The Holy Spirit

Reading text:

John 16:13-15 “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.”

Introduction:

The spirit is labeled as the “Spirit of Truth”. Truth is not relative it is specific and pointed.

The spirit is who Guides, and who declares the future to and for mankind.

He glorifies the Father, meaning: that He will take none of the praise or glory for himself, He will attribute it to the Father.

Today will not be an extensive in depth study into a specific part of the Spirit; but a simple highlighting to different parts of Him.

Disclaimer:

The Holy Spirit is someone who Baptists have typically avoided, Pentecostals have fantasized and over all He is mis-represented and neglected. Hopefully today we recognize His authority, and His Deity and ministry!

Definition:

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Holy Spirit > Hh

Holy Spirit. Third person of the Trinity. The word “spirit” (Hebrew ruah, Greek pneuma) is the word used from ancient times to describe and explain the experience of divine power working in, upon, and around men, and understood by them as the power of God.

Description:

Pocket Dictionary of Liturgy & Worship Holy Spirit, The

Holy Spirit, The. The third person of the Holy *Trinity. Associated with (re)creation and (re)birth (Gen 1:2; Jn 3:5–6; 1 Pet 3:18), the Holy Spirit is a gift to the Christian (Acts 2:38; 10:45) and the Christian community (1 Cor 12:13), not only working in lives but in worship (Jn 4:23; Rom 8:15–16, 26; Gal 4:6; Eph 2:18; 4:3; Phil 3:3; 1 Cor 12:7; Jude 1:20).

Transition:

Many portions of scripture describe the Holy Spirit and He is described to mankind as a:

I. Mighty Wind.

A. Wind of God.

Genesis 8:1 “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.”

? What was taking place here?

Explain the context for this chapter: The flood was coming to an end.

The wind controlled the water level and was the authority over creation.

In another part He is also a “mighty wind”:

Exodus 10:13 “So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts.”

? What was the purpose of this wind?

Explain the context and the importance for God to reign supreme over Pharaoh. The 8th Plague!

The world needed to see that the people of Israel have a God who is the only God and He fulfills His promises and provides for His people.

He protected the people in the wilderness from Pharaohs wrath and anger.

Exodus 14:21 “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.”

? What may be the purpose of this amazing spectacle?

Explain the perspective of the people:

They complained that Moses lead them to their death as compared to the comfort they had in Egypt.

God protected Israel and did so by dividing a sea and providing dry ground for them to walk on.

The Holy spirit separated the waters. He lead the way for Israel to witness His power and authority and care!

Point:

- He has authority over all creation.

- He has authority over all mankind

- He is the God of Israel and is the same yesterday today and forever even to all believers now.

Transition: He is the mighty wind who controls the world, is thee authority over all mankind, that is the:

B. Breath of Life.

Genesis 2:7 “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”

God hand crafted man. He was clay in the image and reflection of God.

? Have you ever wondered what would’ve happened if God stopped there?

Man would’ve been a trophy, a statue.

The crafted creation clay model.

But God didn’t stop there: He provided through the next step:

He breathed the Breath of Life into our nostrils: He made us a living soul.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Period of the Judges > Old Testament

It is one of the earliest perceptions of Hebrew faith that man lives only because of the stirring of the divine breath or spirit within him

Mankind admitted that life without God isn’t possible.

We still hold to that faith; but there is a little more understanding now regarding the spirit: We can recognize there are separations between the divine spirit (God’s) and our human spirit, and that humans are of a soul and posses a spirit.

The Spirit that God breathed into us.

Point:

Our spirit since birth is dead due to sin; “non-responsive”

But God through the Holy Spirit at salvation: Quickens our spirit - Brings it back to life!

We can have conversations, know, and obey the Lord because our spirit has been reconciled back into a good relationship with God.

He originally gave us life, and now has provided a way to have a relationship with Him!

Transition:

His deity is revealed through us being alive; but also through His:

II. Divine Power.

He gave:

A. The Revealing:

He was the main agent in Mary’s conception of Jesus as a virgin:

Matthew 1:18-20 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

How could a virgin be pregnant?

From the Holy Spirit!

There are some people who have tried to explain how this could happen; but in their limited understanding they only know that a conception could only be a result from intercourse.

Mankind tries to explain the ways of God; but often create more problems and questions than giving understanding.

The Spirit was the agent responsible for Jesus’ conception and birth.

How?

It doesn’t matter: It takes faith to believe that God did it and that it is beyond human understanding.

But He tells us about it in Luke:

Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”

The Holy Spirit to come “upon” you?

The word “upon” is a geographical position: “at, by, over, against, to…etc.

The Most High will “overshadow” you?

The word “overshadow” is literally that: Casting a shadow.

*If the mighty wind could divide a sea and bring to life a handcrafted statue; why couldn’t He make a virgin pregnant?

Shame on us for not thinking it is possible!

