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POWER FILLED CHRISTIAN LIVING
PART 3–THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
INTRODUCTION
Thus far we have looked at “The Power Of The Word Of God” and “The Power Of The Blood Of Christ.” Tonight we move to “The Power Of The Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit is the Person who imparts to believers the power that belongs to God. The Holy Spirit’s work in believers is to take what belongs to God and make it theirs. All the manifold power of God belongs to the Children of God as their birthright in Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:21-- “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.”
All that belongs to believers as their birthright in Christ becomes theirs in actual possession through the Holy Spirit’s work in them as individuals.
I. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO REVEAL JESUS CHRIST AND HIS GLORY TO MAN!
(1 CORINTHIANS 12:3; JOHN 15:26)
It is only by the testimony of the Spirit that men will ever come to a true knowledge of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:3–“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”
We can go to the Word of God to get knowledge of Christ, but it is only through the illumination of the Word by the Holy Spirit that men can get a real, living knowledge of Christ.
For men to get a true knowledge of Jesus Christ so that they will believe in Him and be saved, the Holy Spirit must use the Light of the Word to illuminate the heart.
Neither our testimony nor that of the Word alone will suffice. Because, unless those who hear the Word are illuminated by the Holy Spirit they will not believe.
If we desire that people know the truth about Jesus, we must not depend on our powers of explanation or persuasion, but give ourselves wholly to the Holy Spirit and ask for His Testimony.
If we desire to know Jesus with a true and living knowledge, we must seek the witness of the Spirit through the Word.
Many people have correct doctrinal conceptions of Christ through studying the Word long before they have true, personal knowledge of Christ through the testimony of the living Spirit.
II. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO CONVICT THE WORLD OF SIN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUDGMENT!
(JOHN 16:8-11; ACTS 2:36-37)
This is closely connected with His power to reveal Jesus, for it is by showing Christ’s glory and His righteousness that the Holy Spirit convicts men of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
We can never convict any man of sin because that is the work of the Holy Spirit.
We can reason and reason, but we will fail, however, the Spirit can convince the most indifferent person.
It was the Spirit sent to Peter and the others in the upper room that day who convicted the three thousand on the Day of Pentecost.
We are to preach the Word and look to the Holy Spirit to produce conviction.
III. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO REGENERATE OR RENEW MEN! (TITUS 3:5; JOHN 3:1-8 )
The Work of “regeneration” is the work of The Holy Spirit.
The Spirit can take a man dead in trespasses and sins and make him live.
He can take the man whose mind is blind to the truth of God, whose will is at enmity with God, whose heart is set on sin, and whose affections are corrupt and vile, and He can transform Him into a blessed child of God.
He imparts God’s nature to him so that he thinks God’s thoughts, wills what God wills, loves what God loves, and hates what God hates.
No amount of preaching and no amount of mere study of the Word will regenerate without the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO GIVE ABIDING AND EVERLASTING SATISFACTION! (JOHN 4:14; 7:37-39)
The Holy Spirit has the power to satisfy every longing of the soul.
He is the only one who has the power to satisfy the human heart.
If we give ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s upspringing in our hearts, we will never thirst–not for worldly honor, not for worldly gain, not for anything.
V. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO SET US FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. (ROMANS 8:2-4)
What “the law of sin and death” is can be found in the preceding chapter. (Romans 7:9-24; especially vs. 21)
We have all been in bondage to it. Some of us are still in bondage to it, but we do not need to be. Because, God has provided a way of escape by the Holy Spirit’s power.
When we give up the hopeless struggle of trying to overcome “the law of sin and death” with our own strength and in utter helplessness surrender to the Holy Spirit to do everything for us– that is , when we walk in His blessed power rather than in the power of the flesh–then He sets us free from “the law of sin and death.”
Many professing Christians today live as described in Romans 7.
Some go so far as to say that the normal Christian life is a life of constant defeat.
That would be true if we were left to ourselves, for in ourselves, we are “carnal, sold under sin” (vs 14).
But we are not left to ourselves. The Holy Spirit undertakes for us what we fail to do ourselves. Romans 8 gives us a picture of the true Christian life.
This life is possible, and God expects it from each one of us.
The flesh is still in us, but we are not in the flesh.
