"Understanding the Holy Spirit part 1"

John 14:15-20.  John 16:5-16.

Pastor Matt

Last week we talked about living by the Spirit

From Galatians 5:16-25, we talked about:

1. When we live by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

2.  If you are led the Spirit, you are not under law.

Many people put their faith in Jesus and then they spend the rest of their life struggling with the Christian walk. 

-         They are saved by Grace and then they put themselves under the Law

-         Their life has been characterized by defeat and discouragement

-         They are at the point where they wonder if the Christian life even works

o       I’m here to tell you it does… when you live by the Spirit

3.  Those who live by the Spirit will produce fruit in their lives.

There should be a difference between us and the world

-         how we raise our kids

-         in the way we show love for others

-         in the way our needs are provided for by God

-         in the peace and joy in our lives

Most importantly, our lives should be the kinds of lives that bring people to Jesus

-         knowing what you know about Heaven and Hell, don’t you want others to come to a belief in Jesus

-         don’t you know that is our main priority in life….

o       to find Jesus or to help others find Jesus

§        85% of all people come to Christ through a friend or family member

4.  The way we are to live by the Spirit is by keeping in step with the Spirit.

If you are going to let the Holy Spirit be the guide to your life, you must understand Him better and so today begins a short serious on understanding who the Holy Spirit is and how He helps us.  This is the most important aspect of our Christian life!

We are not alone.  He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us

Please turn to John 14:15-20

Earlier at the end of John 13 & the beginning of John 14, Jesus is telling His disciples that He will not be with them much longer. 

Jesus is leaving, but He promised to send the Holy Spirit

(16) …he will give you another Counselor

Counselor: Someone who is called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid, someone who pleads another’s cause before a judge, an advocate, a helper, an assistant.

examples of how He is always with us: 

Psalm 23 says… Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,

-         even when life seem dark, He is still with us

Hebrews 13:5 God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

-         No matter what you have done, he has not given up on you

o       Lamentations 3:22-23.  Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Matthew 28:19-20.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in  the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

-         no matter where you go, He is there helping you do His work

(18)  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

How is it possible that He is always with us?

It is possible because the Holy Spirit lives in us.

-         The disciples at that time did not have the Holy Spirit yet because they still had Jesus

-         They received the Holy spirit after Jesus ascended into heaven

Acts 1:3-5.  After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with  water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

How did they receive him?

How do we receive the Holy Spirit?

Ephesians 1:13-14.  And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

When we believe, we are given the Holy Spirit, and according to what Jesus said in verse 17, He will be in us

Because He lives in us, we are never alone, and we always have our helper with us

If you feel alone it is because of one of two things…

A. You have never put your faith in Jesus

B. You are ignoring the Holy inside you

We need help to live the Christian life therefore we need to surrender to Him

Please turn to John 16:5-16?

Once again He is telling His disciples about having to leave them. 

Remember what I read in Acts 1? 

He gives His disciples the great commission but then He tells them to wait. 

Why wait?

You would think if anyone was ready to live the Christian life it was the disciples

Think about all they had seen, learned and experienced and yet it was not enough.  They needed help.  And so do we.

That is were the Holy Spirit comes in.

The Holy Spirit (13) guides us into all truth

Why do we need to be guided?  Why do we need a helper? 

Answer: Because the Christian life is impossible to live apart from the help of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus sent us a helper because we need His help. 

The Holy Spirit was sent with power from above so we can live life for Him on this earth.

As a Christian, you can only operate on your own power for so long before you burn out and become dead, dried up, and discouraged. 

Closing

What does this mean?  It means we must let the helper help us.  We must surrender control of our lives so the Holy Spirit can be in control. 

It is in our moment of surrender that God can begin to use us. 

The Christian life will not work if you are in control.  The Holy Spirit must be in control. 

If the Holy Spirit is not in control, you will give it your best effort, but you will just end up frustrated, asking yourself, why do I even try?  Why bother? 

I guess I am asking you the same thing today.  If you have not given Him total control, why bother being in church and going through the motions?

If you have not put your faith in Jesus, you do not have the Holy Spirit in you, you do not have the power to live in this world

Is your life a wreck?  Give it meaning by giving it to him.  Give him the control.  Surrender today to him. 

We will talk more in the future about how to know the Holy Spirit so we can follow Him, but for now, I believe God just wants you to do one thing. 

Give up! 

Tell Him “I give up!” 

Tell Him, “I don’t want to be in control of my life anymore.”

Surrender control to Him today.