Names of the Holy Spirit | Acts 16:1-15 (Part 1) | Join The Journey Podcast

All right, all right, join the journey, All right, all right, join the journey, family, friends, and guests. You're family, friends, and guests. You're family, friends, and guests. You're listening to Join the Journey podcast listening to Join the Journey podcast listening to Join the Journey podcast with your host, Emma Dotter. with your host, Emma Dotter. with your host, Emma Dotter. >> Thanks for joining. [music] This week, >> Thanks for joining. [music] This week, >> Thanks for joining. [music] This week, we're reading Acts 16:1-15, we're reading Acts 16:1-15, we're reading Acts 16:1-15, and today, we're answering the question, and today, we're answering the question, and today, we're answering the question, "What are all the names of the Holy "What are all the names of the Holy "What are all the names of the Holy Spirit?" You might be familiar with the Spirit?" You might be familiar with the Spirit?" You might be familiar with the various names for God the Father, but various names for God the Father, but various names for God the Father, but what about the Spirit? what about the Spirit? what about the Spirit? Think about your phone contacts for a Think about your phone contacts for a Think about your phone contacts for a moment. moment. moment. You probably have some people saved in You probably have some people saved in You probably have some people saved in ways that reflect your relationship to ways that reflect your relationship to ways that reflect your relationship to them. them. them. Maybe your mom is saved as Mom, but to Maybe your mom is saved as Mom, but to Maybe your mom is saved as Mom, but to her co-workers, she's Jennifer. To her her co-workers, she's Jennifer. To her her co-workers, she's Jennifer. To her patients, she might be Dr. Smith. To patients, she might be Dr. Smith. To patients, she might be Dr. Smith. To your kids someday, she'll be Grandma. your kids someday, she'll be Grandma. your kids someday, she'll be Grandma. Same person, different names. Same person, different names. Same person, different names. And each name tells you something about And each name tells you something about And each name tells you something about how that person relates to someone or how that person relates to someone or how that person relates to someone or the role they play in that person's the role they play in that person's the role they play in that person's life. life. life. The name doesn't change who they are. It The name doesn't change who they are. It The name doesn't change who they are. It just reveals something more about them.

just reveals something more about them. just reveals something more about them. That's a little like what we find when That's a little like what we find when That's a little like what we find when we read about the Holy Spirit in the we read about the Holy Spirit in the we read about the Holy Spirit in the Bible. Sometimes, he is called the Holy Bible. Sometimes, he is called the Holy Bible. Sometimes, he is called the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, the Spirit of God, Spirit. Sometimes, the Spirit of God, Spirit. Sometimes, the Spirit of God, other times, the Spirit of Christ. And other times, the Spirit of Christ. And other times, the Spirit of Christ. And here in Acts 16, Luke calls him the here in Acts 16, Luke calls him the here in Acts 16, Luke calls him the Spirit of Jesus. Spirit of Jesus. Spirit of Jesus. At first, that could feel confusing. At first, that could feel confusing. At first, that could feel confusing. Like, wait, are these different spirits? Like, wait, are these different spirits? Like, wait, are these different spirits? What's What's happening? But, just like What's What's happening? But, just like What's What's happening? But, just like the names in your contacts, these titles the names in your contacts, these titles the names in your contacts, these titles aren't describing different people. aren't describing different people. aren't describing different people. They're revealing different dimensions They're revealing different dimensions They're revealing different dimensions of the same person and his work. of the same person and his work. of the same person and his work. And honestly, I love I mean, genuinely, And honestly, I love I mean, genuinely, And honestly, I love I mean, genuinely, I love that Luke uses the nickname I love that Luke uses the nickname I love that Luke uses the nickname Spirit of Jesus here for the Holy Spirit of Jesus here for the Holy Spirit of Jesus here for the Holy Spirit, because Spirit, because Spirit, because the Holy Spirit can carry a lot of the Holy Spirit can carry a lot of the Holy Spirit can carry a lot of baggage for people. baggage for people. baggage for people. Some have been in churches where Some have been in churches where Some have been in churches where the Spirit was treated like this the Spirit was treated like this the Spirit was treated like this emotional hype, where if you if you emotional hype, where if you if you emotional hype, where if you if you didn't cry or have some dramatic didn't cry or have some dramatic didn't cry or have some dramatic experience, you were made to feel like experience, you were made to feel like experience, you were made to feel like you were less spiritual or you weren't you were less spiritual or you weren't you were less spiritual or you weren't spiritual enough. Others have been spiritual enough. Others have been spiritual enough. Others have been taught to fear the spirit all together taught to fear the spirit all together taught to fear the spirit all together as if he's unpredictable or unimportant, as if he's unpredictable or unimportant, as if he's unpredictable or unimportant, stay away or even less relevant for stay away or even less relevant for stay away or even less relevant for modern believers.

