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Billy Graham, world-renowned preacher, evangelist, and author, delivered the gospel message to more people face-to-face than anyone in history and ministried on every continent of the world in almost 200 countries and territories. His ministry extended far beyond stadiums and arenas, utilizing radio, television, film, print media, wireless communications, and thirty-four books, all that still carry the good news of God’s redemptive love for humanity.

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THE HOLY SPIRIT

Thomas Nelson

Contents

Preface.................................................................................viiIntroduction: Man's Cry-God's Gift......................................................xi1. Who Is the Holy Spirit?..............................................................12. When the Holy Spirit Has Come........................................................123. The Holy Spirit and the Bible........................................................334. The Holy Spirit and Salvation........................................................485. Baptism with the Spirit..............................................................636. The Seal, the Pledge, and the Witness of the Holy Spirit.............................797. The Christian's Inner Struggle.......................................................898. The Fullness of the Spirit...........................................................1109. How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit................................................12810. Sins Against the Holy Spirit........................................................14711. Gifts of the Spirit.................................................................15912. Further Gifts of the Spirit.........................................................18313. The Sign Gifts......................................................................19614. The Fruit of the Spirit.............................................................22715. The Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace...........................................23616. The Fruit of the Spirit: Patience, Kindness, Goodness...............................24817. The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control.....................25818. The Need of the Hour................................................................272Notes...................................................................................285

Chapter One

Some years ago a teacher in a fifth-grade class asked his students if anyone could explain electricity. One boy raised his hand. The teacher asked, "How would you explain it, Jimmy?" Jimmy scratched his head a moment and then replied, "Last night I knew it, but this morning I've forgotten." The teacher shook his head sadly and said to the class, "What a tragedy. The only person in the world ever to understand electricity, and he's forgotten!"

That teacher's position may describe you and me when we study the doctrine of the Trinity. We accept the fact that the Holy Spirit is God, just as much God as God the Father and God the Son. But when it comes to explaining it, we are at a loss.

In recent years people have talked more about the Holy Spirit and written more books about Him than possibly any religious theme other than the occult. This has come about largely because of the influence of the charismatic movement, which has been called Christendom's "third force" alongside Catholicism and Protestantism. The more recent charismatic movement, which has some of its roots in historic Pentecostalism and stresses the Holy Spirit, is now deeply entrenched in most of the mainline denominations and in Catholicism. We may feel that it is such a vast subject and we know so little about it. Nevertheless, God in His Word has revealed all we should know.

Many questions will arise in this book for which answers are being sought by puzzled and at times untaught believers. In fact, millions of Christians on every continent are now asking these questions. They are seeking and deserve biblical answers. For example: What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? When does it take place? Is speaking in tongues possible or necessary today? Is there an experience called a "second blessing"?

To start our study, we need to ask a critical question at the very beginning: Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit Is a Person

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a person. Jesus never referred to "it" when He was talking about the Holy Spirit. In John 14, 15, and 16, for example, He spoke of the Holy Spirit as "He" because He is not a force or thing but a person. Whoever speaks of the Holy Spirit as "it" is uninstructed, or perhaps even undiscerning. In Romans 8:16 the King James Version refers to the Holy Spirit as "itself." This is a mistranslation. Nearly all of the newer translations have changed "itself" to "himself."

We see from the Bible that the Holy Spirit has intellect, emotions, and will. In addition to this, the Bible also ascribes to Him the acts we would expect of someone who was not just a force but a real person.

He speaks: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God" (Rev. 2:7).

"And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, `Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'" (Acts 13:2).

He intercedes: "And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (Rom. 8:26).

He testifies: "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me" (John 15:26).

He leads: "And the Spirit said to Philip, `Go up and join this chariot'" (Acts 8:29).

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Rom. 8:14).

He commands: "And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them" (Acts 16:6-7).

He guides: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come" (John 16:13 RSV).

He appoints: "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).

He can be lied to: "But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God'" (Acts 5:3-4).

He can be insulted: "How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?" (Heb. 10:29).

He can be blasphemed: "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come" (Matt. 12:31-32).

He can be grieved: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were...