## Article III: Of the Holy Spirit

## John 14:16

In our continuing series on what we believe and why we believe it we now come to Article III of our articles of faith. Concerning what we believe about the Holy Spirit.

Read: Article III

We have in the past months and years dealt extensively with the Charismatic Movement, speaking in tongues, and spiritual gifts. We will not be re- teaching these areas. Tonight we want to look at the Holy Spirit and His mission on earth.

John 14:16, "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;"

As Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure He knew that they would sorrow and grieve over what would take place. So Jesus gave them words of comfort and the promise of another who would comfort and abide with them forever. cf. v17

I. Who is the Holy Spirit?

A. The Holy Spirit is a person.

1. Jesus did not promise an impersonal entity an "it".

2. Jesus said, "...seeth Him... knoweth Him...ye know Him...for He dwelleth in you."

3. When we baptize in accordance with Matthew 28:19, it is in the NAME of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. cf. Mt. 28:19

4. He posesses personal character -istics: He speaks, convinces, commands, guides, creates, sanctifies, intercedes, inspires, etc.

5. He responds to personal treatment: He is resisted, grieved, blasphemed, tempted, and lied to.

B. The Holy Spirit is God. (The third person of the Trinity)

1. He shown to be God by the four Divine attributes which are ascribed to Him:

a. Omnipotence: cf. Luke 1:35

b. Omnipresence: Ps. 139:7-10

c. Omniscience: 1Co. 2:10-11

d. Eternal: cf. Hebrews 9:14

2. He is shown to be God by the Divine works which are ascribed to Him.

a. Only God can create. "The Spirit of God hath made me..." cf. Job 33:4a

b. Only God can impart life. When Adam received the "breath of life" he became a living soul. cf. Ge. 2:7

c. Only God can resurrect the dead. "he...shall quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." cf. Romans 8:11

3. He is shown to be God by the Scriptures that declare Him to be. In Acts 5:3-4 Peter said Annanias had lied to the Holy Ghost in verse 3, lied unto God in verse 4.

II. What is His mission on earth?

A. In relation to the unsaved.

1. He restrains the power of Satan on earth.

a. Note: 2 Thess. 2:3-12

b. There is a Withholder or Restrainer which must be removed before the wicked anti-Christ will be revealed.

c. When He (v7) is removed the world will be controlled by sin as it never has been before.

d. Anti-Christ will come in the power of Satan to decieve and destroy.

2. He reproves the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. cf. John 16:8-11

3. Without the convicting and reproving work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the sinner he would not be able to recognize his real spiritual need. cf. 2 Co. 4:3-4

B. In relation to the believer.

1. He regenerates us. cf Tit. 3:5

2. He indwells us. cf. 1 Co. 6:19

3. He seals (preserves) us. cf. Eph. 4:30

4. He empowers us. "...greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." cf. 1Jn. 4:4b

5. He will guide us into all truth. cf. Jn. 16:13

6. He comforts us like no other.

C. In relation to the Scriptures.

1. He authored them.

a. "All Scripture is given by inspiration..." 2 Ti. 3:16

b. "...Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2Pe. 1:21

2. He interprets them.

a. "...No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." 2 Pe. 1:20

b. We cannot presume to under- stand God's Word without the help of the Holy Spirit.

c. Note: 1 Co. 2:9-14

Conclusion: The Holy Spirit is a person. Do you really and truly know Him tonight? Does He have an influence in your life? He is not a power for us to use, but rather He is a power to use us. If you are born again, then the Spirit of God dwells within you. We cannot get more of Him, but we can yield more of ourselves to Him. We are commanded in Scripture to be filled with the Spirit, not to grieve or quench the Spirit, but to walk in the Spirit. Are we obedient to these commands this evening?