By Pastor Doug Batchelor
An Amazing Fact: Every minute of every day, the earth is struck by approximately 6,000 lightning strikes. The average lightning bolt travels about 30,000 times faster than a bullet and can reach 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit—hotter than the surface of the sun! However, it is a myth that lightning never strikes twice in the same place. For instance, the top of the Empire State Building averages over 20 hits per year. In like manner, the Bible predicts the Holy Spirit will come upon the church again in the last days with the same light and power as in the days of Pentecost.
Whenever I teach on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, I can get a little overwhelmed because the topic is so big. It’s infinite in scope! At the same time, I’m saddened and even burdened by the fact that so many churchgoing Christians are confused about the nature and role of this absolutely real—but admittedly mysterious—person of the eternal Godhead.
To put it mildly, the Holy Spirit is under attack by self-identifying Christians like never before, and I don’t think this phenomenon is a mere coincidence considering our place in end-time events. In these last days, we’re going to need God’s Spirit to energize us like a lightning bolt from heaven, so it’s not surprising that the devil has chosen to sow confusion among the church about this subject. It’s important for us to take the time to dive into the Word of God and get to know the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit: A Who or a What?
Some teach that the Holy Spirit is a mere influence or force that comes from God, but Scripture portrays Him as having a distinct personality within the Godhead. I admit, sometimes in a sermon, you might even catch me sounding as though I’m speaking of the Holy Spirit like He’s some mystical energy floating in the air. But the Bible is clear that the Holy Spirit is a real being—a vital one, too, because He’s found throughout the entire book.
In fact, you’ll find Him more than 500 times in Scripture. He’s mentioned in just the second verse of the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. … And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:1, 2). You also find Him in the last chapter of the Bible: “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’” (Revelation 22:17).
The Spirit is also not, as one might say, an “it” or a “thing”—He is a “He,” a being with His own identity, personality, and purpose. The Bible provides many clues to this unique personhood:
Ephesians 4:30: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” The Holy Spirit feels sorrow when believers act in ways contrary to God’s will. Can an unthinking force feel anything?
Romans 15:30: “I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me.” The apostle Paul indicates here that the Holy Spirit possesses and expresses love—something an unthinking force cannot do.
1 Corinthians 12:11: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” The Holy Spirit has a unique will and makes decisions, revealing to us that He possesses His own agency. Of course, His agency aligns with the Father and Son!
Furthermore, in John 14:16, 17, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit “another Helper.” The word for “Helper” in the original Greek is parakletos, which means “one called alongside to help.” Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would “teach you all things” and “bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26). Teaching and reminding imply an active intelligence.
The Holy Spirit and the Godhead
In Acts 5, Peter confronts Ananias for lying about the earnings received for selling property:
Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? … Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God (vv. 3, 4, my emphasis).
Do you see that Peter initially accuses Ananias of lying to the Holy Spirit? But then, in verse 4, Peter clarifies that by lying to the Holy Spirit, Ananias has lied to God. This shows that the early church considered lying to the Holy Spirit equivalent to lying to God the Father.
Does this mean there is more than one God? After all, Scripture says, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:4, 5).
Yes, Christians worship one God! Yet, before Deuteronomy, Genesis 1:26 says, “God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image’” (my emphasis). But how can you have one God in plural form?
Well, in Genesis 2:24, a man and a woman are said to cleave to one another in marriage and become one. Why one? It doesn’t mean they are sharing DNA; it means they are united in their purpose for life.
Interestingly, Jesus once prayed that the 12 apostles be “one” in the same way the three persons of the Godhead are one: “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21).
So when the Bible says there is one God, it’s not speaking of numerical quantity. Rather, it speaks to God’s unity. Many pagan religions have different gods, but for Christians, there is just one God, with three perfect personalities and unique roles, perfectly united in one—and all three are cooperating for our salvation. Consider further these telling passages:
1 John 5:7: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word [Jesus], and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”
When Jesus said, “I and My Father are one,” religious leaders took up stones to kill Him for blasphemy, “Because You [Jesus], being a Man, make Yourself God” (John 10:30, 33). Here, John calls the Holy Spirit one with God and Christ, meaning the apostle believed that the Holy Spirit is God.
Matthew 3:16, 17: “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ’This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
Notice here that just after Christ was baptized, the Spirit of God descended and a voice from heaven sounded. That’s the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit acting independently of one another in one place and time but for the same purpose!
Jesus also believed the Holy Spirit was God because He lumps in the Holy Spirit with Himself and with God the Father: “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” (Matthew 28:19).
What Does the Holy Spirit Do?
When Jesus walked the earth, He left footprints. The Holy Spirit doesn’t leave footprints.