modern believers. modern believers. And then for some And then for some And then for some poor teaching about the spirit has left poor teaching about the spirit has left poor teaching about the spirit has left real wounds, confusion, shame, real wounds, confusion, shame, real wounds, confusion, shame, manipulation or even disappointment when manipulation or even disappointment when manipulation or even disappointment when promised experiences never came. That's promised experiences never came. That's promised experiences never came. That's why spirit of Jesus is such a comforting why spirit of Jesus is such a comforting why spirit of Jesus is such a comforting title. title. title. It reminds us that the Holy Spirit he It reminds us that the Holy Spirit he It reminds us that the Holy Spirit he isn't strange or disconnected from the isn't strange or disconnected from the isn't strange or disconnected from the character of Christ. He is the spirit of character of Christ. He is the spirit of character of Christ. He is the spirit of the same Jesus who welcomed the weary, the same Jesus who welcomed the weary, the same Jesus who welcomed the weary, spoke truth with love, and laid down his spoke truth with love, and laid down his spoke truth with love, and laid down his life for sinners. The spirit though the life for sinners. The spirit though the life for sinners. The spirit though the spirit plays a different role than the spirit plays a different role than the spirit plays a different role than the son son son his character is consistent. He doesn't his character is consistent. He doesn't his character is consistent. He doesn't manipulate, perform, or even contradict manipulate, perform, or even contradict manipulate, perform, or even contradict the word of God. He magnifies Jesus. So the word of God. He magnifies Jesus. So the word of God. He magnifies Jesus. So if your understanding of the spirit has if your understanding of the spirit has if your understanding of the spirit has ever been shaped more by people's ideas ever been shaped more by people's ideas ever been shaped more by people's ideas rather than by God's ideas and scripture rather than by God's ideas and scripture rather than by God's ideas and scripture this title, the spirit of Jesus, this this title, the spirit of Jesus, this this title, the spirit of Jesus, this nickname if you will nickname if you will nickname if you will invites you back to something steady.

