THE HOLY SPIRIT'S PERSONALITY PT 2

We remember that without the Holy Spirit first convicting us of our sin and our need for Christ, we would not have placed our faith in Him. Thankfully the Lord does not leave us in our sin as we grow in our faith, but continues to reveal and convict us. Last week we covered that as one of the first aspects of the Holy Spirit’s personality. And through Him coming in and residing in our hearts, He creates us to be a new creation. In order to be a new creation, we must have the strength and courage to take those first steps in our new identity.

Those new steps can be scary – like being out of control. Have you ever been on a roller coaster and wondered who was in control? The answer is always the same—not you! There’s something terrifying about not having control. What about the control of our life? In one sense, we have no control over the temptations that suddenly appear or the troubles that unexpectedly come our way. In another sense, we do have control of the fact that we can avoid what we know what might trip us up, and we also have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. Our spiritual life doesn’t have to be a roller coaster. We can experience victory in our life.

As we continue looking at the personality of the Holy Spirit – let us pray!

The Personality of the Holy Spirit Pt 2

John 14:15–18, 25–31

John 14:15-18, 25-31– “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 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 that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Last week we talked about how the Holy Spirit Saves, how the Holy Spirit Sanctifies and how He searches. We continue this week with the personality of the Holy Spirit and the first point He has for us is, not only does He save and sanctify but He strengthens.

IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT STRENGTHENS—Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

A. Strength to follow. The Christian life may be hard to live, but the Spirit gives us strength as we pray.

Isaiah 40:28-29 – Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 – 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Ecclesiastes 7:19 – Wisdom gives strengthto the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

2 Timothy 4:17 – But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.

B. Strength to fight. The Christian life is a battleground. With the help of the Spirit, and God-given tools we can be a success in the Christian life

Eph. 6:10–18 – Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Psalm 18:32 – the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.

Isaiah 40:29 – He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

C. Strength to fellowship. The Holy Spirit gives us strength to attend the house of God. It is important to attend church, because the Holy Spirit is there to quicken and strengthen us

Heb. 10:23-25 – Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 13:9 – Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

Ephesians 3:16-18 – that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

Colossians 1:11 – being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;

V. THE HOLY SPIRIT SEALS—Ephesians 1:13 – 14 – In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

A. The Spirit owns our time. Give Him all your time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – Everything has its own time, and there is a specific time for every activity under heaven:

Job 12:10 – In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

Ecclesiastes 8:7-8 – They don’t know what the future will bring. So who can tell them how things will turn out? 8 No one has the power to prevent the spirit [a] of life from leaving. No one has control over the day of his own death.

Ecclesiastes 9:1a – Now, I have carefully thought about all this, and I explain it in this way: Righteous people and wise people, along with their accomplishments, are in God’s hands.

Luke 12:20 – But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’

B. The Spirit owns our talent. Use them for His honor.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 – I realize that there’s nothing better for them to do than to be cheerful and enjoy what is good in their lives. 13 It is a gift from God to be able to eat and drink and experience the good that comes from every kind of hard work.

1 Peter 4:10 – As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

1 Corinthians 14:12 – So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

Colossians 3:23-25 – Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 – Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

1 Corinthians 12:11 – All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Ephesians 4:12-13 – to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,

C. The Spirit owns our tithes. Give your money to Him.

1 Corinthians 4:2 – Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[d] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[e] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

1 Corinthians 16:2 – On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up,

Malachi 3:7-10 – From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

VI. THE HOLY SPIRIT SOOTHES—John 16:7 – 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 go, I will send him to you.

A. Comfort in sorrow. The Holy Spirit gives strength to accept God’s will.

Jeremiah 31:13 – Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

Isaiah 51:11 – And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

John 16:20-22 – Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

B. Comfort in sickness. If you are not healed, be patient.

Deuteronomy 7:15 – And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you.

1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Psalm 23:1-4 – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.[a]3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness[b] for his name's sake.4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[c] I will fear no evil,for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

C. Comfort in separation. When losing a loved one, He comforts us.

John 14:16 – 18 – And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:26 – 27 – 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 that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Philippians 4:19 – And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

VII. THE HOLY SPIRIT SIMPLIFIES—John 16:13 – When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

A. He reveals the Scriptures to us and helps us understand them.

John 16:13 – When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 14:26 – 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 that I have said to you.

1 Peter 1:21 – For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:10-13 – these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

2 Peter 1:20-21 – Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5-7 – He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

B. He reveals the Savior. He makes Jesus real to us.

Romans 8:26-27 – Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

John 15:26 – “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

John 16:8 – And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

Ephesians 1:13-14 – In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

God is looking for people who will be instruments in the hands of the Holy Spirit.

As people yield to the Spirit, He takes them, where they are and works in them, making them effective workers for the Lord. God is not looking for intelligence or talent as much as He is looking for obedience, surrender and consecration. Learn to yield to Him.

How much are you willing to allow the Holy Spirit to fight for you?

How will you allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen you to follow His guidance and fellowship with fellow believers?

Are you willing to give ownership of your time, talent and tithe to the Holy Spirit or are these areas of your life you are still trying to control?

How can you allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you not only in times of sorrow and sickness but also through separation from those we love – whether it be temporarily or until we meet in eternity again?

The Holy Spirit can simply your life if you let Him – are you enjoying the rat race of life the enemy has laid out for you – His Will is laid out in Scripture and fulfilled in Jesus Christ – all you have to do us surrender – are you willing?

Related Media

Related Sermons