Welcome to Authorized Sword Ministries. This is Lesson 1 in our new series, The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts. Today's lesson is called Who Is the Holy Spirit?

We're so glad you're here.

Ask ten people who the Holy Spirit is, and you may get ten different answers. Some think of Him as a feeling. Some think of Him as a power, like electricity, or a kind of force that fills a room. Some are not sure what to think at all. But the Bible is not unclear. In this lesson we will see from Scripture that the Holy Spirit is not an "it." He is a Person, and He is God. Everything else in this series rests on that truth, so let's lay the foundation carefully.

Our Key Verse

Today's key verse is John 14:16-17. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples the night before He went to the cross.

"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." — John 14:16-17 (KJV)

Look at the words Jesus used. "He shall give you another Comforter." The word "another" means another of the same kind. Jesus had been with His disciples as their Teacher, Helper, and Friend. Now He promised another just like Himself. And notice the little words: "him," "he," "whom." Jesus did not call the Spirit "it." He called Him "him."

The Greek word behind "Comforter" is parakletos. It means one called alongside to help. A force cannot walk alongside you as a friend. Only a person can.

The Holy Spirit Is a Person

What makes someone a person? A person has a mind, feelings, and a will. He can think, he can be hurt, and he can choose. The Bible shows the Holy Spirit doing all three.

First, He has a mind. He knows and He teaches.

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." — John 14:26 (KJV)

A force does not teach. A teacher teaches. Paul adds that the Spirit knows the deep things of God:

"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." — 1 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)

Second, He has feelings. He can be grieved.

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." — Ephesians 4:30 (KJV)

You cannot grieve electricity. You cannot hurt the feelings of the wind. But you can grieve a person who loves you. Paul is telling believers that our sin brings sorrow to the Holy Spirit who lives inside us. That should make us careful how we live.

Third, He has a will. He makes choices. When Paul lists the gifts of the Spirit, he says:

"But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." — 1 Corinthians 12:11 (KJV)

"As he will." The Spirit decides. And in the book of Acts, we see Him speak and give direction:

"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." — Acts 13:2 (KJV)

He spoke. He said "me." He called men to a work. That is a Person.

The Bible also says He prays for us:

"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." — Romans 8:26 (KJV)

Someone might point out that this verse says "the Spirit itself." In Greek, the word for spirit, pneuma, is neuter in grammar, so the pronoun that goes with it is neuter too. That is a rule of grammar, not a statement about who He is. In the same chapter where the Spirit "itself" prays, He is doing what only a person does: helping, knowing, and interceding. And as we just saw, Jesus Himself said "he" and "him" again and again.

The Holy Spirit Is God

The Holy Spirit is not only a Person. He is God. The clearest place to see this is in Acts chapter 5. A man named Ananias sold some land, kept back part of the money, and pretended he had given it all. Peter said to him:

"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." — Acts 5:3-4 (KJV)

Peter asked why Satan had filled his heart "to lie to the Holy Ghost." Then he said, "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." Lying to the Holy Ghost is lying to God, because the Holy Ghost is God.

The Bible also gives the Spirit things that belong only to God. He is everywhere at once:

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" — Psalm 139:7 (KJV)

He was there at creation:

"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." — Genesis 1:2 (KJV)

And He is called eternal:

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" — Hebrews 9:14 (KJV)

Only God is everywhere. Only God is eternal. Only God created the heavens and the earth. The Spirit does all of it.

One God in Three Persons

So the Bible teaches that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet the Bible also teaches there is only one God. Jesus brought the three together when He gave the Great Commission:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" — Matthew 28:19 (KJV)

Notice He said "in the name," not "names." One name, three Persons. We see all three at the baptism of Jesus. The Son came up out of the water, the Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father spoke from heaven (Matthew 3:16-17). Paul closes his second letter to the Corinthians the same way:

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." — 2 Corinthians 13:14 (KJV)

We cannot fully explain how one God exists in three Persons. Our minds are too small. But we do not have to explain it to believe it. God has told us, and that is enough.

