The Holy SpiritAugust 4, 2013

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Session #1: The Identity and Ministry of The Holy Spirit

Who is the Holy Spirit?

1. The Meaning of the word “Spirit.” Both the Hebrew and Greek words to refer to the Holy Spirit relate to the idea of “wind” or “breath.” In different

contexts throughout the Scripture, the words are used to refer to literal wind, a person’s breath, or someone’s inner person (their spirit). While the words can be used in these impersonal ways, there is a different dynamic when used to refer to the Holy Spirit. As opposed to wind or breath, he is seen as a personal and divine being who supernaturally empowers God’s people.

2. He is Divine and Personal Matthew 28:19: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. John 14:16-17: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you

forever—the Spirit of truth.

Acts 5:3-4: Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to human beings but to God.”

Hebrews 9:14: How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! The Holy Spirit teaches (John 14:26), prays (Romans 8:26-27), searches (1 Corinthians 2:10), reminds (John 14:26), leads (Galatians 5:18), and can be both grieved (Ephesians 4:30) and quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

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What Does the Holy Spirit Do?

1. Throughout the Old Testament, He Empowered God’s People to Do God’s Work. Warriors

Judges 3:10: The Spirit of the LORD came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war.

Judges 6:34, Judges 11:29, Judges 14:19, Zechariah 4:6

Kings

1 Samuel 16:13: So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David.

1 Samuel 10:6, Psalm 51:11, Isaiah 11:2, Isaiah 42:1

Prophets

Nehemiah 9:30: For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples.

Numbers 11:25, Numbers 24:2, 1 Samuel 19:20, 2 Samuel 23:2, 2 Chronicles 20:14-15, 2 Chronicles 24:20, Isaiah 59:21, Ezekiel 11:5, 1 Peter 1:10-12, 2 Peter 1:20-21

2. He Empowered Jesus to Fulfill His Calling. Matthew 3:16: As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened,

and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

John 3:34-35: For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.

Luke 4:17-21: Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Matthew 12:28: But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

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3. He Came with Power to Believers at Pentecost. Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in

Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 2:1-4: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

4. He Indwells All Believers in Jesus. John 14:16-17: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you

forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Romans 8:9: You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

5. He Empowers Believers to Live Courageous and Godly Lives. He Illuminates God’s Word.

John 14:26: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

1 John 2:27: As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

He Emboldens Us for Service.

Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

1 Corinthians 12:7: Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

He Supplies Power for New Life.

Romans 8:11: And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Galatians 5:25: Since we live by the spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

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Session #2: The Purpose and Expression of The Holy Spirit

Purpose of The Holy Spirit and His Gifts

1. For the common good 1 Corinthians 12:4-7: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but

the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

2. To lead us away from sin Galatians 5:16-17: So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature

craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.

3. To produce fruit in every part of our lives Galatians 5:22-25: But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

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Quenching the Holy Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21: Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good.

Ephesians 4:30: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

What is a Spiritual Gift?

Abilities and qualities that every believer possesses in order to serve one another and build up the church.

1 Corinthians 12:7: Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

1 Corinthians 14:12: So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

Ephesians 4:12: to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Are Spiritual Gifts still in existence?

John 14:15-17: If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.

1 Thessalonians 5:21: Test everything. Hold on to the good.