This
page provides notes for anyone, Christian or non-Christian who wishes
to look up for themselves what the Bible teaches about the person of
God, in the form of His Holy Spirit
In
considering the subject of the Holy Spirit, we have sought to maintain
an overall perspective and we have not therefore focussed on particular
areas of His activity. The Charismatic movement focussed largely on
gifts and power but we have sought to paint a broader picture than that
to enable us to have as wide a perspective as possible.
1.
In the Old Testament
Heb "ruach" also means "breath"
"ruach adonai" = the Spirit of the Lord
1.1
Powerful Coming:
- when
He comes upon people there is a powerful change in them:
- Judges
3:10 (Othniel to lead Israel )
- 6:34
(Gideon to deal with enemy)
- 11:29
(Jephthah to deal with enemy)
- 14:6,19,
15:14 (Samson for strength to deal with enemy)
- and
also Ezek 2:2, 3:12 , 37:1 (Ezekiel lifted up).
1.2
Prophetic Releasing
•
He often enabled people to prophesy
•
e.g. 1 Sam 10:6,10 (Saul), 2 Sam 23:2 (David)
1.3
Creative Ability
In
a similar way He gave special abilities to do things and achieve God's
purposes
e.g. Exo 31:3 (Bezalel
to lead making of Tabernacle)
1.4
Preparing for Leadership
- In
addition to what we have seen above He prepares for kingship
- Saul
-1 Sam 10:1,6
- David
-1 Sam 16:13
1.5
Calling of the Servant Messiah
- Isa
11:2 - The Spirit will rest on him
- Isa
42:1 - I will put my Spirit on him
- Isa
61:1 - The Spirit…. is upon me
1.6
Promise of the New Covenant
- Isa
36:27 - I will put my Spirit in you
- Jer
31:33 - I will put my law…. on their hearts
- Joel
2:28 - I will pour out my Spirit on all people
Note,
in the OT, the Spirit only:
-
came upon certain individuals
-
appeared to work for a while in them
-
worked to educate & capacitate for service
i.e.
He appears not so much as a person but more as simply God's personal
presence and intervention
2.
In Relation to Jesus
2.1
He is seen as a Person:
- Jn
14:26 – He will teach you
- also
Jn 14:17 , 15:26 , 16:7, 16:13 - he !
2.2
He is the Third Person of the Trinity
- Mt
3:16,17 - Father, Son & Spirit expressed
- Mt
28:19 - baptising them in the name of. ..
- 2Cor
13:14 - grace of Jesus, love of God, fellowship of the Holy Spirit
2.3
He is ONE with the Father and the Son
- Rom
8:9 - Spirit of God = Spirit of Christ
- Gal
4:6 - Spirit of his Son
- 1
Pet 1:11 - the Spirit of Christ within them
2.4
His Work is often seen as Distinct from the Son
- Father
is glorified by the Son -Jn 17:1, 5:30
- Son
is glorified by the Spirit - Jn 15:26, 16:14
- Son
intercedes from heaven for us - Rom 8:34 , Heb 7:25
- Spirit
intercedes from within us on earth - Rom 8:26
2.5
He often went ahead of the Son
- Jesus
was conceived by the Spirit - Mt 1:20, Lk 1:35
- He
had Jesus acclaimed - Lk 1:41 ,42 ( Elizabeth ), 1:67- (Zechariah)
- He
came upon the Son at baptism - Lk 3:22
- He
led Jesus into battle in the wilderness - Mt 4:1
2.6
He Continues Jesus' Work
- His
work is seen as a continuation of the Son's on earth
- Jn
16:7, Acts 1:8
- Jesus
sends Him
- Jesus
baptises in Him
- He
will teach - Jn 14:26
- He's
the spirit of truth -Jn 14:17, 15:26
- He
testifies about Jesus - Jn 15:26
- He
convicts - Jn 16:8
i.e.
he continues doing the same things as Jesus. Why not do a study in Acts
to see His ongoing activity there, continuing Jesus' work.
3.
His Work
3.1
He Draws to Jesus
- as
the Spirit of truth - Jn 15:26
- He
seeks to glorify Jesus – Jn 16:14
- He
witnesses to Jesus -Jn 15:26
- He
convicts of the sin of unbelief - Jn 16:8,9
- He
puts words in the mouths of God's servants -Mt 10:20 –
- He
brings power to the word -1 Thess 1:5
3.2
He Dispenses Life
-
He renews people -Tit 3:5
-
He brings life -Jn 6:63, 2 Cor 3:6 -He sets us free -2 Cor 3:17
-
He enables us to be sons of God -Rom 8:14
-
He comes to dwell within -Jn 7:39 , 1 Cor 3:16 , 6:19
-
He makes us into one body -1 Cor 12:13
3.3
Particular Work Parallelling Christ's
- We
are justified in Christ -Gal 2:17 - and by the Spirit -1 Cor 6:11
- We
have peace in Christ -Phil 4:7 - and by the Holy Spirit -Rom 14:17
- We
are sanctified in Christ -1 Cor 1:2 - and by the Holy Spirit – Rom
15:16
- We
are sealed in Christ -Eph 1:13 - and in the Spirit - Eph 4:30
- We
are indwelt by Christ -Gal 2:20 - and by the Spirit - Rom 8:9
In
these things we have a reality brought about by the death and resurrection
of Christ that is now able to be experienced by the Holy Spirit.
3.4
His Educating Work
- He
glorifies Jesus by making him known - Jn 16:14
- He
leads us along the way - Gal 5:25, Rom 8:14
- He
separates us (sanctifies) - 1 Pet 1:2
- He
brings comfort through the truth - Jn 14:16,17
- He
confirms to us our sonship - Rom 8:16
3.5
He Equips for Service
- He
apportions gifts as he will - 1 Cor 12:7-
- He
appoints for service - Acts 13:4- Barnabas & Saul sent
by HS
- He
guides in service - Acts 16:6,7- Paul kept from preaching Asia
- He
appoints overseers(elders) - Acts 20:28
- He
appoints roles for men - 1 Cor 12:28-
- He
inspires praying - Jude 20, Eph 6:18 , Rom 8:26
- He
enables speaking for witness - Mt 10:20, 1 Pet 1:12
- He
empowers the words -1 Cor 2:4, Rom 15:19 , 1 Thess 1:5
- He
encourages by His presence in opposition -1 Pet 4:14
- He
is the "power from on high" - Lk 24:49, Acts 1:8 - who brings forth
fruit in us -Gal 5:22-
3.6
He is our Hope for the Future
In
the present He is:
- the
"seal" of our present salvation - Eph 1:13, 4:30
Which
means He brings hope for our future, i.e.:
- A
deposit guaranteeing our inheritance on earth - Eph 1:14, 2 Cor 5:5
- He
is the first fruits of our eternal future - Rom 8:23
- He
has made us sons - Rom 8:14
- and
we are therefore heirs of Christ's glory - Rom 8:17
NB.
In these studies on the Holy Spirit we have purposely avoided the subject
of the "baptism" or "filling" with the Holy Spirit in order to focus
far more widely on His person and overall activity. Neither have we
focussed on specific gifts or fruits which, again, are only part of
His activity.