MAKING ROOM FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

Message: Holy Spirit Passage: Matthew Date: 1-15-23 Series: Making Room

WELCOME:

God’s nature isn’t to Decrease our capacity, but as we are faithful to Him He increases it.

We need to expand our capacity to prepare for all that He wants to do. And it starts by making room for more of Him.

We are purposefully saying a bigger YES to things of the Lord, and NO to the things of the flesh.

Last week,

we talked about Making Room for prayer: / We see Powerful things when the church prays.

Miracles Happen.

He does more than we ask

The Church Grows.

> Today we’re gonna talk about the importance of

Making room for the Holy Spirit.

When I say that (SOME ppl say - “Well, it’s about time!” - and others will say - “Uh oh, it’s about to get a bit too rowdy in here for my liking.”

We’ve got a wide range of people here today, -some have a full-gospel background ( pentecostal )

Some of you, are NEW to Jesus and it’s ALL new to you.

Others may not be NEW to Christianity, but are new to a church like ours that welcomes ALLL that the HS has for us.

Maybe you were in a church that were totally apposed to even talking about the HS

or maybe you were hurt by some over zealous people ( I am so sorry )

BTW - we won’t be bringing out any snakes today.

Part of what we want to do today is Demystify some things, and help us get a better understanding of the person & the work of the Holy Spirit.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Most people don’t pursue what they don’t understand.

Since I don’t I understand it, I’m not going to pursue it.’

People don’t pursue what they don’t understand.

I know that’s true for me when it comes to certain school subjects. I didn’t understand advanced math (like) calculus, THEREFORE I do not pursue advanced math.

I don’t have a working knowledge on the intimate details of electricity - But it’s undeniable that electricity has great benefits!

Some people miss out on the undeniable power & person of the HS b/c they want a working understanding of HIM first.

My Goal today : We’re going to approach it by answering some Misconceptions that people have about HS

The first misconception is this:

1. The Holy Spirit is a force or feeling

Some ppl view the HS as a

feeling aura

sensation.

They say it’s a Force or an Emotional Experience.

The HS is not an IT or a thing or a concept;

He’s not a force made up by George Lucas & Star Wars (May the Force be with you).

The Holy Spirit is an equal member of the Godhead, The Trinity. - God, the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

They are three distinct PERSONS unified as One God. While the HS is often the least known or understood member of the Trinity, the Bible never refers to The HS as an IT. - He’s always referred to as HE, HIM, or HIS.

We are introduced to HS all the way back at the time of creation.

Holy Spirit was present in the beginning

Genesis 1:2: “The earth didn’t have any shape. And it was empty. Darkness was over the surface of the ocean. At that time, the ocean covered the earth. The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

Before mankind existed, the Holy Spirit was already present. Then Later in the story of creation:

The Holy Spirit was there when Humans were created

Genesis 1:26: Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.”

Holy Spirit was present in the New testament.

Luke 3:22: And the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

during the Last Supper, He prepared His disciples for life after His ascension.

They had come to love the comfort leadership and all the benefits that came with being around Jesus.

The physical (bodily) Jesus could not be with everyone simultaneously.

He could only be in one place at a time -But

The Holy Spirit would have the ability to abide in all believers regardless of their geographic location.

Jesus said in: John 14:16-17: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

A couple of chapters later

Jn 16:7 ““But what I’m about to tell you is true. It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Friend will not come to help you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

Jesus told them that

(I am WITH you), but the (the H.S.) would Be IN you.

And it’s not just for the disciples, it’s for ALL Believers!

Paul said in Romans: Romans 8:9: You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.

See -

The Spirit isn’t a Force or Feeling.

He’s an equal part of the Trinity,

that actually lives & dwells in us.

We just need to be more aware of His presence.

He’s there to comfort us & equip us & empower us & strengthen us.

The second misconception about the HS is that:

2. He causes you to lose control.

Some people tend to get weirded out when they think of the Holy Spirit.

Either b/c of what they’ve SEEN or been TOLD.

The HS causes you to lose all control and act like a fruitcake.

We all know of people who tend to take things to the extreme.

It’s true -Some people have acted out-of-control and then said

it was b/c the HS. ‘I let the HS come in, and and I just lost all control. ‘

The Holy Spirit is a gentlemen.

He Does things in order & decency

Not chaos.

