Forgotten God CH3 (cont.)
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Pray 4 little girl
Pray 4 Wendy
INTRO
INTRO
A. Where we’ve been
a. Accurately understanding who God is, is vital; why?
1. What we believe affects what we do
2. Right understanding w/out action is useless
i. Being a Christian isn’t about knowing a set of propositions—it’s about knowing Christ & acting on His behalf in the world.
b. We talked about H.S. is a person (What do u remember frm last week?)
1. Has emotions
2. described as he
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
i. “He will teach”
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
ii. “I will send him”
B. Where we’re going
a. Illust.
b. Continue discussion on WHO the H.S. is
c. Begin discussion on WHAT H.S. does
B. The Holy Spirit is God.
a. He is not less than the Father / the Son;
1. In fact, He is consistently presented as equal
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
b. The Spirit is sometimes referred 2 simply as “God”
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
1. How might recognizing H.S. as God change the way we relate 2 Him?
c. The H.S. is all-powerful, all-knowing, & all-present.
6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
1. God calls His people to rely on the power of the Spirit.
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
2. Paul not only says that the H.S. knows everything, but that He reveals truth 2 us.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
3. David tells us that the Spirit is everywhere, & we cannot escape His presence.
i. How do these three truths affect the way we look to the Spirit?
d. The Spirit was in the beginning
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
- Now we’re going 2 discuss what the H.S. does...
-what if we take ea. 1 and consider it a promise; how might that affect ur expectations of him & our life lived daily?
II. God’s Spirit Works to Change our relationship
A. The Rel. b4
a. Servants
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
b. Slaves
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
B. The Rel afforded to us through the New Covenant (What do u think the new rel. is?)
a. We are children o God!! & Jesus calls us friends
1. Initial work o adoption carried out by Jesus
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
i. Jesus’ work at the cross & resurrection brokered a new deal btwn man & God
-Receive Jesus & Believe in his name & we are called Children of God (the new cov.)
2. The H.S. sealed the deal
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
i. Through the Spirit we have received adoption as children, which leads us in2 intimacy w/ the Father
-instead of a rel. based on fear & slavery, we are children
-The Spirit bears witness 2 us & God the Father that we are God’s children
C. The Spirit brings us life & freedom.
a. We have life
10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 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.
1. In our world that is plagued w/ death, this is a profound truth that points 2 real hope
b. We are Free!!
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
1. Where the Spirit is, there is freedom, not bondage or slavery.
III. God’s Spirit works in us
A. We r called 2 be truly unique in the world
a. It sometimes feels so difficult to be a Christian.
1. How do we live lives that r radically different frm the world around us?
i. The Spirit is at work
B. H.S. strengthens us frm w/in
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
a. H.S. pwrfly strengthens our inner being so Christ, by his spirit, dwells in us
b. H.S. strengthens our ability to comprehend the vastness of God’s love for us in Jesus
1. Illust. if our body were a bldg
i. It’s like the H.S. strengthens our being as if replacing wooden supports w/steel supports
1. If he doesn’t strengthen us we couldn’t contain the presence o God
2. Illust the work we did in foyer
C. The Spirit is our sanctifier
15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God
16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
a. Sanctification: made different, distinct/unique, & morally pure
1. H.S. is transforming us a little at a time
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
i. Why a little at at time (“frm 1 degree o glory to another”)
-It is in the process of sanctification that some o our relationship happens
*We learn to trust Him
* We learn to recognize his voice & prompting as he teaches & molds us
*We become closer to him
2. What are we being transformed in2?
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
i. These actions will characterize our lives as we allow ourselves 2b grown & molded by the Spirit.
D. By the power of the Spirit we put to death the misdeeds of the body.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
1. The Spirit sets us free from the law & sin, which we cannot get rid of on our own.
2. This is a lifelong process we entered into, in partnership with the Spirit, when we first believed
E. H.S. empowers hope to abound
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
a. By the power of the H.S. we abound w/ hope because our God is a God o hope, who fills His children with all joy & peace
IV. God’s Spirit is our helper practically
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
17 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. Helper: oft x-lated advocate, counselor, comforter (encourager)
a. Lit: 1 who acts as a spokesman/representative o another’s policy, purpose, cause.
b. The word helper encompasses all these ideas & expresses how H.S. helps us practically
1. What might it look like if our helper, who lives in us literally advocates, counsels, comforts, & encourages us?
i. How does H.S. carrie out his promise to help us?
