What do you believe concerning the Holy Spirit?

First, that, with the Father and the Son, He is equally eternal God; second, that God=s Spirit is also given to me, preparing me through a true faith to share in Christ and all His benefits, that He comforts me and will abide with me forever.

I. The Holy Spirit Is God with the Father and the Son

A. Believers encounter the Holy Spirit as God at the start of the Bible. 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)

B. The Holy Spirit is a person rather than an attitude or an effect.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.  (John 4:24)

C. Jesus taught the basic doctrine of the Holy Spirit as He revealed the Trinity in John 14.  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.    Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  (John 14:7-17)

D. The New Testament church learned the hard way to show proper respect the Holy Spirit.  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.  (Acts 5:3-5)

II. God=s Spirit Fills Believers

A. Christians are Trinitarian believers from the start.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (Matthew 28:19)

B. The Holy Spirit lives in believers.  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  (1 Corinthians 3:16)

C. The personal interaction believers have with God on a daily basis is with the Holy Spirt.  Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.  (2 Corinthians 1:22)

D. The Holy Spirit works inside believers to prepare them for the task assigned them by God.  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  (1 Corinthians 6:17-19)

E. The response you show to God is a product of the Holy Spirit at work inside you.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  (Galatians 4:6-7)