Grounded · Week 7 · 19 min read
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is not a force. He is God with you.
In week two, we discussed who Jesus is and the Holy Trinity with distinctions between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit – three distinct co-equal persons. This week, we’re talking about “God the Holy Spirit.”
The third person of the Trinity seems to be the one that most believers know the least about. The one they’re most confused by. And yet He’s the most present in our everyday lives!
The Holy Spirit isn’t a force. He isn’t an atmosphere. He isn’t an emotional feeling you feel on Sunday morning. He is a Person. Fully God. He’s the breath of God that inspired Scripture. He’s the one who convicts the world of sin and draws people to Jesus. He’s the still, small voice that speaks in prayer. He’s the power behind the mission of the Church. He’s the one who produces love, joy, peace, and patience in the life of a believer.
If you’ve been wondering who’s been doing all that work inside you, it’s Him.
Knowing who the Holy Spirit is and learning to walk with Him every day changes everything. It’s the difference between two completely different kinds of Christian life. One where you’re trying really hard to be a better person on your own. And one that is truly alive, powerful, and free!
John 16:7 (NIV) “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
Jesus told His Disciples someone better was coming! The Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not the consolation prize for people who missed out on walking with Jesus. He is the presence of God living inside you. That is beyond anything the first disciples could have ever imagined.
- His Activity
At the moment of Salvation, when you surrendered your life to Jesus. the Holy Spirit came in and began to dwell in you. This is just the beginning of the activity of the Holy Spirit in your life.
1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV) Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
When Jesus walked the Earth, He could only be in one place at a time. People had to travel to be physically near Him, to hear Him, learn from Him, be healed by Him, or experience His presence.
But through the Holy Spirit, all of us as believers have direct, personal access to God at all times, day or night. God is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You don’t have to go somewhere to find Him. He lives in you!
With the Holy Spirit living inside of us, we are never alone. (John 14:18) Life can often feel uncertain, confusing, and isolating at times, but the Holy Spirit is constantly with us, even when we don’t feel Him. He doesn’t come and go. He doesn’t leave when things get hard. He stays with us forever, walking with us through every situation.
Jesus leaving wasn’t God stepping away; it was God coming closer than ever through the person of the Holy Spirit.
A. The Holy Spirit Is a Person, Not a Force
The Holy Spirit is not spiritual energy. He’s not someone floating through the universe. He’s not the warm feeling you get in a worship service. He’s not the goosebumps you experience at a powerful moment. All of those things may come with His presence, but they are not Him.
The New Testament consistently treats the Holy Spirit as a Person.
He Has a Mind.
Romans 8:27 (NIV) And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
The Spirit has thoughts. He has intentions. He has a will. He’s not passive. He actively thinks. He plans. He acts with purpose. And He intercedes for us!
He Has Emotions.
Ephesians 4:30 (NIV) 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
You can grieve the Holy Spirit. Grief is an emotion. This means the Spirit is not unaffected by how you live. He feels the impact of your choices, especially when those choices come against the life and character of Jesus that He’s trying to build in you.
He Has a Will.
1 Corinthians 12:11 (NIV) 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
The Spirit distributes spiritual gifts according to His own will. Not according to your preferences. Not according to your requests. Not according to your sense of what you deserve. He decides.
He Speaks.
Acts 8:29 (NIV) 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.
Acts 16:6-7 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
The Holy Spirit speaks specific instructions to specific people in specific situations. He’s not vague. He communicates. He directs. He calls. You may question whether or not the Holy Spirit speaks to you, but I promise you He does. You may not fully recognize His voice yet or completely understand the feelings inside, but as you grow closer to Him and obey what He says, you will hear Him more and more. Don’t ever believe the lie that you don’t hear from the Holy Spirit. He has good things to say to you!
The Holy Spirit speaks specifically and confirms his word to us.
- His Empowerment
He Empowers Us when We Depend on Him. If we really begin to allow the Holy Spirit to empower us, we have to approach life much differently than before. This takes humility on our part, and for some of us, that’s really hard. It’s admitting that God knows how to do things much better than I do, and so I’m going to ask Him for help. We can’t be in control. We have to surrender to his will and his ways.
You may be wondering, where do we draw the line on this? We don’t! We should invite the Holy Spirit into everything. Invite the Holy Spirit into your day and see what happens.
There are more times in my life than I can count where I can pinpoint how the Holy Spirit has helped and empowered me. I’m sure there are many other times that He was at work and I didn’t even realize it. So many times I’ve sat with others and thought in my head (I have no idea what to say to this person, or how to pray for them). But the Holy Spirit gives me the words to speak or pray every single time. There’s joy in depending on him because we don’t have to have the answers; we have to listen and do what he says.
Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Instead of feeling like we’re not enough, we need to invite the Holy Spirit to work in us, giving us strength when we’re weak, clarity when we’re unsure, and courage when we’d normally hesitate. That’s the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
He Empowers Us with Boldness. The Holy Spirit gives us courage to stand for what’s right and to speak about our faith in Jesus, even when it feels uncomfortable. This doesn’t mean being loud or forceful to prove a point. This doesn’t mean that we offend people in an attempt to win them over to Jesus. It’s about approaching people with love and care and having a quiet confidence that comes from knowing God is with you and working through you. That’s the character of Jesus.
