This is the first in a series of studies for a small church group who wanted to understand who the Holy Spirit is, and what His role is in the Bible and the Christian life.

1. HOLY SPIRIT LESSON 1
SMALL GROUP STUDY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Led by Glenn Pease
INTRODUCTION
JACK HYLES, "One of the most grievous things that one can endure is to be ignored. How
grieved then, must the Holy Spirit be, for to be ignored has been His lot for these many
centuries! He, Who is the Indweller of the believer, the Anointer of the anointed, the Power
of the pulpit and the Fullness of power for the believer, continues to go about His work
with little or no acknowledgment or attention. Few sermons are preached about Him, fewer
books are written of Him; yet He quietly continues to offer us leadership, comfort, wisdom,
strength, teaching and power.
He must be a wonderful Person to go about His work among us with little or no
recognition.
PARADOX
"Of the Three Persons of the God head, the Holy Spirit is the least understood. It is ironic
that the Person who is closest to us, the Being who produces the new birth in us, who dwells
in us and transforms us, is the One we know so little about."
ANOTHER WROTE, "'The Holy Spirit Is The Most Ignored Person In The Christian Church
Today.
Since the beginning of time, The Holy Spirit has suffered the most rejections. If you are feeling
rejected or depressed right now, talk to Him, He can help you.
He absolutely knows how it feels to be ignored and given the cold shoulder which so many
christians give.
ANOTHER, "I've heard other leaders say that as evangelical Christians we typically treat the
Holy Spirit as that weird uncle or cousin of the family. We know He exists, and we know that

2. He is a part of the Trinity of God, but because we don't know what to dowith Him, we tend
to ignore Him.
ANOTHER SAID, "Listening to the Holy Spirit and following His leading and guidance is so
important in the life of every child of God. Many today have gotten into the wrong jobs,
wrong relationships and made terrible decisions because they ignored the counsel of the Holy
Spirit. God the Father is in heaven, and so is the Lord Jesus. But the Holy Spirit is here with us,
as the administrator of the grace of Jesus Christ and the love of God in our lives today. He’s
the one that makes the presence of the Lord Jesus real to us. He communicates the mind of
the Father to everyone who has received Him."
Barna survey found " most Christians in the United States do not believe that the Holy Spirit
is a living force. Fifty-eight percent strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement that the
Holy Spirit is "a symbol of God's power or presence but is not a living entity."
Only one-third of Christians disagreed with the statement that the Holy Spirit is not just
symbolic (9 percent disagreed somewhat, 25 percent disagreed strongly). Nine percent
expressed they were unsure.
Interestingly, about half (49 percent) of those who agreed that the Holy Spirit is only a symbol
but not a living entity, agreed that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it
teaches. The Bible states that the Holy Spirit is God's power or presence, not just symbolic.
Romans 8:5 ESV
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those
who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
My conviction is that the study of the holy spirit can be the most life changing study you can
ever do for the more you grasp the purpose and workof the spirit the more you become all
that God wants you to be, and you cannot reach that goal without Him who is called the
Helper.
SPURGEON, "THE unspeakable gift of the Son of God was followed up by the equally priceless
gift of the Holy Spirit. Must it not be confessed by us that we think far less of the Holy Spirit
than we should? I am sure we do not exalt the Savior too much, nor is He too often the
subject of our meditations; but at the same time, we give to the Holy Spirit a very

3. disproportionate place, compared with the Redeemer. I fear that we even grieve the Spirit by
our neglect of Him. Let me invite your devout contemplations to the special workof the Holy
Spirit. Such an invitation is necessary. The subject has not grown stale, for it too seldom
occupies our thoughts.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,honor the Spiritof Godas you wouldhonor Jesus Christif He were present!
Do not ignore the Presence ofthe Holy Spirit in your soul!I beseechyou,do not live as if you had not
heard whetherthere were a Holy Spirit. To Him pay your constant adorations. Reverence the august
Guestwho has beenpleasedto make your body His sacred abode.Love Him, obey Him,worship Him!"
john macarthur, "The apostle Paul talks about beingin Christ and Christ beingin us. And, of course,
you recognize that the Holy Spirit livesinyou, right? You are the temple ofthe Spiritof God. You are
the veryhouse inwhich the Holy Spirit dwells. And you can be led by the Spirit, and are led by the
Spirit,and filledwiththe Spirit, and enabledby the Spirit, and giftedby the Spirit,and taught by the
Spirit,and illuminatedbythe Spirit."
Macarthur, "Nowkeepin mindthat our Lord is addressingHis disciplesonThursday night of Passion
Week,and theyknow He’s goingto die. He has told them He wouldbe arrested;He would be beaten,
mistreated;He’ll go through a trial; He’ll be crucified; He’ll rise again; and then He’sgoing to heaven,
go back to the Father. They’re having trouble with this,lots of trouble. In fact, chapter 14 beginswith
that: “Stoplettingyour hearts be troubled. Stop lettingyour hearts be troubled. I’m goingto deal
with the trouble that you’re feeling.”
They were frightened, they were fearful, they were anxious, they were doubting, because Jesus was
everything to them. He was absolutely everything to them. Everything at every level of their life
came through Him; He was it. All their dependencies were on Him for absolutely everything; and now
He is leaving and they’re filled with fear, and anxiety, and dread. And so that Thursday night, He
unpacks to themthe very nightin which He was betrayed.
read John 16 5-15 then discuss the amazing revelation of
Jesus.
HOLY SPIRIT
We must not ignore the HOLY SPIRIT
He is the most important person in our lives
HE represents the mind of CHRIST

4. The church today has so much real estate
Classy technology, public relations ability and
Human talent that many
Prefer to get along without the HOLY SPIRIT!
Jesus operated HIS LIFE with the Holy Spirit
Jesus needed the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT--
Today men and women of God also need
The ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT but
We see that many ignore the HOLY SPIRIT
Today ‘big’ churches are built by men with
Strong entrepreneurial skills and weak exegetical skills--
A lot of them live on emotion
They leave God out of the equation--
We must not ignore the HOLY SPIRIT
We need HIM more than ever before
The HOLY SPIRIT brings the MIND of CHRIST

