This is the manuscript of the first of a four sermon series "God's Incredible Gift of The Holy Spirit.
There are a lot of religious dropouts” in our churches today. They become dropouts because they have never established a pattern of spiritual growth. These “religious dropouts” are more than mere “statistics,” they have become spiritual casualties. Here’s what can happen to these people
They may experience a loss of faith or a weakening of their spiritual connection.
They may become more susceptible to negative influences or temptations.
They may struggle with feelings of remorse or regret over their past choices.
Often the fault lies with the church, because we fail to follow up with spiritual care and nurturing and we leave people floundering to take care of themselves!
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, alongside God the Father and Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial and multifaceted role in the life of believers and the world.
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to 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” (John 14:16–17 NIV).
It is the power of the Holy Spirit that motivates the Christian; it is the wisdom of the Holy Spirit that sets fire to the believer’s desire to know more about God, about his Holy Word, and about the role they are to play in God’s eternal purpose and plan. It is the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit that gives the constant assurance that they are a child of God, loved by their heavenly Father, and kept eternally in His circle of love.
Scripture Reading:
John 14:15-21, 26 NIV [15] “If you love me, keep my commands. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— [17] 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. [18] I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. [19] Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. [20] On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. [21] Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
[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.
Introduction
There are a lot of religious dropouts” in our churches today. They become dropouts because they have never established a pattern of spiritual growth. In Bible Study we have been talking about the importance of spiritual growth because it’s important we understand what we have received through the salvation that came through the death burial and resurrection of Jesus.
These “religious dropouts” are more than mere “statistics,” they have become spiritual casualties. Here’s what can happen to these people
They may experience a loss of faith or a weakening of their spiritual connection.
They may become more susceptible to negative influences or temptations.
They may struggle with feelings of remorse or regret over their past choices.
Often the fault lies with the church, because we fail to follow up with spiritual care and nurturing and we leave people floundering to take care of themselves!
We’re going to try to do something about that here at Christ Church and we are going to start today. Today and the next three Sunday mornings where we will explore the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, alongside God the Father and Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial and multifaceted role in the life of believers and the world.
Here’s our text for today.
Text:
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—theSpirit 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” (John 14:16–17 NIV).
It is the power of the Holy Spirit that motivates the Christian; it is the wisdom of the Holy Spirit that sets fire to the believer’s desire to know more about God, about his Holy Word, and about the role they are to play in God’s eternal purpose and plan. It is the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit that gives the constant assurance that they are a child of God, loved by their heavenly Father, and kept eternally in His circle of love.
Romans 8:16-17 NIV [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV [21] Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, [22] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 5:1 NIV [1] For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV [13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
I. The Holy Spirit has always existed.
A. The Holy Spirit was there at the very beginning.
Genesis 1:1-2 NIV [1] In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [2] Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
This is the first reference to the Holy Spirit in the Bible. The picture that Moses, who we believe wrote Genesis, describes here is one of complete, total helplessness “formless and empty, darkness.” In other words total chaos. But wait! Something was happening! God, in the person of his Spirit, saw potential and promise in that whirling, spinning mass of chaos and confusion.
He saw what it could become. The Spirit of God moved and something started to happen. In the midst of “formless and empty, darkness” life began to stir. Read the rest of the first chapter of Genesis and you will see
Day 1: Creation of light and darkness.
Day 2: Creation of the sky to separate waters.
Day 3: Creation of land and vegetation.
Day 4: Creation of the sun, moon, and stars.
Day 5: Creation of sea creatures and birds.
Day 6: Creation of land animals and human beings. Then
Day 7: God rests from His work of creation.
B. After the Creation, God rested but the Holy Spirit did not retire.
All through the pages of the Old Testament we read of events in which the Holy Spirit “came on” men and women to continue carrying out God’s plan and purpose.
Throughout the book of Judges we will see that the Spirit empowered individuals like Samson and Gideon to perform extraordinary feats for God's people. Read the book of Judges and you will see example after example.
Here are some other specific Old Testament scriptures about works of the Holy Spirit’s power and anointing
The Spirit of the Lord came upon David, anointing him as future king.
1 Samuel 16:13 NIV 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. Samuel then went to Ramah.
The Spirit is promised as a source of anointing for the Messiah.
Isaiah 61:1 NIV The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
The Spirit entered Ezekiel and empowered him to deliver God's message.
Ezekiel 2:2 NIV As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit is manifested in presence and power.
Psalms 51:11-12 NIV Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. [12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
And a scripture we read and talked about last week where the Spirit is seen as the power behind God's work.
Zechariah 4:6 NIV So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
While the Old Testament doesn't explicitly define the Holy Spirit as a person, it clearly reveals God's active presence and power through the Spirit.
The promises and prophecies about the Spirit in the Old Testament point to a greater revelation of the Spirit in the New Testament.
II. The Holy Spirit in the Gospels and on the Day of Pentecost.
A. With the coming of Christ, we see a revelation of the Spirit of God that was never found in the Old Testament.
Jesus possessed the Spirit of God “without measure.”
John 3:34-36 NIV [34] For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. [35] The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. [36] Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
This clearly states that the Father did not limit the Spirit's presence in Jesus. This fullness of the Spirit enabled Jesus to perform miracles, teach with divine authority, and ultimately, to be the perfect sacrifice for humanity.
His sinless life and perfect obedience were made possible by the fullness of the Spirit within Him.
This truth underscores Jesus' full deity. He is not merely a man filled with the Spirit, but God Himself in human form. This meant that Jesus had authority over sin, demons, and even death because of His complete union with the Spirit.
