The Holy Spirit is often misunderstood. The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit not as “it” but as “He.” He is God, the third person of the Trinity. He is here to take the place of Jesus. He is just as much God as the Father and Jesus the Son.

In Acts chapter 1, the disciples wanted to know when Jesus was going to come back and take care of their problems. An honest question. After all, if we are going to trust The Lord, then we need to know when He is going to act on our behalf. If we don't think that He will act, then what's the use?

Jesus answered their question in a funny way. He inferred that they were asking the wrong question because He did not answer it directly. Instead, He told them that it was not their business to know all of the times and circumstances regarding His coming again. He didn’t want them to focus on that. He said, I will give them power to go and tell what they had seen and heard. He would give them a gift, and when they received it, He wanted them to go give it away. It is Jesus’ unconditional love. It will never run out, but will be increased.

The Holy Spirit was about to fall back on mankind, the first time since the Garden of Eden. Man was finally going to be returned to normal. A clay vessel filled with God. Jesus knew that we would be concerned about our earthly life and what we eat or drink because we have been so brainwashed. But He also knew that being returned to normal meant that we needed to focus on relationship and not on our earthly needs. This was the entire purpose of the Cross, to return man to normal.

What did Jesus say to His disciples in John 14-16 about His going away?

Maybe what He said would have looked like this:

“ Don't be upset, I am making a place of comfort for you.” Thomas said, “We don't know how to get there.” “It’s a place in the Father and I am the way,” said Jesus. They said, “Oh, well just show us the Father.” Jesus said, “I have been with you for so long and you still don't understand the original blueprint of how man is supposed to be. Well you see it’s this way, the Father lives in me and I live in Him through the Spirit. Remember Adam, he was a container for God. Well, in the same way I am going to return you guys back to normal people; I will send the Spirit to live in you so that you can be one with Me and the Father.

“But the Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and not everybody in the world can or will receive Him, they won't recognize Him. You see, not everybody wants Him. And since this is a love relationship, there has to be love on both sides, not just one. The folks who keep my Word and spend time in my Word are the ones who really love the Father and Me. To those folks We will make ourselves real; We will unveil ourselves to them and they will actually experience God inside of them.

“You see it works like this. A grapevine is all branches. However, the branches make up the vine and they are actually one with each other. Not like a tree, which has a trunk and then branches, but a vine is actually made up of the branches. I am the vine and you are the branches. The Spirit is like the sap and the life that runs through the vine and branches. It is this kind of combining of lives and oneness that you will experience.

“Now I don't want you to think that just because you experience distress and problems that I have not told you the truth. As a matter of fact, you will experience all kinds of tribulation and persecution and problems. But the Spirit will be living in you and He will remind you how much the Father and I love you no matter what happens. He will give you peace and joy in the middle of all of the problems. He will speak with you just as if I were here. He will actually take my place and be your helper and comforter just as I have been. However, He will be in you, so actually, it is going to be better. No matter what happens, just know that I have overcome all the evil that can be thrown at you. You see, at the Cross I will disarm and destroy all evil, and when I come to live inside of you through the Spirit, it is that victory that is living in you. What really counts is that We will be connected with you, and be one with you.

“Also, Our work on this earth will continue. Actually, Our work will even be greater because you will multiply and cover the earth and bear the fruit of more spiritual children than I could ever bear if I stayed here. Whatever help you need with this work, just ask the Father and He will give you whatever you need.

Sincerely,

Your Friend, Jesus”

John 14 and 16 indicate that Jesus was getting ready to leave His men, and was telling them that He was coming back soon. Then He explained that He was actually coming back in a different form; not in body, but in spirit. His Spirit would actually get inside of them and be their comfort, helper, intercessor, standby, advocate and Strengthener. He said that it would somewhat depend upon their keeping His Word. He told them that the Holy Spirit would take His place and bring them messages from the Father directly. He said that in this life that we would experience a lot of trouble in the world, but that He would give us peace and joy, and not to worry because He has conquered the world.

In short, the Holy Spirit is not some weird experience or cloud of this age, but the Holy Spirit is called a He. He is God in another form. He is Jesus. He is the Father. He takes their place on this planet and in the realm of our experience for right now. The only way one can experience God while in these bodies and on this earth (exceptions of course) is via the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would only live in a custom made Temple. The same is true today, except that Temple is our body!

Jesus explained the original blueprint: God in Man, just like He had demonstrated. Then He said that in a little while they would not see Him any more, then they would see Him but in a different form. He told them that the world would no longer see Him because they did not really love Him, so He will be veiled from the world in this new form. But He said in John 14:21 that if we live in His Word and in the Spirit of Truth, then He will clearly show Himself to us.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Standby) that He may remain with you forever, The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him, nor know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans...” (John 14:16-18).

