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The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

He said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said to him, No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:2

It is my desire today to give an introduction into the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

from our first scripture we can see that even believers in the first century did not always know about the Holy Spirit. They had to be instructed about Him. I found that to be the case with me as well.

Though I went to a charismatic church and was baptized by Jesus in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues I had little understanding of the One who filled me.

I had met Jesus. He was showing me the Father. But I really had no concept of who the Holy Spirit was or what He did.

Like the Ethiopian eunuch, I needed someone to guide me.

Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Do you understand what you are reading? 31 And he said, Well, how could I, unless someone guides me? Acts 8:30

That someone was Oral Roberts. He taught a course at the University entitled, The Holy Spirit in the Now. Not a typical university subject but it fully introduced me to God the Holy Spirit as the Bible teaches Him.

While I cannot hope to impart to you all that Oral did in many weeks I hope to give you an overview which may help you desire to dig more deeply into the bible to learn more about the marvelous reality of the Ruach Kadosh The Holy Spirit

1 2 3
2-1:1 Genesis

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3 (NASB)

Many have tried to explain what most Christians call the Trinity. One night after sharing my experience of Jesus with him, the head Rabbi in Jerusalem who taught at the Yeshiva on the Mount of Olives, told me that I and all Christians were idolaters because we believed in three gods and not the one God of Israel.

With devastating clarity he pointed out scripture after scripture that irrefutably proved the concept that God is nothing else but One.

In passage after passage my faith that Jesus was God come to earth was being shaken to the point of near collapse. As I went back to my little room above the Via Dolorosa (the street that Jesus is said to have carried the cross down) I felt such a despair. Was I really an idolater?

I prayed that night so desperately that God would show me the truth about this and He did.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:18-20

Unfortunately what started as an attempt to describe God in his work as Father, Son and Holy Spirit went astray partly because of language. The latin word persona was used to describe the attributes of God. Persona literally means mask. It was used for the masks characters used in Greek plays.

The same person could use many different masks to play different characters. The church of the second and third century felt the need to describe the biblical assertion that God manifested Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit so chose to use the word persona for each. Three persona, one in essence.

Three different roles played by the one God. Three masks used by the one actor who was God.
I personally think that even this is not the best way to describe it but it is at least acknowledging there is only one God.

In the transfer of concepts to modern languages the word persona got changed to person. God in three persons, blessed trinity as Luther wrote in his hymn Holy, Holy, Holy. This gives the impression or even the actual concept that there are three persons and they work together as God.

It would be like saying Howard, Harvey and Don are together God. This was the essence of the argument the rabbi made against Christianity. In fact he was right. If we understand the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as three distinct, autonomous individuals who together make God we are worshipping three gods and are idolaters.

Some groups have tried to deal with this problem by defining Jesus as a god not God. They translate John 1:1 as

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.

To think of Jesus as a god certainly would give further credence to the rabbis charge of tritheisim (believing in three gods.) Jesus was either a man or he was God. If he is not God then to worship him would be idolatrous.

But the first chapter of the Bible shows clearly what we believe about God. Though he is one and each aspect of God is inseperable even the ancient Hebrew scriptures defines each of His parts and relates them to specific activities He does. Lets read it again:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3 (NASB)

God, who we call the Father created the heavens and the Earth.
God, who we call the Spirit, moved over the surface of the waters that covered the whole earth. God, who we call Jesus, spoke light into existence.

We see this again in John 1 Jesus is the Word (Logos) of God by which everything was created.

In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word (Logos) was with God, and the Word (Logos) was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:1-5

Jesus the man was begotten of the Father. Jesus the Word was eternally the Logos of God.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

In Luke we see that the Holy Spirit created Jesus inside of Mary. Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin? 35 The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
34

Matthew tells us the same: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18

Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirt John testified saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. John 1:32
32

While we can say without a doubt God is one we also can say directly from the Bible that he is a three part being. We are created by God in exactly the same way. Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; Genesis 1:26

We are a spirit (Spirit) that has a soul (Father) that communicates through a body (Word Logos Jesus).

Just as we can confidently say that Jesus is God we can say that the Holy Spirit is God.

This is the most important aspect of the person of the Holy Spirit He is God. He is not a ghost sent from God. He is not an nonpersonal force like electricity. He is God himself.

He is not like the angels who are spirit beings:


And of the angels He says: Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire. Hebrews 1:7

He was present, uncreated and fully God as creation began.

Salvation comes through the Holy Spirit being restored to the human spirit.

The difference between humans and animals was God the Father breathing the life of the Spirit into the first man.

Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

in Hebrew the word spirit is ruach. It means wind or breath.

We see in this passage that God breathed Spirit Life ruach chaim into Adams nostrils. The Spirit of God was given to bring alive the body which He had fashioned from the ground.

What God breathed into Adam was the Holy Spirit. God put His own Spirit into the first man.

When the Holy Spirit entered into the beautiful body God had fashioned Adams soul came into being. Like God he was a three part being Spirit, Soul and Body.

Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground (Body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Spirit); and man became a living being (Soul). Genesis 2:7

No other creature shared in this besides Eve who was taken from Adam and, as a result, shared with him the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Her spirit.

