When modern day Christians recite the Apostle’s Creed, they seldom are aware of the meaning of the statement that they believe in the Holy Spirit. They are, therefore, in the same condition as the individuals at Ephesus who had not even heard of the Holy Spirit.

It is amazing that we can come into the Christian life, be empowered by the Holy Spirit and still not know who is in us, who makes us seek the Word, who helps us pray and who fills us with love, joy and peace. It is remarkable that we often must search for weeks and months before we discover that it is Christ who lives within us. What a discovery it is, too, for it opens us up to a new understanding of the thing that sets us apart from those in the world who believe that they have truth!

Non-Christians have to work to live their beliefs, but not us! For Christ lives within us, and it is by His power that we live. We know that we have His power and can trust Him to help us do His will. We know that it is by faith alone that we live (Rom. 3:22), and it is our faith that sets us free. The cornerstone of our belief is faith. A faith that knows that Christ died for our sins, that he was buried and raised on the third day, and that he subsequently appeared and spoke to over 500 witnesses who verified His resurrection ( I Cor. 15:1-11). This is what we believe. This is what has set us free for it was all foretold by the prophets. He is our Messiah. He is the Son of God.

But it is not just faith that helps us know that we belong to him for further documenting this reality of Christ in us is the joining of His Spirit to ours to declare that we are God’s children (Rom. 8:16).

The Holy Spirit is then He that energizes Christians to begin the work of becoming new persons that we aspire to be (Acts 1:8, II Cor. 5:17).

Knowing that we have the power of the Spirit, how do we go about utilizing the power He gives us? What conditions have been imposed on us? What must we do? In the remainder of this presentation, I shall endeavor to tell you about the Holy Spirit.

I. Who is the Holy Spirit?

        A. God the Father’s Spirit

        John 14: 6 -- I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, etc.

        John 14:9 -- Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

        John 14:23 -- My father and I will come and live with him.

        John 16:27 -- The helper will come; the Spirit of Truth, who comes from the Father and he will speak about me.

        Matthew 3:16 -- The Spirit of God descended on Jesus.

        B. God the Son’s Spirit

        John 14:23 -- My Father and I will come, etc.

        John 14:28 -- I will not leave you alone. I will come back to you. In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me and because I live you also will live. When that day comes, you will know that I am in my Father and you are in me, just as I am in you.

        C. God the Holy Spirit

        John 14:16 -- I will ask the father and He will send another helper. The spirit of truth to stay with you forever.

        D. He is the same as God and Jesus

        Matthew 3:16, Luke 4:18

        Romans 8:9     This is a good summary of their sameness.

        Phil. 1:19         The Holy Spirit is the spirit of Christ.

        Emphasis: The Holy Spirit is not a separate person. He is not someone to be sought in another experience, but is there all the time from conversion on.

    II. What does The Holy Spirit do?

        A. He reveals

            1. The sufficiency of Christ (John 15:16)

            The possibility of righteousness (John 16:4)

            2. The certainty of truth

            Satan has been judged (John 16:11)

            3. The sinfulness of sin (John 16:8)

            Unbelief in Christ

        B. He sets us free of the law (Romans 8:2)

        Emancipation of slaves to sin (Romans 7:24,25)

        C. He sanctifies us (II Thess. 2:13)

            1. The meaning of sanctification that is most important to the Christian is that He assures us that we are cleansed of moral corruption. In addition He

            2. Gives us the gifts, especially the gift of healing (1 Cor. 12:4)

            3. Knows us completely (2 Cor. 5:11, TEV)

            4. Reveals our unconfessed sins to us (Acts 1:24)

            5. Gives us insight into the sins of others

            6. Makes us conscious of our wrong behavior (John 16:8)

            7. Reveals to us the wrong behavior of others

            8. Gives us the power to love those who are lost or who are suffering, to suffer with them, to bear their burdens, and to comfort them

            9. Helps us to respond to the love and comfort proffered us by Christians

            10. Teaches us right living by illuminating the Bible and then empowers us to live by its instruction (2 Tim:3:16)

            These activities of the Holy Spirit conform us to Christ’s image.

        D. He reveals Christ to us (John 16:14, John 15:26)

            1. In the Scriptures

            2. In the heart

            3. In others

        E. He administers the church

            1. Selects leaders (Acts 15:28)

            2. Bestows gifts (I Cor. 12:8, 12:28)

            3. Guides worship (Phil. 3:3)

        F. He executes the Great Commission (Acts 1:8, 13:2)

            1. Selects missionaries

            2. Endues them with power

        G. He witnesses

            1. Gives us words (John 15:27)

            2. Bears fruit (John 15:16)

            3. Reveals Christ to us (John 10:14)

        H. He prays for us (Rm. 8:26-27)

    III. He give us gifts!

        A. Given to individuals (I Cor. 12:7-11)

            1. Wisdom

            2. Knowledge

            3. Faith

            4. Power to heal

            5. Power to work miracles

            6. Prophecy

            7. Discernment

            8. Tongues

            9. Interpretation

    IV. He provides gifted men for the church! (Eph. 4:11-12)

        A. Apostles

        B. Prophets

        C. Evangelists

        D. Pastors

        E. Teachers

    V. He causes us to bear fruit. Fruit issues from within and is a product of life (Gal. 5:22-23)

        A. Love

        B. Joy

        C. Peace

        D. Patience

        E. Kindness

        F. Goodness

        G. Faithfulness

        H. Gentleness

        I. Self control

    VI. The person and work of the Holy Spirit are essential to life in the church. Without his presence the church is no more than a social organization or a country club. He has to be welcome!