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Introduction

Have you ever noticed how our society toady is all about what’s in it for me? We seem to think that if we do something for someone that they owe us something in return. Or we don’t want to stop and help some one because we are doing our own thing. Even in the church we do that with God. We have our own agenda we say to God if you just get me out of this one, I will do…….. Be honest we all have probably done it at some point.

Sermon text That brings us to our tile for this evening The Holy Spirit what’s in it for me?

To fully grasp what is in it for us we must first understand who or what the Holy Spirit is.

The bible gives us several names for the Holy Spirit, here are a few the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of wisdom and Understanding and the Spirit of the Lord.

I can tell you that the Holy Spirit is not the ghost of Christmas past of future. He is however a power or presence of God in nature, individuals and communities. The Holy Spirit empowers us and inspires us.

The word Spirit in the greek meaning is the wind, breath, a life giving element. Holy gives reverence to the devine Spirit (The SPIRIT OF GOD)

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of GOD!

In Genesis Chapter 2 is the creation of man. I want you to get the significance what this means. From the very beginning of life is when the Spirit enters man. Verse 7 says: God breathed life into the nostrils of man the Breath of Life.

This transformed man into a living being, at that time having a soul. God created man in His own image; he breathed his Spirit into man. By doing this Adam can now have fellowship with God.

You see with out the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Breath of Life we cannot have fellowship with God.

With out Him we are not spiritually alive! We are just an empty shell formed from the dust of the ground. That what Genesis tell us man was formed from the dust of the ground and he did not become alive until God Breathed his Spirit (LIFE) into him.

Who knows CPR? Part of the procedure is to listen for breathing, check the airway, tilt the head back pinch the nose give three short breaths while watching the chest rise. The goal is to get them breathing again, to bring them back to life. We are breathing oxygen into them to save their physical life. God breaths His Spirit (Life) into us so we can be spiritually alive then can have fellowship with him.

Say this with me:

Without the Holy Spirit

I cannot have fellowship with God.

It is God that gives us His Sprit, the Holy Spirit= here is where the question comes in,

What’s in it for me? If I get the Holy Spirit, what is in it for me?

I am glad you asked that question! Take a look at this video clip.

Pinocchio comes alive……………………………………..

Pinocchio received the gift of life; he will become a real boy if he proves himself to be brave, truthful and unselfish.

He had to learn to choose between right and wrong.

Jiminy Cricket said that a conscience is the still small voice that no one listens to.

He becomes Pinocchio’s conscience, the lord high keeper of the knowledge between right and wrong. He is the Counselor in moments of temptation and the guide on the path of the straight and narrow.

Turn with me to John chapter 14

Wouldn’t be great to have someone in you life like Jiminy Cricket, think about the possibilities.

I want to tell you tonight we have that the Holy Spirit, the Holy spirit is our counselor.

In Chapter 14 Jesus is doing some private teaching to his disciples and comforting them, this is the evening before His death.

Verse 14 starts with the promise of the Holy Spirit but inverse 26 is where we want to look and it becomes very specific..

But the counselor, the Holy Spirit whom my Father will send in my name will teach you all the things and remind you of everything I have said.

Jesus is explaining to His disciples that He was not going to leave them alone, in fact they were going to receive a helper a Counselor, and that He was going to do specific things for them.

So the Job description of the Holy Spirit is this to teach us all things and to remind us if what was said. The Holy Spirit is the Lord High Keeper of the knowledge between right and wrong. He is our counselor in moment of temptation and our guide on the path to the straight and narrow.

But there is more: In 2 Corinthians we read that the Holy Spirit is the Agent in our inner transformation, becoming Christlike.

17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit calls unbelievers to Salvation Revelation 22:17

He convicts us of sin, John 16:6 says that “the Holy Spirit convicts the world about sin, righteousness and judgment”.

The Holy Spirit shows us the truth, He illuminates believers spiritual discernment, so we can understand the truth. Paul wrote to the Corinthians “we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God in order to know what has freely been given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 1 Cor. 2:12-13.

The Holy Spirit teaches believers, He is a constant teacher, opening our eyes.. You know that ahhh moment when you are reading scripture, meditating, praying, and laying in bed thinking. Opening our eyes so that we ca understand the scriptures, the gospel and the truths of God.

The Holy Spirit builds the church through unity and spiritual gifts. We are all types of people from all walks of life coming together here in this church for one cause Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit brings unity to the church. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to the believers as part of the church. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4). Our churches are strengthened because the Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to each member, knowing exactly what the church needs and how God’s people will be strengthened by them.

The Holy Sprit, what’s in it for me?

What’s not in it for you?

Gods Spirit gives us life

He helps us to understand the truth. He convicts us of our sin, of righteousness and judgment. He calls us to the Savior, He baptizes every believer into the body of Christ, HE teaches us Christian character, comforts us in times of distress> the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts to serve God and His church. He seals us until the final day of redemption. His presence is in us, He guarantees us life ever lasting, He keeps us on the straight and narrow path. He enlightens and empowers us and the church in Worship, evangelism and service. He is the Lord high keeper of the knowledge between right and wrong. He is a Counselor in moments of our temptation

The HOLY SPIRIT, That’s what is in it for you!

Do you want Him? I mean do you really want him in your life?