Just who is the Holy Spirit?

Like God the Father and God the Son, the Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead. The Scriptures commmand us, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). It is clear that the Holy Spirit is in the same position as the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit appears to have the same authority along with the Father and the Son.Some of the Old Testament verses quoted by the Lord are referred to in the New Testament as being written by the Holy Spirit. Take for example, Isaiah 6:9 says, "He (the Lord) said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not." When Paul quoted this verse in the New Testament, he credited it to the Holy Spirit: "Well spake the Holy Spirit by Esais the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive," (Acts 28:25,26).From other Scripture passages such as these I clearly understand that the Holy Spirit is iindeed on of the holy Trinity. The word of the Lord God of the Old Testament is the same as the word of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (see also Jer. 31:33 and Heb. 10:15,16).We can also see that the Holy Spirit is God in that He carries out the work that none but God could do. The Holy Spirit created the Heavens and the Earth by the will of God (see Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13). He raised the dead (Rom.1:4; 6:11); caused the people to be born again (see John 3:5-7); reproved the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment (see John 16:8); and cast out devils (see Matt. 12:28).The Holy Spirit has all the same attributes of God; only God is eternal, omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent!Hebrews 9:14 says that the Holy Spirit is eternal: "How much more shall the blood Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"1 Corinthians 2:10 says: "But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God." He is omniscient, he knows all things even the deep things.Luke 1:35 says: "And the angel answered and said unto her (Mary), The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of teh Highest shall overshadow thee." Clearly the Holy Spirit is the power of the Highest, and nothing is impossible with God. This means that the Holy Spirit is omnipotent.Psalm 139:7,8 express: "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or wihither shall I flee from they presence? If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold you are there." Thus the Holy Spirit is omnipresent.Thus the Scriptures reveal that the Holy Spirit is eternal, omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent having all the attributes of God. They also reveal to us that the Holy Spirit is a person!"Even the Spirit of truth, which proceedth from the Father, he shall testify of me" (John 15:26). "If I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you… And when he has come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:7,8). "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). Obviously he is a person.The Scriptures are filled with acts that can only be accomplished by a person.1. The Holy Spirit speaks: ""He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches" (Rev. 2:7).2. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness: "Likewise the Spirit also helpth our infirmities" (Rom. 8:26).3. The Holy Spirit prays for us: "The Spirit itself makes intercession for us" (Rom. 8:26).4. The Holy Spirit teaches us: John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.5. The Holy Spirit testifies: “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me." (John 15:26).6. The Holy Spirit guides us: "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come" (John 16: 13).7. The Holy Spirit commands people in their service of Jesus Christ: "Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them" (Acts 16:6-7).8. The Holy Spirit calls people to the work of God and appoints them to office: "As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2).9. The Holy Spirit comforts believers: "Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied" (Acts 9:31).Entire chapters of the Bible are written about the activities of the Holy Spirit.As I wrote yesterday we are blessed to be in "communion" with the Holy Spirit. Today I hope I have showed you a little about who the Holy Spirit is and that we are called to relate to Him as God who truly does many things in our lives.