Sermon Notes: Holy Spirit based on John 3:8; John 7:38-39; Acts 2:1-4

Introduction: If you had to describe the Holy Spirit with three words, what would they be? Since today is Pentecost, the day in the church calendar when we celebrate the sending of the Holy Spirit upon all believers, I wanted to preach about the Holy Spirit. What we understand and believe about the Holy Spirit is important.


My points for this sermon came about because of a prayer that God gave me as I was praying in the sanctuary at Hesston MB. 


A few introductory comments:

·         Holy Spirit is fully God

·         Holy Spirit is Personal (not a force)

·         Holy Spirit was present in the beginning

·         Holy Spirit as a dove (gentle, white (purity), descends on Jesus at baptism, stain glass)

Holy Spirit Blow (John 3:8; Acts 2:2)

·         Like Wind

o   “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

o   And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:2)

·         Power

o   Tornados, KS Winds (sound, shaking)

o   Sailboat-can’t control it, can’t see it, but need it to move

·         Presence

o   Refreshes, Life in breath (pneuma-Greek for wind, breath, Spirit)

§  Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezekiel 37:9-10)

·         Purity

o   Blows away pollution in cities or chaff at my house during harvest

Holy Spirit Flow (John 4:13-15; John 7:38-39)

·         Like Water

o    Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” ¹⁵ The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” (John 4:13-15)

o   Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” ³⁹ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:38-39)

·         Power

o   Rivers

§  Float Trips-relaxing in a tube or canoe; White Water Rafting-carried by the rapids

§  Scripture: Genesis 2 (river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers) Ezekiel 47 (water from temple, measured it (ankle, knee, waist, overhead, deep enough to swim in, river that could not be passed through, very many trees on banks, fresh water that gives life (fish, fruit, healing) and Revelation 22 (water of life, bright, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the city with trees yielding fruit on the banks. The leaves were for healing of nations.

·         Presence

o   Nourish, Thirst (John 4)

·         Purity

o   Washes (image of salvation, baptism), Health (necessary for life)

Holy Spirit Burn (Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:1-4)

·         Like Fire

o   “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matt. 3:11)

o   When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

§  Notice “each” and “all”-this is not reserved for only certain Christians

§  So ‘our western logical concept that something which is full cannot be filled any further is misleading if applied to the Spirit. One filling is not incompatible with another’.^[1]

·         Power

o   Tongues of fire-caused them to speak, boldness/passion

o   Allowed them to speak in languages they did not know so that all could hear the good news.

o   Gave the disciples and us power to spread good news of kingdom to others

·         Presence

o   Warmth, Luke 24:32- They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

·         Purity

o   Cleansing (field after harvest-put nutrients back in soil/revitalize the land; get ready for planting)

o   Refining--because he takes away our pollutions, as fire purifies gold^[2]

Response: Prayer

o   Spirit, you are welcome in my life, in my home, in my church, and community. You are free to move. Holy Spirit, blow. Spirit, overflow from within me and may I have a thirst for you alone.  Holy Spirit, flow. Spirit, burn up anything in me that keeps me from more of You. And may you create a passion in me for a deeper relationship with You and for the expansion of your kingdom. Holy Spirit, burn.

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^[1] Peterson, D. G. (2009). The Acts of the Apostles (p. 134). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

^[2] Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Vol. 1, p. 199). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.