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Gospels (Joel 3 v.1-2) (John 14 v.12,16,17) :

I shall ask the Father and he will give you another Counsellor, the Holy Spirit,
to be with you forever, the spirit of truth …she is with you, she is in you.’

In Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity, Sophia, or rather Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), is an expression of understanding for the second person of the Holy Trinity.  Spirit is always described by a term which signifies the ‘air’ : in Hebrew ruah, in Greek pneuma, both signify wind, breath, spirit. It is for the same reason the Holy Spirit is portrayed as a dove, the purest creature of the element of the air.

The effects of the Pentecost descent of the Holy Spirit :

‘I shall pour out my spirit on all humanity.
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old people shall dream dreams 
and your young people shall see visions.
Even on the slaves, men and women,
shall I pour out my spirit in those days.’

Is the Holy Spirit just an essence,  power, or mind, or is she a real Being? Can the Holy Spirit Think for Itself and Make its Own Decisions?

Below is how the Bible defines the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit has a mind (see Romans 8:27).
• The Holy Spirit helped to settle questions during the Church Council at Jerusalem (see Acts 15:28).
• The Holy Spirit dispenses gifts to different individuals according as She wills (see 1 Corinthians 12:8-11).
• The Holy Spirit forbade some from going to preach in certain places (see Acts 16:6-7).

So we can see that the Holy Spirit has a mind, can think for Itself and can make Its own decisions.  But can the Holy Spirit act for Itself?

Can the Holy Spirit Act for Itself?

• The Holy Spirit anointed Jesus and sent Him out to preach the gospel (see Luke 4:18-19); In fact, both the Father and the Holy Spirit sent Jesus (see Isaiah 48:16).
• The Holy Spirit testifies or witnesses of Jesus (see John 15:26).
• The Holy Spirit leads God’s people (see Romans 8:14).
• The Holy Spirit teaches and causes us to remember the truth (John 14:26).
• The Holy Spirit comforts us as does Christ (John 14:16).
• The Holy Spirit strives with us (see Genesis 6:3).
• The Holy Spirit reproves us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (see John 16:8-11).
• The Holy Spirit instructs us (see Nehemiah 9:20).

 So we can see that the Holy Spirit can act for itself, and can bear Its own witness.  But can the Holy Spirit speak for Itself?

Can the Holy Spirit Speak for Itself?

• The Holy Spirit speaks, guides, hears and shows
  (John 16:13-15).
• The Holy Spirit speaks, chooses, calls and sends forth
   (see Acts 13:1-4). The Holy Spirit gives messages to prophets and they declare: “Thus saith the Holy Ghost” (see Acts 21:11).

 The Holy Spirit can indeed speak for Itself.  Besides this, she can hear, she can guide, show, choose, calls and sends forth others.  Now what other characteristics does the Bible reveal about the Holy Spirit?
 

• The Holy Spirit has knowledge, and searches all things
  (see 1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
   
• The Holy Spirit sanctifies us
   (see Romans 15:16).
   
• The Holy Spirit holds communion with us (see 2 Corinthians 13:14); and so does Christ (see 1 Corinthians 1:9).
   
• The Holy Spirit is the source of regeneration and renewal for salvation
   (see John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5).
   
• The Holy Spirit resurrects the faithful from the dead
  (see Romans 8:11; 1 Peter 3:18).
   
• The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible and moved upon the prophets to speak
  (see 2 Peter 1:21).

• The Holy Spirit is another Comforter other than Christ (see John 14:16).
• The Holy Spirit helps our infirmities (see Romans 8:26).
• The Holy Spirit can be blasphemed and sinned against
  (see Mark 3:28-29; Luke 12:10; Matthew 12:31).
• The Holy Spirit is another Intercessor other than Christ
  (see Romans 8:26);
• The Spirit intercedes for us through prayer, while Christ intercedes for us through His precious blood, merits and righteousness.

What Does the Holy Spirit Do Now?

The Holy Spirit confers gifts and graces  (John 6:63).l.

Some gifts:

Teaching - Rom. 12:7, 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph 4:11

Ministering - Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28

Administration or leadership - Rom. 12:8; 1 Cor. 12:28, Heb. 13:7; 1 Thes. 5:12-13; 1 Cor. 13:2

Evangelism - Eph. 4:11 (2 Tim. 4:5 - Timothy did not seem to have this gift)

Pastor - Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-90.

