THREE FACTS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
Our text for today is found in John chapter fourteen. Please follow along with me as I read:
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17 (NASB)
You may be surprised to hear me say that I do not intend, this morning, to say anything about the Holy Spirit as the Helper – but I don’t. The reason is that I have an entire sermon devoted to that subject – so that will not be our topic today. (See my sermon: The Helper – The Holy Spirit) What I do want to speak on is: “Three Facts About The Holy Spirit.
Someone has said that the Bible is like a treasure room. Sometimes you enter and you find silver. Other times you enter and you find gold. But there are other times that you enter when you find precious jewels such as rubies and diamonds. Today in our text – I believe we have found a diamond. There is great wealth in the two verses which we have just read.
I invite your attention to this passage this morning. We will examine this diamond – and it is my hope that we all come away with an appreciation of its great value.
The first thing I want us to realize from this verse is that:
I. The Holy Spirit is a PERSON
Examine our text again. Go ahead and circle every reference to the Holy Spirit. Notice that the first “He” in our text refers to God the Father. Every “He” or “Him” thereafter refers to the Holy Spirit. “He” is used twice and “Him” is used three times. In other words – in today’s text the Holy Spirit is referred to five times as a person.
Folks we often speak of the Holy Spirit as an “It” rather than a “He”. This is a mistake – God is a person – and the Holy Spirit being part of the trinity is a person.
Perhaps it is because of the mysterious workings and influence of the Holy Spirit – His sacred operations – that we are apt to forget that the Holy Spirit is truly and actually a Person. It is easy for us to speak of the Father as a person just as it is easy for us to speak of Jesus as a person – but when we speak of the Holy Spirit – that is a different matter. Yet our text today makes it plain that He is a person.
I can think of the Father as a Person because I can picture Him speaking the world into existence. I can picture Him forming drops of rain. I can conceive of Him creating all the stars in the heavens and calling each one by name. He is above all things. He watches over us. He is Holy. He is mighty. He is powerful – and there is no problem in my mind that He is a person.
I can realize Jesus – the Son of Man is a real Person because He became bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It takes no great stretch of my imagination to picture the Babe in Bethlehem, or to behold the, “Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief.” I can easily realize that He was persecuted in Pilate’s hall and was nailed to a tree for my sins. I can picture Him sitting on His Throne in Heaven. But when I come to deal with the Holy Spirit – His operations are so mysterious, His doings are so secret, His acts are so removed from everything that is of sense and of the body — that I cannot so easily grasp the idea of Him being a Person – yet He is.
God the Holy Spirit is not just some influence, an emanation or some stream flowing from the Father. He is as much an actual Person as either God the Father or God the Son. God the Holy Spirit is actually a Person.
Travel to the pool of baptism with me for a moment. Do you recall how people are baptized? When they are buried in the water – what words are said? In whose name are we instructed to baptize? Jesus told us:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19 (NASB)
Go ahead and circle the words “in the name”. Note the Bible does not say “in the names” of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. No – it is in the name of the Three-In-One. God the Father – God the Son – God the Holy Spirit are all to be proclaimed at the time of baptism for all of them are the Persons of the Trinity and the three together are one God. All of them are separate yet equal – all are one. It is in the name God that we are baptized for all – Father, Son, Spirit have their workings in our salvation.
Let us also realize that God - The Holy Spirit has manifested Himself physically to people on at least a couple occasions. He has put on a form so that He could be seen by mortal men.
Do you recall Jesus Christ our Savior standing in the river Jordan? Jesus Christ, the Son of God, descends into the water and “the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." Luke 3:22 (NASB)
At the baptism we find God the Father speaking – God the Son being baptized and – God the Spirit in “bodily form” – descending upon the Son. The Three-in-One are all present – and they are all manifested separate. God the Holy Spirit is a person.
What of the time that the disciples are in the upper room and they hear the sound as of a rushing mighty wind? The noise filled the whole house and there appeared tongues of fire and each person was filled with the Holy Spirit. Can I not say that it was the working of God? Can I not say that it was the working of the Holy Spirit? Yes – I can say both – for both are true. But that is not all.
