In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit: A Closer Look

Who is He?

A central foundation of the Christian faith is the belief in one God who exists as three distinct persons (the Holy Trinity): the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. While the Father is the Creator and the Son is the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit holds a unique and essential role as the third person of the Holy Trinity. He is fully God, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and Son of God.

The Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of God, is God's active presence in the world today. Even from the beginning, we see the Holy Spirit's involvement in creation as described in the Book of Genesis. It was by the breath or Spirit of God that the world came into being, and life was imparted to all living beings. The Holy Spirit's vital role is to continuously sustain and uphold creation.

  • 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

  • 6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

  • 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

  • 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.

  • 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

Jesus Ascends
Jesus baptized

The Promise

In exploring the miracles performed by Jesus, it is commonly believed that He accomplished them solely because He was the Son of God. However, a closer look reveals a profound connection between Jesus' ministry and the baptism by the Holy Spirit. Through His baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, Jesus identified with humanity and fulfilled righteousness. In fact, He lived within the limitations of His mortal body until this defining moment when the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove, empowering Him to start His ministry (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11).

During His ministry, Jesus frequently alluded to the Holy Spirit's role in the lives of His followers. He promised to send the Holy Spirit to His disciples upon His departure from this world (John 14:15-18, John 14:25-26). This promise offered assurance that they would not be abandoned or left powerless but rather be equipped to continue the work He had begun. Before leaving His disciples and ascending, the resurrected Jesus repeated His promise to send the Holy Spirit to them and commanded them to wait until they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit before beginning their ministry to the world. This instruction highlights the essential nature of the Holy Spirit's presence in the disciples' lives for continued spiritual growth, guidance, and unshakeable power.

  • 28 “Then, after doing all those things,

    I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

    Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

    Your old men will dream dreams,

    and your young men will see visions.

    29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit

    even on servants—men and women alike.

  • 13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

    15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.

    16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”Description text goes here

  • 9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

  • 15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.

    25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

  • 49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

  • 4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Baptism of the Holy Spirit: A Timeless Gift

On that fateful day, when the Day of Pentecost arrived, a room in Jerusalem was filled with anticipation. Gathered in unity were 120 individuals, men and women alike, including Jesus' twelve apostles and His mother Mary. As they engaged in worship, seeking the Father's heart, a divine encounter unfolded. The Holy Spirit descended upon them, immersing them in His limitless power. Suddenly, a transcendent transformation took place. The once uncertain and timid disciples were ignited with a newfound boldness and clarity of purpose.

Overwhelmed by this supernatural empowerment, the disciples began to speak in languages they had never learned or spoken before. This miracle, accompanied by prophetic utterances, astonished both the recipients and those who witnessed this extraordinary event. The very same Holy Spirit who had walked side by side with Jesus during His earthly ministry was now displaying His abiding presence and power within those gathered in that upper room.

Amidst this spiritual awakening, Peter emerged as a powerful voice, emboldened by the Holy Spirit's anointing. His words resonated with authority and conviction as he boldly proclaimed the transformative message of Jesus Christ. The impact of his sermon was explosive, touching the hearts of those present, compelling them to turn towards the truth. That day at least 3,000 souls were added to the Kingdom of God because Peter became an empowered vessel of the Holy Spirit.

  • 1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

  • 14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

  • 37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

    38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

    41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

The Guiding Fire

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a powerful experience that believers can and should have, which involves being filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This baptism was not only experienced by the early believers in the first century Church but is also available to believers today.
In the early days of the Church, the baptism of the Holy Spirit ignited a flame of passion and devotion among the believers. It empowered them to boldly proclaim the message of Jesus Christ and perform miraculous signs and wonders. This transformative power of the Holy Spirit was evident in the growth and spread of Christianity during that time.
However, as time went on, ignorance and false doctrine started to infiltrate the Church, and the enemy used these tactics to quench the Holy Spirit's power. This led to a period known as the dark ages, where the Church lost its fervor and the transformative influence of the Holy Spirit was dampened.
But in these last days, there is a resurgence of the Holy Spirit's power. He is breaking through the darkness and breathing life into the cooling embers of the Church. This revival is happening as believers seek and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Himself commanded His followers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:4-5, before ascending to heaven, Jesus instructed His disciples not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father, which was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He assured them that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.
This command is not limited to the early believers but applies to all who follow Jesus. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift that enables believers to live a life of power and effectiveness in serving God. It is an experience that empowers believers to walk in spiritual gifts, boldness, and a deeper intimacy with God.
To receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, believers need to seek Him earnestly through prayer and surrender. It is important to have a hunger and desire for the fullness of the Holy Spirit's presence and power in our lives. As believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, they become catalysts for revival, transforming their communities and impacting the world with the love and power of Jesus Christ.

  • 4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

  • 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

    31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

  • 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

    18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19 “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”

    20 But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! 21 You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22 Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, 23 for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”

  • 26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

    29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”

    36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

    39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.

  • 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

  • 44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.

    Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

  • 11 “Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying. 12 The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon entered the home of the man who had sent for us. 13 He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, ‘Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. 14 He will tell you how you and everyone in your household can be saved!’

    15 “As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning. 16 Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”

  • 9 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. 10 Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? 11 Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.

    12 When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

  • 6 So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. 7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.

  • 6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.

  • 24 Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. 25 He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. 26 When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.

    27 Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed. 28 He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah.

  • 1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.

    “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

    3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked.

    And they replied, “The baptism of John.”

    4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

    5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.