Holy Spirit: The indwelling
Let's study about the Holy Spirit • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 16 viewsLet's get a scripture look at indwelling of Holy Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
The gift of the Holy Spirit is prophesied, is fulfilled, is applicable, but sometimes misunderstood so tonight we are going to look at the gift and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
___________________________________
Holy Spirit promised (Jn7:37-39)
Holy Spirit delivered (Act2:2-4)
Holy Spirit as the gift to believers (Act2:38-39)
_________________________________
Holy Spirit promised (Jn7:37-39)
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Holy Spirit Promised (Jn7:37-39)
Holy Spirit Delivered (Act2:2-4)
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Holy Spirit Promised (Jn7:37-39)
Holy Spirit Delivered (Act2:2-4)
Holy Spirit as gift to believers (Act2:38-39)
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
“The gift of the Holy Spirit in Act2:38 was the Spirit Himself - David Lipscome (Queries and Answers)
“The gift of the Holy Spirit is not some definite thing the Holy Spirit gives, but the Holy Spirit as a gift.” - R.L. Whiteside (Reflections)
So the gift is the Holy Spirit is the general concensus of the scholars and that now leads us to what does the promise mean? what is the indwelling?
The gift of the Holy Spirit is the indwelling of the Spirit (Act2:38)
The indwelling is for penitents who are baptized into Christ
The indwelling will bring forth fruit of the Spirit (Gal6:22-23)
The gift, which is the Holy Spirit, results in the indwelling for the sinner who repents and is baptized. So now that brings us to what we can know from the scripture regarding the indwelling.
“
I. Scriptural fact of Spirit’s indwelling
I. Scriptural fact of Spirit’s indwelling
As we look at the scripture in this section you will see that the Spirit dwells in the church and the Spirit dwells in the Christian.
The Spirit’s dwelling in the Church
For the church is the temple of God, the dwelling place (1Cor3:16; Eph2:21-22; 1Pt2:5)
16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
when you couple that scripture with
Eph2:21-22
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
personally brings about communally: the Spirit dwells, or indwells us as the church and us as a person.
J.W. Shepherd in his writing on Eph2:22 says this:
“Christians are built together in Christ, for a habitation, a dwelling place of God on earth. He dwells in this holy habitation in the person of the Spirit.”
The Spirit dwells in the church as a whole, making it possible for the church to be a temple in which God may dwell; a living, spiritual house.
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The Spirit in the heart of the repentant believer.
In the heart of the believer, the Christian, the Spirit dwells (Rom8:9-11; 1Cor6:18-19; 1Cor3:16)
The indwelling is necessary to belong to Christ
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Without the Spirit you are not His (v.9)
With the Spirit He will give your life to your mortal body!
Because the Spirit dwells in the heart of the believer and the believer is to be a temple for the Holy Spirit it is a good reason for us to follow Paul’s direction.
18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
The body is a temple so flee immorality of any kind
What we see that was said to the church, now is being addressed to the person too.
16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
May the Spirit of God that indwells in the repentant believer inspire us to live a godly life and be an example for others.
While there is no dispute regarding the indwelling of the Spirit as we have already shown in the scripture, there are some disputes that arise regarding the nature of the indwelling.
II. Nature of the Spirits indwelling
II. Nature of the Spirits indwelling
While this may be a hot topic, a heated topic by some, may it not be as we look at the nature of the Spirits indwelling, the issue defined, the arguments, the reasoning, is it literal or personal?
The issue- is it literal, personal?
Does the Spirit literally dwell in the heart of the Christian?
Does He somehow personally reside in the body of each Christian?
The issue - is it only mediated, through the Word alone?
Or is it figurative, where the spirit just figuratively dwell in the Christian
Does He dwell in the Christian only because the Word of God abides in us?
Now, personally when thinking, reasoning out this issue, I come to believe the answer is that the Spirit literally and personally resides in the heart of the repentant believer.
Argument for literal, personal (1Cor6:18-19; 2Cor5:1-4; 2Pt1:13-14
While going through this I will be focusing on this and weave in the other view that is is Word alone.
We have seen the instruction to flee (1Cor6:18-19); why? He dwells in you.
Where the body is a tabernacle for our spirit, it is also the dwelling place for the Spirit of God (2Cor5:1-4; 2Pt1:13-14)
1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,
3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.
Couple that passage with
13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
Our earthly tent (tabernacle) is decaying but we know what we have in the Spirit.
