Let’s examine a few things the Bible says about the Holy Ghost.
He was involved when Mary conceived. Matthew 1:20, “But while he (Joseph) thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” Luke 1:35 adds this, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” I’ve never met anyone who fully understands that, but that is how the incarnation of Christ was accomplished.
He can be grieved. Isaiah 63:10, “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 4:30, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”
He can be blasphemed. Matthew 12:31-32, “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”
He brings comfort. John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.”
He is our teacher. John 14:26, “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.”
He testifies of Christ. John 15:26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me.”
He leads us. Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Acts 13:2, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
He reveals the truth. John 16:13, “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.”
He can be resisted. Acts 7:51, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”
He strengthens and encourages us. Acts 9:31, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”
He helps us in our weakness, and He intercedes on our behalf. Romans 8:26, “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 groanings which cannot be uttered.”
He forbids. Acts 16:6, “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.”
He searches the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10, “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
He can be quenched. 1 Thessalonians 5:19, “Quench not the Spirit.”
He sanctifies us. Romans 15:16, “That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”
He assures us we are the children of God. Romans 8:16, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”
Then, there is the Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23, 25, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” It would be such a different world if we could all truly walk in the Spirit.
If there’s ever been a day when we needed the “gifts of the Spirit,” it is today. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.”
Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues. While all of these can operate in an individual if the Spirit wills, they certainly are all needed in the corporate body of Christ if the church is to manifest fully a powerful Gospel. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus gave one consistent message to each of the seven churches. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.” I pray that we will learn to listen and walk in the Spirit.
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