THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

 

Chapter 10

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The Portrait of the Holy Spirit (Part I)

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Text

Matt. 12:30-32 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.​​

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​​​​Memory Verse

Eph. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

 

 

Introduction

Whatever comes from God and shares His substance is God. If a president can represent himself through a vice president, then God can represent himself on earth through His Son Jesus and His Spirit - the Holy Spirit.

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If A = B and B = C, then A = C. God is Spirit (John 4:24). That Spirit is holy. So, God is the Holy Spirit.

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The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force. He is a Person who teaches us how to worship God.

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Objective
To understand the personal qualities of the Holy Spirit and how He manifests, so we see Him as our able teacher of worship.

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Presentation

1. The Holy Spirit Has Personal Qualities

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The Holy Spirit is a Person with a mind, will, and feelings.

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He has a mind: “…For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” (1 Cor. 2:10)

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His mind intercedes for us: “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom. 8:2)

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He teaches: “… the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things…” (John 14:26).

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He testifies and speaks: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Rom. 8:16)

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He spoke through the prophets: “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Pet. 1:21)

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He comforts and guides: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.” (John 14:16 (NIV))

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“ Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’” (Acts 8:29)

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He has feelings:
He can be grieved (Eph. 4:30).
He can be lied to (Acts 5:3).
He can be blasphemed (Matt. 12:31-32).

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He has a will: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1 Cor. 12:11)

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2. Clarifying His Manifestation

The Holy Spirit works in a representative capacity. He is invisible, working in the spiritual realm, speaking for Jesus and dwelling in believers through God’s word and conscience (Rom. 8:9, 14; John 16:13). Because He does not have a visible, fixed form, some get confused about His personality. In the Old Testament He is mentioned only three times by name. In the New Testament, 86 times, always connected to making Jesus’s followers holy.

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We do not need a physical form to know something is real. We do not see wind or wisdom, but we experience their effects. Scripture describes the Spirit’s manifestations in different ways: a dove (Matt. 3:16), fire (Acts 2:3), wind (John 3:8), water (John 7:38-39), a seal (Eph. 1:13). These describe how He works, not His personality.

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Conclusion
For God, who is Spirit, to adopt us as children, it had to happen through His Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the go-between in all our dealings with God. He testifies of the Father and the Son, and makes God’s wisdom understandable to us (Rom. 8:9, 14). He is the teacher who shows us how to worship God in Spirit and truth.
 

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​​Evaluation Questions & Answers

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1. Mention any three features that show the Holy Spirit is a Person.

   • He has a mind and intercedes for us (Rom. 8:27).

   • He teaches, speaks, and testifies (John 14:26; Rom. 8:16).

   • He has a will and chooses how to distribute gifts (1 Cor. 12:11).

2. What shows that the Holy Spirit has feelings?

   • He can be grieved (Eph. 4:30), lied to (Acts 5:3), and blasphemed against (Matt. 12:31-32).

3. In what three forms does Scripture show the Spirit’s manifestations?

   • A dove at Jesus’s baptism (Matt. 3:16).

   • Fire at Pentecost (Acts 2:3-4).

   • Wind and breath (John 3:8; John 20:22).

   • Other forms include water and a seal (John 7:38-39; Eph. 1:13).

4. ​In what capacity does the Spirit work in this era under Christ?

   • He works in a representative capacity, invisible, dwelling in believers, teaching, guiding, and bearing witness to Jesus.

   • John 16:13: However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

   • Rom. 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

 

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit. Keep us from arguing just to win points, and help us rely on Your Spirit to win souls. Teach us to worship You in Spirit and truth. Amen.

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