Holy Spirit and the Christ

143 Pages·2012·1.77 MB·English

Rivers of
Living Water

This Jesus spoke of the
Spirit

Whom those who believed
in Him were to receive
Cf. John 7:37-39

By Brian Garnett
Rivers of Living Water

Rivers of
Living Water

This Jesus spoke of the
Spirit

Whom those who believed
in Him were to receive
Cf. John 7:37-39

By Brian Garnett
Nueces Canyon Church of Christ
PO Box 689 Camp Wood, Texas 78833

Copyright © 2010
All rights reserved. Do not copy or reproduce without prior permission.

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Rivers of Living Water

A Study of the Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit of God.

The aim of this study is to examine the passages that talk of the Holy Spirit
and try to better understand His roll in history,
the scheme of redemption, the work of the early church
and His part in the lives of Christians today.

The Holy Spirit has not been a great part of our teaching in the past and when it has, it has
usually been in a negative sense (what the Spirit does not do and the abuses some have made of
it). I do not believe the scriptures teach the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit through men
as part of His work today. Nor do I believe He has been retired since Pentecost or by the end of
the first century. He is and has been active in the church and the lives of Christians through the
ages. We will search the scriptures to learn of His nature and work for today. Our failure to
study this subject adequately has contributed to the difficulties we face. Our silence has left the
Spirit ignored by many. Such a position is to insult the Spirit of Grace.

The Holy Spirit’s work and His part in the lives of Christians has always been a
controversial subject with strong opinions on every side. I pray to God that this study helps you
better understand the Bible’s teachings and in no way cause you to be at odds with your brethren
or others. Search the scriptures for yourself, draw your own conclusions and stand by them.
Remember that you are to “preserve the unity of the Spirit in a bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

These notes have been compiled from class material, past teaching and resource notes from
various sources. I found Herbert Lockyer’s All the Doctrines of the Bible. Richard Rogers’ A
Study of The Holy Spirit of God is a great resource. Jimmy Jividen’s, Alive in the Spirit was
very helpful as was H. Leo Boles’ book The Holy Spirit His Personality, Nature and Works.

May the Lord be blessed by our study of His Word and we be strengthened as that Word
richly dwells within.
Brian Garnett

PO Box 689 Camp Wood, Texas 78833 [phone] email: [email protected]
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Table of Contents
About the Author .................................................................................................................. page 4

Introduction ............................................................................................................................page 5

Chapter 1 The Holy Spirit and the God Head ................................................................... page 7

Sermon Thoughts ..................................................................................... page 17, 18

Chapter 2 The Holy Spirit as a Personal Being ...............................................................page 21

Chapter 3 The Holy Spirit is Spiritual ............................................................................ page 28

Chapter 4 Holy Spirit and the Word of God .................................................................. page 36

Chapter 5 The Spirit’s Names and Identity .................................................................. page 46

Chapter 6 Holy Spirit and the Christ ............................................................................... page 51

Chapter 7 The Holy Spirit and Pentecost ........................................................................ page 57

Chapter 8 Holy Spirit Baptism ........................................................................................ page 62

Holy Spirit Baptism CHARTS ............................................................... pages 71-75

Chapter 9 The Gift of the Indwelling Spirit .................................................................... page 78

Chapter 10 Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit .............................................................. page 88

Chapter 11 The Holy Spirit in the Life of a Christian .................................................. page 101

Chapter 12 Sins Against the Holy Spirit ....................................................................... page 118

Appendix A “Poured Out” passages ........................................................................ page 126

Appendix B Appendix on the Holy Spirit Passages ................................................ page 127

Bibliography ....................................................................................................................... page 133

Course Evaluation ............................................................................................................. page 134

All Scripture quotations, unless indicated, are taken from
"the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977
by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)
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About the Author

Brian Garnett was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada He became
a Christian in the early 70's while attending Saint Mary’s University
Engineering program. Very soon after his baptism he began preaching
and within a year he started attending the Sunset School of Preaching in
Lubbock, Texas. Brian married Betty Donop of Mason, Texas. Betty
was then a Bible major at Lubbock Christian University. Brian and Betty
now have four children and four grandchildren. After graduation they
moved to Nova Scotia, Canada where they spent the next 23 years
establishing a new congregation in Kentville, Nova Scotia.

When their children began to attend Christian Universities in the
United States, they decided to move to Texas. Since then, they have
labored with the Nueces Canyon Church of Christ in Camp Wood, Texas. Brian has served as
the minister for the past 13 years and as an Elders for the past five years.

In January of 1975 Brian graduated from the Sunset School of Preaching. He received a
Bachelor of Ministry from the Theological University of America in 1999. In 2000 he received
his Masters from the Theological University of America. He received a bible degree from Sunset
International Bible Institute in December 2010. Brian has lectured and conducted meetings in
Canada, U.S.A. Mexico and the Philippines. He has conducted Spiritual Growth Seminars and
Seminars on the Holy Spirit at various congregations.

