Who is the Holy Spirit?

7 Ways the Holy Spirit Transforms Our Lives

If you’re a new Christian or new to the Spirit-filled life, you may have asked yourself these questions about the Holy Spirit – Who is the Holy Spirit and What is His Purpose here on Earth?

The Holy Spirit is a distinct divine being with His own attributes and functions in the Holy Trinity (which we know as God the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit). The Bible often speaks of the Holy Spirit as someone who guides, comforts, teaches, and communicates with people, which aligns more closely with the attributes of a person rather than an abstract energy force like some people believe the Holy Spirit is.

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, God sent the Holy Spirit to earth to dwell within you / to abide in you and in every other believer – as recorded in John 14:15-17. Look what Jesus said: “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you”.

The Holy Spirit’s purpose is to…

Comfort You

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you” – John 14:16

An advocate is a person (i.e. a lawyer) who works and argues in support of another’s cause, especially in court. (Gr. parakletos), one who pleads another’s cause, who helps another by defending or comforting him. It is a name given by Jesus three times to the Holy Ghost ( John 14:16 ; 15:26 ; 16:7 , where the Greek word is also translated “Comforter,” q.v.). The Holy Spirit is our Comforter so whenever you feel down, go to Him and He will comfort you and help you rise up. If you don’t know what to do or you can’t see your prayers answered, go to Him. Ask the Holy Spirit what you need to do.

Provide Help

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” – Romans 8:26 (NLT)

Even in times when you’re unsure about what to pray for or how to handle situations, the Holy Spirit steps in to help you. When you pray in the Spirit (or in tongues), you pray in a language known by God and always according to God’s Will. As you pray, you can also ask God to reveal to you what you are praying for.

Offer Guidance

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.'” – John 16:13-15 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit guides you, showing you the truth and providing deeper insights into spiritual matters. When you pray in tongues, God can reveal things to you and He can answer your questions too. If you are looking for directions, He can give them to you. If you find it hard to hear God’s directions, pray in the Spirit. As a born-again believer, you can hear God at any time, but when you pray in tongues, your spirit gets quickened to hear Him. It helps to switch the antennae in the right direction.

Reveal Truth

“But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true – it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.” – 1 John 2:27 (NLT)

John 14:26 also says that “when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you”.

The Holy Spirit safeguards you from straying away from the teachings of Jesus. When you read the Bible, the Holy Spirit is the One who helps you understand the true meaning of what you read. He explains it to you and gives you practical applications for your life. The Holy Spirit will also bring the right verse to your attention exactly when you need it.

Empower You

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.” – Ephesians 3:16 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit strengthens you to navigate through any challenges that come your way. In difficult situations, He will give you strength and will remind you who you are in Christ – He will remind you that

• you are a child of God (Galatians 3:26),
• you are loved (John 13:34),
• you are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10),
• you are courageous because “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” – 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
• greater is He who is in you then who is in the world (1 John 4:4),
• you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13).

Help You Bear Fruit

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things.” – Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

These attributes form the Christ-like character which God wants us all to have. You may ask yourself – How can I become more like Jesus?

Imagine you have a special friend called the Holy Spirit. This friend helps you become a better and kinder person. He teaches you important qualities like being loving, patient, and good. These qualities are like good fruits that grow in your heart with the help of your friend, the Holy Spirit.

When you listen to your friend and let Him guide you, you become more and more like Him. You start showing these good qualities in how you act and treat others. It’s like becoming a better version of yourself.

But here’s the cool part: you and your friend, the Holy Spirit, work together like a team. You can’t do it all on your own, and your friend helps you. It’s like a partnership where you both help each other.

So, the “fruit of the Spirit” means all these good qualities that grow in your heart with the help of your special friend, the Holy Spirit. And when people see these qualities in you, it’s like they’re seeing the amazing things your friend, the Holy Spirit, can do in your life.

Give you Spiritual Gifts

The Holy Spirit likes to give out special abilities to people who believe in God. These special abilities are called “spiritual gifts,” and they’re like tools (or superpowers) that empower us to do good things and make a positive impact. These gifts are not just for our own benefit; they’re meant to make the community of believers, known as the church, stronger and more connected. Picture a puzzle coming together – each person’s gift is like a puzzle piece that fits perfectly to create a beautiful picture.

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service. The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all. The Spirit gives one person a message full of wisdom, while to another person the same Spirit gives a message full of knowledge. One and the same Spirit gives faith to one person, while to another person he gives the power to heal. The Spirit gives one person the power to work miracles; to another, the gift of speaking God’s message; and to yet another, the ability to tell the difference between gifts that come from the Spirit and those that do not. To one person he gives the ability to speak in strange tongues, and to another he gives the ability to explain what is said. But it is one and the same Spirit who does all this; as he wishes, he gives a different gift to each person” – 1 Corinthians 12:4 – 11 (GNT).

“Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God. Those who preach must preach God’s messages; those who serve must serve with the strength that God gives them, so that in all things praise may be given to God through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Peter 4:10–11 (GNT)

Take a moment to thank God for sending you the Holy Spirit. Invite the Holy Spirit to actively work in your life and offer thanks for His help, guidance, teaching, and empowerment.

Pray this prayer with me (you can pray with your family)

Dear God, we come before you, in the name of Jesus, asking you to help us know and understand the Holy Spirit more deeply. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to be our Saviour, and thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us as believers.

Open the eyes of our hearts to see your presence and your guidance, Holy Spirit. Help us to understand the truths you want to reveal to us as written in your Word. Give us the wisdom to discern your voice and your leading in our lives. Fill us with your strength, courage, and wisdom to take the right decisions in life.

Holy Spirit, we surrender to your work in our lives. Help us hear your whispers, and follow your directions. Show us the mysteries of your Kingdom and empower us to live a life that brings glory to you. We want to know you more deeply and to walk closely with you every day.

In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.