The Importance of the Holy Spirit

The Importance of the Holy Spirit

John 14:15–17

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the Spirit is to teach, to lead, to guide, and to bring things to our remembrance, to comfort believers, and to convict sinners.

He was important in the ministry of Jesus, in the Acts of the Apostles, and also the rest of the New Testament church. And He is Vital in the ministry of the church today.

I. THE Holy Ghost IS A free GIFT TO ALL BELIEVERS

A. In the Acts, Peter declared in answer to the question,

“Men and brethren what shall we do?”

Acts 2:38,39

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

B. It is written in Acts 10:44-47 about the infilling of the gentiles

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

C. Jesus said,

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: How much shall your heavenly Father GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask Him” Luke 11:13 .

Peter spoke about the Gentile’s entrance into the grace of God in Acts 15:8

“And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, GIVING THEM THE HOLY GHOST, even as He did unto us” (Acts 15:8).

II. HE IS A GIFT TO THE CHURCH

A. The church is called in Ephesians 2:22 the habitation of God

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

B. Christ is that Divine Impowerment that endues us with power, wisdom, and grace to

propagate the Gospel of truth around the world

Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

C. He protects the church.

Isaiah 59:19

So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west,

And his glory from the rising of the sun.

When the enemy shall come in like a flood,

The Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

Zechariah 4:6 say’s;

“It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the lord…”

III. HE CANNOT BE BOUGHT OR BARGAINED FOR

A. In the 8th Chapter of Acts,

“Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost” Acts 8:17–22 . We cannot buy Him or His power with money, as Simon found out or with any thing else either.

B. We cannot barter with God for this Gift either.

To say, “God if You will do this or that, I will do this or that for You,”

C. The Holy ghost is priceless! He is worth more than all the world and all that is in it.

Praise God forever and ever for his precious gift!

IV. THE HOLY GHOST DWELLS IN US

A. 16 “Know ye not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you” 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

In Ezekiel 3:12,14,24 Ezekiel said,

“The Spirit took me up”;

“The Spirit lifted me up”

then he finally said, “The Spirit entered into me”

B. 1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

He dwells in us to protect us.

He guards our hearts and our wills.

He guards us from our enemy the devil .

1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

V. THE HOLY GHOST IS GODS SEAL OF THE SAINTS

Ephesians 4:30

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

2 Corinthians 5:5

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. ( down payment)

VI. THE HOLY GHOST POSSESSES GODS PEOPLE

A. John said, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10).

B. Not like demon possession being forced, or compelled.

But He possesses us with love He —woos us—enraptures us—fills us, covers us—and overwhelms us with His presence.

Acts 9:31

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

C. “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him [Samson] and he judged Israel, and went out to war” Judges 3:10 .

The Spirit of the Lord came upon Elijah, Gideon, David, Saul, Azariah, and so many more.

D. THE Holy ghost SEPARATES and He sends Paul and Barnabas

Acts 13:2–4

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

In Acts 16:6 THE Holy ghost FORBIDS Paul to preach in Asia .

The Holy ghost possesses us to make us better servants and witnesses.

VII. THE Holy Ghost IS THAT FILLING, FLOWING, REFRESHING PRESENCE OF GOD

A. Eph.5:18 say’s “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit”

In Acts 2:4 “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost …”.

John 7:37-39

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit), which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified

B. Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” .

Filled with rivers of living water and the joy of the Holy Ghost. What Joy!

What an experience!

C. It is the refreshing of the Spirit. Isaiah 28:11,12

“For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak unto this people. To whom he said this is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing

yet they would not here” .

VIII. HOLY GHOST HAS both A LAW, AND A STANDARD

A. Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life hath made me free from the law of sin and death”.

The old law of sin and death was to control and discipline conduct by requirements of the law.

The new introduces into man’s inner being a new principle the spirit of life by which right conduct is spontaneous and flow out of love for the father.

B. The law of sin and death is a demanding forceful.

But the law of the Spirit of life; a man chooses and agrees with God’s way of salvation.

The law of the Spirit is the assurance of our safety and salvation.

IX. THE HOLY GHOST WILL NOT ABIDE IN OR WITH SINFUL, DISOBEDIENT, REBELLIOUS MEN

A. Isaiah 63:10 “But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them”.

“But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul …” 1 Samuel 16:14 .

Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost and died Acts 5:3 .

B. “The Holy Ghost said, Today if you will hear his voice harden not your heart” Hebrews 3:7. Translation—“Do not grow stubborn as in the days of rebellion”.

C. Some speak against the Holy Ghost

Luke 12:10

And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

D And some blaspheme Him BUT THIS SIN IS NOT FORGIVEN IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT

Matt.12:31-32

31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come

X. THE HOLY GHOST WILL QUICKEN THE MORTAL BODIES OF BELIEVERS

A. Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [or make alive] your mortal bodies”.

B. This speaks of the resurrection power of Christ but it also means the making our mortal bodies alive unto God today. Alive to spiritual revelations!

CONCLUSION:

Revelation 22:17

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Come to Him today! You can become a new creature.A Spiritual man born of the spirit not just the flesh!