The Holy Spirit is often overlooked in Christianity. 58% of self-identified Christians believe the Holy Spirit to be a symbolic effect of God instead of a personal representation of God himself, meaning they don’t intentionally commune with the Holy Spirit on any level. In this article, we’ll explore who the Holy Spirit is and focus on some characteristics of the Holy Spirit. We then discuss how church leaders can engage the Holy Spirit in their communities.
Many churches hardly mention the Holy Spirit, but everything we do as modern believers is through the Holy Spirit. Keep reading to learn why that is true.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and 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.”
John 14:16-17 (New International Version)
The Holy Spirit is a Person
We begin our description of the Holy Spirit by asking “Who” instead of “What” for one important reason: the Holy Spirit is a person.
The Holy Spirit is sometimes relegated to an impersonal source of enlightenment instead of an individual capable of active personal relationships. Instead of seeing the Spirit as a friend we can speak to and engage with, we relegate the Holy Spirit’s work to that of an inner consciousness that only reprimands us when we do wrong.
Christ introduced the Holy Spirit to the disciples in John 14:16-17 as a comfort to them after learning that Jesus would soon go away. Though they wouldn’t be able to interact with Jesus like they used to, the Holy Spirit would light upon them at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) and be their connection to the Father the way Christ was.
In other words, the person of Christ had left temporarily, but the person of the Holy Spirit would continue to lead the disciples.
The Holy Spirit is God
The Holy Spirit wasn’t a new creation who came only after Christ died and was resurrected. Throughout Christian tradition, the Holy Spirit is believed to be the Spirit, or Wind, that hovered over the waters during creation (Genesis 1:1). The Holy Spirit resided with humankind from the beginning and was grieved at the evil perpetuated by people (Genesis 6:1-8).
Over and over again throughout the Old Testament, the Spirit of God was there. The Holy Spirit fueled the craftsman with wisdom and creativity (Exodus 3:3). King David let the Spirit speak through him to the people (2 Samuel 23:2). The Spirit was the connection between Heaven and Earth for the prophets (Ezekiel 8:3). The Father promised that the Holy Spirit would one day be poured out “on all people” (Joel 2:28), which became a reality when the disciples received the Holy Spirit during Pentecost.
Christianity has traditionally held to verses like Matthew 28:19-20 that mention the Holy Spirit on equal terms to Jesus Christ and the Father. Verses like this one point to the concept of the trinity that most Christians hold as true and have done so for a long time.
The Holy Spirit is Our Helper
There isn’t a Christian alive today who has experienced Christ in the way his disciples did. They had a physical person to talk to, eat alongside, and do ministry with. However, that doesn’t mean we have a lesser Christian experience because of that.
The Holy Spirit has become our source of connection because the Spirit was poured out on believers as a helper. Jesus said the Spirit of truth “will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you” (John 16:14). Christians today have the same access to the Father through Christ as the disciples who walked with him.
When God showed Adam that none of the animals were suitable helpers, he created Eve as Adam’s helper (Genesis 2). Eve was a person, just like Adam, and the two partnered in their work. When Jesus proclaimed the Holy Spirit as our helper in John 14:16-17, he was saying the Holy Spirit is a person just like Christ who would help Christian believers while he was away.
So, what is our description of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is a person we can talk to and trust. The Holy Spirit is God, eternally existing and working in the world. The Holy Spirit is the Christian’s help and connection to the rest of the Trinity.
10 Characteristics of the Holy Spirit
We could include many characteristics of the Holy Spirit here, but we’ll stick to 10 different Holy Spirit characteristics that can be applied to the everyday life of the Christian.
1. Safeguards Against Apostasy
“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.”
1 John 2:20-21 (New International Version)
Christians are directly connected to the truth-giver, but we too often rely on other sources that give differing opinions on the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection. Many of these philosophies lead Christians astray, but Scripture says the Holy Spirit anoints us with the truth that Christ is God. This protection helps Christians guard against the lies that seek to disregard salvation found in Christ alone.
2. A Gift to All Believers
“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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’”
Acts 2:38-39 (New International Version)
The Holy Spirit is promised as a gift to all believers who repent and are baptized for the forgiveness of our sins. No one can tell you otherwise. No one can add additional requirements to receiving the Holy Spirit. If you believe in Jesus as the Son of God and trust in his salvation, then you have the Holy Spirit in you.
3. Unites All Believers
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12:13 (New International Version)
No hierarchy among believers makes one Christian more important than another. The Bible uses the imagery of Christians as children of God (Romans 8:16), the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7), and one body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). Christian believers can be found almost anywhere on Earth, and we are all united through the Holy Spirit.
