The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
This sermon delves into the profound reality of the Holy Spirit, explaining His divine personhood and multifaceted work in human lives. It thoughtfully navigates common questions and misconceptions, urging listeners to embrace the Spirit's guidance and transforming power.
This sermon explains the Holy Spirit as the divine "Comforter" who convicts of sin, gives new life, empowers believers, and produces Christ-like fruit. It urges listeners to respond to the Spirit's call and avoid resisting His work.
Overview
The sermon opens by defining the Holy Spirit as the "Comforter" or "Advocate" promised by Jesus, a divine Person co-equal with God the Father and Son. It asserts that understanding the Holy Spirit is crucial for grasping the Bible, Christian living, and the Church's structure, countering worldly suggestions of artificial spirituality.
The preacher details the Holy Spirit's omnipotent and omnipresent nature, explaining how He convicts individuals of sin and draws them to Christ for forgiveness. He is also the one who imparts spiritual new life, enabling believers to be "born again" and become temples where God's Spirit dwells.
Beyond conviction and new birth, the Holy Spirit empowers believers for service and manifests the "fruit of the Spirit" like love, joy, and peace in their lives. He provides guidance, opening and closing doors, and always magnifies and glorifies Jesus Christ, never drawing attention to Himself.
A significant warning is issued against sinning against the Holy Spirit—grieving, lying to, tempting, or resisting Him. The sermon stresses the danger of a hardened heart that can no longer hear God's call, urging immediate repentance and commitment to Christ by receiving Him as Savior, Lord, and Master.
Key points
- The Holy Spirit is the Comforter or Advocate promised by Jesus, essential for understanding Christian life.
- He is a divine Person, co-equal with God the Father and Son, who is omnipotent and omnipresent.
- The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin, gives spiritual new life (being "born again"), and dwells within believers.
- He empowers believers for service, produces the fruit of the Spirit, and guides their lives while always exalting Jesus Christ.
- It is dangerous to sin against the Holy Spirit by grieving, lying to, tempting, or resisting Him, as it can lead to a hardened heart.
- The sermon calls for immediate repentance, receiving Jesus Christ by faith, and committing to obey Him.
In Billy Graham's words
“It's impossible to understand the Bible, Christian living, or the structure of the church without understanding something of the Person and the work of the Holy Spirit.”
Outline
- I. Introduction to the Holy Spirit: The Promised Comforter
- A. The Greek meaning of "Comforter": Advocate or Helper
- B. Paul's instruction: "I would not have you ignorant" concerning the Spirit
- C. Understanding the Holy Spirit is essential for Christian life
- II. The Person of the Holy Spirit
- A. He is God, not an agent or influence
- B. He is a Person ("someone," not "it")
- C. He is Holy within Himself
- D. He is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son (The Trinity)
- E. His attributes
- 1. Omnipotent (all-powerful)
- 2. Omnipresent (present everywhere)
- III. The Work of the Holy Spirit
- A. Convicts of sin
- B. Gives new life (being "born again" or "born from above")
- 1. Man is spiritually dead without God
- 2. Jesus told Nicodemus, a religious leader
- 3. The Spirit dwells within believers
- C. Empowers for service ("Ye shall receive power... and ye shall be witnesses")
- D. Produces the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.)
- 1. Cannot live the Christian life by oneself
- 2. Contrast: Romans 7 (defeat) vs. Romans 8 (victory)
- E. Opens and shuts doors, teaches and guides
- F. Magnifies, glorifies, and exalts Jesus Christ (does not speak of Himself)
- G. Fills believers ("Be filled with the Spirit")
- 1. Requires emptying of selfishness
- 2. A command to be continually filled
- IV. Sins Against the Holy Spirit
- A. Angering or Grieving the Spirit
- 1. "My Spirit shall not always strive with man" (Genesis 6)
- B. Lying against the Spirit (Acts 5)
- C. Tempting the Spirit
- 1. Can wait too long, like the eagle on the iceberg
- D. Resisting the Spirit
- 1. A dangerous and solemn thing
- 2. Hardens the heart, making it unable to hear God's voice
- V. Invitation to Respond
- A. Come to Christ while your heart is tender
- B. Three steps to receive Christ
- 1. Repent of sin (Spirit helps)
- 2. Receive Jesus Christ by faith as Savior, Lord, and Master
- 3. Be willing to obey Him
- C. Make a public commitment (as Jesus called people publicly)
- D. Do not resist the Holy Spirit's drawing
Scripture references
- Micah 3:8
- Psalm 139:7
- Ezekiel 36:27
- John 14:17
- Romans 7
- Romans 8
- Genesis 6:3
- Acts 5:4
- Acts 5:9
- Acts 7:51
- Hebrews 10:28-29
- Proverbs 29:1
- Proverbs 27:1
8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Insights
Life's deepest understanding begins with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit always points beyond Himself to Christ.
Genuine spiritual experience is found in God, not in fleeting highs.
Questions & answers
What is the "Comforter" promised by Jesus?
The sermon explains that "Comforter" comes from a Greek word meaning "Advocate" or "one who helps alongside," referring to the Holy Spirit.
Why is understanding the Holy Spirit important?
The preacher states that it's impossible to understand the Bible, Christian living, or the structure of the church without understanding the Person and work of the Holy Spirit.
How does the Holy Spirit give "new life"?
According to the sermon, people are spiritually "dead in sins," and the Holy Spirit's work is to make them alive, enabling them to be "born again" or "born from above."
How can someone know if a spiritual experience is from the Holy Spirit?
The sermon emphasizes that the Holy Spirit always magnifies and glorifies Jesus Christ. If a person talks only about the Holy Spirit and never about Jesus, it is not from the Holy Spirit.
What does it mean to "resist the Holy Spirit"?
Resisting the Holy Spirit means detecting His voice or drawing you to Christ, but deliberately doing nothing about it. The sermon warns this can harden one's heart, making it unable to hear Him.
What does the sermon say are the three steps to receive Christ?
To receive Christ, one must first repent of sin, then by faith receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, and finally, be willing to obey Him in all things.
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Source
Unofficial AI summary for study purposes. Watch the full sermon on Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Sermon Insights is not affiliated with or endorsed by the pastor or church.