Who is the Holy Spirit, and exactly what does he do?

Jesus said to his disciples, I have  food to eat you know nothing about John 4:32.
The Plumbline is a blog to encourage the Body of Christ.

Who is the Holy Spirit, and exactly what does he do?

J. C. Sheridan, II

A divine act, promised by John the Baptist and by Jesus Christ. Many people find the Holy Spirit mysterious, confounding - even controversial. Why is the third person in the Godhead - the one Jesus said would be the believer's ultimate source of truth and comfort - the source of such confusion?

In his book, The God I Never Knew, Robert Morris clearly explains that the Holy Spirit's chief desire is for relationship - to offer us the encouragement and guidance of a trusted friend.

Our study hopefully will be insightful and Biblically based that moves beyond theological jargon, religious tradition, and cultural misconceptions to clarify what the Holy Spirit promises to do in your life.

Jesus Christ promises baptism with the Spirit  in Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV) 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."  Luke 24:49 (NKJV) 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Acts 1:8 (NKJV) 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."  Jesus is our friend, why are so many believers fearful of  His promised gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not given to the Church to created controversy, but to give comfort and encouragement.

Whenever the Holy Spirit was poured out in the early church there was one commonality at each Instances where believers were filled. On the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2:2-4 (NKJV) 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

On each subsequent occasions we note that the recipients spoke in other tongues. Acts 10:44-47 (NKJV) 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" Acts 19:6 (NKJV) 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. The word of God declares that all truth must be established in the mouths of two or three witnesses. Deuteronomy 17:6 (TLB) 6 However, never put a man to death on the testimony of only one witness; there must be at least two or three.  Deuteronomy 19:15 (MSG) 15 ...You need two or three witnesses to make a case. Deuteronomy 19:15 (TLB) 15 "Never convict anyone on the testimony of one witness. There must be at least two, and three is even better. The three passages in Acts all declare that when believers were baptized in the Holy Ghost the recipients spoke in tongues. When Peter went to Antioch and laid hands on believers they were baptized in the Spirit. Simon saw and heard something he was willing to pay for so he might duplicate what Peter and John had done. He was a sharp  businessman and wanted the power that Peter and John possessed. What did he see and hear - believers “speaking in tongues”. Acts 8:15-19 (NKJV) 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit has been provided by God to dwell within you, to guide you into all truth, to pray for you, never leave you, be your helper, comfort you and to show you things to come. It's time to experience the Holy Spirit in a fresh, new way.