The Character of the Holy Spirit

Opening (10:15 / 10)

Opening

Song

Welcome (emcee)

Announcements (emcee)

Passage: Already True (10:25 / 35)

Brief introduction of theme: (10:25 / 5)

Reading (volunteer)

Acts 2:1–2 NET

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:1–4 NET

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.

Jn 3.8

John 3:8 NET

The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 7:37–39 NET

On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’ ”(Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Jn 7.37-39

Already for gratitude (Colby)

Already for gratitude (Colby)

[Kids: draw Fire, Wind, Water]

3 Metaphors → can’t hold, but can be moved

~Fire coming to rest upon each believer

~Wind blowing believers wherever it wants to

~Water, rivers of living water flowing from out of each believer

You can’t hold FWW, but all 3 can move you with great power

And so, the HS

Called the Spirit of: God / Lord / Jesus / God’s Son

3rd Person of Trinity *

HS is not less than F / S

HS is flawless

HS is authoritative

None like him (, , , , ; )

1 Corinthians 12:4 NET

Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

Ephesians 4:4 NET

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling,

HS is worthy of worship

The Holy Spirit is worthy of Worship

Please stand as we worship with the help of the

[Kids: let’s see!]

Worship music

Worship music (10:30 / 15)

Monologue: Already (10:45 / 5)

Monologue: Already (10 min) (Colby)

[folders]

[Kids: let’s see FWW!]

What did you learn about the Holy Spirit?

Or what are some things you already know?

[Kids: draw handshake]

Monologue

Read

1 Corinthians 2:6–16 NET

Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.

[Kids: draw handshake]

Searches all things ()

Searches all things (1 Cor 2.10)

1 Corinthians 2:10 NET

God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

If we want to know the deep things of God, what should we do?

Knows the Father’s mind, uniquely ()

1 Corinthians 2:11 NET

For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

(cf. )

Only the Son and the HS know the mind of the Father, and it’s the HS who is with us, now.

HS can be known, wants to be known

(cf. ; )

You can know the Holy Spirit because He wants to be known. There’s nothing about you that’s too inadequate to know the Spirit of God, because it’s his adequacy that makes it possible.

HS allows us to have the mind of Christ ()

1 Corinthians 2:16 NET

For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Therefore, HS is our Exclusive source to deep things of God & have the mind of Christ

Including HS-inspired Scripture.

There is no book or seminar or teacher who can teach us the deep things of the Father and give us the mind of Christ. It is God’s Spirit alone.

[Kids: Let’s see handshake!]

Kids / LS [folders] (10:50 / 10)

[folders]

[Call for 4 people to serve]

- There is a mystery we couldn’t have imagined

- A mystery we couldn’t have imagined

1 Corinthians 2:7–8 NET

Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

- God prepared this mystery for his children who love him

1 Corinthians 2:9 NET

But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

- It’s a mystery the Father revealed to us thru the HS

1 Corinthians 2:10 NET

God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

- So that we may know the things freely given to us by God

1 Corinthians 2:12 NET

Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God.

The mystery is this - the crucified and risen Christ

Our only salvation.

A mystery hidden throughout the ages, but now revealed through the incarnation of JC, his sacrifice on the Cross for our sin, and his resurrection.

Which we now remember through the Lord’s Supper.

The HS has revealed to us this mystery

Receive this mystery from the HS.

Pass this mystery along to others in the power of the HS within you.

[Call for 4 people to serve]

[Symbols & Instructions]

[Folders]

[Symbols]

Receive (but if that’s difficult for you today, raise your hand)

[4 Kids: trash, return to seat?]

Experience: Not Yet True (11:00 / 10)

Elder prayer [offering] (11:00 / 5)

Dialogue: Not Yet (11:05 / 5)

Cek: Who wants people to pray for you right now?

[Kids: draw fruit]

Dialogue: Net Yet (10 min) (Colby)

How want to know the Holy Spirit better in 2020?

Dialogue

Character of the HS

HS is Lord (, ; cf. )

HS has a Will ()

HS has a Plan / strategy (; all of Acts)

HS Takes initiative (; )

HS of

Promise (; , , ; ; )

Truth (; ; ; )

Holiness (; ; ; ; ; every reference to "Holy Spirit")

Life ()

Grace ()

Glory ()

Fruit ()

Therefore, in order to have [], get to know HS of []

[Kids: Let’s see fruit!]

How do we get to know this Spirit better?