He revealed Himself to a few people during our recording in Luke:

Mary

Joseph

Elizabeth - When Mary visited her it says:

Luke 1:41 “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,”

Explain the connection between Elizabeth’s child and Jesus! Not just cousins!

Point: The Holy Spirit revealed Himself to the world in a lot of different ways, He has even revealed Himself to you!

At the moment of salvation you were allowed to understand your sin and punishment and the lack of relationship with God.

From that knowledge that you were now accountable to you had a response:

either accept your sinfulness before God and say your sorry, or deny it and stay in your sin. Refusing the Grace extended to you.

Don’t deny His Grace, accept it; then tell people about the grace given.

Transition: He revealed Himself and in doing so when He quickens a soul and makes it alive we are able to receive His:

B. Empowerment.

The Spirit led and empowered Jesus during His temptations:

Luke 4:1 “And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness”

Luke 4:14 “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.”

The Spirit led Him from the Jordan to the deceiver’s tempting and back again into Galilee.

The Spirit’s role taught two important truths:

God remains sovereign over the Devil.

He tempts no one.

James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one.”

The Spirit is manifested also through the fulfillment of prophecies:

Matthew 12:18 ““Behold, my Servant whom I have chosen, my Beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.”

Referencing:

Isaiah 42:1 “Behold my Servant, whom I uphold, my Chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.”

Luke 4:18 ““The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,”

Referencing:

Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;”

The prophecies from Isaiah were approximately 700 years before Jesus. Every time prophecies are fulfilled they remind us and reveal to us God’s power and authority.

Jesus revealed the Spirits empowerment of Himself

Point: We are given the assurance and promise that the Holy Spirit’s power will come to us and empower us to follow His leading just as Jesus did.

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

Transition: Jesus’ ministry was entirely Spirit led and following Christ’s life we have God’s interactions with us through the Holy Spirit and:

III. His Work.

The spirit is our:

A. Sealer.

Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Ephesians 1:12-14 “so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. 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.”

Illustration:

In a time before our modern age and the many counterfeiting schemes. There was a way that God provided through His wisdom to men to make something authentic or from a person with authority over certain affairs.

It was a carved piece of wood or crafted metal ring that consisted of a family crest or symbol that was given to someone who had authority to represent the family in business interactions or with all authority!

The symbol would be pressed into melted wax often sealing the paperwork shut or it was the “signature” of the sending authority.

It signified that the sender had authority to say what was said or to negotiate the terms of a legal document.

Point: The Holy Spirit is the authority and signature to the document sent by Jesus to the Father which gave us freedom from the binding and condemning sins.

Transition: With our freedom papers on file and our name written in the Lambs book of Life the Holy Spirit isn’t done working, that’s just the beginning, He works as the:

B. Convict-er.

John 16:7-11 “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. 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.”

The word Conviction means:

“To Argue with, To Prove, To Correct.

With God He is the Subject convicting and we are the Objects of conviction.

When we attempt to stir up conviction, (like when David was confronted by Nathan) it is called “rebuking” The goal to walk someone toward conviction.

Some biblical examples are:

II Samuel 12:7 “Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.”

When John the Baptist rebuked publicly Herod Antipas.

Luke 3:19 “But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done,”

*Conviction really is just pointing out empirical truth (not able to be contested) and then there is a response.

One could either acknowledge the truth and “repent”. (Turn away from it and avoid it).

Or Dismiss the truth and continue in their pride believing that they are right and God is wrong.

To That I say: Good luck with that!

Point: The conviction of the Holy Spirit when we have transgressed the truth should bring shame.

Shame is a powerful tool for reminding us, with an emotion, that we don’t want to feel like that again, so when we approach that sin, we remember that feeling and the line we drew in the sand, then avoid it.

Transition: He convicts but is also exactly what we need following that conviction as the:

C. Comforter.

He is called the “paraclete”.

Paraclete is: One who is called to someone’s aid. A term for a lawyer.

Examples of this are:

John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,”

John 14:26 “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.”

John 16:13 “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.”

Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will come from the Father when He leaves.

The Spirit of Truth will lead and aid them to recall Jesus’ message.

He is the Paraclete:

John describes Him in the “five paraclete” passages.

Which describe Him as:

Our Advocate.

Our Exhorter.

Our Encourager.

Our Counselor.

All of which are under the title as the comforter.

Point: The Holy Spirit is our Paraclete; the one who runs to our aid, our comforter.

Transition: Often times we mis-understand the Holy Spirit’s work and refuse or don’t recognize His comfort. He desires to transform us; so let Him.

?How?

You obey the convictions.

Flag them and remember them and avoid them (Run).

Conclusion:

He is the:

I. Mighty Wind

Who is in you!

He has revealed His

II. Divine Power to the world.

That power resides inside of you as a compass for God’s will and direction.

He isn’t sitting idle He is doing:

III. His Work.

All He does He is doing for you and me.

The Holy Spirit is the power of God inside of you; to seal, guide, and protect until the day of the Lord.

Dismissal:

The Trinity is three distinct persons but one God in total!