The total fullness of the deity of God dwelt in the body of Jesus.
Colossians 2:9-10 NIV [9] For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, [10] and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
This statement is profound, as it affirms that Jesus Christ, while fully human, was also fully God. The entire nature of God, including His divine attributes, power, and glory, dwelt completely in the person of Jesus Christ.
While we don't possess the Spirit without measure as Jesus did, we are called to be filled with the Spirit and live in dependence on Him.
Ephesians 5:18-20 NIV [18] Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, [19] speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, [20] always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We must recognize our limitations and weaknesses, and willingly relinquish control of our lives to God, trusting Him to lead and direct our paths. We must actively seek to understand and align our desires with God's plan for our lives, relying on the Holy Spirit to reveal His will.
We must acknowledge our constant need for God's grace and provision, relying on Him for every aspect of our lives, from our daily needs to our spiritual growth.
Galatians 5:25 NIV Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Living a life filled with the Spirit and totally dependent on God is a journey that requires continuous surrender, seeking God's guidance, and trusting in His provision. It is a path that leads to a deeper relationship with God, greater peace, and a more fulfilling life.
B. Just before his death, Jesus promised the disciples that he would “send another Comforter” Who would abide with them forever and He would be in them.
Back to our text:
John 14:16-17 NIV [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— [17] 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.
We know that this came to pass on the Day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1-4, 14-21 NIV [1] When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. [2] Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
The Holy Spirit’s coming to indwell believers is permanent. He does not come in as an overnight guest or a weekend visitor. Once a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence within them.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 NIV [20] For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. [21] Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, [22] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
C. Three major things happened on the Day of Pentecost in relation to the Holy Spirit.
First, He took up residence in the bodies of believers,
The second thing that happened on the Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the formation of a new body or organism, the church, which the Lord Jesus had also promised.
Matthew 16:16-18 NIV [16] Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” [17] Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. [18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Jesus declares that He will build His church, a spiritual community of believers united by faith in Him and
it is the Holy Spirit who adds to this body as individuals receive Christ as Savior.
Ephesians 4:3-6 NIV [3] Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Third, the Holy Spirit empowered believers to witness, to share boldly with others the reality of their faith in God..
Acts 1:7-8 NIV [7] He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. [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.”
The bold, courageous proclamation of the Gospel by the early church was undeniably empowered by the Holy Spirit, and this supernatural empowerment continues to be essential for believers today.
III. Which brings me to the Holy Spirit’s ministry today.
A. We have been talking about the Holy Spirit and believers but the Holy Spirit also has a ministry to unbelievers.
There is no way unbelievers could know that they are lost and in need of a Savior apart from the Holy Spirit who opens their eyes to that fact.
John 16:7-11 NIV [7] But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. [8] When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: [9] about sin, because people do not believe in me; [10] about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; [11] and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
The Holy Spirit's ministry to unbelievers is primarily focused on conviction. This conviction is not about condemnation but about pointing out the truth of human sinfulness and the need for a Savior. It's the Spirit's work to prepare hearts for the Gospel. The Holy Spirit moves a holy, all-powerful God toward sinful humankind. And simultaneously, the Holy Spirit moves sinful humans toward God.
The Holy Spirit is the one who brings about the new birth. It's through His power that a person is given new spiritual life, enabling them to understand and respond to God's grace.
In a conversation with Nicodemous who came to Jesus with questions
John 3:5-8 NIV [5] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ [8] The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
While the Spirit's work in conviction is essential, it's important to note that salvation is ultimately a choice made by the individual. The Spirit's role is to create an environment where that choice can be made in light of truth.
B. Once a person has made that choice the Holy Spirit continues to minister to that person who is now a believer and a member of God’s family.
He reveals God’s will to them for their lives; he makes the Scriptures “come alive” and speaks to their hearts. He works through their consciences to reveal truth to them and to help them make right decisions. The Holy Spirit is the constant companion, supporter, and guide of the Christian.
Just as the Spirit of God moved over the angry, chaotic waters of this shapeless, spinning world of dead matter and brought forth life, so He does in the life of sinners, who are “dead in trespasses and sins.”
But he does not stop there. He continues to work in and through those whom he brings to repentance and redemption. He refines, teaches, and encourages. Never for one second does he leave us alone!
Romans 8:39 NIV neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Conclusion
Clearly it has been the design and strategy of Satan from the beginning to distort in every way he can the truth about the Holy Spirit, truth as revealed in Holy Scripture. The result has been that the teaching concerning the Holy Spirit has been subjected to everything from bizarre emotionalism to cold intellectualism. Yet in between those two ridiculous and unscriptural extremes, there is a beautiful, vital, and essential teaching concerning the Holy Spirit. Throughout the Bible he is revealed to us.
The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, guide, and comforter. This promise offers immense comfort and reassurance to us. While our relationship with the Holy Spirit can increase or decrease based on our spiritual walk, the Spirit's presence remains constant.
John 14:16 NIV And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—
Heavenly Father, we thank You for this time of learning and growing in our understanding of the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge that Your Spirit is a profound mystery, yet You have revealed so much about Him in Your Word.
Lord, we pray for open hearts and minds to receive Your truth. Help us to grasp the fullness of Your Spirit's work in our lives. We yearn for a deeper intimacy with You, and we believe that through the power of the Holy Spirit, this is possible.
We ask for wisdom to apply the truths we've learned to our daily lives. May we be filled with the Spirit and empowered to live as Your witnesses in this world.
We pray for the church, that we might be united by the Spirit in love and service. May Your Spirit continue to build Your body, and may we reflect Your glory to the world.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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