I have to cringe every time I hear someone refer to the Holy Spirit as
it. As Christians, we have been taught to "Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" as we speak, pray and sing. Even in our rituals we acknowledge Him, such as baptizing in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Since relationship with each other is within the human realm of understanding and experience, it is easy for us to think in terms of personhood when it comes to
Father and
Son, but when we encounter the word
Spirit, many picture Him as merely a power or force alone. Yet the Bible reveals that the Holy Spirit is a divine personality, just as the Father and Son. We can have a personal relationship with Him, because He is God with us and God in us. "If the Holy Spirit is regarded as an impersonal force, we rob Him of the worship due to Him as God" (Daniel L. Black, "Life in the Holy Spirit,"
Discipleship: How to Live the Christlife, Cleveland: Pathway, 1982. 127).
The Holy Spirit was involved with the workings of this earth from the very first. "In the beginning Elohim (a plural noun) created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters" (Gen 1:1-2). All three Personalities were there on the occasion of Jesus' baptism. "As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, Whom I love; with Him I am well pleased'" (Matt. 3:16-17). All three Personalities of the Godhead are also on hand in John 14:15-21:
14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
14:17[Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
14:19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
14:20 At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
14:21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
The Holy Spirit is God; He is the source of our spiritual life; He is our Helper, our Counselor, our Comforter; He is Holy, and deserving of our praise. "When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come" (John 16:13).
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen
16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
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