Spirit of God                                   Acts 1:4-5

If we’re asked who God is, we can answer that. God is the creator of heaven and earth. If we’re asked who Jesus is, we can answer that. Jesus is God’s son. Jesus went to the cross for my sins, he died and rose three days later. Jesus is my Lord and savior. If we’re asked who the Holy Spirit is, it might be a little harder.

Matthew 3:16-17,

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment, heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. A voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”

This passage reveals the simultaneous presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In this passage we see the reality of the triune God. The trinity is a cornerstone of our Christian belief, one God in three persons: Father, Son, Spirit, all equal, all existing, all eternal and in perfect unity.

Some have read Matthew argued that the Spirit does not emerge as a personality of God until the New Testament. Let’s look at that.

John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word…He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made…” We know Jesus is God and as a distinct person in his own. He was instrumental in creation.  Genesis 1:2, “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Now we can see the Holy Spirit was with God along with Jesus, that the Spirit is God, and as a distinct person in his own, he was instrumental in creation. God, one in three, three in one, always existing, and existing for all eternity.

Job 33:4, “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” God the Father, creator of earth, heaven, and life; creator of the plan for our salvation. Christ Jesus, the instrument of God’s plan, the sin sacrifice for all humanity, the one who extends the Father’s grace and mercy to believers. Holy Spirit, the giver of life, the vehicle of our receiving God’s forgiveness and redemption. One in three, three in one, providing us the promise of God.

God the Father, he created the world. Jesus the Son, he is the savior of the world.

Holy Spirit, he also is important to the world. Nehemiah 9:20, “You gave your good Spirit to instruct them.” John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Jesus, knowing he was going away, provides us with a helper, one who will help us keep the memory of Christ and his teachings in our hearts and minds. He is the one who will instruct us as we try to live out Christ’s teachings.

John 16:3, “When (the Spirit) comes, he will prove the world to be wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement.” In addition to keeping Jesus in the collective conscience of mankind, the Spirit teaches us of sin, righteousness, and judgement.

Paul wrote in Romans 7:7, “I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.” Jesus tells us it is not just the letter of the law that’s paramount, it’s the spirit of the law that we must keep. The Spirit of the law, the Spirit of God, sent to man through the law, this shows us what sin is.

Galatians 5:5, “For we, through the Spirit, eagerly wait for the righteousness through faith.” The Spirit shows us our righteousness before God is through our faith in his Son.

In Acts chapter five we are told of Anaias and his wife Sapphira. They sold some land to give the money to the church, but they kept some for themselves and lied about it. Acts 5:3, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit…” Acts 5, verse 5, “When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.” Later in Acts five Peter confronts Sapphira, Acts 5:9, “Peter said to her, ‘How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?’” Verse 10, “At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.” The Spirit brings the judgment of God on those who choose not to believe. The Spirit of God condemns us to eternal death and punishment for our unbelief.

Now, the Holy Spirit doesn’t just condemn, he brings great gifts to us. One of the greatest is the fact that he isn’t flying around the world leaving you to hope he’s near and notices when you need him. His gift is he is always with you. 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s Temple and that God’s Spirit dwells within you.” God’s Spirit is always with you, always teaching, always leading, always working in you,     and for you.

1 Corinthians 2:12, “What we have recorded is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God, so we may understand what God has feely given us.” God gives his followers the Holy Spirit so we may know him better. It is the Holy Spirit that opens our hearts and minds to the hope of salvation and the inheritance we share with Christ. Jesus knew his words would fade in men’s minds and hearts as time passed. He sent the Holy Spirit to remind us and to help us keep God’s way in our hearts throughout the age.

 The Holy Spirit is our source of revelation, wisdom, and the power of God in our lives. 1 Corinthians chapter twelve explains the gifts the Spirit gives us, and these include wisdom, faith, healing, and prophesy.           

1 Corinthians 12:11, “All these are the works of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” God’s Spirit blesses each of us according to the will of the Father.

Now I have a question. How many of us have felt lost, unable to determine which way to go, unable to decide what is right? How many have had times of exasperation and didn’t even know what to pray for, didn’t know what to ask God for, didn’t even know how to approach God because you didn’t even know what you needed? Roman 8:26, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us…” Another great gift of the Spirit. In those times we are so unsure that we can’t even find the right way to approach God, the Holy Spirit within us knows our hearts and pleas and he lifts them and presents them to God for us.

So now we have some answers to the question, who is the Holy Spirit? He is God, and his presence in the world accomplishes great things for us. He lives within us and is our teacher, the source of our wisdom, power, and the revelation of God the Father. He bestows God’s gifts on us. And he is our helper in times of trouble and weakness, bringing our pleas to God even as we don’t know what they are ourselves.

Three in one, one in three; the same God, different expressions of his power and greatness. God the Father, our creator. God the Son, Jesus our savior. God the Holy Spirit, our teacher, our strength, God within us.

May you know the Holy Spirit and his work in your life,       

 Amen.