The Creed - I Believe In The Holy Ghost

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker

of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only

Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose

again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the

right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy

catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;

the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen

The CreedI BELIEVE in the HOLY GHOST








Key Question…“Who is the Holy Spirit?”

The Creed – I Believe in the Holy Spirit



Father

SonSpiritIs not

God

God – A Trinity

"After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My

beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”"(Matthew 3:16-17)

Is the Holy Spirit a Person or an “It”?



The Holy Spirit‟s Personhood

His intelligence: "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God."(1 Corinthians 2:10-11) His feelings: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom

you were sealed for the day of redemption."(Ephesians 4:30) His will: "But one and the same Spirit works all these things,

distributing to each one individually just as He wills."(1 Corinthians 12:11)

Mind – Emotion - Will


The Holy Spirit‟s WorksHe teaches: "“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in

My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."(John 14:26) He guides: "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons

of God."(Romans 8:14) He commissions: “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to

Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus."(Acts 13:4) He commands/speaks: "Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this

chariot.”"(Acts 8:29) He restrains: "Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man

forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”"(Genesis 6:3) He intercedes: " In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we

do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;"(Romans 8:26)


The Holy Spirit‟s AscriptionsHe is obeyed: "While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to

him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. “But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.”"(Acts 10:19-20) He can be lied to: "But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your

heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?"(Acts 5:3) He is resisted: "“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart

and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did."(Acts 7:51) He is reverenced: "Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not

take Your Holy Spirit from me."(Psalm 51:11) He can be blasphemed: "“Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall

be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven."(Matthew 12:31) He can be insulted: “…and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Heb.6:4)

Is the Holy Spirit God?



The Holy Spirit - God“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name

of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,"(Matthew 28:19)

"But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? “While it remained

unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have

not lied to men but to God.”"(Acts 5:3-4)

"And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah

the prophet to your fathers,"(Acts 28:25)

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord."(1 Corinthians 12:4-5)


The Holy Spirit - GodHis omniscience: "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the

Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God."(1 Corinthians 2:10-11) His omnipresence: "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee

from Your presence?"(Psalm 139:7) His omnipotence: "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in

believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."(Romans 15:13) His eternality: "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the

eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"(Hebrews 9:14)

"and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;"(Acts 16:7) - Note interchangeable use of God/Jesus

The Creed – I Believe in the Holy Ghost

Titles of the Holy SpiritOne Spirit His Unity Eph. 4:4

Seven Spirits His perfection, omnipresence,completeness

Rev. 1:4; 3:1

The Lord His Sovereignty 2 Cor. 3:18

Eternal Spirit His Eternality Heb. 9:14

Spirit of Glory His Glory 1 Pet. 4:14

Spirit of Life His Vitality Rom. 8:2

Spirit of Holiness, Holy Spirit,Holy One

His Holiness Rom 1:4; Matt. 1:20; 1 John 2:20

Spirit of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge

His Omniscience, Omnisapience, Wisdom, and Counsel

Isaiah 11:2

Spirit of Strength His Omnipotence Isaiah 11:2

Spirit of the Fear of the Lord His Reverence Isaiah 11:2

Spirit of Truth His Truthfulness John 14:17

Spirit of Grace His Grace Heb. 10:29

Spirit of Grace, Supplication His Grace and Intercession Zech. 12:10

What part did the Holy Spirit have in the life of

Christ?The Creed – I Believe in the Holy Spirit


The Spirit in the Life of Christ

• His virgin birth: "The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God."(Luke 1:35)

• His anointing: "“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."(Acts 10:38)

• His filling and leading: " Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness"(Luke 4:1)


The Spirit in the Life of Christ

• His empowering: "“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."(Matthew 12:28)

• His death: "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"(Hebrews 9:14)

• His resurrection: "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit;"(1 Peter 3:18)

What part did the Holy Spirit have in Production

of the Bible?The Creed – I Believe in the Holy Spirit


The Spirit in the Production of the Bible

• "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;"(2 Timothy 3:16)

• "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one‟s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."(2 Peter 1:20-21)

• "“Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus."(Acts 1:16)


The Spirit and the “Words”

