The attributes of the Holy Spirit
Interestingly last week we talked about the festival of Pentecost and referred to some experiences people had had of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives. If we look into the work and attributes of the Holy Spirit we see that the Holy Spirit does not work alone that the person of the Holy Sprit is not distinct from God but he is God and through our relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit we are made whole.
Then on Monday we had another 6.3 on the Richter scale shake up. This is a good time for us all to remember that God is with us, in his word and through his Holy Spirit.
I know that some people have a fear that with the Holy Spirit doing His thing in their lives that they might loose control of their own destiny. As we look into this person of God we will see that He empowers followers of Jesus that He leads and guides, that He does not remove free will but assists in living and leads followers to an enriched life, living in Gods grace.
Today we are going to refer to a fair number of scriptures; these will be on power point so please keep your eyes on the screen, particularly if you are a visual learner. When we read scripture if Spirit is spelt with a capital ‘S’ it is referring to the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, a small‘s’ either references a spirit that is evil or human. This is not a complete list of the Holy Spirit’s attributes, I would encourage you to look into your bibles to discover more.
Let’s have a look at what the Holy Spirit did and does. I’m going to be referring to New Testament references, but let’s remember that the Holy Spirit, inspired and lead great people through out the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit spoke to the Old Testament prophets, Paul states that, “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:” (Acts 28:25b). This was very much addressed to the Jewish people at this time, but still some people prophesy when the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives. We have the example of Zechariah the son of John the Baptist, “His Father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied.” (Luke 1:67) The thing to remember with prophesy, is that it is much if not more forth telling as it is foretelling. Forth telling being about getting it right in the here and now rather than foretelling about what may happen down the track, often the two things are linked however.
There are a number of Biblical accounts of the Holy Spirit being upon people, Simeon for example “who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation (relief that the messiah would bring to) of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Also the account of Peter at the house of Cornelius in Acts 10:44, “while Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came (by way of descending) on all who heard the message.”
The Holy Spirit brought joy to Jesus we read in Luke 10:21, “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you Father, Lord of heaven…’”.
So further to the attributes of the Holy Spirit, how is he described?
Jesus calls him the Counselor! This is what he said to his disciples before his death. ”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.” (John 14:26). Counselor in this case from the Greek means comforter and encourager, you will also see from what Jesus said, that the Holy Spirit was to teach and remind the disciples what Jesus had said, those things that are now what we call gospel. We see too that the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father in Jesus name!
We also will find if we look at Acts 1: 1-2; That Luke in writing to Theophilus he says this, “In my former book (Luke’s gospel) I wrote about all that Jesus had began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instruction through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.” What Luke is saying there is that after Jesus resurrection, his instruction to the disciples was through the Holy Spirit. Jesus had instructed his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the promised Holy Spirit, which we know occurred at Pentecost. The teaching continued through the Holy Spirit, as did the doing, signs and wonders in Jesus name continued, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The church was encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and it’s important to remember that the church was not some vague building, concept or ideal, it was the people. In Acts 9:31 this is a description of that encouragement, “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit; it grew in numbers, living in fear of the Lord.” Interestingly here the Holy Spirit encouraged the church and at this time the word of God was being spoken fearlessly.
The numbers of people in the church grew, living in reverent respect of the Lord, which is what that reference to fear means. Not because the Lord wielded a big stick, but because they saw what He was doing, life change was occurring as the Holy Spirit gave life to the church as people interacted with God, this church became a living entity, a creature in its own right, it grew, new parts/people being added to the body as it grew, a Fred here, a Pauline there. The key ingredient other than the ‘Holy Spirit, God with the people’ of this growth, was fearless preaching of the word of God. God was doing amazing things in the life of the Church.
So much so that God had and has poured his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. This may seem a little unusual but the truth is that not everyone has the same concept or understanding of love and the love given by God is something that he pours into the hearts of his people, often when we read ‘hearts’ in the New Testament the reference is to the whole person, It could be read that God has poured his love into our whole being. “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5.5). So where does that find us, a church full of God’s love?
The Holy Spirit brings us to the place of belonging in the Kingdom of God, which is as Paul states not, “a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness (that’s a right relationship with God), peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). The thing to remember here is that this is here and now stuff, not something we can look forward to, though it will also be when we are pushing up daisies. We should aim to have our relationships right with God, bang on!