Brian’s preaching is passionate, enthusiastic and very sound. His love and compassion for
God and His word are conveyed in his deliverance of the message. His study and presentation of
the material on the Holy Spirit will open your eyes and heart to the work and role of the Holy
Spirit of God.

Brian Garnett
PO Box 689
Camp Wood, Texas 78833
[phone]
[email protected]
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Introduction

The Bible is God’s word for His people. He loves us and wants us to be with Him for all
eternity. The Bible is His message of love that leads us back to Him. It is not just a collection of
man’s experiences nor the best that man has to offer for a better life. No, the Bible is God’s
Word. His holy, all inspired Word of Life. It is our only source book for eternity. We must
diligently study its precepts and follow its direction if we intend to live the full life that God
intended for us now. If we do, beyond this life, we can be prepared for a spiritual, eternal
dwelling in the presence of God.

Many have neglected the study of the Holy Spirit. When the passages are read, they are
sometimes not really noticed. We might read through the Bible but fail to comprehend what God
has said to us. It is as if some block out that part of His message. Let me illustrate. Who has
heard a sermon on the Holy Spirit is the past year? How about in the past five years, who has
heard a full sermon on the Holy Spirit? Of those who have, how many of those lessons were
telling you what the Holy Spirit does not do? Is it not amazing that some are more interested in
what the Holy Spirit does not do than what He does? (You may be saying to yourself, “Well,
that is because the Holy Spirit does not work today.” Hence the need for this study.)

Jesus told Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit is much like the wind. "The wind blows where it
wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going;
so is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). We cannot see the Holy Spirit but we can
see the effects of its presence. We know a little about Jesus because He walked in this life as we
do. We understand more about the Father because we read so much about Him and His work,
but who is the Holy Spirit? Some translations call the Spirit the Holy Ghost. Most of us would
be afraid of a ‘Ghost’. Ghosts hang around grave yards and are associated with the dead.

The study of the Holy Spirit is necessary and essential for us as Christians. It is the Spirit
who gives us life and guides us into a right relationship with God. Picture three people standing
at the front of a room and I walk in, turned my back to one and address the other two. What
would you think? If you watched as I conversed with two of the three and gave no heed to the
third nor acknowledged his presence, would you not consider it very rude? It would even be an
insult to that third person. In our lack of study of the Holy Spirit we may have insulted Him and
spurned His place in our spiritual lives. The Hebrew writer speaks of those who have, “insulted
the Spirit of grace” (Hebrews 10:29).

Let us say you were traveling and stopped at a congregation for worship. The preacher stood
up and said, “Our lesson today is on the Holy Spirit.” What would your immediate reaction be?
What if the preacher said, “Our Lesson is ‘The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Lives of Christians
Today?’” Would you want to leave and look for a “sound” congregation? Would you listen with
suspicion to the possible heretic? Would you start looking for other areas of error within the
group? We are concerned about error and there is much taught about the Holy Spirit that is not
in tune with the scriptures. So we are cautious and maybe a little suspicious when we approach
the topic of the Holy Spirit.

We are embarking on a study of the Holy Spirit of God, His nature and work, His influence
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and place in our lives today. Let us do so in humility and reverence. We will search the
scriptures to gain a spiritual insight into this most Holy topic. Pray for God’s guidance and truth.
The doctrine of the Holy Spirit must be brought into clarity in our thinking and living as
Christians. The problem has not been what God has said about the Holy Spirit, but what men
made of what God said. Let us seek the truth in all its glory and glorify God in the message of
His word.

Great amounts of study have been directed toward the nature of God the Father and the work
of Christ His Son, especially in relationship to our salvation. We have shown the Bible to be
inspired and the absolute Word of God. Yet, many are hungry for knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
They seek a greater, clearer understanding of His work and role in their lives. They seek a way
out of the fog of uncertainty. Our brethren want to know what the Bible teaches about the Holy
Spirit and we must give them the truth or they will get their information or experiences outside
the word of God. Such could only lead to error and more confusion. We must let God’s word
speak for itself. All we can learn about the Spirit will come from the revealed Word of God.
Since the Bible is the work of the Spirit in that He guided its words and the writing, the Bible
alone will give us the answers we seek as to “Who is the Holy Spirit?”

In the most powerful chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul simple says if we do not have the
Holy Spirit we are not Christians. Listen to him, “But if anyone does not have the Spirit of
Christ, he does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9). This is a crucial point. It is a matter of
salvation. Do we have the Spirit? Do we know that we do? How can we know? How can one
tell? We are not talking about miraculous powers but spiritual living because we are indwelt by
the Holy Spirit of God.

