10/06/2026
HOW TO KNOW THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
A Deep Biblical and Scriptural Perspective
Foundational Truth
By: Elrico C Baatjies
The Christian life is not primarily about receiving something from God; it is about knowing God Himself.
The Holy Spirit is not merely God's power, influence, atmosphere, or manifestation. He is the Third Person of the Godhead, fully God, fully divine, and fully personal.
Jesus never introduced the Holy Spirit as an "it" but as a "He."
"When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13)
The goal of the Holy Spirit is not merely to give gifts but to reveal Christ and bring believers into fellowship with God.
1. YOU KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH SALVATION:
John 14:17: "For He dwells with you and will be in you."
Before Pentecost, the Spirit was with believers.
After Christ's resurrection, He came to dwell within believers.
The first encounter with the Holy Spirit is not power.
The first encounter is new birth.
Greek Word
Ginosko (γινώσκω)
Meaning:
To know intimately
To know by experience
To become personally acquainted with
Biblical knowing is relational, not merely intellectual.
Principle
You cannot know the Holy Spirit merely through books.
You know Him through relationship.
2. YOU KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH FELLOWSHIP:
2 Corinthians 13:14
"The communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Greek
Koinonia (κοινωνία)
Meaning:
Fellowship
Participation
Partnership
Intimate sharing
This is one of the deepest revelations concerning the Holy Spirit.
God desires fellowship.
The Holy Spirit desires friendship.
Fellowship Includes
Talking To Him
Acts 13:2
"The Holy Spirit said..."
The early church expected conversation with the Holy Spirit.
Listening To Him
Revelation 2:7
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says."
The Spirit still speaks.
The question is whether we listen.
3. YOU KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH OBEDIENCE:
John 14:21: "Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me."
Intimacy grows through obedience.
Every act of obedience increases spiritual sensitivity.
Every act of disobedience dulls spiritual sensitivity.
Abraham's Principle
Abraham knew God because he walked with God.
Relationship deepens through obedience.
4. YOU KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH PRAYER:
Ephesians 6:18: "Praying at all times in the Spirit."
Prayer is not merely presenting requests.
Prayer is communion.
Prayer is fellowship.
Prayer is partnership.
What Happens In Prayer?
Prayer moves us from:
Information to revelation
Religion to relationship
Activity to intimacy
Example
Jesus often withdrew to pray.
Luke 5:16: "He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."
If Jesus needed communion with the Father, how much more do we?
5. YOU KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH SCRIPTURE:
John 16:13-14
"He will guide you into all truth."
The Holy Spirit inspired Scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16
"All Scripture is God-breathed."
Greek
Theopneustos (θεόπνευστος)
Meaning:
God-breathed
Breathed out by God
Therefore
The Holy Spirit never contradicts the Bible He inspired.
Many seek voices.
The Spirit often speaks through His Word.
The Bible is the primary language of the Holy Spirit.
6. YOU KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH WORSHIP:
John 4:24: "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Worship creates awareness of God's presence.
Not because God arrives.
But because our hearts become aware of Him.
Hebrew Word
Shachah (שָׁחָה)
Meaning:
To bow
To surrender
To adore
True worship is surrender before it is singing.
7. YOU KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH SURRENDER:
Romans 12:1
"Present your bodies as a living sacrifice."
The Holy Spirit fills yielded vessels.
The issue is rarely how much of the Spirit we have.
The issue is how much of us He has.
8. YOU KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH HOLINESS:
Ephesians 4:30: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit."
Greek
Lypeo (λυπέω)
Meaning:
To make sorrowful
To cause grief
The Spirit is holy.
Holiness protects intimacy.
Sin disrupts fellowship.
Repentance restores fellowship.
9. YOU KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH LOVING JESUS:
This is perhaps the deepest truth.
The Holy Spirit does not seek attention for Himself.
He glorifies Christ.
John 16:14: "He shall glorify Me."
The closer you come to Jesus, the closer you come to the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit loves to reveal Christ.
The Holy Spirit's Greatest Ministry
Not gifts.
Not miracles.
Not manifestations.
His greatest ministry is revealing Jesus.
10. YOU KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH DAILY WALKING WITH HIM:
Galatians 5:25: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
The Christian life was never designed to be lived independently.
The Holy Spirit desires involvement in:
Decisions
Relationships
Ministry
Business
Family
Worship
Daily conversations
He is not merely present in church.
He desires companionship in life.
THE EXAMPLE OF MOSES
Moses did not ask for power.
Moses did not ask for miracles.
Moses did not ask for promotion.
Exodus 33:13 "Show me now Your ways, that I may know You."
The greatest cry of spiritual maturity is:
"I want to know You."
Not: "I want what You can give me."
THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL:
Philippians 3:10
"That I may know Him."
This was written after:
The miracles
The churches planted
The revelations
The ministry success
Paul's greatest desire remained: "That I may know Him."
PRACTICAL STEPS TO KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT
Every day:
▪︎Speak To Him
▪︎Acknowledge His presence.
▪︎Read Scripture Slowly
▪︎Ask Him to reveal Christ.
▪︎Spend Time In Silence
▪︎Listen more than you speak.
▪︎Obey Promptings
▪︎Faithfulness increases sensitivity.
▪︎Worship Daily
▪︎Cultivate awareness of His presence.
▪︎Repent Quickly
▪︎Protect intimacy.
▪︎Love Jesus Deeply
▪︎The Holy Spirit always reveals Christ.
CONCLUSION:
The deepest revelation about the Holy Spirit is that He desires to be known.
Not merely experienced.
Not merely received.
Not merely studied.
But known.
The Holy Spirit is not looking for servants alone.
He is seeking friends.
As Jesus said: "I no longer call you servants... I have called you friends." (John 15:15)
The measure of spiritual maturity is not how much power you carry, how many gifts you operate in, or how much ministry you perform. The true measure of spiritual maturity is how deeply you know, love, obey, and walk with the Person of the Holy Spirit.