This is something that we see as being tied to our present hope and our future hope. In fact God is the God of hope; Paul uses this line about trust in the God of hope. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13). Being that the power of the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of believers, that they know his presence, hope is no longer a future thing but a sure and certain thing! Hope becomes concrete because of the power of the Holy Spirit as the relationship with him builds, and this is evidenced in our lives. The Greek word for this hope ‘elpis’ (and we could say God elpis) is translated also as expectation, we should ‘expect joy and peace as we trust in God.’ The key point here is to trust in God! If joy and peace are a rare thing in your life, check yourself to see how your trust in God is. So much so that we become dwelling places for God’s Spirit.
Our bodies as believers are temples of the Holy Spirit, Paul talks about this in reference to sexual immorality, and this is a summery of what he says ,this is the Andrew Moffatt paraphrase; ‘that you can’t put it about and be one with God’.
You can’t unite your body with someone you’re not married to, and be one with God, it’s important not to be sexual immoral. In Paul’s own words he says this, “All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God.” (1 Corinthians 6:18). The body is a place of residence for the Holy Spirit; our bodies are to be in union with God.
When we read about having fellowship with the Holy Spirit, this gives us a depth of understand of that relationship. Again the Greek points to a close association between two people, a sharing, a companionship, between us as individuals and God’s Spirit who dwells within us. In his first letter to the church at Thessalonica Paul said this “God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8).
Earlier I talked about the joy that Jesus was full of, joy through the Holy Spirit, in 1st Thessalonians 1: 6b we read of the people of the Church at Thessalonica a church that was being persecuted, being filled with joy, “…in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit.” We also can have joy in our lives as we interact with the Holy Spirit knowing those things I talked about earlier, hope, peace, comfort, encouragement, teaching, instruction, while being reminded by the Holy Spirit of the things of God. All this brings joy!
The Holy Spirit also helps us to maintain our faith journeys living in the grace of God, so that we can stick to the gospel teachings and the leading of the Holy Spirit, Paul writes this to Timothy; “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit. Who lives in us.” (2 Tim: 14).
As we live with the Holy Spirit in our beings, we change! Our lives become different from what they were, if we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts, our whole being, we become whole beings. We no longer live as we did before. Paul warns that those who lived as they did before “will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21b). then he says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23a) The reason the Spirit brings us this fruit is that those who belong to Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires, living by the Spirit and keeping in step with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit builds up individuals and the church, equipping and empowering.
The Holy Spirit also equips the Church for ministry.
The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:4) Often we hear something about a person who is gifted, like Mozart was a gifted musician, or John Walker was a gifted athlete. Spiritual gifts are given by God by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes people have a view on these gifts as being odd or strange; but the reasoning for God giving them is for the good of the church. Things like wisdom, knowledge, faith by the Spirit, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking of tongues and the interpretation of tongues.
It is God who determines who receives and it is God who gives these gifts, if you receive a gift it is for the common good of the church not as part of some act. There is nothing in these gifts to be afraid of; the only thing I would state is that they are to be part of orderly worship.
These gifts are distributed according to the will of God, they are not something that can be caught, or taught, the writer of Hebrews states, “God also testified to it (it being salvation) by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (Hebrews 2:4) God goes where God goes and God gives as he gives. While we are looking at this testimony about salvation lets look at what the Holy Spirit says about salvation. “First he says: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”(Hebrews 10:18:15b-17).The spirit of God, who is the Spirit of Christ himself, the Holy Spirit builds up individuals and the church, equipping and empowering, so that others may live in his grace and glory.
I have a few favourite passages in my bible that are extensively underlined and this is one of them, they are words of Jesus. “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:15-17).
It’s interesting in these times of uncertainty when so many things are just happening that we can have certainty, that we can have the Spirit of God the very personification of truth with us, forever! This is not some advertorial trash talk but an assurance to those of us who love Jesus and obey his command,…for that is all that is required, no deposit , no one month free trial. All that is required is love and obedience of Jesus!
Benediction.
As the Holy Spirit empowers and leads your lives,
With his encouragement and teaching,
May you enjoy the growth that he brings,
Built up in knowledge and service,
As he expands your understanding of the Kingdom of God,
Through his presence with you!
Amen.