The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "from any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die. Genesis 2:16

When the first couple partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil their bodies did not die. Their souls did not die. What died was their spirit. It died because the connection to the Holy Spirit was severed in their sin. The later resulting death of their soul and bodies came as a result of the death of their spirit.

I have roses growing in my yard. My sweet daughter Catharina planted them when she was younger. Every now and then. I like to cut some and bring them into my house. I find that what happens in my doing this shows exactly what happened to our first parents and has happened to all of us since.

The moment I cut the rose it dies. It does not look like it in that instance but it is dead. The outward manifestations of that death in its physical appearance will come. It is dead because it has been cut off from its life force.

Adam and Eve died on the day they ate from the tree. They died because they were cut off from their life force the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit did not die. He left. And he did not again reside in another human beings spirit until Jesus was conceived.

Every person ever born after Adam and Eve - except Jesus (who was created in Mary) had been born with their spirit separated from God. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22

The great work of salvation was to restore the Holy Spirits rightful place of living inside of us as he once did in Adam and Eve,

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the

Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 7:38-39

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

The Holy Spirit was always among humans, He brought the presence of God everywhere. He was the means of Gods omnipresence (everywhere present), omniscience (all knowing), and omnipotence (all powerful).

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. Psalm 139:7

If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night, Psalm 139:9

David understood this so well. When he found himself not being able to have fellowship with God after his sin with Bathsheba he rightly cried out:
Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11

Jesus came to restore the Holy Spirit to the spirit of human beings. This is why he said to Nicodemus:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3

When Nicodemus asked how can a man return to his mothers womb Jesus said,
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5

Our rebirth occurs when the Holy Spirit takes residence inside of us again, dwelling in our spirit as it did in Adam and Eve.

We see that right after Jesus was resurrected from the dead he did exactly what God the Father had done with Adam. He breathed the Holy Spirit into the disciples.

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you. John 20:19

And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace {be} with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you. John 20:20-21

And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22

In the moment Jesus breathed into them the Holy Spirit salvation came to the disciples. Up to then they were still children of Adam with death in their spirit because it was not connected and indwelt with the Holy Spirit.

The day Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into them they were born again. And so it is with all of us.

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

The ability to live a godly life comes from the work and power of the Holy Spirit

It is because God the Holy Spirit now lives in us in our spirit we can live His life out in our earthly existence.

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God {did:} sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and {as an offering} for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, Romans 8:3

so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:4

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:5

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

Romans 8:6

because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able {to do so,}

Romans 8:7

and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. Romans 8:8

If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Romans 8:10

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:11

Romans 8:12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father! Romans 8:14

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with {Him} so that we may also be glorified with {Him.} Romans 8:16

So we see the vital role the Holy Spirit plays in our salvation. He is the power from within that enables us to live the life of Jesus in our world.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

"As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove {and} lighting on Him,

Matthew 3:16

Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," {He said,} "you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."Acts 1:4

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:1

And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2:3

They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 "And how is it that we each hear {them} in our own language to which we were born? Acts 2:7

But others were mocking and saying, "They are full of sweet wine. 14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. Acts 2:13

"For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is {only} the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

Acts 2:15

'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; Acts 2:17

Peter {said} to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself. Acts 2:38

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. Acts 10:44

For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we {did,} can he? Acts 10:46

Being filled with the Holy Spirit

We see that there is one Baptism with the Holy Spirit yet there are many fillings

This seems to point to a unique aspect of our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

John the baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit in Elizabeths womb.

We are told that even as an unregenerate person the Holy Spirit could still fill them.

Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit when Elisabeth spoke about John leaping in the womb when she came to visit her.

Bezalel was filled with the Holy Spirit to do works of art.

For me it is this that points clearly to my part in the revelation of God the Holy Spirit wants to use me in.

I tend to leak.

It is up to me to make the space in my life for Him to fill.

This is very much like what I see happening in my garden at home.

The manifestation of the Holy Spirit in me is likened to me bearing fruit.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Galatians 5:17

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Galatians 5:18

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Galatians 5:19

idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, Galatians 5:20

envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:21

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. Galatians 5:22-23

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:24-25

But to do that I have to weed, water, fertilize and prune.

Weeding is dealing with my sin. No plant in my garden will ever bear mature fruit if it is being choked out by weeds.

I must consciously choose on a minute by minute basis to deal with sin in order to make space for the planting of the Lord to thrive in me.

Watering is exposing myself to the word by reading and meditation.

Fertilizing seems to be many things. It is praying with understanding and letting the Holy Spirit pray through me in tongues and intercessory travail.

It is seeking out fellowship in order to stir up Joy by sharing the wonder of Jesus with each other.

Pruning is being willing to be taught, disciplined and led by Jesus. It is letting him prune me so that I can bear much fruit.

When we do these simple acts it allows for God the Holy Spirit to produce His Fruit in our lives.

Ultimately it will be that fruit that will show we belong to Jesus.

It is how the world will know that He is real and that He lives in us through the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Points 1. That any who have not yet been reborn will receive the Holy Spirit through accepting Jesus as Saviour and Lord. 2. That we would choose to submit to the indwelling Holy Spirit to enable us to live the life of Jesus 3. If we have not yet received the Baptism of Jesus in the Holy Spirit we would do so today. 4. That we would seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit 5. That we would seek the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself through us by miraculous acts and the fruit of His life indwelling us.

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