(Romans 8:9, 12-13)
We do not live after it. We are to walk in the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16–“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”)
It is our privilege, in the Spirit’s power, to have constant victory over the flesh and sin. The victory is not in ourselves. It is not in any strength of our own.
If we were left to ourselves and deserted by the Spirit of God, we would be as helpless as ever.
It is all in the Spirit’s power. If we try to take one step in our own strength, we will fail.
Has the Holy Spirit set you free from the law of sin and death?
Will you let Him do it now? Simply give up all of your self-effort to stop walking in the flesh.
Believe in the divine power of the Holy Spirit to set you free, and give yourself to Him to do it. He will not fail you.
Then, and only then, can you triumphantly cry with Paul: “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law
of sin and death.”
VI. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO STRENGTHEN THE BELIEVER!
(Ephesians 3:16-19; Colossians 1:10-11; 2 Timothy 4:14-18)
We as believers are not asked to live the Christian life in our own power.
Ephesians 6:10–“Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.”
Philippians 4:13–“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
2 Corinthians 4:16– “. . .but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
Look at Ephesians 3:16-19
He strengthens the believer with power in the inner man. (Vs 16)
The result of this strengthening is seen in (Vs 17-19)
We live in a world full of people struggling to be strong, or at least to appear to be strong, in order not to be weak.
But we follow a Gospel which says that when I am weak, then I am strong. And this Gospel is the only thing that brings healing to a man’s soul.
Look at Colossians 1:10-11.
Look at 2 Timothy 4:14-18.
Isaiah 40:29-31–“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. {30} Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: {31} But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO STRENGTHEN THE BELIEVER!
VII. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO LEAD AND GUIDE THE BELIEVER!
A. The Holy Spirit Has The Power To Lead Us Into A Holy Life! (Romans 8:14, 16)
Galatians 4:6–“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
The Holy Spirit will lead us into a holy life if we simply surrender ourselves completely to His leading and molding.
B. The Holy Spirit Has The Power To Bring Forth The Christlike Graces Of Character In The Believer!
(Galatians 5:22-23; 2:20)
Any real beauty of character found in us is the Holy Spirit’s work. This is not something we generate in our own lives.
It is the Spirit’s “fruit” that is generated in our lives as we are crucified with Christ and allow the resurrected life of our Lord to live in us.
The person who gives the Holy Spirit full control over their lives will exhibit all of the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.
The life of Christ is the life every believer should long for! But, understand that does not come natural to us, but rather it comes supernatural to us!
(Galatians 5:19-21 are what come natural to us!)
If we desire these graces in our character and in our life, we can have them by renouncing self (dying to self) and all of our attempts at holiness. Then give the Holy Spirit full control and let Him bear His own glorious fruit in our lives!
C. The Holy Spirit Has The Power To Guide Us Into All Truth! (John 16:13-14; 1 John 2:27)
John 16:13-14–“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 show you things to come. {14} He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”
1 John 2:27–“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.“
It is the privilege of each of us to be taught by God.
Each believer is independent of human teachers, however this does not mean that we may not learn much from others who are themselves taught by the Holy Spirit. But rather, we should not be dependent on men, even though we can learn much from them.
The Holy Spirit guides us one step at a time.
John 16:13-14 shows us two especially important aspects of the Spirit’s teaching:
1. He Will Tell Us Things To Come!
2. He Will Glorify Christ!
The Holy Spirit’s special area of instruction, both with the believer as well as the unbeliever, is to reveal Christ and glorify Him!
D. The Holy Spirit Has The Power To Teach Us Christ’s Words! (John 14:26)
John 14:26–“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 promise was made primarily to the apostles and thus it guarantees the accuracy of their report of what Jesus said. However, it is true for us also.
E. The Holy Spirit Has The Power To Reveal Unto Us The Deep Things Of God! (1 Corinthians 2:6-14)
These things are hidden from and foolishness to the natural man.
But, listen, not only do we have the Book, but more importantly, we have the author of the Book to show us what He means.
Illustration–Remember when we were in school we were required to read books and try to draw out what the author was trying to get across. (Exp. John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath”) Wouldn’t it have been much easier to understand what the author was trying to get across if we had known the author and had him present.
Psalm 92:5-6–“O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.”
