LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part-8)

HOLY SPIRIT (Part-8)

HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
– Understanding, submission, and walking by faith.

– Understanding:
      – God has given us His Holy Spirit and He dwells within us.
        Note:
            We may not necessarily feel His presence, but that does
            not mean He is absent. God promised that the Spirit lives
            within us if we belong to Christ, and God cannot lie.
            We have to accept this fact by faith.

      – God commands us to be filled with the Spirit.
        Note:
            This means it is His will.
            Look at Luke 11:13
                – If we fail to be filled, it is not God’s reluctance,
                  but our own choice (or fault);
                  we need to ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

      – The presence of sin in our lives.
        Note:
            Sin blocks the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives;
            we need to deal honestly and completely with every
            known sin in our lives
            (this could be painful, but it is a cleansing we need in order
            to provide an attractive environment for the Holy Spirit).

        Note:
            Dealing with sin means:
                – Realizing we still have a sinful nature.

                – Realizing that without the Holy Spirit in control,
                  we are more vulnerable to yielding to temptations.

                – Realizing the Spirit’s work is blocked
                  as long as sin is controlling our lives.
                  (we need to realize that we will not continue
                  a lifestyle of sin when the Holy Spirit is in control).

                – Acknowledging that pride is the root of most sins.

                – We have to repent of our sins.
                  Note:
                      This may be the toughest part;
                      we may be unwilling to repent and want to enjoy sin.

               – Confessing our sins.
                  Note:
                      Sin blinds us spiritually so that we
                      may not see, (or admit) the depth of our sin.

               – Realizing that sin in our life will continue
                  to give us a feeling of defeat and discouragement.
                  (affecting our self-esteem, our relationship with others,
                  and more importantly, our relationship with the Lord).

               – Realizing that sin is keeping ‘self’ at the center of our lives.

               – Making a decision to give God control of our lives
                  (then praying and asking him to take control).

               – Admitting ‘who’ or ‘what’ is in control of our life.

               – Realizing that the Holy Spirit is in us,
                  and God’s desire is for us to be controlled by Him.

– Submission:
      – (1 John 1:9)
        Confession of sins.
            – Acknowledging sin in our life.
            – Admitting it to God.
            – Admitting we are sinners.

      – (Revelation 2:5)
        Repent.
            – Renounce sin; turn ‘from’ it; turn ‘to’ Christ and His will.
              Note:
                  Complacency and self-satisfaction
                  prevents many from being repentant.

      – (Romans 6:13, 18, Romans 12:1, Titus 2:11-14)
            – Yield to God and His Will
              (placing ourselves totally and completely into
              the hands of God in complete submission to His Will).
              Note:
                  The Holy Spirit may test us at times
                  in order to see if we really mean business.

– Walking by faith:
      – The filling of the Spirit is not a matter of ‘feeling’, but of ‘faith’
        (we may’ feel’ a new closeness to God, or we may not).
        Instead of trusting our feelings, we need to trust God’s promises.

      – We need to realize that the filling of the Spirit
        does not mean we are perfect and without sin.
        It means we are controlled by the Spirit
        (but sin is still a reality we have to deal with).
        We need to have faith that the Holy Spirit
        will help us to defeat sin in our lives.

SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT
– Blaspheming the Holy Spirit:
      – (Matthew 12:31-32)
        An unpardonable sin.

      – More than likely, this is the sin of non-believers
        (rejecting the Spirit’s conviction of sin that leads
        to salvation, until finally the Spirit no longer strives
        to change our hearts so we can receive God’s salvation).
        Look at Acts 7:51.
        Note:
            As long as we know the Spirit is striving with us about sin
            in our life, convicting us of our sin, and giving us a desire
            to repent, we should find comfort in the fact that we have
            probably not committed the unpardonable sin.
            However, we need to realize that sin prevents us from enjoying
            fellowship with the Trinity and the blessings awaiting us.

– Grieving the Spirit:
      – Committed by Christians.

      – (Ephesians 4:30)
        Paul warns us about grieving the Holy Spirit.
        Note:
            “sealed for the day of redemption”
                 – We are, and will remain, Christians.

      – Things we do that are inconsistent with the nature of the Holy Spirit.
        Note:
            We may hurt, or cause anger in, anyone who has no affection
            for us, but we can only grieve the ones who love us.

      – Question:
        How do Christians grieve the Holy Spirit?
            – (Ephesians 4:20-32)
               Whatever is unlike Christ in conduct, speech, or disposition.

             – The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of:
                   – Truth (John 14:17)
                     Anything false, deceitful, or hypocritical grieves Him.

                   – Faith (2 Corinthians 4:13)
                      Doubt, distrust, anxiety, worry (all grieve Him).

                  – Grace (Hebrews 10:29)
                     Whatever in us that is causes us to be hard, bitter,
                     malicious, ungracious, unforgiving, or unloving grieves Him.

                  – Holiness (Romans 1:4)
                    Anything unclean, defiling, or degrading grieves Him.

– Question:
  What happens when we grieve Him?
      – His ministry is suspended.
        Question:
        What ministry?
            – Revealing the things of Christ to us;
              giving us joy, peace, and gladness of heart.
              (Example: Psalm 32:3-5)
                  – David after his incident with Bathsheba.
              Note:
                  He does not withdraw from us,
                  but He does suspend His ministry.
                  Question:
                  Why?
                      – Because He loves us, and our sin hurts Him.

– Quenching the Spirit:
      – This is a sin that’s committed by Christians.

      – Quenching the Spirit is similar to putting out a fire.
        A fire can be put out in two ways:
            1. Remove the fuel supply. We do that when…
                   – We do not stir up souls.
                   – We do not exercise grace.
                   – We fail to pray, witness, or read God’s Word.

            2. Extinguish the fire. We do that when…
                   – We willfully sin.
                   – We criticize, act unkindly, or belittle the work
                      of others through careless, or unappreciative words.