5. The church today has so much real estate
Classy technology, public relations ability and
Human talent that many
Prefer to get along without the HOLY SPIRIT
Mark Frank Copyright 2018
Mark A. Copeland
I. THE PROMINENCEOF THE SPIRIT IN "THE BIBLE"
NAMES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT • Referred to by a total of 57 names in the Bible •
Referred to by 18 names in the Old Testament • Referred to by 39 names in the New
Testament • Five names are common to both the Old & New Testaments • Of the 52
individual names: 17 express relation to God 5 express relation to Christ 5 Indicate His
Divine nature 7 describe His own character 17 indicate His relation to man
A. HIS MENTION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT... 1. The O.T. mentions the
Holy Spirit 88 times 2. 23 books in the O.T. refer to the Holy Spirit 3.
Although the actualexpression"Holy Spirit" is used only 3 times - e.g., Psa
51:11 4. Other expressions referring to the Spirit are used (e.g., "the Spirit of
God") - Gen 1:2
B. HIS MENTION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT... 1. The N.T. mentions the
Holy Spirit 264 times 2. 60 or more references in the gospels 3. Acts has 57
references (whichis why some call it "The Acts Of The Holy Spirit") 4. The
epistles refer to the Holy Spirit 132 times 5. Only 3 epistles make no mention
of the Spirit (Philemon, 2 & 3 John)
22 references in Romans. Romans has more references than any other epistle • 17
references in 1 Corinthians

6. The New Testament reveals four commands given to the Christian relating to the Holy
Spirit. Two are positive and two are negative.
“Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
“Live by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16).
“Do not grieve the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:30).
“Do not quench the Spirit"(I Thessalonians 5:19).
70 Functions of the Holy Spirit
By revtrev
In her book, Spiritual Revolution Patricia King shows really good Biblical research on the
function of the Holy Spirit. This list of the 70 Functions of the Holy Spirit come from her
research.
He leads and directs. (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 2:27; 4:1; Acts 8:29; Romans 8:14)
The Holy Spirit speaks – in, to and through. (Matthew 10:20; Acts 1:16; 2:4; 13:2; 28:25;
Hebrews 3:7)
He gives power to cast out devils. (Matthew 12:28)
He releases power. (Luke 4:14)
The Holy Spirit anoints. (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38)
The Holy Spirit “comes upon” or “falls on”. (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 2:25; 3:22;
4:18; John 1:32,33; Acts 10:44; 11:15)
He baptizes and fills. (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:15,41,67; 3:16, 4:1; John 1:33; Acts
1:4-5; 2:4; 4:8,31; 6:3,5; 7:55; 10:47; 11:24; 13:9,52; 1 Corinthians 12:12)
He gives new birth. (John 3:5,8)
He leads into worship. (John 4:23)
He flows like a river from the spirit man. (John 7:38-39)

7. He ministers truth. (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13)
He dwells in people. (John 14:17; Romans 8:9,11; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
The Holy Spirit gives comfort, health, and strength. (John 15:26; Acts 9:31)
He proceeds from the Father. (John 15:26)
He shows us things to come. (John 16:13)
He gives the gift of tongues. (Acts 2:4)
He releases prophecy, dreams and visions. (Acts 2:17,18; 11:28)
He can transport people physically. (Acts 8:39)
The Holy Spirit brings direction and guidance. (Mark 13:36; 13:11; Acts 10:19; 11:12;
21:11; 1 Timothy 4:1
He is Holiness. (Romans 1:4)
He is the Spirit of life and gives life. (Romans 8:1,10)
The Holy Spirit invites us to walk with Him. (Romans 8:4-5)
He groans, prays and intercedes. (Romans 8:26-27)
He is a Sword. (Ephesians 6:17)
The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives. (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9)
He helps us in our weakness. (Romans 8:26)
He bears witness. (Acts 5:32 15:28; 20:23; Romans 8:15-16; Hebrews 10:15; 1 John 4:13;
5:6-8)
He is the Spirit of Adoption. (Romans 8:15)
He gives power to mortify the deeds of the flesh. (Romans 8:13)
He provides power for signs, wonders and preaching. (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4)
He ministers love. (Romans 15:30)
He searches the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)
He quickens the mortal body. (Romans 8:13)
He brings revelation. (Luke 2:25; 1 COrinthians 2:10,12; Ephesians 1:17-19; 3:5)

8. The Holy Spirit reveals to us what has been given by God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)
He washes, sanctifies, purifies and justifies. (Romans 15;16, 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2
Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:2,22)
He gives gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Hebrews 2:4)
He seals us. (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30)
He is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
He changes us into the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
He is the promise of the blessing of Abraham. (Galatians 3:14)
He releases a cry to the Father. (Galatians 4:6)
He gives access to the Father. (Ephesians 2:18)
The Holy Spirit builds us together for a house for God. (Ephesians 2:22)
He strengthens us with might. (Ephesians 3:16)
He is unity. (Ephesians 4:3-4)
He is wine. (Ephesians 5:18)
He supplies. (Philippians 1:19)
He is fellowship. (2 Corinthians 13;14; Philippians 2:1)
He is grace. (Hebrews 10:29)
He is glory. (1 Peter 4:14)
The Holy Spirit speaks to the churches. (Revelation 2:11,17,29; 3:6,13,22)
He calls for the Bridegroom. (Revelation 22:17)
The Holy Spirit has the power of conception and anointing for God’s purposes. (Matthew
1:18,20; Luke 1:35)
He teaches. (Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 John 2:27)
He gives commandments. (Acts 1:2)
He provides power to be a witness. (Acts 1:8)
He provides boldness. (Acts 4:31)

9. He give sight. (Acts 9:17)
He commissions. (Acts 13:4)
He restrains. (Acts 16:6)
He appoints ministries and gives them authority. (Acts 20:28)
He releases love. (Romans 5:5)
He is righteousness, peace and joy. (Romans 14:17; 15:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:6)
He confesses Christ’s Lordship. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
The Holy Spirit brings the gospel. (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6)
He is keeping power. (2 Timothy 1:14)
He brings renewal. (Titus 3:5)
He moves on believers. (2 Peter 1:21)
He convicts the world. (John 16:8)
He was with the Father and Son from the beginning, and all three persons of the Godhead
were involved in creation.
Third, the Holy Spirit was the agent of creation. In the account of creation at the very
beginning of the Bible, we are told: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the
earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:1-2). The Hebrew
word translated as “Spirit” here is ruach, which also can mean “breath.” The ruach
elohim, “the Breath of the Almighty,” is the agent in creation.
Genesis 1:26, where God said, “Let us make man in our image.”
who was he talking to?
The Holy Spirit is the agent not only of creation, but also of God’s new creation in Christ.
He is the author of the new birth. We see this in John 3:5, in the classic

10. encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, where Jesus
said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of
water and the Spirit, he cannotenter the kingdom of
God” (v. 5).
The Spirit is the author of the Scriptures. Second Timothy 3:16 tells us,
“All Scripture is breathed out by God. …”The Greek word
behind this phrase is theopneustos, which means “God-breathed.” In creation, we have the
Spirit breathing His energy, releasing the power of God in the act of creation. We have the
same thing in the act of redemption, and we see it again in the divine act of giving to us the
record in the Scriptures themselves. The doctrine of inspiration is entirely related to the
work of God the Holy Spirit. Peter affirms this view, writing, “No prophecy
was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke
from God as they were carried along by the Holy
Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).The men who wrote the biblical books were not
inventing things. Neither were they automatons. “They were real people in real historical
times with real DNA writing according to their historical settings and their personalities.
But the authorship of Scripture was dual. It was, for instance, both Jeremiah and God,
because Jeremiah was picked up and carried along. Indeed, in Jeremiah’s
case, God said, “Behold, I have put my words in your
mouth” (1:9).
"Holy Spirit"
(feat. Kim Walker-Smith)

11. There is nothing worth more
That will evercome close
No thing can compare
You're our living hope
Your presence Lord
I've tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of love
When my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence Lord
Holy spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
There is nothing worth more
That will evercome close
No thing can compare
You're our living hope
Your presence Lord
I've tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of Love
When my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone

12. Your presence Lord
Holy spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Holy spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Holy spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord

13. Holy spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Holy spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
THE BREATH OF GOD
The wind or breath
Genesis 2:7 7Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living
being.
Ps 33:6 The word translated “breath” is the same word that is used for
“Spirit”.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

14. their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
Job12:10 In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all
mankind.
Job 32:8 But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives
them understanding.
Psalm150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the
LORD.
Job 33:4 4The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives
me life.
Job34:14-15 14Ifit were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath,
all humanity would perish togetherand mankind would return to the dust.
Ps 104:30 When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
JUDGMENT
Exodus 15:10
"You blew with Your wind, the sea coveredthem; They sank like lead in the
mighty waters.
2 Samuel 22:16

15. "Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were
laid bare By the rebuke of the LORD, At the blast of the breath of His
nostrils.
Psalm18:15
Then the channels of waterappeared, And the foundations of the world were
laid bare At Your rebuke, O LORD, At the blast of the breath of Your
nostrils.
Job 4:9
"By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His angerthey come to
an end.
2 Thessalonians 2:8
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the
breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
ALL TURN TO
Eze 37:9-14
The same Hebrew word is here translated “breath”, “wind” and “spirit”;
Read the above text and be amazed at the power and purpose of the Spirit or the breath of
GOD.
John 3:8 New International Version (NIV)

16. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes
from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
WIND
Wind is powerful, invisible, and mysterious. Jesus said,
"The wind blows where it wants, and you hear the sound thereof, but can
not tell from where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is
born of the Spirit." John 3 v 8. In other words, we cannot observe the work of the Holy
Spirit, but He is working invisibly and powerfully: just as we can see the effect of the wind,
but not the wind itself.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty
wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting (Acts 2:2).
Consider several properties of the wind.
Wind is moving air, and this fresh air is needed continually for life itself. ...
Wind has no material shape or form. It is a mysterious, unseen force. Nevertheless, its
presence is known by its effects. ...
Wind is a powerful force. It cannot be stopped or controlled by people. Likewise, the Holy
Spirit is not subject to human control.
There is great variety in the wind. It may be a soft whisper gently rustling the leaves on the
trees, or it may be a hurricane uprooting trees.
Likewise, the Holy Spirit may gently bring a person to Christ, such as a little child raised in
a Christian home, or he may work in some climactic, dramatic way to bring conviction and
conversion to the hardened sinner.
In Acts 16, contrast Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened (verse 14), and the jailer, who
needed an earthquake to jar him to his spiritual sense (verse 30). In both cases, the Holy
Spirit did the regenerating work.
women more likely by gentle method and men by radical.
GENTLENESS, "John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to
them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

17. It is like the voiceless wind, known not by visible perception, but by its effects.
MEDICINE HAS SIDE EFFECTS AND SO IT IS WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Again he uses it in connection with the personal imparting of the Holy Ghost to His own
disciples. “He breathed on them and said, receive ye the Holy Ghost.”
In keeping with this figure the Hebrew and Greek word is the same as that used for the
wind, or the breath. The Holy Ghost is the breath of God. This emblem expresses at once
the gentleness and the strength of the Holy Ghost. His coming may be as quiet as the
evening zephyr, or mighty as the tempest’s power. When He descended on Pentecost, there
was a sound as of a mighty rushing wind; when He came afterwards to the assembled
disciples, the place was shaken where they were assembled; when He answered the prayer
of Paul and Silas the prison rocked to its foundation, and the bolts and bars were loosed.
ray pritchard
Pay special attention to two words in this verse: “wind” and “Spirit.” Though they are two
words in English, in Greek they come from the same word: pneuma. We get the English
words pneumatic (an air-powered drill) and pneumonia (a disease of the lungs) from this
Greek word. Depending on the context, pneuma can mean breath, wind or spirit. In this
case, the same Greek word has two meanings in the same verse.
Wind serves as a particularly good symbol of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus points out to
Nicodemus, wind by its very nature is invisible and unpredictable. The wind that blows
today from the north may blow from the south tomorrow or from the east or west or not at
all. We feel its effect and hear it whistling through the leaves, but the wind itself is totally
free from man’s control. Wind exists everywhere on the earth, is continually in motion, and
may be experienced in varying degrees—from a slight breeze to a mighty rushing wind to
the destructive force of a tornado. In a closed room, the air soon becomes stagnant. But
when the window is open, the incoming wind blows out the stifling air. On a hot summer’s
day, a cool breeze refreshes everyone. Just as the wind is everywhere in the world, evenso
the Holy Spirit’s work is universal, not limited to one country, region, or race of humanity.
Similar to the unpredictability of the wind, no one can say for certain where the Spirit will
blow in great power today or tomorrow. As the wind is beyond man’s control, in the same
way no one can control the work of the Spirit. As the wind blows from the heavens, so the
Holy Spirit is sent from heaven.

