Third Person - Part 3 [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.

1. The Holy Spirit imparts spiritual life to us.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world….
– Ephesians 2:1-2a (HCSB)

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
– Ephesians 2:4-5 (HCSB)

2. The Holy Spirit indwells us.  

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.
– John 14:16-17 (HCSB)

The Greek word parakletos means one called alongside to help, counsel, or protect.
– HCSB

For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.
– Philippians 2:13 (HCSB)

3/ The Holy Spirit instructs us. 

I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
– John 14:25-26 (HCSB)

…no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
– 2 Peter 1:21b (HCSB)

When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.
– John 16:8 (HCSB)

4. The Holy Spirit increases our effectiveness through spiritual gifts and the fruit he produces in our lives.   

Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person  to produce what is beneficial.
–  1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (HCSB)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
– Galatians 5:22-23 (HCSB)

5. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should,  but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us   with unspoken groanings.
– Romans 8:26 (HCSB)

6. The Holy Spirit imprints us with His seal 

When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.
– Ephesians 1:13-14 (HCSB)

7. The Holy Spirit incorporates us into the body of Christ. 

[Baptism of the Spirit] is “the introduction or placing of a person or thing into a new environment or into union with something else so as to alter its condition or its relationship to its previous environment or condition.”
– Wuest

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. So the body is not one part but many.
– 1 Corinthians 12:13-14 (HCSB)

Made for More // Courage // This I Believe // Holy Holy Holy (Nicaea)

1. What comes to your mind when you think of the Holy Spirit? Would you say most of your views related to the Holy Spirit come from your church upbringing or from the Bible? Explain your answer.
2. Read John 14:16-17. What difference should it make in our lives if God’s Spirit lives within us?  
3. Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Romans 12:6-8, and 1 Peter 4:10-11. Why has God given each of us a spiritual gift? How do you think we can discover what gift(s) God has given us?
4. Read Galatians 5:19-25. What do you think it means to live by or follow the Spirit?How might you apply today’s lesson to your life?

You can watch or listen to past messages online!

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