The Qualities Of The Holy Spirit

Pentecost: The qualities of the Holy Spirit Lesson 2

Last week I talked to you about Pentecost and 5 qualities of the Holy Spirit.

1. He empowers Christians to witness to the unsaved

2. He gave the people the gift of tongues to do witness.

3. He convicts people of sin.

4. He gives us Peace, joy and hope .

I have heard from several of you that it made you think. Today we will continue. So let’s start with a story

OPEN: A missionary named Herbert Jackson, from the 20th century, taught at a Christian college and told the story. He had been given a car that wouldn’t start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them give his car push to get it started. As he traveled around the area, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. Sometimes he would get other children in the neighborhood to help him push it to get it started. He used this ingenious procedure for 2 years.

At the end of that two years, however, he needed to return to the states because of health problems and a new missionary came to replace him.

Of course, the car would stay with the new missionary, and so Jackson began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started. As he did so, the new man began looking under the hood.

“Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.”

He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life.

For 2 years, the only trouble with that car was a loose connection. The power was there all the time. It was not plugged in…

The same is with us. We need to be plugged into God, and that is via the Holy Spirit.

We are going to continue this study on the Holy Spirit.

Now when Jesus told the disciples that they were to wait for the Holy Spirit , the gift from God to come. You don’t see our Lord’s disciples questioning, “ Who is the Holy Spirit.?” They were already familiar with Him, because the Holy spirit is often mentioned in the Old Testament.

I. Truths: 7 TRUTHS ( in addition to last week)

1. The Holy Spirit existed in the Old Testament as well as New Testament and today.

a. We first encounter the Spirit of God as far back as Genesis, chapter 1, verse 2: “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” At Creation, the Spirit was present and active.

b. The prophets spoke of the Holy Spirit…

Numbers 27:18

And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.

Ezekiel 2:2 As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.

I just gave you two examples from the Old Testament and there are many more.

2. 2nd truth The Holy Spirit belongs to the Trinity: God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

Although the bible does not say the trinity…(manmade term for explanation) compact them together.

a. Ex. But God speaks of Himself in plurality: In Genesis “Let us make man in Our own image” (vs 26).

Ex. of trinity: Matthew 28:19… Jesus says,

Ex. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Ex. II Corinthians 13:4 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Ex. I Peter 1 :2 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Bunny trail. Side note. We have talked about the Holy Spirit existing since the beginning of time… (Roger S. and I had a talk while walking… He asked me about about the Holy Spirit when did he come into being… Thus the sermon. But I also want to back it up with Jesus. ) Jesus was also living in heaven at the beginning of time. (TRUTHS)

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

John 17:5 English Standard Version

And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

In Old Testament when god appears in human form: a) Abraham being visited by God and 2 angels before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. b)Shadrach, Michach and Abindigo in the fire…when a 4 th person was in there too.