Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. In the book of Acts, Jesus prepared His followers to receive the Holy Spirit (see John 16:7).

The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit in a number of different ways, revealing His character and role. Jesus spoke of Him as the Helper – one who is called to come alongside to help us.

But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. (John 14:26 AMP)

The Bible uses the word paraclete to describe the Holy Spirit. Broadly speaking, it means to walk alongside and defend against the enemy. The Holy Spirit dwells within a Christian and helps them in their weakness (Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit empowers us to live an overcoming life and to become who God created us to be. He also baptises or infills a believer to equip them for witness and ministry (see Acts 2:1-4).

It’s not such a leap to form a concept of God the Father, or Jesus, the Son because we know what a father and a son is and how they relate to one another. However, the concept of a spirit is not as easy to grasp. The simplest way to explain Who the Holy Spirit is, is to describe what He does.

The Holy Spirit helps you to know God the Father. He bears witness to your spirit that you are God’s child. He transforms you into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). The Holy Spirit sanctifies you – that means He sets you apart for God’s purposes, freeing you from sin. When you walk with God, His Spirit will guide you into discovering all the plans that God has prepared for you (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

The Holy Spirit reveals God and His Kingdom. He is the divine power that works to make us ministers of His new covenant of righteousness, grace and glory. He is the Spirit of life, drawing the spiritually dead toward Jesus through us, as we “partake of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).

What does this mean for you?
The Holy Spirit has been given to you as a gift, to enable you to live an overcoming and faithful life. He dwells within you and as you yield to His leadings in your heart and are obedient to His promptings, He transforms you into the likeness of Jesus, to become a powerful agent of change to the world around you.

“The Holy Spirit illuminates the minds of people, makes us yearn for God, and takes spiritual truth and makes it understandable to us.” – Billy Graham