I. Who is the Holy Spirit?
• 3rd Person of the Trinity (Father, Son, Spirit - Matthew 3:16-17)
• One God - Three Persons: All three are fully and equally God!
“In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.” – Westminster Confession of Faith 1647
The Holy Spirit is called God in Scripture - Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
The Holy Spirit has acts of divinity -
• Creator - Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30
• Eternal - Hebrews 9:14
• Omnipotent - Acts 1:8; Romans 15:13
• Omniscient - Isaiah 40:13-14
• Omnipresent - Psalm 139:7
The Holy Spirit has attributes of Personhood. In addition to having a will and desires, the Holy Spirit thinks, acts, feels, speaks and relates. The Holy Spirit can also be
• grieved - Ephesians 4:30
• resisted - Acts 7:51
• insulted - Hebrews 10:29
Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as a personal He (John 14:17, 26; John 16:7-14), not a she or an impersonal it!
II. The Holy Spirit is a good gift from our Heavenly Father!
• Matthew 7:11 & Luke 11:13
• John 16:7
III. What does the Holy Spirit do?
• Helper / Comforter / Advocate - Paraklete - John 14:16
• Teacher - John 14:26
• Reminder - John 14:26
• Convicts - John 16:8-12
• Guides - John 16:13
The Holy Spirit gives gifts (Charismata)
• 1 Corinthians 12-14
• Romans 12:3-8
• Ephesians 4:11-16
• 1 Peter 4:8-11
“Spiritual Gifts are divinely empowered/energized potential to minister to the body of Christ by communicating the power, the knowledge, and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Sam Storms
IV. What are some False Beliefs about the Holy Spirit?
Only Super-Christians get Spiritual Gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:7, 13
All Christians get all gifts - 1 Corinthians 14:1, 13
The only purpose of the gifts was to authenticate the ministry of the Apostles - 1 Corinthians 12:7
If you have a gift you can always use it as you wish…
• Permanent Gifts - mercy, helps, teaching
• Occasional / Circumstantial Gifts - healing, word of knowledge, etc.
Spiritual Gifts don’t need my effort…
Spectacular Gifts are a sign of greater spirituality.
Since there is abuse of the spiritual gifts we should not use them.
V. What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
View 1: It happens at Conversion
View 2: It is a subsequent event some time after conversion
My View: It is both!
• Mark 1:7-8
• 1 Corinthians 12:13
Old Testament Promise of the Holy Spirit:
• Isaiah 32:15
• Isaiah 44:3
• Joel 2:28-32
View 1: 1 Corinthians 12:13 - “ALL” - implies that everyone receives the gift of the Holy Spirit at Conversion.
View 2: The New Testament seems to indicate an ongoing “filling” with the Holy Spirit:
• Galatians 3:5
• Ephesians 1:17
• Ephesians 3:16
• Ephesians 5:18
• 1 Thessalonians 4:8
The New Testament seems to affirm two realities we must contend with:
The Holy Spirit indwells believers at conversion, I would call this the Baptism of the Holy Spirit:
• instantaneous
• permanent
• universal
The Scriptures command us to be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit:
• ongoing
• continuous
• progressive appropriation of and yielding to the fullness of the Spirit
What should our Response be?
- Humility - Romans 12:3
- Gratitude - 2 Corinthians 9:12
- Joy - 2 Corinthians 9:7
- Appropriation - 1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:6
- Eager Desire - 1 Corinthians 14:1
CG Questions
- Where do you see a difference between what you believe about the Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts and how you practically see that lived out in your own life? Why is there is gap?
- How have your views on gifts and the Holy Spirit changed over time? Are there particular experiences that have shaped and challenged your views?
- How would you describe the relationship between the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts and a healthy church?
- In what ways do you find yourself trusting and depending on the Holy Spirit in your daily life?