016 - The Holy Spirit as a Teacher

To truly grasp the work of the Holy Spirit, one must first come to know Him as a person. Often, misunderstandings and extremes arise from attempts to study His work without recognizing His divine nature. It is crucial for our worship to determine whether the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, deserving of our adoration, faith, love, and total surrender, or simply an influence or power that God imparts. If we fail to acknowledge the Holy Spirit as a Divine Person, we risk robbing Him of the devotion He rightfully deserves. Additionally, we must discern whether the Holy Spirit is merely a mysterious force to be harnessed or a real, infinitely holy, wise, and tender Person who seeks to embrace and guide us. When we view the Holy Spirit as a power, our focus shifts to “How can I obtain more of the Holy Spirit?” But when understood as a Divine Person, our question becomes, “How can the Holy Spirit have more of me?” (R. A. Torrey)