Exortation - Rom. 12:8

Giving - Rom. 12:8

Showing mercy - Rom. 12:8 (relief of sick and needy)

Helps - 1 Cor. 12:28; 2 Tim. 1:16

Faith - Rom. 12:3-6; 1 Cor. 12:8-10

Apostleship - 2 Cor. 12:12, Heb. 2:4; 1 Cor. 9:1; Act. 14:14, Phil. 2:25

Prophecy - 1 Cor. 12:28; 14:3; 14:29; Rom. 12:6

Miracles - 1 Cor. 12:28; Acts. 13:11

Healing - 1 Cor. 12:9, 28, 30 (see Acts. 5:12-16, Acts 8:13, Acts 19:11-12)

Tongues - Acts 2:1-13 (Joel 2:29); Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6; 1 Cor. 14

The Holy Spirit imparts anointing, illumination, and guidance 
 (2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:20, 27; Rom 8:14).

The Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into the Body of Christ
(Matthew 16:18, Acts 1:4-5, 2:3, 2:47, 11:15; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 6:15-17; Ephesians 2:16; 4:4-5, 16; 5:30-32; Colossians 1:24; 2:19; Galatians 3:27).

 The Holy Spirit assumed the form and shape resembling a dove
 (Matthew 3:16, Isaiah 11:2, Luke 3:22, John 1:32).  

She assumed the form and shape resembling flaming tongues
 (Acts 2:2-4).

She literally picked up servants of God from one area and then carried them to a different area in order to continue the spreading of the truth
(see Acts 8:39-40; Ezekiel 3:14-15).  

Some believe that the Holy Spirit is indeed a Person and Being  other than the Father and the Son; that the Holy Spirit has a distinctive personality all her own; and that she  has assumed various forms–including angelic and human, throughout the history of this earth.

 Others believethat the Father is not the Holy Spirit, but He uses the Holy Spirit to represent and bring Himself to us.  Thus the Father sends the Holy Spirit, calling it His Spirit--or the Spirit of the Father; but the Father is not the Holy Spirit.

 Some say that Christ is not the Holy Spirit either, but the Holy Spirit represents Christ to us.  Thus Christ can send the Holy Spirit--His representative--calling it His Spirit, or the Spirit of Christ; but Jesus is not the Holy Spirit.  In fact, Christ had the Holy Spirit given to Him (see Luke 4:18-19)!

The Holy Spirit is not a mere symbol of anything. No mere symbol is able to:

communicate ('speak') (Acts 13:2)

intercede (step in on behalf of someone) (Romans 8:26),

testify (John 15:26)

guide (John 16:13)

command (Acts 16:6,7)

appoint (Acts 20:28)

lead (Romans 8:14)

reveal to someone how wrong, foolish, or sinful he/she was (John 16:8)

seal God's promise in believers' hearts (Ephesians 1:13-14)

shape the life of each person and community to Christ's (Romans 8:1-17)

The Holy Spirit can act in whatever manner the Spirit wants to act. The Spirit generally acts through the church, but doesn't have to; the Wind blows where it will. The Spirit is free not to always be seriously focused on those purposes; the Spirit can have fun while at work. Spirit is as much a Person as God–the Father and Jesus Christ are Persons.

Some small Christian groups regard the gender of the Holy Spirit to be female, based on their understanding that the Hebrew word for Spirit, ruach, is feminine. The Unity Church's co-founder Charles Fillmore considered the Holy Spirit a distinctly feminine aspect of God considering it to be "the love of Jehovah" and "love is always feminine"

Messianic Jews

The B'nai Yashua Synagogues Worldwide,] a Messianic group headed by Rabbi Moshe Koniuchowsky, holds to the feminine view of the Holy Spirit. Messianic Judaism is considered by most Christians and Jews to be a form of Christianity.

There are also some other independent Messianic groups with similar teachings. Some examples include Joy In the World; The Torah and Testimony Revealed; Messianic Judaism - The Torah and the Testimony Revealed; and he Union of Nazarene Jewish Congregations/Synagogues who also count as canonical the Gospel of the Hebrews which has the unique feature of referring to the Holy Spirit as Jesus' Mother.