Who is the Holy Spirit?

Lesson 4 – Who is the Holy Spirit?

When I think about the Holy Spirit, I …

1. The Personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit

a. Definition: The Holy Spirit is God and is equal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force, but a personal living God.

b. Central Passage:

Ephesians 4:30 ESV

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

c. The Holy Spirit is a person because He can…

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Ephesians 4:30 ESV

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Grieve and feel pain

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Romans 8:26–27 ESV

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Pray, feel and think

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1 Corinthians 2:13 ESV

And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

Teach

d. The Holy Spirit is God because He can only do what God does.

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John 16:8–11 ESV

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Convict people of sin.

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Job 33:4 ESV

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

Create; give life

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Psalm 139:7–10 ESV

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Be everywhere and know everything

2. The Holy Spirit’s work in Salvation

a. Definition: The Holy Spirit enables human begins to see their sinfulness and to realize their need for a Savior.

b. Central passage:

John 3:3 ESV

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

c. The Holy Spirit…

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John 16:8 ESV

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

Convicts people of sin

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Titus 3:5 ESV

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Makes people “alive” to God’s regeneration.

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1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Indwells us and we become God’s temple

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1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Baptizes us into the body of Christ.

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Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Seals us to guarantee our salvation

3. The Holy Spirit’s work in a follower of Christ’s life

a. Definition: The Holy Spirit equips every true follower of Jesus Christ with everything needed to successfully accomplish God’s mission on this earth.

b. Central passage:

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

c. What does the Holy Spirit do for true followers of Christ?

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Romans 8:16 ESV

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Adopts us into God’s family.

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Romans 8:26 ESV

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Prays for us.

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John 16:12–15 ESV

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Guides us in truth.

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1 Peter 4:10 ESV

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

Gives us spiritual gifts.

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Ephesians 5:18 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Fills us.

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2 Corinthians 1:21–22 ESV

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Anoints us.

“So What?” Section

Read and answer the following questions.

Galatians 5:16–26 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

· Describe in your own words what it means to “live by the Spirit.”

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· Describe the conflict that is in every true follower of Christ.

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· In your own words, explain the phrase “sinful nature.”

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· What is the secret of experiencing the fruits of the Spirit in our lives? See verses 24-25.

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· How did Jesus say the same thing?

Mark 8:34–35 ESV

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

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Developing Biblical Values

I have discovered… __________________________________________________________________________

I believe… ____________________________________________________________________________________

I will… ________________________________________________________________________________________

Write out a prayer to God in response to what you have learned in this lesson…

This week’s accelerated growth projects:

o Read Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.

o Read Chapter 6 in “Know What You Believe” by Paul E. Little.

o Memorize

o Review Lesson #8 in “Developing a Spiritual Foundation.”

o Share what you have learned with a friend.

o Bring a Bible to church and take Sermon Notes.

I have heard people say that angels are…

1. The Doctrine about Angels

a. Definition: Angels are created spiritual beings who possess a mind, will and emotion. They exist in the realm between God and man to help execute God’s will.

b. Central passage:

c. How do good angels help believers?

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They serve us.

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Protect and rescue us.

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Comfort and encourage us.

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Carry us to heaven, comfort us in death

2. The Doctrine of Satan

a. Definition: Satan is the highest angel that rebelled against God and continues to oppose God, His ways and His people.

b. Central passage: ; Ezekial 28:12-19

c. Who was Satan? See Ezekial 28:12-14

The highest angel created by God.

d. Why did Satan rebel against God?

· Ezekial 28:17

He became proud and corrupt.

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He became self-consumed and made himself like God.

e. How was Satan defeated?

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Jesus through His death on the cross.

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Through being tossed into the lake of fire.

3. The Doctrine of Demons

a. Definition: Demons are angels that fell with Satan and work with him to disrupt God’s ways, to derail God’s people and to deceive the world.

b. Central passage:

c. What do we know about demons?

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They believe in God.

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They can interfere with God’s work

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They can possess people; they like lonely places, they cause people to harm themselves.

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They know who Jesus is and are afraid of Him.

“So What?” Section

· How can true followers open themselves up to Satan’s influence?

Through anger, bitterness, and resentment.

· How can a church be open to Satan’s influence?

o

Through false teaching and false teachers.

o

Through quarrels and discord; arguments, resentments.

· How can true followers stand against Satan and his demons?

o

Be self-controlled; alert; resist him; stand against him by faith.

o

By resisting him.

o

By putting on the armor of God.

Developing Biblical Values

I have discovered… __________________________________________________________________________

I believe… ____________________________________________________________________________________

I will… ________________________________________________________________________________________

Write out a prayer to God in response to what you have learned in this lesson…

This weeks accelerated growth projects:

o Read the Gospel of Matthew.

o Read Chapter 8 in “Know What You Believe” by Paul E. Little.

o Memorize .

o Share what you have learned with a friend.

o Bring a Bible to church and take Sermon Notes.