1. Why is there confusion about the Holy Spirit? Acts 1:5 “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
A. To many, the Holy Spirit is somewhat mysterious. He is like the wind that blows where He will. He, the dove of heaven, is a fire that purifies and an oil that anoints. It’s been said that the Holy Spirit leaves no footprint in the sand.
B. Part of the confusion is in the titles and the functions of the Holy Spirit. Some titles affirm the holiness of the Spirit, like the Spirit of Holiness in Romans 1:4. Other verses relate to His deity like the Spirit of Jesus Christ in Philippians 1:19 or the Spirit of the living God in 2 Cor 3:3.
2. Who is the Holy Spirit? II Corinthians 13:14 “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
A. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. The use of personal pronouns in relation to the Holy Spirit is used often enough in Scripture to reveal that He is a person.
B. The Holy Spirit not only thinks like a person, He has feelings like a person. The Holy Spirit can be insulted, quenched, and grieved. The Holy Spirit has a mind, a will, and teaches us.
3. Why should we value the Holy Spirit? John 14:6 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.”
A. The Holy Spirit indwells and empowers those who are in Christ. I Cor. 13:16, Acts 1:8
B. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin to draw men and women to Jesus. We would not have become a believer without this ministry of the Holy Spirit. John 16:8-9
C. The Holy Spirit is our helper. Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as the Advocate, Helper, Comforter & Counselor John 14:16-17
D. The Holy Spirit gives gifts and develops fruit in believers. I Cor. 12:1, Gal. 5:22-23 The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers. These are specific abilities to enable us to function effectively as part of the Church. The Holy Spirit also develops spiritual fruit in a believer's life. Spiritual fruit refers to the nature of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.