[If no time for prayer]: A journey for 2020 on 1st Sundays w/LS.

Open prayer: (if before 11:10)

Pray for self, neighbor, Grace to know HS better in 2020

Discipleship: Completion (11:10 / 20+)

Monologue / dialogue: Completion (11:10 / 10)

(Homestudy feedback: ???)

Monologue / dialogue

[Kids: draw gift]

Not a sub for F / S (or vv)

Not go to HS to circumvent our r'ship with JC or the Father (overemphasis). Not go to JC or F to circumvent our r'ship with HS (underemphasis). He is a unique Person for a reason. He is given to us, rather than JC in the flesh or the Father in a temple, for a reason.

Not go to JC or F to circumvent our r'ship with HS (underemphasis)

He is a unique Person for a reason. He is given to us, rather than JC in the flesh or the Father in a temple, for a reason.

Poured out

(; ; ; ; ; (); )

,

2:14 But Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “You men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this and listen carefully to what I say. 2:15 In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 2:16 But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:

2:17 ‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says,

‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people,

and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,

and your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.

Acts 2:17–18 NET

‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says, ‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

2:18 Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

2:19 And I will perform wonders in the sky above

and miraculous signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

Acts 2:33 NET

So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear.

2:20 The sun will be changed to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

Poured out upon us, generously, for a reason. Every person the HS has been poured out upon has been given the Spirit for a reason. That means every believer here.

2:21 And then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

2:33 So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear.

The Holy Spirit is a Gift!

A wonderful, exorbitant, generous, free, undeserved gift, and he should be appreciated as such. Believers are indwelt by the Spirit, but we can be repeatedly filled (HS as a gift again and again), we can repeatedly give thanks (for both the the initial indwelling and ongoing filling).

Jesus was not externally obligated to send us this gift. How should we treat this gift? We ought not make this gift an idol nor ignore it. We ought to appreciate the gift, interact with this gift frequently for the purposes it was given. We ought not deny this gift by inaction. We ought not fear this gift, but we ought to hold this gift as precious. This gift is a treasure!

In midst () → a collective gift

Given to a group as much as to individuals, with beautiful variety and divine intent.

One application: Giving

Every January, we talk about giving. We schedule for January because:

We don’t want to ignore the topic (I’m too shy RE it).

We don’t want it to come during the budget cycle, as if we were trying to manipulate you.

Now is a great time while we’re all making plans for the coming year.

Maybe this is too little, and maybe we’ll need to revisit this before next January, but I want to say just this much.

We trust HS to make the deep changes in us. We don’t make those changes by the sure power of our self-determination. So, we teach on trust - trusting the HS to make the keep changes in us.

Not only trusting that he will provide (for church and family), but trusting especially that God wants to do something specific in us. He generously poured out his Spirit upon us because He wants GF to thrive as He defines thriving.

God wants to do something, wants GF to thrive (but don't manipulate)

If we pray and are being completed by the HS, we'll give. We won't give any other way. If we're not giving, focusing on giving won't fix it.

If we pray consistently in 2020 and allow the HS to complete us in Christ, we'll give according to God’s desire. We won't give any other way. And if we're not giving, focusing on giving won't correct it. Focusing on the Spirit’s deep work in us will result in things like right giving.

Most are giving, BTW. More $ will come from growth.

I’m not at all saying people aren’t giving rightly now - I never know. But as we pray to see our giving increase, one thing that needs to happen is for our church family to increase. And that’s where we need the HS to do some deep work in all of us - asking the Spirit to make us to be more and more the kind of people who invite others to join our family - especially those who don’t yet know Jesus.

So, for our giving to be right in 2020, let's commit to growing spiritually together and praying together for the Spirit to work in us and through us. Let’s commit to surrendering more of our lives to the HS, giving him access to the stuff we're holding back. We tend to hold back what we're afraid of losing. And so we need trust in God’s Spirit to do deep work in us.

So, to increase giving, let's commit to growing together and praying together. Let's commit to surrendering more of our lives to the HS, giving him access to the stuff we're holding back. (It's not that we're holding back our $ or even part of our lives, but it's that we hold back what we're afraid of losing. In this is trust!)

That’s all I’m going to say about giving for now.

[Kids: Let’s see gift!]

[Chair for Veronica]

Testimony: Veronica DeCanio (11:20 / 10)

Give homestudy (11:30)

Passages

Instructions

Invite for prayer

Music:

Celebration, gratitude, closure, promise (1 or 2 songs)

##