Holy Spirit Chapter 4

Who Is The Holy Spirit

The best way to understand how God relates to people is to focus on the unique role each member of the Trinity plays in the relationship. The Father is sovereign. He has designed a perfect will for his people. The Father planned for the atonement for sin through the redeeming act of the cross. The Son accomplished the Father's will when he took on physical form and was crucified for humanity's sin. The Son continues to intercede for people with the Father (1 John 2:1). The Spirit takes the will of the Father and the work of the Son and seeks to make them a reality in the believer's life.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (pp. 62-63). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

In times before Pentecost, the key to the Spirit's presence was God's assignment. With God's call came the enabling presence of his Spirit. Once the assignment was accomplished, God's Spirit was withdrawn.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 64). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Holy Spirit in New Testament

With Christ's birth and the dawning of the New Testament, the Holy Spirit's role assumed an added dimension. The Spirit's assignment is still to help believers carry out the Father's purposes, but now all believers need the Spirit's presence because every believer is called to function as God's priest (1 Pet. 2:9).

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 64). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9

The Holy Spirit’s Role is to show us how to accomplish the mission of Christ.

Holy Spirit’s Role In Salvation

Pre-conversion

God's persistent desire for people is that they put their faith in him (1 Tim. 2:4). To that end, the Spirit's role is twofold: to make unbelievers aware that their sin separates them from their Creator and to draw them by God's redemptive love as expressed on the cross.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 65). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the [a]knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim. 2:4

Conversion

The miracle of conversion, as the Spirit testifies to each new believer, is that although the individual was always God's creation, now he is God's child.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 66). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Rom. 8:14-17

The Holy Spirit gives us assurance of our salvation.

Post-Conversion

The Holy Spirit is absolutely essential in helping believers grow in their understanding of what God has purposed for them. God wants every believer to experience what Jesus called the abundant life (John 10:10). Therefore, the Holy Spirit leads Christians into a deeper and deeper knowledge of him. It is a planned, deliberate process. It is inconceivable that God would draw people to give their lives to him, only to abandon them to live out their Christian lives independent of his direction. God cares about each of his children, and he takes an active part in guiding them to experience his will to the fullest.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 68). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and [a]have it abundantly. John 10:10

Abundant life is maturing in the Lord.

15 Ways the Holy Spirit Matures Us

Brings Assurance

16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Rom. 8:16

When you repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit assures you of your salvation.

Conviction of sin

8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. Rom. 8:8-9

When you become a child of God, the spirit convicts you of the offenses towards God. Prior to the Holy Spirit you may not have been sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

Brings Understanding

14 But [a]a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Cor. 2:14

Apparently even when Christians gather together, they cannot understand the Scriptures apart from the work of God in opening their hearts and minds. Since Pentecost, the role of the Holy Spirit is to help people understand what the Bible has to say to them.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 70). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Reveals Truth

13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. John 16:13

There are truths in the word of God that can only be known by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. He will make these truths known to the believer.

Brings Comfort

16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [a]Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you John 14:16-17

The picture Christ gave his disciples when he promised a Comforter is one of pure love and devotion. God loves you. He knows you intimately. He knows how to pick you up when you fall. He wants to comfort you when you grieve. Even your best friends may not know what to say in times of deep heartache, but the Holy Spirit can reach the deepest recesses of your soul and bring comfort as no one else can.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 71). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Exalts Christ

3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking [a]by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is [b]accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except [c]by the Holy Spirit 1 Cor. 12:3

Christ. People cannot discover what Christ is truly like on their own. God must reveal the depths and multifaceted nature of his character to them (Matt. 16:17; John 15:26). The Holy Spirit leads Christians into a deeper knowledge of their Savior and Lord.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (pp. 71-72). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Reveals God’s Will

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 1 Cor. 2:12

The Holy Spirit reveals God’s will so that we can live in the richness of His plan. Living in God’s plan keeps us from living in spiritual poverty.

Calls into Service

2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:2-3

The Holy Spirit will put passions in you to guide you into the area of service He desires you to serve.

Protects from sin

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Gal 5:16

The Spirit provides numerous and timely warnings to help us resist temptation. If we are alert to his prompting, he will protect us from sin.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 75). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Knows the Future

13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. John 16:13

Since the Holy Spirit knows the future He can guide us on how to get to our destination.

Produces Fruit

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who [a]belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also [b]walk by the Spirit. Gal. 5:22-25

The Holy Spirit enables us to grow in the fruits of the Spirit. When we need to improve He helps us.

Places Members

18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 1 Cor. 12:18

God reveals to people where they are to serve.

Produces Unity

13 For [a]by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:13

How likely is unity within the church? Without God's help it's no more likely than world peace. But thanks to the Holy Spirit, it's not only possible—it ought to be normative.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 80). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Gives Words

19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20 For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Matt. 10:19-20

The Holy Spirit will give is the words to say when we need them.

Reminds us

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26

The role of the Holy Spirit today is not to write Scripture. It is to apply Scripture. The Spirit does not give new revelation; he reminds believers of what God has already revealed and then applies those truths to their lives.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 83). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Reaction To the Holy Spirit

Resist, grieve, quench, blaspheme, or be filled

Resist - Not do what He is leading you to do.

Grieve - To sin

Quench - to continue in sin after conviction

Blaspheme - Reject God

Be Filled - This is when you are walking with the Lord

Questions for Reflection

1. In what ways is the Holy Spirit presently working in your life?

2. Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of changes he wants to make in your life? Are you resisting him?

3. Would you describe your life as being filled with the Spirit?

4. Are there currently sins in your life that grieve the Holy Spirit?

5. What attitudes or behaviors could be quenching the Holy Spirit in your life?

6. What spiritual fruit is the Holy Spirit producing in your life?

7. Is anything happening in your life that could only be explained by the working of the Holy Spirit?

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 89). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 88). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.