The Holy Spirit: Part 3 by Ps Michael Podhaczky

Some Christ-followers claim that the Holy Spirit is just a force, substance or power. That is, the Holy Spirit is not God and does not have the qualities or personality that God has because it is just an impersonal force. It is not a person in the Trinity (or separate from the Father and the Son), as there is no such thing as the Trinity. Instead, it is just a force, substance or power of God since there is only one God.

So, how would you answer someone who holds to this belief? The plain answer is that the Holy Spirit is not merely an impersonal force, substance or power. He is as much a Person within the Trinity as the Father and the Son. He is God and is a separate Person within the Trinity. He works with great force and power, but He is not just a force or power.

The Holy Spirit has a personality just like the Father and the Son. The following are a few examples of this truth:

·         His feelings can be hurt (this is a silly idea if we accept that the Holy Spirit is only a force, substance or power). Eph 4:30

·         He can be lied to: Acts 5:3

·         He prays for and guides the believer in prayer: Rom 8:26-27

·         There are examples of the Holy Spirit interpreting God’s will throughout the Book of Acts. One of these is the believer’s council in Jerusalem in chapter 15 and especially the following statement, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements” (Acts 15:28).

Consequently, we need to be careful of those who teach the Holy Spirit just as a force, substance or power (like the Jehovah's Witnesses who say that the spirit is a kind of force that works through you). Instead, it is important to understand Him as God, as part of the Trinity. He is not just an influence – rather, He has personal qualities with which we can relate, and we can have a relationship with Him.

Pause in His presence for a moment and think this over…