The Glory of the Holy Trinity:
Part 3: God the Holy Spirit in the O.T. & N.T.
Ignorance of the Holy Spirit or believing false doctrines of the Holy Spirit has huge consequences (2 Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:8-9). We must remember The Trinity is not 3 separate parts but a Transcendent Unity. God’s Divine Nature is indivisible. Let’s look at “The Progressive Revelation” of the Holy Spirit as the 3rd Person of the Holy Trinity. In the very beginning we learn The Holy Spirit is active in Creation: “In the beginning, God created the heaven & the earth. … and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:1-2; Ps. 33:6)
Right in the beginning, we learn one of the first thing the Spirit creates & works on reflects the Trinitarian nature of God (Rom. 1:20).
The Trinitarian Water molecule (2 hydrogen atoms & 1 oxygen atom) is uniquely designed by God for Life. It is Unique among all substances in its difference in mass between its liquid & solid state. It is an exception to the Laws of expansion/contraction. Because of this ice forms on the top of water bodies instead of the bottom – which would kill all life. Water also has a “Triple Point” which is the temperature & pressure at which it exists simultaneously as solid – liquid – gas!
There are reasons the Trinitarian God likens himself to “living waters” (Jer. 2:13; 17:13; Ps. 36:9; John 4:14; 7:37; Rev. 21:6; 22:1, 17)
Do you realize how amazing all this is?
The next thing God, the Word, and the Holy Spirit creates is light (Gen 1:3). “God said, Let there be light: & there was light.” Light is Trinitarian in Nature & reflects the Glory of the Trinitarian God. Light consists of 3 kinds of rays (a trinity): 1. Electromagnetic rays: invisible, neither felt or seen. (Father) 2. Visible light: can be seen but not felt (Son) 3. Heat rays: are felt but not seen (Holy Spirit)
Light sometimes acts like a nonmaterial wave (John 20:19, 26; Lk. 24:31; Act 1:9) & sometimes like a solid substance (Lk. 24:39) reminding us of “the light of the World.”
Each Member of the Trinity inseparable from “The Light.”The Father is my light (詩 Ps. 27:1); Jesus is the Light of the World (John 9:5; 3:19-21); The Holy Spirit “enlightens us” (Dan. 5:11; Eph. 1:17-18).
Notice The Progressive Revelation of God through the Bible:
The O. T. focused on revealing God as Sovereign Creator and Father (Isa. 64:8; Lk. 3:38) who promised to send us a Savior (Gen. 3:15). The Gospels focus on God the Son, living among us to die on the Cross to save us from sin, satan & the world (I Tim. 3:16; I Pet. 3:18). The Book of Acts & the Epistles reveals the Holy Spirit as carrying on the work of God & Christ in & through us.
Notice the progressive revelation: God is for us: then with us in the Son: now in us through the indwelling Holy Spirit. “God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts” (Gal. 4:6).
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT A “WHAT” BUT A “WHO.” NOT A “THING” OR “FORCE” BUT A DIVINE “PERSON.”
The Holy Spirit is just as much God as the Father & the Son (Matt. 28:19). This truth is so clearly expressed & constantly implied that men must be spiritually blind to miss or deny it (2Cor. 4:4; Isa. 6:10)
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS REVEALED AS A DIVINE PERSON IN THE O. T. (90 times)
The names of the Holy Spirit reveal His Divine Person: He is called “the Spirit of God” (13x’s); “The Spirit of the LORD” (23x’s);
God refers to Him as “My Spirit” (13x’s). The Holy Spirit Creates (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Ps. 104:30). The Holy Spirit is a Divine teacher who instructed Israel (Neh. 9:20; Zech. 7:12). The Holy Spirit continues His teaching ministry to us in the New Testament (Lk. 12:12; John 14:26)
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS REVEALED AS A DIVINE PERSON IN THE N.T. (260 Times)
The Holy Spirit’s Names reveal His Divine Person. He is “the Spirit of God” (12x’s); The Spirit of the Lord (15x’s); The Spirit of your Father (Matt. 10:20); He is “the Spirit of Christ” (Rom. 8:9; Phil. 1:19).
Many N.T. Scriptures reveal the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person: The Spirit loves (Rom. 15:30). The Holy Spirit has a mind (Rom. 8:27). The Holy Spirit has a will (I Cor. 12:11). Thus The Holy Spirit constantly thinks & plans for me. He has the will & power to fulfill all His amazing loving plans for my life. The Holy Spirit empowers me (Acts 1:8); anoints me (I John 2:27); & leads me (Matt. 4:1; Acts 20:22; Rom. 8:14) to fulfill God’s glorious plan for my Life!