“However I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable, good, expedient, advantageous, that I go away, because if I do not go away the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby, will not come to you, into close fellowship with you. But if I go away, I will send Him to you, to be in close fellowship with you.” (John 16:7).

John 15 explains that the mystery is Christ in you with the parable of the branch and the vine. They cannot be separated, but the branch receives its life from the vine, the sap, the very life of the vine flows into the branch. We are the branches; not only do we abide in the vine, but also the vine, its life, abides in us. That is the mystery that even angels knew nothing of. Christ in you the hope of glory!

God has chosen mere man, to be the container for Himself, the Holy Spirit.

He chose my body to be one of the Temples, or dwelling places of the Holy Spirit. And He chose me to be a part of a larger Temple that is His Body or the Church. All you have to do is look into the Old Testament and you will see that it was no small thing for the Holy Spirit to dwell somewhere. There had to be dozens of animals brought to sacrifice; the priest had very special tasks to perform in order to keep everyone alive. Remember that we are not talking about coming into the presence of the Pope or the President, but unto the Creator of all things. And He chose to live in you and me! We belong to Him; we are His property!

1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own…”

Remember, each time you say something or do something that God is living inside of you. Is He proud of you?

Now look up the following Scriptures for yourself:

1. God the Father anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit for His earthly ministry. Acts 10:38

2. John the Baptist saw the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus. Matthew 3:16

3. The Holy Spirit enabled Jesus to preach and minister. Luke 4:18

4. Jesus cast out devils by the power of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12:28

5. Jesus told His disciples that the Father would send the Holy Spirit. John 14:16 & 26

6. Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would reveal Jesus to His disciples. John 16:14 & 15:26

7. Jesus told His disciples that they would receive power to be witnesses for Him. Acts 1:8

8. John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit. Mark 1:8

9. Jesus told His disciples that they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:5

10. Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. Luke 24:49

11. In the Old Testament book of Joel, God promised the Holy Spirit. Joel 2:28-29

12. The promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1-4

13. The Holy Spirit could not be given until Jesus was crucified, buried, resurrected and ascended back to Heaven (glorified). John 7:39

Note: To be glorified means to show and reveal the truth and the real character of something.

14. Jesus received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father to dispense to us when He was exalted to the right hand of God after the resurrection. Acts 2:33

15. The unbelievers could see and hear the Holy Spirit, and they knew He had been poured out. Acts 2:33

16. The unbelievers could hear the disciples speaking in their own language through the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:7-8

17. The disciples quoted Joel 2:28-29 and said that what was happening was the fulfillment of that prophecy. Acts 2:17

18. Peter said that the promise of the Holy Spirit was for all, for all whom God would call. Acts 2:39

19. God promised the Holy Spirit to anyone who asked. Luke 11:13

20. The Holy Spirit reveals to us the mysteries of God, the things that God has hidden away for us, in order to bring us into His presence. I Corinthians 2:7 -16

21. Where does the Holy Spirit like to live?
He likes to live with lambs or lamb-like people. Lambs are not so smart or wise, they are foolish and trusting. They are helpless and do not stand up for their own rights. They will not complain when led to the slaughterhouse. They absolutely need a shepherd, just to survive. They cannot operate independently. When they try, they always get lost and injured. Jesus was the Lamb of God. John 1:29 and 1:32.

Scriptures for this lesson

“...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good, and healing all those who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38).

“And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and He abode on Him. And I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water, that One said to me, Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon Him, He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:32-33).

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me; because of this He has anointed Me to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and new sight to the blind, to set at liberty those having been crushed” (Luke 4:18).

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you”(Matthew 12:28).

“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, so that He may be with you forever” (John 14:16).

“But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you” (John 14:26).

“He will glorify Me, for He will receive of Mine and will announce it to you” (John 16:14).

“And when the Comforter has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me” (John 15:26).

“But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

“I indeed have baptized you in water, but He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8).

“For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5).

“And behold, I send the promise of My father on you. But you sit in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

“And it shall be afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions. And also I will pour out My Spirit on the slaves and on the slave women in those days” (Joel 2:28-29).

“And in the fulfilling of the day of Pentecost, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly a sound came out of the heaven as borne along by the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And tongues as of fire appeared to them, being distributed; and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled of the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).

“But He spoke this about the Spirit, which they who believed on Him should receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39).

“Therefore being exalted to the right of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).

“And they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Behold, are not these who speak all Galileans? And how do we each hear in our own dialect in which we were born?” (Acts 2:7-8).

“And it shall be in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17).

“For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13).

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, which God has hidden, predetermining it before the world for our glory;
8 which none of the rulers of this world knew (for if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory).
9 But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,” nor has it entered into the heart of man, “the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
12 But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no man.
16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:7-16).

“The next day John sees Jesus coming to him and says, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

“And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and He abode on Him” (John 1:32).

ISOB Discipleship Training Manual. Larry Chkoreff Who God is (The Holy Spirit)

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