Embracing the Holy Spirit: A Personal Journey
Summary
The sermon emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. The pastor encourages the congregation to develop a personal and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, who is described as a person and our best friend. The pastor urges the listeners to go all in, not being half-hearted in their faith, finances, serving, attention, or relationships. The pastor shares the story of a Presbyterian preacher from the 19th century who was initially focused solely on the Bible and had no knowledge or expectation of the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit descended upon him in a way that he couldn't explain, penetrating his body, soul, and spirit.
The pastor introduces a new series called "Holy Spirit" and expresses the intention to demystify and help the congregation understand who the Holy Spirit is. The pastor explains that the New Testament of the Bible starts with four books known as the gospels, which share the life of Jesus from his birth to his resurrection. The fifth book, the book of Acts, describes the first historical church and the ministry of Peter. The pastor highlights that even after 30 years, the church is still asking a simple yet important question, which will be explored in Acts chapter 19.
The pastor emphasizes the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to bring healing and transformation. He recounts the story of Jesus healing a blind man by spitting on the ground, making mud, and applying it to the man's eyes. This unconventional method of healing challenges the religious system that people believed they had to follow in order to receive God's healing. The pastor encourages the congregation to let Jesus lead them wherever he takes them, emphasizing the importance of building relationships and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.
The pastor discusses the potential for Christ followers to quench the Holy Spirit in their lives due to unconfessed sin, distraction, or confusion. However, the pastor emphasizes that when the Holy Spirit is allowed in, it desires to refresh individuals. The sermon also introduces the concept of living a spirit-led, present-filled life and promises to delve deeper into this topic in the coming weeks. The pastor assures the congregation that the process of inviting the Holy Spirit into their lives will not be strange or bizarre, but rather a simple invitation.
The pastor discusses the unpredictable nature of the Holy Spirit and how God rarely does things the same way more than once. The pastor emphasizes that God wants a relationship with us, not just religious rituals or systems. The pastor shares that their deepest and most spiritual moments with Jesus have occurred outside of a church service, particularly when they are running. The pastor references John chapter 3, which describes the Holy Spirit as a wind that blows wherever it pleases.
Key Takeaways:
- The Holy Spirit is an integral part of the believer's life, and developing a personal and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit is crucial. The Holy Spirit is not just a concept but a person who can penetrate the body, soul, and spirit in a profound way. ([12:45])
- The New Testament of the Bible, particularly the book of Acts, provides a historical account of the early church and the ministry of Peter. It also raises important questions about the Holy Spirit that are still relevant to the church today. ([22:30])
- Jesus and the Holy Spirit have the power to bring healing and transformation in unconventional ways. This challenges the religious systems that people often believe they must follow to receive God's healing. ([34:15])
- Christ followers can quench the Holy Spirit in their lives due to unconfessed sin, distraction, or confusion. However, when the Holy Spirit is allowed in, it desires to refresh individuals. Living a spirit-led, present-filled life is a concept that believers should strive to understand and practice. ([45:50])
- The Holy Spirit is unpredictable, and God rarely does things the same way more than once. This emphasizes the importance of a personal relationship with God over religious rituals or systems. The Holy Spirit can communicate in various ways, and believers should be open to these experiences. ([58:20])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 19:1-2: "While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' They answered, 'No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.'"
2. John 6:63: "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life."
3. Acts 1:8: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Observation Questions:
1. What was the response of the disciples in Ephesus when asked about the Holy Spirit in Acts 19:1-2?
2. In John 6:63, what does it mean when it says, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing"?
3. What promise is given in Acts 1:8 regarding the Holy Spirit?
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the response of the disciples in Ephesus suggest about their understanding of the Holy Spirit?
2. How does the statement in John 6:63 differentiate between the roles of the Spirit and the flesh?
3. How does the promise in Acts 1:8 relate to the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you felt the Holy Spirit's presence or guidance in your life? How did it impact your decisions or actions?
