—John 14:23

5 | The Lord our God is One, and yet He has three distinct expressions—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Describe the major functions of each member of the Godhead and how they work together to accomplish God’s will.

Leaders: Have your class check out 1 Corinthians 12:5-7 plus the account of creation in Genesis 1 and Jesus’ words in John 5:17, 19-20.

The Spirit of God the Father = the Spirit of Christ = the Holy Spirit

6 | Jesus said the Holy Spirit is our Helper—our parakletos. This means He is “permanently called alongside us to coach and counsel us in our daily walk with God.” In what ways does this knowledge motivate and encourage you in your daily relationship with Him?

7 | What new characteristics of the Person of the Holy Spirit do you now see that you didn’t see before? How has this opened your eyes and enriched your understanding of who He is in your life?

CHAPTER SUMMARY:

• The Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead who carries the fullness of God the Father and the Son.

• He is not an “it” or a mystical power; He is God.

• He is not limited by time or space; He can communicate with and assist an unlimited number of people all at the same time.

• He was intimately involved in the lives of early believers, and He yearns to be involved in every area of our lives today.

• There is virtually no Christian life without Him, but there is an abundant life of adventure to those who embrace His awesome fellowship.

• Get to know Him personally!

The Personality of the Holy Spirit

The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.

—2 Corinthians 13:14 The Message

Day 1

In order for us to enter into a close relationship with another person, we must first seek to understand what makes that individual tick. A greater knowledge of a person’s likes, dislikes, aims, and ambitions will help develop a deeper friendship. Likewise, if we are to be intimate with the Holy Spirit, we must first seek to understand His personality.

As we discovered in the last chapter, Jesus made this astounding statement to His disciples: “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7). This is the same Jesus who once said, “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things that have been hidden since the foundation of the world” (Matthew 13:35 AMP). Jesus, the greatest teacher who ever lived, the One who revealed mysteries that had been hidden since the foundation of the world, is attempting to convince His closest followers that the Spirit of God—not Jesus Himself physically present—would be the best companion for them and the generations of believers to come. Wow! I don’t know about you, but this makes me want to know more about the Holy Spirit.