Holy Spirit As a Person Lesson One — E.A. Johnston

The Holy Spirit as a Divine Person

The Holy Spirit is a divine person with a personality that can be quenched or grieved. We see in 1 Thessalonians 5 .19, quench not the spirit, and in Ephesians 4 .30 it states,. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

We will study today, friends, the doctrine of the personality of the Holy Spirit as we will be in our Flame Series on the Holy Spirit. It is imperative that we understand the personality of the Holy Spirit for worship and service to God.

Knowing the Holy Spirit as a Person

Some of us who know God the Father and God the Son are unfamiliar with the Holy Spirit as a person. But the Holy Spirit helps us to understand our biblical conception of God as seen in 1 Corinthians 12 .3 which states,.

Wherefore I give you to understand that no man, speaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jesus accursed, and that no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. We must come to know the Holy Spirit as a person and rely on Him for guidance and grace in the enabling power to live above the world in sin and to know the Holy Spirit intimately as a person who can be grieved by our sin.

Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in Holy Living

This should make us more sensitive to sin and more sensitive to the Holy Spirit to encourage us to live a more holy life. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is critically important for the believer as he is alongside us as a helper and comforter.

A Demonstration of Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit

I'll never forget the frightening incident that occurred in a Christian Life Conference when Stephen Oford was preaching. A demon-possessed man began to manifest while Dr. Oford preached. This man began to moan loudly and squirm and cry out and shrieks.

It was terrifying because I was sitting right behind him. I braced myself and was ready to physically move in and try to remove this troubled individual. But Dr. Oford was sensitive to the Holy Spirit and he let the Holy Spirit take control of the situation by stopping preaching to pray.

He prayed out loud along these lines. Now, Holy Spirit, I ask you to intervene in this situation and bring calm to this person here who is distressed, who is being troubled. Holy Spirit, I ask you to take charge of this situation right now in Jesus Christ's holy name.

And as Stephen Oford finished praying, a great calm came over this man and he was let out of the meeting without further incident. I learned something that day about being sensitive to the Holy Spirit as a person who is ready to help when we call.

The Holy Spirit as Comforter and Helper

In John 16, 7 we read,. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send him unto you, knowing that the Spirit of God is by our side to deliver us from perilous paths and to help us in every emergency.

It's a great comfort indeed, friends. Let us pray.