invites you back to something steady. invites you back to something steady. If you want to know what the spirit is If you want to know what the spirit is If you want to know what the spirit is like like like look to Jesus. look to Jesus. look to Jesus. So who is the Holy Spirit? The Bible So who is the Holy Spirit? The Bible So who is the Holy Spirit? The Bible gives him a lot of names or as I like to gives him a lot of names or as I like to gives him a lot of names or as I like to say a lot of nicknames. The Holy Spirit, say a lot of nicknames. The Holy Spirit, say a lot of nicknames. The Holy Spirit, the spirit of God, the spirit of Christ, the spirit of God, the spirit of Christ, the spirit of God, the spirit of Christ, the spirit of truth, the helper, the the spirit of truth, the helper, the the spirit of truth, the helper, the advocate, and here in Acts 16:7, again, advocate, and here in Acts 16:7, again, advocate, and here in Acts 16:7, again, Luke calls him the spirit of Jesus. Luke calls him the spirit of Jesus. Luke calls him the spirit of Jesus. Which is significant because names Which is significant because names Which is significant because names reveal something about his nature and reveal something about his nature and reveal something about his nature and his work. his work. his work. First, the Holy Spirit is fully God. In First, the Holy Spirit is fully God. In First, the Holy Spirit is fully God. In Acts 5, Peter told Ananias or said to Acts 5, Peter told Ananias or said to Acts 5, Peter told Ananias or said to him, "Why have you let Satan fill your him, "Why have you let Satan fill your him, "Why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit." heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit." heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit." "You weren't lying to us," he says, "but "You weren't lying to us," he says, "but "You weren't lying to us," he says, "but to God." to God." to God." He uses God as a synonym for the Holy He uses God as a synonym for the Holy He uses God as a synonym for the Holy Spirit. The Spirit isn't less than God. Spirit. The Spirit isn't less than God. Spirit. The Spirit isn't less than God. He is God. And second, he is a person, He is God. And second, he is a person, He is God. And second, he is a person, not a force. He has a will, he speaks, not a force. He has a will, he speaks, not a force. He has a will, he speaks, he can be lied to, and he can be he can be lied to, and he can be he can be lied to, and he can be grieved. Paul says in Ephesians 4:30, grieved. Paul says in Ephesians 4:30, grieved. Paul says in Ephesians 4:30, "Do not bring sorrow to God's Holy "Do not bring sorrow to God's Holy "Do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit." That's the NLT.

Spirit." That's the NLT. Spirit." That's the NLT. You can't grieve electricity or or a You can't grieve electricity or or a You can't grieve electricity or or a force, but you can grieve a person. force, but you can grieve a person. force, but you can grieve a person. The Holy Spirit is the personal presence The Holy Spirit is the personal presence The Holy Spirit is the personal presence of God dwelling in his people. of God dwelling in his people. of God dwelling in his people. And then what does he do? And then what does he do? And then what does he do? From the very beginning, the Spirit has From the very beginning, the Spirit has From the very beginning, the Spirit has been active. been active. been active. In Genesis 1:2, the Spirit of God hovers In Genesis 1:2, the Spirit of God hovers In Genesis 1:2, the Spirit of God hovers over the waters, bringing order to over the waters, bringing order to over the waters, bringing order to chaos. chaos. chaos. In Genesis 2, God breathes life into In Genesis 2, God breathes life into In Genesis 2, God breathes life into Adam, and in the life of a believer, the Adam, and in the life of a believer, the Adam, and in the life of a believer, the Spirit still brings life. Jesus says in Spirit still brings life. Jesus says in Spirit still brings life. Jesus says in John 3 that we are born of the Spirit. John 3 that we are born of the Spirit. John 3 that we are born of the Spirit. Paul says in Titus 3:5 that we are Paul says in Titus 3:5 that we are Paul says in Titus 3:5 that we are washed and made new by the Holy Spirit. washed and made new by the Holy Spirit. washed and made new by the Holy Spirit. He regenerates us, indwells us, seals He regenerates us, indwells us, seals He regenerates us, indwells us, seals us, sanctifies us, convicts us, comforts us, sanctifies us, convicts us, comforts us, sanctifies us, convicts us, comforts us, empowers us, intercedes for us, and us, empowers us, intercedes for us, and us, empowers us, intercedes for us, and guides us into truth. guides us into truth. guides us into truth. Romans 8:16 says, Romans 8:16 says, Romans 8:16 says, "For his Spirit joins with our spirit to "For his Spirit joins with our spirit to "For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children." affirm that we are God's children." affirm that we are God's children." In other words, In other words, In other words, the Spirit isn't a bonus feature of the the Spirit isn't a bonus feature of the the Spirit isn't a bonus feature of the Christian life. He is essential Christian life. He is essential Christian life. He is essential to it.

