Identity

Also known as the "Holy Spirit" or "Set-apart Spirit" or "Holy Ghost" or "Ruach HaKadosh" depending on your Bible Translation.

Holy means something that belongs exclusively to God or that is set apart for God's purpose or benefit. So when writer write about the "Holy Spirit", it means this Spirit belongs to God.

How different persons refer to the Spirit:

The Father (YHVH) says:

• My Spirit (Genesis 6:3; Isaiah 30:1, 42:1, 44:3, 59:21; Ezekiel 36:27, 37:14, 39:29; Joel 2:28-29; Haggai 2:5; Zechariah 4:6, 6:8)

Jesus says:

• Spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:20)
• Promise of the Father (Luke 24:49)

Author of Genesis says:

• Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2)

Pharaoh says:

• Spirit of God (Genesis 41:38)

Moses says:

• Spirit of God (Exodus 31:3, 35:31; Numbers 24:2)

The author of Judges says:

• The Spirit of the LORD (Judges 3:10, 6:34, 11:29, 13:25, 14:6,19, 15:14)

Samuel says:

• The Spirit of the LORD (1 Samuel 10:6, 16:13-14; 2 Samuel 23:2)
• The Spirit of God (1 Samuel 10:10, 11:6, 19:20,23)

Job says:

• Breath/Spirit of the Almighty (Job 32:8; Job 33:4)

David says:

• God's Holy Spirit (Psalm 51:11)
• Your Spirit (Psalm 104:30, 143:10)
• The LORD's Spirit (Psalm 139:7)

Isaiah says:

• Spirit of the LORD God (Isaiah 11:2, 61:1)
• His (YHVH's) Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:11)

Nebuchadnezzar says:

• The Spirit of the Holy God (Daniel 4:8,9,18, 5:11)

The apostles say:

• Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13; John 20:22; Acts 7:51; 2 Corinthians 3:14; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30; 2 Peter 1:21)
• Spirit of God (Romans 8:14; 1 Corinthians 2:11,14, 3:16; 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Peter 4:14; 1 John 4:2)

When we compare the Holy Spirit's identity with the Father and the Son we notice:

However, in the new Testament some apostles mention the "Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 1:11; Galatians 4:6; Hebrews 1:11; Philippians 1:19). This could possibly mean that these apostles meant the Spirit that Christ had promised. This make sense if you take into account that there were no such references made by anyone before Jesus promised the Holy Spirit prior to his ascension to the Father.

Attributes

• The Spirit gives life (Job 33:4; John 6:63)
• Nobody can direct or council the Spirit of the LORD (Isaiah 40:13)
• The Spirit is compared with the wind: The Spirit is invisible, but you see the Spirit's power (John 3:8)
• The Spirit does not speak in his own authority (John 16:13)
  • The Spirit does not lie (Numbers 23:19)

What the Spirit do

• The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
• The Spirit instructs (Psalm 143:10; John 16:13-14, Acts 1:16), for example:
  • Israelites in the desert (Nehemiah 9:20)
  • Jesus (Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12, Luke 4:1-2)
  • Simeon (Luke 2:25-32)
  • Ananias (Acts 9:17)
  • Peter (Acts 10:19-20)
  • Instructing Philip to join the Ethiopian (Acts 8:29)
  • Instructing Peter to join the Caesareans (Acts 11:12)
  • Instructing leaders of the church at Antioch to sent Paul and Barnabas for a mission (Acts 13:2)
  • Church leaders (Acts 15:28-29)
  • Paul (Acts 16:6-10, Acts 19:21, Acts 20:22-23)
• The Spirit anoints prophets (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38)
• The Spirit reveal God visibly (Eze 39:29)
  • Stephen (Acts 7:55-60)
• The Spirit reborn believers (John 3:6; Titus 3:5)
• The Spirit comforts (John 14:16,26 (KJV); John 15:26 (KJV))
• The Spirit helps (John 14:16,26 (ESV); John 15:26 (ESV); John 16:7; Romans 8:26)
• The Spirit guides in truth (John 16:13)
• The Spirit reveals the future as it is revealed to him (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10,13)
• The Spirit glorifies Jesus (John 16:14)
• The Spirit gives understanding and wisdom (Isaiah 11:2)

The Spirit's personality

• The Spirit has a personality (Acts 5:3)
  • will (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
  • mind (1 Corinthians 2:10)
  • can fellowship (2 Corinthians 13:14)
• The Spirit has grace (Zec 12:10)
• The "Fruit" (characteristics) of the Spirit is: (Galatians 5:16-25):
  • love
  • joy (1 Th 1:6-7), for example:
  • Disciples (Acts 13:52)
  • peace (John 15:26; Romans 14:16-17), for example:
  • Amasai, chief of the Thirty (1 Chronicles 12:17-18)
  • long-suffering (Romans 15:16), for example:
  • by interceding for believers (Romans 8:26-27)
  • kindness
  • goodness
  • faith
  • meekness
  • self-control
• The Spirit is different from evil spirits:
  • Cannot curse Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:3)
  • Only one that can say "Jesus is Lord/Master" (1 Corinthians 12:3)
  • Evil spirits lead to slavery and fear vs Holy Spirit leads to adopted sons (heirs) and glorification (Romans 8:15-17)

The Spirit's relationships.

When the Spirit become your enemy

• Caused by rebellion (Isaiah 63:10-13, Acts 7:51-53)
• Caused by blasphemy: speaking against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29, Luke 12:10), e.g.
  • Ananias and his wife (Acts 5:3-10)

When the Spirit become your friend

• Brings blessing/prosperity (Isaiah 32:13-15, Isaiah 44:3-4)
• Received at salvation (Psalm 51:11-12)

What the Holy Spirit does for believers:

• The Spirit enables leaders, for example:
  • Othniel the son of Kenaz (Judges 3:10)
  • Gideon (Judges 6:34)
  • Jephthah (Judges 11:29)
  • Saul (1 Samuel 11:6-7)
  • David (1 Samuel 16:13)
  • Amasai, chief of the Thirty (1 Chronicles 12:17-18)
  • Jesus (Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 12:18)
  • Daniel (Daniel 6:3)
  • Church leaders (Acts 20:28, 1 Th 1:5)
• The Spirit enables people to be boldly witnesses to Jesus (Acts 1:8), for example:
  • Peter and apostles (Acts 4:8-10, Acts 5:29-32)
  • Congregation (Acts 4:31)
  • Paul (Acts 18:5, Romans 9:1-2)
• The Spirit enables people to experience God's presence (Psalm 51:11, Psalm 139:7, Haggai 2:4-5)
• The Spirit speak to people (Eze 2:2; Eze 3:24; Eze 11:5; Acts 8:29; Acts 11:12; Acts 13:2)
• The Spirit follows people (Zec 6:8)
• The Spirit intercedes for believers (Romans 8:26-27)
• The Spirit change believers back to the image of God (2Co 3:18)
• The Spirit seals believers until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30)