The Holy Spirit

May 26, 2024

Preacher: Andrew Love

Passage: John 14:15-18, 25-26; 16:5-15

Service Type: Sunday Morning

Introduction

Looking at the Upper Room Discourse - 3 sermons on Jesus teaching His disciples
- He knew that He would die - yet He was concerned about His disciples
- He speaks a lot about the Holy Spirit
- Jesus says He was deeply troubled for His disciples
  - We need comfort
  - The Comforter would come - the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit
- Perhaps a neglected person of the Trinity
The Holy Spirit's work is not to speak of Himself but to magnify Jesus Christ
- It is a background, silent and secret work
  - John 16:14 and 15:26
  - The Holy Spirit gives testimony and speaks of Jesus Christ
- To silently convict sinners of sin
  - Speaking to a person's heart
  - To prick their conscience
  - It may be a temporary or permanent conviction that leads to salvation
- He comforts saints
  - We are children of the living God
Metaphors for the Holy Spirit
- Dove - gentle, bringing peace
- Wind - silent and unseen, yet powerful
- Fire - purging and purifying
- Water - life giving/refreshing water
Overview:
- His Person
- His Work

He is more than a force
- Groups often deny the deity and person-hood of Jesus
- At Pentecost: the Holy Spirit came down in power - there were usual events
- He teaches, He comforts, He guides
- He can be grieved
The Bible is clear - He is a person, He is God
- Genesis
- God is eternal and uncreated
- 2 Cor 3:17
- Acts 5:3-4 - a lie against the Holy Spirit is a lie against God
The third person of the Holy Trinity: one God but three (distinct) Persons
- Inseparable
- Equal in essence
- Each immutable and eternal
- 'The Grace'
We ought to adore and honour Him

An operation of the Holy Spirit in a person's soul
- Bringing a dead soul to life
- Being 'born again'
- Usually using the word of God (James, 1 Peter)
Conviction of sin (16:8)
- Acts 1 - the preaching of the Peter
- The people were cut to the heart
- No longer crying out crucify but crying out for salvation
- 3'000 were baptised
- The worst sin - unbelief, it is the root of all other sins
Conviction of righteousness - pointing us towards Jesus
Conviction of judgment
The soul is stirred, 'how can I get right with God'
A one-off work at the beginning of a believer's life
- Sanctification is a process
- You become a new creature in Jesus Christ
- Your heart of stone is changed for a heart of flesh
People in the Old Testament - the Holy Spirit is not a new doctrine
- Deut 36, Rom 2 - circumcision of the heart
  - The faith of Abraham
- Ezk 36, Jer 31 - laws being written on our hearts
- A new way of giving the Holy Spirit - John 7:37-39
  - He had not yet been given in a full and manifest way
  - Not the presence of God in His temple - the Church becomes the temple of the living God
  - John 14:16-17
  - Members of the Church were temples of the Holy Spirit
We enter the kingdom of God through the new birth of the Holy Spirit
- Have you experienced this?
- Are you born again?
- If you believe in Jesus Christ - you have been born again
New birth, then faith and repentance and then sanctification

The Holy Spirit making you holy - like Jesus
We are to work out salvation - we are to rely on the graces of God
- It is God who works in us
Ezk 36, Jer 31 - laws being written on our hearts – the Holy Spirit conforming us to the will and commandments of God
- To keep the Ten Commandments and the royal law of love
We are to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He corrects and checks us
Gal 5
- We are called to walk in the Spirit not the flesh
- We should know the fruits of the Spirit - examples
Living a life like Jesus
Keeping in step with the Spirit

Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit
- It would enable them to boldly preach the word of God
- People that were previously timid and fearful
We do not need to be gifted people - we need to depend upon the Holy Spirit
- Paul encouraged Timothy to stir up the gift within him
- Have we been trusting in ourselves rather than God?
The Holy Spirit gives power, but joy and blessing
- Rom 15:13 - joy, peace and hope
- Paul prayed the Ephesians would know the fullness of the love of God
Luke 11:13 - ask God for the Holy Spirit
- He will give you the Spirit