Acts 10:19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you.How can we determine whether the Holy Spirit is a person or simply a force? Notice here that the Bible portrays the Holy Spirit as a person speaking. Notice also in Matthew 28:19 that the Holy Spirit is placed within a category of persons, namely the Father and the Son. He is as distinct from the Father as the Son is distinct from the Father. And yet also concerning these three notice that the word "name" is singular. For these are three and yet one. (See also Understanding the Trinity, and the Diety of Christ)Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Hebrews 10:15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
John 3:5,6 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.It is through the baptism of the Holy Spirit that one is born of God. The nature of this rebirth is not simply an adoption into a family, which alludes to simply a positional change, but rather an innate change within the individual which changes a person's character unto love of the brethren, submission, holiness, and perseverance to the end. (1John 3:9,10)Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
John 7:38,39 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.If a person does not have the Holy Spirit then such a person does not belong to Christ, not having been born of God. And if the Holy Spirit does live in the person, then it will inevitably have an impact on a person's sinfulness. Therefore there are common universal experiences among those in the Christian community who have been born of God as a result of all having the Spirit.Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
John 14:16,17 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
However this universal innateness of the Spirit was not imparted until Acts chapter 2 when the Spirit was sent. During Jesus' earthly ministry none of the apostles or disciples - nor Mary - had the Holy Spirit in the sense he would be given to Christians after Acts 2.
John 3:34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.As was noted from the verses in the first section, the Holy Spirit speaks the words of the Bible. Thus in evaluating ideas such can be compared with what the Bible says. For what the Bible says, the Spirit says. (See discerning the Holy Spirit below)Acts 1:16 the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas,
John 14:26 the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.The Holy Spirit deals primarily in the realm of ideas. He teaches and instructs in accordance to what is true. When he speaks, it becomes the Word of God. But in particular the Spirit teaches primarily through the Word of God - that is, through what he already said. The Spirit guides us into the right applications of the Bible. Also concerning Eph 6:17, the Bible is not our sword, rather it is the sword of the Spirit. The Spirit uses it offensively both in our lives and in the lives of those to whom we bring it. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.
Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
1Corinthians 2:
9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" — but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
The Spirit helps us to understand the Bible. But as 1Cor 2 says, "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." But first of all there's a sort of catch-22 here. For a person cannot receive the Spirit until he believes (Acts 2:38; Eph 1:13) But to believe he must understand the gospel. But to understand he must have the Spirit. Thus some have proposed that a person is born of God even before they believe. However the Bible teaches that that is not the order of things (Eph 1:13; John 1:12)
In the 1Cor 2 passage Paul is actually not alluding to the gospel, rather he says in verse 6 "We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature." Paul is referring to advance spiritual truths, the deep things of God. But wouldn't the same principle apply with respect to evangelism? He notes in the previous chapter 1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." I would infer that there are those who don't have the Spirit in the sense that those born of God do, but whom nonetheless the Spirit leads to Christ in the sense of bringing them to an understanding of the gospel. One may picture the Spirit coming along side rather than into them. However if you were to try to teach those same people advance spiritual truths, they would reckon them foolishness.
John 15:26,27 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.You're never alone in evangelism. Even if you're the only Christian a convert had contact with you could not genuinely say that you led such a person to Christ. The Holy Spirit is involved in this. In fact at times the Spirit doesn't even need much of our assistance. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and the judgment to come. But how does he do that? He does it primarily through the Word of God, which is his sword. So when you share what the Bible says, you are releasing the Holy Spirit to operate on those who listen. Even a bumper-sticker with the Word of God can have its impact. Evangelism occurs when both the Spirit and the bride, those born of God, invites others to take the free gift of the water of life.John 16:8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
Acts 20:23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.The Spirit is especially involved in guiding those involved in ministry in accordance with the will of God. Such guidance may be derived or inferred from the Bible or through experience. But notice that at times as in this case it may not simply involved information about what to do and where to go. Rather in this case it's preparing Paul for what is to come by giving him a degree of foresight. Of course he could have merely derived this from Jesus own teachings about what kind of treatment disciples should expect - which is now in the Word of God.
Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.If a person has the Holy Spirit then it is inevitable that there will be characteristics of their character and lifestyle consistent with being a child of God because of the Spirit (and his sword's) working in the person.Romans 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Context is referring to being led away from a sinful lifestyle into a holy lifestyle)
Galatians 5:
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other1John 3:9,10 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
2 Corinthians 1:22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.The Spirit affirms that all born of God have eternal security. But this is not to say that such people can freely sin. For the Spirit also inevitably influences their behavior. And such people will endure in faith till the end. However this is also not to say that such people might not grieve the Holy Spirit from time to time despite being sealed for the day of redemption.2 Corinthians 5:5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 1:13,14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession— to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.The Holy Spirit gives not only eternal security, but also assurance of salvation to those born of God. By assurance of salvation I simply mean a feeling of assurance that one has been saved.1 John 3:24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
1 John 4:13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
1 Peter 1:2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot expressPray can seem incomprehensible and overwhelming at times. But those born of God the Spirit will intercede for us and as we get intuned to the Spirit we learn to pray.
1 John 4:1-3 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.The Bible instructs us to not gullibly accept ideas people teach but to judge and discern their origin. Some Christians will claim to be speaking from the Spirit when they present their ideas. Others will simply make statements without reference to the Bible. In any case ideas have to be evaluated. The Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit, is the primary tool for evaluating such claims. Those who don't listen to the Bible are not of God.1 John 4:6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Matthew 12:32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.As the Spirit is the one who opens one's understanding and leads one to Christ, identifying the Holy Spirit as an evil spirit is the ultimate rejection of such guidance. Such people do not repent for they reject the Holy Spirit leading them into repentance.
1Corinthians 12:Those born of God have been blessed with a diversity of spiritual gifts for the common good. Gifts are given not in accordance with the will of the church nor the will of the individual, but rather in accordance with the will of the Spirit.
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free— and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.