Today’s message summary of May 19, 2019 from Pastor Gus Brown:
The Holy Spirit is often referred to as the third person of the Trinity.
The purpose of these messages is to help us understand that the Holy Spirit is God, not a lesser God than the One who is named first in the Trinity.
We are taught to say in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore in our minds we think of the Spirit as the third person of the Godhead.
Which of you would always enjoy being in third place all the time at the Olympic games? You never win the gold or silver, but always the bronze medal.
In our thinking, first place is only for the best; however, Scripture put all three (God the Father, the Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit) at different times in only the first place position.
Our challenge is to rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit more and more, and less upon our own abilities.
The three persons are all God. What one possesses, the other two also possess. They are equal to one another.
The Holy Spirit is God. There is nothing lacking in Him.
The Godhead works in unison.
John 16:4-15 ESV
“But I (Jesus) have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
Jesus is the One who provides our salvation, but it is the Holy Spirit is the One who convicts a person to desire this salvation in Christ.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Nicene Creed (A.D. 325) declared that He is God. He is the third person of the Trinity.
“I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, and giver of life. Which proceedeth from the Father and son, and with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified.”
The Holy Spirit is seen as equal in this creed because all are worshiped and glorified.
Hebrews 9:14
…how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?
The Holy Spirit is referred to as the eternal Spirit.
He is without beginning and end–He has always been and always will be.
He is without end, never to cease, everlasting.
Genesis 1:2
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
The Spirit of God is there during creation.
He is the One who is promised to come after Jesus.
Luke 24:49
“And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
The Holy Spirit is a promise from God to help us to live in His name.
John 14:26
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”
A counselor guides you, but he can’t do things for you. Our Counselor in the Holy Spirit gives the power to live in the way of Christ. He orders your steps. You must be willing to accept and receive His counsel.
Acts 2:38-39
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
All three within the Trinity are involved in your life. The Holy Spirit is the One who enables you with power. This is the new person in you that the Holy Spirit is providing. Your mind is being renewed and you see things from a different, and better perspective.
John 7:38-39
“The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been glorified.”
The Holy Spirit works to bring you to Jesus before you make a decision to live for Jesus. He has to work on us from the inside, when we believe in Jesus, to perfect the work in us.
The Word of God reveals to us all of the treasures of God and it reveals who we are and who we belong to.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Note these passages and how each member of the Trinity is being referenced:
Matthew 3:16-17
Son-Holy Spirit-Father
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Holy Spirit-Son-Father
Matthew 28:19-20
Father-Son-Holy Spirit
2 Corinthians 13:14
Jesus-Father-Holy Spirit
1 Peter 1:2
Father-Holy Spirit-Jesus
Jude 1:20-21
Holy Spirit-Father-Son
And yet all are equal in stature.
Jesus is the representative of the Trinity who serves us. He shows us what it is to serve Him before others. The Spirit empowers us within this service.
Unlike what we believe as far as first, second or third place, it doesn’t matter in the Godhead who is in first place. The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are all working to be a blessing to us. They are all a benefit to us. It is not about who is in first place, for they are all equal to one another.
Praise be to God.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 