He Empowers Us to Have Victory over Sin.
Left to our own ways, we will fall back into old habits and patterns. But the Holy Spirit gives us the strength to say no to those things and to choose a different way. It’s not instant perfection, but it is a process with real progress. Over time, we begin to notice that things that once controlled us no longer have the same power over us because we’ve yielded to the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Being empowered by the Holy Spirit means you were never meant to do this alone, and you shouldn’t try to. God isn’t just calling you to follow Him; He’s giving you the power actually to live it out.
He Empowers Us to Serve Others.
Every believer has been given gifts. The gifts of the Spirit work through us to encourage, build up, and care for people. Some of those gifts are visible, and some are more behind the scenes, but all of them matter because we are all part of the body – as we talked about last week. You don’t have to have it all figured out to be used by God.
One of the most exciting parts of our Christian life is discovering the gifts God has placed in you. As you follow Him and step out in faith, you’ll begin to see gifts in your life you didn’t even realize were there. Kevin sent out the spiritual gifts test – check your email if you haven’t seen that.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
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 a message of wisdom, to another a 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 distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
The Nine Gifts of the Spirit
Paul lists nine specific gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. Many Bible teachers break them down into three categories. This is really helpful for understanding what each one does.
Revelation Gifts (gifts that reveal something)
- Word of Wisdom. A supernatural insight into how to handle a specific situation. Not general wisdom. Specific direction for a specific moment.
- Word of Knowledge. A supernatural revelation of a fact or truth that you couldn’t have known on your own. God gives you information for the moment.
- Discerning of Spirits. The ability to recognize what spirit is at work in a situation. Is this God? Is this the enemy? Is this just the flesh? Discernment cuts through the confusion.
Power Gifts (gifts that do something)
- Faith. Not just regular faith for salvation. A supernatural surge of faith for a specific moment. The kind of faith that moves mountains.
- Gifts of Healing. The supernatural ability to bring healing to bodies. Physical. Emotional. Sometimes mental. God uses people to heal people.
- Working of Miracles. When God does something that defies natural law. Healings happen. But miracles bend reality. Both come from the same Spirit.
Vocal Gifts (gifts that say something)
- Prophecy. Speaking a word from God to a person, a group, or a moment. Not predicting the future. Speaking God’s heart out loud.
- Different Kinds of Tongues. A public message in an unknown language, given by the Spirit for the whole church.
- Interpretation of Tongues. The supernatural ability to interpret what was said when someone gives a public message in tongues.
Notice something. Every one of these gifts requires a Person to flow through. The Holy Spirit doesn’t operate in a vacuum. He operates through you, which means your availability matters. Your willingness matters. Your sensitivity to His voice matters.
- His Counsel
How many of you like to watch legal dramas on TV? IMDB (Internet Movie Database) has a list! “The Top 250 Legal Shows.” How many can you name? L.A. Law, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Boston Legal, The Practice, and the list goes on and on.
Did you ever realize that the Holy Spirit is also our Lawyer? He’s our trusted advisor, our counselor, our defender, our Advocate…
26 But the Advocate, 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. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
One of the ways the Bible describes the Holy Spirit is as our Advocate. He’s someone who comes alongside us to help, defend, and speak on our behalf. If you think of a lawyer, you think of someone who stands with you, represents you, and makes your case. That’s a helpful picture of what the Holy Spirit does for us.
He stands with us, not against us.
A lot of people live with this fear that God is constantly disappointed in them or waiting for them to mess up. But the Holy Spirit isn’t building a case against you; He’s for you. He reminds you of who you are in Christ and points you back to the truth when you start to believe lies about yourself or about God. For a long time, I believed a lot of lies. I encourage you to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if you are believing any lies and help you replace those lies with the truth of God’s Word.
He defends us against accusations.
There’s a real battle that happens in our minds—thoughts of guilt, shame, and condemnation. The enemy loves to accuse (Revelation 12:9-11 says Satan is the accuser of our brothers and sisters). The enemy wants to remind you of your past and to make you feel like you don’t belong to God. The Holy Spirit pushes back against that. He reminds you that you’ve been forgiven, that you’re covered by what Jesus has done, and that your identity has changed.
It’s important to understand the difference between conviction and condemnation here. The Holy Spirit will convict you when something is off (Sin), but that conviction is specific, loving, and restores you. It. leads you back to God. Condemnation, on the other hand, is vague, heavy, and pushes you away. Conviction restores you; condemnation tears you down. The Holy Spirit always works to bring you back, not push you out. The kindness of the Lord leads to repentance. (Romans 2:4) The devil is never going to tell you to repent or apologize; neither is your flesh. That’s the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
He also speaks on our behalf before God.
There are times when we don’t know how to pray or what to say, and the Holy Spirit steps in and intercedes for us. He knows exactly what we need and carries that to the Father. You’re never standing alone; you have someone advocating for you even when you don’t have the words.
He helps us live rightly.
