Do You Know Him? Part 1

Before Jesus went to the cross to make man's redemption eternal, He gave some instructions concerning the coming Holy Spirit...
"Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49)
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever." (John 14:16)
"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." (John 14:26)
"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. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:13-15)  
What incredible promises we have been given. However, do you really know the Holy Spirit? The believer should see the Holy Spirit more than a mere influence or impersonal force. Although the Holy Spirit does influence, He is not merely an influence. He is a person and influences the believer is a personal way. Looking back to the scriptures above we can see that the Holy Spirit is revealed as a person,with the personal pronoun, “He” and He has a personal title, Helper (Comforter) He is also referred to in the masculine gender.

Next, we find that the Holy Spirit is spoken of as having personal qualities…
Acts 5:3 "...why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit..."
Romans 8:27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is..."
1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Ephesians 4:30 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God..."
Hebrews 10:29 "...and insulted the Spirit of grace..."
Although not all inclusive, we can see, the Holy Spirit can be lied to, grieved and insulted. He also has a mind and will which are certainly personal qualities. 

Now we will look at some of the personal acts that the Holy Spirit performs…
Nehemiah 9:20 "You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them..."
Isaiah 48:16 "...And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit Have sent Me."
Matthew 4:1 "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit..."
John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things..."
John 15:26 "...the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me."
John 16:8 "And when He has come, He will convict..."
John 16:13 "...when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth..."
Acts 13:2 "...the Holy Spirit said,"Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Romans 8:26 "...but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us..."
1 Corinthians 2:10 "...For the Spirit searches all things..."
1 Corinthians 12:11 "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."
1 John 5:6 "...And it is the Spirit who bears witness..."    

Again, although not all inclusive we see some of the personal acts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit instructs, sends, leads, brings about regeneration,  teaches, testifies, convicts, guides,  speaks and calls men into ministry, prays and makes intercession,  searches, distributes spiritual gifts to believers, and bears witness. From Genesis to Revelation, relative to both creation and redemption, the Holy Spirit is seen in operation. Getting personal with the Holy Spirit is very important for every believer. We should have a desire to know, understand, appreciate and experience the person, work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. 

In part two we will look deeper into the workings of the Holy Spirit to get to know Him in a greater way. After all Jesus tells us, "...for He dwells with you and will be in you." (John 4:17)