The Holy Spirit: A What or a Who?

Introduction

When you hear the words “Holy Spirit,” what comes to mind? For many, it’s an image of a mystical force, a powerful energy, or an intense emotional experience. We sing lyrics like, “Holy Spirit, You are welcome here, come flood this place and fill the atmosphere,” without stopping to ask – is this an accurate picture of the Holy Spirit as presented in Scripture? Is He merely a force to be summoned or an impersonal power to be felt, or is He something far more profound?

The truth is, the Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force, a mystical power, or a vague, spiritual influence. According to the Bible, He is a person – the Third Person of the Trinity, fully God, co-eternal and co-equal with the Father and the Son. Yet, despite His vital role in the life of every believer, the Holy Spirit remains one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented aspects of Christian theology today.

In this week’s message, we seek to clear the fog of modern confusion and rediscover the biblical portrait of the Holy Spirit.

1. The Holy Spirit is a Person, Not a Force

The Holy Spirit is not merely a power to be wielded or an energy to be harnessed. He is a person with a mind, will, and emotions. Scripture reveals that He possesses intellect (1 Cor. 2:10-11), can be grieved (Eph. 4:30), and exercises personal will (1 Cor. 12:11). This is critical because it affects how we relate to Him. You can’t grieve a mere force, but you can grieve a person. You can’t have a relationship with an impersonal power, but you can commune with a person.

In the original Greek of the New Testament, the word for “Spirit” (pneuma) is grammatically neuter, yet the Bible often refers to the Holy Spirit using masculine pronouns, emphasizing His personhood (John 16:13-14). This choice is deliberate, reminding us that the Spirit is not a “what,” but a “who.”

2. The Holy Spirit is Fully God, Not a Lesser Deity

The Holy Spirit is not a lesser divine being or a secondary aspect of God’s power. He is fully God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. This is clearly affirmed in passages like Acts 5:3-4, where Peter equates lying to the Holy Spirit with lying to God. He shares divine attributes such as omniscience (1 Cor. 2:10-11), omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-10), omnipotence (Luke 1:35), and eternality (Hebrews 9:14).

The Spirit’s deity is also seen in His role in creation (Genesis 1:2) and new creation (John 3:6-7), as well as His direct involvement in the lives of believers, applying the work of Christ and sealing us for the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14).

3. The Holy Spirit is the Paraclete (Helper) Sent by the Father and the Son

When Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to His disciples, He used a powerful title – Paraclete (Greek: Paraklētos), often translated as Helper, Comforter, Advocate, or Counselor (John 14:16-17). This title captures the deeply personal and ongoing ministry of the Spirit in the life of every believer.

Jesus described the Spirit as “another Helper” – one of the same kind as Himself (John 14:16), emphasizing the Spirit’s divine nature as God and continued personal presence. Just as Jesus walked beside His disciples, the Spirit would come to dwell within and empower them, guiding them into all truth (John 16:13) and glorifying Christ (John 16:14).

4. The Holy Spirit’s Primary Ministry is to Glorify Christ, Not to Draw Attention to Himself

A critical yet often overlooked truth about the Holy Spirit is that His primary role is not to draw attention to Himself but to glorify Christ. Jesus made this clear in John 16:13-14, where He said the Spirit would “not speak on His own authority,” but would glorify Christ by revealing His truth to believers.

Any movement, church, or teaching that shifts the focus from Christ to the Spirit, or treats the Spirit as a mere force or emotional experience, is out of step with the biblical portrait of His person and work. Any person that diminishes the Son, distorts the Son, or distracts from the Son to the Spirit, is not filled with and led by the Spirit. Test the spirits (1 John 4:1–6).

Practical Application

• Cultivate a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit as a person, not merely a power. Seek to know Him, not just feel Him.

• Anchor your understanding of the Spirit in Scripture, not in popular songs, cultural trends, or emotional experiences.

• Test every spirit and teaching against the clear revelation of Scripture (1 John 4:1-3).

• Remember that the Spirit’s work is to glorify Christ, not to create chaotic, self-centered, or emotionally driven experiences.

Conclusion

As we seek to live Spirit-filled lives, let us avoid the errors of both extreme emotionalism and cold, intellectual detachment. Instead, let us embrace the true, biblical understanding of the Holy Spirit – the divine person who comforts, teaches, convicts, and glorifies Christ in us.

May we live with a renewed awareness of His presence, not as a force to be manipulated, but as the holy, divine person who dwells within us, transforming us into the image of Christ.

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