In Acts 19:1-2 the story is told…..
And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
It is my heart that no one in CityHOPE Church can say what the early Ephesus church said – We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit. So for the month of August we are calling it AweGust and we are having an elevated focus on the Holy Spirit. To prove scripturally the Holy Spirit we have taken a couple of Sunday Mornings to go through verse by verse the mentions of the Holy Spirit. This is not a exhaustive list – but its pretty comprehensive.
Hope these notes help your journey of discovery of the Holy Spirit.
Old Testament Scriptures on the Holy Spirit
Genesis 1:2
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was[a] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Creation of man
Genesis 1: 26
God says let us make man in our image
Isaiah 6: 8
Whom shall I send you will go for us
Noah
Genesis 6: 3
My spirit will not strive with men forever
Joseph
Genesis 41:38
And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Moses and the children of Israel
Nehemiah 9: 19-20
God gave them the holy spirit to the children of Israel to instruct them
Numbers 11:17
The Holy Spirit was on Moses
Balaam
Numbers 24: 2
And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
The period of the judges
Judges 3:10 (NIV)
The Spirit of the Lord came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge[a] and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him.
Judges 13:25
And the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan[a] between Zorah and Eshtaol.
King Saul
1 Samuel 16: 14
The spirit of the Lord departed from Saul
David
1 Samuel 16: 13
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
2 Samuel 19: 21
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?”
Solomon
Had supernatural wisdom
Dedication of the temple the priests were slain in the spirit
Elijah/Elisha
Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijahs spirit
Elijah performed seven miracles in his life. Elisha performed 14 miracles
Major and Minor Prophets
Jeremiah Nahum
Habakkuk Zephaniah
These books don’t even mention the Holy Spirit yet they are prophetic books of the bible.
Heb 10:16-17 Quotes the Holy Spirit in Jeremiah
Jeremiah was anointed and ordained
Ezekiel
Ezekiel 2:2
Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me
Joel
Joel 2:28
Prophecy – Joel could see something new in the Spirit. It was a day when the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all flesh not just on specific people for a specific job or time
New Testament Scriptures on the Holy Spirit
Let’s start at the beginning of the New Testament
Matthew 1:18
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit even in the womb
Luke 1:15
“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
The first recorded person in the New Testament apart from Jesus who was filled with the Holy Spirit
Luke 1:41
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Second Person – John the Baptist’s father
Luke 1:67
[ Zacharias’s Prophecy ] And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
The third person
Luke 2:25-26
And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
John the Baptist Prophecizes
Matthew 3:11
“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Baptism of Jesus
Luke 3:22
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.”
Jesus being led by the Spirit
Luke 4:1
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness
The empowerment of Jesus by the Spirit
Luke 4:14
And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district.
Jesus Flags the Holy Spirit as the empowering person for his ministry
Luke 4:18
” The spirit of the lord is upon me,because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.he has sent me to proclaim release to the captives,and recovery of sight to the blind,to set free those who are oppressed,”
Luke Later Acknowledges the fact that Jesus was anointed of the Holy Spirit
Acts 10:38
“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Jesus fills his disciples with the Holy Spirit
John 20:22
And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit and Believers
Luke 11:13
” If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
Salvation is a work of the Spirit
John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
John 7:37-39
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.
39But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
More Promises
John 14:16-17
16?I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17 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 14:26
26?But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 7:37
37Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “(B)If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
38?He who believes in Me, (C)as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of (D)living water.'”
39But this He spoke (E)of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for (F)the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet (G)glorified.
John 15:26
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,
John 16:13
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
Acts 1:5
for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:8
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
The Great Commission was inspired by the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:2
until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.
The fulfilment of the promise
Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
The Holy Spirit outpouring was the fulfilment of the Prophecy in Joel
Acts 2:16-17
16but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17)and it shall be in the last days,’ god says,
‘that i will pour forth of my spirit on all mankind;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18even on my bond slaves, both men and women,
I will in those days pour forth of my spirit
and they shall prophesy.
Peter Promises the Holy Spirit to non Christians – at this point he was talking to the Jews
Acts 2:38
Peter said to them, ” Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit moves again on a different group of people
Acts 4:31
31And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Holy Spirit Lied to and the extreme consequences
Acts 5:3
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?
Being full of the Holy Spirit was a prerequisite for leadership
Acts 6:3
“Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
The Holy Spirit can be resisted
Acts 7:51
“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.
The Holy Spirit and the Stoning of Steven
Acts 7:55
But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
The Holy Spirit baptism and being saved is seen as a separate event
Acts 8:14-17
14Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,
15who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
The Gift of the Holy Spirit tried to be purchased
Acts 8:18-20
18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
19saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
The Holy Spirit Directs Philip
Acts 8:29
Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
Acts 8:39
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.
Saul/Paul gets filled with the Holy Spirit
Acts 9:17
So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, ” Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Holy Spirit brings interpretation of the vision to take the gospel to the gentiles
Acts 10:19
While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
Peter’s first preach to the Gentiles and the Holy Spirit Falls on them
Acts 10:44
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.
The Jews were stunned the Holy Spirit was given to the gentiles
Acts 10:45
All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also
Peter Reports on his trip down to preach at Cornelius’ house
Note – separation of salvation experience and baptism in the Spirit
Acts 11:12-15
12?The Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings These six brethren also went with me and we entered the man’s house.
13?And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;
14and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
15?And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.
16?And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17?Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ,)who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
18When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
Other examples of The Holy Spirit working in the early church
Acts 13:4
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Note the word Conintually – which indicates that the Filling of the Holy Spirit is not a one of
Acts 13:52
And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 15:8
“And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;
Acts 15:28
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:
Acts 16:6
They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
Acts 16:7
and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
Again evidence of a separate experience
Acts 19:1-6
1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.
2He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
Leadership Appointed by the Holy Spirit
Acts 20:28
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood
The gift of the Holy Spirit was given to us as a manifestation of Gods love for us
Romans 5:5
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us..
The Holy Spirit helps us in our prayer life
Romans 8:26
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.
We need to focus our mind on the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:6
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
Physical Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
The Holy Spirit Helps in the way we live
Romans 8:13
for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live
The Kingdom of God defined
Romans 14:17
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit Brings us hope
Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Demonstration of the Spirit is part of the successful preaching of the word
1 Corinthians 2:4
And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
Holy Spirit is from God and will reveal things to us
1 Corinthians 2:12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
Difficult for the natural man to get their heads around the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 2:14
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
You are the temple of God
1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19
Or 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?
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 12
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
6There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
9to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10and 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.
11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills
The operation of tongues
1 Cor 14:1&2
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
The Holy Spirit has been given to us as a pledge or a guarantee
2 Corinthians 1:22
who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge
Ephesians 1:13
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Freedom in the Holy Spirit
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
We are able to have fellowship or communion with the Holy Spirit
2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
We receive the Holy Spirit through faith
Galatians 3:14
in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Holy Spirit helps us to walk righteously
Galatians 5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
The struggle between the Holy Spirit and the flesh
Galatians 5:17
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Galations 5:22-23
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness,self-control; against such things there is no law.
A strong encouragement
Galatians 5:25
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit
Strength comes from the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 3:16
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
Holy Spirit can be grieved
Ephesians 4:30
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption
Holy Spirit Brings Joy
1 Thessalonians 1:6
You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,.
The Holy Spirit comes from Heaven
1 Peter 1:12
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things into which angels long to look.
Test of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit
1 John 4:2
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
Holy Spirit Praying Builds us up
Jude 1:20
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Hope this list has been helpful to you.
