The total sum of attributes of individuals that make them unique constitute their personality. Far from being a thing, The Holy Spirit is a being, He is the third man in the trinity. Jesus promised to send him after his crucifixion. Nevertheless, as He has existed through ages from before creation till much after his promised arrival on Pentecost, His operation has significant effect in the lives and time of man.
It is very wrong for believers to refer to their inner witness as ‘something told me to move’ it is insulting to reduce the Spirit of God to a “thing”. His gentle nature has been the saving grace. Being God in nature and character confers on Him the ability to speak, feel, move, inhabit, judge, exist and give. The Holy Spirit is endowed with every characteristics of God and human-combined such that He can serve as an intermediary effectively. He is able to act as eternal God and also inhabit mortal man simultaneously- without a flaw. Man is privileged to be permitted to have this part of God that is able to cohabit with his imperfections and still live.
As much as the Holy Spirit intends to make man become more like God, He is not a forceful force. He is such a very powerful, irresistible, prevalent but gentle force. Interesting indeed! His self-controlling nature makes Him different from any evil spirit. He has good motive and desires for man but wouldn’t coerce him to follow, obey or carry out His biddings- often communicated in still small voices and non-intimidating inner witnessing. All through recorded history of this personality, He is not limited in representation. He is diverse in appearance, yet distinct in nature. Many have encountered Him as a dove, tongues of fire, rushing winds, small still voice, rays of light, an angel, a ghost, anointing oil or even as a man. The Holy Spirit chooses how he wants to appear to individuals according to how they can understand His presence- without contradicting the word of God. It is absurd to interpret the vision of a beast, masquerade, and skeleton, berserk falling of men, an uncontrollable inner force or threatening voice as the presence of the Holy Ghost.
Culled from Manna magazine. …..to be continued.