4. Convicts the World of Sin
“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”
John 16:8–11 (New International Version)
Since the Holy Spirit is a truth-giver, he reveals the reality of sin in our lives and the world. In doing so, the Spirit guides us deeper into the truth of Christ’s love. Righteousness and judgment mean different things to Christians than others because of our relationship with God. Christians respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction, knowing it is love that draws us closer to God and further from the sins of the world.
5. A Source of Wisdom and Revelation
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Ephesians 1:17–19 (New International Version)
The Holy Spirit is a deep well of wisdom and revelation for the Christian. He is a helper in our times of need. When we are overwhelmed, stressed out, facing troubles, or don’t know what to do next, the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to give us insight, guidance, and peace toward our next step.
6. Assurance of Salvation
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
Romans 8:16–17 (New International Version)
We often rely too much on our emotions as Christians, which leads us astray at times. Sometimes, we don’t feel like we’re saved by Christ and begin to worry about whether we are genuine Christians. The Holy Spirit helps by testifying with our spirit that we are indeed children of God. The Spirit can and will encourage you when you talk with him.
7. Changes our Focus
“For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace”
Romans 8:5–6 (New International Version)
Everyone wants to live a fulfilling life in peace. Circumstances, however, may disrupt those goals. The Holy Spirit often changes our focus from despair into hope, death to life, and chaos to peace. With our minds set on the Spirit, meaning we engage the Holy Spirit like a person, we begin to see how peace can fill us even if our circumstances are chaotic.
8. The Holy Spirit Is Always With Us
“the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.”
John 14:17 (New International Version)
There’s nowhere we can go without the Holy Spirit. David even acknowledged that there was no way he could flee from the presence of the Spirit (Psalm 139:7–8). This assures us as Christians that the Holy Spirit will never leave us.
9. Gives Us Gifts
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22–23 (New International Version)
The Holy Spirit empowers Christians with gifts to help us further the Kingdom of God in the world. Sometimes, these gifts are patience or kindness in a given situation where we don’t think we’d be able to express those qualities. Other times, the Holy Spirit gives people gifts of miracles or prophecy (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). These gifts are precious and unique to the Holy Spirit.
10. Partners With Us
“…but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 (New International Version)
One of the most beautiful things about the Holy Spirit is that he works with us to be God’s witnesses in the world. We cannot do much on our own. We know this as church leaders. But the Spirit helps us in all our work by partnering with us, involving us in God’s plans, and allowing us to do His holy work.
3 Ways to Engage the Holy Spirit in Your Church Community
“And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”
Acts 4:31 (New International Version)
1. Cultivate Dependency on the Spirit
Church leaders rely on their limited resources, and too often this can lead to pastoral burnout resulting in ineffective outreach or church programs. Cultivating dependency on the Spirit involves prayer, listening, and much patience. Practicing this dependency is both an individual and communal exercise.
Spend intentional time waiting on the Holy Spirit before you or your church community begin a new initiative
- Ask the Holy Spirit for insight into your plans.
- Ask for guidance on the next steps.
- Ask for the necessary volunteers to be mobilized and ready.
2. Practice Obedience to the Holy Spirit’s Mission
Obedience is the hardest part of the Christian life, yet it is also the most rewarding. When engaging the Holy Spirit in our church community, we ask for wisdom and revelation, which always requires obedience.
Consult the Holy Spirit on what to do next, and then start doing it
- Ask the Holy Spirit for help obeying when seeking things like church growth.
- Ask the Holy Spirit for strength and boldness if the obedience is scary.
- You must learn to walk before you can run, so take things slow if you are new to obeying the Spirit.
3. Balance Effort and Spirituality
We can easily over-spiritualize many things in Christianity, so we must know how our efforts and spirituality work together. Your effort is what you can accomplish, and your spirituality is your listening to the Spirit. Not everything relies on us, while everything relies on God.
Maintain accountability with others to balance your workload and affirm the Holy Spirit’s leading
- Share what you hear from the Holy Spirit with other trusted leaders, your spouse, and your church community.
- Be humble and willing to listen to their counsel, pushing back when necessary, but always willing to submit to others listening to the Holy Spirit.
- Continually ask the Holy Spirit for clarity and affirmation through others to confirm what you’re hearing.
Conclusion
Our description of the Holy Spirit is that the Spirit is a person, God, and our helper. Throughout this exploration, we looked at several Biblical passages that reveal more about how the Holy Spirit’s characteristics lead, inform, and partner with us. Engaging the Holy Spirit in your church community is necessary but often overlooked. However, kickstarting the adventure of obedience to the Holy Spirit is easy to spark with the above advice. It just takes some work to keep it up. Managing a church or Christian organization is tough without a helper. Let the Holy Spirit guide you through your vision and mission, being sure to align solely with His words. Church leaders can also rely on outside support like the Church Giving website, where we walk through topics like how to start a church, among articles about the Christian life. Before you leave, check out other helpful articles for church leaders.
