Introduction:

Acts chapter 2 describes a group of scattered, bewildered, anguished and terrified people who were unified, praising God, and speaking the Word of God with boldness. People were filled with amazement and confusion. What could possibly cause this change? How could these unsophisticated Galileans speak God’s word in so many languages so clearly? Others said, "I don’t understand, what does this mean?" Peter cried above the noise of the crowd, "What you have heard and seen is taking place because the resurrected Jesus Christ has been exalted to the right hand of God and is giving us the Holy Spirit now" (Acts 2.32-33).

Who is this Holy Spirit that filled the disciples with power and holy boldness?
Where did He come from?

1. Who is the Holy Spirit according to the testimony of Scripture?

1. A Person, not an impersonal force… Acts 15.28
2. Christ spoke of Him as a distinct person…John 16.14; and referred to Him as "another" Comforter – John 14.16
3. Part of Triune God…Matt 28.19; 2 Corinthians. 13.14
4. Has personality… He strives –Genesis 6.3; teaches – Luke 12.12; convicts – John 16.8; directs church affairs – Acts 13.2; helps and intercedes – Romans 8.26; inspires – 2 Peter 1.21; sanctifies – 1 Peter 1.2. These are the workings of a mere "force," but could only be done by a Person.

1. The Holy Spirit is truly God (Divine)

1. He is Omnipotent, He’s in charge of spiritual gifts - 1 Corinthians 12. 11; He is omnipresent, He will abide with people forever – John 14.16; None can escape His influence – Psalm 139.7-10; He is omniscient, He searches all things including the things of God – 1 Corinthians 2.10,11.
2. He is associated with the works of God including creation and the resurrection – Genesis 1.1; Job testifies – Job 33.4; the Psalmist testifies – Psalm 104.30; Paul testifies – Romans 8.11.
3. Considered equal with the Father and Son in the baptismal formula – Matthew 28.19; the apostolic blessing – 2 Corinthians 13.14; and the spiritual gifts discourse – 1 Corinthians 12.4-6.

From eternity God the Holy Spirit lived within the Godhead as the third member. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are equally self-existent. Though each is equal, an economy of function operates within the Trinity.

The Truth about God the Holy Spirit is best understood as seen through Jesus. When the Spirit comes to believers, He comes as the "Spirit of Christ" – He does not come in His own right, carrying His own credentials. His activity in history centers in Christ’s mission of salvation. The Holy Spirit was actively involved in Christ’s birth – Luke 1.35, confirmed His public ministry – Matthew 3. 16,17, and brought the benefits of Christ’s atoning sacrifice and resurrection to humanity – Romans 8.11.

In the Godhead, the Spirit seems to fulfill the role of executor. When the Father gave His Son to the world (John 3.16), He was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1.18-20). The Holy Spirit came to complete the plan, to make it a reality in each believer.

The Holy Spirit’s intimate involvement in creation is seen in His presence at Creation – Genesis 1.2. Life’s origin and maintenance depends on His operation; His departure means death – Job 34.14,15; 33.4. We can see reflections of the Spirit’s creative work in His re-creative work within each person who is open to God. God carries out His work within individuals through the Creator Spirit. So in incarnation, creation, and re-creation, the Spirit comes to bring God’s intention to fulfillment.

No wonder the promise of God’s Holy Spirit is at the heart of the New Covenant – Ezekiel 36.26,27. He is the secret of a happy, victorious life as a Christian.

Think It Through:

We were intended to be dwelling places of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 3.16). Adam and Eve’s sin separated them from both the Garden and the indwelling Spirit. That separation continues until we are "born again" of the Spirit of God. But His Spirit has not abandoned mankind, even during the awful wickedness before the Flood, God declared, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever" (Genesis 6.3).

In Old Testament times the Spirit equipped individuals to perform certain tasks (examples in Numbers 24.2; Judges 6.34; 1 Samuel 10.6). At times He is "in" persons (see Exodus 31.3; Isaiah 63.11). Undoubtedly genuine believers have always had an awareness of His presence, but Joel (2.28) predicted a dramatic pouring out of the Spirit – a time when a greater manifestation of the Spirit would usher in a new age.

