What is the Holy Spirit?

What is the Holy Spirit? Some abstract force or a loving person? The Bible shows us clearly what the Holy Spirit is. He is not some impersonal power, like energy. The Holy Spirit speaks, He has emotions, He makes choices, He interacts with people, He gives love, wisdom and power, He guides us and teaches us, and so on. The Holy Spirit is a real person, like the heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

The following scriptures show you what the Holy Spirit is, in all His diversity.

He is in fact the very best Friend you can ever imagine. He was sent by the Father to help you become a true child of God and know God as a reality, in your daily life. Without the Holy Spirit our christian life is a religion: we know a lot of information, but it’s no reality for us. The Holy Spirit is the One who makes our life with Jesus Christ real, alive, full of true love and power. He is God in us and God with us. The more we live with the Holy Spirit, the more He will be able to reveal Jesus Christ and the Father to us.

The Holy Spirit is your Helper, your Friend, your Guide, your Teacher, and so much more…

The Holy Spirit is the One who brings the Father and the Son very close to you. He reveals the kingdom of heaven to you and clothes you with the power of God to make you a witness of Jesus Christ. He is the One who transforms you from the inside out.

What is the Holy Spirit? Discover it in the Bible!

Read these scriptures listed below, which reveal one by one what the Holy Spirit is and what He wants to do for you. He is far more than you can ever imagine. When you truly hunger for Him and open your heart to him – without holding back – He will amaze you, again and again.

The Holy Spirit is far more important than we all realize.

The very first words of the Bible begin with the Spirit of God. And the very last words of the Bible are about the Holy Spirit. This shows us how important the Spirit is.

‘And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.’ (Genesis 1:2)

‘And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” (Revelation 22:17)

We live in the ministry of the Spirit

The Bible teaches that we live in a time that is indicated as ‘the ministry of the Spirit’. Everything in the christian life is about the working and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not the law.

‘…so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not the oldness of the letter.’ (Romans 7:6)

‘…who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (…) how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?’ (2 Corinthians 3: 6, 8)

We become children of God through the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit causes the second birth and the Spirit of God also confirms in our hearts that we are children of God.

‘you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8: 15)

‘because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4: 6)

‘unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ (John 3: 6)

‘according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,’ (Titus 3: 5)

We live as children of God, through the Holy Spirit

The true life of a christian is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit in us. He changes us from the inside out, so that the love of God becomes visible in our life.

‘we do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (…) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.’ (Romans 8:4, 14)

‘Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (…) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.’
(Galatians 5:16, 26)

The Holy Spirit speaks to us and guides us

When we submit to the Holy Spirit, he will guide our path. He can drive us gently in a certain direction, and he can speak to us in may ways to reveal his will.

‘Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing.’
(Acts 11:12)

‘As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
(Acts 13:2)

‘So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia’.
(Acts 13:4)

‘And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem.’
(Acts 20:24)

The Holy Spirit gives revelation and wisdom

The Word of God is spiritual matter and we need revelation from the Holy Spirit to understand it. The Holy Spirit is our teacher who gives un insight in the depths of God.

‘I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.’
(Ephesians 1:17)

‘as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.’
(Ephesians 3:5)

‘But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.’
(John 16:13)

‘But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.’
(1 Corinthians 2: 10)

The Holy Spirit gives us the power of God

A well known attribute of the Holy Spirit is that he gives us the power of God. This can be enormous physical strength (Samson) or amazing spiritual power like with Peter whose shadow healed sick people. Jesus Christ said we needed to be clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit in order to be able to effectively spread the gospel, with miracles following.

‘to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man’
(Ephesians 3:16)

‘For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.’
(1 Corinthians 4:20)

‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me.’
(Acts 1:8)

‘that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’
(Romans 15:13)

‘in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.’
(Romans 15:19)

‘my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.’
(1 Corinthians 2:4)

The Holy Spirit inspires prayer

The purpose of our life with God is to grow in an intimate relationship with him. This happens mostly through prayer. The Bible distinguishes two types of prayer: praying with your mind (in your mother tongue) and praying with your spirit (praying in tongues).

‘building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.’
(Jude 20)

‘praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.’
(Ephesians 6:18)

‘God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.’
(John 4:24)

‘I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.’
(1 Corinthians 14:15)

The fire of the Holy Spirit

A remarkable aspect of God is that the Bible often refers to him as ‘fire’. John the Baptist said Jesus Christ would baptise us with Holy Spirit and with fire.

‘He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’
(Matthew 3:11)

‘Do not quench the (fire of the) Spirit.’
(1 Tessalonians 5:19)

‘Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.’
(Revelation 4:5)

The gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Lord gives us powerful gifts of the Holy Spirit, to build us up, make is strong and healthy and to help us grow to maturity in Jesus Christ.

‘There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.’
(1 Corinthians 12)

‘by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love…’
(2 Corinthians 6:6)

‘Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.’
(2 Timothy 1:6)

‘Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.’
(Romans 12:6)

The fruit of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit transforms our carnal, selfish character and makes us like God: full of love, peace, joy and patience.

‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.’
(Galatians 5:22)

Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit

Although Jesus Christ is the Son of God, he was still dependent on the Holy Spirit. Jesus was begotten by the Spirit, he was being led by the Holy Spirit, he received his power from the Spirit of God and he offered up himself through the Holy Spirit.

‘Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.’
(Luke 4:1)

‘Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee.’
(Luke 4:14)

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me.’
(Luke 4:18)

‘and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Jesus.’
(Matthew 3:17)

‘I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles.’
(Matthew 12:18)

‘But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.’
(Matthew 12:28)

‘who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God.’
(Hebrews 9:14)

‘For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.’
(John 3:34)

‘how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.’
(Acts 10:38)

Conclusion: what is the Holy Spirit?

So what is the Holy Spirit? He is too much for words. He is fire, anointing, power, love, peace, joy, adoption, wisdom, guidance, healing miracles, and so much more.

If we realize how extremely powerful the Holy Spirit is, we can understand why there is so much resistance against him in many churches. Many christians are filled with an aggressive fear against the Spirit of God. I believe this fear is inspired by satan and his armies of evil spirits, who are terrified of the Holy Spirit. Satan is not afraid of religion, as a matter of fact he is the most religious spirit you can imagine, who loves to invent religions as a hobby. He is also not afraid of man-made christian religion. But satan is terrified of the Holy Spirit because he is able to unmask and destroy the works of satan.

I encourage you to lay aside all fear and surrender yourself to the Holy Spirit more than you have ever done.

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.’
(Zachariah 4:6)

Christian wall art about the Holy Spirit

This beautiful Christian wall art shows the hands of Jesus Christ pouring out the wonderful Holy Spirit on the earth. It’s only through the Holy Spirit that we can experience God and have an intimate relationship with Him. This unique Christian wall art helps you know that the Spirit of God is always available for you. Order this Christian wall decor to encourage yourself and inspire others with the glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Buy it now by clicking here or click the button below. 

More about the Holy Spirit

Click these links to discover more about what the Holy Spirit is and how you can experience Him in your life. Don’t let anything hinder you from becoming completely filled with the wonderful Spirit of God. Without Him, your christian life just isn’t what it could be…

How to receive the Holy Spirit >

The gifts of the Holy Spirit >

Manifestations of the Holy Spirit >

Speaking in tongues >