In addition to studying what the Bible has to say about the Holy Spirit, I’m reading  Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan and Danae Yankoski.

Although I don’t believe we can neglect one part of the Trinity while drawing near to Christ. Chan and Yankoski desire to help Christians understand who the person of the Holy Spirit is according to the Bible.

For this reason, I’d like to share seven characteristics of the Holy Spirit they identify.

1. The Holy Spirit is a person.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.  John 14:15-17 ESV

2.  The Holy Spirit is God.

“Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?  While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” Acts 5:3-4 ESV

3. The Holy Spirit is eternal and holy.

…how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:14 ESV

4. The Holy Spirit prays for us according to the will of God.

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

5. The Holy Spirit can be grieved.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 ESV

6. The Holy Spirit has his own desires and will.

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. I Corinthians 12:11

7. The Holy Spirit is all-powerful, all-present, and all-knowing.

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 ESV

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! Psalm 139:7-8 ESV

…these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. I Corinthians 2:10 ESV

 

Chan, Francis, and Danae Yankoski. Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. David C Cook, 2015.