Session 5 - The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

Some of this will have been covered int he nature of God. This will look at how the Holy Spirti works in the life a believer.

1. The Holy Spirit is a Person

There are Christians who struggle with this idea. Some cults deny the Holy Spirit as a person. The JWs see the Holy Spirit as a force. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit has personal attributes.

Acts 5:1–4 ASV

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God.

Ephesians 4:30 ASV

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.

Acts 15:28 ASV

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

John 16:8 ASV

And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

1 Corinthians 2:10–12 ASV

But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.

2. The Holy Spirit is God

There are a number of verses that are clear that the Holy Spirit is God.

Acts 5:3–4 ASV

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God.

He is repeatedly associated with the Father and the Son in a co-equal way.

Matthew 28:19 ASV

Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:

1 Peter 1:1–2 ASV

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

3. The Holy Spirit gives us new birth

This is best emphasised in the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus. People need to be born of the Spirit for someone to become a Christian. They must be born again and it is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. Jesus told of the Holy Spirit coming after He was gone and that would be an indwelling.

John 3:3 ASV

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:6–8 ASV

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew. The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 14:15–17 ASV

If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you.

John 20:19–22 ASV

When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit comes into people for the first time. He with with or upon in the past. Once you are saved the Holy Spirit come in to do what is mentioned in 4-7 below.

4. The Holy Spirit empowers believers

The Holy Spirit gives power that a believer would not have otherwise. It started in the book of Acts after the resurrectution and ascension of Jesus. The believer is baptised by the Holy Spirit. This spiritual empowerment is to do spiritual works and be a witness for Jesus Christ.

Acts 1:4–8 ASV

and, being assembled together with them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye heard from me: for John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence. They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority. But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

It is from here that the gifts of the Holy Spirit begin to flow.

5. The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth

The work of the Holy Spirit is to guide us into all that is the truth. THe Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus bcause he is the truth. It is the heart of the Holy Spirit to reveal about Jesus to believers.

John 16:12–15 ASV

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you. All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.

6. The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus

See verse above, The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus who is the exact image and radiance of the God the Father, then teh Father is revealed by the Holy Spirit at the same time.

Hebrews 1:3 ASV

who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

7. The Holy Spirit come alongside

Jesus uses an interesting Greek term “paraclete” which means “one who comes alongside” or “one who is an advocate” or “helper”. It is a legal term for a lawyer of someone who speaks on your behalf. The Holy Spirit helps us to know what to say to God and help us to continue to follow Christ.

John 14:16–17 ASV

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you.