OvershadowedMary

OvershadowedAuthors

Jesus ResembledMary

Text ResembledAuthors

Jesus, the Perfect Man

Scripture, the Perfect Book

What part did the Holy Spirit have in the Birth

of the Church?The Creed – I Believe in the Holy Spirit


The Spirit in the Birth of the Church• "Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave

Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”"(Acts 1:4-5)

• " When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance."(Acts 2:1-4)

What tasks does the Holy Spirit carry out

today?The Creed – I Believe in the Holy Spirit

• Convicts Sinners• Baptizes and Regenerates Believers• Indwells Believers•Seals Believers• Gives Gifts to Believers• Fills Believers



The Spirit‟s Ministry of Conviction

"“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged."(John 16:8-11)

Convict: “recognize a wrongdoing” - Place the truth of the gospel in a clear light before the unsaved so that is it acknowledged as

truth whether or not Christ is received as Savior


The Spirit‟s Ministry of Regeneration

Regeneration is the act of begetting by God, which imparts eternal life

"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of

regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,"(Titus 3:5)

"Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of

God."(John 3:5)


“… born of water?”"“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will

cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give

you a heart of flesh. “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My

ordinances."(Ezekiel 36:25-27)

"so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,"(Ephesians 5:26)

Water = „cleansing‟; renewal in the Old Testament


Baptism vs. Filling of the SpiritBaptism is not a secondary act apart from salvation:

"For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."(1

Corinthians 12:13)

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism,"(Ephesians 4:4-5)

"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?"(Romans 6:3)

Filling means being controlled by the Spirit:

"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,"(Ephesians 5:18)


The Spirit‟s Ministry of Indwelling"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy

Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"(1 Corinthians 6:19)

The Indwelling is permanent (speaks to eternal security): " “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may

be with you forever;"(John 14:16)

Absence of the Spirit indicates no salvation: "However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God

dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him."(Romans 8:9)


The Spirit‟s Ministry of Sealing"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed

for the day of redemption."(Ephesians 4:30)

• Who sealed? The Father• Who is the means of sealing? The Spirit• Who is sealed? All believers• When are believers sealed? At salvation• Why are believers sealed? To guarantee eternal life

"Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as

a pledge."(2 Corinthians 1:21-22)


The Spirit‟s Ministry of Gifts" Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by

the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same

Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to

each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting

of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of

tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."

(1 Corinthians 12:1-11)


Quick Note on Spiritual GiftsNot all gifts are for all believers:

"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

(1 Peter 4:10)

"All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not

interpret, do they?"(1 Corinthians 12:29-30)

"The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles."

(2 Corinthians 12:12)

How does the Holy Spirit empower me?


"“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more

will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”"

(Luke 11:13)


You need comfort … God gives you the Comforter (Acts 9:31)You need help … God gives you the Helper (John 14:16)You need truth … God gives you the Spirit of Truth (John

14:17)You need guidance … God gives you the Guide (John 16:13)You need power … God gives you the Spirit of power (2 Tim.

1:7)You need wisdom … God gives you the Spirit of wisdom (1

Cor. 2:13)You need enablement … God gives you the Spirit who

bestows gifts (1 Cor. 12) You need love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control … God gives you the Spirit and His fruit.


Are you sure you want the Spirit?


“After a man is convinced that he can be filled with the Spirit he must desire to be. To the interested inquirer I ask these

questions: Are you sure that you want to be possessed by a Spirit Who, while He is pure and gentle and wise and living, will yet insist upon being Lord of your life? Are you sure you want

your personality to be taken over by One Who will require obedience to the written Word? Who will not tolerate any of the

self-sins in your life: self-love, self-indulgence? Who will not permit you to strut or boast or show off? Who will take the

direction of your life away from you and will reserve the sovereign right to test you and disciple you? Who will strip away from you

many loved objects which secretly harm your soul?

Unless you can answer an eager “Yes” to these questions you do not want to be filled.”

- A. W. Tozer, Keys to the Deeper LifeThe Creed – I Believe in the Holy Spirit

“You may want the thrill or the victory or the power, but you do not really want to be filled with Spirit. Your

desire is little more than a feeble wish and is not pure enough to please God, Who demands all or nothing.

Again I ask: Are you sure you need to be filled with the Spirit?”

- A. W. Tozer









The CreedI BELIEVE in the HOLY GHOST