to it. to it. There's no following Jesus apart from There's no following Jesus apart from There's no following Jesus apart from the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of God. the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of God. the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of God. And that's why the And that's why the And that's why the Spirit of Jesus may be one of the most Spirit of Jesus may be one of the most Spirit of Jesus may be one of the most comforting names of all because like comforting names of all because like comforting names of all because like like I said when we began for some like I said when we began for some like I said when we began for some people people people the Holy Spirit has become associated the Holy Spirit has become associated the Holy Spirit has become associated with confusion with confusion with confusion manipulation manipulation manipulation bad teaching or even unhealthy church bad teaching or even unhealthy church bad teaching or even unhealthy church experiences. experiences. experiences. And if that's you if that's been your And if that's you if that's been your And if that's you if that's been your experience, I'm so sorry. experience, I'm so sorry. experience, I'm so sorry. It's not God's desire for you It's not God's desire for you It's not God's desire for you or his design. So this nick name spirit or his design. So this nick name spirit or his design. So this nick name spirit of Jesus of Jesus of Jesus it pulls us back to solid ground. it pulls us back to solid ground. it pulls us back to solid ground. The spirit is the spirit of Christ, the The spirit is the spirit of Christ, the The spirit is the spirit of Christ, the spirit of God's spirit of God's spirit of God's son. That means his character is son. That means his character is son. That means his character is perfectly consistent with Jesus. perfectly consistent with Jesus. perfectly consistent with Jesus. The same Jesus who is gentle with the The same Jesus who is gentle with the The same Jesus who is gentle with the weary, bold with the proud, patient with weary, bold with the proud, patient with weary, bold with the proud, patient with the struggling and truthful with the the struggling and truthful with the the struggling and truthful with the lost. lost. lost. That's the character of the spirit at That's the character of the spirit at That's the character of the spirit at work in you. Compassionate, abounding in work in you. Compassionate, abounding in work in you. Compassionate, abounding in steadfast love.

steadfast love. steadfast love. Jesus said in John 16:14 Jesus said in John 16:14 Jesus said in John 16:14 "He will bring me glory by telling you "He will bring me glory by telling you "He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me." whatever he receives from me." whatever he receives from me." The spirit doesn't compete with Jesus. The spirit doesn't compete with Jesus. The spirit doesn't compete with Jesus. He reveals Jesus. He reveals Jesus. He reveals Jesus. He doesn't draw attention to himself. He doesn't draw attention to himself. He doesn't draw attention to himself. He glorifies Christ. He glorifies Christ. He glorifies Christ. So if you want to know what the Holy So if you want to know what the Holy So if you want to know what the Holy Spirit is like Spirit is like Spirit is like look at Jesus. look at Jesus. look at Jesus. Cuz the spirit will always lead you Cuz the spirit will always lead you Cuz the spirit will always lead you deeper with him. deeper with him. deeper with him. So we're thinking about the Holy Spirit, So we're thinking about the Holy Spirit, So we're thinking about the Holy Spirit, it's worth pausing to examine your own it's worth pausing to examine your own it's worth pausing to examine your own posture toward him. posture toward him. posture toward him. Do you tend to ignore him treating him Do you tend to ignore him treating him Do you tend to ignore him treating him like an abstract doctrine instead of the like an abstract doctrine instead of the like an abstract doctrine instead of the personal presence of God in your life? personal presence of God in your life? personal presence of God in your life? Or maybe Or maybe Or maybe because of past experiences or confusing because of past experiences or confusing because of past experiences or confusing teaching teaching teaching do you feel suspicious or hesitant to do you feel suspicious or hesitant to do you feel suspicious or hesitant to trust his work? trust his work? trust his work? On the other hand On the other hand On the other hand have you ever elevated spiritual have you ever elevated spiritual have you ever elevated spiritual experiences above the word of God, experiences above the word of God, experiences above the word of God, chasing feelings instead of chasing feelings instead of chasing feelings instead of faithfulness?

