Messages on the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit
by Pastor John Khng
Scripture Reading: John 14:16-17; 26, 15:26, 16:7-15
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you
Introduction:
A pastor announced that he would be preaching on “The Most Neglected Person in the Church” – Guess who is he going to preach on? Someone here may think I am the most neglected person in the church.
How much do you know about the Holy Spirit?
I. The Holy Spirit is a Person.
The Holy Spirit is not a form of energy, a power, an influence or a force. The Holy Spirit is a Person. Is the HOLY SPIRIT an "it" or a "He"?
“another Comforter” – Jn 14:16
Jesus sent "another comforter": ("allos parakletos") Jn 14:16 Greek "allos" another of the same kind. Even if you reject that Jesus is God, another of the same kind as Jesus must be a person!
Comforter, helper, advocate: "parakletos"
The word means, "lit., called to one’s side, i.e., to one’s aid, is primarily a verbal adjective, and suggests the capability or adaptability for giving aid. It was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defence, an advocate; then, generally, one who pleads another’s cause, an intercessor, advocate" (Comforter, W. E. Vine) For such a word to be applied to the Holy Spirit demands he is a person. Otherwise it is like taking your "lap top computer" into court instead of your lawyer.
+ The Comforter – The Holy Spirit
+ The Comfort – Calvary Cross, The Bible, The Comfort of the Spirit
+ The Comforted – those who are comforted are Christians - Have you experienced the comfort of the Holy Spirit?
IIIb: The Holy Spirit is Our Teacher – John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; 1 John 2:27
“And, beloved, no man ever learns anything aright, unless he is taught of the Spirit.” – Spurgeon
“I will send you another teacher.” Jesus Christ had been the official teacher of his saints whilst on earth. They called no man Rabbi except Christ. They sat at no men’s feet to learn their doctrines; but they had them direct from the lips of him who “spake as never man spake.” “And now,” says he, “when I am gone, where shall you find the great infallible teacher? Shall I set you up a pope at Rome, to whom you shall go, and who shall be your infallible oracle? Shall I give you the councils of the church to be held to decide all knotty points?” Christ said no such thing. “I am the infallible paraclete, or teacher, and when I am gone, I will send you another teacher, and he shall be the person who is to explain Scripture; he shall be the authoritative oracle of God, who shall make all dark things light, who shall unravel mysteries, who shall untwist all knots of revelation, and shall make you understand what you could not discover, had it not been for his influence.” And, beloved, no man ever learns anything aright, unless he is taught of the Spirit. You may learn election, and you may know it so that you shall be damned by it, if you are not taught of the Holy Ghost; for I have known some who have learned election to their soul’s destruction; they have learned it so that they said they were of the elect, whereas, they had no marks, no evidences, and no works of the Holy Ghost in their souls.
IIIc. The Holy Spirit is Our Advocate – John 16:7 – 11; 1 John 2:1
As we have seen the word "parakletos" can be translated as advocate. The only other time this word is used is in 1 John 2:1 where it is applied to Christ. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” An Advocate is:
Christ as the Advocate pleads the believer's cause with the Father against the accuser Satan.The Holy Spirit (Parakletos) as the Advocate pleads the believer's cause against the world (John 16:8ff) and also Christ's cause with the believer (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:14).
I. The Holy Spirit is a Person.
II. The Holy Spirit is God.
III. The Holy Spirit is Our Comforter; Teacher and Advocate.
Scripture Reading: John 14:16-17; 26, 15:26, 16:7-15
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you
Introduction:
A pastor announced that he would be preaching on “The Most Neglected Person in the Church” – Guess who is he going to preach on? Someone here may think I am the most neglected person in the church.
How much do you know about the Holy Spirit?
I. The Holy Spirit is a Person.
The Holy Spirit is not a form of energy, a power, an influence or a force. The Holy Spirit is a Person. Is the HOLY SPIRIT an "it" or a "He"?
- The pronoun “He” is used for the Holy Spirit.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Reason for translating “itself” – Gk pneuma is neuter in gender.
The masculine pronoun “He” is also used many times in reference to the Holy Spirit despite of the neuter gender – see John 14:26, 15:26, 16:8, 13 -15. - Definition of a Person – One who has a Mind (intelligence), Will and Emotion
A) Mind - Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
B) Will - 1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
C) Emotion - Eph 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. – cannot grieve a force, an influence but a person.
Since the Holy Spirit is a Person, we need to Get to know the Holy Spirit.
