HOLY SPIRIT TRUTHS
#694 HOLY SPIRIT TRUTHS
Scripture John 20:21-22; Luke 3:16 NIV Orig. Date 2/2/1978
Passage:
Luke 3:16 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[a] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.”
John 20:21-22 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Purpose: To direct attention to the various aspects of consideration relative to the Holy Spirit, and the specific truths needed to be understood in the life of the Christian.
Keywords: Holy Spirit Gift of Gifts Fruit Filling
Introduction
Charles Swindoll: “I heard some time ago about a couple of nuns who worked as nurses in a hospital. They ran out of gas while driving to work one morning. A service station was nearby but had no container in which to put the needed gasoline. One of the women remembered she had a bedpan in the trunk of the car. The gas was put into the pan and they carried it very carefully back to the car.
“As the nuns were pouring the gasoline from the bedpan into the gas tank, two men were driving by. They stared in disbelief. Finally, one said to the other, ‘Now Fred, that's what I call faith!’
“It appeared to be foolish. Trouble was, those doubters just didn't have the facts. And were they ever surprised when those nuns went ripping by them on the freeway!”
Every person who has ever labored as an achiever has faced a time and circumstance when he realized that he needed additional resources if he were to succeed. Every profession has only a limited number of super-stars. Others succeed because they find a source of strength which simply enables them to achieve, sometimes far beyond their capability. Our proper identification of and with Holy Spirit truth is the means whereby Christians (at least some) are able to serve God and man beyond the enablement of their own resource.
My wife and daughters have become interested of late in the writings of Elisabeth Elliot. You may recall the name Jim Elliot, her late husband, as the name of one of several missionaries who were killed by the Auca Indians in Brazil. Through the writings of Mrs. Elliot, the full story of her husband’s life, and death have been shared with the Christian community.
Had Jim Elliot left a will to be probated and divided among his heirs, not many people would have been impressed. He had little of this world’s goods. He had so much of God’s power, however, that the very Indians who felled him were themselves later converted to tell the whole story. His was a dream energized by the Holy Spirit, to love the very people who were waiting to ambush and kill him and the others.
The same Holy Spirit who energized her husband, enabled Elisabeth Elliot to continue his work, and then write about what he had been under the intriguing title, Through Gates of Splendor. Perhaps one brief line from Elliot’s diary depicts the Holy Spirit’s control in his life. He wrote, “He is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
The Bible teaches us Holy Spirit truths. If we would gain the richest resource for the Christian life, it must be by appropriating these truths to our lives.
I. The Gift of the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit Himself. Acts 2:38 KJV 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. You may look all you please at the newer versions for variances on this text, and all that you will find different, is that the Holy Ghost is called Holy Spirit.
There must first be genuine repentance. Then, a covenant of trust that eventuates in baptism. In this inter-woven act of faith that is repentance, baptism, remission of sin, there is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Please do not make the mistake of presuming that the Holy Spirit is a non-entity in unbelievers. John 1:12-13, . . . he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Titus 3:5, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Let me, on the subject of this Holy Spirit truth, share two all-encompassing guidelines. (1)Don’t let the experience of other people interpret the Bible for you. Let the Bible speak to you of the kind of experience God wants for you. (2)Remember, it is never a question of how much of the Holy Spirit you have. It is how much of you He has.
II. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are Gifts of Divine Initiative. Hebrews 2:3-4 . . . deliverance was first announced through the lips of the Lord himself; . . . and God added His testimony by signs, by miracles, by manifold works of power, and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit at (according to) His own will. NEB
The summum bonum of these gifts is, of course, salvation. John 3:16, For God so loved the world that gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish but have everlasting life. Romans 6:23, The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Of exceeding importance however, is our comprehension of individual spiritual gifts given at the discretion of God to the believer at the outset of faith.
***THE REMAINDER OF THIS SERMON HAS BEEN LOST***
THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
#584 THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Scripture John 16:7-16 NIV Orig. Date 9/17/1972
Rewr. Dates 10/20/1974
Passage: 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy
16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
Keywords: Holy Spirit Fruits of the Spirit
Introduction
A pastor went calling one Monday morning, and came finally to the home of a member of the church. He knocked upon the door, and it was opened by the lady of the house in her cleaning clothes and with mop in hand. He recognized that it was an inconvenient time, and made excuses to leave.
The housewife graciously encouraged him to stay and visit. She said, “I have wanted to tell you how much your sermon yesterday helped me.”
The pastor, of course, was immediately interested. He replied, “I am glad to hear that. But tell me please what it was I said that helped you so much.”
The lady then said that she did not remember exactly what had been said, but that it had helped her.
The preacher then, with a little of his vanity showing said, “How can the message have possibly helped you if you cannot even remember what was said?”
The housewife then preached a sermon in few words to her pastor. She said, “Bro. Pastor, I don’t keep the water my clothes are washing in, but it sure does help while it is going through.”
