- John 14:16

 

      What is fundamental to someone having personality is that they have a mind, a will, and emotions.  We often refer to that as being the makeup of our soul.  It is very difficult to separate our inner self, that part of us which we call spirit from our soul, because they are so intricately intertwined together. But there is difference, a very distinguishing difference.  Who we are and what we possess are two entirely different things.  We are spirit, but we have a soul.  And it is according to this kind of makeup that we are able to recognize the person of God.

      The Bible tells us that God is a spirit, and yet, we have no difficulty approaching him as a person.   We understand his personage because we recognize him by many of the characteristics expressed in the Word of God that describe him as having personality. The very fact that we know that he can laugh (Psa. 2:4), that he can sing and rejoice (Zeph. 3:17); these are personality traits that we relate to.  We also know God is full of compassion (Psa. 145:8; Lam.3:22).  In other words, he can love just as we can love.

      That same thought may be a bit more difficult to understand when it comes to the Holy Spirit, especially, if we don't understand him as a person. But nevertheless, the Holy Spirit does have the same capabilities.  The Bible tells us he can be grieved (Eph. 4:30).  It also tells us that our joy is found in him, which obviously means he can express himself in us and through us where we can enjoy his presence (Rom. 14:17).  We know something else that makes it clear to us that he is a person by the fact that he has a will (1 Cor. 12:11), that he has a mind (Rom. 8:27) and that he can communicate to us (Acts 13:2; 16:7).  The fact that he guides us, warns us, and teaches us the truth of God's word is evidence enough that he clearly has personality.

      I want to bring all of this to mind because in our knowing that the Holy Spirit is God, the Spirit of God, and that he is a person, means that we can relate to him on a very personal level.  In fact, I have come to realize that he is just as deserving of our worship and our communion as we have accepted doing such toward both Jesus and our heavenly Father.  Paul makes this very clear in writing to the church of Corinth when he said: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen" (2 Cor. 13:14).

      One of the great privileges that we have in communing with the Holy Spirit is that we have a person whom we can get to know living in us.  While the Father sits in heaven upon his throne, and Jesus at his right hand, the precious Holy Spirit has come to dwell in our hearts.  That is an amazing thought when you consider that there was a day when Jesus manifested himself on this earth as God in the flesh and men came in contact with a sovereign being. But all that ended when he returned again to heaven.  However, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in us and he has always been here committed to helping us fulfill our divine purpose. So, while there are two sovereign aspects of the Godhead dwelling in heaven, there is one who is here with us and in us, the Holy Spirit.

      This is why it is so important that we get to know him.  Our purpose now in having the Holy Spirit living in us is that we are to become clothed with his person, empowered by his abilities, and intricately connected to him through a divine relationship just as the disciples were able to have Jesus with them to walk and to talk to on a daily basis.  That is what is available to us and it is what will make all the difference in our spiritual walk and in our being able to live a spiritual life.  So, I want to encourage you today, build a personal relationship with him. Get to know him as a person and see what a difference it will make in your life!