The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit, apart from God the Father and God the Son, has His own personality. He is called the Comforter and thus cannot be considered some sort of abstract influence. The Holy Spirit is seen to ‘connect’ with other persons in such a way as to clearly imply personality: Christians (Acts 15:28); Christ (John 16:14; 17:4); and God (Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; and Jude 1:20-21).

We are told in Scripture that the Holy Spirit searches, knows, speaks, testifies, reveals, convinces, commands, strives, moves, helps, guides, creates, sanctifies, inspires, makes intercession, orders the affairs of the church, and performs miracles – to include the raising of the dead. (Write and ask for the Bible references, if you’d like them.)

Only a person can perceive an insult or be offended. Knowing that, the Bible is clear that the Holy Spirit can be resisted, grieved, vexed and blasphemed. If the Holy Spirit was not His own personality, how could blasphemy against God be a lesser crime than blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matt 12:31)?

The Holy Spirit is spoken of as God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19; 12:4-6). Divine attributes are ascribed to Him: life (Rom 8:2); truth (John 16:13); holiness (Eph 4:30); omnipotence (Luke 1:35); omniscience (John 14:26; 16:12-13); and omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-10).

Divine work is ascribed to the Holy Spirit: creation (Job 33:4; Psa 104:30); the giving of life (Gen 2:7; John 6:63; Rom 8:2); prophecy (2 Sam 23:23; 2 Peter 1:21); regeneration (John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5); and resurrection power (Rom 8:11).

Everything that the Holy Spirit does is centered on Christ. John 15:26 says, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” Did you catch that? The Holy Spirit does not testify to the truthfulness of some activity, event or even religion. The Holy Spirit was only sent to testify of Jesus Christ. If you are told that the Holy Spirit will testify that your pastor or your church or your doctrine is right – you have been misled. Every activity of the Holy Spirit points in some way, shape or form to the person of Christ. If you are looking for the Holy Spirit to validate your behavior or church – He won’t do that. He only testifies of Christ. “My church says that the Holy Spirit will indicate that I’m in the right church by…” Not according to Scripture, He won’t. “Well then how am I supposed to know whether I’m in the right church?” By reading the Bible. The very words of Scripture – not emotion or feeling – are to determine what we believe.

The evidence that an individual has received the Holy Spirit is found in Acts 1:8. In that verse we are told, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Volumes have been written on this topic. Hopefully enough information has been presented to at least wet your appetite for further study.