18. Holy Spirit, Wind of heaven,
breathe fresh life into my soul
Come again, Thou Gift once given,
raise these bones and make me whole
As at creation, Lord Life-Giver,
stir the depths within my heart
Spring in me, Thou living River;
fill and flow through every part
Seal, Deposit, Guarantee,
Earnest of my Savior’s love,
grant me eyes of faith to see
his face who pleads for me above
Then come in fire in this dark hour,
Christ’s image in our hearts restore
Revive your church, your saints empower;
make us your witnesses once more.
Image Credit: Church of the Assumption of Mary, Polska Cerekiew – By Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich),
Charles Spurgeon explains some of the similarities.
In What Sense May the Holy Spirit Be Compared to the Wind?
3. I. We will consider IN WHAT SENSE THE HOLY SPIRIT MAY BE COMPARED TO THE WIND.

19. 4. The Spirit of God, to help the spiritually minded in their study of his characterand nature
condescends to compare himself to dew, fire, oil, water, and other suggestive types; and
among the rest, our Saviour uses the metaphorof wind. What was the first thought here
except that of mystery? It was the objection on the score of mystery which ourLord was
trying to remove from the mind of Nicodemus. Nicodemus in effect said, “I cannot
understand it; how can it be? a man born again when he is old, created over again, and that
from an invisible agency from above? How can these things be?” Jesus at once directed his
attention to the wind, which is none the less real and operative because of its mysterious
origin and operation. You cannot tell where the wind comes from: you know it blows from
the north or from the west, but at what particularplace does that wind start on its course?
Where will it pause on its onward flight? You see that it is blowing to the east or to the west,
but where is its stopping place? Where did these particles of air come from which rush so
rapidly past? Where are they going? By what law are they guided in their course, and where
will their journey end? The gale may be blowing due east here, but it may be driving west a
hundred miles away. In one district the wind may be rushing from the north, and yet not far
from it there may be a strong current from the south. Those who ascend in balloons tell us
that they encounter cross currents; one wind blowing in this direction, and another layer of
air moving towards an opposite quarter; how is this? If you have watched the skies, you must
occasionally have noticed a stream of clouds hurrying to the right, while higherup, another
company is sailing to the left. It is a question whether thunder and lightning may not be
produced by the friction of two currents of air travelling in different directions; but why is it
that this current takes it into its head to go this way, while anotherheads in quite another
direction? Will they meet across each other’s path in regions far away? Are there whirlpools
in the air as in the water? Are these eddies, currents, rivers of air, lakes of air? Is the whole
atmosphere like the sea, only composed of less dense matter? If so, what is it that stirs up
that great deep of air, and bids it to howl in the hurricane, and then constrains it to subside
into the calm? The philosopher may scheme some conjecture to prove that the “trade winds”
blow at certain intervals because of the sun crossing the equator at those periods, and that
there must necessarily be a current of air going towards the equatorbecause of the low
pressure created; but he cannot tell you why the weathercockon that church steeple turned
this morning from southwest to due east. He cannot tell me why it is that the sailor finds that
his sails are at one time filled with wind, and in a few minutes they fall loosely down, so that
he must steer upon another tackif he wishes to make headway. The various motions of the
air remain a mystery to all except the infinite Jehovah. My brethren, the similar mystery is
observed in the work of the Spirit of God. His person and work are not to be comprehended
by the mind of man. He may be here tonight, but you cannot see him: he speaks to one heart,
but others cannot hear his voice. He is not recognisable by the unrefined senses of the
unregenerate. The spiritual man discerns him, feels him, hears him, and delights in him, but

20. neither wit nor learning can lead a man into the secret. The believer is often bowed down
with the weight of the Spirit’s glory, or lifted up upon the wings of his majesty; but even he
does not know how these feelings are caused in him. The fire of holy life is at times gently
fanned with the soft breath of divine comfort, or the deep sea of spiritual existence stirred
with the mighty blast of the Spirit’s rebuke; but still it is always a mystery how the eternal
God comes into contact with the finite mind of his creature man, filling all heaven meanwhile,
and yet dwelling in a human body as in a temple—occupying all space, and yet operating
upon the will, the judgment, the mind of the poor insignificant creature called man.
We may enquire, but who can answer us? We may search, but who shall lead us into the
hidden things of the Most High? He brooded over chaos and produced order, but who shall
tell us how he did it? He overshadowed the Virgin and prepared a body for the Son of God,
but who shall dare to pry into this secret? His is the anointing, sealing, comforting, and
sanctifying of the saints, but how does he do all these things? He makes intercession for us
according to the will of God, he indwells us and leads us into all truth, but who among us can
explain to his companion the order of the divine working? Though veiled from human eye like
the glory which shone between the cherubim, we believe in the Holy Spirit, and therefore see
him; but if our faith needed sight to sustain it, we would never believe at all.
Did our Lord also not intend to hint at the sovereignty of the Spirit’s work? For what other
reason did he say, “The wind blows where it wishes?” There is an arbitrariness about the
wind, it does just as it pleases, and the laws which regulate its changes are unknown to man.
“Free as the wind,” we say,—“the wild winds.” So is the mighty working of God. It is a very
solemn thought, and one which should tend to make us humble before the Lord
To some of us he came like a “rushing mighty wind.” Oh, what tearings of soul there were
then! My spirit was like a sea tossed up into tremendous waves; made, as Job says, “To boil
like a pot,” until one would think the deep was hoary. Oh, how that wind came crashing
through my soul, and every hope I had was bowed as the trees of the forest in the tempest.
Read the story of John Bunyan’s conversion: it was just the same. Turn to Martin Luther: you
find his conversion to be similar. So might I mention hundreds of biographies in which the
Spirit of God came like a tornado sweeping everything before it, and the men could only feel
that God was in the whirlwind. To others he comes so gently, they cannot tell when the Spirit
of God first came. They remember that night when mother prayed so with brothers and
sisters, and when they could not sleep for hours, because the big tears stood in their eyes on
account of sin. They remember the Sunday School and the teacher there. They remember
that earnest minister. They cannot say exactly when they gave theirhearts to God, and they
cannot tell about any violent convictions. They are often comforted by that text, “One thing I
know, whereas I was blind, now I see”; but they cannot get any farther: they sometimes wish

