All Thailand Experiences, The Holy Spirit in You.

The Holy Spirit lives in you.

Hello again, I’m Randy Gaudet, founder and director of All Thailand Experiences. Those who have read my profile know how I first came to Thailand and my association with missions and churches since 1989.

We use funds from our tours to help the needy, change lives and spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We teach about the Holy Trinity, Love and Grace because of Jesus Christ and to tell Christians they are free from the Law, sin and death.

At most churches in Thailand the old covenant law is being taught and that Grace is not available to you if you break the law. We are training pastors about the New Repentance as written in the Bible with help from Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei at Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai.

On all our All Thailand Experiences Christian teaching blogs I will point to scriptures and explain the meaning on the topic. As our mission is to reach Thai people we will then watch or listen to Pastors Nathan and Solila give a sermon on the topic in English and Thai Languages.

Today we’re going to talk about The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, in a sense, does from the inside what Christ would do from the outside: teach, convict, remind, and guide. In John 14:17, Jesus will clarify that this Helper is the Holy Spirit, who is available only to those who believe .

Many people misunderstand who the Holy Spirit is. Using Biblical scripture we will show you that the Holy Spirit is a person and will be with you for eternity if you have excepted Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13, NLT: “And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.”\

Notice how the sealing, occurring at only one time, is linked to one’s belief in Christ. Just as our saving belief happens only once, so the sealing, the guarantee of our faith, only happens once and remains with us for eternity

Paul describes three things that took place in the lives of the Ephesian believers. First, they heard the gospel, known as the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18).

Second, rather than rejecting the message as many Jews had done, these Gentile believers both heard and believed the gospel and were saved as a result (Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8–9).

Third, Paul noted that when they became believers they “were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” This specific description of the Holy Spirit is only used in the book of Ephesians here, and in Ephesians 4:30, among a dozen total references to the Spirit in the letter. A “seal” was a mark indicating a letter or scroll was closed or completed. When a king or dignitary wanted to show an identifying mark with a letter, he would seal it with a resin imprint of his ring. The Holy Spirit likewise shows that believers belong to the Lord.

John 14:16, NLT: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.”

Jesus commanded the disciples to love each other (John 13:34–35) and to obey His commands (John 14:15). He has also reassured them that knowledge of Him is their means of salvation (John 14:6). In that context—acting in His name—Jesus also promised to provide whatever is asked of Him (John 14:14).

English translations of this verse are relatively consistent, but translating from Greek blurs a subtle difference in this statement. When Jesus refers to the disciples “asking” for something in prayer, He uses the root word ait󠅍eō (John 14:13–14; 15:7; 16:23). Here, however, Jesus uses the term erōtaō. This also means “to ask,” but carries a more personal and mutual sense. Jesus uses both words—with the same distinction between their requests and His—in John 16:26. This, once again, implies that Jesus shares a relationship with God which transcends mere humanity. It also reinforces the idea that prayer is not intended to blindly grant us our wishes.

“Helper,” here, is translated from the root term paraklētos. This can also be translated as a “comforter,” or “advocate.” This is the same term John will use later to describe Jesus in 1 John 2:1. That connection has meaning—Jesus will later point out that He is leaving behind His earthly ministry specifically, so the Holy Spirit can act (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit, in a sense, does from the inside what Christ would do from the outside: teach, convict, remind, and guide. In the following verse, Jesus will clarify that this Helper is the Holy Spirit, who is available only to those who believe (John 14:17).

This Spirit is guaranteed to be with the believer “forever.” This contrasts with the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, which came and went from God’s servants at various times (1 Samuel 19:23; 2 Chronicles 15:1; Judges 14:6).

The beautiful role of this “Helper” is also demonstrated by understanding its translation. In legal terms, the “defense attorney” is the paraklētos. The opposing side is the “accuser,” from the Greek katēgōr, a term John uses in Revelation 12:10. The concept of an “accuser” features heavily in the Old Testament, through the phrase ha sā’tān. The One who stands by us and guides us is God, the Holy Spirit—our accuser and enemy is Satan.

John 14:17, NIV: “the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.”

IS THE HOLY SPIRIT A PERSON?

The Identity of the Holy Spirit 

To many people, the Holy Spirit is an enigma. Some see Him as an impersonal force or influence, some deny His very existence, and others are not certain who or what the Holy Spirit is. However, the Bible is very clear on this matter; the Holy Spirit is a person, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.

The Definition of Person

By “person,” we mean one who has their own identity or individuality as a rational being. They are conscious of their own existence.

When we say that the Holy Spirit is a person some assume that He has eyes, feet, and hands. But these are not the marks of a person. The marks of a genuine person are knowledge, feeling, and will.

The fact that the Holy Spirit is a person can be observed in six ways.

1. He acts like a person.

2. He is treated as a person.

3. He has the ministry of a person.

4. He is mentioned in connection with other persons.

5. He is the Third Person of the Trinity, and therefore, is personal.

6. The Holy Spirit Has the Characteristics of a Person

We will now consider the personality of the Holy Spirit.

The Scriptures attribute to the Holy Spirit characteristics that only a person can truly possess. He is portrayed as a thinking being, a being who has a mind, an emotional being, and a volitional (or choosing) being.

The Holy Spirit Is a Thinking Being

The Bible says that the Holy Spirit has the intellectual capacity to think and know. These are the marks of personhood.

As we search the Scripture, the Holy Spirit is ascribed personality in the fullest sense. Indeed, through a study of Scripture a number of things become clear. The Holy Spirit has the attributes of a person. He has characteristics that only a genuine person can have.

The Spirit also performs the acts of a person. In other words, He does things that only a person can do. The Holy Spirit is treated as a person. In historical situations the Spirit of God is treated as other persons are treated. The Holy Spirit has the ministry of a person.

He does things that in the Christian ministry that only persons can do. The Holy Spirit is mentioned in connection with other persons. This is further indication that the Spirit of God is indeed a person.

The Holy Spirit is God, and therefore, by nature is personal. Each of these truths makes it clear that Spirit of God is indeed a person.

Galatians 5:25, KJV: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Paul has been describing what it looks like to live as one who is free in Christ. He has been clear that this is not a freedom to do whatever feels good. It is not a freedom to simply indulge in trying to satisfy all our sinful desires. On the contrary, true salvation—and freedom from the Old Testament’s ritual law—is freedom from being controlled by our sinful desires. How? Just as we needed an external source, Jesus, to pay for our sin, we also need an external source of power, the Holy Spirit, to overcome our sinful desires and lead us in the right direction.

This happens, Paul has written, when we “walk by” (Galatians 5:16) and are “led by” (Galatians 5:18) the Spirit. The picture he paints is not one of possession in the sense that the Spirit takes us over and does whatever He wants. We are not spiritual robots, or puppets who suddenly lack free will. Instead the picture is one of Christians using our will to allow God’s Spirit to set the direction we will go.

It’s a mysterious idea than none of us fully understand, but the way Paul describes it in this verse is helpful. He says living by the Spirit involves keeping in step with the Spirit. It involves adjusting our pace to match the pace and direction the Spirit is leading. Sometimes, Bible teachers describe it as allowing one’s partner to lead in a dance. In other words, it involves submitting to God’s way, but we are still the one taking each next step.

This will not happen automatically. It is something we must choose from day to day. In fact, we must often choose to give the lead to the Spirit moment by moment .

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei explain Biblically who the Holy Spirit is and how to walk with the Holy Spirit in the video below in English and Thai languages.