THE ESSENTIALS The Holy Spirit Key Doctrines for Starting and Finishing Strong LESSON 3 Part 1 The Holy Spirit is not merely a quality to be found in a divine nature. He is not simply an influence or power from God. He is not the working of God s power in sanctification. He is a holy, intelligent person..john OWEN, The Holy Spirit, p.8 MAIN POINT IN THIS LESSON: The Personhood of the Holy Spirit What Attributes and Actions Prove His Personality?
Are the following statements true or false? (circle one) The Holy Spirit is an influence not a personal being. T F The Holy Spirit is not equal to God, but is close to God.. T F The Holy Spirit s primary work is to help believers live a victorious life. T F Be on the lookout for the answers to these questions as we study the Word of God. The Personhood of the Holy Spirit One of the most fundamental truths concerning the Holy Spirit is that of personality. Personality can be described as that which possesses intellect, emotions, and will. A. Read the following verses and reflect on which aspect of personality is attributed to the Holy Spirit. 1. Romans 8:27: (See also 1 Corinthians 2:10-11) 2. Ephesians 4:30: 3. 1 Corinthians 12:11: B. Actions that cannot be attributed to a mere thing or influence are attributed to the Holy Spirit. What actions does the Holy Spirit do, proving His personhood? 1. John 14:26: 2. John 15:26: 3. Romans 8:14: 4. John 16:7-8: 5. Genesis 6:3: 6. Acts 8:29: 7. Acts 8:39: 8. Acts 13:2: 9. Acts 13:4:
10. Romans 8:26: C. There are certain acts that are performed to the Holy Spirit that prove His personhood. 1. According to Acts 10:19-21a, what did Peter do in response to the Holy Spirit s direction? 2. According to Acts 5:3, what did Ananias do to the Holy Spirit? 3. What did Stephen accuse the Council of doing? (Read Acts 7:51) 4. What sin did Jesus say was unpardonable? (Read Matthew 12:31) 5. When a person continues to sin willfully, what else is he/she doing to the Holy Spirit? (Read Hebrews 10:29) Since the Holy Spirit is a person and not a thing, force, or influence, then our dealings with Him are on a personto-person basis. Charles Ryrie Illustrated: When you were a newborn baby you had someone to feed you and care for you. Although your awareness of them at the time was faint, you had a relationship with them. As you grew you became more aware of that relationship and eventually it grew into more of a two-way relationship. For Christians, it is the same way with the Holy Spirit. As new babes in Christ we receive the Holy Spirit, but our awareness of Him in our lives is low. As we grow in grace and knowledge our awareness of that person-to-person relationship grows as well. However, unlike our human relationships, the Holy Spirit s dealings with us are always perfect and just, while our dealings with Him may sometimes be uneven or even grievous.
Closing: Application questions: Being a Doer of the Word 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching [what is right], for reproof [what is not right], for correction [how to get right], for training in righteousness [how to stay right]; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 1. What did I learn ( teaching )? 2. Where do I fall short ( reproof )? 3. What do I need to do about it ( correction )? 4. How can I make this a consistent part of my life ( training )?
Answer Key: Are the following statements true or false? F F T The Personhood of the Holy Spirit A. 1. intellect 2. emotions 3. will B. 1. teaches 2. testifies 3. leads 4. convicts 5. strives 6. speaks 7. snatches 8. selects 9. sends out; commissions 10. helps and intercedes C. 1. obeyed Him 2. lied to Him 3. resisting the Holy Spirit 4. blasphemy against the Holy Spirit 5. insulting Him
Holy Habits Weekly Devotion This week s memory verse: Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 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. This week s holy habit: Obedience Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is. George Mueller We have a perfect example of faithful obedience unto death in Jesus Christ. God s gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to develop and maintain this holy habit of obedience, so we can be more like Christ. While the Holy Spirit acts upon us, it is our duty to be obedient to His prompting. DAY 1 Read Proverbs 18:8. Are you continuing to practice a particular sin that you view as not too bad or minor? What can you do today to address those thoughts and actions? DAY 2 Read Ephesians 3:16-19. Examine where you are at in your life right now and pray according to the model provided in these verses. DAY 3 Read Matthew 5:38-39. In our homes, schools, worksites, and communities, we are certain to encounter individuals who will intentionally/unintentionally insult, disrespect, or cause injury to us. Right this moment you may be harboring ill feelings towards someone who has committed an offense in the past. As the opportunity arises, practice acting in kindness towards them and/or praying for those individuals instead of retaliating or dwelling on their offenses. DAY 4 Read Ephesians 4:24. Review this lesson. What are some ways that you can cooperate with the Holy Spirit s work in your life? DAY 5 Read Acts 7:51. Stephen accused the Jewish leaders of being stiff-necked and resisting the Holy Spirit. How can you address your own stubbornness?
February 24, 2017 The Church at South Mountain You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by The Church at South Mountain. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: The Church at South Mountain. Website: casm.org While all reasonable attempts have been taken to trace the literary and biblical sources used by the author, due to the nature of some of the original materials (old audio/radio or live preaching events), some have been impossible to locate. Any information regarding the origin of any unreferenced statements or quotations is welcomed and will be included in the next revision of the study.