21. they could. Well, they need not wish it, for the Spirit of God, as a sovereign, will always
choose his own way of operation; and if it is only the wind of the Holy Spirit, remember it is
as saving in its gentleness as in its terror, and is as efficient to make us new creatures when it
comes with the zephyr’s breath as when it comes with the hurricane’s force. Do not quarrel
with God’s way of saving you. If you are brought tothe cross be thankful for it, Christ will not
care how you got there. If you can say “He is all my salvation, and all my desire,” you never
came to that without the Spirit of God bringing you toit. Do not therefore thinkyou came the
wrong way, for that is impossible.
. Now, the Spirit of God comes from different directions. You know very well, dear friends,
that sometimes the Spirit of God will blow with mighty force from one denomination of
Christians; then suddenly they seem to be left, and God will raise up another body of
Christians, fill them with himself, and qualify them for usefulness. In the days of Wesley and
Whitfield, there was very little of the divine Spirit anywhere, except among the Methodists. I
am sure they do not have a monopoly on him now. The divine Spirit blows also from other
quarters. Sometimes he uses one man, sometimes another. We hear of a revival in the North
of Ireland, by and by it is in the South of Scotland. It comes just as God wishes, for direction;
and you know, too, dear friends, it comes through different instrumentalities in the same
Church. Sometimes the wind blows from this pulpit: God blesses me to your conversion.
Another time it is from my good sister, Mrs. Bartlett’s class; on a third occasion it is the
Sunday School; again, it may be another class, or the preaching of the young men, or from the
individual exertion of private believers.
God causes that wind to blow just whichever way he wishes. He works also through different
texts of Scripture. You were converted and blessed underone text: it was quite another that
was made useful to me. Some of you were brought to Christ by terrors, others of you by love,
by sweet wooing words. The wind blows as God directs.
In the Canticles he blows softly with the sweet breath of love: read on farther, and you find
that same Spirit blowing fiercely with threatening and denunciation; sometimes you find him
convicting the world “of sin, of righteousness, of judgment,” that is the north wind; at other
times revealing Christ to the sinner, and giving him joy and comfort; that is the south wind,
that blows softly, and gives a balminess in which poor troubled hearts rejoice; and yet “the
very same Spirit does all these works.”
In Lincolnshire, where the country is flat and below the level of the sea, they are obliged to
drain the land by means of windmills, and hundreds of them may be seen pumping up the

22. water in order to drain the land of the excess of moisture. In many parts of the country nearly
all the wheat and grain is ground by means of the wind. If it was not then for the wind, the
inhabitants would be put to great inconvenience. The Spirit of God is thus also a mighty
helper to all who will avail themselves of his influences. You are inundated with sin, a flood of
iniquity comes in; you can never bale out the torrent, but with the help of God’s Spirit it can
be done. He will so assist, that you shall see the flood gradually descending and your heart
once more purified. You always need to ask his help; fresh sin, like falling showers, will be
poured into you by every passing day, and you will need a continuous power to cast it out;
you may have it in God’s Spirit; he will with ceaseless energy help you to combat against sin,
and make you more than a conqueror. Or, on the other hand, if you need some power to
break up and prepare for you your spiritual food, you will find no betterhelp than what God’s
Spirit can give. In Eastern countries they grind grain by the hand, twositting at a small stone
mill; but it is a poor affair at best; so are our own vain attempts to prepare the bread of
heaven for ourselves. We shall only get a little, and that little poorly ground. Commentators
are good in their way, but give me the teaching of the Holy Spirit. He makes the passage clear
and gives me the finest of the wheat to eat. How often we have found our utter inability to
understand some part of divine truth; we asked some of God’s people and they helped us a
little, but after all, we were not satisfied until we took it to the throne of heavenly grace, and
implored the teachings of the blessed Spirit; then how sweetly it was opened to us; we could
eat of it spiritually. It was no longer husk and shell, hard to be understood; it was as bread to
us, and we could eat to the full. Brethren, we must make more use of the wisdom which
comes from above, for the Spirit like the wind, is open to us all, to employ for our own
personal benefit.
First . Windis Life-givingandLife-sustain-
ing. No wind,no life.Its veryelementsand
qualitiesor ingredientsare life-impartingand
life-sustaining.Cutoffthe wind and you there-
by cut offlife.

23. Second. WindisMysterious.
How can He, who fillsall immensity,isthe
Author of all life,andthe sustainerof all life,
come intoand occupy my life?Profound
secret!and yet somethingwe all may ex-
perience,andactually demonstrate!Because
a thingis mysteriousis no reason for its re-
jection.There is mystery all around us, and
we believe the mystery.Believe this,too,and
know it in a bright and victoriousexperience.
BARCLAY
You may not understand where a gale came from or where it is going to, but
you cansee the trail of flattened fields and uprooted trees that it leaves behind
it. There are many things about the wind you may not understand; but its
effectis plain for all to see."He went on, "the Spirit (pneuma, Greek #4151)is
exactly the same. You may not know how the Spirit works;but you cansee
the effectof the Spirit in human lives."
Dr. John Hutton used to tell of a workmanwho had been a drunken reprobate
and was converted. His work-mates did their best to make him feel a fool.
"Surely," they said to him, "you can't believe in miracles and things like that.
Surely, for instance, you don't believe that Jesus turned waterinto wine." "I
don't know," the man answered, "whetherhe turned water into wine when he
was in Palestine, but I do know that in my own house and home he has turned
beer into furniture!"
There are any number of things in this world which we use every day without
knowing how they work. Comparatively few of us know how electricity or

