Manhasset: The Person of the Spirit | Sermon by Blake Henderson

·35 min·3 clips

Over 53% of evangelical Christians believe the Holy Spirit is a force, not a person.

The episode is a sermon by Blake Henderson, campus pastor at Shelter Rock Church in Manhasset, part of a series on the Holy Spirit. It begins with a reading from John 14:15-17 by Austin. Blake shares a personal anecdote about his sons from the Deep South struggling to shovel snow during a Michigan winter visit, using it as a metaphor for Christians feeling unequipped to live the Christian life. He introduces the core issue: many Christians misunderstand the Holy Spirit as an impersonal force. Blake references a study indicating over 53% of evangelical Christians hold this view. The sermon is structured around three main points from the passage. First, the Holy Spirit is a person, emphasized by Jesus using masculine personal pronouns like 'him' and 'he' in the text. Blake contrasts this with Star Wars-style 'force' imagery common in Christian talk. Second, the Spirit is a helper or advocate, similar to a legal counsel, who assists believers in practical struggles such as resisting sin or managing stress. Blake uses a pop culture reference to Tom Cruise in 'A Few Good Men' to illustrate this role. Third, the Spirit lives permanently in believers, a shift from temporary indwellings in the Old Testament, as seen in figures like Samson. Blake explains this using the Greek word 'meno,' meaning to dwell or remain. He addresses misconceptions by comparing the Holy Spirit to energy vortexes in Sedona, Arizona, which people seek for spiritual connection, whereas the Spirit resides within Christians. The sermon concludes with a C.S. Lewis quote comparing the Spirit's transformative work to God rebuilding a house into a palace, followed by a prayer of thanksgiving for the Spirit's personhood and role.

As heard by us

A warm sermon on the Holy Spirit as the advocate who lives with and in believers.

Blake, the Manhasset campus pastor, centers this sermon on Jesus' promise in John 14:15-17: the Father will give the disciples another advocate to help them and remain with them forever.

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Why you'd press play

You want a clear sermon on the Holy Spirit as the advocate Jesus promises when following him feels hard.

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