Joel 2:28-29 – “It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. 29 “Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” NASB

Genesis 1:2 – “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”  NKJV

Many Christians view the Person of the Holy Spirit as an “it” rather than a “person”, a member of the Godhead a part of and God Himself.  I don’t relate to an it very well, but I do relate to people.  An “it” is an inanimate object without feelings, mental capacity, emotional capacity, it just is; but the Holy Spirit exhibits characteristics of “mind”, “will”, and “emotions”.  He is a “teacher”, a “guide”, a “comforter”, an “attorney”, an “equipper”, and “one who empowers” in our Christian walk.  He brings conviction, correction, comfort, confirmation, inspiration, and inspires.  He is a very active member of the God-head and should be active in our lives.  He teaches us to pray when we do not know how to pray. 

On the Day of Pentecost, referring to Joel’s prophecy, Peter identified that what they were seeing, and hearing was, in fact, the Holy Spirit.  In Romans 8 we are told that He searches our hearts and knows the mind of God and intercedes for us. In 1 Corinthians 12, we find that He gives gifts for the purpose of furthering God’s Kingdom purposes and does so severally as He chooses. 

The Holy Spirit can be grieved, thus demonstrating emotion as we see in Ephesians 4.  He can be rebelled against as is evidenced in Isaiah 63.  He brings joy as is seen in Luke 10 and 1 Thessalonians 1.  He teaches and is a counselor as seen in John 14.  He testifies of Christ as revealed in John 15.  He brings conviction as described in John 16 and leads as is revealed in Romans 8.  He reveals truth as seen in John 16, strengthens and encourages as reflected in Acts 9, and He comforts as described in John 14:16.  He helps in our weaknesses according to Romans 8, searches the deep things of God as revealed in 1 Corinthians 2, sanctifies as Romans 15 details, and bears witness according to Romans 8.  He can be resisted according to Acts 7, blasphemed as we read in Matthew 12, Quenched as we are informed in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  All those indicate Personality and being a Person.

Therefore, if He is a Person, persons are relational beings and we can develop a personal relationship with Him.  That means we can hear His voice, sense His checks, pricks, prods, nudges, urging, and recognize His warning signs.  He brings the anointing or the power of God into our lives.  He enables us to utilize the weapons of warfare.  Therefore, we should seek to understand Him.  In our relationship with the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to understand the Father and in understanding the Father we learn to understand the Son. 

As our relationship with Jesus grows into the oneness of being, our relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit grows on a parallel plane.  We learn to hear that still small voice and sense the warning signs before others around us see what is happening.  We are guarded, guided, girded, and gifted to fulfill the purposes of God in our lives. 

I caution you that this is not a relationship that just happens; it is one that is developed. We enter the gates of God through thanksgiving and His courts with praise.  We become what we focus on and as we focus on “the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” we will find ourselves becoming more and more attuned to the ministry of the Spirit of God and walk in greater peace, power, and purpose. 

Blessings as you continue your week!