1. WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The Holy Spirit is God Himself. He is the 3rd person of the trinity. He is the one that puts to work God’s instruction. He is a member of the Godhead. Genesis 1:26. E.g. in Genesis 1:26, when God said Let “us” make man in our own image, after ourlikeliness……., it was the Holy Spirit that went to work.

Also we see the Holy Spirit at work in Genesis 1:2 “….. and the Spirit of God moved uponthe face of the waters.” It was the Holy Spirit that created the earth when God spoke.He is the angelof God’s presence (Isaiah 63:9). He is the person that brings to us on earth thepresence of theGod the Father. Jesus is in heaven, but His presence can be felt here on earththrough theministry of the Holy Spirit. God dwells between the cherubim of glory, but Hispresence can be felt in thisworldthrough the Holy Ghost.

Being a Spirit, we cannot see Him with the optical eyes, but we can see His manifestation. Heis as real as the person sitting next to you (John 14:17). He has a personality, just as everyhuman being has a personality. He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), and can talk (Acts 13:2).

God is too big to dwell in us but He is able to dwell in us by the Holy Spirit. Any time it wasrecorded that God appeared to men, it was the Holy Ghost that brought to them the presenceof God. He is the angel of God's presence. He is one of the same kind with Jesus (John 14:16-20).

The Holy Spirit is also known as AllosParakletos, meaning another Comforter of the samekind,called alongside to help. He is not of a different kind but of the same kind with the LordJesusChrist. He talks, heals, saves and does everything like Jesus. Jesus is just like theFather; it thenmeans that the Holy Ghost is just like the father. This implies that the Father,Jesus and the HolyGhost are one and the same. The Father says the same things as Jesus, justas the Holy Ghost speaks the very words of Jesus (John 16:13).

God and Jesus cannot be everywhere at the same time (God is in Heaven and Jesus is seatedatthe right hand of God), but the Holy Spirit is the one who takes the presence of Godeverywhere at the same time.

2. THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN

Acts 1:8, Luke 4:17-18

When a man receives the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit gives him the dynamic ability to live theChristian life successfully.It is impossible to win another to Christ without the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. SEVEN SYNONYMS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (HIS MINISTRY IN YOU)

Apart from being known as the Holy Spirit, there are 7 other ways or revelations a Believer can haveof the Holy Spirit that will help him in his walk and relationship with the Holy Spirit.

A. He is our Comforter (John 14:16-17, 2 Corinthians 1:3)

The Holy Spirit comforts Christians. There are times when the Christian may be discouraged,or goes through some challenges that may want to discourage him but the Holy Spiritencourages the Christian to move ahead and overcome those challenges.

B. He is our Counselor (Isaiah 11:2, Psalms 16:7)

It is the Holy Spirit who instructs you in your inward man. He gives you instructions by whichhe guides your life. For example, things that concern daily living such as decision making.

C. He is our Helper (Romans 8:26, Psalms 46:1)

The Holy Spirit is our Helper. When you receive Him into your life, you should never say again‘I don’t have anybody to help me’. This is because God has the right people in the right placeto help you at the right time. God orchestrates help to us whenever we need it via theministration of the Holy Spirit. There are times that a Christian may be confused aboutsomething but the Holy Spirit helps us by witnessing to our spirit.

D. He is our Intercessor (Romans

There are times that we have an urge to pray but we really may not know what to pray aboutor the exact words to use. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray in words that cannot be articulated.The prayer sometimes may not be about things that concern us specifically but we findourselves interceding for someone

E. He is our Teacher (John 16:13, 1 Corinthians 2:9-11)

The Holy Spirit teaches us deep truth to our understanding. There are times that we may nothave full understanding of a matter but the Holy Spirit makes it easy for us to understand byteaching us through our spirit.

F. He is our Strengthener (Isaiah 11:2, Philippians 2:13)

There are times that we feel limited to do some things, maybe physically or mentally. Withthe Holy Spirit in us, we know that we are strengthened on every side. We can actually receivestrength by the Holy Spirit for whatever we need it for.

G. He is our Standby (Romans 8:11)

When you run out of everything, strength, information, ideas, and opinion. There is a standbythe Holy Spirit. He will give life to your body. He will energize your spirit and supply you withthe necessary knowledge, wisdom and understanding. The Holy Spirit is our Standby, to takeover and carry on when we have reached our limits.

4. HOW TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT - Acts 1:8, Acts 19:6

Every Christian can receive the Holy Spirit as this is not restricted to a selected few but to allbelievers. The Christian can receive by:

• - Through the laying of hands
• - We can also confess it

5. SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND ITS PURPOSES

When a Christian has received the Holy Spirit, this must manifest by the ability to speak in othertongues. Speaking in tongues is one of the signs of a Believer. Mark 16:17 The reasons for speaking in tongues are as follows:

A. To Build our faith. Jude 1:20

As we pray in the Holy Ghost (speaking in tongues), we see ourselves having received answers to our prayers/petitions and we begin to act as those that have received - this is faith.The more we spend time to speak in other tongues, the more our faith is built up! At a point,we know that nothing is impossible to us!

B. It is one of the SIGNS of a believer. Mark 16:17

Speaking in tongues is one of the ways to recognize a believer. When you say you are bornagain, people look out to see if you speak in tongues as this sets you apart as truly born again.

C. To Edify yourself. 1-Corinthians 14:4

Example: when you need to make a decision or to know the direction to go in any area of your life (school, job, business, family and finances). As you speak in tongues, your mind becomes quiet then you can pick the information from your spirit.

D. To Glorify God. Acts 10:46, 1-Corinthians 14:17

True praise and worship can only be by speaking in other tongues. This is because there arenot enough words in any of the earthly vocabulary to glorify God.

E. To Speak Mysteries to God. 1-Corinthians 4:2a

Mysteries are hidden truths only revealed to the initiated, mostly verbalized in esoteric language. It is the language of God and Angels.