The words Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit are speaking of the third person of the trinity. There is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit or Ghost as they are the same person. They are co-equal, and co-eternal and make up the eternal God head. In our thoughts I will mostly use the word Holy Spirit in referring to the third member of the trinity. The Spirit as well as the Father and Son, is always addressed in the masculine and IS NOT an “it” but a person.

The Holy Spirit: Active in Creation
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 The same was in the beginning with God.... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1-2, 14

Before there was angels or worlds, the eternal triune God existed. Knowing all things, He planned for the salvation of man who he knew would fall into sin. The only hope for fallen man would be for the Son of God to come and one day die upon the cross for the sins of all mankind. Now let’s consider some of the Holy Spirit’s work.

The Holy Spirit: Moved Men to Write the Scriptures
We have the Word of God because of the Holy Spirit. The scriptures were not of the mind of men but were from the mind of God. What a great comfort to know we have God’s Word, the “TRUTH” preserved for us.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:20-21

The Holy Spirit: For the Purpose of Salvation Convicts of Sin
The Holy Spirit has an important ministry in the salvation of sinners. Without him we could not be saved from our sin.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; John 16:7-9

Here, the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter, or literally our Advocate. Jesus said the Comforter would convict of sin. If man is not convicted of his sin, he will not see the need to repent and be saved. So, the convicting work of the Spirit is very important and necessary for salvation purposes. To convict sinners, the Holy Spirit uses the gospel message of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit: Quickens Sinners
To quicken means to make alive the spiritually dead. Sinners are dead in sin until they are “quickened,” and made alive.

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Ephesians 2:1

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Ephesians 2:5

The Holy Spirit: After the Quickening, Will Teach Believers
We can only know the truth by the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

1John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

The Holy Spirit: Puts Us in Christ
We become members of Christ’s body, “the church” by the baptism work of the Holy Spirit. This is why there is only one true church, and it is Christ’s church, made up of born again believers of Jesus as our Lord and savior.

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13

The Holy Spirit: Leads Believers
He is leading us to the heavenly home we will have one day.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Romans 8:15-16

The Holy Spirit: Seals Believers
This is another reason one cannot lose salvation. A person is saved only one time and it is FOREVER!

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

The Holy Spirit: Indwells "All" Believers
Believers are the true temple of God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:9

The Holy Spirit: Will Raise the Dead
When the Rapture occurs.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Do you see how busy the Holy Spirit is? He has many jobs or ministries, that are associated with all of us who are saved, in preparing us to serve here while we await our heavenly home.

The Holy Spirit: Glorifies Jesus
The Holy Spirit refers all honor to Jesus and not to himself.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:13-14

While the Holy Spirit is very important, we are not to put the emphasis upon him in our worship and service. It is Jesus we are to adore. It is Jesus who died in our place. It is Jesus who loved us so much he was willing to come and suffer the most horrible death ever in being made sin and judged for sin in our place.

It is Jesus, God the father wants us to praise. He is the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley, the Lamb that was slain. and he is the thrill of the heart of God.

Oh, how it breaks God’s heart to see his dear son mistreated by those who fail to recognize who he is, or deliberately ignore him. Jesus is God himself who laid aside his glory to redeem us upon a cross.

It was not the Holy Spirit that suffered and died. It was not the Holy Spirt who was mocked, jeered at, and spit upon. It was the Father’s Son, who in eternity abode in the heart of God, so states the Apostle John.

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:18

Yes, the focus is to be JESUS and JESUS alone.

And it always has been. In both the Old and the New Testament Jesus is the theme of the Word of God. He is on nearly every page if we only look for him. History is HIS history.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Philippians 2:5-9

Some people want to talk about the Holy Ghost this, or the Holy Ghost that, but God says it was Jesus who came and reconciled believing sinners to God.

A man once called me to say I was not saved because I did not have the Holy Ghost. He claimed he had the Holy Ghost, and I did not. Apostle John wrote,

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 1 John 4:1-2

Yes, once saved we are filled with the holy Spirit forever even if someone tells you that you are aren't. Apostle Paul said,

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

In closing I’d like to share this important thought with you. Remember,

No one is going to heaven because they are a preacher.
No one is going to be saved because they were good.
No one is going to heaven because they are a hero.
No one is going to heaven because they are baptized.
No one is going to heaven because they fed the poor.
No one is going to heaven because they are the member of some church or denomination.

No sinner will go to heaven who has not repented of their sin and trusted Jesus as their savior. And, every person Jesus saves, has the Holy Spirit living in them until they get to heaven.

So, trust Jesus, love Jesus, serve Jesus, share Jesus and when you get to heaven you will hear him say the most wonderful words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Heavenly Father, how we praise you for giving your only dear Son to save us from our sin. I pray that all our readers will love the Savior and serve him with all their heart. If any know him not, dear Lord, I pray for their salvation today. In Jesus’ holy, precious name, I pray. Amen. Loving the Savior, Preacher