe that saved people go to heaven when they die. If they are good enough to go to heaven, they are good enough to have a little bit of heaven in them.

Some people think that they have to follow certain standards of dress in order to receive the Holy Ghost. Others have the mistaken idea that they have to court God's favour to get Him to do something for them. All we have to do is to be saved and walk in the light of salvation. A person who is out of fellowship, of course, would have to come back into fellowship with Him. Some people have imagined that one has to be perfect before he can get the Holy Ghost. However, even the great apostle Paul himself said, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before" (Phil. 3:12-13). If you could do everything you ought to do and be everything you ought to be without the Holy Ghost, what would you need Him for? If you can do it yourself, why would you need Him?

Carnal Christians can be filled with the Holy Ghost. The Bible said the Corinthian Christians were carnal. And yet Paul said of the, "... Ye come behind in no gift" (1 Cor. 1:7). He was not endorsing carnality, to be sure. He was trying to get them to grow up in God and outgrow carnality. Baby Christians can be filled with the Holy Ghost. Certainly carnal Christians and baby Christians need to be filled more than anyone because they will then receive power that will help them, if they walk in the light of it, to outgrow some things. So, if a person is saved, he is ready to receive the Holy Ghost.

Another step is that the person desiring to receive the Holy Spirit will have to ask for it from God the Father.

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him

Jesus was saying here, "If your child asked you for bread, would you give him a stone? If your child asked you for a fish, would you give him a serpent?" No, you wouldn't. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" we can be assured that God will not give His children a counterfeit when they ask Him for the Holy Spirit. It is a different thing entirely, of course, when an unsaved person is seeking the Holy Ghost. But if a person is a child of God, he is not going to receive an evil spirit. Notice that the expressions "serpents' and "scorpion" were also used in (Luke 10:19).”Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy ...." Jesus used the terms "serpents' and “scorpions" to talk about evil spirits. He said you are not going to get a "serpent" or a "scorpion" then. If you are a child of God and you come to your heavenly Father for the Holy Ghost, then that is what you are going to get.

The question of when we receive the Holy Spirit is addressed by St. Paul, thus:(Rom. 8:9) tells us that “if a person does not possess the Holy Spirit, he or she does not belong to Christ - ""For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." If a person does not have the Spirit, he does not belong to Christ. Therefore, the possession of the Spirit is an identifying factor of the possession of salvation. Further, the Holy Spirit could not be the “seal of salvation” (Ephesians 1:13-14) if He is not received at the moment of salvation. Many Scriptures make it abundantly clear that our salvation is secured the moment we receive Christ as Savior. However, the receiving / indwelling of the Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation. The filling of the Spirit is an ongoing process in the Christian life. While we hold that the baptism of the Spirit also occurs at the moment of salvation, some Christians do not. This sometimes results in the baptism of the Spirit being confused with “receiving the Spirit” as an act subsequent to salvation. In conclusion, how do we receive the Holy Spirit? We receive the Holy Spirit by simply believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior (John 3:5-16). When do we receive the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit becomes our permanent possession the moment we believe.

CONCLUSION

Having carefully tendered the evidence for the personality of the Holy Spirit and dealt with the Ministry of the Holy Spirit as offered in the sacred scripture, it is therefore of utmost importance that we desire and ask that the Holy Ghost comes and take complete possession of our life through the father. His presence is highly needed for example in our world today where the rights of many people are being infringed upon since He is the only spirit of truth and the advocate. In the lives of the Christians, we need Him because He is to remind us all that our lord Jesus had taught us.

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