Third Person - Part 2 [Notes]

You’re invited to join us for "Third Person," a three-week series exploring who the Holy Spirit is as the third member of the Trinity, what He does, and how He helps us as believers. While many Christians talk often about God the Father and Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit is sometimes overlooked or misunderstood. In this series, we’ll aim to clear up confusion, trace the Spirit’s work throughout Scripture, and discover how He empowers us to live with peace and power today. If you’ve ever felt unsure about who the Holy Spirit is, how He works, or how we should relate to Him, this series is for you. Though we’ll cover some deep doctrine, there will be plenty of practical and helpful applications along the way.

Problem: Misunderstanding, over-emphasizing, and under-emphasizing the person and work of the Holy Spirit can all be problematic.

Takeaway: God the Spirit was essential in the life and ministry of God the Son and the early church

God the Spirit was present and active in the life and ministry of God the Son

• In His Birth

The angel replied to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God."
– Luke 1:35 (CSB)

God the Spirit was present and active in the life and ministry of God the Son

• In His Birth
• In His Baptism 

When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As He was praying, heaven opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”  
– Luke 3:21-22 (CSB)

God the Spirit was present and active in the life and ministry of God the Son

• In His Birth
• In His Baptism
• In His Ministry 

Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, he was hungry.
– Luke 4:1-2 (CSB)

Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity. He was teaching in their synagogues, being praised by everyone.
– Luke 4:14-15 (CSB)

God the Spirit was present and active in the life and ministry of God the Son

• In His Birth
• In His Baptism 
• In His Ministry

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of Truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you.
John 14:16-17, 16:7  

God the Spirit was present and active in the life and ministry of the early church

• In its inception

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts), Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.”
– Acts 2:1-12 (CSB)

The true gift of tongues was the miraculous ability to speak in a foreign language not previously learned, given by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of communicating the gospel during the foundational era of the Church.
– Merrill Unger, New Testament Teaching on Tongues

These were undoubtedly spoken living languages; the word used in 2:6, 8 is dialektō, which means “language” and not ecstatic utterance…This event marked the beginning of the church.
– Stanley D. Toussaint, The Bible Knowledge Commentary

God the Spirit was present and active in the life and ministry of the early church

• In its inception
• In its validation

This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him. At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to His will.
– Hebrews 2:3-4 (CSB)

The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles.
– 2 Corinthians 2:12 (CSB)

God the Spirit was present and active in the life and ministry of the early church

• In its inception
• In its validation 
• In its mission

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
– Acts 1:8 (CSB)

Takeaway: God the Spirit was essential in the life and ministry of God the Son and the early church

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty, in all things, charity”
– Rupertus Meldenius

Praise the Lord // No Body // I Won't Forget // Same God

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