24. radio or televisionworks;but we do not deny that they exist because of that.
Many of us drive an automobile with only the haziestnotion of what goes on
below its hood; but our lack of understanding does not prevent us using and
enjoying the benefits which an automobile confers. We may not understand
how the Spirit works;but the effectof the Spirit on the lives of men is there
for all to see. The unanswerable argument for Christianity is the Christian
life. No man candisregard a faith which is able to make bad men good.
Jesus saidto Nicodemus:"I have tried to make things simple for you; I have
used simple human pictures taken from everyday life; and you have not
understood. How canyou ever expectto understand the deep things, if even
the simple things are beyond you?" There is a warning here for every one of
us. It is easyto sit in discussiongroups, to sit in a study and to read books, it is
easyto discuss the intellectual truth of Christianity; but the essentialthing is
to experience the power of Christianity. And it is fatally easyto start at the
wrong end and to think of Christianity as something to be discussed, not as
something to be experienced. It is certainly important to have an intellectual
graspof the orb of Christian truth; but it is still more important to have a
vital experience of the power of Jesus Christ. When a man undergoes
treatment from a doctor, when he has to have an operation, when he is given
some medicine to take, he does not need to know the anatomy of the human
body, the scientific effectof the anaesthetic,the wayin which the drug works
on his body, in order to be cured. 99 men out of every 100 acceptthe cure
without being able to say how it was brought about. There is a sense in which
Christianity is like that. At its heart there is a mystery, but it is not the
mystery of intellectual appreciation; it is the mystery of redemption.
New International Version 2 Timothy 3:16,
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness,

25. New Living Translation
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teachus what is true and to
make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong
and teaches us to do what is right.
The powerof the breath of God in divine inspiration pervades Scripture. God
breathed “the breath of life” into Adam (Genesis 2:7), and Jesus “breathedon
them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:22). In 2 Peter1:21 we are
told that “prophecynever had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke
from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Here we see the
truths of Scripture describedas coming directly from God, not from the will
of the writers He used to record them.
Holy Spirit, living breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Let the presence of the risen Lord,
Come renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see,
Give me passionfor Your purity;
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.
Holy Spirit, come abide within,
May Your joy be seenin all I do.

26. Love enough to coverevery sin,
In eachthought and deed and attitude.
Kindness to the greatestand the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my strivings into works ofgrace;
Breath of God show Christ in all I do.
Holy Spirit, from creation's birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show Your power once againon earth,
Cause Your church to hunger for your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise;
Lead us on the road of sacrifice,
That in unity the face of Christ
May be clearfor all the world to see.
Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Thankyou Music (Adm. by CapitolCMGPublishing.comexcl. UK & Europe,
adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family,
songs@integritymusic.com)

27. 1. Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
Until my heart is clean.
Let sunshine fill its inmost part,
Without a cloud between.
Breathe on me, breathe on me,
Holy Spirit breathe on me,
Take my heart and cleanse everypart,
Holy Spirit, breathe on me.
2. Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
My stubborn will subdue,
Teachme in ways, of living flame,
What Christ would have me do.
Breathe on me, breathe on me,
Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
Take my heart, and cleanse everypart,
Holy Spirit breathe on me.
3. Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
Fill me with power divine,
Kindle a flame of love and zeal
Within this heart of mine.
Breathe on me, breathe on me,

28. Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
Take my heart, and cleanse everypart,
Holy Spirit breathe on me.
4. Holy Spirit breathe on me,
Till I am all Your own,
Until my will is lostin Yours,
To live for You alone,
Breathe on me, breathe on me,
Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
Take my heart, and cleanse everypart,
Holy Spirit breathe on me.
JOHN PIPER
How Can I Seek the Spirit?
I will point to four interlocking ways that the Bible describes seeking the Spirit.
1. Meditate on what God has said in the Spirit-inspired Scriptures.
God has established a life-giving connection between his Spirit and his word. Jesus said in
John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have
spoken to you are spirit and life.” Or consider the parallel between Ephesians 5:18 and
Colossians 3:16.
Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. (Ephesians 5:18–19)

29. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all
wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to
God. (Colossians 3:16)
The command to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” stands in the place of the
command, “Be filled with the Spirit” because the indwelling of the word is the way we
experience the indwelling Spirit. If you want to be full of the Spirit, pursue the fullness of
the word.
2. Believe what you hear and see inthe word.
In Galatians 3:5 Paul asked, “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles
among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” So, the Holy Spirit is
supplied to us and works powerfully in us as we hear the word with faith — as we believe
it.
FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
IF we chose to study grace it would take a long time, if love it would eventake longer but
we hardly know where to start with the fellowship of the Spirit.
W A Criswell, "And then, as you know, for months now I have been collecting, gathering a
small library on the Holy Spirit. And in the days that lie ahead, if God gives us length of
days and strength and wisdom, there will be a long series of sermons on the Holy Spirit of
God. I have never made a study of the Holy Spirit. I look forward to it with deep earnest
anticipation. My first reaction to this whole study is one of overwhelming, inexpressible
amazement,God. I felt that I needed it for myself.
RICK RENNER
"The word "communion" is the Greek word koinonia, a word that has a whole flavor of
meanings, but one primary meaning is that of partnership.

