Holy Spirit - The Giver of Life

The creed centers around key doctrines related to the Trinity.

The Trinity is the collective name given to the three persons of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The doctrine of the Trinity emerged because it was the best explanation of the whole scope of the biblical witness to the identity of God. The Bible clearly teaches that there is only one God (Deut 6:4; Isa 42:8; Jas 2:19). The Bible just as clearly teaches that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God. Each of them do things only God can do and receive the worship due to God alone. These persons are not detachable parts of God, nor are they merely different masks that he wears according to particular times or functions.

The Bible also clearly teaches that the Father, Son, and Spirit are not identical with one another. The Father, Son, and Spirit are “persons” who interact with one another and with us in distinct ways. Because each person of the Trinity is fully God, they share the same purpose and activity, but the ways they think and act are distinctive to each. Jesus told his disciples that he was God’s unique Son and that he was sent from the Father to accomplish their shared mission of salvation. He also promised that after his departure he would send his disciples the Holy Spirit who would live in them, and that when the Spirit came, the Father and the Son would come with him.

Every metaphor and illustration about the Trinity breaks down and is insufficient at some level. You can’t take the imperfect to reflect exactly the perfect. We cannot take something definitive and make it equal to the mysterious. We can give similes, but nothin is exact same…that said, the best analogy i’ve heard to date to understand the distinct, yet unified reality of One God, three persons is…

Trinity explained as speaker, breath, word

This analogy makes God the Father the “Speaker.” The “Word” that he utters is God the Son. And the “Breath” he uses to speak his “Word” is God the Holy Spirit. Of course, God has neither a mouth nor breath. The image is drawn from our experience of speaking, where spoken words cannot exist without breath: there can be no word without a breath and no breath without a speaker. Additionally, a word requires a speaker and a speaker needs breath to give voice to a word. When we apply this experience to God analogically, we can say that in God the Speaker, the Word, and the Breath are all united yet distinct.

“We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.”

Genesis 2:7 “7 Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.”

John 20:21–23 “21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22 After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.””

Who is the Holy Spirit?

• Not an element (Not ambivalent or indifferent)

• Not a force (Not nebulous or ambiguous)

• Not a feeling (Though an experience of the Spirit can involve our feelings)

Don’t be afraid of emotions…

feelings are a gift from God to experience delight and the fullness of life.

many live like feeling are a god to control our life

The Holy Spirit is the “Lord.”

Third Article of the Creed; Third Person of the Trinity = divinity

“Spirit of God” (Rom. 8; 15:19; 1 Cor. 2:11; 6:11; 7:40; 12:3; 2 Cor. 3:3; Phil. 3:3)

“Spirit of Jesus” (Rom. 8:9; Gal. 4:6; Phil. 1:9)

The Holy Spirit is the “Giver of Life.”

• OT word for the Spirit: “ruach” // NT word for the Spirit: “pneuma” = wind or breath

• To become a Christian is to be born of the Spirit

John 3:5–8 “5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.””

1. The Spirit Fills and Forms Us

..encountered and experienced

all through the book of acts.

Acts 4:31 “31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.”

Acts 10:44–46 “44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and declaring the greatness of God. Then Peter responded,”

Acts 19:5–6 “5 When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.”

Ephesians 5:18–20 “18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit: 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The Holy Spirit fills and forms us in an ongoing, abundant and overflowing manner.

“Go on being filled…” (Eph. 5:18) cf. the “Giver” not the “one who gave” (Creed)

all those things come from your mouth..singing, giving thanks, speaking

you cannot help but have outward expressions when you are overfilled…”getting drunk is excessive alcohol consumption”

Galatians 5:16; 22-23a - “I say be guided by the Spirit and you won’t carry out your selfish desires…22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

2 Peter 1:3–4 “3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.”

We can pray with the Spirit.

with His inspiration

Pray: “Good morning, Spirit of God”

You can pray to the Holy Spirit because the Creed says, “with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified…”

with scripture (illustrated throughout history)

Jesus on the cross, praying Ps 22, etc

HS wrote the scriptures, so you’re praying His words (2 Peter 1:16-21)

“Who has spoken…” = The Spirit speaks through what He spoke!

with language of spirit.

tongues

Romans 8:26–27 “26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Ephesians 6:18–19 “18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”

Jude 20 “20 But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,”

1 Corinthians 14:2–5a “2 For the person who speaks in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. 4 The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 I wish all of you spoke in tongues…

1 Corinthians 14:14 “14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.”

The Spirit Sends Us on Mission

Acts 1:8 “8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The word for “witness” means martyr

Gordon Fee calls the Holy Spirit “God’s empowering presence”

His powering presence is our greatest pursuit and resources for the job ahead.

We Can Pursue the Gifts of the Spirit

gifts are grace and grace is gifts…benefits

Gifts are to build up the church and bear witness to the world

1 Corinthians 14:1 “1 Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.”

1 Corinthians 14:12 “12 So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.”

since you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, use your ambition to try to work toward being the best at building up the church…”

Paul goes on to say outsiders will come in and be convicted and glorify God

it is not selfish to desire spiritual gifts if we desire them to build up the church and witness to the world!

Can you see grace?

A spiritual gift is the grace of God made visible in and through us.

Many are not experiencing spirit language, because they have yet to repent for control (opinions of own knowledge) of tongue and abusive language (gossip, slander, etc) with their tongue. God wont fill unsurrendered/empty vessels.

2 Timothy 2:19–25 “19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness. 20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient,

Ephesians 4:29–31 “29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice.”

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Talk it Over (being honest & open with friends, a spouse, or your Group)

The message was centered on what WE believe about Holy Spirit. What is one idea from Sunday’s message that impacted you?

Read John 3:1-8. What do you notices about God the Spirit in the passage?

What is your understanding of the Holy Spirit?

What is the role of the Spirit?

In what ways does the Spirit help us glorify God?

Read Galatians 5:18-23. What is the fruit of the Spirit, and why is it important?

Are you familiar with spiritual gifts? If so, what is your understanding of them?