The Holy Spirit

INTRODUCTION

What is the average Christian’s understanding of the Holy Spirit?

I used to freak out when people called Him the Holy Ghost.

I do not know about you, but ghosts do not give me a comfortable feeling.

Is the Holy Spirit as well known or understood as the two other members of the Godhead (The Father and The Son)?

Understanding the Holy Spirit is vital for us to grasp since we live in the age of the Holy Spirit.

We could use some divine guidance on the subject because our Spiritual experiences will not suffice since we may have differing experiences not shared by others.

We see this thought play out even in the Bible.

We need to go to the Word to see what it tells us about this awesome part of the Godhead we have in our lives here today.

According to data compiled by Professor Gareth Reese, the Holy Spirit is much more prominently mentioned in the Word of God than the average reader realizes: Someone has pointed out that in the 66 books of the Bible, He is mentioned in 47 of them, more than 250 times in the New Testament, more than 400 times in the entire Bible, and by more than 40 different names.

(Gareth Reese, Acts Commentary- Special Study #3)

When we do not understand the Holy Spirit, we cheat ourselves and others out of great blessings.

Many people today have a concept of the Holy Spirit that revolves around supernatural gifts and outbursts.

Until the Bible was completed, that aspect of the Spirit was active, but the Holy Spirit is much more than a show.

Today, we will do a deep dive into the Holy Spirit.

In our introduction, we will clarify that the Holy Spirit is a person, not an inanimate force because He possesses a mind, knowledge, affection, and will.

We are told He can be grieved, resisted, blasphemed, and quenched.

He is also a person because He acts like a person.

He speaks, bears testimony, reveals truth, retrains, and has influence.

The Spirit is part of the Godhead and is co-equal, co-eternal, omnipresent, and all-knowing.

SERMON

I. The history of the Holy Spirit.

Because of time, I will not list all the references this morning, only some major ones.

Before we look at the Acts passage, I would like to take you on a brief journey through the history of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit was a part of the work of creation.

Genesis 1:1–2 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water.

The Spirit was hovering over the surface of the water.

Passages like Job 33:4 and Genesis 2:7 suggest His part in creation.

Genesis 2:7 (NET 2nd ed.)

7 The Lord God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Job 33:4 (NET 2nd ed.)

4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Many verses speak about how the Spirit is active in the providence of God.

Providence is God’s everyday activity in His world.

Men like Samson. Nehemiah, Joshua, David, and Solomon are a few examples.

The Spirit would occasionally come upon God’s chosen servants and clothe them in power, wisdom, and courage to accomplish God’s purpose.

Men like Gideon, Moses, and Samson. Nehemiah, Joshua, David, and Solomon are a few examples.

Judges 15:14 (NET 2nd ed.)

14 When he arrived in Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they approached him. But the Lord’s Spirit empowered him. The ropes around his arms were like flax dissolving in fire, and they melted away from his hands.

1 Samuel 10:10 (NET 2nd ed.)

10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a company of prophets was coming out to meet him. Then the spirit of God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied among them.

There are many more.

A few instances in the Old Testament also describe the Holy Spirit filling one of God’s servants, working from the inside out to equip them with a specific skill or attribute.

This in-filling of the Spirit is more focused on ongoing callings.

In the ministry of Jesus, the Spirit appeared at Jesus' baptism as a dove.

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit was involved in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Hebrews 9:14 (NET 2nd ed.)

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

There is more, but I want to move to our core passage in Acts 1:8.

Acts 1:8 (NET 2nd ed.)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”

During the ministry of Jesus, He said the Spirit would come to the Apostles to help them.

One thing we need to understand is that the Spirit worked a bit differently with the Apostles than with us, yet the Spirit does many things in a similar fashion with us today.

When Jesus was speaking to the Apostles in our passage, the power of the Holy Spirit He spoke of was something different than the indwelling of the Spirit we receive at baptism in Acts 2:38.

