Have you ever felt the Wellington wind on your face? …Of course you have! We all have!
You can’t see it, but you know it’s there. You see its effects — trees bending, waves crashing, umbrellas turning inside out, even the way it nearly knocks us over outside here on the Main Road. That’s often how people think of the Holy Spirit — unseen, powerful, a kind of force in the background. But is that all The Holy Spirit is?
Many, maaaany years ago, (back in the 1970s), I had a workmate. I often shared meals with his family, and we became good friends. But over time, Jehovah’s Witnesses began visiting his home. His wife became deeply involved, and before long, my workmate was drawn in too.
Because I was a Christian, our conversations often turned into debates. And one of the topics that kept coming up was the Holy Spirit.
Jehovah’s Witnesses see the Holy Spirit as nothing more than an impersonal force, like electricity, or gravity. They reject the Trinity altogether, saying it’s unbiblical or even pagan. For them, God or Jehovah is supreme, Jesus is acknowledged as a creation of God, and the Spirit is simply His power at work.
That made me wonder: how many people today — even in our churches — have a clear picture of who the Holy Spirit really is? So, who is the Holy Spirit?
The truth is, there are many different ideas. Judaism insists on the Shema: “The Lord is one.” Islam recognises the Spirit, but not as we do. Let me just take a few minutes to dive into these ideas a little more.
Judaism and the Spirit
In Judaism, the Shema is absolutely central:
Deut. 6:4 says: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one”
Devout Jews recite this morning and evening — it’s almost their declaration of identity.
So you can imagine, any talk of God being “three-in-one” feels to them like a betrayal of God’s oneness. To Jewish ears, the Trinity sounds like polytheism — as if we were worshipping three gods instead of one.
Now, in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Spirit — Ruach Elohim — certainly appears. In Genesis 1:2, the Spirit of God hovers over the waters of creation. Throughout Judges and Kings, the Spirit comes upon people like Samson or David to empower them. But Jewish teaching doesn’t treat the Spirit as a separate divine Person. Instead, He’s usually understood as God’s power or presence at work in the world.
So when Christians say, “The Holy Spirit is God Himself, personal and active,” that’s a radical difference.
Can you see why the idea of the Trinity is such a stumbling block for them?
Islam and the Spirit
Islam also acknowledges the Spirit — but very differently. The Qur’an speaks of Ruh al-Qudus (the Holy Spirit) and Ruh Allah (the Spirit of God). But in Islamic teaching, the Spirit is not God, nor a person within God.
Some Muslims believe this “Spirit” is actually another name for the angel Gabriel. Others see the Spirit as God’s life-giving breath, as when Adam was created.
And just as in Judaism, Islam strongly rejects the Trinity. The Qur’an says: “Say not ‘Three’ — desist. Allah is but one God.”
So while Judaism and Islam both acknowledge the Spirit in some form, their understanding is very different from the biblical picture. Can you see how different this is? The Spirit is not a distant force, or remote entity, but He is the very presence of God living in us. We proclaim the Spirit as fully God — personal, active, and living in us today.
These alternate views of the Spirit aren’t just ancient or foreign. Even among Christians today, confusion about the Spirit is common.
The 2022 American LifeWay “State of Theology” survey reports that 55 percent of evangelicals in America believe the Holy Spirit is just a force. I’m not aware of a similar survey for New Zealand — but it raises the question: What might the numbers look like here among our Christian communities, or in fact, here in our church?
This isn’t just a modern misunderstanding. In the 4th century, leaders like Saint Basil of Caesarea wrote entire books defending the Spirit as fully God, co-equal with the Father and the Son.
So let me ask: what about us? Do we see Him as a power… or as a person?
The Scriptures are clear. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity — fully God, not a “some-thing,” but a “some-one.”
Jesus Himself promised the Spirit. In Acts 1:4–5 He told His disciples,
“Wait for the gift my Father promised… you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
And at Pentecost that promise came… A rushing wind… Tongues of fire. Suddenly the disciples were empowered. From that moment, the Spirit’s work was unleashed in a new and powerful way.
The Bible describes Him as breath, wind, fire — but He is more than a symbol… He speaks. He can be grieved. He teaches, comforts, convicts, and guides. He has a mind and a will. In Greek, He is called the Paraclete — the one who comes alongside us, like an advocate or helper.
Isn’t that good news? Jesus has not left us friendless. His Spirit lives in us.
How does He guide us?
So, how does He guide us?
Think of Paul in Acts 16. He and his companions planned to preach in Asia, but the Holy Spirit stopped them. Then Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia, pleading, “Come and help us.” The Spirit was leading them step by step.
Have you ever had your own plans interrupted, only to find God had something better in mind? The Spirit guides us too. Sometimes it’s through Scripture, when a passage suddenly comes alive. Sometimes it’s that “still small voice” prompting us. Sometimes it’s through another person’s encouragement, or even a dream or vision. In all these circumstances it’s essential they align with God’s word.
He brings peace in the middle of storms. He stirs us to acts of kindness. He gives spiritual gifts — wisdom, healing, prophecy — and produces His fruit in us: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
I’ll never forget a service with Father John Rea, a Catholic priest who travels New Zealand holding healing meetings. Christians from many denominations around Tawa met in the Linden Community Centre. There were Catholic, Anglican, Baptist — it didn’t matter.
What mattered was the Spirit’s love binding us as one. It was so strong I just wanted to hug everyone. That’s the Holy Spirit — breaking down barriers, creating unity, pouring out God’s love.
How should we respond?
So, how should we respond?
The Holy Spirit is a gift. Not something we earn or merit, not something we buy. If we trust Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives within us.
But here’s the question: are we listening to the Spirit?
Jesus said in John 10:27
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
So do we hear His voice? Do we follow His lead?
Friends, we are privileged to live in this era of the Spirit’s work. He comforts us, empowers us, draws us closer to Jesus. He whispers in our hearts, nudges us into obedience, and transforms us from the inside out. So let’s be attentive. Let’s be sensitive. Let’s be willing to follow wherever He leads.
The Holy Spirit speaks. The only question is: are we listening?
Tawa Baptist 