He Points to Jesus

If the Holy Spirit is God, why do we hear less about Him than about the Father and the Son? Jesus answered that Himself:

"He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." — John 16:14 (KJV)

The Holy Spirit is like a floodlight on a great building at night. You don't stare at the floodlight. You look at the building it lights up. The Spirit's job is to shine on Jesus Christ. So be careful of any teaching or meeting where the main attention is on the Spirit, on feelings, or on a man, and not on Christ. When the Holy Spirit is truly at work, people end up talking about Jesus.

That is also why the Spirit gave us the Scriptures. Peter said the prophets spoke "as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21). Every page of your King James Bible was breathed out by the Spirit, and every page points to the Saviour. When you open the Book, the Author is right there to teach you, just as Jesus promised in John 14:26.

Why This Matters

Why does it matter whether the Holy Spirit is a Person or a force? Because you use a force, but a Person you obey, love, and trust. If the Spirit were just a power, we would try to get more of it for ourselves. But since He is God, the question is not "How can I get more of the Spirit?" The question is "How can the Spirit have more of me?"

It also means that if you are saved, you are never alone. Jesus said the Comforter would abide with you for ever. He is not a feeling that comes and goes. He is a Person who stays.

A Simple Step for This Week

Here's our challenge for this week. Read John chapters 14 through 16, the words Jesus spoke about the Comforter. Every time you see "he" or "him" used for the Holy Spirit, underline it or write it down. By the end, you'll see for yourself how Jesus spoke of Him as a Person. Then thank God that He did not leave you alone.

A Prayer

Let's pray together.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for sending the Comforter, the Spirit of truth. Thank You that He is not a force or a feeling, but God Himself, who abides with Your children for ever.

Lord, forgive us for the times we have grieved Your Holy Spirit. Help us to know Him, to listen to Him, and to follow where He leads.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Thank you for spending this time with us.

This is Authorized Sword Ministries. God bless you.

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Study Questions

1. Read John 14:16-17. What does the word "another" tell us about the Comforter Jesus promised?
2. What does the word "Comforter" (parakletos) mean?
3. What three things make someone a person, and where does the Bible show the Holy Spirit has each one?
4. According to Ephesians 4:30, what can believers do to the Holy Spirit? What does that tell us about Him?
5. In Acts 13:2, what did the Holy Ghost say and do?
6. Why does Romans 8:26 say "the Spirit itself," and does that mean He is a thing?
7. How does Acts 5:3-4 show that the Holy Ghost is God?
8. Name three things the Bible says about the Spirit that are true only of God.
9. How do Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 point to one God in three Persons?
10. What difference does it make in your daily life that the Holy Spirit is a Person and not a force?

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Verified Scripture References (KJV)

All quotations were checked word for word against the King James Version (bible-api.com, translation=kjv) on October 26, 2026.

1. John 14:16-17 — "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."
2. John 14:26 — "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
3. 1 Corinthians 2:11 — "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."
4. Ephesians 4:30 — "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
5. 1 Corinthians 12:11 — "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
6. Acts 13:2 — "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."
7. Romans 8:26 — "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."
8. Acts 5:3-4 — "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."
9. Psalm 139:7 — "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?"
10. Genesis 1:2 — "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."
11. Hebrews 9:14 — "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
12. Matthew 28:19 — "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
13. 2 Corinthians 13:14 — "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."
14. John 16:14 — "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."
15. 2 Peter 1:21 (phrase quoted inline) — "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

Word Study and Other Sources

All sources were opened and checked on October 26, 2026.

1. "Comforter" (Greek parakletos), one called to one's side, a helper or advocate: Blue Letter Bible, Strong's G3875 (Thayer's lexicon). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3875/kjv/tr/0-1/
2. "Spirit" (Greek pneuma) is a neuter noun in Greek grammar: Blue Letter Bible, Strong's G4151 (part of speech: noun neuter). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4151/kjv/tr/0-1/