What does the Bible say about the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is a such a key part of my faith as a Christian. I definitely could not have made it without him after I lost Sam. But why? And why would you need to know his characteristics?
I believe knowing the characteristics of the Holy Spirit will help you to make it through in this life…
- He will partner with you and give you wisdom
- He will help you know what decisions to make
- He will help you get through hard times
- And so much more
In this post we’re going to look at the 7 characteristics of the Holy Spirit and how they apply to your life.
What does Jesus say about the Holy Spirit?
Jesus knew how hard this life could be. He also knew that he had to leave and go back to heaven to be with the Father. But in his goodness, he didn’t want to leave us alone to figure this messy life out by ourselves.
That’s why he promised his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit to help them (and us!) in this life.
But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
John 16:7-8
Here are some more scriptures where Jesus explains all about the Holy Spirit and what a gift he is to us!
If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
John 14:15-17
I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
John 14:25-26
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.
John 16:13-15
What are the 7 characteristics of the Holy Spirit?
Teaches Us All Things
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 14:26
Have you ever tried to remember something and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t think of it? That’s the worst!
Good news – the Holy Spirit will bring back to your memory everything that you’ve learned in your Christian journey:
- All the Bible verses you’ve read
- All the sermons you’ve listened to
- All the devotions you’ve read
And he’ll bring them to your mind in the exact moment you need them most!
Getting a Bible journal or scripture notebook to write in can help you keep a record of what He’s teaching you so you can revisit those lessons later!
Guides You Into Truth
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
John 16:13
Have you ever been reading the Bible and and not really understood what you were reading? One of the Holy Spirit’s jobs is to guide us into the truth. The source of our truth is the word. So His job is to bring to light the things that we read in the scripture.
There have been so many times that I’ve been reading a verse that I’ve read many times before, but I learned something completely new and different reading that same verse!
The Holy Spirit is there to bring revelation and knowledge about the scriptures that we wouldn’t have without him.
Helps You Pray
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 through wordless groans. 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.
Romans 8:26-27
Have you ever had a time in your life that you knew you needed to pray about a situation but the words just would not come?
Another great thing about the Holy Spirit is his ability to know exactly what to say in these situations.
Lean on him in this times and trust that he’s praying the heart of the Father for whatever situation you’re facing.
Produces Godly Fruit in Your Life
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
I’m sure we can all agree that we could all use more fruit of the Spirit in our lives!
Making sure we are showing all of these fruits daily in our lives can be hard. However, the more we walk with the Holy Spirit and strive to be like Jesus, the more these fruits will become evident in our lives.
Enables You to Walk In Your Calling
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
Luke 4:14-15
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to walk in the calling of God in my life without the Holy Spirit. Because the truth is, without the Holy Spirit I would be trying to fulfill the calling in my life on my own strength and I know 100% I’m not strong enough to stay consistent with the calling God has placed in my life.
Or worse, I could begin to think I am strong enough and pride would take over.
When you allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen you to walk out the calling in your life, then all glory goes to God and you will continue to make his name famous – and in turn he will bring great joy and fulfillment to your life!
Empowers You with Strength
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 1may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ
Ephesians 3:16-18
There’s never been a time that I’ve felt the strength of the Holy Spirit more than when I lost my son. There was no way I could have made it through without him. He comforted me during that time of such deep grief (and still brings me comfort years later).
If you’re going through a hard time in your life, I encourage you to allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you and give you strength to make it through.
You don’t have to walk through this life alone!
Gives Spiritual Gifts
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
This verse is a beautiful picture of the body of Christ. Each one of us are unique and special.
God made each one of us with a special gifting that is brought on by the Holy Spirit. And when we use these giftings together with other believers, great things can happen for the kingdom!
Let’s work together to make God known to the hurting!
Bible Study Resources for Growing Closer to the Holy Spirit
These tools can help you dive deeper into the Word and grow in your walk with the Holy Spirit!
+Study Bible (NLT translation)
+No-bleed Bible highlighters and pens
+Guided prayer journal
+“Read it When” Scripture card set
+Devotional on the Holy Spirit
Related Posts:
15 Promises of God when Life Gets Hard
Ep. 2 // 3 Ways you can have Peace in the middle of your storm
Peace that Doesn’t Make Sense
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