ONLY 3 PERSONS HAVE THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD: These attributes separate the 1 True God from every false god.
The Father is eternal (Psalm 90:2); The Son is eternal (Micah 5:2; Matt 2:5-6); The Holy Spirit is eternal (Hebrews 9:14); The only “eternal” God in China is Shang Di! The Father is Omnipotent (Psalm 62:11). The Son is Omnipotent (Col. 1:17; I Cor 1:24); & The Spirit is Omnipotent (Lk. 1:35; Isa. 11:2); The Father is Omniscient (Jer. 17:10).
The Son is Omniscient (John 16:30; Rev. 2:23); & The Holy Spirit is Omniscient (I Cor. 2:10-11; Acts 1:16), The Father is Omnipresent (Jer. 23:24). The Son is Omnipresent (Matt. 18:20; 20:28); & The Spirit is Omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10).
PROBLEM: 56 % of People surveyed think the Spirit is something ethereal or ghost-like. Why is it important to understand the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, an indivisible part of the Holy Trinity? Because if you think the Spirit is merely an influence or force, then your focus will be: “How can I get more of this power?” But if we believe the Holy Spirit is a Person then our attitude & actions are totally different.
My focus will be: “How can The Holy Spirit have more control of me?”
In the 1st case I seek to control God & use him for my purpose. In the 2nd I seek to yield my life to God and do His will. (Illustration: D.L. Moody)
THE HOLY SPIRIT Gives us Victory over our Spiritual Enemies
Jesus defeated the evil spirits by the Power of the Holy Spirit
“But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you” (Matt. 12:28 ; Lk. 11:20; Rom. 15:19). In Ephesians 6 we are warned to put on the whole Armour of God (Eph. 6:10-12). “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Then we are taught the way to put each piece of amour on is by “Praying always with all prayer & supplication in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18).
THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN GOD’S HOLY PEOPLE
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1Cor 3:16). What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1Cor 6:19). (Joh 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11)
The Divine Spirit is referred to over 100 times as “The Holy Spirit”
Holiness is an Essential Attribute of the Trinitarian God. Most importantly for us, He comes into our hearts & life to make us holy. {So we can have fellowship with a Holy God}. He is “the spirit of holiness” (Rom. 1:4) Who sanctifies believers. The Sins that will send us to Hell are innumerable… “Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (sodomites), Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 6:9-10).
THE HOLY SPIRIT SANCTIFIES Us & Saves us from Sin
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1Cor 6:9-11) (see also I Pet. 1:2; Rom. 15:16; 2 Thess. 2:13).
THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES US A NEW PERSON
We must be “born again” through the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-7)
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ… (2Cor 5:17-18).
THE HOLY SPIRIT CONFORMS US TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Cor. 3:18).
LIFE CHANGING TRUTH EVIDENT FROM THE UNITY OF GOD THE FATHER; GOD THE SON & GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Reality of the Trinitarian God means that LOVE is a foundational reality of life. God the Father is Love (study I John 4:7-18). God the Son is Love (John 15:13; Eph. 5:2). God the Holy Spirit is Love (Rom. 15:30). Loves Precedes Everything Else (Jer. 31:3). We can experience the Glory of God love because “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Rom 5:5)
I must take advantage of that supernatural gift and grow in love! (I Thess. 4:9-10; I John 3:18).
The Holy Spirit Uses the Word of God to Bring me into Fellowship with the Son of God & the Father (I John 1:1-4). Jesus said: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, & they are life” (John 6:63). Jesus told us to “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: & they are they which testify of me. but ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:39-40).
The Impact of the Trinity on Prayer: We Pray to the Father (Matt. 6:9), in the Name of the Son (John 14:13-14) by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:26-27) (see Gal. 4:6; John 14:26; 15:16; 16:23; Eph. 2:18 & Jude 20-21). Clearly a Knowledge of the Trinity is necessary for a profound experience of prayer. What Good does it do to pray to God if God already knows everything? If Jesus, the very Son of God, needed to pray all the time – so do I! Prayer works!
The Holy Spirit is our Great Teacher & makes the Truth of Jesus Christ Real to us. Jesus said the Spirit of truth will guide us into all truth: “He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:13-15 with I Cor. 2:9-12). This is why the Lord’s Supper should be such a Powerful Experience for Sanctified Believers. The Holy Spirit reveals the Glory of Christ in the profound truths of Jesus hidden in the Supper. The Holy Spirit is An eyewitness to the Life of Jesus Christ & is in our midst! (Rom. 1:4; Heb. 9:14)