Holy Spirit
To most of us the Holy Spirit seems mysterious.
Yet, the Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit, like God the Father and God the Son, is a PERSON to be worshiped, loved, and obeyed.
Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. —John 16:7 CSB
Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
The Holy Spirit did not arrive on the scene on the day of Pentecost. He appears in the very begin, before the creation of the world.
Yet, as you study the Old Testament, what you will discover is that though the Holy Spirit would come upon people at VARIOUS times for SPECIFIC purposes. He never indwelt anyone PERMANENTLY.
But God had something different in mind. And in the OT we find the promise of something new that God was preparing to do:
After this I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. I will even pour out my Spirit on the male and female slaves in those days. —Joel 2:28–29 CSB
The Spirit Promised
Following His death and resurrection, Jesus returns and appears to His disciples and told them not to leave Jerusalem, but “to wait for the Father’s promise. “which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.” (Ac 1:4–5)
Jesus is reaffirming His promise that He is going to send the Holy Spirit to His disciples. This is the coming fulfillment of John 16:7.
The Promise Fulfilled
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink. —1 Corinthians 12:13 CSB
The promise has been fulfilled. The Spirit has come.
When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them. —Acts 2:1–4 CSB
In one of the most important events in all of human history, God’s Spirit came to permanently live in all believers.
God has poured out His Spirit on all who believe and if you are a follower of Jesus, you do not have to worry about whether or not you have received His Spirit.
The Holy Spirit Give Us Power
1) To
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. —John 14:26 CSB
When you know Christ, and you’re filled with the Spirit, He’ll guide you. He’ll lead you step by step. You’re led, not by your own faults or desires, but you’re led by that voice of the Spirit.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. —John 16:13 CSB
2) To Share Christ
When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly. —Acts 4:31 CSB
But understand this — as a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will give you the power to share the good news and the love of Jesus boldly.
3) To Live a
When the forces of darkness want to tempt you into a sinful lifestyle, the power of the Holy Spirit gives you the ability to live a holy life.
For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. —Romans 8:5–6 CSB
Scripture also teaches that Holy Spirit wants to produce spiritual fruit in your life as you follow Jesus:
4) To Make a Kingdom Impact through Spiritual
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. —1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT
EACH OF US are given a gift as a means of HELPING CHURCH.
God will give you these supernatural gifts to use within the church and to make a difference in this world.
A Final Word
As the team comes forward, I want to encourage you with this… Don’t resist the direction and the voice of the Holy Spirit of God.
“You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. —Acts 7:51 CSB