A simple exercise that will surprise and encourage you is to mark all the “Spirit” verses. Get
a “high liner” in a color you have not used elsewhere (I used pink) and mark every place the
word “Spirit” or “Holy Spirit” is used. Just highlight the word identifying the Spirit. You can see
all the verses at a glance. There is a list of all the verses in “Appendix B.”

It is my prayer for you, that you enjoy the fellowship of the Holy Spirit as you study the
Word of God and focus on the third member of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all.”
2 Corinthians 13:14

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Chapter 1

The Holy Spirit and the God Head

Introduction
A. The idea of the Holy Ghost (KJV) sounds a little spooky or mysterious. The word translated
Ghost in the King James Version did not mean a “spook” but rather a visitant or guest.
B. Alexander Campbell translated the words as “Holy Guest.” The Spirit of God is one who
personally and literally dwells in the heart of every Christian.
C. If you have not the Spirit of God in your heart, you are not His.
1. Romans 8:9; “... 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.”
2. We do not get to choose whether we have the Holy Spirit. If we are Christians, we have
the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. We may not understand how, or why, but He is there.
God has given Him for a reason and He fulfills a purpose in our Christian walk. It is our
responsibility to understand His role in our lives.

I. All You Can Know About the Holy Sprit Comes from Scripture
A. The Holy Spirit is not a human emotional force or a feeling. “The ‘force’ be with you”
was a great line in the original Star War movie, but it is not an accurate way to describe
the Holy Spirit of God. He is so much more than a force from God. He is God. He is a
Divine person. He thinks, feels, leads, reveals and even gets hurt.
B. He is the Creator of the Universe (in co-operation with the Father and the Son).
C. He is a personal, spiritual, holy, eternal being. He is God!
D. He is powerful (Acts 1:8), but he is more than just power (force) from God.

II. Diagrams of Various Concepts

A. Three Gods of Different Size and Power Levels

FATHER

SON

HS

Work of Work of Work of
Creation Salvation Inspiration

This is a common approach to the Godhead. When “God” is spoken of, often “God the
Father” is who is meant. When one asks, “Who created the world?” The response is,
“God.” “Well, Yes, but God who?” “God the Father.” When asked, “Who split the Red
Sea?” “Who closed the door of the ark?” “Who gave Moses the commandments?” In our
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thinking God is most often God the Father. This is not always the case, however. “ Just
who did create the world?“ “Let us look a little closer.”
1. God did! Genesis 1:1-3, God = ELOHIYM; (el-o-heem'); plural, not simply
one being but one God seen in a plurality of beings (Father, Son and Holy
Ghost).
2. Jesus had a hand in it all:
a) John 1:1-3; “... all things came into being by Him (Jesus), and apart from
Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”
b) Hebrews 1:1-3; “... in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom
He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”
3. The Holy Spirit who moved over the surface of the deep, was also part of the
“Creator God” (Geneses 1:2).
This concept says God the Father, as a Creator God, got everything started and then He
went back to heaven and left the universe to run by itself. Jesus, later came and died on
the cross for our sins. He then went back to heaven and left us to find and obey the
gospel. The Holy Spirit came and gave us our bibles so we can figure it all out and He
also went back to heaven. Obviously, this is a very distorted view of God.

B. Three Equal, Independent, Separated Beings, making up God 1 + 1 + 1 = 1?

FATHER SON HOLY

SPIRIT

This view considers God to be three equal Gods. Each acting and performing His own
acts as independent Gods. This fails to see the unity and interconnected nature of the
Godhead.

C. Some would rather see three overlapping Gods. Each his own being but connected to the
others. This is more accurate but it still lacks the true relationship between the three beings of
the Godhead.

FATHER

SON HS

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Any and every physical model will fall short of describing the true nature of the
Godhead. Physical things (diagrams) can never capture God. Here is the very reason
idols and icons are so wrong. They can never truly represent God’s nature. Trying to find
a diagram of the Godhead is just as limiting. Manhood describes what makes a man a
man. Godhood is what makes God, God. The Latin term for Godhead is “Trinity.” The
word “Trinity” is not found in our English translations since it is a Latin word. Although
the word “trinity” itself is not in our Bibles the concept is certainly described.

D. Three independent beings comprising the “Godhead” or “God Hood.” Each is God, totally
and completely. Each is His own being and each is God. The diagram below describes more
the relationship within the Godhead than anything else.

This triangular diagram is the best way of explaining the Godhead that I have found. The
Father is God! The Son is God! The Holy Spirit is God. Yet, each is independent. Each has a
role and a work. It is possible for the Father in heaven to look upon the Son at His baptism
and send the Spirit in the form of a dove. There is a separated identity for each but also a
connected relationship between them. How can we really diagram something spiritual?
Matthew 3:16-17; “... Jesus (Son) came up immediately from the water ... and he saw the
Spirit of God descending as a dove ... and behold, a voice out of the heavens (Father) said,
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

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