- He is eternal just Like God the Father and God the Son - Heb 9:14, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
- He is Omnipresent - Psa 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Psa 139:10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. - He is all knowing - 1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
- He is specifically called “God” – Acts 5:4
Act 5:4 While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Sin of lying – can be a serious sin – eg of lying to God
Eg of consequences – taxi driver’s lie about spotting Ma Selamat – ST article - He is placed on equal standing to God, the Father and God the Son – Mt 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
The Baptism formula - Mat 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
The Benediction formula - 2Co 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."
“another Comforter” – Jn 14:16
Jesus sent "another comforter": ("allos parakletos") Jn 14:16 Greek "allos" another of the same kind. Even if you reject that Jesus is God, another of the same kind as Jesus must be a person!
Comforter, helper, advocate: "parakletos"
The word means, "lit., called to one’s side, i.e., to one’s aid, is primarily a verbal adjective, and suggests the capability or adaptability for giving aid. It was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defence, an advocate; then, generally, one who pleads another’s cause, an intercessor, advocate" (Comforter, W. E. Vine) For such a word to be applied to the Holy Spirit demands he is a person. Otherwise it is like taking your "lap top computer" into court instead of your lawyer.
- God the Holy Ghost is a very loving Comforter. - I am in distress, a stranger came and comfort me vs I am in distress and someone (your wife, husband, son or daughter, friend) who loves me came to comfort me. A stranger’s words may not brings so much comfort as the words of one loved one to us. Just as Christ loves us, the Holy Spirit also loves us.
- He is a faithful Comforter. – unfailing – always with us – “abides with you forever” – Jn. 14:16; Walks alongside with us as well as lives in us - Jn. 14:17
- He is an unwearied Comforter - Want to comfort others but we are tired. Visitation – tired to do or too busy to do
- He is wise Comforter.- knows how to comfort us
- He is a safe Comforter. – will not hurt us; safe, will not say the wrong words, gives the wrong advice, or makes things worse for us.
- He is an active Comforter – initiate the comfort; not passively watching us suffer.
+ The Comforter – The Holy Spirit
+ The Comfort – Calvary Cross, The Bible, The Comfort of the Spirit
+ The Comforted – those who are comforted are Christians - Have you experienced the comfort of the Holy Spirit?
IIIb: The Holy Spirit is Our Teacher – John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; 1 John 2:27
“And, beloved, no man ever learns anything aright, unless he is taught of the Spirit.” – Spurgeon
“I will send you another teacher.” Jesus Christ had been the official teacher of his saints whilst on earth. They called no man Rabbi except Christ. They sat at no men’s feet to learn their doctrines; but they had them direct from the lips of him who “spake as never man spake.” “And now,” says he, “when I am gone, where shall you find the great infallible teacher? Shall I set you up a pope at Rome, to whom you shall go, and who shall be your infallible oracle? Shall I give you the councils of the church to be held to decide all knotty points?” Christ said no such thing. “I am the infallible paraclete, or teacher, and when I am gone, I will send you another teacher, and he shall be the person who is to explain Scripture; he shall be the authoritative oracle of God, who shall make all dark things light, who shall unravel mysteries, who shall untwist all knots of revelation, and shall make you understand what you could not discover, had it not been for his influence.” And, beloved, no man ever learns anything aright, unless he is taught of the Spirit. You may learn election, and you may know it so that you shall be damned by it, if you are not taught of the Holy Ghost; for I have known some who have learned election to their soul’s destruction; they have learned it so that they said they were of the elect, whereas, they had no marks, no evidences, and no works of the Holy Ghost in their souls.
IIIc. The Holy Spirit is Our Advocate – John 16:7 – 11; 1 John 2:1
As we have seen the word "parakletos" can be translated as advocate. The only other time this word is used is in 1 John 2:1 where it is applied to Christ. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” An Advocate is:
- a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.
- a person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law.
Christ as the Advocate pleads the believer's cause with the Father against the accuser Satan.The Holy Spirit (Parakletos) as the Advocate pleads the believer's cause against the world (John 16:8ff) and also Christ's cause with the believer (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:14).
- A. He reproves us - “He is an advocate on earth to plead against wrong doers/ sinners / the enemies of the cross.”
Pleads with man before God – Holy Spirit pleading through us – convicting man of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.
When we witness or share the gospel, the Holy Spirit is pleading with the sinner through us, convicting them through us, and this is the reason for our boldness in declaring God’s truth. John 16:7-11 - B. He makes intercession for us – Rom. 8:26
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
I. The Holy Spirit is a Person.
II. The Holy Spirit is God.
III. The Holy Spirit is Our Comforter; Teacher and Advocate.
© Copyright 2016 Mount Calvary Baptist Church. All Rights Reserved.
