The Holy Spirit, I Want To Know Him

The Holy Spirit, I want to know HHM

1-12-03

Scripture: Mark 1: 9, 10: 9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.

Introduction: Like a Master Teacher, the Lord uses object lessons and symbols to help us visualize the reality of His truth.

When it comes to God Himself, symbols were never intended to be little artistic ideas about Him, but ways in which the reality of the invisible might penetrate the visible, helping us see and know Him better.

This morning, in looking at seven biblical symbols of the Holy Spirit, the purpose is not just to study objective theology,

but also to allow Him to subjectively penetrate our hearts.

In other words, when we say that the Holy Spirit is like rain, the purpose isn’t thinking, “Oh! The Spirit is like rain.” The purpose is to get wet! The Spirit’s main job is to glorify Christ—to help us see Christ more, obey better, and to love Him more deeply.

1. The Holy Spirit Comes as Rain. Refreshing us where there has been dryness and barrenness (Joel 2:23–29) and restoring us where there has been loss

(Isa. 28:11–12). The “pouring out” Peter refers to at Pentecost (Acts 2:17) is not an abstract use of the word; it has to do with “latter rain” that brought about the hastening of the harvest and fruitful crops.

When the lawn goes through a long hot day, it dries up and needs refreshing rain. The Spirit comes to bring refreshing and restoration.

2. The Holy Spirit Comes as Rivers. Rivers are channels or conduits to places where refreshing water is needed.

In John 7:37–39, 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would flow as “rivers of living water” after His Ascension. The Lord wants you to become an overflowing tributary of His Spirit’s fullness to others.

3. The Holy Spirit Comes as Wind. The Spirit, coming as wind, depicts His power and guidance.

When Jesus told Nicodemus about the new birth (John 3:8), He told him that the work of the Spirit in a person’s life was like a gentle wisp of a breeze.

You can’t see where it comes from or where it goes, but we can testify to times when God has come and dealt with us or blessed us, and no human being knew how it happened.

4. The Holy Spirit Comes as Oil. The anointing, the oil of Scripture, is directly related to the Spirit’s work in our life (2 Cor. 1:21–22) 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee..

The Holy Spirit’s anointing makes us sensitive (1 John 2:20 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.) and gives us wisdom in the practicals of everyday life.

All the primary offices of Scripture involve anointing:

A. Prophets: We are to speak the Word of the Lord, and the Spirit gives us words of comfort, exhortation, and counsel for others.

B. Priests: The Lord wants to anoint us so that our worship doesn’t become stale, habitual, or formal.

C. Kings: It takes fresh anointing from the Spirit for the authority of His life to happen through us so we can move in confidence in ruling and managing our homes, business, and relationships.

The Lord also wants to anoint us with the oil of rejoicing when we have been overcome by the spirit of mourning.

5. The Holy Spirit Comes as anticipating something new . We are not disallowed from enjoying a number of things in life, but you can find out how much we’re living the Jesus-life by how much we need the stimulants of the world. The New wine from Him

6. The Holy Spirit Comes as Fire. The Holy Spirit comes as fire to probe the inner recesses of life and to refine us as gold is refined in the fire (Isa. 4).

He wants to enflame us with a passion for His work (Acts 2:3).

7. The Holy Spirit Comes as a Dove. The dove is gentle and a symbol of peace. The Spirit wants to rest upon you—not just sweeping throughout the world as a tidal wave of revival, but He wants to come to you personally.