The Holy Spirit – Part 1
2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV (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.
Having close relationships with other people is only part of God’s plan for our lives. He desires to be our most intimate friend.
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
Ruwach – a wind, breath, a violent exhalation, blast of breath.
Genesis 1:2 NLT The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Pneuma – a current of air, blast of breath, a strong breeze.
John 6:63 NIV The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you–they are full of the Spirit and life.
- The Holy Spirit is a person.
John 14:16 NKJV And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever
- The Third Person in the Trinity.
John 14:26 NKJV 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.
THE HOLY SPIRIT’S ROLE IN OUR LIVES
There are three distinct ministries of the Holy Spirit in the life of a person:
- The New Birth
John 3:1-6 NKJV There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. (2) This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (3) Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (4) Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (5) Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
- The Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
- The Infilling or Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:5 NKJV for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
It is through this experience that one receives the Gifts of the Spirit as the Spirit wills.
How does He minister to us?
- The Holy Spirit enables us to know God’s:
- Comfort.
John 14:16 KJV And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
- Help.
John 16:5-8 NKJV “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:
- The Holy Spirit empowers us to live with Christ-like:
- Character
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT (17) For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (18) So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord–who is the Spirit–makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.
- Power.
Acts 1:8 NKJV 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.”
- The Holy Spirit equips us with:
- Spiritual Gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NKJV (4) There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (6) And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: (8) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
- Spiritual Direction .
Romans 8:14 NKJV For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
In the New Birth, we have the Presence of the Holy Spirit living in us. This is not, however, the same as the baptism of the Holy Spirit or the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
When we receive Christ, there are three relations that God sustains towards man:
- God is for us!
Romans 8:31 NKJV What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- God is with us!
Hebrews 13:5 NKJV Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.”
- God is in us!
1 John 4:15 NKJV Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV (16) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
The nine fruit of the Spirit are a result of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence.
The nine gifts of the Spirit are a result of the Holy Spirit’s infilling power.
The Holy Spirit in us will always testify of Jesus:
John 15:26 NKJV “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 16:13-14 NKJV 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.
John 14:26 NKJV 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.