Who is the Holy Spirit?
Sermon Notes
The Holy Spirit is our Helper!
You’re Never Alone As You Fight the Good Fight Of Faith!
KEY PASSAGE
John 16:1-7 ESV… I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going 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 go, I will send him to you.
TO UNDERSTAND THE HOLY SPIRIT WE MUST TALK ABOUT THE TRINITY
Definition of the Trinity… Within the one Being that is God, there exists eternally three coequal and coeternal persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Christian are “monotheistic”... we believe in only one God.
RC Sproul said, “It boggles the mind to think of a being who is absolutely one in His essence yet three in person.”
A key characteristic of the New Covenant is the indwelling Holy Spirit…. Ezk. 36:26; Ps. 51:11
Famed theologian JI Packer called the Holy Spirit, “The shy member of the Trinity.”
Jesus said it was to everyone’s advantage that he leave… and the Holy Spirit arrive…John 16:1-7
Jesus had spoken to the disciples several times about the coming “Helper”... John 14:15-17; 25-26 15:26.
THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
Who would care for the disciples now that Jesus had faithfully fulfilled his assignment and was returning to the Father? John 17:4
Another issue was that Jesus had foretold tremendous growth for the Kingdom of God… Mt. 13:31-32
Enter the Holy Spirit! The Spirit would continue the work the Son had begun!
The Holy Spirit would be able to minister in ways the “incarnate Christ” simply couldn’t.
WE ALL NEED “HELP” TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH!
We are all called to “fight the good fight of the faith”... 1 Tim. 6:11-12
We are in a war… Just look at the times in which we are living!
Greater is he that is in us than he who is in the world… 1 John 4:4
Lean into the one who indewells your heart!
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
What misconceptions do people have about the Trinity?
What misconceptions do people have about the Holy Spirit?
Why was it to everyone’s advantage that Jesus depart and the Holy Spirit arrive?
In what ways is the Holy Spirit a “Helper” to believers?