THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is God, and is equal to the Father and the Son. Don’t ever speak of Him as “It” or refer to Him as an influence. He is God the Holy Spirit, and is set forth in the Bible as being distinct from the Father and the Son. In the Genesis account of creation, He is seen actively engaged in the work of creation, along with the Father and the Son. In the OT He came upon men to empower them for service; but when they were disobedient, He departed from them.

When David sinned against the Lord, he prayed, “Take not thy Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11). In the NT, after Pentecost, we see the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer, never to leave him, filling and empowering him for service. The study of the person and the work of the Holy Spirit is of utmost importance. A scriptural understanding of God the Holy Spirit will make you a better Christian and servant of God.

1. THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 5: 3, 4)

2. THE EMBLEMS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Luke 3: 16)

3. SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT (Matt. 12: 31,32)

4. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (John 16: 7-14)

5. THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Gal. 5: 22,23)

1. THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 5: 3,4)

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, BUT UNTO GOD

5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

In dealing with Ananias, Peter revealed the deity of the Holy Spirit when he said, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost (Spirit)….thou has not lied unto men but unto God.” In this Scripture it is very clear that the Holy Spirit is God, and He is co-equal, co-eternal and co-existent with the Father and the Son. His deity is also set forth in that He possesses divine attributes:

1. He is everywhere present in the universe (Psalm 139: 7-10)

2. He has all power (Luke 1: 35)

3. He has all knowledge (1Cor. 2: 10-11)

4. He is eternal (Hebrew 9: 14)

His deity is revealed in that His name is coupled with equality with the name of the Father and the Son.

1. In the baptism of the believer (Matt. 28: 19)

2. In the apostolic benediction (2Cor: 13, 14)

His deity is seen in relation to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

1. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1: 35)

2. He was anointed by the Holy Spirit for service (Acts 10: 38)

3. He was led by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 4: 1)

4. He was crucified in the power of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 9: 14)

5. He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8: 11)

6. Jesus gave commandments to the apostles and the church through the Holy Spirit

(Acts 1: 2)

If Jesus needed to depend solely upon the Holy Spirit during His life and ministry here on earth, can we afford to do less?

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2. THE EMBLEMS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Luke 3: 16)

16. John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE:

It is often difficult to impart truth by the use of words. Frequently they only a half truth, having the other half hidden. The writers of the Bible used certain emblems when unfolding the mysteries of the Holy Spirit, because they illustrate more about Him than volumes can contain. They are:

1. Fire as an emblem (V16). Fire speaks of His consuming, purifying power in the life of the believer

(Acts 2:3; Isaiah 6:1-7)

2. Wind as an emblem (John 3:8). Wind speaks of His hidden depth in His mighty regenerating power.

3. Water as an emblem (John 7:37-39). Water speaks of His power to fill the believer to overflowing with spiritual life.

4. Seal as an emblem (Ephesians 1:13). Seal speaks of His ownership of the believer.

5. Oil as an emblem (Acts 10:38). Oil speaks of His power to anoint for service

6. Dove as an emblem (Mark 1:10). The dove speaks of His gentle, tender, peaceful nature. We may know “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Phil. 4:7) only when fully surrendered to God.

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3. SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT (Matt. 12: 31, 32)

31. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

32. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

This is a solemn study, because the Holy Spirit is God and can be sinned against by both the believer and the unbeliever. May He help you search your heart as you consider:

1. The sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit (V31, 32). This sin is committed by unbelievers. It is often called the Unpardonable sin.” It has no forgiveness. It was committed by the enemies of Jesus when they accused Him of casting out devils by the power of Satan (Matt. 12:24), when Jesus claimed to cast them out by the “Spirit of God” (Matt. 12:28)

2. The sin of resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts. 7:51). This sin is committed by the unbeliever when rejecting Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

3. The sin of grieving the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30-32). This sin is committed by believers. He is grieved by us unless He controls our lives to the glory of Jesus Christ.

4. The sin of quenching the Holy Spirit (1Thes. 5:19). This sin is committed by Christians when known sin is allowed to go unconfessed (1Jn. 1:9; Isa. 59:1-2).

5. The sin of lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-11). The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was deception, born in jealousy. They tried to mock God (Gal. 6:7). The Holy Spirit can be sinned against, because He is God.

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4. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (John 16: 7-14)

7. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

8. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:

9. in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;

10. in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;

11. and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.

7. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

8. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

In instructing His disciples, regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “…..if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will…………..”

1. Convict men of the sin of unbelief (V9)

2. Convict men that Jesus is the righteousness of God (V10; Rom 10:3,4).

3. Convict men that the power of Satan has been broken (V11).

4. Regenerate the believer (Jn. 3:5; Titus 3:5).

5. Indwell the believer (1Cor 6:19-20)

6. Seal the believer (Eph. 1:13, 14)

7. Baptize the believer (Acts1:5;1Cor. 12:13).

8. Infill the believer (Eph. 5:18).

9. Empower the believer (Acts 1:8).

10. Lead the believer (Gal. 5:16-18)

11. Administer spiritual gifts to the believer (1Cor. 12:1-11).

The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, to remain with the church until it is complete and presented to the Lord Jesus at His coming. Just as Jesus Christ finished the work He came to do in the flesh, so the Holy Spirit will finish the work He came to do in the church.

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5. THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Gal. 5: 22, 23)

22. BUT THE FRUIT OF THE (HOLY) SPIRIT IS LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23. Gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love.” Only as we live in love can we fulfil the will of God in our lives. The believers must become love-inspired, love-mastered and love-driven (2Cor. 5:14). Without the fruit of the Spirit (love), we are just a religious noise (1Cor. 13:1).

“The fruit (singular) of the spirit is love,” and is manifested in joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

1. JOY is Love’s STRENGTH

2. PEACE is love’s SECURITY

3. LONG-SUFFERING is love’s PATIENCE

4. GENTLENESS is love’s CONDUCT

5. GOODNESS is love’s CHARACTER

6. FAITH is love’s CONFIDENCE

7. MEEKNESS is love’s HUMULITY

8. TEMPERANCE is love’s VICTORY

“AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW”

A Holy Spirit-controlled man needs no law to cause him to live a righteous life. The secret of the Spirit-controlled life is found in dedication to God (Rom. 12:1-2). Put yourself all on the alter, and the Holy Spirit will fill your heart with the love of God (Rom. 5:5).

Note: The above is not an exhaustive study or exposition on the subject of the 3^rd Person of the TRNITY. You may further study and build up yourself. He is Eternal Spirit. We have a lot more to explore.

HOLY SPIRIT IS “ETERNAL SPIRIT” HENCE WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO EXPLORE ……

Often the fruit is considered as the result of our work and effort, but the truth is “IT IS THE FRUIT (Singular) OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”. We bear the fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit in us. He is the cause of the fruition in our life.

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HOW WILL IT ALL END