The Bible tells us that it is the Holy Spirit that gives spiritual gifts to the children of God. First Corinthians says:
“For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (NASB)
Note that it is by the will of the Holy Spirit that gifts are distributed. He gives spiritual gifts just as “He” will. That is because the Holy Spirit is a person. He can make decisions. He can give gifts. He can indwell a person – that is because He is a person. Let us never doubt the fact.
But now let us move on to point two which I have already mentioned.
II. The Holy Spirit is One of the TRINITY
Look at our text again and you will find all three persons of the Trinity are mentioned. “I,” — that is the Son — “will ask the Father and He shall give you another Helper.” There are the three Persons mentioned — all of them doing something for our salvation. “I will pray,” says the Son. “I will send,” says the Father. “I will be help,” says the Holy Spirit.
When God first made man, He said, “Let Us make man.” (Genesis 1:26) The Bible does not say “Let Me make man” – but “Let Us make man in Our own image.” The Hebrew word that is used for God in that verse is “Eloheem” and it is in the plural – and so the scripture says: “Let us make man in Our own image.” I can picture God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit involved in unity in the creation of man, for you see – God has always been in unity – there is no division in Him. I must confess that I do not totally comprehend the Trinity – but it is a fact none-the-less. God has been three persons in one from the beginning of time. He is Eloheem – God the Father – God the Son – God the Holy Spirit – and He is one.
I can imagine in ages far gone, that God said, “Let Us save man. Let Us redeem him from his sin. Let Us work together for his good.” It would not have been the Father alone who said, “Let Me save man.” No! But the three persons of the Godhead – conjointly working together in one consent saying, “Let Us save man.” There is power in unity. “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” (Ecc. 4:12) That to me is sweet comfort to think that it is not one person of the Trinity who is engaged in my salvation – but all three. It is not simply the Father alone who has vowed to save me – even though He has power enough to do it. It is the Godhead – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who vows to pull me out of the pit. God will redeem me. God will set my feet on solid ground. God will cleanse me of my sins and make me whiter than snow. It is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who will do it in unity. Your salvation and my salvation are dependent upon the unity and power of the Godhead – is that not a wonderful thought?
Observe deeper into our text and you will find that each Person of the trinity is performing a separate office. “I will pray,” says the Son — that is intercession. “I will send,” says the Father — that is donation. “I will help,” says the Holy Spirit — that is supernatural influence.
If it were possible for us to see the workings of the three persons of the Godhead – we would see the Son standing before the Father’s throne with outstretched hands crying day and night on our behalf. He would say: "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 17:15-18 (NASB)
He would make mention our sorrows – of our struggles – of our temptations before the Father – for He is our intercessor.
We would also behold the Father – not as a listless and idle spectator of the intercession of the Son. But we would see Him with attentive ears listening to every word of Jesus and granting Him every petition.
Where then is the Holy Spirit all this time? Is He sleeping? Has He gone away on vacation? No – He is watching over us. He sees our weary soul. He says, “Remember the words of Jesus – did He not say to you? ‘Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.’” Matthew 11:28 (NASB) When the Holy Spirit beholds your eyes filled with tears – He is our comforter. He wipes away the tears and says, “Fear not – there is hope in the cross.” When He sees the bruised and battered Believer – He binds up the broken heart.
Behold how the Three Persons work together. There is unity in the Trinity. I am grateful to the Son who went to cross for me. I am grateful to the Father who sent the Son. I am grateful to the Son who sent us another Helper – a comforter who comforts me in my time of need. All three work together my salvation. There is a bond which can not be broken — Father, Son and Holy Spirit who are united for my good. This is a trinity of hope – because there is a triune God.
But that is not all:
III. The Holy Spirit INDWELLS believers
Folks we now come to the subject of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is clearly taught in today’s text – so let us read it again:
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17 (NASB)
Go ahead and circle the words, “He abides with you and will be in you”.
Here is a profound fact. God not only cares about you but He dwells inside you. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior – Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit abides with you and will be “in” you.
