About The Spirit Series

Message Notes: January 31, 2016 A.M.

Series – “Does It Matter What You Believe?”

Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, KJV

“About the Spirit”

John 14:15-21

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. KJV

Introduction: Today I’m preaching the third part of a series that asks the question, “Does it matter what you believe about the Spirit?” There are more opinions about the Holy Spirit than you can shake a stick at!

IN THE CENTER OF CONTROVERSY

In many Christian circles the Holy Spirit is either neglected, forgotten, or misunderstood.

The One given to unite the body of Christ is the center of controversy…

So often Christian work is so rigidly programmed that it seems we need no longer depend on Him--yet Jesus said, "Without Me you can do nothing." ...

The late Dr. A. W. Tozer, author and pastor, said, "If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference.

If the Holy spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference."

SOURCE: The Holy Spirit: Missing, Citation: Alan Redpath in "Christian Life" magazine. Christianity Today, Vol. 29, no. 18.

I. The Promise of the Spirit

First, what does the Bible say about the coming of the Holy Spirit? First:

a. His coming is foretold in the Old Testament

Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

b. His coming is fulfilled in the New Testament

Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

II. The Person of the Spirit

What does the Bible say about who the Holy Spirit is?

1.Definition of person: "One who had substance, completeness, self­existent, individuality and rationality.

2.Five tests to determine a person:

◦SUBSTANCE: being existence reality.

◦COMPLETENESS: that which is part doesn't satisfy the definition (an arm)

◦SELF­EXISTENT: continued by ones self, not by another: robot

◦INDIVIDUALITY: not some universal existence.

◦RATIONALITY: excludes the non­intellectual ­ rocks and plants

He is not a power He is a person who has power. He is not a force He is a person who is a force. He is not an influence He is a person of influence.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" Mt 28:19

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all" 2 Cor 13:14