30. An example of koinonia conveying the idea of partnership can be found in Luke 5:7 after
Jesus supplied a miraculous catch of fish. After the fishermen had fished all night and
caught nothing, Jesus told them to cast their nets on the other side. When they obeyed, they
caught such a massive amount of fish that the nets began to break!
Peter knew he couldn't handle this miraculous catch by himself, so he called to other
fisher¬men in nearby boats to come and assist him. Luke 5:7 says, "And they beckoned
unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them.
And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink."
If you stop and think about it, this really makes a lot of sense. When Jesus' earthly ministry
was in operation, He and the Holy Spirit always worked together. Jesus was conceived of
the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35); empowered by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16); and led by the
Holy Spirit (Matthew 4:1). Jesus also healed people by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts
10:38); cast out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28); was resurrected
from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11); and was seatedat God's
right hand in the heavenly places through the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:19,20).
Every time we see Jesus inthe Gospels, He is working hand in hand with the Holy Spirit. In
fact, Jesus evensaid He wouldn't initiate anything by Himself, indicating His total
dependence on the Spirit of God (John 5:30). Well, if Jesus neededthis kind of ongoing
partnership with the Holy Spirit in order to accomplish His divine role in the earth, we
certainly have to have it as well!
This means that just as the Holy Spirit wants to become your Partner, He also wants to
assume great responsibility for you in this world. If you wish, He'll stand by and watch you
try to do it all alone. But if you'll open your heart to the Spirit of God, He will assume a
more active role in your life. He wants you to know that you are not alone — and that He
will take responsibility for you!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Holy Spirit, I want to thank You for being my Partner in this world. I need Your
partnership. I know that without You, I am so limited in what I am able to do. You see
what I can't see; You know what I don't know; You have wisdom and insight that I don't
have. I simply must have Your help if I am going to do what God has askedme to do. I ask
You to please forgive me for all the times I have gotten in such a hurry that I didn't take
time to fellowship with You. From this moment on, I promise I will do my best to consult
You before I make a deci¬sion or take a single step!
I pray this in Jesus' name!

31. The meaning in this place seems to decide the otherwise doubtful sense of Php 2:1, “if there
be any fellowship of the Spirit.” Here, again, the context speaks of love and unity. So that it
is most natural to interpret the phrase in both places of the sense of unity, membership or
fellowship, which it is the peculiar work of the Holy Spirit to preserve in the Christian
Church.
HASTINGS
What is Communion? It is partnership, the having something in common with another. It
may be chiefly an outward thing, the sharing of a common business, or a common position,
or a common home. But it may be chiefly an inward thing, the sharing of common tastes
and sympathies, common joys and sorrows, common aims and aspirations, common
feelings and hopes of any kind. In both cases there is the idea of a perfect oneness between
two, so that what the one has the other has; what the one is the other is; what the one feels
the other feels. It is not one giving and the other receiving; it is both giving and both
receiving. It is not one speaking and the other listening; it is both speaking and both
listening. It is not one loving and the other loved; it is both equally loving and both equally
beloved. It is standing face to face, walking hand in hand, feeling that heart answers heart,
seeing eye to eye.
EACH PERSON OF THE TRINITY WANTS TO BLESS US WITH LOVE,GRACE AND
FELLOWSHIP.
How often these words are uttered without any real appreciation of their depth of meaning!
The word communion signifies having in common. It is used of our fellowship with one
another (1 Corinthians 10:16) and with God (1Jn 1:3). The bond of such fellowship is
always through the Holy Spirit. As the ocean unites all lands, and is the medium through
which they are able to exchange commodities, so does the blessedSpirit unite the Persons of
the BlessedTrinity to each other, and us to them, and secures that oneness for which our
Savior prayed.
MAY THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU ALL.

32. Paul doesn’t say, “May the Holy Spirit be with you.” Paul writes to the church in Rome
about “the Holy Spirit which has been given to us” (Rom.5:5). Every single Christian in the
Roman church as much as Paul himself had the Spirit as God’s great gift to every one of
them. Paul makes the privilege very clear, “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ
does not belong to him” (Rom. 8:9). No Christian can exist for a second as a believer
without the Holy Spirit. Paul has told the entire Corinthian congregation, “Do you not
know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?”
(I Cor. 6:19). Paul tells them, “We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body” (1 Cor.
12:13). The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to every man which seals that man as a Christian. So
Paul does not say, “May the Spirit be with you.” They had the Spirit already. The God-
given Spirit dwells in the mere believer. Those who suppose that the Spirit may not be
given to a person till some time after he becomes a Christian are mistaken. Through the
Spirit we’ve been given life. Through the Spirit we were made new creations. Through the
Spirit the blood of Christ was sprinkled on us. Through the Spirit we turned from our sins
and trusted in Jesus Christ. Through the Spirit we change. So the gift of the Holy Spirit is
something we owe to God the Father or to God the Son. By either Father or Son every
single Christian receives this divine personality.
How many people? Everyone who is a believer! Not those alone who have high assurance,
or been Christians for twenty years, or those with blessedexperiences of God, but every
ordinary believer is indwelt by the Spirit. There is no Christian without him. How often do
we live in the Spirit? We live in the Spirit permanently, and absolutely all the time, not only
when the Spirit moves upon the Word in preaching, not only during religious awakenings,
not only when we are living as we ought to be living. The Spirit is in us 24 hours a day and
sevendays a week. And the believer is to reckon on this, that our union with the Spirit is an
irreversible condition of all our subsequent life. It is the whole context of our human life. If
we trust in Christ it is because of the Spirit. If we worship God, it is because of the Spirit. If
we do a small good work it is because of the Spirit. If we stutter a word of testimony for
Christ it is because of the Spirit.
Paul writes of the Holy Spirit’s fellowship, his koinonia: the word means having something
in common. There is a participation created by the Spirit. Paul tells these Corinthians that
“we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body” (I Cor. 12:13). None of us is a mere
individual Christian. Christians in isolation don’t exist. When a man joins a firm he
becomes a company man. When a man enlists to fight for his country he is put in a
regiment and given a rank in an organised structure. When a young professional joins a
football club he is given a place and taught to work in a team. When an instrumentalist is
employed by an orchestra he is given a chair and a music stand in a certain place, and a
schedule of rehearsals at which to turn up. There is no place for free spirits who can come
and go whenever they feel like and choosing what they want to do

33. In the Christian church. God puts every one of us in a congregation. There is immediate
involvement with one another, and a depth of affection and sympathy required. “If one
part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it”
(I Cor. 12:26). This is where we as members of a church are being challenged: “May the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.” What is our involvement in the participation
created by the Holy Spirit?
So what are the marks of the fellowship of the Holy Spirit being with a Christian?
Firstly, we avoid anything that grieves the Spirit
Again, we must look at the implications that our decisions have for the church. So to
maintain that Spirit-given fellowship we must do what is edifying, refrain from what
weakens others, from what divides and impoverishes, from what injures weaker brothers
and sisters.
Again, a mark of the fellowship of the Spirit is to acquire every grace that is positively
beneficial for the whole body.
If the fellowship of the Spirit is going to be with us then we must keepwalking in the Spirit.
There was a definitive time when we were born from above by the Spirit. We can think that
that was in the past, but the Bible keeps on saying, “No! It must be continuous.” Think of
the three thousand on the day of Pentecost how they continued steadfastly in the apostles’
fellowship. That was the result of being filled with the Spirit. It is a matter of tenaciously
binding ourselves to God, keeping in step with the Spirit. Think of the platoon and how
important it is for everyone to keepin step. Similarly we all have to walk to the beat of the
Spirit’s drum.
May the grace of Christ our Saviour,
And the Father’s boundless love,
And the Holy Spirit’s favour
Rest upon us from above.
Thus may we abide in union
With each other and the Lord,
And possess in sweet communion