Folks let me give you this warning – if you do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you – you are none of His. You have no place in the Kingdom of God. There will be no mansion in Heaven for you. You will not sit at the banquet table of the King of kings. Whom God saves He indwells. We are told in the text that Jesus would send another Helper, who would abide in the saints forever. He would dwell with them and be in them. This Folks – is a fact.
Ignatius, a martyr from centuries ago, used to call himself Theophorus, which means God-bearer, “because,” said he, “I bear with me the Holy Spirit.” Every true believer is a God-bearer. The Bible says:
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NASB)
Christian – the Holy Spirit dwells in you. A person is not a Christian does not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit – that is a fact.
You may talk like a Christian. You may dress like a Christian. You may go to church on Sunday. You may read the Bible – in fact you may be able to quote it backward and forward – (remember the Devil can quote scripture) but that does not mean that you are a Christian. If there is no indwelling of the Holy Spirit – you have no part in the Family of God.
You may ask: “How can I tell if I have the Holy Spirit dwelling in me?” Let me ask, “Do you know if you are alive or not? Do you breathe? Does your body have movement? Does your heart beat? Can you see – hear – and smell? Is there any thought in your mind?” By these senses you should know that you are alive. So too it is with the Holy Spirit. Do you feel guilt, conviction and remorse when you sin? Do you have a desire to follow God – to learn and practice His Word? Do you talk with Him and does He talk with you? Can you hear His voice – for the scripture says:
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27-28 (NASB)
If I were shocked by electricity, do you think I would not know it? The shock could be strong enough to knock me off my feet or only enough to tingle my fingers – but believe me – I think I would know it. So, if God dwells within me — if I have Deity tabernacling in my breast — if I have God the Holy Spirit resting in my heart and making a temple of my body — do you think I would not know it? You can call me a fanatic if you must – but I know that the Holy Spirit dwells within me. There is conviction in my heart when I sin – and there is a desire to know God and to know Him more each day.
When we have difficulties in this world it is the Holy Spirit that dwells in us that gives us direction. When we do not understand a portion of scripture we seek understanding and it is the Holy Spirit who enlightens us. When we are depressed, the Holy Spirit comforts us. He is our “Helper” and He dwells “in you”.
Can I see the Holy Spirit? Can I touch the Holy Spirit? No! But I can feel the Holy Spirit working in my life. Let me ask you – can you see the wind? Can you catch it in your hand? No! But you have seen the effects of the wind and you know it is real all the same.
A non-believing doctor one time said to a fellow doctor who was a believer, “I do not believe there is anything such as a soul. I have never seen a soul. Have you ever seen a soul?”
“No,” said the believer.
“Did you ever hear a soul?”
“No.”
“Did you ever smell a soul?”
“No.”
“Did you ever taste a soul?”
“No.”
“Did you ever feel a soul?”
“Yes,” said the believer, “I feel I have one within me now.”
“Well,” said the non-believer, “there are four senses against one—you only have one on your side. You should not put much faith in the idea that there is such a thing as a soul.”
“Interesting,” said the doctor who was a believer, “Can I ask you a few questions?”
“Sure.”
“Did you ever see a pain?”
“No.” replied the non-believer.
“Did you ever hear a pain?”
“No.”
“Did you ever smell a pain?”
“No.”
“Did you ever taste a pain?”
“No.”
“Did you ever feel a pain?”
“Yes,” said the non-believing doctor.
“Well,” said the believer, “there are four senses against one—you only have one on your side. You should not put much faith in the idea that there is such a thing as pain. But we both know that pain exists and I know that a soul does too.”
Folks – worldlings will not receive the Holy Spirit. In fact they say there is no Holy Spirit – because he cannot see it. Remember our text:
“the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him”
“but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”
Folks – the Holy Spirit is real. He is a person. He is one of the Trinity. And if you are a child of God – He dwells in you.
I can not see the wind – but I can see the effects of it. I hear it rustle the leaves as they are moved across the yard. I can see dust blown across the road in front of me when I drive. I can smell the fragrance of a new fallen rain – as it is brought to me by a breeze. I can feel the wind chill factor touch my face as I stand outside on a cold winter’s day. I know that the wind exists although I can not see it – and I know that the Holy Spirit exists too.
