THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is talked about throughout the whole of the Bible, from 
Genesis 1:1,2 to Revelation 22:17. In both the OT and the NT He is talked 
about together with, and in the same way as God the Father and God the Son.

A. His Characteristics

1. ETERNITY 	John 14:16 
2. OMNIPRESENCE	Psalm 139:7,8
3. OMNISCIENCE	John 16:13
4. OMNIPOTENCE	Luke 1:35
5. IMMUTABILITY	Romans 8:11

B. His Personality

1. Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as "Him", not "It" (John 16:7,8)
2. Jesus calls Him "The Comforter", or "The Counsellor" (John 14:16)
3. The Holy Spirit is also described as having personality:

	a. He can be hurt - Isaiah 63:10	e. He teaches - John 14:26
	b. He can be insulted - Mat 12:31f	f. He reports - John 15:26	
	c. He can be lied to - Acts 5:3		g. He intercedes - Romans 8:26
	d. He can be resisted - Acts 7:51

C. His Work

We cannot separate the work of the Holy Spirit from that of the Father or 
the Son, but there are some things which the Bible particularly associates 
the Holy Spirit with:

     a. He helps us make a commitment to God - John 3:5,6 & Rom 5:5
     b. He helps us grow as Christians - Romans 8:9 & Galatians 5:25
     c. He shows us what is true - John 14:26 & 1 Cor 2:9,10,14
     d. He helps us to pray - Romans 8:26,27 and Jude 20
     e. He helps us not to be addicted to sin - Romans 8:2,13
     f. He gives us confidence and hope - Romans 15:13
     g. He helps us to be good witnesses - Acts 1:8 & 1 Thess 1:5 etc.
     h. He puts us in responsible positions - Acts 13:1-3; 20:28
     i. He gives us faith - 2 Timothy 1:14
     j. He helps us to "bear fruit" - Galatians 5:22,23
     k. He will raise us up at the resurrection - Romans 8:11

D. The Unforgivable Sin (Read Matthew 12:31,32)

God can only forgive sin when we admit that we are in the wrong:
Prov 28:13	He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever 
confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Mat 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. 
(Including forgiveness!)
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive 
us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

God is willing to forgive anything if we ask Him to, but we have to ask.  
The Holy Spirit persuades us that we need to be forgiven, but if we ignore 
the Holy Spirit we may persuade ourselves that we don't need forgiveness, 
and therefore we won't ask for it, and therefore we won't get it.  That is 
the sin against the Holy Spirit.