Credo: I Believe in the Holy Spirit - John 14:15-26, Galatians 5:19-25
Dr. Kevin D. Glenn – Lead Pastor
Christianity has always understood the Godhead to consist of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit is most often surrounded by mystery, misunderstanding, and misapplication. As a result, the Holy Spirit’s ministry is under-emphasized among some Christians, as described in Francis Chan’s book, The Forgotten God. In contrast, other Christians over-emphasize the ministry of the Holy Spirit by teaching that one must experience “baptism” of the Holy Spirit in addition to receiving Christ as Lord and Savior to legitimize their conversion. Neither of these are correct or consistent with what Scripture teaches about the Holy Spirit’s identity, ministry, and presence.
On the night before his death, Jesus himself described the Holy Spirit’s ministry in ways that are clear, convicting, and comforting all at the same time. I hope this helps us see and celebrate God, as God is revealed in the person and presence of the Holy Spirit.
1.
• When we receive Christ, we are receiving his Spirit in
• Being filled with the Spirit is about living life fully aware of who we have and who has us.
2. What does the Holy Spirit do? - John 14: 16-17, 25
• Spirit of
o The Spirit allows us to understand the Truth of Scripture.
• Ultimate
o A true friend is willing to be with you and for you and to argue with you. Arguing against the enemies of your own heart.
• If your God never debates you, never challenges you, never disagrees with you, then you don’t have a Lord, an advocate, or even a friend. You have a god you’ve made in your own image. You have an idol.
3. How do we receive what the Holy Spirit offers? - John 14:15, 21-24, Galatians 5:19-25
• To experience the ministry of the
• The Spirit’s ministry is rooted in who the Spirit points to, Jesus Christ. A life lived in obedience to Christ bears fruit that resembles Christ.
• If there’s no fruit, where is your root?
Questions for Reflection
• What misconceptions or questions about the Holy Spirit did you have prior to this message?
• How did the message address your questions? What other questions or uncertainties do you have that Kevin didn’t address?
• How do you respond to the teaching that a subsequent and separate “baptism” of the Holy Spirit is a problematic understanding of the Spirit’s ministry?
• Discuss what it means to be filled with the Spirit according to this passage.
• How do you respond to the consistency of the Holy Spirit’s direction with the written Scriptures? In what ways have you seen something done “in the Spirit” that conflicted with Scripture? Why is consistency important?
• How does the idea of the Holy spirit as “ultimate friend” help you understand the Spirit’s ministry?
• Do you experience pushback, conviction, and disagreement from the Spirit, or only agreement and rationalization for your thoughts, beliefs, and actions?
• Discuss the way the Spirit points to Jesus so that we are rooted in him and how the Spirit enables us to bear fruit consistent with where we’re rooted.
• Questions? Email kevin@northsidejackson.com and join us for FAQ’s with Pastor Kevin, Wednesdays at 6:45 in Hope Hall. FAQ’s is also available to download or stream at https://anchor.fm/faqswithdrkevin
Scripture Reference
John 14:15-26 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.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 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.
Galatians 5:19-25 NIV
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.