"The Third Person"
John 15:26-27
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Introduction: What is the Holy Spirit?
The Greek word that is translated Holy Spirit is PARACLETE. It means- "to call alongside for the purpose of helping, to exhort, to console, to encourage. Of all the doctrines of Scripture the one that is shrouded in the most mystery and the one that is the most difficult to understand and the one that has been the focus of more misinformation and misunderstanding is the truth surrounding the Holy Spirit, the One we call the Third Person of the Trinity. FWB's are Trinitarians that is we believe that the godhead consists of three personalities, God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Spirit (Holy Spirit). We believe that these three are separate yet one and the same! This belief in the Trinity is as difficult to understand today as it was in the early days of the church when believers were accused of worshipping more than one god because the Greeks and Romans in particular claimed that because of the teachings concerning the three persons of the godhead those early Christians were idolaters and polytheists! There is a lot more I could say on this subject but this morning I want to focus on the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity. First, let's examine some of:
I. THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
a. His nature
As the name implies the Holy Spirit or "Spirit of Truth" is a spirit, but more particularly He is the Spirit of God! Since He is a spirit He does not have a body per se.
In Matthew chapter 3 we have the record of the baptism of Jesus and in verses 13-17 we read:
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
b. His names
We've already mentioned the fact that the Holy Spirit is the Paraclete but He has many other names in Scripture and all of these names help to reveal more about His nature and work.
The Spirit of "Truth"
John 14:17 "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."
The Spirit of "Wisdom and Understanding"
Isaiah 11:2 "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding ..."
The Spirit of "Counsel and Might"
Isaiah 11:2 "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might..."
The Spirit of "Knowledge and of the Fear of the LORD"
Isaiah 11:2 "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."
The Spirit of "Judgment"
Isaiah 4:4 "When the LORD shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of judgment ..."
The Spirit of "Burning"
Isaiah 4:4 "When the LORD shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of judgment, and by the Spirit of burning."
The Spirit of "Grace"
Hebrews 10:29 "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"
The Spirit of "Promise"
Ephesians 1:13 "In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise."
The Spirit of "Holiness"
Romans 1:4 "And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."
The Spirit of "Life"
Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
The Spirit of Eternity
Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
The Spirit of "Glory and of God"
1 Peter 4:14 "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified."
The Spirit of "God"
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."
The Spirit of "Your Father"
Matthew 10:20 "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."
The Spirit of "His Son"
Galatians 4:6 "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
The Spirit of Him
Isaiah 63:10 "But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them
The Spirit of the LORD God
Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the LORD God is upon Me."
The Spirit of Christ
Romans 8:9 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His."
II. THE MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
a. His advent in the Word
We are introduced to the Holy Spirit in the very first part of the Bible in the creation narrative. The Spirit of God literally (brooded) over the elements of the earth as a bird would brood over her eggs. This suggests that the Holy Spirit was an essential force in creation and played a vital role in what occurred.
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.
The word spirit is also translated breath or wind.
b. His activity in the world
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.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
c. His abiding in the workers
John 14:17 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.
POURING OUT LIKE SWEAT
Several years ago, Gatorade had an ad with Michael Jordan where he was covered in orange drops of sweat. The image says clearly that Michael Jordan is so full of Gatorade that it is literally pouring out of him like sweat.
That's an appropriate image of the Holy Spirit in us. If the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, there's going to be evidence. Whatever is inside of you is eventually going to come out of you. If you squeeze a grape, you're going to get grape juice. If you squeeze an apple, you're going to get apple juice. If you squeeze a prune, you're going to get prune juice. Whatever is on the inside is eventually going to come out. And if the Spirit is in us, it will come out in our lives.
III. THE MISSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
In our text Jesus tell us that the mission of the Holy Spirit is to "...testify of me..." and that in turn tells us what we are to do in this world. What does the Holy Spirit do to accomplish this mission?
a. He endues with wisdom
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.
OUR GUIDE
Steven Simala Grant tells this story:
I remember Christmas, 1980, when I was 9. My mom, who was a secretary in a small 3-person company, got a Christmas bonus -- a trip for her and my brother and me to Disneyland. Plane and hotel, all covered -- and even some cash. Her boss was not a Christian, but wow did they have a spirit of generosity. We got off the plane in Los Angeles, and immediately felt scared, overwhelmed, and more than a little lost. A single mom on her first trip outside Canada, second time on a plane, a 9yr old and a 12yr old... And there, right where we came through customs, was a man holding a sign that said, "Grants." My mom joked as she walked past him, "That's my name but I'm sure you aren't looking for a mom and two kids." "Wendy?" He asked. "Yup, it's you I'm looking for. I'm here to guide you through the airport, help you find your motel, and make sure you have everything you need." Three Canadians feeling lost and overwhelmed in the middle of the LA airport, until the guide steps forward and says, "follow me. I'll lead you." He took us to find our luggage, then to the bus that would take us to Anaheim, and told us exactly where to get off.
In the same way, the Holy Spirit is our guide into all truth.
The Spirit's message and power can only be understood by the help of the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:11-16).
i. His wisdom is what brings us understanding in this world of confusing messages.
ii. His wisdom is what helps us to see in the darkness of this world.
iii. His wisdom is what helps us to see if something is true or false.
iv. His wisdom illuminates our minds to deception and danger.
v. His wisdom see's the trap of the enemy and exposes it to us.
vi. His wisdom guides us down the narrow path of life.
vii. His wisdom tells us we are in the right when many others say we are in the wrong.
Contributed by: Michael McCartney
b. He enables for witnessing
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
c. He equips for warfare
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
