INTRODUCTION
Someone has said that good teaching "turns men's ears into eyes." This truly is exemplified in the Bible with its types, parables, similes and metaphors. Spiritual truths are presented in a multitude of earthly figures.

The person and work of the Holy Spirit is illustrated in Scripture by many types. A type is an object, person or event that prefigures another object, person or event. In this lesson we wish to examine some of the types of the Holy Spirit. It should be remembered that some things can be types of more than one person or event:

I. THE DOVE.
In John 1:32, we find the Spirit taking upon Himself the form of a dove. Characteristics of the dove that make it an apt type of the Spirit would be its beauty, gentleness, cleanliness and the fact that it is easily disturbed (Ephesians 4:30). The dove is also harmless (Matthew 10:16), and peaceable. Other places in Scripture where this type is used are as follows: A. In Genesis 1:2, the Spirit is seen brooding over creation as a bird over her nest.

B. In Genesis 8:6-12, the dove is sent out from the ark by Noah. Here we note at least two pictures of the Holy :Spirtit.
1. The dove unlike the raven refuses to remain outside the ark when no clean resting place may be found. The Spirit, of course, only indwells those who have been washed in the blood of Christ.
2. The dove brings back an olive leaf as a sign of hope to those in the ark. This prefigures the Spirit who brings assurance of salvation to those in Christ.
Note: It is interesting to notice that the raven was an unclean bird (Leviticus 11:15). Birds are also used in Scripture as types of demon spirits (Matthew 13:4, 19; Revelation 18:2).

II. OIL.
Olive oil was an article of great importance in Palestine, being used for food, medicine, illumination and anointing. It is a constant type of the Holy Spirit in both Testaments.

A. In Exodus 40:9-11, we find that the tabernacle and its furniture were to be anointed with oil. As the tabernacle was a figure of Christ so the oil pictured Him being anointed by the Spirit.

B. In Exodus 27:20-21, we note that the interior of the tabernacle was illuminated by the use of oil. As each of the tabernacle's furnishings was a type of Christ, the interpretation is easy. Without the illumination of God's Spirit none would ever view the glories of our Saviour.

C. In Leviticus 14:14-18, we find that in cleansing the leper, both blood and oil were used. This reveals that when one is saved from the leprosy of sin that both the blood of Christ and the person of the Holy Spirit have a work to do.

D. The anointing of prophets, priests and kings prefigured Christ as our prophet, priest and king.

E. In Leviticus 2:1, we note that the fine meal (a type of Christ's sinless flesh) was anointed with oil (a type of the Holy Spirit).

F. Oil is often associated in the Bible with healing (Isaiah 1:6, Luke 10:34, Mark 6:12-13). The Holy Spirit brings spiritual healing.

III. WATER.
Water is a common type of the Holy Spirit in salvation. Space forbids us to enlarge upon this type as we would like:

A. Water is the source of life. Without it, this world would be a parched and desolate cemetery. Likewise it is only the Spirit's presence that brings any spiritual life and fruit into our lives (Galatians 5:22-23, Isaiah 44:3, Acts 2:17).

B. The earth has an abundance of water. Likewise the redeemed have a bountiful supply of the Spirit's power (John 7:38).

C. Water is necessary for cleanliness. It is the Spirit who cleanses our heart in regeneration and continues to cleanse us as we daily approach our Heavenly Father (Titus 3:5, Exodus 29:4).

D. The Holy Spirit is compared to living water from a running spring. He is in every way superior to the stagnant wells and pools of this world. While the pleasures of this life soon fade and run out, yet the Spirit of God is a constant inner spring of life and joy (John 4:14, 7:37-39).

IV. WIND.
The wind is a special type of the Spirit as the word for "spirit" may also be translated wind (see chapter 1). Our Lord uses the wind us a type of the Spirit (John 3:8).

A. The wind is invisible in its workings (John 3:8). Christ hereby revealed the folly of connecting regeneration with visible signs like baptism.

B. The wind is not controlled by man (John 3:8). The Holy Spirit is sovereign in His workings.

C. The presence of the wind is known by its influence (John 3:8). Likewise the Holy Spirit is known to be present by His influence in hearts.

D. The wind is mighty (Acts 2:1-2). The Holy Spirit can break the hardest heart.

E. Just as the wind moves a sailboat so God's Spirit moved those who wrote the Scriptures (II Peter 1:21).

F. Just as a dry wind can wither the beauty of nature, so the Holy Spirit can wither the self-righteous heart of man by His convicting work (Isaiah 40:6-7).

V. FIRE.
A. In Acts 2:3, we find that fire was a sign of the Spirit's presence. In the Old Testament we see that fire is a type of the Lord's presence (Exodus 3:2), the Lord's approval (Leviticus 9:24) and the Lord 's protection (Exodus 13: 21) . Perhaps all of these ideas are included in Acts 2:3.

B. In Revelation 4:5, the Spirit is symbolized by seven lamps of fire. The number seven has confused some people, but it seems to refer to the perfect understanding given to Christ as the anointed of God (Isaiah 11:1-4, Revelation 5:6).

Conclusion
We have in no sense covered, every type or God's Spirit in the Bible, nor have we opened every figure in the types covered. May this lesson serve as a guide to encourage the reader to further study.