Scripture: John 16:13-15

C.I.: Holy Spirit: The One Who Empowers Our Lives

We’ve been studying… - Today we will look at the third member of the trinity.
We will see that He is not something for the believer to fear – but a Comforter to all who receive Him.

I. The “Who” and the “How” and the “What” of the Spirit of God

A. “Who” is the Spirit?

1. He is God since He possesses all the attributes of deity … (Duck Illust.)
a. He is Eternal: (Heb. 9:14), “…how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God….”
b. He is Omnipotent: (Job 33:4; Gen. 2:7), “The Spirit of God has made me.” – “The Lord God….”
c. He is Omniscient: (I Cor. 2:11), “For who among men knows the thoughts of man except the….”
d. He is Omnipresent: (Psa. 139:7), “Where can I go from Your Spirit? – Or where can I flee from..”
e. Thus as God, He is Co-Equal with the Father & the Son: (Matt. 28:19), “Go therefore, and….”

2. How can we understand the “Trinity”?
a. How can there be three but they all equal one?
1) Illusts: The Egg (3 parts = 1 egg), or Water (3 states of matter = 1 molecule)
2) Father, Son & Spirit – all have the same nature (deity) - but are 3 distinct persons.
3) Thus, the trinity is not like 1+1+1 = 1; but is rather like 13 = 1x1x1
b. Therefore, the “trinity” = 3 separate parts (persons) – who make up one complete whole (God)!

B. “How” Can a Person Receive the Spirit of God?

1. Amazingly, the Spirit chooses to dwell in believers – (I Cor. 3:16), “Do you not know….”
a. The only question then is - what conditions must a person meet in order to receive Him
1) Hear & Believer the gospel – (Eph. 1:13), “And you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with….”
2) You were obedient to the gospel message – (Acts 5:32), “We are witnesses of these things; and so is the H.S., whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
3) The gospel message = (Acts 2:36-39), “ “Now when they heard this they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest… - For the promise is for you, and for your children….”
b. Only those who are baptized according to God’s word receive the Holy Spirit.
1) (Acts 19:1-5), “Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found some disciples, and he said to them, ‘Did you receive the H.S. when believed? – And they said to him, ‘We have not even heard whether there is a H.S.?’ – And he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ – And they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ – And he said, ‘John baptized with….’”
c. Only those who have the Spirit belong to God - (Rom. 8:9), “If anyone does not have the Spirit..”
1) But - (Rom. 8:11), “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your immortal bodies – through His Spirit who indwells you.”
d. So only those who have heard, believed, repented and been baptized … receive the “…gift of HS”
C. “What” Does the Spirit of God Do?

1. He Empowers the Believer
a. Every believer who chooses to be “filled with the Spirit” will be empowered by God (Eph. 5:18).

b. Being “filled with the Spirit” is a choice – actually, it is two choices…
1) A choice of: where we focus our minds - (Rom. 8:6, 12-13), “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace – So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh – for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body….”
2) A choice of: what we decide to do - (Gal. 5:16-17), “I say, walk by the Spirit, and you….”
3) Only believers – who focus on God’s will & decide to do it – are EMPOWERED by God!!!

c. We can, however, - also choose to reject the power of the Spirit - from working in our lives!
1) (I Thess. 5:19), “Do not quench the Spirit” – Idea of putting out a fire!
2) This occurs - either when we place our attention on things of this world – and/or – if we decide we would rather not do God’s will!!!

2. He empowers the believer: - to be successful in gaining victory over sin and Satan.
a. Example - (Lk. 4:1-2), “And Jesus, full of the H.S., returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness for 40 days, being tempted by the devil.”
1) Jesus was empower for SUCCESS – because of where He focused His mind…
2) 3x “It is written…” – Jesus didn’t choose to give into the flesh (if you are hungry) – but Spirit
3) We can have this same success – when we choose to be “filled with the Spirit”

b. Thus, the war for our souls is fought on the battlefield of our minds –
1) (II Cor. 10:3-5), “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” - [I Jn. 4:4], “Greater is He who is in you…” – “ We are destroying….”

c. So if believers want to have victory over sin – we must be empowered (“filled with the Spirit”)!

3. He empowers of the believer: – to be successful in accomplishing God’s will.
a. (Eph. 3:16), …that God would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, - to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.”
1) The Spirit empowers us inwardly – so we can be successful!!!
2) (v. 20), “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly – beyond all that we ask or think, - according to the POWER that works within us.”
3) So if we are to be successful in following Jesus – we need to rely on a divine power source!
b. Can the Lord’s church today be successful – in the mission that He has laid before us?
1) (Mark 16:15-16), “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation….”
2) WE CAN – BUT ONLY IF WE CHOOSE TO BE - “filled with the Spirit”!!!
3) (Acts 4:31), “And when they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the H.S., and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”

CONCLUSION: Review the “Who,” “How,” and “What” of the Holy Spirit…