John the Baptist declared of the Messiah, Jesus Christ that he (John) baptized with water, but He "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 3.11). But the Gospels do not reveal Jesus baptizing anyone with the Holy Spirit. Just before His death, He promised His disciples, "I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth" (John 14.16,17). Was the promised baptism of the Spirit received at the cross? John (7.39) shows that the Father’s acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice was the prerequisite for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

This new age broke in only when our victorious Lord was seated on heaven’s throne. Only then could He send the Spirit in His fullness (Acts 2.33). At Pentecost, 50 days after Calvary, the new age burst forth with all the power of the Spirit’s presence (Acts 2.2-4).

The mission of both Jesus and the Spirit were totally interdependent. The fullness of the Spirit could NOT be given until Jesus had completed His mission. And Jesus was, in turn, conceived by the Spirit (Matthew 1.8-21), baptized by the Spirit (Mark 1.9,10), led by the Spirit (Luke 4.1), performed His miracles through the Spirit (Matthew 12.24-32), offered Himself at Calvary through the Spirit (Hebrews 9.14,15), and was, in part, resurrected by the Spirit (Romans 8.11)

Jesus was the first person to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit. What is so amazing is that He is willing to pour out His Spirit on everyone who earnestly desires Him. When you desire Jesus, and invite Him into your life, His personal Representative, the Holy Spirit, comes into the believer (Ephesians 1.13,14; 4.30; 1 Thessalonians 5.19)

C. Promised…and fulfilled

4. His Mission for believers

1. He assists believers
2. He brings the truth of Christ
3. He brings the presence of Christ
4. He guides the operation of the church
5. He equips the church with special gifts
6. He fills the heart of believers
7. He empowers for victory

E. Work of the Spirit

F. Fruit versus Gifts

Gifts of the Spirit…four lists in New Testament – I don’t believe these lists are meant to be exhaustive, but illustrative of the kind of ways the Holy Spirit works in and through God’s people.

In order to use God’s gifts effectively, we must realize that all our gifts and abilities come from God – He is the Owner and Controller. We must also understand that not everyone has the same gifts. And these gifts may not be as stagnate as we may think. If God needs me to pray for someone, then He can give me the gift of intercession; if He needs me to be hospitable, then He can give me the gift of hospitality, etc. We must dedicate our gifts to God’s service and not to our personal success. We must be willing to utilize our gifts wholeheartedly, not holding back anything from God’s service.

Some key points from 1 Corinthians 12

What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the human will?

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to give us a new heart (Ezekiel 36.26,27; Hebrews 8.8-12) with new understandings of truth, new desires, and new abilities to do according to God’s will. But, the Holy Spirit is powerless to work in our lives without our cooperation. God refuses to bypass our own will in working out His will in us and in His universe. He forces no one. We must choose to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Paul discusses this battle (Galatians 5.16-26; Romans 8.5-17) between the old nature (flesh) and the Holy Spirit at work within the individual believer. As we choose to cooperate with the Holy Spirit our new nature grows stronger and our old nature grows weaker. This is a constant process. However, there comes a time in our Christian journey where we have sufficiently matured that the battle is not as fierce. We can truly say that we are a mature disciple – never completely free from the old nature until Jesus comes (1 Corinthians 15.42-44, 51-54).

Without exercising our power of choice in cooperation with the Holy Spirit we would not be "overcomers" (Revelation 2.7, 11, 17, 26; 3.4, 12, 21). God allows us to demonstrate in our daily life that we truly trust Him and want to spend eternity with Him. Our hearts and minds, desires, emotions, and will have been transformed – our character is fit for heaven – through the indwelling Holy Spirit in cooperation with our will power. They have learned to work in harmony just like they will be throughout eternity.

Conclusion

We must have the Holy Spirit in order to come to Jesus. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He (Jesus) gives us the Holy Spirit, Who abides in us, transforming us as we cooperate with Him, until a Christ-like character is formed within. When His work is finished in me, then I am ready to enjoy heaven with a holy God.

If I am in this process of growing up into Christ, and God chooses that I should be laid to rest (die), then I am secure in my salvation (1 John 5. 11,12). Today I can trust that God is able to do His will (Philippians 1.6; Jude 24), and I seek to cooperate more and more with His precious Gift, the Holy Spirit.

Thank You, God for loving me so much! With a God like ours, we should be overflowing with praise and adoration for the wonderful love of One Who is so busy at work for our eternal salvation. He wants to spend eternity with you and me.

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