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The Pillar of The Holy Spirit- John Eldridge - 7/13/008

WHAT, OR WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Influence, force - Then “IT” IS A “WHAT”?
Person with whom to have a relationship – Then He is a “WHO”?

CAN WE HAVE A REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?

John 10:27-30 “My sheep hear my voice and….”

John 14:15-18 “If you love me, obey my commandments and…”

QUESTIONS TO TALK ABOUT TODAY:

1. WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
2. WHERE & HOW DOES HE FIT INTO AN UNDERSTANDING OF GOD?
3. WHAT SHOULD MY RELATIONSHIP BE WITH HIM?
4. HAVE I RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT SCRIPTURALLY?
5. IS IT ENOUGH TO HAVE HIM “WITH” ME OR SHOULD HE BE “IN ME?

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

1. HOLY SPIRIT or HOLY GHOST, SPIRIT OF GOD, SPIRIT OF TRUTH, SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS, THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, THE ETERNAL SPIRIT.

WHERE & HOW DOES HE FIT IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
(There is a tendency to separate the Godhead. I don’t mean to do this.)
“Our God is ONE God” but that is not speaking of the numeral but of the unity that exists in
the Godhead.

Who is the Holy Spirit?
Answer: He is God the Holy Spirit. The 3rd Person in the Godhead. He is the “Immanuel”, the “God with us” now just as Jesus was “Immanuel, God with us” when He was in human form on the Earth.

WHAT IS HIS PLACE OR WORK IN THE GODHEAD?

WHAT GOD REQUIRES, JESUS SUPPLIES & THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES

They live & work and ONE. Many times when Jesus speaks of “My Father” He is speaking
specifically about the Holy Spirit. In scripture, one passage attributes something to “God” but in
another, to Jesus.
1. Genesis 1:1 - Holy Spirit first implied (as well as Jesus) (GOD = Elohim = Gods)

2. Genesis 1:2- “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters “Gen.1:2 “And God
said….” (the Spirit and the Word working together to create). HOWEVER: John,
Colossians, Hebrews state that Jesus was the Creator.

3. Genesis 1:26 (implied) “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…
Genesis 3:22 “And the Lord God said, ‘Behold the man is become as one of us, to know
good and evil…” Genesis 11:7 (tower of Babel) “Let us go down and there confound their
language….”]

4. Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul. (Wind, breath, spirit – all
same word in Hebrew & Greek) Adam & His Creator had a relationship: They walked and
talked together. (Have you ever considered that there were THREE PLUS ADAM)
JOHN THE BAPTIST experienced this.

**** (This relationship with all three is re-established by Jesus as the SECOND MAN of a new generation of men &women after the Day of Pentecost. We will see this in JOHN 14)

5. Genesis 41:38 – (Joseph) “can we find a man in whom the Spirit of God is? (Pharaoh).

6. Exodus 28:3 – the people who made Aaron’s priestly garments were filled with the Spirit so
that they could do their work.

7. Exodus 31:3 – men who were chosen to build the tabernacle were filled with the Spirit of
God.

8. The Prophets of the O.T. were anointed by or filled w. the Spirit so that they could
speak forth the Word of God and do miracles in His power. Many times we read, they were
filled with the Spirit and spoke or they were filled with the Spirit and did… They were
witnesses that God was their source.

9. In the proclamation of the NEW COVENANT in Jeremiah we find that God says He will
forgive our sins and give us a new heart. Ezekiel is even more specific and tells us that God
will put His Spirit within us an cause us to obey my Words (Ezekiel 36:26)

10. John the Baptist was “filled with the Holy Spirit from His mother’s womb.” He is the only
person in the Bible that is given a revelation of all three at one time in one scene.

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We tend to think of the Holy Spirit in terms of God’s POWER; however,
THE PRIMARY WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO “REVEAL”. (not inform)

The key word is “revealed”. God comes alive not through “information” but by revelation.
Wouldn’t it be a real loss to miss out of what God has already revealed?
The natural man vs. the spiritual man.

Old Testament: Prophets often spoke of things “being revealed” to them. Jesus spoke of the
revelation knowledge given by the Spirit:

Mathew. 11:25 (Jesus) “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven & earth, because you have hid
these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them unto babes. (V 27; “no man
knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and He to
whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.”

Matthew 16: 13-17 (to Peter concerning the question “Who do men say that I am?) “flesh &
blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father which is in heaven.”

Galatians 1:15, 16 (Paul) “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s
womb and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me…”

QUESTION: WHAT WOULD CAUSE GOD TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO SOMEONE?

REMEMBER, WE HAVE BEEN CREATED IN HIS IMAGE AND HE WANTS TO BE KNOWN.
(Example A RADIO IS CREATED TO RECEIVE….)

1. HE JUST CHOOSES TO MOVE ON THAT PERSON’S LIFE. THIS CAN BE IN A VERY DRAMATIC WAY, BUT IT DOESN’T GUARANTEE THAT THE PERSON WILL OBEY HIM.

2. IF YOU SEEK ME, YOU WILL FIND ME, IF YOU SEEK ME WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART.

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YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, THROUGH JESUS, BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DETERMINED BY YOUR AWARNESS OF “NEED”.

I WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITH REFERENCE TO YOUR NEED AT THIS POINT IN YOUR LIFE?

1. Have you tended to live your life pretty much independently of God?

2. Are you so gifted in your abilities that you see God as someone who, like Jake is only
consulted when you need some help beyond your own abilities?

3. ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE WHO HAS BEEN ASKING, “IS THIS ALL THERE IS? THERE
HAS TO BE MORE THAN THIS!”

HOW HUNGERY AND THIRSTY ARE YOU FOR GOD IN YOUR LIFE?

Festival of Booths, Feast of the Ingathering.

SEVENTH of the Major feasts of Israel.

It would be in our late September or early October depending on the full moons.

Seven days dwelling in booths. The 8th day was HOSHANA RABBAH (The Day
of the Great Hosanna). In English it translates into “SAVE NOW”.

Originally to remember God’s provisions for Israel 40 years in the desert.

Gratitude for the harvest, Praying for the latter rains for the final planting & harvest season.

The “pouring of the water” ceremony; LIVING WATER.

WATER as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 44:3 “I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
and My blessing on your offspring.” Joel, “I will pour out of my Spirit on your sons and your
daughters….”)

It was at this ceremony that Jesus stood and cried, “If any man thirsts….”

THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF JESUS.

The Prophets foretold him; his work, his birth, his life, his death as it was revealed to them by the Holy Spirit.

(Isaiah 48:16 –God the Father with the Holy Spirit sent the Messiah.)

Born of the Spirit (Luke 1:35)3

Trained by the Spirit (Luke 2:40-52)

Baptized with the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3: 16)

Tested by the Spirit (Matt. 4:1) and returned from the desert “in the power of the
Spirit. (Luke 4:14).

Only spoke what He heard His Father say. (John 6: 63 “My words are Spirit and they are
life.”) (John 7:16; 14:10)

Worked by the Spirit. “I only do what I have seen my Father do.” (Matt. 12:28;
John 14:10) ACTS 10:38

Offered Himself up on the cross (died) through the Holy Spirit (Heb. 9:14)

Raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11)

He, with the Father gives the Holy Spirit today. (JOHN 14)

AND THEN JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT CHANGED PLACES:

WHILE ON EARTH AS A MAN, JESUS WAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. JESUS RETURNED TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER IN THE HEAVENS AND SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO OPERATES IN PERFECT UNION WITH THE FATHER AND THE SON.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN A PERSON’S LIFE TODAY?

A. BEING DRAWN TO GOD. (John 6) -The Holy Spirit will work in you the life of Jesus
starting with being drawn “by the Father” (like in Gen. 1:2 , God the Father begins to
speak to your heart and the Spirit starts moving in your darkness to draw you to the Light.

B. REPENTANCE & BELIEF John 16: 8
When the Holy Spirit is come He will reprove (convict, convince the world of sin (missing
God’s mark). Our response should be as Paul said in ACTS 20:21 “repentance toward God
and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.”

C. – John 3:3-8 ( unseen, like the wind)
NOTE: John 3:5 “unless a man is born of water and (even) of the Spirit” And is the Greek
word “kai” and can be rendered “even”

THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT STARTS THE PROCESS OF FORMING CHRIST IN YOU:

D. BAPTISED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT BY JESUS –LUKE 24:49
NOTE: The urgency in the Gospel story.
ACTS 2: The Day of Pentecost
ACTS 8: 14 - 17 – Phillips revival in Samaria
ACTS 10 – Peter and Cornelius.
ACTS 19 – Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?

Isaiah 43: 10-12 – (v.12 “I have declared, and have saved, and I have shown when there
was no strange god among you: therefore you are my witnesses, says the Lord, that I am
God.”

E. Walk, live by the Spirit
Ephesians 5:16 “Walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust (desires) of
the flesh.”

F. 1 COR 3:16; 6:9 – Do you not know that your body is the temple of The Holy Spirit.

G. JOHN 14:26 “The Holy Spirit” will teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.”

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE?
YOUR LIFE WILL CHANGE!

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT; THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT & THE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE MEANT TO BE IN YOUR LIFE. THIS WILL HAPPEN TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU CONSECREATE YOURSELF TO GOD; LET THE WORD OF GOD RENEW YOUR MIND AND YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO “RECEIVE THE WORD” BUT NOT YET HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT.
(ACTS 8)

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT?

1. JOHN 7:37-39 JESUS GLORIFIED (Jesus had to be glorified) and the Holy Spirit was given
as proof of this. God has made every provision for you to receive the Holy Spirit:
What God requires, Jesus supplies and the Holy Spirit provides.”

The only other Conditions dependent on you:

1. REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD AND FAITH TOWARD JESUS CHRIST. (this removes
the “sin” problem in your life at that point.)

2. LUKE 11: 11-13 – ASKING -God gives the Holy Spirit to His children who ask Him.

3. ACTS 5:32 – A HEART FOR OBEDIENCE “And we are his witnesses of these
things; and so is the Holy Ghost whom God has given to them that obey him.”
Faith is an act of obedience. Forgiving others is an act of obedience. Turning from
sins is an act of obedience.

New Testament writers coined the word agape to describe to the love of God that He has for us and that we can have for others. Outside of the New Testament, agape is found in only one instance in ancient Greek texts, in a passage describing parents’ love for their own child. It is divine love, unconditional love. (See it in John 3:16)

John 15:26 –But when the Comforter is come,” (I will send; proceeds from The Father.)

John 16: 12-15 (I have yet many things to say unto you….”

QUESTION: WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS MEAN TO ME?

John 15:5 (in speaking of our relationship to Him as the relationship of a grapes to the grape
vine) “Without Me, you can do nothing.”

ROMANS 5:5 “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which
is given unto us.”