The Blessed Holy Spirit (Part Two)

MOTHER’S DAY!!! (TBA WHAT I’M DOING!)

Announce about new men’s Bible Study, “Sleeping Giant”, which begins this Monday evening. (SHOW VIDEO)

This morning, we are continuing in our message from last week, which was entitled, “The Blessed Holy Spirit”.

I started off last week asking everyone if you liked the thoughts of only getting 2/3 of something, when you know you could and you should have the whole thing. Does anyone remember me asking you about that?

To cut to the chase, the point that I was wanting to make, was that many, many people who sit in these buildings each and every Sunday, are living in that 2/3 group as far as their spiritual life is concerned!

These people may have the biggest, nicest houses, they may have amazing jobs and amazing incomes and a retirement plan that seemingly should lead to the perfect dream life.

On Sunday mornings, when you see them, they have a smile and a greeting that just exudes with confidence and all the niceties that you could ever want.

And you think to yourself, “Man, they have it all, they have really got it together!”

And what you don’t know and what you don’t see, is that some, if not many of these same people, who seemingly have it “all together” in the church buildings, are living quiet lives of desperation, as they are running on empty in their spiritual walk with the Lord.

Their mechanical and often rehearsed prayers they offer up, the small and quick, easy to read devotions from their Bible apps that are logged in each day and counted as “quality time” with the Lord in the Word, their disinterest in engaging other believers in studying the Word of God and building unity in the Body of Christ, are all contributing factors to their broken relationship with the very one who dwells within them.

If in fact He was ever there at all!

As I mentioned, I believe last week if not several times before, that the Bible tells us in Romans 8:9,

Romans 8:9 ESV

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Just claiming the name of a Christian and saying that you know the Christ, is not salvation and it definitely does not mean that the Holy Spirit of God is indwelling within you!

And it’s this misunderstanding of who He is and the role that He plays within the life of a believer, that I am addressing this morning.

Why is Holy Spirit placed within us? What purpose does He serve in the life of a believer and how can you know that He is there?

I mentioned last week and it’s definitely worth reiterating to you this morning, that the blessed Holy Spirit of almighty God, is a person, and not an entity!

I shared with you that their are those in different religious sects, who believe and teach that Holy Spirit is a “force”, an “entity”, and an “energy” that goes out from the Lord to accomplish His will.

And unfortunately, there are many Christians who do not hold a very different view and understanding as to who and what Holy Spirit is and why He is here with us!!

To restate the TRUTH again, Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity:

God the Father

God the Son

God the HOLY SPIRIT!

Many people teach and believe that the Bible is not really referring to Him as a person, as noted by the masculine pronouns used in talking about Him in the Bible, in John 14, 15, and 16, where Jesus refers to Holy Spirit as “he”, and “him” and “his”.

These people teach that this is a poor argument, because Biblical literature and ancient customs often used gendered pronouns to describe, or speak of an object and not of a literal person.

For example, they will take you to the book of Proverbs and show you how that “wisdom”, which is a feminine pronoun in the Hebrew language, is depicted as a woman, who has children and works.

As in Proverbs 1:20-21 which reads, “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks.”

Wisdom is not actually referring to an actual woman, but just a metaphor used because of the gendered pronouns.

And by this, they will argue that the same thing applies for the Holy Spirit in John’s gospel and that the masculine pronouns that were used there, are not speaking of an actual male person, but just metaphorically as was normal in Hebrew literary style, just like “wisdom” in Proverbs.

To this, listen to what Jesus said about Holy Spirit, when He spoke to His disciples about sending them the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16,

John 14:16 ESV

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

“…and He will give you ANOTHER Helper”. “Another”, being the key word there, as it means that the ONE who was being sent, was going to be a different person, and yet still a HELPER, a Counselor, an Encourager, a Mediator, just like Jesus had been to them for 3.5 years!

How could some “force”, or an “energy”, be an equal helper, encourager, comforter to somebody?!!!

Only another person could do that!

Jesus goes on to say in John 14:26,

John 14:26 ESV

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 have said to you.

How can some force, or inanimate object teach you anything about anything and also remind you, bring to your remembrance something that someone else said to you about a specific topic?

Again, only another person can do that.

John 15:26 says,

John 15:26 ESV

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

The word used in the Greek for “bear witness”, where Yeshua says that Holy Spirit will “bear witness” about Himself, is the word, “martyreō”, and it means - witness of and give testimony for, speak well of, commend, speak respect, vouch for.

So, this “force” speaks about, bears witness of and gives testimony for another person to you and I?!!!!

Mmmm............no, again, this would have to come from a person.

But there’s more, Jesus went on to say in John 16:7-8,

John 16:7–8 ESV

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement.

You know what I am about to ask you, right?

Can a non-personal force, energy, or presence, convict us of anything?

The meaning of the Greek word for “convict” used here, is - rebuke, expose; refute, show one’s fault, implying that there is a convincing of that fault!

In order to rebuke and expose others of anything, you must have the recall of memory, an intellect, emotion and a voice, or means of communicating your thoughts and memories to others, right?!