Paul had used the metaphor about “temple” or “tabernacle” then he also use certain prepositions too, the Holy Spirit is “in” the Christian. and that the Spirit is “from” God. Words matter!
Let’s look at Paul’s line of reasoning from 1Cor6:18-19
From the indicative to the imperative
Indicative is an (adj) and in grammar means; the denoting a mood of a verb; expressing a simple statement of a fact.
Imperative (adj) meaning of vital importance; giving an authoritative command.
He argues from a statement of fact to a command to be obeyed
Because the Spirit dwells in the repentant believer (statement of fact) they need to flee immorality (authoritative command).
So, in other words, because the believer has the Spirit he then must adhere to the Word.
Other side of the argument (Word only)
From the imperative to the indicative
The person must obey the word (imperative) in Word for the Spirit to indwell them (indicative)
One must flee from immorality (heed the authoritative command) so the Spirit will dwell in them.
Is that not the opposite of what Paul is stating? Let me give you the passage again, it is been awhile since we looked at it.
18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
1Cor
Remember words matter “your body is a temple” and that the Holy spirit “is in you”
So knowing these things (you are a temple) and He dwells in you, then flee immorality!
I think you can see from the use of a metaphor, the prepositions and the line of reasoning Paul is through the passage depicting that the Spirit is dwelling in the believer!
Some more to back up this view
God has sent His Spirit “into our hearts (Gal4:6; Rom8:15)
6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
God strengthens us through His Spirit (Eph3:16)
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
His Spirit works in us as we work out our salvation (Php2:12-13; 4:13 and Eph3:20)
(Transition) I think the scripture helps us to see that the Spirit is literal and personal when it comes to the repentant believer. That brings us to the meat of message now.
III. Benefits of the Spirit’s indwelling
III. Benefits of the Spirit’s indwelling
Who does not love good benefits, these benefits are eternal and you don’t have to negotiate for them.
We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph1:13; 2Cor1:21-22)
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
This seal is the seal of ownership, we are under the seal of God, we are marked by Him and are protected by Him.
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
The Spirit in our hearts as a pledge, a pledge that has eternal benefits.
3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”
Ferrell Jenkins in his book The Finger of God says:
“It is a mark of security (e.g., a railroad car closed and sealed; medicine bottles.)”
He goes on to say
“It is our conviction that when a person obeys the gospel he is given the Holy Spirit. In this way God seals the person.”
He’s mine! God’s seal on the believer is the Holy Spirit, literal and personal
We have the Spirit as earnest deposit, guarantee of our inheritance. (Eph1:13-14; 2Cor1:21-22; Rom8:14-17)
We have looked at Eph1:13, but now want to bring in more in context
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
In the Greek the word for earnest is (arrabon) meaning first installment, deposit, down payment, pledge, part of the purchase price in advance
The Holy Spirit is God’s earnest (down payment) to the repentant Christian , His assurance of the complete and promised inheritance.
We need to be sure not to forfeit the down payment and not receive the inheritance by our own apostasy, or in grieving the Holy Spirit of promise.
Our reception of the Spirit is an indication that we are children of God, joint’heirs with Christ!
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Ro8:16-17
We are strengthened by the Spirit (Eph3:16; Rom8:13; Rom8:26)
Strengthened in the inner man (Eph3:16)
Able to, by his strength, put to death the deeds of the flesh (Rom8:13)
Knowing that He helps us in our weakness (Rom8:26)
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
We are led by the Spirit (Rom8:14; Gal5:16; Gal5:18)
Led by the spirit for we need the spirit to be son’s of God
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
WE need to spirit so as not to fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal5:16) nor to fall under the condemnation of the law (Gal5:18)
We bear fruit of the Spirit (Gal5:22-23)
So we can be filled with all joy, and abound in hope (Rom15:13)
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
May all these benefits work together so that we may set our minds on the things of the Spirit (Rom8:5-9)
(Conclusion)
So as we have looked at the indwelling of the Spirit, is it literal and personal or figurative and only through the Word may we know either way we have the Spirit of God, God’s earnest deposit for the repentant believer.
May we either way, and I believe the former not the latter, bring glory to God by allowing the Spirit’s fruit to be evident in our lives, may the Spirit strengthen us, may the Spirit lead us, may the spirit intercede for us.
(lead to invitation)
(Insert encouragement slide)
(insert encouragement slide2)
(insert exit slide)