The Holy Spirit
I. He is God
a. He is called God
Acts 5:3-4 (NIV) 3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
b. He was involved in creation
Genesis 1:1-2 (NIV) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
c. He was involved in Jesus’ birth
Luke 1:35 (NIV) The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
II. Before Pentecost
Came upon particular people to empower them for special service
Numbers 11:29 (NIV) But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!"
a. Empowered for leadership (examples)
i. Joshua Num 27:18-19
Numbers 27:18-19 (NIV) 18 So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence.
ii. David 1 Sam 16:13
1 Samuel 16:13 (NIV) So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.
b. Empowered for building the Tabernacle – Ex 31:3-13
Exodus 31:3-5 (NIV) 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts--4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.
c. Empowered for prophecy (examples)
i. The elders of Israel Num 11:25
Numbers 11:25 (NIV) Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again.
ii. Isaiah 59:21
Isaiah 59:21 (NIV) "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD.
Ranchers in West Texas make it their practice to round up all their
year-old calves each spring for branding. The calf is held down, the
branding iron is heated red hot, and the brand is placed on its
flank. The brand is the rancher’s mark of ownership. No one can
dispute that the calf belongs to him.
In the same way God has placed his mark of ownership on us by the
sealing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s mark of
ownership, authority, and security over us. No one can remove us from
his ownership until the day of redemption.
I have a glove here in my hand. The glove cannot do anything by itself, but when my hand is in it, the glove can do many things. True, it is not the glove, but my hand in the glove that acts. The Christian is a glove. It is the Holy Spirit in us, the hand, who does the work. We have to make room for the hand so that every finger in the glove is filled.
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III. After Pentecost
a. Involved in our salvation
i. Convicts of sin, righteous and judgment Jn 16:7-11
John 16:7-11 (NIV) 7 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.8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
ii. Spirit received by faith, not works Gal 3:2,14
Galatians 3:2 (NIV) 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
iii. Gives life Gal 5:25, 6:8, 1Pet 3:18
Galatians 5:25 (NIV) 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 6:8 (NIV) 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
1 Peter 3:18 (NIV) 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
iv. Born of the Spirit Jn 3:3
John 3:3 (NIV) 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
v. Baptizes 1Cor 12:13
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NIV) 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
b. Equips for service
i. Filled for service Lk 4:1,14
Luke 4:1 (NIV) 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,
Luke 4:14 (NIV) 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
ii. Gives gifts 1Cor 12:11
1 Corinthians 12:11 (NIV) 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
iii. Fills Eph 5:18
Ephesians 5:18 (NIV) 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
c. Gives assurance
i. Every child of God has the Spirit Gal 4:6
Galatians 4:6 (NIV) 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
ii. Guarantee 2Cor 5:5
2 Corinthians 5:5 (NIV) 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
iii. Seals 2Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13, 4:30,
2 Corinthians 1:22 (NIV) 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
iv. Indwells Jn 14:17, 1Cor 3:16, Eph 2:18, 1Jn 3:24
1 John 3:24 (NIV) 24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
v. Bears witness with our spirit Rom 8:16
Romans 8:16 (NIV) 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
d. Assists in our daily lives
i. Gives direction Matt 4:1, Lk 2:27, Acts 8:29, 10:19, 16:7, Rom 8:14
Romans 8:14 (NIV) 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
ii. Comforts Jn 15:26
John 15:26 (NIV) 26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
iii. Gives power over the old nature Rom 8:1-2
Romans 8:1-2 (NIV) 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
iv. Helps us pray Rom 8:26
Romans 8:26 (NIV) 26 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.
v. Gives strength to the inner man Eph 3:16
Ephesians 3:16 (NIV) 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
vi. Guides into truth Eph 3:5, 1Jn 2:20, 27
1 John 2:20 (NIV) 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.
vii. Gives fellowship Phil 2:1
Philippians 2:1 (NIV) 1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
viii. Sanctifies – helps us grow 2Thess 2:13
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
ix. Gives liberty – freedom 2Cor 3:17
2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV) 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
x. Assists in worship Jn 4:23
John 4:23 (NIV) 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
xi. Provides access to the Father Eph 2:18
Ephesians 2:18 (NIV) 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
xii. Produces fruit Gal 5:22-23
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