The work of the Holy Spirit is to take the mundane as well as the ennobling events of our lives and to give them spiritual clarity and meaning.
I. The Holy Spirit is at Work in the World to Lift Up the Name of Jesus. John 16:13-14 “he (the Spirit) shall not speak of himself; . . . he shall glorify me.”
This is the most important function of the Holy Spirit for at least three reasons.
If we would truly honor and praise God, then we must honor Him through His Son. Luke 2:12-14 declares a sign to men, “You will find the baby . . . in a manger.” Then there came a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God and peace among men.
Luke 19:37-40 When Jesus entered Jerusalem the disciples began to shout their praise of God through what they had seen in Jesus. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to rebuke them. If they are quiet, the stones will cry out.
It is through the name of Jesus that people are being saved. Jesus is the deed of God. Jesus takes religion out of the ethereal and makes it personal. Jesus came and taught man the language which God speaks.
Acts 4:12 There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby ye must be saved.
The unity of mankind is served in exact measure as the Holy Spirit magnifies the work of Jesus.
The problems in Palestine are a case in point.
Arabs – Ishmael – Abraham
Jews – Isaac – Abraham
And let it be known that the burden of world peace is upon the Christian. If we say that we have what they need and must have, then our lives must show the glow of it.
All of the new and encouraging emphasis upon the Holy Spirit in the lives of followers of Jesus, teaches us that what unites us as Christians is far more important that what divides us.
II. The Holy Spirit is at Work in the World to Implant Truth. John 16:13, When the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you to all truth.
Man has returned to an agnostic dilemma in his pursuit of truth. Jesus said to Pilate “I am here to bring truth to the world.” Pilate said “What is truth?” And man today is saying “How can I be sure about anything?”
How can you be sure of anything that really matters? How can you be sure of air and sunshine and rain and breath and sight and hearing and love?
It is in the area of the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives that the ability to get the most out of every magnificent minute [rests].
But truth in the simple terms of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is none other than trust. Hebrews 6:12 “be . . . followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
In the book God’s Smuggler, the authors tell the story of Brother Andrew and a faith in God that knew no bounds. Chapter 6 is entitled “The Game of the Royal Way.” It tells how, as a young man, God provided his needs against near impossible odds: the expired visa and a shilling going to the gutter; the man from the mission; the postman and thirty shillings.
As there are those who trust to receive, there are also those who trust to share. In Bro. Andrew’s need there as a prayer group at a place where he was formerly employed. There are different kinds of needs in our lives. For some of us the need is to share.
III. The Scripture has Much More to Say About the Work of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit gives to men the gifts of God’s choosing.
Ephesians 4:11-12, Some of us have been given special ability as apostles; to others he has given the ability to be able to preach well; some have special ability in winning people to Christ; still others have a gift for caring for God’s people as a shepherd does his sheep, leading and teaching them in the ways of God. Why? To equip us to better serve Him.
I Corinthians 12:4, God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all.
(Go into this in greater depth next week.)
The Holy Spirit brings conviction to men. See John 16:8: KJ-reprove/LB-convince/NEB-confute/___-convict. 1) conviction of sin; 2) conviction of righteousness; 3) conviction of judgment.
The Holy Spirit is the Resource through whom we may know that we are children of God. Romans 8:16, The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit. 1 John 5:6, 10, 6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because
Spirit is the truth. . . . 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.
Closing
And time does not here permit us to [speak] of the fruits of the Spirit of God in our lives. Of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
But time does permit us to say that the Holy Spirit is the crowning gift of God to His people to enable us in following the example and the teaching of Christ. And like any other gift, we do not ask for it, we just receive it from the hand of a friend. What we ask for is wisdom and knowledge in using this gift as the Friend intended.
THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
#582 THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Scripture John 14:15-31, NIV Orig. 9/10/1972
Rewr. 5/28/1987
Passage: 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
Purpose: Continuing a Sunday evening series on the Holy Spirit, here sharing scripture relative to His personality.
Keywords: Communication Person of the Holy Spirit
Timeline/Series: Holy Spirit
Introduction
August 9th finally rolled around that distant year and I was glad of it. That day meant that VBS was about over, and vacation was about to begin. In fact, we were to leave immediately after Parents’ Night, for the first leg of a nearly five thousand mile journey.
The afternoon was spent with some final VBS details, and visiting some people who needed to know about the extensions of our plans. It was a busy day. At 7:15p.m., just before Parents’ Night was to begin, a knock was heard at my door. It was an alcoholic needing help. Fortunately, I knew where that help could be found, placed the phone call, found my A.A. friend at home.
That busy day passed successfully, in large measure, because I felt God’s presence. I knew that the Holy Spirit had succeeded, where I, alone, would have failed. I knew that He was not with me alone.
