LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 7)

HOLY SPIRIT (Part 7)

INNER STRUGGLE
– When we are filled with the Holy Spirit,
   we find ourselves involved in new struggles.
       – (Romans 7:15, 21, 23, Ephesians 6:12)

       – (Galatians 5:17)
         We shouldn’t always blame Satan for everything
         that goes wrong, or every sin that we commit.
         Note:
             Sin no longer rules, but it still fights.

       – (Romans 8:1-13, Ephesians 2:1, Romans 7:24)
         Question:
         What is going on?
             – (Romans 8:29)
               We have a new life with the Holy Spirit.

             – (2 Corinthians 3:18)
               The Holy Spirit transforms us
               Note:
                   Requires our cooperation with Him.
                   If we are NOT being transformed then we must not
                   have invited the Holy Spirit to be a part of our daily life.

             – (1 John 4:4)
               The Holy Spirit gives us victory over sin.
               Note:
               When we welcome the Holy Spirit into every part of our life,
               we will have the power needed to defeat sin in our lives.

SANCTIFICATION:
– To be separate, or set apart for a purpose.

– (Romans 15:16)
  Believers are sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
      – Immediate sanctification (when we receive Christ).
      – Progressive sanctification (as we progress in the Christian life).
      – Complete sanctification (when we go to heaven).

– (1 Peter 1:15-16, 1 John 3:2)
  We are sanctified to be like Him.
  This means our daily persona (who we are; what we do;
  what we say; what we think; our overall attitudes) is in
  a constant state of change.

– (Galatians 5:16)
  The Holy Spirit helps us to defend against temptation
  when we live a Spirit-controlled life.

THE OLD SELF LIFE
– (Romans 7:18)

THE BATTLE WITH THE FLESH
– (Galatians 5:17)

THE WORKS OF THE FLESH
– (Galatians 5:19-21)
  Key words, “those who practice these things”.
      – Sexual immorality (sexual sins).

      – Impurity (in thought or deed; unnatural lust-Romans 1:24)

      – Debauchery (sensuality, lewdness; reckless shamelessness)
        (2 Peter 2:4-14).

      – Idolatry (worship of false gods; anything that comes between us
        and God – could be money, pleasure, or even relationships).

      – Witchcraft (sorcery – administering of magical potions and drugs).

      – Hatred (hostility, animosity, intense dislike).

      – Discord (fighting, strife, quarreling).
        Note:
            These things can quench the Holy Spirit
            whenever they occur in the church.

      – Jealousy (envy).

      – Fits of rage (wrath, hostile feelings, outbursts of anger).

      – Selfish ambition (self-seeking, selfishness).
            – We sin against God
               when selfish ambition replaces the will of God for our lives.
            – We sin against others
              when are self-seeking at someone else’s expense.

      – Dissensions (divisions, as opposed to being of one mind).

      – Factions (sects and sectarianism).
            – To choose that which is bad;
               to form an opinion contrary to the revelation of God in Scripture.

      – Envyings (a jealous spirit; resentment of the good fortune of others).
        Note:
            Includes covetousness.

      – Drunkenness (overindulgence in alcohol).
        Note:
            If we don’t indulge, then we can’t overindulge.

      – Orgies (carousings, illicit sex).

      – (Galatians 5:24, Romans 6:6)
        Paul contrasts those who belong to Christ.

THE FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT
– (Ephesians 5:18)
      – Contrasts being controlled by alcohol to being controlled by the Spirit.
            – “under the influence of alcohol”
              versus “under the influence of the Spirit”.
            – Doing things guided by Him, instead of only what we want to do.
            – Instead of doing things the Spirit desires
              with our own, strength or ability, He empowers us
              to have success in resisting temptations and no longer being a slave to sin.

      – Note:
            Many have been baptized with the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ,
            but miss out on much of what God wants them to have in this life.
            Question:
            Why?
                Because…
                    – their lives reflect
                      the standards and practices of the present world.
                    – either consciously, or sub-consciously
                      they are more interested in imitating the world
                      system dominated by Satan, than in imitating Christ.
                    – their lives are often unused,
                      and spiritual fruit is absent from their lives.
                    – they do not have a great concern to evangelize others.
                    – their zeal to walk in obedience to
                      the commandments of Christ grows weak.
                    – their devotional life is uneven (if not totally neglected);
                      they read the newspaper more than they read the Word of God.
                    – when they pray, it is a tedious task, rather than a joyful time.
                    – their sensitivity to sin has been numbed
                      (along with their guilty conscience),
                      and sin has lost some of its sinfulness.
                    – their known sins remain unconfessed.

      – Since this verse is a command, we are probably sinning
         if we are not being filled with the Spirit.

      – The intent of this command (based on the Greek translation)
        is to keep on being filled (it is not a one-time event).
            – (John 7:38-39)
              Jesus refers to the Spirit as springs of living water (implied is
              a continuous supply; a continual filling; a constant freshness).

      – We must make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit
        so that when He fills us, we will become vessels
        of the gospel to the world (using our gifts of the Spirit).
        Note:
            Look at the condition of the folks in the Corinthian church
            (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).
                – They had been baptized with the Spirit and had been given
                  many of the gifts of the Spirit, yet Paul said they were
                  fleshly and unspiritual.
                  Note:
                      It is tragic when a gift given by God is not used, or misused.

– We are filled by the Spirit for a purpose.
  – (Acts 4:31)
    In this instance,
    it was for them to boldly proclaim the Word of God.

– Note:
      Some seek to be filled for the wrong reasons (Example: Acts 8:14-23).
          – Some are expecting some type of emotional experience
            (sensations that they think others have experienced).
          – Some expect to be spiritually like others
            (or even to be spiritually superior).
          – Some expect it to help them deal with,
            or get out of some kind of difficulty.
          Note:
              We might have an emotional experience,
              or become more spiritual, or get out of some difficulty,
              but He fills us so we can glorify Christ.

– (John 15:26, John 16:14)
  Jesus is speaking.
  The Holy Spirit draws attention to Christ and not to Himself.

– Power for a Holy Life:
  Question:
  How do we glorify Christ?
      – By living for God (trusting, loving, obeying).
        (Matthew 5:16, 1 Corinthians 10:31)
        Question:
        Why then do we need the fullness of the Holy Spirit?
            – Because only in the power of the Spirit
              can we live a life that glorifies God.
              Look at Paul’s frustration (Romans 7:15, 18-19).
            – We need it for service (Acts 6:1-3).