The Empowering Presence Pt. 1 • Discipleship Class
Notes
Transcript
1. The Person of the Holy Spirit
1. The Person of the Holy Spirit
1.1 The Person of the Holy Spirit Involves His Character
1.1 The Person of the Holy Spirit Involves His Character
There is often doubt when it comes to the personality of the Holy Spirit
Because of the names associated with the Holy Spirit:
Breath / oil / fire / water also Because the word or names “Spirit” is neuter in the Greek grammar.
The neuter gender would tend to point to a lack of character - We do not refer to each other as “it” we are “he” and “she”
In spite of the doubt there is no question as to the personality of the Holy Spirit
Names given to the Holy Spirit Comforter – one who is called along side
Personal pronouns:
In John 16:7-8, 13-15 – the Holy Spirit is referred to as “He” 12 times...
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
The example in John 16:13 is amazing because the word Spirit is neuter According to Greek grammar
Which means the pronoun must also be neuter Instead – contradicting the grammar – the pronoun is masculine The Attributes of the Spirit
1. The Holy Spirit possesses knowledge – I Corinthians 2:10-11
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
2. The Holy Spirit has a will – I Corinthians 12 – giving the gifts to whom He wills...
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
3. The Holy Spirit Has a Mind - Romans 8:27 He speaks
Romans 8:27 (NKJV)
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is...
4. The Holy Spirit Speaks - Acts 10:20
While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
5. The Holy Spirit Sends Us Out - Acts 13:2
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
6. The Holy Spirit Intercession For Us - Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
7. The Holy Spirit Can Be Grieved - Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Event In our intimate relationships, it's possible to cause pain to those we love. Similarly, our relationship with the Holy Spirit, though spiritual and divine, can be marred by our actions and attitudes. Paul urges believers in not to grieve the Holy Spirit. But how do we grieve Him?
Grieve Definition - To cause to feel sorrow or unhappiness
1. **Resisting His Guidance:** Just as we would feel grieved if a loved one ignored or resisted our advice, the Holy Spirit feels grieved when we resist His promptings and leadings.
2. **Sinful Actions:** When we indulge in sin, we are acting contrary to the Spirit’s holy nature. This not only pushes Him away but causes grief as He watches us harm ourselves and others.
3. **Neglecting Spiritual Disciplines:** Just as a friend would feel neglected if we stopped communicating, the Holy Spirit is grieved when we neglect prayer, Bible study, and worship.
Illustration: Imagine you've been given a beautifully crafted compass by a dear friend. This compass isn't just for finding north; it’s magical, and it points the way to the best paths in life, guiding you around pitfalls and dangers.
But one day, you decide to ignore the compass, thinking you know a shortcut.
You end up lost, in danger, and missing out on the beautiful journey the compass was showing you.
APPLICATION: That compass is like the Holy Spirit in our lives. It guides, directs, and always points to the best path - the way of righteousness and God’s will. But when we ignore it, when we think we know better or choose to indulge in our desires, we grieve the Spirit, the giver of the compass, by disregarding the loving guidance provided.
8. The Holy Spirit Can Be Insulted - Hebrews 10:29
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
ILLUSTRATION: Maybe about kids slapping mom...
9. The Holy Spirit Can Be Lied To - Acts 5:3
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
You can Blaspheme Him – Matthew 12:31-32
“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
1.2 The Person of the Holy Spirit Involves His Divinity
1.2 The Person of the Holy Spirit Involves His Divinity
(Turn to Genesis 1:1)
A hint of God’s nature in the Old Testament… Genesis 1:1 – “In the Beginning God “AZ ” (Eloheem – Hebrew) created the heavens and the Earth…”
Eloheem - plural of El; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God;
All three there at creation – Father (God) – Son (Word – God said) – Spirit (vs.2)
1:2 – “… And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
1:3 – “And God said, let there be…” The Word of God – Jesus
And notice God speaking in the plural…
Genesis 1:26 (NKJV)
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...
Genesis 3:22 (NKJV)
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us...
Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
So how many gods are there? One God…
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“One” - 'echad (ekh-awd'); properly – united as one One LORD (YAWEH) united as a plural (more than one) God (Eloheem)
Solitary One - Yaccid
God (Father) / Spirit / Me (Jesus) – all three mentioned…
Isaiah 48:16–17 (NKJV)
“Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit Have sent Me.”
It puts all members of the trinity together.
The Lord is speaking about His eternal nature (I was there).
But then at the end of Vs. 16 there two distinct separate persons who sent Him.
3 separate divine beings who Are all God.
When The Holy Spirit Speaks It’s Actually God Speaking - 2 Samuel 23: 2-3
2 Samuel 23:2–3 ““The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God.”
Notice, God is not speaking through the Spirit God - It says when the Spirit is speaking God is speaking...
The Holy Spirit Created Man - Job 33:4
4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
It says the Spirit made him the Spirit made man, but only God can give life.
OT teaches that The Holy Spirit is God.
2. The Work of the Holy Spirit
2. The Work of the Holy Spirit
1. The Holy Spirit opens our understanding of the Scriptures:
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 things that I said to you.
2. The Holy Spirit is our resource for fruitfulness and obedience:
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)
So he answered and said to me:“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
3. The Holy Spirit comes to testify of Jesus Christ:
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
4. The 3 fold ministry of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit has 3 major ministries and are seen by 3 Greek prepositions.
Para - It means to be along side, to be with someone or something...
Para - It means to be along side, to be with someone or something...
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
APPLICATION: HE DOES THAT TO EVERYONE HE IS TRYING TO REACH EVERYONE
En - It means to be in or indwelling..
En - It means to be in or indwelling..
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
This happens at salvation, the moment we confess our sin Jesus forgives us of all our sin and He gives us His HS to dwell in us.
APPLICATION: This is the new creation in us!
IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVES BUT CHRIST IN ME!
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Epi - It means to be upon something or someone
Epi - It means to be upon something or someone
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
You guys this is the game changer! This is where us Christians go super sayan…
Turn with me to Acts 19 Read First...
So we see that there are two different baptisms being talked about here and these men only knew of John’s baptism.
1. John’s Baptism - John’s baptism is a baptism of repentance, this baptism was to remind men of their need to get cleaned up in light of God.
APPLICATION: And you know Paul is not nullifying the concept of John’s baptism, it applies to all of us today.
Jesus preached on it all the time, Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!
APPLICATION: One thing that I want to mention on Repentance is that it’s not a feeling. Just because we feel sorry or we cried about what we’ve done, doesn’t mean we have repented.
Don’t get me wrong that is good to have a conviction and a hurt against wickedness but at the end of the day Repentance is action, change.
2. Jesus’ Baptism - Is a spiritual baptism, speaking of the Holy Spirit coming upon you, which we have already learned is one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
APPLICATION: Understand, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you it’s like a fire - You are on fire for the Lord.
Hebrews 12:29 - ...our God is a consuming fire.
understand this, every single person who has ever lived will be consumed by fire.
You are going to be consumed from the inside out by Holy Spirit Fire, or your going to be consumed from the outside in by eternal lake of fire.
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
maybe even living compromised lives not being set apart all because the Holy Spirit had not come upon them.
Because when the HS falls upon us we are empowered, look at...
This baptism that Jesus has to offer is a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, so that we can be empowered to live our lives for God.
APPLICATION: Some of us are living our Christian lives like these 12 men - Without the power of God!
APPLICATION: Paul must have seen something lacking in their lives, no fervor, no zeal, no excitement,
APPLICATION: I wonder if Paul were here, would he ask this same question of us. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
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!”