The holy spirit is the third person of the triune God who shares all the attributes of God-His intellect, emotion and will. He is the eternal spirit (Heb. 9:14), the spirit who gives life (2 Cor 3:6), the spirit of truth (John 14:17), the spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4), the all present spirit.
When a person accepts Christ as saviour, the Holy spirit comes into his/her life to permanently take residence, and this automatically occurs at the time of being born again. He plays a role that is unique with the ultimate goal to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person of the triune, who is now at the right hand side of the father. In the life of the believer, the holy spirit is a counsellor, helper, intercessor, advocate and one who resides, strengthens and empowers him/her.
The holy spirit is a divine personality; the third personality of the God head, having divine attributes of supernatural proportion knowledge, intelligence, power, feelings and affection. He speaks, knows all things, and can be grieved. He is God's gift to all who believe in Christ and indwells such ones. Christ promised him as the one to be given by the father after his departure from the earth, to be their counsellor and comforter or one called along side believers for their help, counsel and support (John 14:16-18, 26).
It is significant to know the circumstances in which Christ spoke these words to his disciples.
No believer can live the life of Christ without reliance and dependence on the holy spirit. Whereas the mission of the holy spirit to believers is to comfort, encourage, help, direct into all truth, strengthen and protect them, his mission to the world of sin, righteousness and judgment because of rejecting the gift of God's son for their redemption.
THE ROLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER.
At the new birth, the glorious work of redemption for an individual brings about change of masters from the devil to the Lord, and adoption into the family of God. The Lord then resides in the believer, whose body is now the temple of the holy spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20 ).
In fact, no believer can live out this newness of the life in christ without the holy spirit.
- Power as a witness.
It is by the enabling power of the holy spirit that a believer is bold to testify to the saving grace in Christ Jesus and to be an effective witness to the transformation from the power of sin and the devil to the glorious kingdom of Christ (Acts 1:8; 4:8-14).
Assurance of sonship (Rom. 8:16,17; Gal. 4:5-6).
The holy spirit "bears witness with our spirit" or assures us from within that, after turning from ungodly living and submitting our hearts to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we are "sons of God"
This takes away every element of uncertainty about the relationship that exist between the believers and God.Mark of ownership (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13,14;4:30).
Our father in heaven has put the holy spirit in the hearts of the believers to serve not only as a mark of ownership but also as a guarantee of the eternal inheritance that is still to come.Sanctifier (2Thess. 2:13; 1Pet. 1:2).
The holy spirit indwells the believer to bring about the divine work of sanctification so that he/she might reflect his holiness.
WHAT ARE SOME DANGERS OF NOT LISTENING AND HEEDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
There are many consequences in not heeding to the promptings of the holy spirit. Repeated disobedience might cause one to fall from grace, causing the spirit to leave one of his/her devices and buffetings of the devil. There are enough provisions that are available to the believers to avoid getting to this state. It does not come overnight or suddenly. It can be avoided by genuine repentance that will usher in a refreshing from the presence of the Lord.
We are commanded in Eph.4:30, "do not grieve the holy spirit, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Doing the Lord's work by human strength and wisdom readily puts the holy spirit to the backseat in our lives and ministry.
It is regrettable that this is the case of some church congregations today where fighting, rivalry, jealousy, court cases and battles are common place.
WHAT ARE THE BLESSINGS OF YIELDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The will of the holy spirit always prevails over ours (Matt. 26:36-39).
The holy spirit takes us along the path divinely ordained by the lord of our lives. Nothing occurs in our lives by chance but as purposed by the lord.
Our service for the lord will be effective and a blessing to the people of God and humanity.
There is eternal assurance in our hearts that a warm welcome awaits us in eternity.
It is quite exciting to personally experience the miraculous power and service of the holy spirit.
It is very important that we crave and hunger for the holy spirit.