The Holy Spirit

The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Who the Holy Spirit is? What is the work of the Holy Spirit in the world? What is the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer?

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The Holy Spirit

Last week we looked at Jesus’s words of ‘abiding in Him, the True Vine… verses 1-8

Verses 9-17 Jesus shares of Love, Joy and Friendship with Him and In Him

Verses 18-25 He tells them (and us) of the world’s hatred of us… and that they hated Him also…

, is where we will begin this morning’s text

John 15:26–27 NKJV

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

John 15"But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. "And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

"But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. "And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

John 16:1–15 NKJV

1 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. “And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 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. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 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. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

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“And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 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. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 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. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit: Who is He? What is His work in the world? What was and is His work in believers?

Who is the Holy Spirit?

There are many misconceptions of ‘who?’ the Holy Spirit is, from an active force to an impersonal power, these amidst many misconceptions of ‘Who? Or What?’ is He of ‘It”.

What does the Bible, God’s word, say about the identity of the Holy Spirit?

Simply put,

The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity.

The Bible also describes Him as a divine person, having a mind, will and emotion.

The Fact that the Holy Spirit is God is clearly seen in Scripture… I used to share this with leaders of the Local Watch Tower Society, when as a late teen and in my early 20’s I would meet regularly with them… Referencing , when Peter said to Ananias, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost…” and again he said, “why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”

Acts 5:3–4 NKJV

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? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Acts 5

Peter, under the inspiration of the Spirit reveals the Spirit’s identity, The Holy Spirit is God.

Additionally, we can know

The Holy Spirit possesses the characteristics of God

The Holy Spirit possesses the characteristics of God:

Omniscience ()

1 John 3:20

Omnipresence () )

Omnipotence ()

1 John 3:20 NKJV

20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

1 John 3:20

Jeremiah 23:23–24 NKJV

23 “Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off? 24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.

Jere

He is a Divine person, personal person, possessing a mind, emotions and a will… He thinks, He can be grieved, He makes decisions according to His will…

The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity.

What is His ministry to those in the world?

The Holy Spirit is at work among those in the world who are not part of God’s kingdom yet, unbelievers.

Jesus said, in , that He would send the Holy Spirit to “convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment”.

John 16:8–11 NKJV

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

In , Isaiah experienced God in the temple, he said, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" He was convinced of his sinfulness and need of God.

Isaiah 6:5 NKJV

5 So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”

In , Peter experienced Jesus performing a miracle with fish. He responded by falling on his knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord".

Luke 5:8 NKJV

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

In , the word of God says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse… who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

Romans 1:20 NKJV

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Romans 1:32 NKJV

32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

The Spirit testifies of Christ (), pointing people to the Lord… "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

John 15:26 NKJV

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

In , God sent an earthquake to rescue Paul and Silas from jail. When it occurred, "the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then bringing them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'". He was convicted of his sin and need for God in his life.

Currently, the Holy Spirit is also restraining sin and combatting “the secret power of lawlessness” in the world ().

2 Thessalonians 2:1–10 NKJV

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Amidst the world, unbelievers and within the spiritual realm, He convicts, testifies and restrains…

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Amidst the world, unbelievers and within the spiritual realm, He convicts, testifies and restrains…

What was and is His work in believers?

How the Holy Spirit operated in the OT is similar to His operations in the NT. There are four general areas in which the Holy Spirit works: Regeneration, Indwelling, Empowering, and Restraining

Amongst many others here are 12 of His operations:

He is our Helper (; )

He indwells/seals us (; ; ; , )

He guides, leads and tells us things ()

He guards and guarantees our salvation (; )

He aids in our prayers ()

He regenerates/renews us ()

He baptizes us into Christ ()

He comforts us (; )

He fills with joy and peace ()

He sanctifies us. ()

He gives us wisdom ()

He gives power and gifts (; ; )

The Holy Spirit is our Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent God, the third person of the Trinity.

Conclusions…

Are you here this morning, and like the Jailer in Acts, you feel a conviction and a need for God in your life… You feel the convincing that Jesus is your answer… Will you come and receive Him and receive the promise of His Spirit in your heart and life?

Are you here this morning, and you recognize all of the ‘things’ the Spirit does in the life of believers and you are ‘in need’… Perhaps “Peace” or “Joy” are your needs… perhaps “Wisdom” or “Guidance” are your needs… maybe its “Assurance” or “How to pray”…