34. Joys which earth cannot afford. (John Newton)
28th April 2002 GEOFF THOMAS
This is more than a prayer that all fellow-Christians may share together in the gifts and
graces of the Spirit. Not merely are they persons who have received the like gifts and
blessings; not merely children sitting at same table, enjoying each a like portion; the bond
is closer. All Paul's and Christ's teaching about the unity of the branches of a vine, the
limbs and parts of a body, all is in concentrated implication in this: "The communion of the
Holy Ghost." "The selfsame Spirit who is in me is Himself also in you. You and I are
members of the same ‘Christ,'
CLARKE
And the communion of the Holy Ghost - May that Holy Spirit, that Divine and eternal
energy which proceeds from the Father and the Son; that heavenly fire that gives light and
life, that purifies and refines, sublimes and exalts, comforts and invigorates, make you all
partakers with himself!
Κοινωνια, which we translate fellowship and communion, signifies properly participation;
having things in common; partaking with each other. This points out the astonishing
privileges of true believers: they have communion with God's Spirit; share in all its gifts
and graces; walk in its light; through him they have the fullest confidence that they are of
God, that he is their father and friend, and has blotted out all their iniquities: this they
know by the Spirit which he has given them.
BARNES
And the communion of the Holy Ghost - compare note, 1 Corinthians 10:16. The word
“communion” ( κοινωνία koinōnia) means properly participation, fellowship, or having
anything in common; Acts 2:42; Romans 15:26; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 2
Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:9; 1
John 1:3. This is also a wish or prayer of the apostle Paul; and the desire is either that they
might partake of the views and feelings of the Holy Spirit; that is, that they might have
fellowship with him; or that they might all in common partake of the gifts and graces which
the Spirit of God imparts. He gives love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith Galatians 5:22, as well as miraculous endowments; and Paul prays that these things

35. might be imparted freely to all the church in common, that all might participate in them;
all might share them.
YOUARED
When St. Paul says to the Corinthians, “The communion of the Holy Ghost be with you,” it
is as though he said, “I pray that you Corinthians may always have the Holy Ghost within
you as your Divine Guest and Companion, to enlighten you, to strengthen you, to comfort
you, to guide you; to fill you with God’s love, and joy, and peace; to form in you a holy
character like unto the character of Christ; to fit you for your admission to the heavenly
glory of Christ.”
It means that the Trinity is the basis of all true fellowship in the world. God is a fellowship
in his very being as a trinity of three persons.
Since God is within himself a fellowship, it means that his moral creatures who are made in
his image find fullness of life only within a fellowship. This is reflected in marriage, in the
home, in society and above all in the church whose koinonia is built upon the fellowship of
the three Persons. Christian fellowship is, therefore, the divinest thing on earth, the earthly
counterpart of the divine life, as Christ indeed prayed for his followers: ‘That they may all
be one; evenas thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us’ (Jn.
17:21).24
When we go to Florida we need to find fellowship with Christians there for life is not
enjoyable without fellowship or partnership without other believers.
fellowship of the Holy Spirit is with you all,�takes us back to Pentecost when the Holy
Spirit came and baptized all believers into the body of Christ when the church was formed.
Do you recall what that fellowship was like immediately after Pentecost? Lukes historical
record in Acts tells us:
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to
the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many
wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed
were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and
possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And day by day
continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they
were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and
having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day
those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47, emphasis mine)

36. Our fellowship in the Spirit, our commonality, the communion that we share as brothers
and sisters in Christ, counters quarrels and factions and competition. It�s the Holy Spirit
that creates unity among us, sustaining harmony in the church.
ALL THREE PERSONS ARE PARTNERS
The Holy Spirit is the means by whom the Father does the following works: creation and
maintenance of the universe (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30); divine revelation
(John 16:12-15; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21); salvation (John 3:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2);
and Jesus' works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38). Thus, the Father does all these things by the
power of the Holy Spirit.
by Rudi Swanepoel
The Greek word for fellowship here is koinonia. It literally means communion,
communication, distribution, joint participation, intimacy. Koinonia has three wonderful
applications:
Active Participation
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit is not one-way traffic. It is a sharing of wills, feelings, and
knowledge. You share what you have and know with Him and He shares what He has and
knows with you! Remember what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit? “He will tell you
whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him],
and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in
the future]. He will honor and glorify Me because He will take of (receive, draw upon)
what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. (John 16:13b-14)
within the fellowship of the Holy Spirit you can communicate your needs, desires and heart
with the Lord. His fellowship is not a dictatorship. It is not a monologue. We should
welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives. We should appreciate Him, adore Him and
recognize Him.
Partnership
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit represents a potent partnership. Partnerships are formed
in the business world to enhance growth, productivity and profit. Partners strategize
together and share in all successes andfailures. When we consider the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit He will always be the Senior Partner and we the junior partners because He
brings so much more to the table than us. His resources are infinite, His knowledge Divine,
His strategies perfect, His methods above reproach.

37. (Romans 8:26 “So too the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness”)
He is our Comforter. He brings joy in the place of sorrow and gives beauty for ashes. In
this amazing fellowship with Him all things work together for good for those who love God.
In fact one of the greatest chapters in the Bible describing this tremendous partnership we
have with the Holy Spirit is Romans 8. Go ahead and read the entire chapter today!
Thank God for koinonia! The greatest honor and privilege we have is companionship,
relationship and intimacy with Almighty God. To know Him is to love Him! So the next
time you read or hear 2 Corinthians 13:14 thank Him for His grace, love and fellowship in
your life!