God In Us: The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

Series: God In Us

August 23, 2020 | Dr. Wes George

Passage: John 14:16-26

The Person of the Holy Spirit

He is God. John 14:16, 26; 15:26; Acts 5:3-4

John 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another aHelper, that He may be with you forever;

“another” allos  of the same kind as opposed to heteros another of a different kind.

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

He is Spirit. John 4:24; 14:17

14:17   that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, butyou know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

John 4:24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

He is a Person.

Personal properties

He has understanding. 1 Cor. 2:10

10 aFor to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

He has a will. 1 Cor. 12:11

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

He loves. Rom. 15:30

30 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.

Passive attributes

He can be tested.  Acts 5:9

9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test?

He can be lied to. Acts 5:3

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?

He can be grieved.  Ephesians 4:30

30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Personal actions

He speaks. 1 Tim 4:1

1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

He teaches. John 14:26

26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

He commands. Acts 13:2

2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

He intercedes. Rom. 8:26

26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

Personal character ascribed to him

He is the Advocate.  John 14:16, 26; 15:26

26 “When the aHelper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,

He is a Witness. Hebrews 10:15, Rom. 8:16

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

He is justifier and sanctifier.  1 Cor. 6:11

11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

He is the Spirit of Truth.  John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13

17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

He is Creator.  Genesis 1:2

2 The earth was aformless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

He inspires Scripture. 2 Peter 1:20-21

20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

He anoints prophecy and preaching. Ezekiel 2:2; Luke 4:18; Isaiah 61:1-3

Ezekiel 2:2 As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me, To bring good news to the cafflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;

He convicts.  John 16:8

8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;

He testifies of Jesus.  John 15:26 16:14

26 “When the aHelper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,

John 16:14  He will glorify Me. . .

He gives life. John 6:63

63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

He converts.  John 3:1-8

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

He regenerates. Titus 3:5

5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

He baptizes. 1 Cor. 12:13

13 For aby one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

 He indwells. John 14:17

17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

 He seals.  Ephesians 1:13-14

13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

14 who is agiven as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

He sanctifies. 1 Peter 1:2; Romans 8:13

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

He guides to all truth. John 16:13

13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

He unites. 1 Cor. 12:13, 25, Ephesians 4:3

1 Corinthians 12:13 For aby one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Ephesians 4:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 He fills.  Ephesians 5:18

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit

He empowers.  Acts 1:8

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

 He gifts.  1 Corinthians 12:4, 7-11

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

He produces fruit.  Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

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