That’s why when Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit, He compared Him to the wind: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).
Do you believe there is wind? Even though you can’t see it, you can see its effect in the trees and feel it on your being. Can we see the Holy Spirit? No. Sometimes God does allow the Holy Spirit to appear in different forms to help us to understand Him better. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit took on the form of a dove. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire. Is the Holy Spirit a tongue of fire or a wind? No. In these cases, the form the Holy Spirit took was a metaphor for His work in our lives.
Whereas God the Son took on the form of a human and was restricted geographically to one place at a time, the amazing thing about the Holy Spirit is that He can be everywhere at one time. This is one reason why Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper [Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7).
But you might now be wondering, what exactly does the Holy Spirit do?
1. He Helps Us Understand God’s Word. One of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit is to open our minds to understanding the Scripture—the most vital work in these last days. In fact, you cannot understand anything spiritual without the Holy Spirit! He is the One who takes the words of God and makes them spring up in our hearts.
John 6:63: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
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.”
In 1 Corinthians 2:10, Paul further explains, “God has revealed [truths] to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” Without the Holy Spirit, spiritual truths remain hidden. But with Him, the Bible becomes a living guide, providing direction, wisdom, and encouragement.
2. He Helps Us Pray. Many times, we may struggle with what to pray or even how to express our deepest concerns to God. Romans 8:26 says, “The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Do you see that? The Holy Spirit translates our emotions into prayers that align with God’s will, interceding on our behalf! Even when we can’t find the words, the Spirit is there praying through us and presenting our needs to the Father.
3. He Helps Us Obey. Obedience to God’s commands is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper” (John 14:15, 16). This Helper is the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to follow God’s laws, including honoring His true Sabbath day when doing so isn’t popular, and live according to His will.
The apostle Paul also emphasizes in Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” The Spirit enables us to overcome our sinful tendencies and to walk in the newness of His life. Without Him, we would be unable to resist temptation or make lasting changes. With Him, we find the strength to live in a way that genuinely honors God.
4. He Provides Comfort and Peace. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter, a title Jesus ascribed to Him in John 14:16–18 when He promised His disciples that they would not be left “orphans” (KJV). This role is crucial, as the Holy Spirit brings peace that transcends circumstances. When we face trials, we can rely on Him to provide inner calm and assurance. As Paul writes in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
The Spirit’s comfort goes beyond simple reassurance; it anchors us in God’s love and gives us confidence that we are not alone. His presence reassures us, reminding us that God’s promises are sure and that we have access to a supernatural peace that “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).
“How Can I Have the Holy Spirit?”
So, we’ve established that the Holy Spirit is God, that He is a person, and that He has a vital work in these last days. As we close out, you might be wondering how you can invite this amazing Spirit into your life.
1. Ask and Seek Earnestly. Jesus encourages us to ask for the Holy Spirit: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13). God is willing to fill us with His Spirit, but He waits for us to actively seek Him. This is more than a one-time request; it’s a continual pursuit of God’s presence in our lives.
2. Be Born of the Spirit. Jesus made it clear in John 3:5 that “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” This rebirth signifies a transformation that only the Holy Spirit can bring, turning us from old ways and setting us on a new path. Baptism represents the cleansing of our sins, but the filling of the Spirit signifies empowerment for a life of holiness.
3. Yield to God’s Will. The Holy Spirit fills those who are willing to surrender their own desires for God’s purposes. Romans 12:1 encourages believers to “present your bodies a living sacrifice” to God, allowing the Holy Spirit to take control. A life filled with the Spirit is marked by humility, obedience, and a readiness to follow wherever God leads.
4. Abide in Jesus Daily. To be filled with the Spirit, we must remain connected to Jesus. In John 15:5, Jesus teaches, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” This daily abiding involves spending time in prayer, meditating on Scripture, and seeking God’s guidance. The Holy Spirit flows in the lives of those who stay close to Christ.
The Holy Spirit is essential for every believer. He opens our understanding of God’s Word, intercedes in our prayers, empowers us for obedience, and brings peace and comfort in every circumstance. Perhaps members of your church are trying to convince you otherwise, but the Bible makes it clear that Jesus left us with a Helper, the Spirit of truth, to guide us through life and to prepare us for His return. Don’t let anyone take that promise from you!
And if you haven’t experienced the fullness of the Holy Spirit in your life, Jesus invites you to ask. In John 7:37, 38, He said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink ... out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
Would you like to receive the Holy Spirit today? As we open our hearts to His presence in these final days, He fills us with the strength, wisdom, and peace needed to walk faithfully with God, come what may. I encourage you to invite the Spirit into your life daily, allowing His power to transform you and to shine as a light in a world that desperately needs His truth.