Family Devotion 9: Who Is the Holy Spirit? — The Third Person and the Everyday Christian Life
The Holy Spirit is the most neglected Person of the Trinity in many evangelical homes. Most Christians know about him but don't know how to talk about him with their children. This devotion gives fathers a comprehensive, biblically grounded framework for teaching their families who the Spirit is and what he actually does.
Family Devotion 9: Who Is the Holy Spirit?
The Third Person and the Everyday Christian Life
Series: Foundations of the Faith — 15 Family Devotions Suggested Time: 35–50 minutes Key Passages: John 14:15-27; John 16:5-15; Acts 2:1-13; Romans 8:1-17; Galatians 5:16-25
Before You Begin
The Holy Spirit is often treated as either ignored (in more formal church traditions) or over-emphasized to the point of weirdness (in more charismatic traditions). A biblically grounded understanding of the Spirit avoids both errors. Before this devotion, read Romans 8:1-17 slowly and ask: how much of what Paul describes here am I actually experiencing?
Opening Prayer
"Holy Spirit, you are not a force or an atmosphere. You are a Person — the third Person of the Trinity. We ask you to make yourself known to us tonight, to open the Word to us, and to do in us what only you can do. Amen."
The Spirit Is a Person, Not a Force
This is the first correction that needs to be made in most families. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal power, an atmosphere of worship, or "the vibes of God." He is a Person with:
- Intelligence: "The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10)
- Will: "He gives them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:11)
- Emotions: He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), he loves (Romans 15:30)
- Relational capacity: He intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27), he teaches us (John 14:26), he testifies with our spirit (Romans 8:16)
The personal pronouns in the Gospel of John are explicit: Jesus refers to the Spirit as "he" — "when he comes," "he will guide," "he will speak" (John 16:13-14). This is intentional grammar.
The Spirit in the Old Testament
The Spirit is not a New Testament development. He is active from the first verse of the Bible:
Genesis 1:2 — "The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." The Spirit is present at creation.
Bezalel (Exodus 31:3) — "I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills." The Spirit equips for specific work — including artistic and practical work, not just religious service.
The Prophets — "Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). The prophets' words were the Spirit's words.
What Changed at Pentecost: Acts 2
The Old Testament pattern was the Spirit coming upon specific individuals for specific purposes, then departing. At Pentecost, something new happened: the Spirit was poured out on all believers, permanently, as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy (Joel 2:28-32).
Read Acts 2:1-13. The visible signs — wind, fire, languages — were not the point. They were indicators of something that had permanently changed: God himself, through his Spirit, now lives inside his people.
John 14:17 — "He lives with you and will be in you." The preposition shift is significant: with → in. The Spirit who accompanied believers in the Old Testament now indwells them in the New.
What the Holy Spirit Does: John 14-16
Jesus gave the most comprehensive teaching on the Spirit in John 14-16. What the Spirit does:
1. Convicts the world (John 16:8) — Of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Spirit is the one who makes the gospel land — who opens eyes to need and to grace.
2. Guides into truth (John 16:13) — "When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth." The Spirit illuminates Scripture — makes it comprehensible and personally applicable.
3. Glorifies Christ (John 16:14) — "He will glorify me." The Spirit's ministry is always Christ-centered. Any spiritual experience that makes the Spirit the focus and sidelines Christ is not the Spirit's work.
4. Brings to remembrance (John 14:26) — "He will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." The Spirit is the guardian of apostolic memory — ensuring the church remembers accurately what Jesus said and did.
5. Comforts and advocates (John 14:16) — The word paraclete means advocate, helper, comforter — literally "one called alongside." In your most isolated, frightened, or confused moment, you are not alone.
The Fruit and the Gifts: Two Distinct Aspects
The Fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) — "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
Notice: "fruit" is singular. These are not nine separate products. They are nine facets of a single character that the Spirit produces in a person who is walking with him. The fruit is about who you are becoming — your character, your interior life.
For younger children: "Which of these fruits is hardest for you? Which comes most naturally?"
The Gifts (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12; Ephesians 4) — The Spirit gives specific gifts to each believer for the building up of the body. Teaching, serving, mercy, prophecy, healing, administration, giving — distributed specifically by the Spirit for the specific needs of the community.
The difference: Gifts are what you do for others. Fruit is who you are becoming. Both are the Spirit's work.
Romans 8: Life in the Spirit
Read Romans 8:1-17 together. Paul describes what it means to live by the Spirit:
- No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (v. 1) — the Spirit applies the gospel
- The mind governed by the Spirit brings life and peace (v. 6)
- You are not debtors to the flesh — you are free (v. 12)
- The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children (v. 16)
The Spirit's testimony is the basis of assurance: the inner witness that you belong to God is not your own feeling — it is the Spirit's testimony in your spirit.
Discussion Questions
For younger children:
- The Holy Spirit lives inside people who believe in Jesus. What do you think that means?
- Which of the fruits of the Spirit do you most want God to grow in you?
For preteens: 3. The Spirit "testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." What do you think that feels like? Have you experienced it? 4. The Spirit can be "grieved" (Ephesians 4:30). What does that mean, and what do you think grieves him?
For teenagers: 5. If the Spirit is a Person living inside you — not a force but a Person — how does that change how you think about your own life? 6. John 16:13 says the Spirit will "guide you into all truth." How does the Spirit's guidance work? How do you discern his leading from your own desires?
Next: Family Devotion 10 — "What Is Worship? The Practice That Forms Everything Else"
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James Bell
Lead Teaching Pastor at First Baptist Church in Fenton, Michigan, and founder of the Pastors Connection Network. For over 15 years, James has served in full-time ministry—planting churches, leading revitalization efforts, and consulting with pastors and ministry leaders across the country. Out of his own seasons of burnout and isolation, he founded the Pastors Connection Network, a growing community of leaders committed to gospel-centered relationships and long-term faithfulness in ministry.