FOUNDATIONS: THE HOLY SPIRIT Lesson #1 Intro. Why this class is so important. 1. The importance of the Holy Spirit s presence and influence in our lives is impossible to over emphasize a. We need to know Him better 2. There is so much the Holy Spirit offers us a. He gives us companionship and comfort b. He teaches us and reveals God s will and plan for us c. He gives us the power to live the Christian life, the power to speak for Christ, and so much more Over the next several weeks we re going to look in depth at who the Holy Spirit is and what we are promised through His influence in us 2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. It s the presence of the Holy Spirit in us that brings change This is why the Holy Spirit is so important 3. Jesus emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit s presence in our lives John 7:38-39 (NKJV) 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 1
Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be like rivers of living water! a. In the book of John chapters 14-17, Jesus is giving some last minute instructions to the disciples at the Last Supper b. It is during this time that Jesus shares some of the most important insights about the Holy Spirit John 14:15-18 (NKJV) 15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. Jesus identifies the Holy Spirit in a way that would describe His influence toward believers. Four times in 3 chapters, John 14-16, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Helper! John 15:26 (AMP) But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me. John 16:5-7 (NKJV) 5 "But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. Just who is the Holy Spirit? It s a big question- as big as God Himself! I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A 2
A. HE'S NOT ex. Some people think of the Holy Spirit as an impersonal force or power of God. This is why Jesus spoke of Him in the previous scriptures as the Helper, Comforter, etc. He wanted us to know that the Holy Spirit isn t an impersonal force but a very personal, Person. 1. As a person, He has a a. Knowing this will help us relate better to Him 2. Having a personality means He has a. There are a number of scriptures that point to this ex. We are cautioned not to grieve the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30 (NKJV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. The word grieve means literally to make sorry or sad ex. The Bible says the Holy Spirit can be insulted. Hebrews 10:29 (NKJV) Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? The Holy Spirit is a Person that has very real, very strong feelings B. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS 1. He s not just the of God; He is God! 2. The Holy Spirit has been called the forgotten member of the a. He isn t talked about as much as God the Father or God the Son 3
b. We need to get to know Him better because the better we know the Holy Spirit the better we know God 3. Throughout the Bible, the Trinity; the, the, and the are revealed together in the same verse John 14:16 (NKJV) And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- a. Jesus (the Son) says He will ask the Father and the Helper (the Holy Spirit) will come and stay with us forever Several verses later, there is a similar description John 14:26 (NKJV) 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 things that I said to you. b. The Father, Son, and Spirit- one, yet three- working together Matthew 28:19 (NKJV) 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, c. God is three distinct persons or personalities and we need to know all three! C. GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, LIVES INSIDE As we close this lesson we re going to take a look at 3 dimensions of the Holy Spirit Remember as we go through them that this is who lives in us; it will make a difference in how we see God, ourselves, and our circumstances They all begin with the prefix omni which is Latin for all 4
1. Because the Holy Spirit is God He is a. God is all knowing b. This means simply that God knows everything there is to know A more complete definition of omniscience is the attribute of God by which God perfectly and eternally knows all things which can be known, past, present, and future. c. The Holy Spirit in us has all knowledge about the past, present, and future The Helper living in us has perfect knowledge about everything that has to do with us He also has complete understanding about every circumstance of our life; past, present, and future, and how to help us deal with the effects of those circumstances 2. Because the Holy Spirit is God He is also a. This means He is all powerful Jeremiah 32:27 (NKJV) "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? Luke 1:37 (NLT) For nothing is impossible with God. Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, He is able to do; the God who lives in us has ultimate ability He s able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think; He has plans and purposes that are beyond what we can imagine! And all this is according to the power that works in us; the source of that all powerful nature that lives in us is the Holy Spirit! 3. Because the Holy Spirit is God He is also a. This means He is simultaneously everywhere 5
Psalm 139:7-10 (NKJV) 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. b. God s omnipresence means that He transcends space and time God isn t just everywhere at once; He is every when at once as well c. Because He stands outside of time, He not only sees our present moment and circumstances, He also sees our past and future The Holy Spirit in us means He is always there to help us deal with our past, He s here in our present circumstances, and He will be there in our future to help us with whatever comes our way PRAYER AND CONFESSION: Father, thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit. I believe, He lives in me and will abide with me forever. Thank You Jesus, for never leaving me alone. You sent the Holy Spirit to live in me and to help me in every area of my life. Thank You for His constant presence, in Jesus name, Amen. 6
FILL IN THE BLANKS FROM LESSON #1 I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A (PERSON) A. HE'S NOT (AN IT ) 1. As a person, He has a (personality) 2. Having a personality means He has (feelings) B. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS (GOD) 1. He s not just the (force or power) of God; He is God! 2. The Holy Spirit has been called the forgotten member of the (Trinity) 3. Throughout the Bible, the Trinity; the (Father), the (Son), and the (Holy Spirit) are revealed together in the same verse C. GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, LIVES INSIDE (EVERY BELIEVER) 1. Because the Holy Spirit is God He is (omniscient) 2. Because the Holy Spirit is God He is also (omnipotent) 3. Because the Holy Spirit is God He is also (omnipresent) 7