He wants to change you and get inside you (make you better)

( if your life is a walking chaos you might want to have a have a little Holy Spirit time)

( what is your standards of order and religion might not be His)

He doesn’t make you ACT weird, LOOK weird, DRESS weird, TALK weird.

When the HS was poured out on the apostles in Acts ch. 2, some of the on-lookers were critical of what was happening - they began to mock & make fun of the Christians. Often, people criticize what they don’t understand.

A few minutes ago we said that

ppl don’t PURSUE what they don’t understand, but some take it a bit further and criticize what they don’t understand.

Some people criticize what they don’t understand

Have you found that to be true in your life?

People that didn’t know you well

didn’t have all the information and all the facts

instead of seeking to understand, they just criticized or made-fun-of-you, or just dismissed you.

Turn to Acts ch. 2 (NT) Something similar to this happened when the HS fell on the believers who were gathered in the upper room.

Acts 2:4-8 “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in languages they had not known before. The Spirit gave them the ability to do this. Godly Jews from every country in the world were staying in Jerusalem. A crowd came together when they heard the sound. They were bewildered because they each heard the believers speaking in their own language. The crowd was really amazed. They asked, “Aren’t all these people from Galilee? Why, then, do we each hear them speaking in our own native language?”

acts 2:11-13 “Some of the visitors are Jews. Others have accepted the Jewish faith. Also, Cretans and Arabs are here. We hear all these people speaking about God’s wonders in our own languages!” They were amazed and bewildered. They asked one another, “What does this mean?” But some people in the crowd made fun of the believers. “They’ve had too much wine!” they said.”

He went on to explain from the scripture what the OT prophet Joel had to say:

I will pour out my Spirit on ALL people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions

Jump down to 37

Acts 2:37-39: When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” They went from criticizing - to asking how they can receive the gift of the HS. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

BTW - 3000 people got saved that day. The on-lookers went from

skeptics to believers.

That’s a good reminder for us to not throw the baby out with the bath water.

Don’t let the abuse by a few or the lies of the enemy convince you that the HS is weird and makes you do weird things and lose control.

That’s not His nature at all:

The HS doesn’t cause you to lose control, in fact, He’s there to GIVE you self-control. as part of the fruit of the Spirit.

We are to yield control, but not LOSE control.

Paul had to address the church in Corinth about this issue.

Some of the ppl there

When they felt the HS move, behaved in a wild manner.

They were losing control and it was affecting the church gatherings.

So toward the end of his first letter, he spent quite a bit of time discipling them in this area.

1 Corinthians 14:32-33: Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.

This church may have had some eager-beavers who really wanted to dominate the church service, or speak over one another.

They were using the HS as an excuse for their lack of control.

Paul said - God’s a God of order - and your ARE in control of yourselves. Other translations say: the Spirit of the prophet is subject TO the prophet.

Meaning that: the people who prophecy (or are exercising some gift of the spirit) are to REMAIN in control OF their spirit and can wait their turn.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t cause us to lose control. He does things well.

Then the third misconception is that HS

3) The Holy Spirit only does the spectacular.

Now, it is true that He does incredible/spectacular things -

But that’s not His single purpose.

He’s not meant to me designated the member of the Trinity that does the flashy (the jaw-dropping/awe-inspiring, Fly in- fly out). B/C He does produced miracles & manifestations

many people have created an idea that HS only does the spectacular.

they think that - if something miraculous is NOT happening, - then Holy Spirit is not involved or not around.

He’s also there to be a Comforter to us.

He’s there to Guide and to Counsel us.

He doesn’t just fly in and fly out - He lives IN us.

1 Corinthians 6:19: do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you.

Back in the OT, there was the Tabernacle and the then later the Temple

So we no longer have to travel to sacred spaces, we ARE the sacred space.

The HS resides IN us and He’s present to give guidance & correction & direction. He’s also provides for conviction.

He’s given us the Gifts of the Spirit:

-Words of Knowledge

-Words of Wisdom

-Gift Prophecy

-Gift of Faith

-Gift of Healings

-Working of Miracles

-Discernment

-Tongues & Interpretation of tongues

All of those gifts possess an element of the spectacular, and we should pray for those gifts -

He also brings the Fruit of the Spirit.

(Paul)

Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Yielding ourselves to the HS, should produce FRUIT.

BLESSING: May the LORD bless you and keep/protect you.

May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.

May the LORD show you His favor and give you His peace.