INTRODUCTION: We've heard about the Holy Spirit. He flickers in and out of the Old Testament like a ghost. In the New Testament, He's the one who gives ordinary men the power of God. He appears throughout the ages as a wind, smoke, fire, and even a dove, but who or what exactly is the Holy Spirit, and how does He work in our lives today? These are the questions that beginning today, through this series we will seek to find answers to.
BACKGROUND: I still remember the first time I preached a sermon on the Holy Spirit, I was a sophomore in Bible College and at that time I had been preaching for less than a year. So I did what all good preachers do, I announced my text and the title of my message – “Our Friend the Holy Spirit,” at which point a lady in the back row went into a fit… I thought she was having a heart attack. I don’t know if she thought I was going to go all “Pentecostal” on them and start “speaking in tongues” or something, but what I do know is that the college was contacted and they were asked not to send me back to them… Why did this happen, I don’t know for sure, perhaps fear, or misunderstanding. In the church world the approach to the Holy Spirit typically takes one of two paths… (1) The Holy Spirit is all that’s discussed, or (2) the Holy Spirit is never discussed. We seek to avoid the extreme on either end… so we begin at the beginning with… what or who is the Holy Spirit? – “Holy Ghost” – KJV
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN SCRIPTURE
• In the Old Testament the word for “spirit” is “rucah” and in the New Testament it’s “pneuma” which mean “breath” or “wind” depending on the context.
• The terms are used of created spirits, angels (fallen and unfallen) and the spiritual aspects of human beings, as well as the Divine uncreated spirit… that is God
• Every spiritual being is identified as being – living, personal, non-material, and invisible.
• So for purposes of our study we ask the question why the Holy Spirit is considered “Holy?”
• Two reasons may be given. (1) The term “Holy” means “distinct” or “set apart” in that this “Spirit” is different from all others (2) the term “Holy” is applied because, in comparison to the Father, and Son, His main work is to make us “Holy” in the ethical sense. Holiness is His distinctive work… more on that idea next week.
• From the very beginning of creation we have an indication that the Holy Spirit’s work is to complete and sustain what God the Father has planned, and what God the Son has begun (Genesis 1:2)
• In the Old Testament it was predicted that the presence of the Holy Spirit would bring about abundant blessings from God (Isaiah 44:3) (604)
• In the New Testament we see that promise fulfilled (Acts 2) where the Spirit is poured out in special measure on the Apostles (Baptism of H.S.) and the hears of Peter’s Sermon (Gift of the H.S)
• That “gift” was for them, us, and any who follow us as “followers of Jesus”
• Though the Holy Spirit is active in the Old Testament His principle and unique work is revealed in the New Testament in the lives of the followers of Jesus… i.e. Christians
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON
• When we the Biblical texts concerning the Holy Spirit we see that the Holy Spirit is first and foremost a “person.” The Holy Spirit is NOT an “it,” the Holy Spirit is NOT a “force” as if we were living in an episode of Star Wars… the Holy Spirit is a person!
• The Holy Spirit has the qualities that are indicative of “personhood”
• The Holy Spirit has Intellect (1st Corinthians 2:10) – “searches the deep things of God”
• The Holy Spirit has Knowledge (1st Corinthians 2:11) – “the Spirit of God knows”
• The Holy Spirit has Emotions (Ephesians 4:30) – “grieve the Holy Spirit”
• The Holy Spirit has a Will (Acts 16:6) – “forbids preaching in Asia”
• The Holy Spirit has Love (Romans 15:13) – “for the love of the Spirit”
• The Holy Spirit can be treated like a person, He can be revered, and respected, lied to, tempted, blasphemed, and insulted… we can’t do that to any “mysterious force” natural or otherwise
• Some think that since the word “spirit” is “neuter” in gender, being neither “masculine” nor “feminine” that He should be addressed as “thing” rather than a “person” – may it never be!
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD
• The Holy Spirit though often marginalized in respect to God the Father and God the Son, is God none the less – in fact in the New Testament we see “God” and the “Holy Spirit” as being synonymous (Acts 5:3-4) so in reality when we forget the Holy Spirit we’re really forgetting God!
• Although the word Trinity is not mentioned in the Bible, we know God is three in one. There are three very distinct individuals that make up the Godhead. They are all equal in every way.
• The Holy Spirit is Omnipotent, i.e. All powerful – (Luke 1:35) “the Holy Spirit shall come upon you”
• The Holy Spirit is Omnipresent, i.e. Everywhere – (Psalms 139:7) “Where shall I go from your Spirit?”
• The Holy Spirit is Omniscient, i.e. All knowing – (1st Corinthians 2:10) “Searches all things”
• The Holy Spirit is Eternal, i.e. Always Existed – (Hebrews 9:14) “Eternal Spirit”
• The Holy Spirit is Equal, i.e. The Same – (Acts 5:3-4) “Spirit” mentioned as being “God”
• The Holy Spirit is NOT the Father, He is NOT the Son, but He IS God (Chart on Screen)
• In Luke 3:22, at Jesus’ Baptism we see the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all together in a single place at a single time!
• So since the Holy Spirit is “divine” is it proper to “worship” Him – YES! In fact it’s wrong NOT to worship Him.
• As the song says “Praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” Though often it’s “Praise the Father, Son, and who’s that Other Guy?”
• Though there are no Biblical presidents for addressing the Holy Spirit directly in prayer and praise, the Biblical pattern for prayer seems to be that we should (1) Pray to the Father (Matthew 6:9) (2) in the name of Jesus the Son, as mediator (1st Timothy 2:5) (3) through the Power of Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27)
CONCLUSION: The truth of the Holy Spirit is no “campfire” tale meant to instill fear, dread, or confusion. The truth of the Holy Spirit is that He is a real person, that He is God, and that He is active in our lives, and His activity is for our benefit! Can he be completely known…or explained… no, for there are things of God that are mysterious and secret, things that we will never know about Him. But there are things that have been revealed to us, and those belong to us (Deuteronomy 29:29) As we move through this series may we never forget that we tread on “Holy Ground” for the Sprit “brings life,” and “sustains life.” Do you have life this morning, life in Jesus…facilitated by the Holy Spirit… if not why not begin today?
