Spirit Is a Person
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:15-17, 25-27 NLT
But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
John 16:7-11 NLT
Extremes in the Spirit
There are extremes in the conversation around the spirit.
- sensationalism
- "slain in the spirit"
- all about the experience
- cerebral
- only know information about the spirit
- skeptical of ANY sort of experience
Threat to the Church
The biggest threat to the church is not:
- liberal ideology
- secular philosophy
- cultural hot topics
it is:
- misunderstanding who God is
60% of Christians believe that the Spirit is not a real being
The Holy Spirit is a Person
The holy spirit is not an "it".
Has feelings, a will, can blaspheme him, can resist him.
The Holy Spirit is God
The Holy Spirit is our ultimate friend
Why is this so important?
The holy spirit is a vital part of God's story.
Dan said that this will not be normal preaching today, but he is VERY excited to share this with us.
The Holy Spirit is all over the whole arc of the Bible.
The Spirit Throughout the Bible
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 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.
Genesis 1:1-2 NLT
The Hebrew word for Spirit is ?rauk?. Means wind, or breath.
Two nights this week, shut off all media and go stand under the canopy of the stars.
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:3 NLT
The act of God speaking creates.
Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.
Genesis 2:7 NLT
It is the Holy Spirit of God who breathes life into lifeless beings
The Holy Spirit empowered ordinary people in the old testament to accomplish the extraordinary purposes of God.
The holy spirit initiated and anointed the life and ministry of Jesus while he was on the earth.
"There was no virgin birth" 😯
Why does the Holy Spirit show up as a dove when Jesus is baptized?
- symbol of peace
- also, was a sacrificial animal for the poor
If Jesus claimed the he needed the Spirit while he was living out his ministry, why would we think that we don't?
Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.
John 3:5-6 NLT
The Holy Spirit brings spiritual life to spiritually dead people
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts of the Apostles 1:8 NLT
Jesus says he will send the spirit and the disciples will do greater things than they have seen Jesus do.
Let's not forget who Jesus is talking to:
- everybody in the group has known sins
- they all deny Jesus when the time comes
What happened in the book of Acts could only be accomplished by God.
The Holy Spirit entered and energized the church of Jesus
30 campuses in 30 years
The book of Acts spans 30 years. 30 in 30 has already been done in Acts.
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.
Revelation 22:17 NLT
The holy spirit is inviting people to come and partake of the free gift of grace found in Jesus at the very end of the story
Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.
2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT
The Holy Spirit authored the Bible by moving men to write the words of God
All Scripture is inspired [breathed]* by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
The Holy Spirit is essential in our story.
Three Things that are Impossible apart from the Holy Spirit
Becoming a Christian
There are people preaching good advice for good people. This is wrong. The gospel is good news for desperate people.
It is the Holy Spirit who convicts of our need for a savior.
If you are in the room, and you don't have a saved friends, get some. Why are we even here?
- but, your job is not to convict them of their sin
- pray like crazy for your friends
Living a Christian Life
You cannot live the life of a disciple without the spirit.
You can be:
- a regular attended
- a decorated christian
- a good person
But, you cannot be a true disciple without the Spirit
You can memorize the book of Romans and still be a jerk.
When the Spirit of God illuminates the word of God, it changes everything. It changes you.
Being the Church of Christ
If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from most churches today, 95% of the things they do would be the same.
If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the early church, 95% of what they did would stop, and the church would not be.
We Need to Pray
As a pastor, one of the hardest things to do is to get people to show up to pray.
People show up for free stuff, music, etc. But it is hard to get people together to pray.
I long for a movement of prayer. To be part of a church that moves in the Spirit.
All of us pastors can preach a great message, but not a single one of us can change a single heart. Only the Spirit can change hearts.