Friday: Further Thought – Personality of the Holy Spirit
Read Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 669-672, where she speaks about the Holy Spirit. Also read Evangelism, pp. 613-617.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’ ” (Matt. 28:18-20, NKJV). Notice, as Jesus gave them their calling and work, He said to baptize disciples in the “name” singular, of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He didn’t say “names” of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but just “name,” (Greek onoma). This is more powerful proof of the triune nature of our One God (“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” [Deut. 6:4, NKJV]). As this week’s lesson has already pointed out, no one questions the personality of the Father and the Son; thus, why should anyone do that with the personality and personhood of the Holy Spirit? According to the Bible, we have the loving, caring, and comforting presence of God Himself working in us and through us. That’s who the Holy Spirit is and what He does. And how much nicer it is to know that this abiding presence is a Person, just as much as the Father and Jesus are. Yes, it’s hard to fully understand. But so what? If we can’t fully understand the nature of something as basic as light or wind, how much more so will we not be able to fully understand the nature of the Holy Spirit Himself?
Discussion Questions:
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For our human mind to comprehend the "triune" is difficulty. The idea of one God, three divine individual is not only unfathomable but a challenge to explain to the carnal mind. But scriptural evidence, on which our faith is built, speaks to each as an individual working for the same purpose, having the same mind (John 14: 26;John 15:25, 26). Thank God for this trinity working to save mankind.
Nadine, like many if not most, there are Biblical issues that our understanding is not clear about. The Triune being at least one. Most can agree that each member of the Godhead is equal in every aspect. So to choose one instead of another is a matter of personal preference for what ever the reason that might be.
Nadine, it helps me to think of the creation of Adam. God formed Adam and then breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life making man like Himself and in His Image.
When Adam first saw His Creator he saw and experienced someone like himself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
When Jesus was on this Earth as a human offspring He represented the Godhead in the fullness. He taught us to pray to the Father as He did. He said He did nothing on His own, but the Father taught Him all things. The Holy Spirit was His connection with the Father.
When Philip asked to see the Father Jesus told him that seeing Him was seeing the Father.
With these and other facts it may be that we need to alter our opinion of God to a picture of a more tightly knit unity of a three-in-one God who is able and willing to unite personally with His creation in order to save it and to see His Character revealed in it.
The work of His Spirit is able to unite humanity with His Divinity. To think of sharing the Spirit of God with Him is a high thought. This is how the prayer of Jesus, found in John 17, calling for the oneness of the children of God with Him can and does happen.
As I continue to think about the living Personhood of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Who is truth alive, I can only praise God for His loving way of reaching us.
God reveals Himself so that I have numerous opportunities to get an honest glimpse of Him. He's given just enough information about Himself for me to know that I can trust, believe and place my whole self in His hands.
I don't think Ellen White is saying that the Holy Spirit is actually walking on physical feet and legs. I think that she is saying that He is present and available. He is the presence of God that everyone can experience at any time just as though Jesus and the Father were actually there. The character of God is available through His Spirit to us individually and collectively.
The characteristics of the Holy Spirit that I find particularly comforting are His love for us which is seen in how He intercedes when we are unable to pray or when we are struggling with a particular Scripture, He Himself helps us or sends someone else to do so as He did with Philip and the eunuch. He is humble, not speaking His own words but what He hears and we can trust Him for this very reason. And I like that He brings the Words of Jesus to our minds when we need them. The Holy Spirit is not only the Spirit of truth, He is our Guide, Helper and Comforter. Like the Father and the Son, He is \"not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance\" (2 Peter 3:15).
I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit. He helps me day by day. He helps me to understand what I am reading and He not only convicts me when I need it but He also encourages me. He is not an impersonal force but a Person whom I do not want to grieve. I want to please Him by allowing Him to work in and through me.