Many people look upon the Holy Spirit as the red-headed stepchild of the Trinity, as if He is somehow inferior to the Father and the Son. While the Holy Spirit clearly occupies a place of submission within the Trinity to both the Father and the Son He is nonetheless co-equal, co-eternal and co-divine with the other two persons of the Triune Godhead. All three persons of the Trinity are of the same divine essence but differ in their relationship to each other, by mutual consent.
What cleared up the confusion for me was knowing that whatever the Holy Spirit knows the Father and Son knows and and whatever the Holy Spirit does the Father and Son are in agreement. The persons of the Trinity are always of one mind and one will so when you read in the Bible about any of the three persons of the Triune Godhead just say to yourself, “this is God.” People seem to think the Holy Spirit is some kind of glowing power source that God can switch on or off from heaven. The Holy Spirit has a mind, a will, and a personality which makes Him a person. The following is a list of some of the attributes of the Holy Spirit:
1. He has a mind
Romans 8:27 – And He (Jesus) that searches the heart knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because He (the Holy Spirit) makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
2. He reveals things of God
1 Corinthians 2:10 – But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
3. He has a will
1 Corinthians 12:11 – But one and the same Spirit works all these things (Spiritual gifts), distributing to each one individually as He wills.
4. He forbids – One one of Paul’s missionary trips he and Silas were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in Asia.
Acts 16:7 – After they (Paul and Silas) had come to Mysia (Asia), they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
5. He permits
Acts 16:10 – Now after he (Paul) had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
6. He speaks – The Holy Spirit spoke to Philip in the desert, Peter on a housetop, the elders in Antioch, and to each of the seven churches in Asia Minor. Here is one reference:
Acts 8:29 – Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
The Holy Spirit was directing Philip to witness the gospel to a court official of Queen Candace of Ethiopia so he could return and spread the good news in Africa.
7. He loves
Romans 15:30 – Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me (Paul).
8. He grieves
Ephesians 4:30 – And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
9. He prays
Romans 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
In the New Testament there are 261 passages that refer to the Holy Spirit. He is mentioned 56 times in the Gospels, 7 times in the Book of Acts, 112 time in the Pauline epistles and 36 times in the other New Testament books.