Understanding the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit Made Easy

By Lola Stradford Richey

HELP FROM HEAVEN!

Come discover God's presence in the world. Understanding the Holy Spirit helps everyone find God's help from heaven through His Holy Spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Jan 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887383842

Lola Stradford Richey

Lola Richey lives in South Carolina and is a believer of Jesus. She graduated from Winthrop University with a Bachelor of Science. Lola Richey obtained her law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and her Master of Taxation from the University of Florida College of Law. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Master in Practical Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary. Lola Richey also served in the United States Naval Reserve.

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Understanding

the Holy

Spirit

The Holy Spirit Made Easy

Lola Stradford Richey

en-US

Understanding the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit Made Easy

Trilogy Christian Publishers A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2022 by Lola Stradford Richey

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996. Used with permission from the NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from The Holy Bible, New Century Version. Copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible. Copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without written permission from the author. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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Trilogy Christian Publishing/TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Cover design by: Blair Cruz

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN: 979-8-88738-383-5

E-ISBN: 979-8-88738-384-2

Table of Contents

Preface

An Introduction to the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit As Bringer of Mercy

The Holy Spirit Knows All Things

The Holy Spirit Is Our Guide to the End

An Overview of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

The Holy Spirit and a New Covenant

An Overview of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament

The Holy Spirit’s Resources:

The Holy Spirit As the Manifestation of God Today

The Holy Spirit Gives Life

Regeneration Through the Holy Spirit

Jesus Christ: The Source of Living Water

The Holy Spirit As the First Taste of Everlasting Life

Entering the Kingdom of God

Heart Faith And Trust in Jesus Christ

Baptism In the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit Brought Into the Lives of Believers

Baptism by Water: A Condition of Discipleship,a Sign of Faith

The Day of Pentecost

The Holy Spirit Purifies and Sanctifies

The Lifelong Process of Becoming More Like Jesus Christ

Sin And the Holy Spirit

God’s Holy Spirit for All People: The New Testament Age

Bringing Sorrow (Grief) to the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit Is Present Everywhere

The Holy Spirit As an Advocate

The Holy Spirit As Teacher and Revealer

Distinguishing True From False Spirit

Precisely Defining the Holy Spirit

False Prophets

Accepting the Holy Spirit’s Teachings

The Holy Spirit Empowers the Church

Daily Guidance of the Holy Spirit

Remain in Jesus Christ, And He Will Remain in You

The Perseverance of the Works of God And the Second Coming

The Holy Spirit And Evangelism

Overcoming Life’s Struggles

The Holy Spirit And the Power of God

Conclusion

Salvation Call

Note to the Reader

Further Scripture References

Related References

About the Author

Preface

The very mention of the phrase Holy Spirit brings up different thoughts, opinions, and emotions. What and who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is often a neglected or misunderstood topic. Many people think the Holy Spirit is meant for just one denomination of churches. However, the Bible speaks clearly about the Holy Spirit. This short book will help bring a clear understanding of the importance the Holy Spirit holds for our everyday lives.

An Introduction to

the Holy Spirit

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:1–2 (NKJV)

The Holy Spirit is the power of God. He is the active force or the power of God at work in the world and has been active since the dawn of time (Genesis 1:1–3). The Bible establishes that the Holy Spirit is God in the scripture in Acts stating that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God (Acts 5:3–4), and through the linking of the Holy Spirit with God the Father and God the Son in benedictions (2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4–6) and in the formula of baptism (Matthew 28:19).

God eternally exists in three Persons—God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit—yet He is one God (Mark 1:9–13).¹ God the Father is fully God, God the Son (Jesus Christ) is fully God, and the Holy Spirit is fully God. During the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:3–17; Mark 1:9–11; and Luke 3:21–22), all three Persons were visibly present together as one as revelation and witnessed by the people. The fullness of God—the Trinity—was fully expressed in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:9–10).

The Holy Spirit is the only Person of the Trinity currently active on earth. Forty days after Jesus Christ’s resurrection, He returned to God the Father (Acts 1:1–10). Jesus Christ is now seated at God’s right hand in heaven (Mark 16:19; Colossians 3:1). God the Father and Jesus Christ (God the Son) continue their work on earth through the Holy Spirit.

God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit are equally and fully eternal—omnipresent, omnipotent, infinitely wise, infinitely holy, and infinitely loving. Thus, the Holy Spirit is the same in substance, power, and glory to God the Father and God the Son (Jesus Christ). These three Agents continuously work together to create, save, and protect humanity on earth (Romans 8; Ephesians 1:3–14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14; 1 Peter 1:2). This knowledge should cause us to humbly worship, love, honor, adore, and respect equally God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

The only difference between God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the way in which these three Agents act as They relate to each other and to the rest of creation. The work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the active presence of God in the world, especially to the church. He is the member of the Trinity most often present to do God’s work in the world, especially in the new covenant age. The Holy Spirit has the role of bringing regeneration or new spiritual life (John 3:5–8), sanctifying (Romans 8:13; 15:16; 1 Peter 1:2), and empowering people for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:7–11). In general, the work of the Holy Spirit seems to be to bring to completion the work that has been planned by God the Father and begun by God the Son.

The Old Testament did not clarify that the Holy Spirit is a distinct and separate divine person from God the Father. The New Testament resolves this gap. Jesus Christ explained to His disciples that It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper [Counselor, Friend, Comforter] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you (John 16:7). The Helper that Jesus Christ speaks of is the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit As Bringer of Mercy

"…the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to His people" (Hebrews 10:29, TLB).

So, it has been established that the Holy Spirit is the Person of the Trinity through whom God acts, reveals His will, empowers people, and unveils God’s personal presence in the Old and New Testament. The Holy Spirit is holy in His own nature and the source of holiness in all creatures. His central ministry is witnessing and glorifying Jesus Christ by making known to people who Jesus Christ is (John 16:7–15) and who they are in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:15–17; Galatians 4:6).

The Holy Spirit Knows All Things

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

1 Corinthians 2:10–12 (NIV)

The Holy Spirit knows all things, even the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10–11). The Holy Spirit’s knowledge is equal to the knowledge of God. He knows the things of God as the spirit of a man knows the things of a man. The consciousness of God is the consciousness of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Is Our Guide to the End

¹⁴ For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end (Psalms 48:14, NIV).

Moreover, the Holy Spirit guides people in their daily lives and daily decisions as their constant Companion (Psalm 48:14; Acts 10:19–20; Acts 13:2; Acts 16:6). The Holy Spirit is like a roadmap as He leads and directs people to all truth (John 16:13). Those who believe in Jesus Christ submit and allow God’s Holy Spirit to lead their every daily step (Romans 8:14) because He brings wisdom, understanding, and knowledge (Isaiah 11:2).

The Holy Spirit has been called many names since ancient times. Many of these names appear in the Holy Scriptures and serve as diverse ways for believers in Jesus Christ to conceive of the Holy Spirit and to reduce the abstraction in their perceptions of Him.

The Holy Spirit