I. The Trinity of the Godhead: Father, Son, Holy Spirit
A. The word trinity is not found in the Bible.
The concept is taught.
A better word is tri-unity, which means “three in one”.
B. The tri-unity of God seen in Genesis 1:1, 1:26
EL- singular; ELAH-dual; ELOHIM- 3 or more.
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;…
II. The Holy Spirit is a Person
A. The Holy Spirit is not an essence or power.
Hebrew for spirit is ruach, which also means breath.
Greek for spirit is pnuema, which means breath or air.
The Bible ascribes to the H.S. characteristics of a person.
B. The Holy Spirit has characteristics of a person.
1. Searches and has knowledge.
1 Corinthians 2:9-12
However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”–but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
2. Distributes spiritual gifts to people.
1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
3. Exalts Jesus, speaks the words of Jesus.
John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, Hengs that I said to you.
6. He can be grieved.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
7. Identified as a person present w/the believers.
Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:
III. The Holy Spirit Is God, A Person Of The Trinity
A. God is eternal, so is the Spirit.
Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
B. Identified As God
Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
Acts 5:4 “While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
C. God is omnipresent, so is the Holy Spirit.
Jer 23:24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the LORD (Jehovah). “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD.
There is no where that a man or woman could go to escape from being in the presence of God.
Psa 139:7-10 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
There is nowhere to go to escape the presence of the Holy Spirit.
All that the H.S. does, He can do everywhere. He fills the earth
D. The Spirit gives life
1. God gives spiritual life.
Eph 2:4,5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ
2. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit makes us alive.
John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
John 3:8 “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
IV. The Holy Spirit In The Life Of The Christian
A. Indwells The Christian
John 14:16,17 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever; “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
B. The Holy Spirit Is A Gift From God
“…and He will give you another Helper,…”
1 John 4:13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
C. The Holy Spirit Abides Forever
“… that He may abide with you forever;….”
D. The Holy Spirit Dwells Within Every Christian
The H.S. is for all Christians, not just for a select few.
Without exception, if you are a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit.
John 7:37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
John 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
John 7:39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
The H.S. is given, not earned.
Given to all those who come to Christ in faith.
E. The Disciples Received The Holy Spirit
John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
After Jesus paid for the sins of mankind, and was glorified and went to heaven, He sent the H. S. to dwell within those who believed on Him.
They were born again at this point.
F. A Christian Sealed by the Holy Spirit At Conversion
Eph 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
Seals used in various ways-
Authenticated a marriage document.
Served as a lock to secure something.
A brand, or mark on an animal.
The Christian is sealed.
Not by their own hand, but by the hand of God.
He puts His spirit w/in the Christian, marking Him as His own.
The seal not only emphasizes ownership, but security for the future.
Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
G. Conforms the Christian into the image of Jesus Christ.
2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
V. The Power Of The Holy Spirit In The Life Of The Christian
A. Holy Spirit Promised
Acts 1:4,5 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;” for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
baptizo, bap-tid’-zo; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); baptism:– baptist, baptize, wash.
To immerse, to overflow, to cover over, etc.
B. The Purpose of Holy Spirit Baptism- Power
Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The word “power” comes from dunamis which also means “dynamic ”
The Holy Spirit gives us the power to be a witness of who God is.
C. Explanation of Three Greek Prepositions
1. Before we were Christians the Holy Spirit was with us (Greek: para), convicting us of sin and drawing us to Christ.
2. Once we became Christians the Holy Spirit was in us (en), dwelling in us.
3. The third experience of the Holy Spirit is when He comes upon us (epi) and overflows in our lives.
Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
D. Power Needed To Live A Victorious Christian Life
Gal 5:16,17 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
E. The Effects Of The Power Of The Spirit ( Acts 2 and on…)
After Jesus’ death, the disciples hid for fear of the Jews.
After Pentecost, Peter and the others were different men….
They preached and proclaimed the word of God powerfully.
God did miracles through them.
They received special gifts from the Holy Spirit, that they might glorify Jesus Christ through their spiritual service.
F. Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.
Mat 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Jesus is the baptizer.
The element is the Holy Spirit.
The purpose is power to live for Him, and speak of Him, serve Him.
G. Incidents Of The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit
1. Acts 2:1-18
2. Acts 4:31 Filled with the Spirit
3. Acts 8:14-18 Something discernible happened
4. Acts 10:44-48
5. Acts 19:1-7
F. The Holy Spirit Gives Gifts For The Edification Of The Church
1. 1 Corinthians 12:1-13
G. If Receive The Baptism Of The H.S., Will I Go Out Of Control?
1 Cor 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
1 Cor 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
H. But I Am Afraid Of What Might Happen
Baptism of Holy Spirit given for power.
Boldness to be a witness
Gifts to build up the church
Gifts to build up the individual
I. Fear might be due to…
1. Ignorance.
Hopefully, we have eliminated any confusion about the person and the work of the Holy Spirit.
2. Faith needed to walk in the Spirit
Control is still yours, but God asks you to surrender to the power resident within you.
Trusting the prompting of the Spirit requires faith.
3. Timidity
“…but you shall receive power…”
4. Doesn’t Line Up With Your Theology
Call it whatever you want.
Baptism of the Spirit.
Filled with the Spirit.
The power of the Spirit.
The Spirit is upon me.
I’m baptized in the Spirit.
However you want to describe it is secondary to this fact:
Do you have it?
Is There….
1. Power to live for Jesus
2. Boldness to speak about Jesus
3. Spiritual gifts building up others and yourself. ( Whether “normal” or “spectacular” )
Have you been Baptized, filled, with the Spirit of God?
J. God wants To Fill You, Just Ask
Luke 11:11 “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
Luke 11:12 “Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luke 11:13 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
K. Three Kinds Of People We Want To Pray For This Morning
1. If You Want To Become A Christian This Morning Come Forward
2. You Are a New Christian, But Have Not Experienced God’s Power Come Forward
3. You Are A Christian, But You Have Ignored The Work Of The Spirit In Your Life.
You want to get back on track with God.
Confess your waywardness and recommit your life to God.
Come forward
Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
1 Th 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.
Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.