Is the Holy Spirit part of God and is it essentially the personality of God?
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
Q: I am trying to learn about the Holy Spirit. Is it part of God and is it essentially the personality of God? – P.S.
A: The Holy Spirit is God Himself. We should never refer to the Holy Spirit as “it,” for the Holy Spirit is a Person. He speaks to us, commands us, intercedes for us, and He hears and guides us. Those who fail to recognize this are robbed of the joy and power the Holy Spirit gives. Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things” (John 14:26, NKJV).
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have all existed from eternity. In time, the Son of God came into the world as a man, to redeem the world that He had created. After His death on the cross, and His resurrection, He went back to the Father in Heaven and sent His Holy Spirit to bring about a worldwide ministry of proclaiming the Gospel.
Still today, the Holy Spirit illuminates the minds of Christ’s followers and causes us to yearn for God. He convicts of sin but also convinces people that Jesus is the righteousness of God.
The Holy Spirit indwells the Christian. It’s through the Holy Spirit at work in us that all truth becomes living and operative in our lives. This is what it means to walk in the Spirit — to be led and directed by Him. The Holy Spirit gives liberty to the Christian, direction to the worker, discernment to the teacher, power to the Word, and fruit to faithful service. He reveals the things of Christ. He is not limited by time or space. He can be everywhere at once. He’s in the midst of the largest galaxy — and the smallest atom. What a marvelous gift God has given.
========
(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)
©2024 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(c)2024 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
