The Kingdom Jesus Taught
1 ▪ Who Is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is not an abstract force or energy—He is the living, personal presence of God and Jesus Christ. Throughout Scripture, He is revealed as the Spirit of God, the breath of life, and the very Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16:7). When Jesus promised the Spirit, He wasn’t sending someone other—He was sending Himself in spiritual form.
Romans 8:9 — “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Jesus Christ, they do not belong to him.”
John 14:18 — “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
John 16:7 — “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
Jesus had to ascend so His Spirit could descend—not just to dwell with us, but in us.
2 ▪ The Holy Spirit Moves Like Wind
Jesus described the Spirit using a mysterious, powerful image:
John 3:8 — “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
In both Hebrew (ruach) and Greek (pneuma), the word for “Spirit” also means wind or breath. Like the wind, the Spirit is unseen but deeply felt—uncontrollable, sovereign, and life-giving.
- He comes gently or with power (Acts 2:2).
- He moves in unexpected directions.
- He awakens dry bones and brings dead things to life (Ezekiel 37:1–10).
The Spirit is not bound by walls or titles—He moves on God’s initiative and cannot be manufactured.
3 ▪ Promised From the Beginning
God always intended to place His Spirit within His people:
Ezekiel 36:27 — “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees.”
Joel 2:28 — “I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”
Luke 24:49 — “I am going to send you what my Father has promised.”
John 7:38–39 — “Whoever believes in me… rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this he meant the Spirit…”
At Pentecost (Acts 2), this promise was fulfilled—and the Spirit of Jesus began indwelling believers permanently.
4 ▪ How People Experienced the Spirit
Throughout Scripture, people often felt or noticed when the Spirit came upon them:
| Person(s) | Reaction to the Spirit |
|---|---|
| Ezekiel (Ez 3:14) | Bitterness, heat, and a strong divine pressure |
| Daniel (Dan 10:8–10) | Weakness, trembling, collapse, then strengthening |
| Disciples (Acts 2) | Wind, fire, speaking in tongues, joy, boldness |
| Saul/Paul (Acts 9) | Blinded, then healed and empowered |
| Stephen (Acts 7:55) | Vision of Jesus, boldness, peaceful death |
| Elizabeth (Luke 1:41) | Spontaneous praise and prophecy |
| Zechariah (Luke 1:67) | Prophetic utterance |
| Cornelius’ household (Acts 10:44–46) | Tongues, worship, visible joy |
| Simeon (Luke 2:27) | Spirit-led timing and recognition of Jesus |
These encounters often involved prophecy, visions, joy, boldness, repentance, or a supernatural sense of direction.
5 ▪ Receiving vs. Being Filled
Every true believer receives the Spirit when they believe (Ephesians 1:13), but Scripture also speaks of deeper, ongoing filling:
Ephesians 5:18 — “Be continually filled with the Spirit.”
Acts 4:31 — “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Luke 4:1 — “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan…”
The Spirit is like breath—you can inhale, but still need to keep breathing. Ongoing filling requires openness, humility, and hunger.
6 ▪ The Spirit’s Gifts and Fruit
The Holy Spirit equips believers with both powerful gifts and Christlike character:
▪ Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4–11)
- Wisdom, knowledge, faith
- Healing, miracles, prophecy
- Tongues, interpretation
- Discernment of spirits
1 Corinthians 12:7 — “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
▪ Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)
- Love, joy, peace
- Patience, kindness, goodness
- Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
Gifts show what the Spirit does. Fruit shows what the Spirit produces in us. Both reflect God’s nature.
7 ▪ He Leads, Teaches, and Intercedes
The Spirit isn’t just a gift-giver; He’s our constant companion and guide:
John 14:26 — “The Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.”
John 16:13 — “He will guide you into all truth.”
Romans 8:26 — “The Spirit helps us in our weakness… intercedes for us…”
He convicts us of sin, comforts us in sorrow, and gives clarity when human understanding fails.
8 ▪ He Assures and Seals Us
Romans 8:16 — “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
Ephesians 1:13–14 — “You were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit… a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.”
We are not left guessing. The Spirit confirms who we are and what lies ahead.
9 ▪ The Spirit Can Be Resisted or Quenched
Scripture warns that we can hinder or grieve the Spirit:
- Acts 7:51 — “You always resist the Holy Spirit.”
- Ephesians 4:30 — “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19 — “Do not quench the Spirit.”
Sin, pride, unforgiveness, and fear can suppress His movement. But when we repent, He fills us afresh.
10 ▪ Invitation to Experience the Spirit
To receive and walk in the Spirit of Jesus:
- Believe in Jesus Christ (John 7:38–39).
- Ask the Father for His Spirit (Luke 11:13).
- Repent and surrender your life to Him (Acts 2:38).
- Yield daily—confess, forgive, listen, obey.
- Expect Him to move—like wind, in His time and power.
2 Corinthians 3:17 — “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Let the breath of God fill your heart, guide your steps, and transform your life. The Spirit of Jesus is not far off—He is ready to dwell in you, empower you, and lead you home.