Mark 12:29 · James 2:19 · Romans 3:30 · Deuteronomy 6:4 · Matthew 28:19 · 2 Corinthians 13:14 · John 1:1 · John 14:6 · Matthew 3:16-17 · Ephesians 4:30 · 1 Corinthians 2:10 · 1 Corinthians 12:11 · Genesis 1:2 · Hebrews 4:14-16 · Romans 8:26-27 — The Holy Spirit
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
This sermon introduces a series on the Holy Spirit by establishing that the Spirit is a distinct person within the Godhead, possessing personality and the ability to think, reason, and feel. Christians are called to have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, loving, obeying, and worshiping him.
Introduction
Over the years, I have tried to preach regularly about the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, this subject has been avoided to our detriment. God has not left us in the dark about the person and work of the Spirit. Rather than being mysterious, God’s intent seems to be that we understand the nature and work of the Spirit so that we can appreciate even more how God is interested in our lives. Between now and the end of the year, I will preach five sermons on the Holy Spirit. Hopefully, at the end of the series we will have a greater appreciation for the presence and work of the Spirit in our lives.
A couple of disclaimers first. Too often the mere mention of the Holy Spirit causes some to automatically think about the miraculous. As we will see, the Holy Spirit indeed was part of the miraculous in scripture, but there is more to his work than just miracles. Second, to speak of the Spirit and his work, nature, and personality is not intended to trivialize anymore than speaking of God’s work, nature and personality. In fact, the nature of the Spirit is directly linked to the nature of God as we will see tonight. Third, I do not want this series to become philosophical in nature. I expect you to bring your Bibles and for us to have a Bible Study during this time. I welcome your questions and will be glad to discuss anything that you want to discuss. Fourth, while the Bible will be the main source for these lessons, Harvey Floyd’s book Is the Holy Spirit for Me? will serve as an additional resource especially as it pertains to the direction of thought.
The Nature of God
As we begin our study we begin with a simple explanation about the nature of God. The Holy Spirit and God are linked. We cannot speak of the Spirit’s work unless we understand the nature of God. According to a number of texts, God is one. That is, there is only one God. Texts such as Mark 12:29, James 2:19, and Romans 3:30 establish that God is one. Read Deuteronomy 6:4. This text is highly revered among our Jewish friends and it needs to be equally revered among us as Christians. It establishes that fact that there is only one God.
But just as there is one God there are other texts which demonstrate that within the oneness of God are three persons. According to Matthew 28:19, at our baptism a relationship is established between us and God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This text says that there is diversity within the unity of God. There is God the father, God the son, and God the Spirit. If this is not the case then we have God and two creatures operating together in baptism. Either the son and the Spirit are God or they are creatures.
In 2 Corinthians 13:14, Paul ends his second letter to the church at Corinth with these words. Again, there is either diversity within the unity of God or there is God working in concert with two other creatures.
John 1:1 establishes that God and Jesus are one. Both God and Jesus are affirmed to be different persons yet both are said to be God. Then in John 14:6 Jesus says something which further affirms this truth. Pay attention to the word “another.” One like him but different from him will be sent. And the fact that Jesus prays to the Father expresses a difference in person as well. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are not the same person; yet, they are all God.
This is seen at the baptism of Jesus in which three distinct persons are present and interacting with each other. Notice Matthew 3:16-17 that God speaks, Jesus, of course, is baptized, and the Spirit descends as a dove as further witness of God’s care and presence. God in three distinct persons.
What about the personality of the Spirit? We know something of the personality of God and of Jesus. Scattered throughout scripture are examples of God and Jesus demonstrating personality traits. In Ephesians 4:30 the readers are told not to “grieve” the Holy Spirit of God. They are not to make the Spirit sad or cause sorrow to the Holy Spirit by an improper Christian walk including such things as lying, harboring anger, stealing and showing bitterness or malice. This demonstrates that the Holy Spirit is personal. He can think, reason, feel, and know. According to 1 Corinthians 2:10, the Spirit has exhaustive knowledge even into the “depths” of God. And according to 1 Corinthians 12:11, the Spirit himself has purposes which he carries out.
To summarize, we know that there is one God but three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three work together to accomplish the divine will. All three persons think, reason, and purpose, but none do so without the knowledge and intent of the other two. There is harmony and unity between the three and yet each one is distinct in function.
Implications
What I am getting ready to say may seem a bit foreign. I am convinced these words will be foreign because we have too long misunderstood and underappreciated the work and person of the Holy Spirit. But if we can accept that the Holy Spirit is both a person and personal then these words make sense.
First, the Spirit is deity. Just as God and Jesus are deity so is the Spirit. This means he is God. The first time the Spirit is mentioned is in Genesis 1:2 in which he is described as moving upon the face of the earth. He was surveying the land. He was bringing his presence to bear on the earth. He, too, had a part in creation just as God the Father and God the Son. Because he is deity we can pray to him just as we do God and Jesus. As Jesus intercedes for us as High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in prayer as well (Romans 8:26-27).
Second, the Spirit is a person and because he is a person then it is possible to have a personal relationship with him. When speaking of the Spirit we should speak of him in personal ways just as we speak of God and Jesus in personal ways. The Spirit is a “he” not an “it.” Paul wrote a prayer in 2 Corinthians 13:14 that he prayed that the fellowship or communion with the Spirit be with his readers. This signals a personal relationship. In addition other texts speak of grieving the Spirit, that the Spirit comforts, guides, and teaches and that he searches and convicts. These are very personal terms demanding that we accept the Spirit as a very personal part of our lives. We, then, are to love, obey, and worship the Spirit.
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