As we continue our sermon series through the historical book of Acts, I want to lead us in a better understanding of who the Holy Spirit is.
He’s a person
I know it’s strange to think about the Holy Spirit as a person, because we have unwittingly reduced him from a person into a force, like electricity, that has no personality. However, the Scriptures are very clear that the Holy Spirit is a person:
- He grieves (Isa. 63:10; Eph. 4:30).
- He loves (Rom. 15:30).
- He has a mind and will (Rom. 8:27).
- He speaks (2 Sam. 23:2; Acts 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:2; 21:11; 28:25–26; 1 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 3:7–8; Rev. 2:7; 22:17)
- He knows (1 Cor. 2:11).
- He has a moral will (Acts 15:28).
- He can be lied to (Acts 5:3).
- He can be tested (Acts 5:9) and he can be a witness (Acts 5:32).
- He can be resisted (Acts 7:51).
He’s God
We sometimes treat the Holy Spirit like an accessory. Almost like the sunroof we weren’t expecting when we bought our car, only to realize as we drove off that we had it. Yeah, it’s kinda cool and we’re happy, but he’s just an unexpected bonus.
I assure you, the Holy Spirit is far more than a bonus companion or benefit of our salvation. He is God. The Scriptures teach that the Spirit is in every way God. He is all-powerful, all-present, and knows all things.
- He fills the children of God (Acts 2:4).
- He can forbid (Acts 16:6).
- He appoints overseers (Acts 20:28).
- He searches all things (1 Cor. 2:10).
- He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).
- He raised Christ from the dead (Rom. 8:11).
- He gives life (John 6:63).
- He is the Spirit of truth (1 John 5:6).
- He teaches and reminds us what Jesus said (John 14:26).
- He helps with our weakness by interceding (Rom. 8:26).
God gave us his Spirit because he gave us himself. We are Trinitarian: we believe God is one in three persons. He is called the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9), the Spirit of your Father (Matt. 10:20), the Spirit of truth (John 14:17), and the Spirit of the Lord (Acts 8:39).
Raise your expectations
Suffice to say, our appreciation, dependence, love, empowerment, submission, and expectation of the Holy Spirit must be heightened if we’re to want what he wants and live as he desires.
It’s no small thing to say we’ve been given the very Spirit of the living God who now dwells within God’s people. This is a stunning reality and one we need to desperately grow in. God intends an abundant life with him, filled with wonder and majesty as we remember that God is in fact with us, even this very moment as we read a blog post about him. We can’t be passive and simply wait to feel his presence if we don’t really expect him to be with us or trust that he already is. Beautifully, as we believe more deeply the Scriptures that the Spirit inspired, we will sense more and more of his power and presence in our lives and our community.
I want our church to expect the Holy Spirit to show up and empower us. What do you expect?
