Tag Archives: the Holy Spirit

The Abundant Life – #4 – The Spirit Filled Life

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John 3:3-7

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

It is a fact, that the Holy Spirit indwells every truly born again believer.  Though we may be weak, immature, and imperfect – if we have been “born again” of the Spirit – He dwells in us.  1 Cor. 6:19- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  Rom. 8:9 – But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.

It is one thing to have the Holy Spirit indwell us – but does He have us in such a way that He may fill us with the “Abundant Life?”  Contrary to the teachings of prosperity preachers – the abundant life can not be found in our environments or circumstances, or in the many material things that we may possess.  It is only found in the infilling of the Holy Spirit. 

Ephesians 5:18

 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit

EPHESIANS 5:18 IS A COMMAND!  TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO BE SPIRIT-POSSESSED, SPIRIT- EMPOWERED, AND SPIRIT-CONTROLLED.  

1. We are filled with the Holy Spirit that we might have joy.  Eph. 5:19-20 –19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

2. We are filled with the Holy Spirit for service.  Acts 6:3 – Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 

3. We are filled with the Holy Spirit for power to be a witness.  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.

4. We are filled with the Holy Spirit for the hour of persecution.  Acts 7: 54-60 –

54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.  55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,  56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,  58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.  59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

5. We are filled with the Holy Spirit that we may  “walk in the Spirit.”  Gal. 5:16-26 –  16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

6. We are filled with the Holy Spirit that we may be led by the Holy Spirit.  Rom. 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

WE CAN ONLY BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IF WE DESIRE HIM TO FILL US.  THEN WE MUST ASK HIM TO FILL US.  AND FINALLY, WE MUST BELIEVE THAT HE FILLS US. 

Living Water

John 4:14

 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit – #4 – Work of the Holy Spirit

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The Holy Spirit is God, and should never be referred to as “it,” or as a mere influence.  We have observed from Parts 1,2, and 3, that the Holy Spirit is equal to, yet distinct,  from the Father and the Son.  In this fourth study of the Attributes of the Holy Spirit, we will explore the Work of the Holy Spirit.  

JESUS CHRIST SAID THAT WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME HE WOULD:

  • Convict men of the sin of unbelief. 

John 16:9 – Of sin, because they believe not on Me:

  • Convict men that Jesus Christ IS the righteousness of God.  

John 16:10 – Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more;

  • Convict men that the power of Satan has been broken.  

John 16:11 – Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

  • Regenerate the believer. 

John 3:5 – Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

  • Indwell the believer.  

1 Cor. 6:19,20 – What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

  • Seal the believer. 

Eph.1: 13,14 – In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.

  • Baptize the believer. 

Acts 1:5 – For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

  • Infill the believer. 

Eph. 5:16 – And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

  • Empower the believer. 

Acts 1:9 – 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.

  • Lead the believer. 

Gal. 5:16-18  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

The Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, and will remain with the church until His work is finished, in the same manner that Jesus Christ finished His work in the flesh. . .

JOHN 16:13

holy-spirit-6

Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit – #1 – His Deity

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THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A FULL PART OF

THE TRINITY OF THE GODHEAD

When the apostle Peter confronted Ananias for his deception in Acts 5, he revealed the deity of the Holy Spirit when he said:

ACTS 5:3-4

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

From this Scripture, it is abundantly clear that the Holy Spirit is God, and He is co-equal, co-eternal and co-existent with the Father and the Son.  The deity of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in that He possesses divine attributes:

  • He is everywhere present in the universe.  Psalm 139:7-8 – Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or wither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.
  • He has all power. Luke 1:35 – And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
  • He has all knowledge.  1 Corinthians 2:10-11 – But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
  • He is eternal.  Hebrews 9:14 – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

His deity is seen in the fact that His name is coupled in equality with the Father and the Son:

  • He has equality in the baptism of the believer.  Matthew 28:19 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
  • He has equality in the apostolic benediction.  2 Corinthians 13:14 – The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

His relationship to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ show His deity:

  • Our Savior was conceived of the Holy Spirit.  Luke 1:35 – And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
  • He was anointed by the Holy Spirit for service.  Acts 10:38 – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.
  • He was led by the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 4:1 – Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
  • He was crucified in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Hebrews 9:14 – How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
  • He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.  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 your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.
  • He gave commandments to the apostles through the Holy Spirit.  Acts 1:2 – Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen:
holy-spirit-6

If Jesus Christ depended solely upon the power of the Holy Spirit during His earthly life and ministry – how can we do less?  The Holy Spirit has always been there.  He is not a disembodied entity, as taught by the Mormons.  Nor is He the invisible “active force of God,” as the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach.  He is very God, of very God, and has been so forever.  

ZECHARIAH 4:6

6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.