✳THE HOLY SPIRIT✳ (Part 1)
The HOLY SPIRIT is a real person who came to reside within JESUS CHRIST'S true followers after JESUS rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. JESUS told His disciples:
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive, because it doesn't behold Him or know Him because He abides in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:16-18)
The HOLY SPIRIT Is a person equal in every way with GOD the Father and GOD the Son. He is the third member of the Godhead. GOD is Father, Son and HOLY SPIRIT. All the divine attributes ascribed to the Son are equally ascribed to the HOLY SPIRIT.
The HOLY SPIRIT has intellect, emotion, and will: When a person becomes born again by believing and receiving JESUS CHRIST, GOD resides in that person through the HOLY SPIRIT. (John 3:3-21)
The primary role of the HOLY SPIRIT is that He bears "witness" of JESUS CHRIST. He tells our hearts about the truth of JESUS CHRIST. The HOLY SPIRIT also acts as the Christians' teacher. He reveals GOD'S will and GOD'S truth to the Christian. He also helps us to become more like JESUS. JESUS told His disciples ... "The Helper the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." When He, the SPIRIT of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come." (John 14:17, 14:26, 15:16)
The HOLY SPIRIT was given to live inside those who believe in JESUS, in order to produce GOD'S character in the life of a believer. In a way that we can't do on our own, the HOLY SPIRIT will build into our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Rather than trying to be loving, patient, and kind, GOD asks us to rely on Him to produce these qualities in our lives. (Gal. 5:22)
Christians are told to walk in the SPIRIT and be filled with the SPIRIT. And the HOLY SPIRIT empowers Christians to perform ministerial duties that promote spiritual growth among Christians. (I Cor.12)
The HOLY SPIRIT also performs a function for non-Christians as well. He convicts the hearts of people to GOD'S truth. Concerning our sinful nature, needing GOD'S forgiveness. JESUS is righteous ~ He died in our place for our sins, and GOD'S eventual judgment of the world and those who do not know Him. The HOLY SPIRIT tugs on our hearts and minds, asking us to repent and turn to GOD for forgiveness and a new life.
Paul wrote: - "I say then: walk in the SPIRIT, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." (Gal. 5:16)
The flesh is the expression the Bible uses for the dwelling place of everything in a person that opposes GOD and His will. The flesh wants us to exalt ourselves at others' expense. The flesh has endless demands and expectations. When we walk in the SPIRIT we no longer need to fulfill these lusts. We think and act differently.
