229 - God Returns Series

Sermon Study 229 – GOD RETURNS

Study of the Character and Attributes of the Holy Spirit as presented by Jesus

Jesus (God) promises to return to those who “love and obey”:

(1) John 14:15-18 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another (not inferior) Counselor/Comforter to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Note the qualification of receiving the Holy Spirit – “If you love me…” and “obey my commands”.

Note the Holy Spirit had not “fallen” upon the disciples – however, the Holy Spirit always existed with them – Jesus promises that one day (Pentecost) the Holy Spirit will go from being “with” to dwelling “in”.

Note - the Holy Spirit serves as the presence of the Father to us.

(2) John 14:23-27 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Note – again Jesus qualifies that if we love Him then we will obey.

Note - if we love and obey then “we will come” – describing the unity of the trinity. The Holy Spirit coming in us represents the presence of Jesus and the Father as well.

Note – Jesus implies that if we choose to not obey Him then we are not loving Him.

Note – Jesus expresses that the Holy Spirit will be their teacher as He was their teacher.

Note – the promise of the Holy Spirit was the promise of the Spirit of Peace.

Character of the Holy Spirit as described by Jesus:

Greek: parakletos, (par-ak’-lay-tos)

(1) Intercessor

(2) Counselor

(3) Advocate

(4) Comforter

Jesus (God) describes the work of the Holy Spirit:

John 16:5-16 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ’Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."

Attributes of the Holy Spirit as described by Jesus:

(1) Convict – “he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment”

a) Sin – to expose man’s lost nature

b) Righteousness – to exercise of our faith to follow God’s commands

c) Judgment – offer authority/power over darkness

(2) Guide – “he will guide you into all truth”

(3) Speaks for God – “He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears”

(4) Predict – “he will tell you what is yet to come”

(5) Reveal – “the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you”