Prior to my posts in which I will share concerning the fruit of the Spirit, I need to write this precursor. It is essential that we comprehend clearly and accurately Who the Holy Spirit is. The Holy Spirit is not a ‘thing’ to be used by God or ourselves. The Holy Spirit is a person.

We define a ‘person’ as someone who has a mind, will, and emotions. Following those guidelines to define a person, we can prove that the Holy Spirit is a person, not a thing.

He has a mind and intercedes.

Romans 8:27 (NASB20), “and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

He Speaks.

Acts 13:2, “One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them."

He teaches.

John 14:26, “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative--that is, the Holy Spirit--he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

The Spirit has a will.

Acts 16:6 and 7, “Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.”

The Holy Spirit experiences emotions.

Ephesians 4:30, “And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.”

Yes! The Holy Spirit is a person. He is an individual. In fact, He is an individual Whom we need to develop an intimate relationship with. We can address and have conversations with Him, just as we can with our Father God, and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

If we are to be changed by His fruit (Galatians 5:22 and 23), empowered for ministry through His gifts (I Corinthians 12: 1-11), and taught the truth of God’s Word by Him (John 16:13) then, it is crucial that we know Him! He achieves that changing, empowering, and teaching in our lives!

Once we have established an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, then, we learn to trust and obey Him and He is able to flow through us. John 7:38 (KJV), “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Jesus taught that after His resurrection and ascension the Holy Spirit would come and dwell in us. John 14:16 and 17 (NASB20), “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; 17 the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.” Jesus told the disciples that the Father would send another “Helper” and that He would be with us forever. As we look at the word “Helper” used in verse 16, it is translated from the Greek word “parakletos.”

In reference to the Holy Spirit, this word ‘parakletos’ is translated as: Intercessor, Consoler, Advocate, Helper, and Comforter. Since five different scriptures use the word ’parakletos’ and is used in regard to the Holy Spirit, I believe this warrants our looking at the definition and use of this word.

Please understand, these words define Who the Holy Spirit is and helps us comprehend His function in and for us!! When you read these definitions, you will understand why it is so vital that we not think the Holy Spirit is a thing, or something mysterious that we cannot understand, is scary, or something that should be ignored, neglected, or feared.

The following is taken from Thayer’s and Smith’s Bible Dictionary. The definition of ‘parakletos’ is:

“1). summoned, called to one’s side, especially, called to one’s aid

a. one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate.

b. one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor

1. of Christ in his exaltation at God’s right hand, pleading with God the Father to pardon our sins.

c. in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant

1. of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom.”

The following Scriptures show some of the numerous ways Holy Spirit will be involved as we acknowledge and allow Him to be a part of our lives and lead us.

Holy Spirit: (All of the following verses will be from the New King James Version)

Teaches - John 16:13, “"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hear [my note, from the Father] He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

Bears Witness of Jesus - John 15:26, (words Jesus spoke to His disciples), “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

Confirms Us - Romans 8:16, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” and Galatians 4:6, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

Empowers Us - Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Renews Us - Titus 3:5, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:16 and 17, “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Sanctifies Us - 1 Peter 1:2, “ (Peter) elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

Intercedes and Helps Us - Romans 8:26 and 27, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Bears Fruit in Us - Galatians 5:22 and 23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Jesus said in John 15:5 that apart from Him, we can do nothing. We need to understand that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, and when He was crucified, His physical (earthly) body died. His spirit however, ascended to the Father. When He returned to the Father, then, the Father sent the third part of Himself (the triune God, one in three parts) to live inside and help us.

As a ‘believer’ in Christ, we must determine to live our life for God. In that, we choose to do His will and work while here on the planet. In order for us to be able to accomplish His purpose for us, we must cooperate fully with the Holy Spirit (our Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Consoler, and Comforter.)

Jesus instructed us to “Seek first the Kingdom of God.” (Matthew 6:33) In order for us to be able to do that, we must choose to die to self and let Jesus, by His Spirit, work in us. That is the only way we will have a chance to work for Him at our fullest capacity. That is the only way we will be able to please Him in every way that we can.

Jesus said, “I do always those things that please Him.” (John 8:29)

Let’s choose to make that our goal.

Choose to develop an intimate relationship with Holy Spirit and begin that journey today!

NKJ New King James

NASB20 New American Standard Bible 2020

Unless otherwise noted scriptures were used from the NLT - New Living Translation