Wednesday Bible Study

The Holy Spirit: Our Comforter, Convicter, and Counselor

Introduction:

• The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force (“it”) but a person with personality and will.
• The Holy Spirit is fully God, the third person of the Trinity.
• Our response to Him is a matter of holiness or sin.

I. Who is the Holy Spirit?

1. A Person:
   • Relatable and interactive.
   • Speaks, acts, and leads.
2. Fully God:
   • Not an angel or spiritual being but divine.
   • Commands authority and obedience.

II. What Does the Holy Spirit Do?

1. Salvation and Regeneration (Titus 3:3–7):
   • Brings about the washing of regeneration and renewal.
   • Applies the saving work of Jesus to the believer.
   • Indwells the believer at the moment of salvation.
2. Conviction (John 16:5–11):
   • Convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
   • Calls sinners to acknowledge their need for salvation.
   • Convicts believers from within, leading them back to God.
3. Teaching and Guiding (John 14:26; 16:13):
   • Teaches believers by bringing the Word of God to remembrance.
   • Points believers to Jesus and His truth.
   • Never contradicts the Word of God.

III. How Should We Respond to the Holy Spirit?

1. Responding to Conviction:
   • Recognize the difference between conviction (from the Holy Spirit) and condemnation (from the enemy).
   • Conviction leads to repentance, not self-loathing.
   • Repentance involves a genuine turning away from sin and toward God.
2. Living in Sensitivity to the Spirit:
   • Be humble and quick to repent when convicted.
   • Abide in the Word of God to grow in discernment of the Spirit’s guidance.
   • Avoid seeing the Holy Spirit as merely an “assistant” but as the empowering presence of God.

IV. Practical Application:

1. Rest in the Spirit’s Work:
   • Rejoice in the renewal and transformation brought by the Holy Spirit.
   • Trust in the Spirit’s constant presence and help in every aspect of life.
2. Be Led by the Spirit:
   • Seek alignment with the Word of God in all decisions.
   • Respond to the Spirit’s leading with obedience and trust.

Closing:

• The Holy Spirit’s conviction is always for our good and aligns us with God’s truth.
• Embrace the Spirit’s work in teaching, guiding, and empowering you to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
• Live daily in the assurance of His presence and the joy of His renewal.