2. How can you apply the truth of John 6:63 in your daily life, especially in areas where you tend to rely more on the flesh than the Spirit?
3. In what specific ways can you be a witness for Christ in your community, as empowered by the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in Acts 1:8?
Devotional
Day 1: The Holy Spirit: A Profound Personal Relationship
The Holy Spirit is not just a concept but a person who can penetrate the body, soul, and spirit in a profound way. Developing a personal and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit is crucial for believers. This relationship is not just about knowing the Holy Spirit but experiencing its presence in a deep and personal way. ([12:45])
2 Corinthians 13:14 - "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a more intimate and personal relationship with the Holy Spirit in your daily life?
Day 2: The Book of Acts: A Historical Account of the Early Church
The New Testament of the Bible, particularly the book of Acts, provides a historical account of the early church and the ministry of Peter. It raises important questions about the Holy Spirit that are still relevant to the church today. This book serves as a guide for believers to understand the workings of the Holy Spirit in the early church and apply it to their lives. ([22:30])
Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Reflection: What lessons can you learn from the book of Acts about the role of the Holy Spirit in the early church and how can you apply them to your life?
Day 3: Unconventional Healing: Jesus and the Holy Spirit
Jesus and the Holy Spirit have the power to bring healing and transformation in unconventional ways. This challenges the religious systems that people often believe they must follow to receive God's healing. Believers are encouraged to trust in the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, even when their methods of healing are unconventional. ([34:15])
Mark 2:17 - "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"
Reflection: How can you trust in the unconventional healing power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in your life?
Day 4: Quenching the Holy Spirit: The Consequences and the Remedy
Christ followers can quench the Holy Spirit in their lives due to unconfessed sin, distraction, or confusion. However, when the Holy Spirit is allowed in, it desires to refresh individuals. Living a spirit-led, present-filled life is a concept that believers should strive to understand and practice. ([45:50])
1 Thessalonians 5:19 - "Do not quench the Spirit."
Reflection: What are the areas in your life where you might be quenching the Holy Spirit and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to refresh you?
Day 5: The Unpredictable Nature of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is unpredictable, and God rarely does things the same way more than once. This emphasizes the importance of a personal relationship with God over religious rituals or systems. Believers should be open to the various ways the Holy Spirit can communicate and work in their lives. ([58:20])
John 3:8 - "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Reflection: How can you cultivate an openness to the unpredictable nature of the Holy Spirit in your life?
Quotes
"Develop an intimate friendship with the Holy Spirit. He wants nothing more than to be in relationship with you, to be with you, and to be for you. He's your best friend, a friend that sticks closer than a brother." [32:21]
"Wind is unseen. We don't see wind, but we feel it. Similarly, the Holy Spirit is unseen, but we can experience His presence and power in our lives." #!!13:58!!#
"Without speaking of the Holy Spirit, without any expectation of it, without ever having the thought of it in my mind...the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that I cannot explain but it penetrated me Body Soul and Spirit." #!!25:22!!#
"You have thought about a system instead of a person, you have thought about a response instead of the person who they are worshiping. I just want to introduce you to him, that's all I want to do today, demystify this whole Holy Spirit thing." #!!06:47!!#
"He isn't an it, it's not of those, he's a he. He has a personality, he is to be worshiped just like Jesus is to be worshiped. He is the Holy Spirit, 800 times." #!!07:29!!#
"The holy spirit is unpredictable. He will move you to places that you never thought you would go."
"God rarely does the same thing more than once the same way because he knows that if we're not careful as humans, we'll worship a system rather than a person."
"As a Christ follower, you have the potential to quench the Holy Spirit in your life because of unconfessed sin or distraction or confusion, but when you allow the Holy Spirit in, he wants nothing more than to refresh you."
"We're going to teach you what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and it's not going to be weird or cooky. You're going to have an opportunity to invite the filling of the Holy Spirit into your life, the complete filling of the Holy Spirit into your life."
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