# 3~ The Holy Spirit Series

# 3~ THE HOLY SPIRIT: BIBLE DOCTRINE 7-21-12

Today we'll continue with our study to do with Bible doctrine and say some things to do with the Holy Spirit.

Let me say first of all that the Holy Spirit is God; He is equal in deity with the Father and the Son and not a subordinate, and He should never be referred to as an "it."

There are organizations that don't except Bible doctrine:

> The Unitarian churches deny the doctrine of the Trinity, accepting the moral teachings of Jesus but reject His divinity, and holding that God exists as one person or being.

> The Jehovah's Witnesses and some other churches do not accept the doctrine of the Trinity, to them the Holy Spirit is God's spirit or God's active force, and not a separate person.

> In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the Holy Spirit is considered a third and individual member of the Godhead, but distinct from the Father and the Son, having a body of spirit (whereas the Father and the Son are believed to be resurrected individuals such as you and I, having immortalized bodies of flesh and bone .

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When we think of a person we usually think of a body that we're accustom to seeing, but must a person have a body? What happens when a human being dies? Only the body dies, but the person continues to exist consciously forever, either in heaven or hell.

Paul said in;

2 Corinthians 4: 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Listen; what are the essential characteristics of a person? Three things; intelligence, emotions, and will.

If the Holy Spirit were only a force or an influence or a thing, He would not possess these three things. But He does.

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* The Holy Spirit has the characteristics of a person, He has Intelligence: He knows the things of God --

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

* The Holy Spirit has Emotions, He can be grieved.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

* The Holy Spirit has a Will; He gives spiritual gifts "as He so wills"

1 Corinthians 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

* The Holy Spirit does some things that we're used to seeing people do, such as teach.

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

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There may be times when we become so distressed and burdened with what might be going on around us or in our lives that we don't really know how to pray or talk to the Father, so then;

* The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

The Lord's disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. All of us from time to time have difficulty in knowing how to pray and for what to pray, when this happens God has given us His Holy Spirit to make intercession for us

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 Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

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* Jesus always referred to the Holy Spirit as "HE" -- NOT AS "it".

John 16:13-14 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. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

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* The Holy Spirit is named with other persons of Trinity:

Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

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Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: --