Let’s backtrack to Acts 1:5

Acts 1:5 (NET 2nd ed.)

5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Notice that what Jesus would do concerning the Spirit was not yet done but would be done in a few days.

Jesus says He was going to baptize the Apostles with the Holy Spirit.

This is one of five baptisms mentioned in the New Testament.

This is the one some of my more charismatic friends try to claim; however, it was only manifested on three occasions in the New Testament.

The first time was to authenticate the gospel to the Jews.

Acts 2:1–4 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.

2 Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting.

3 And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them.

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.

This was the promise Jesus made in our core verse.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit allowed those who had it to perform miracles.

This baptism was used to authenticate the Message.

Baptism of the Spirit happened in Acts 10 at the household of Cornelius.

It is when the gospel went to the gentles.

It authenticated that taking the message to the Gentiles was God’s will.

The third instance was in the case of Paul.

It is implied in Galatians 1.

By the way, the gifts resulting from the Baptism of the Holy Spirit could only be passed to others (once they were given by the Spirit) by the laying on of the Apostles' hands.

Once they died out and once all they gave it to died, this baptism ceased.

In three weeks, Dr. Fincher from CCCB will be covering Acts 2:38.

So, I will touch on the gift of the Spirit we all receive when we are baptized into Christ.

Acts 2:38 (NET 2nd ed.)

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s see what the Spirit can do with us with this passage as our backdrop.

In the New Testament, instead of the Spirit being upon us like He was in the Old Testament, He is now a gift that dwells in us.

What does this indwelling of the Spirit do for and with us?

First, let us examine:

II. The work of the Holy Spirit in us.

The Holy Spirit works in us!

The Holy Spirit helps develop the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–24 (NET 2nd ed.)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Do you think we can gain these on our own?

We need help with our transformation to walk in the newness of life Jesus wants us to walk.

The Spirit comforts and encourages us!

Acts 9:31 (NET 2nd ed.)

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.

The Spirit gives us guidance and help to overcome sin.

Romans 8:12–14 (NET 2nd ed.)

12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh

13 (for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.

We can also receive help with our prayers

Romans 8:26 (NET 2nd ed.)

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.

The Spirit also seals us as belonging to God.

Ephesians 1:13–14 (NET 2nd ed.)

13 And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,

14 who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.

There is so much the Spirit does in the life of the Christian.

The Spirit does more than mark you as one of God’s own.

The Spirit also transforms you into what God made you to be.

The Holy Spirit is like one of those home remodeling shows on HGTV on a spiritual level.

He comes in and strips out everything that shouldn’t be there.

Everything that is out of date is ripped out.

Everything that is rotting is removed.

Everything ugly is stripped away and replaced with what is pure, true, beautiful, and holy.

Always remember that your transformation and all the blessings that come with it are not just for you!

III. The work of the Holy Spirit through us.

We must remember something in our core verse that applies to all in Christ.

Acts 1:8 (NET 2nd ed.)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”

The word witnesses.

This word is the one from which we get MARTYR.

The word is used because those who suffered for Jesus in times of persecution did so because they were witnesses of Jesus' life, teachings, and way to the world.

Even while being persecuted, they continued to witness!

The Spirit works through us to reach the world!

Do you know what impresses people?

A transformed life?

Your transformation is more than about you; it is about showing the power of Christ to the world!

We need the Holy Spirit's presence and power to be more effective witnesses.

So many Christians wonder, “How come I never experience the power of the Holy Spirit?”

May I suggest that maybe it’s because you are never a witness?

God has put His Spirit inside you so that He can show His love, grace, power, and truth to everyone in your life.

If we want to experience the power of the Spirit in our lives, we must turn on this primary conduit of God’s power.

CONCLUSION

How can I tap into this beautiful power?

Once you are baptized into Christ, begin by surrendering all your past, present, and future to God.

Be willing to surrender your will in obedience to His will fully.

Walk with Him, and don’t fight his leading!

God has given you a great gift; use Him!