Despite the teaching of the Bible and church tradition, it seems that many Christians can still lack an appreciation of God the Holy Spirit. He has sometimes been valued more for the gifts he bestows than for who he is; or he has been viewed simply as the 'third person of the Godhead'.

However, Keith Warrington's conviction is that the Holy Spirit is more important, more central, more immanently involved in his creation, the church, and individual believers, more often and more strategically, than many Christians realise.

When Jesus left his disciples and went to heaven, he gave the best gift he could - the Holy Spirit - knowing that he will be our dynamic guide and partner as we seek to live as God's people. In this practical, biblically based exploration of the Spirit, Warrington encourages believers to recognize that the same Spirit seeks to encounter us and desires that we encounter him.

General preface 7

Author's preface 8

Chief abbreviations 9

Bibliography 10

Introduction 11

1. Who is the Holy Spirit and what is he like?

(1 Samuel 16:11-13; Matthew 3:11-16; Acts 2:2) 15

Part One

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

2. The Holy Spirit is the energiser of all creation

(Genesis 1:1-3) 35

3. The Holy Spirit works wonders through weak people

(Judges 3:7-11; 6:24 - 8:28; 11:1-40; 13:25 - 15:15) 42

Part Two

The Holy Spirit in the Gospels

4. The Holy Spirit is associated with proclamation

(Luke 1:41-79; 2:25-35) 51

5. The Holy Spirit authenticates Jesus

(Luke 1:35; 3:22; 4:1-15) 57

6. The Holy Spirit commissions Jesus

(Luke 4:16-30; 12:8-12) 70

7. The Holy Spirit and salvation

(John 3:1-10; 4:7-26; 7:37-39) 85

8. The Holy Spirit is the Paraclete

(John 14:12-17; 15:26 - 16:7, 13-15) 97

9. The Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers (John 16:1-11)

Part Three

The Holy Spirit in the book of Acts

10. The Holy Spirit and evangelism

(Acts 1:8; 4:1-31; 6:8 - 7:60; 13:4-12) 121

11. The Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-12) 131

12. The Holy Spirit guides believers (Acts 5:3-9;

8:29-40; 10:19-23; 11:12-15; 13:2-4; 16:6-10) 142

Part Four

The Holy Spirit in the Epistles

13. The Holy Spirit opposes the fl esh and affi rms

believers (Romans 8:1-13, 14-23, 26-27) 153

14. The Holy Spirit provides gifts

(1 Corinthians 12:4-31; Romans 12:6-8) 178

15. The Holy Spirit and transformation

(Galatians 5:16 - 6:2) 193

16. The Holy Spirit seals and guarantees believers

(Ephesians 1:3-14) 206

17. The Holy Spirit provides access to God

(Ephesians 2:11-22) 215

18. The Holy Spirit and unity

(Ephesians 4:1–16, 25-32) 223

19. Be filled with the Spirit

(Ephesians 5:18 - 6:18) 236

Conclusion 245

Study Guide 249