Half way around the world, a friend was experiencing another kind of day. His day was not being spent in happy pastoral experiences and preparation for vacation. An Indonesian missionary, John Ingouf, spent that same August 9th at the bedside of his 11-year old daughter, who was dying of lymphosarcoma. In a letter written five days later, John wrote, “Praise the Lord for His grace. Pray that He will continue to be glorified in Ann’s illness and home-going. We are convinced already that much good has come from this experience.
The same Holy Spirit who undergirded my work that happy day, ministered to my friend in sadness 12,000 miles away. I can only do one thing at a time, but the Holy Spirit graces our lives in that He is without limitation. Wherever we are, whatever our need, He reaches out to us through our companionship with Christ
I. The Holy Spirit as Transmitter of the Voice of God. V26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
This is not to say that before Pentecost God had no voice. He spoke to Israel in the wilderness. They built a tabernacle as outward display of God’s glory and presence. Exodus 40:34-35, “34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” It followed specific directions.
Centuries later a beautiful temple was erected. David disallowed/Solomon instructed. I Kings 8:10-11, “glory of the Lord filled.” A common link: Moses’ tabernacle in the wilderness was temporary, Solomon’s temple in the city was temporary. The promise was of a new, permanent confine for God’s indwelling.
John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.” John 2:19, Jesus: “Destroy this temple, and in three days, I will raise it up.”
Paul perceived this transition to completion. I Corinthians 6:19, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you?”
It is thus, in the Holy Spirit, that God’s purpose of direct communication. There are inherent dangers, Men are careless with their brand of truth. It is that of which liberals are made. It is also the ground of fundamentalism. But the good that can come of it prescribes it.
He is the teacher of the teachable, not molder of organized mind, not maker of instant intellect, not maintainer of structured creed. Acts 1:8 “. . . Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be [empowered to perform as followers of Jesus].”
He is likewise the toucher of the untouchable. Jesus exercised this touch. Leper/Gentile/woman with issue of blood. The Holy Spirit confirms and exercises through us. Men make themselves untouchable. John 3:18, “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light.”
II. The Holy Spirit is the Amplifier of the Deeds of Christ. John 15:26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me. The word “testify” is significant. It is the word of martyrs’ witness, they who honored the truth by paying with their lives. The Holy Spirit communicates absolutely.
His singular purpose is to magnify Christ. John 16:13, “When the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you to all truth.” Romans 8:16, “The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” I Corinthians 12:7, “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
As someone correctly observes, the Holy Spirit is not interested in magnifying the Holy Spirit. Those who do so are manifesting their own spiritual value system. Their values may not be wrong. They may be good. But the Holy Spirit magnifies Christ, not Himself.
We can likewise be sure of this. When the human spirit seeks the spiritual nurture to faith and understanding, then the Holy Spirit and the human spirit are going to get together.
History’s most significant event was Calvary. We are in a time slot to magnify the Constitution. Called “greatest single accomplishment of the mind of man.” Seated in Philadelphia in May 1787. No doubt, the source of America’s uniqueness. What the Constitution is to liberty, to time, and to America, Calvary is to soul liberty, to eternity, and to the world.
God didn’t love any more because of Calvary. It did not change God. It changed our perception of God. At Calvary, we begin to see what God is really like. There was an Old Testament Spirit. But He had an Old Testament man to communicate to.
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word” . . . v14 “and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
God is not changed, nor the Holy Spirit, but what happened at Calvary changes us, praise God. The Holy Spirit is the person and is the instrument of amplification.
III. The Holy Spirit is Many Things. We Assess One Thing More. He is the Receiver of Man’s Spiritual Comprehension. John 14:16f, “I will pray the Father and He will give you another Comforter that He may abide with you forever. Even the spirit of truth whom the world can not receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:26, “. . . He shall teach you all things, . . . whatsoever I have said unto you.”
A major problem for most of us seems that we bore ourselves with simplicity. The more complicated life is, the better. A new thing to try, a new toy to entertain. Drugs and alcohol, are, in reality, an attempt at personality adjustment. The Holy Spirit’s purpose is to aid in determining what we ought to be, and to bring contentment (peace) in the choice. John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.”
We don’t have to be plagued with this dissatisfaction with singleness. How often have we watched a sporting event, and heard filtered tones of some other event. We watched Russian gymnasts in New Orleans, and a spectator brought a radio to listen to LSU. What would happen, do you suppose, if a coach found playoff participant listening to a hockey game? John 14:16f “. . . He shall give you another Comforter, . . . even the Spirit of truth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him.”
Humanly speaking Solomon sensed the problem. Ecclesiastes 1:8, “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.”
Thus, the Holy Spirit may communicate, and likewise close out all peripheral disturbances. Job 42:5, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee.”
Conclusion
The name of RG LeTourneau was synonymous with oilfield machinery for a half century. He who knew machinery so well pointed out often that friction was the chiefest enemy, could rob a machine of half its power. As a Christian, he would likewise point out the danger of friction to people. The Holy Spirit is the person of God in the life of the believer to minimize inward, as well as outward, friction.