Well, here’s a news flash for you, only a person, someone of intellect and with will and the ability to take action, can do this, right?

One more from the mouth of Yeshua, John 16:13-14,

John 16:13–14 ESV

13 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. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Jesus is explicitly stating and showing to each one of us that His Holy Spirit listens to what the lord is wanting said to us and then He speaks it to us.

Holy Spirit operates just like Jesus did in His earthly ministry. Jesus said that He could only speak what He heard the Father saying and Holy Spirit can only speak to you and I what He hears the Lord saying.

Like I said a minute ago, it takes intellect, memory emotion and a voice, to take a message and then declare it to someone else! A.K.A. ANOTHER PERSON!

And there is much more that could be said about Holy Spirit according to the scriptures and of His role as an actual person of the Godhead, and not just some lifeless entity that floats around until it is activated to move somewhere!

In saying all of that in the defense of Holy Spirit and of His being a real person like the Father and the Son within the Trinity, I want to show you right now some of the characteristics and roles of the Holy Spirit that are clearly found within the Word of God, that depict His personal nature, much like our own.

First of all as we have just seen, He speaks to us!! He openly communicates with a believer.

Acts 8:29,

Acts 8:29 ESV

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

Acts 10:19-20,

Acts 10:19–20 ESV

19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

Acts 13:2,

Acts 13:2 ESV

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Do you see how Holy Spirit is clearly seen speaking in each one of these accounts and there are many more.

He is a person, just like the Lord Yeshua and He speaks to you of the will of the Father.

And in saying that He speaks to us as a person, He also takes the Word of God, which is alive and active to every believer, and when we read it He illuminates it for us!

We must understand that all scripture is breathed out by God and thus it is His words to us and for us.

And when the Lord breathed out His words, guess who was there to speak them into the hearts of men?

King David said, “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me. His words were on my tongue The God of Israel spoke to them.”

Just as Paul said to the church in Corinth, “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”

Then, when you and I read these Holy Spirit inspired words, guess what happens?

In Ephesians 1:17-18 Paul said to the church,

Ephesians 1:17–18 ESV

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

And in I Corinthians 2, Paul states that it is the Holy Spirit who searches and knows the thoughts of God and He then reveals them to us, that is, he illuminates the Word for us, when we read it!

For this reason, the psalmist said in Psalm 119 about God’s Word, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”

When we read in God’s Word, Holy Spirit, the very one who inspired men to write that Word, speaks TRUTH into our hearts about the Holy scriptures and illuminates them for our spirit and heart and mind.

This why Paul said in Romans 12:2,

Romans 12:2 NKJV

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Only Holy Spirit knows the thoughts and will of God the Father and when we read God’s Word, it’s the Spirit of God who reveals God’s will to us and thus transforms and renews our minds through the revealed will of God for our lives!

In our natural, carnal state, we will not receive the TRUTH of God’s Word, because the flesh cannot receive spiritual truth.

The light of the gospel message is shining bright, but as II Corinthians 4:4 tells us, “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”

Only Holy Spirit can illuminate and show the truth of the Word to a person!

So, Holy Spirit speaks to us and illuminates God’s Word for us, what other characteristics does He have as a person? Well, according to the scriptures, He has a will and emotions.

I Corinthians 12:11, tell us,

1 Corinthians 12:11 NASB95

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

Holy Spirit gives to the believer certain spiritual gifts that are necessary for us to be able to minister the gospel in power and authority.

And He gives these gifts, per His will; as He deems necessary for our lives.

And what about His emotions, how does the Bible show this?

In the book of Acts chapter 5, we read of the account of Ananias and Sapphira, who were a husband and wife who sold some property they owned, but then they lied about the amount of the sale and of what they actually were giving to God!

Listen to what Peter says to the husband, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

Let me ask you something. Does someone lying to you affect you emotionally?

Sure it does! It angers us, it makes us sad and hurts our hearts deeply!

Holy Spirit is no different. When we lie and operate in deception, it hurts Him as well!

Our actions can grieve Him!!

In fact, you will find in the scriptures that Holy Spirit can definitely be grieved by what you and I say and do.

Isaiah 63:10 says,

Isaiah 63:10 ESV

10 But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.

And again, Ephesians 4:30 tells us,

Ephesians 4:30 ESV

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

To say that He can be grieved by our actions and our thoughts, shows us that what we do in our lives can sadden God the Holy Spirit within us.

He has emotions, as a person, just as you and I do!!

Holy Spirit is a teacher for us.

Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

This is also why Jesus said to us in Luke 12:11-12,

Luke 12:11–12 ESV

11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

I know that many of us worry about what we will say when we stand before others who question us about the Lord and our faith in Him, but Jesus said that in that very hour, Holy Spirit will teach us how to respond to them.

This makes I Peter 3:15 and its command for us to always be ready to defend our faith a lot easier, when we know that the person of the Holy Spirit is right there guiding us along!!

What else does the Bible show us about the person of the Holy Spirit, that we can relate to?

He has a mind.

Romans 8:27 tells us,

Romans 8:27 NASB95

27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

The word for “mind” used here in the scriptures, means, “the facility of thoughtful planning”.