B. H.S helps us to keep his commandment to love one another
a. vs 15 is attached 2 16…we can keep Jesus cmnd 2 love by the H.S. empowering
1. Back 2 Gal 5 (fruit is love).
C. The H.S. helps by Guiding us in our daily life
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
a. He guides us in the way we should go
1. Remember the vs from Sunday:
9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
i. What if the way that happens practically is via our fellowship w/the H.S.?
-We incorporate the H.S. on our decision making process & The H.S. gives good guidance showing us the way we should go
b. H.S. reveals the father & His Plan which is part o guiding us in the way we should go, right
9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
1. The Spirit knows the depths of God & reveals God The Father & His plan 2 us
i. The Father & his plan, along w/partnering w/H.S. in our decision making is how we rec. guidance.
E. helps us pray & prays on our behalf
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
1. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
i. When we don’t know what 2 pray 4 / what 2 do, He actually intercedes on our behalf.
ii. & When we pray something stupid, he intercedes 4 us there 2
-Illust. Francis Chan prays God empower him 2 have a better game @golf
-What he got was that he played the worst game ever
-H.S. interceded because what he needed was humility
*He needed 2 learn what it looks like to reflect Jesus even when we lose
F. God’s spirit helps by teaching & reminding us o what we need 2 know & remember.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
a. H.S. teaches & brings 2 mind Jesus’ teaching so we follow Jesus better
1. Do u regularly experience God’s spirit as advocate, counselor, comforter, & encourager?
i. What might that look like in your daily life?
2. If u don’t regularly experience H.S. as Helper, why might that be?
IV. The Spirit works through us 2 accomplish the mission
a. When Jesus left earth to go back to the Father, He left us, His followers, with an impossible task:
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
1. witness 2 the ends o the earth…thereby changing the world
2. But b4 sending His disciples out to accomplish that task, He told them 2 wait:
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
i. & as Jesus sent 'em out, He was clear that they would need the power of the Spirit:
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
ii. How do we continue the mission that Jesus began & entrusted to us?
- The answer is: through the pwr of the H.S.
the Spirit equips us with the strength we need 2 accomplish God’s purposes
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
It’s the H.S. pwr working through us that we boldly witness
a. The Spirit helps us when we r in precarious situations & need 2 bear witness
11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
1. Is the Spirit helping u bear witness in ur everyday life? How might He do so?
i. while in youth min, H.S. lead me 2 give a word 2 ea. o my students
ii. u ever been in a situation where u were attacked…the human thing 2 do is respond in kind, but the H.S. nudged u 2 respond differently…respond as Jesus?
-This is bearing witness also
iii. bearing witness needs 2b a consistent combination o
-accurate truths about Jesus & his work spoken
-along w/a life lived as a rep. o Jesus
d. H.S. convict the world concerning sin & righteousness & judgment
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;
11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
Why is the role o the H.S. to convict the world?
The point is that the H.S. is trying to draw the world to Jesus
i. As members of God’s kingdom community, each of us is given a manifestation of the Spirit in our lives for the purpose of the common good. We all have something to offer because of what the Spirit gives to us (1 Cor. 12:7).
Note: What if I don’t see these things in my life?
The Holy Spirit does incredible things in the lives of His People. But what if you’re not seeing His action and power in your life? Don’t be discouraged. Remember that it’s impossible for you to do these things on your own. That’s actually the point—it’s impossible for you, & that’s why God sent us the Spirit.
Sometimes we expect Him to change every aspect of our lives all at once. But that’s rarely the way He works.
Most often, He works slowly; has that been ur experience?
Why would the H.S. work so slowly in us?
H.S. is teaching us to trust Him & increasingly molding us & using us in greater & greater ways. If you want to see the Spirit working in your life, God tells us to ask Him & He will give us the Spirit
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Now that you know more (or have been reminded) about what the Holy Spirit does, there’s one very important question that you need to ask: What does the Holy Spirit want me to do right now? How does He want me to cooperate with Him in His work?
Resist the temptation to stop at learning more facts. And don’t let yourself believe in what the Spirit can do hypothetically rather than what He can do in your life. Now that the power available to you in the Holy Spirit is fresh in your mind, consider what God might want to do through you. Where might He want you to go? Who might He want you to talk to or serve? All the power in the world is irrelevant until it’s put to use.
8. Take a minute to ponder the amazing power of the Spirit of God. Looking at the situations God has placed you in, what do you think He might be calling you to do through the power of the Spirit?
9. Spend some time in prayer this week. After looking through these Scriptures about who the Holy Spirit is and what He does, there are bound to be a number of things that you need to begin applying to your life. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit so that the world around you will see His power.