WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT



WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

INTRODUCTION

The Holy Spirit is not a ghost; the Holy Spirit is a person.

Through the Holy Spirit – we can experience a relationship with Jesus Christ. The Spirit guides us, comforts us, encourages us and loves us. The Spirit also helps us to know what we are doing something wrong.

The Holy Spirit was there when the universe was created

Genesis 1:1–2 (ERV)

‘God created the sky and the earth. At first, the earth was completely empty. There was nothing on the earth. Darkness covered the ocean, and God’s Spirit moved over the water.’

The whole trinity was involved in creation: God the Father, the Creator, created the world through Jesus, by his Spirit. Where there is no life, the Holy Spirit brings new life. When things are old and broken, the Holy Spirit makes them new. The Holy Spirit makes something beautiful out of something ugly.

The Spirit is waiting to bring new things into each of our lives today.

The Holy Spirit also brings life into human beings; he gave us life.

Genesis 2:7 (ERV)

‘The Lord God took a handful of soil and made a man. God breathed life into the man, and the man started breathing.’

One way to describe the Holy Spirit is, the ‘breath of God’.

The breath of God brings life: physical life, and spiritual life.

DISCUSS

1. Have you ever heard of the Holy Spirit?

2. Who or what do you think the Holy Spirit is?

3. How does it make you feel to hear that the Holy Spirit makes things new (‘where there is no life, he brings new life; when something is old and broken he makes it new’)? What does that mean to you?

The Spirit of God came upon certain people, at certain times, for certain tasks

In the Old Testament God gave the Holy Spirit to people to do a certain task. Not everyone was filled with the Spirit. Just a few people, who God had chosen to do special jobs for him.

i. Bezalel, the artist

Exodus 31:3-5 (ERV)

‘I have filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God – I have given him the skill and knowledge to do all kinds of things. He is a very good designer. And he can make things from gold, silver, and bronze. He can cut and set beautiful jewels. And he can work with wood. He can do all kinds of work.’

God can use artists and musicians to reveal himself and speak to others.

ii. Gideon, the leader

The Holy Spirit also anointed people for the task of leadership.

In leadership, God often uses people who feel weak, unconfident. They often do not feel able or gifted to lead. But, when they are filled with the Holy Spirit, they become outstanding leaders.

iii. Samson, the strong man

In the story of Samson, the Philistines tied him up with ropes. ‘Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Samson with great power. Samson broke the ropes—they were like burned strings falling from his arms and the ropes on his hands seemed to melt away.’ (Judges 15:14, ERV).

We might not be tied in physical ropes like Samson. But we can be ‘tied down’ by fears, habits or addictions that control our lives.

The Holy Spirit has power to set people free from harmful addictions. He also frees people from the pain of broken relationships.

God has a plan for all of us. He has given each one of us gifts and abilities. When a person becomes a Christian, God can use their talents to make a difference to the world – to transform the world around us.

DISCUSS

1. Have you ever been moved (touched in your feelings and emotions) by a piece of art (eg, a painting) or a beautiful piece of music?

2. Do you think God has given you any gifts or abilities?

3. Do you think your gifts or abilities could be used in any way to serve God and bless other people?

4. How do you feel when you hear that the Holy Spirit can set you free from things that control you (eg, addictions)?

The Holy Spirit was promised by God the Father

God makes a promise through the Bible. He promises that he will give us new hearts and that he will put a new Spirit in us.

Ezekiel 36:25–27 (ERV)

‘I will make you pure. I will also put a new spirit in you to change your way of thinking. I will take out the heart of stone from your body and give you a tender, human heart. I will put my Spirit inside you and change you so that you will obey my laws. You will carefully obey my commands.’

It won’t be something we feel forced to do. We will want to serve him. We will love others and our desire will be to obey his laws, because the Spirit of God is in us.

God’s promise is for men and women; old people and young people; people of all classes, race, and cultures (Joel 2:28–29).

It applies to all people. That includes you and me.

JESUS WAS FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is also in the New Testament (the second part of the Bible). Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit:

Luke 3:18 (ERV)

‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me. 
   

He has chosen me to tell good news to the poor. 


He sent me to tell prisoners that they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. 


He sent me to free those who have been treated badly.’

And he promises that we too can be filled with the Holy Spirit:

Jesus said: ‘I’m going to send you what my Father has promised’ (Luke 24:49).

‘Whoever is thirsty may come to me and drink. If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from their heart.’ (John 7:38, ERV). By this, Jesus means the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to do amazing things. They changed the world.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit isn’t just about feeling good. God fills us with the Holy Spirit so he can work through us, just like a musician works through his instruments, or like a gardener uses his tools. The Spirit gives us power, strength and ability to make a difference to the world.

DISCUSS

1. How do you feel when you hear that God loves everyone equally and that his Spirit is for all people (men and women, old and young and people of all colours, tribes and cultures)?

2. Do you think it is exciting or scary to know that God will give you a new heart and will fill your heart with love and compassion if you ask him to come into your life?

3. What do you think might happen if you asked the Holy Spirit to fill you?

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