I don’t know about you, but I am so thankful that Holy Spirit, within His mind, is thoughtfully planning out for me, my path!

My wife will tell you, that in the natural, I have absolutely NO sense of direction! (I could get lost in my own house!)

And spiritually, for all of us, it’s the same way. In and of ourselves, we have no sense of direction for where to go while on this spiritual journey that we are on.

But, Holy Spirit, within His mind, is thoughtfully planning out and charting our path.

Without listening to Holy Spirit and following His guidance as He plan, we will fail miserably in our walk with the Lord.

The Bible says this of our own natural sense of direction, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

But thank God, that the Bible also tells us, “The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].”

I want to listen to and follow the mind of Holy Spirit on that path that leads to blessings and ultimately home to the Lord!

He is my spiritual GPS, amen?!

It was A.W. Pink who described the leading of the Holy Spirit with these words, “Those who are directed by this divine Spirit are moved to examine their hearts and take frequent notice of their ways; to mourn over their carnality and perverseness, to confess their sins and earnestly seek grace to enable them to be obedient.”

There are other attributes that we could talk about, that show us the person, who is the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. As to how He strengthens us, and He brings us into intimacy with God and He glorifies Christ in us and to us.

He supernaturally empowers the believer with a boldness that enables us to serve the Lord!

And that supernatural empowering of the believer, by Holy Spirit, is one way that you can know that He is active inside of you.

Without Holy Spirit quickening your spirit and giving you a power and boldness to declare the gospel message, in its entirety, while in the face of adversity and persecution, no one would ever succeed!

And when you’re put to the test and have to defend your faith in the Lord and you feel that fire burn brightly inside of you and the words of defense for the gospel pour out of your mouth, (in love and yet in truth), then you know that Holy Spirit is the one who is moving inside of you!

Just like Peter, who before Pentecost, denied even knowing Jesus, even to a little girl, he became extremely bold and with knowledge of how to answer others about his love for the Lord, after Holy Spirit was placed within Him!

So, also will Holy Spirit do to us, when we need Him to. (Providing that you’re not quenching and grieving Him in your life and through your heart and actions!)

In fact, in ever single aspect of our walk with Lord, it is Holy Spirit who is there making it happen.

From the moment that you are born again, which is the moment of your justification, and throughout every day of your life thereafter as you work out the process of sanctification, it is Holy Spirit who is enabling you to do this!

We cannot do this on our own! It is impossible for us without Him inside of us!

Without Him active inside of you, you will stumble and never walk in the power and authority that God has for you and I!

He works inside of you guiding and equipping and strengthening and convicting you, every step of the way, until you are called home and glorified in your new body!

And this is why, when I ‘m listening to someone share their testimony and speak about where they have been and what they have overcome and where they are going in their walk with the Lord, and if throughout their testimony, they do not keep giving the glory back to God, then I question who and what is really inside of them!

If it is Holy Spirit active and alive inside of a person and they are sharing what victories have been wrought in their life, then they will want to constantly give the glory to God, where it belongs.

But if they continually speak about themselves and how they did this and how they overcame that, and God is not the one receiving the glory, then it’s not Holy Spirit and if not Holy Spirit in them, then they are as lost as the day is long!!

And although I have mentioned this before, I feel that’s imperative to share it with you again, and that is one way that you can tell that you have Holy Spirit inside of you, active and speaking to you.

In Romans 8:15-16 says,

Romans 8:15–16 ESV

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

And then again, when we look at Galatians 4:6, we read,

Galatians 4:6 ESV

6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

What does all of this mean and how does it verify and validate that you have Holy Spirit inside of you

Well, when you get to the point in your life and in your walk with the Lord where suffering and trials and persecution come your way and you are really being pressed on every side in hardship and anguish, then something happens in the life of a true believer.

Holy Spirit inside of you begins to cry out Abba Father and you, yourself will begin to bear witness of Holy Spirit crying out inside of you, because you will begin to cry out “Abba Father” the same way.

The word used for “cry”in these passages, is a forceful shouting and yelling from someone who is hurting and in deep despair.

This not the little sniffly, whiny stuff that so many people get caught up in.

This is Holy Spirit crying out inside of you and prompting you to cry out in desperation.

And when that pain and suffering comes, you will instinctively cry out to your Father; to Abba God!

Not like a quiet little, “Oh God”, but an emphatic and desperate , “ABBA FATHER!!!”

That’s how you know Holy Spirit is there, by the way that you respond to any form of suffering and persecution and trials!

We may possibly look next week at three commands that we find in the Word of God, that pertain to us and Holy Spirit within us.

We are to be “Filled with the Holy Spirit”

We are to “Walk in the Spirit”

And we are to “Sow to the Spirit”

And these three commands are absolutely vital for our survival and our health as a believer!

I would like for us to close with a song that I asked the team to lead us in. This MUST be the decree of every believer and what we say to Him each and every day, “Holy Spirit You are Welcome here, come flood this space and fill the atmosphere. Your glory God is what my heart longs for. To be overcome by your presence Lord!”