Tracking The Wind In The New Testament Series

“Tracking the Wind in the New Testament”

The Holy Spirit is sometimes likened to wind.

In fact, both the Hebrew and Greek terms are terms having a common meaning of wind or breath.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:6-8

Last week we identified the Holy Spirit as a perfect pastor and tracked His work through the Old Testament. We learned that He is a person not a force or power or it. He is invisible but yet personal. He has all the elements of personhood. He has been active along with the Father and the Son from eternity. He was involved at creation and with creation from the beginning.

In the beginning was the Word, the Father and the Holy Spirit. We found Him active in the lives of individuals and groups. His ministry was both overt and covert. His specific ministry was often undetectable to the person but still effective. For others, His ministry was quite obvious to everyone.

A common theme throughout the Old Testament was His “coming upon” people to motivate and enable them to carry out God’s purposes. Such activity observed in the Old Testament continued on into the New Testament age along with come expanded and more permanent activity and ministries.

I. Names and Titles of the Holy Spirit

II. Origin of the Holy Spirit

III. Nature and Character of the Holy Spirit

IV. References to the Holy Spirit

V. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry in the Old Testament

VI. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry in the New Testament

A. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry with Jesus

1. As prophesied in the OT

Isaiah 11:1-5

Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding,

The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

Result

And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see,

Nor make a decision by what His ears hear; But with righteousness He will judge the poor,

And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,

And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins,

And faithfulness the belt about His waist.

Isaiah 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me

Purpose

To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion,

Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

The focus of the Spirit’s ministry in Jesus had to do with equipment for ministry to others not the personally sensational. The result of the Spirit’s ministry as prophesied through Isaiah focused on proclamation of the truth and application of the truth to life, release from bondage, comfort for the afflicted, discipleship.

2. As Recorded in the Gospels

a. He was the agent of incarnation (Jesus taking on Flesh)

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. 19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly. 20But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18-20

And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35

b. He manifested in His childhood

And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You." 49And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?" Luk 2:46-49