The Person of the Holy Spirit
The Personality of the Spirit
He, Not It
Description
The Holy Spirit is a Person, not an impersonal force. He has all the marks of personality: intellect (He knows and teaches), emotions (He can be grieved), and will (He distributes gifts as He wills). He speaks, testifies, guides, commands, forbids, intercedes, and can be lied to, resisted, and blasphemed—all personal activities. Jesus consistently used personal pronouns for the Spirit, calling Him 'He' and 'Him,' not 'it.' The Spirit is the Comforter, the Advocate, who comes alongside believers. Recognizing His personhood transforms our relationship with Him from using a power to knowing a Person.
Key Verses
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.