A good lawyer doesn’t just defend you in court; they also help you stay out of trouble. In the same way, the Holy Spirit guides us, corrects us, and leads us in truth so we can walk in a way that honors God. He’s not just defending us after the fact; He’s helping shape our lives moving forward.
At the end of the day, thinking of the Holy Spirit as our Advocate means this: you are not on your own. You have someone who stands with you, speaks for you, defends you, and leads you. He’s not distant or passive; He’s actively involved in your life, helping you walk with God every step of the way. (Galatians 5:25)
- His Guidance
John 16:13 (NIV) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the 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.
One of the main ways the Holy Spirit guides us is by shaping our desires. As we grow in our relationship with God, the things that used to satisfy us no longer do. We begin to want different things. What once felt normal may start to feel off, and what once didn’t matter begins to matter deeply. That’s the Holy Spirit at work in you, aligning your heart with God’s heart.”
He also guides us through conviction and peace. There are times when you know something isn’t right, even if you can’t explain it. And then there are moments when you feel a deep peace about a decision, even when it doesn’t fully make sense. Learning to recognize that is part of growing in your faith. The Holy Spirit doesn’t always speak loudly—He leads in a steady, consistent way.
It’s important to understand that His guidance always lines up with God’s Word. The Spirit will never lead you in a direction that contradicts Scripture. That’s one of the clearest ways we test what we’re sensing. As we stay rooted in the Bible, we become more confident in recognizing His voice.
The Holy Spirit also uses people and circumstances to guide us. Sometimes it comes through wise counsel, a conversation at the right time, or even doors opening and closing. God often confirms His direction in more than one way. As you stay open and attentive, you begin to see how He’s working through different parts of your life.
Guidance is usually a process. We tend to look for one big answer, but most of the time, God leads us step by step. That’s why obedience is so important. Many times, our obedience to take the first step opens up the rest of God’s plan for us.
It’s less about having everything figured out and more about trusting Him with what’s right in front of you. As you keep walking with Him, clarity comes.
At the end of the day, the Holy Spirit’s guidance means this: you don’t have to navigate life alone. God is not silent or distant—He is actively leading you. His will for our days and life is not vague. And as you learn to listen and follow, you’ll begin to see His direction show up in both the big decisions and the everyday moments of your life. That’s what it means to walk in step with the Spirit.
- Living in the Spirit – On Your Own
Living in the Spirit is what it looks like to walk out your faith day by day. It’s not just knowing about God or agreeing with truth—it’s actually living a life led by Him. And the key thing to understand is this: it’s not about trying harder; it’s about staying connected.
Matthew 25 (NIV) The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
The lamps represent our faith in Jesus. Remember the song, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”
The oil represents the Holy Spirit. We have to stay connected to Him every day. He’s the source. He’s the fuel that makes our fire burn. We keep coming back to him for more oil. He’s only going to give you enough for the day, so you have to come back again tomorrow, the next day, and the next. If you don’t come back, your lamp is going to burn out.
We can’t depend on something or someone else to supply our oil. If the oil isn’t authentic and from the Holy Spirit, it’s not going to work. We can’t depend on something counterfeit to keep us going.
Living in the Spirit isn’t about a one-time moment or a one-time commitment; it’s about a daily connection. You keep coming back, staying filled, and relying on Him.
The wise were ready because they stayed filled, not because they tried harder. That’s the invitation for us: to live in a way where our faith is real, our connection is consistent, and the Holy Spirit fuels our lives.
So stay connected. Stay filled. And keep your lamp burning.
Here’s where we end this week. The Holy Spirit is not a backup plan. He’s not a side note in the Christian life. He’s not something you graduate to after you’ve been a believer long enough. He’s God Himself living inside of you. Right now. Today. He has a mind. He has emotions. He has a will. He speaks. He empowers. He advocates. He guides. He is your closest friend and your most faithful helper.
Are you walking with Him? Or are you trying to live this Christian life on your own strength? Because one of those will burn you out. And the other will set you free. Don’t go another day treating the Holy Spirit like background information. Wake up tomorrow and invite Him in. Talk to Him. Listen for Him. Depend on Him. Because the moment you put your faith in Jesus, He moved in. And He’s been waiting for you to notice Him ever since.
This Week’s Challenge:
Invite the Holy Spirit into every single day this week. Every morning. Before you check your phone. Before you start the coffee. Before the day gets a hold of you. Take just a few minutes and pray this prayer.
“Holy Spirit, I need you today. I need your help all day today. I need your help for the common and easy things, and I need your help when I face problems and challenges that are hard and unexpected. I give you control. Go before me. Let your fruit be present in my life today. I thank you now for all the ways that you’re going to help me. Amen.”
Then watch what happens.
Pay attention this week. Notice the moments where He shows up. Notice the conversations that go differently than you expected. Notice the patience you didn’t think you had. Notice the courage that came out of nowhere. Write it down. Keep a short note on your phone or a page in a notebook. By the end of the week, you’ll have a list. A list of all the ways the Holy Spirit was working in your life that you might have missed before.
Going deeper
Notes and appendices
Optional deeper material lives here, collapsed by default so the main lesson stays clean. It opens automatically when the page is printed.