faithfulness? faithfulness? Ask yourself, Ask yourself, Ask yourself, do I know the spirit through scripture do I know the spirit through scripture do I know the spirit through scripture or mostly through what others have told or mostly through what others have told or mostly through what others have told me? me? me? Do I invite his conviction Do I invite his conviction Do I invite his conviction or resist it? or resist it? or resist it? Am I sensitive to his leading Am I sensitive to his leading Am I sensitive to his leading or too distracted to notice? or too distracted to notice? or too distracted to notice? Do I grieve him through ongoing sin? Do I grieve him through ongoing sin? Do I grieve him through ongoing sin? Am I relying on him for power, comfort, Am I relying on him for power, comfort, Am I relying on him for power, comfort, and guidance and guidance and guidance or trying to live the Christian life in or trying to live the Christian life in or trying to live the Christian life in my own strength? my own strength? my own strength? The spirit isn't someone to fear, The spirit isn't someone to fear, The spirit isn't someone to fear, neglect, or misuse. neglect, or misuse. neglect, or misuse. He is the spirit of Jesus, He is the spirit of Jesus, He is the spirit of Jesus, God's personal presence with you, God's personal presence with you, God's personal presence with you, in you, in you, in you, and for you. and for you. and for you. The Holy Spirit, this is this is great The Holy Spirit, this is this is great The Holy Spirit, this is this is great news. The Holy Spirit is one of God's news. The Holy Spirit is one of God's news. The Holy Spirit is one of God's greatest gifts to his children. greatest gifts to his children. greatest gifts to his children. God isn't distant or reluctant or God isn't distant or reluctant or God isn't distant or reluctant or frustrated with you if you were in frustrated with you if you were in frustrated with you if you were in Christ. The spirit is a gift, the Christ. The spirit is a gift, the Christ. The spirit is a gift, the personal presence of God given in love personal presence of God given in love personal presence of God given in love to help you know God and walk with him.

to help you know God and walk with him. to help you know God and walk with him. The spirit comforts when we're weary. The spirit comforts when we're weary. The spirit comforts when we're weary. He convicts when we wander. He convicts when we wander. He convicts when we wander. He strengthens us when we're weak, He strengthens us when we're weak, He strengthens us when we're weak, emboldens us when we're afraid, and emboldens us when we're afraid, and emboldens us when we're afraid, and reminds us that we belong to the Father. reminds us that we belong to the Father. reminds us that we belong to the Father. He's the seal of your salvation, the He's the seal of your salvation, the He's the seal of your salvation, the guarantee that God will finish what he guarantee that God will finish what he guarantee that God will finish what he started in you. started in you. started in you. That means you're never alone in your That means you're never alone in your That means you're never alone in your fight against sin, never abandoned in fight against sin, never abandoned in fight against sin, never abandoned in your suffering, your suffering, your suffering, and never left to figure out the and never left to figure out the and never left to figure out the Christian life on your own. Christian life on your own. Christian life on your own. The same spirit who hovered over The same spirit who hovered over The same spirit who hovered over creation creation creation raised Jesus from the dead, raised Jesus from the dead, raised Jesus from the dead, and empowered the early church now lives and empowered the early church now lives and empowered the early church now lives in you. in you. in you. Which isn't something to fear Which isn't something to fear Which isn't something to fear or avoid, or avoid, or avoid, something to celebrate. something to celebrate. something to celebrate. The Holy Spirit is proof that God's love The Holy Spirit is proof that God's love The Holy Spirit is proof that God's love didn't stop at saving you. His love didn't stop at saving you. His love didn't stop at saving you. His love stays with you, stays with you, stays with you, empowers you, and carries you all the empowers you, and carries you all the empowers you, and carries you all the way home.

way home. way home. That's all we've got time for today, That's all we've got time for today, That's all we've got time for today, but as always, I'm so glad we're all on but as always, I'm so glad we're all on but as always, I'm so glad we're all on this journey abiding in [music] Jesus this journey abiding in [music] Jesus this journey abiding in [music] Jesus together.