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INTRODUCTION
ILLUS: Christian Schwarz book: The Threefold Art of Experiencing God.
German author. Short, colorful, graphics - but very deep. 3 Emphasis of God. pages
14-15. We evangelicals talk mostly about Jesus. We don’t talk much about the
Holy Spirit - we don’t want to get carried away into emotionalism. I guess the
Pentecostals and Charismatic make us nervous so we swing to the extreme of ignoring
the H.S. - our loss... I have few books on the H.S, and a very thin file.
Read page 15. “Real reformation takes place whenever the segmentation of God
ceases... where our experience of God becomes whole.” (30)
We believe in the Trinity, let us experience the whole Trinity.
We spent two Sunday Mornings on God, then two on Jesus, to be an equal opportunity preacher
need to spend two Sunday mornings on Holy Spirit. To make up for not talking enough about the
Holy Spirit, also spend two Sunday nights. Again much to say. Preaching “Timely
Truths that Transform Us.”
We believe in THE HOLY SPIRIT: who is the Third Person of the Trinity, and the divine Agent in
nature, revelation and redemption; that He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness
and judgment; that He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals and anoints all who become
children of God through Christ; that He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies and
fills believers who daily surrender to Him. John 3:5; 14:16, 17, 26; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians
12:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18.
The Scripture today - John 14:15-17, 25-26 - gives three descriptive
names of this third person of the Trinity.
1. The Holy Spirit. v. 26
- “Spirit” pnuema which means dynamic movement of air. Same word
for pneumatic or pneumonia. To describe the Holy Spirit is like describing air. Unseen
but you see effects of it.
ILLUS: Wind blowing, a balloon, tire, feeling cold air or hot air.
- The Holy Spirit is invisible, intangible; yet understood by His effects: what He does
in our life - convicting, regenerating, filling, etc.
- “Holy” = adjective to the noun “Spirit.”
Clearly points to deity. God is Holy, the Spirit is Holy, the Spirit is God.
“Holy Spirit” - 93 x’s, 3 in OT.
- 1611 KJV John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the holy Ghost, whom the Father
wil send in my name, he shal teach you al things, & bring al things to your
remembrance, whatsoeuer I haue said vnto you.”
- The Holy Spirit is not an “it” or an “influence” or
“impersonal force” - “May the force be with you.” A Spook. But
a divine person, God in you and me a being without a body. Who can dynamically live in
our bodies.
- Romans 5:5 “because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
- As a divine being, the Bible reveals that the Holy Spirit has intelligence,
personality, power, feeling as He can be grieved, a will as He is seen giving gifts.
He is a He.
- Trinity: “Of the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit and unto the
Father.” (New Scofield, 1046)
- So first, Holy Spirit is an invisible person, who can powerfully move us.
2. The Helper/Counselor. Vs. 16, 26
- This name beautifully shows what the H.S. does for us - helps us, is our
“Counselor” NIV, NLT, and “Comforter” KJV.
- “paraclete” = para = along side of, “clete” to call.
“One who is called to another’s side to assist.” Legal term.
ILLUS: Camp legal documents - Mark Otto attorney and GuideOne’s Christine
Opfer. The other day came along side Dale to do his taxes, FAFSA
- The Helper is a very important person to know. A divine being comes along side us and
help us - bless us, make us better, give us eternal life. All the power of God can be
channeled by the Counselor to dynamically move our life:
Convict us, regenerate us, baptize us, intercedes, anoints, fills, seals,
indwells, gives gifts, gives fruit, teaches, assures us.
- The Helper’s power is both explosive and long lasting.
ILLUS: Gasoline: 10 gallons and light a match = explosion - hospital. Put in into
car - same power is harnessed under control, move you long ways 30 mpg - Omaha and
back.
- The Helper/Counselor/Comforter is like that. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit exploded,
but we today have long lasting power that we can tap into for life, worship, service,
and witness.
- Pentecost did not come and go. It came and stayed.
“When we rely on organization, we get what organization can do
When we rely on education, we get what education can do
When we rely on eloquence, we get what eloquence can do
When we rely on the Holy Spirit, we get what God can do.”
- The H. S. as our Helper, Counselor:
v. 16 “with you forever” No leaving/withdrawal date
- Whenever you are alone or feel alone, or in distress or under stress, the Helper is
with us, not to watch us, but to work in us. What a comfort!!!!
3. The Spirit of Truth v. 17
- We live in a world searching for truth. Filled with opinions, ideas, suggestions,
perspectives, recommendations, choices. So many sound nice but are not the truth. What
is truth? How can we know truth?
- Literally “Spirit of the truth” - Truth and nothing but the truth
- Truth is what God says about something. Must believed as fact, for it is reality. The
Holy Spirit is a divine teacher of The Truth. He uses the written Word of God, to
reveal to us the Living Word of God - Jesus.
- R.A. Torrey: “God’s work is accomplished…by the Spirit through the Word.
The secret to effectual living is knowing the power of the Spirit through the Word.
The secret of effectual service is using the Word in the power of the Spirit. There
are some who seek to magnify the Spirit but neglect the Word. This will not do at all.
Fanaticism, baseless enthusiasm, wild fire are the result. Others seek to magnify the
Word, but largely ignore the Spirit. Neither will this do. It leads to dead orthodoxy,
truth without life and power...If you wish yourself to know Jesus with a true and
living knowledge, seek the witness of the Spirit through the Word...The Holy Spirit
has the power to reveal Jesus and His glory to man.” (Fullness, 43-45)
- We can know the truth v. 26. Everything we need to know
about Jesus, the Spirit of truth, the Helper/Comforter, the Holy Spirit will teach us.
ILLUS: Explains how many people can read the Bible and not get anything out it.
How many people know facts of who Jesus is, but remain unaffected. Many people
seem so far from God - pray that H.S. will get a hold of them.
- Two sad characteristics of the H.S:
- He can be “grieved Eph. 4:30” sin grieves H.S.,
- “quenched 1 Thess. 5:19” unwilling to let Spirit have His
way.
- When the “Spirit of truth” is working in you - listen and obey...
- Don’t forget to see v. 17 “abides with you and will be in you.”
- indwells in our life, intimate. Like internal organs keep us physically alive,
internal H.S. keeps us spiritually alive.
- Are you living in power of H.S?
CONCLUSION
ILLUS: There is a little bit of holiness in my background: Wesleyan, Alliance. Jeannette -
Alliance, parents Nazarene. I have heard the emphasis on the H.S.- the power, the anointing.
But a few books by holiness preachers: A.W. Tozer, R.A. Torrey, A.B. Simpson. Some days I sure
desire that fire.
Tonight “The Spirit Filled Life.” A.W. Tozer: “The Spirit-filled life is not
a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for
His people.” (Best, 208) Spirit filled life should be normal. Is the Spirit’s
moving in your life a normal part of your life? Last night while computer had a mind to
evaluate itself for 20 minutes - I read a chapter from A.W. Tozer...Good.
“Timely Truths that Transform Us” Does the Holy Spirit
transform you?
2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the
glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from
the Lord, the Spirit.” Are you being transformed?
Christian: Has the Spirit working in you like dynamic movement of air - powerful and life
changing? Are you aware you are not alone?
Seeker: Is the Spirit convicting you to repent and come to Christ? Obey!
Church Family: It has been said that the church is so busy, so program focus, the Holy Spirit
could leave and nothing would change - we won’t know the difference. Is that true of us?
Do we absolutely depend on H.S.?
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