The Holy Spirit Part 1

Who Is the Holy Spirit? Not a Glorified “it” Not a Mere Influence Not an impersonal and vague force

The Holy Spirit is a divine person like God and Christ He speaks (1 Tim 4:1), Teaches (John 14:26), Guides (John 16:12-13), He leads and forbids (Acts 16:6-7) He can be grieved (Eph 4:30) He can be despised (Heb 10:29) He can be lied to (Acts 5:3) He can be resisted (Acts 7:51)

He is Eternal (Heb 9:14) He is omniscient (1Cor 2:10-11) He is omnipresent (Ps 139:7,10)

There are three members of the Godhead God, the Father The Son The Holy Spirit Matt 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Christian The Holy Spirit is the Source of the inspiration of scriptures. 2Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17)

How do we get the Spirit? Luke 11:13 ASK "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish,will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Obey - Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. Given because we are sons - Gal 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." It does not make us Sons but given because we are sons

We become sons by faith and baptism Gal 3:26-27 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. It is a gift promised to all Christians Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Why is the Holy Spirit important in my life? Not a Christian w/o the Spirit Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

He is the Source of Renewal Titus 3:4-6 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior

He strengthens us Eph 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being He is able to more than we imagine Eph 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Helps us put away sin and confirms our Sonship Romans 8:12-17 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

The Fruit of the Spirit The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

The Gifts of the Spirit 1Cor 12:4-7,11 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. …11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

Need the right attitude about Gifts 1 Corinthians 14:2 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

Romans 12:4-8  For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

The presence of the Holy Spirit should be an incentive to holiness 1Cor 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

The Holy Spirit intercedes for us Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

The Holy Spirit is a seal and a deposit 2 Cor 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us (Eph 1:13 – the promised Holy Spirit), and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

A seal was used for 1. Authenticity 2. Security 3. Mark of Ownership/possession A deposit (earnest, pledge) 1. First installment 2. “Guaranteeing what is to come” 3. Guarantees God’s part – not ours

We have commands regarding the Holy Spirit Do not grieve (sadden or offend) the Holy Spirit Eph 4:30-32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Do not quench (suppress or stifle) the Spirit 1Thess 5:16-21 Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good.

Keep in step with the Spirit Gal 5:24-26 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit Eph 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

To be “filled with the Holy Spirit” is “ a purposeful act; a commitment to yield to the Spirit in every area of life” πληρω  plēroō used often of the wind filling a sail to move a ship along. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be moved along in our Christian life by God

The word was sometimes used of salt's permeating meat in order to flavor and preserve it. God wants His Holy Spirit to so permeate the lives of His children that everything they think, say, and do will reflect His divine presence

However pleroo was mainly used to get across the idea of total control However pleroo was mainly used to get across the idea of total control. Whenever a gospel writer wanted to speak of someone who was dominated by his emotions, he used pleroo.

John l6:6--Jesus said, "Because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart." Luke 5:26--Luke said the people "were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear." Luke 6:11--Luke said the Jewish leaders "were filled with fury, and discussed one with another what they might do to Jesus."

A person who is filled in this sense is no longer under his own control but under the control of that which dominates him. The same thing is true in living the Christian life. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not to have Him progressively added to our life, but dominated by Him. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a prayer request. It is a command to be obeyed. And if God gives a command, then we have the ability to obey it.

Next Time We will start a 2 part discussion about the miraculous gifts of Holy Spirit