Daniel 2:22–“He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”
We only need to pray with the psalmist, Psalm 119:18–“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”
It is not enough for us to have the objective revelation of the written Word. We must also have the inward illumination of the Holy Spirit to enable us to comprehend it. (Example–the Jews)
Only when we put away our own righteousness will we find the righteousness of God. Only when we put away our own wisdom will we find the wisdom of God. Only when we put away our own strength will we find the strength of God.
Emptying must precede filling.
VIII. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO HELP US TO COMMUNICATE TRUTH TO OTHERS!
(1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Acts 1:8)
The Holy Spirit enables the believer to communicate powerfully to others the Truth he himself has been taught.
1 Thessalonians 1:5–“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in
much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
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.”
There are three causes of failure in Christian work:
1.A message other than the message that the Holy Spirit has revealed in the Word is taught.
2.The Holy Spirit’s message (The Bible) is studied without the Spirit’s illumination.
3.The Bible is taught to others with “persuasive words of human wisdom” and not “in the demonstration of the Spirit and power.”
IX. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO TEACH US HOW TO PRAY!
(Jude 20; Ephesians 3:20; 6:18; Romans 8:26-27)
The Disciples did not know how to pray as they should, so they came to Jesus and said, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1) The Lord Jesus taught His disciples to pray using the model prayer. (a/k/a The Lord’s Prayer.)
Then according to John 14:16, the Lord Jesus Christ said he would pray for the Father to give us “another Comforter.” And the Father did give us another Comforter, The Holy Ghost who now teaches us to pray.
A. The Bible Says Believers Are To Pray In The Holy Ghost!
Jude 20–“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”
B. The Bible Says Believers Are To Pray In The Holy Spirit!
Ephesians 6:18–“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,”
C. The Bible Says The Holy Spirit Guides The Believer In Prayer!
Romans 8:26 says that "We know not what we should pray for as we ought:" However, that verse also tells us that we have a helper in prayer– the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit teaches us to pray. True prayer is prayer "in the Spirit". What does it mean to pray “in the Spirit”? It means that the Spirit is to be the one who inspires and directs our prayer life.
When we come into God's presence to pray, we should recognize our ignorance of what we should pray for and even how we should pray.
With this awareness, we should then look to the Holy Spirit and cast ourselves utterly on Him to direct our prayers.
D. The Bible Says That God Is Able To Do Great Things Through The Power That Works In Us! (Ephesians 3:20)
X. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO LEAD OUR HEARTS IN ACCEPTABLE THANKSGIVING TO GOD!
(Ephesians 5:18-20)
One of the most prominent characteristics of the Spirit-filled life is thanksgiving.
There are many Scriptures that speak of this matter of thanksgiving.
Psalm 50:14–“Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:”
Psalm 69:30–“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 95:2–“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”
Psalm 100:4–“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Colossians 3:17–“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Hebrews 13:15–“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” How is it possible for us to be thankful as we should be? By being controlled or filled with the Holy Spirit!
XI. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO INSPIRE WORSHIP THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD IN THE HEART OF THE BELIEVER! (Ephesians 5:18-20; Philippians 3:3)
Worship is a definite act of the believer in relation to God. Worship is bowing before God in adoring acknowledgment and contemplation of Him.
In our prayers we are taken up with our needs, in our thanksgivings we are taken up with our blessings, in our worship we are taken up with God Himself.
There is no true and acceptable worship except what the Holy Spirit inspires and guides.
We must realize that our flesh seeks to enter every sphere of our lives.
Flesh has its worship as well as its lusts. The worship that the flesh prompts is an abomination to God.
Not all earnest and honest worship is worship "in the Spirit." A person's worship may be honest and earnest; still, it may not be led by the Holy Spirit.
To worship properly we must recognize the utter inability of the flesh to worship acceptably.
We must ask the Holy Spirit to lead us to worship correctly.
XII. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO CALL PEOPLE TO SPECIFIC PLACES OF SERVICE! (Acts 13:2-4)
People are called and sent forth by the Holy Spirit to particular types of work.
The Spirit not only calls in a general way into Christian work but also selects the specific work and points it out.
How does the Holy Spirit call? The passage before us does not say. It is presumably, intentionally silent on this point to prevent our thinking that He must always call in precisely the same way.
Nothing indicates that he spoke in an audible voice or through some miraculous event.
The important point is that He made His will clearly known. Understand that He is as willing to make His will clearly known to us today as He did to them!
One of the greatest needs in present-day Christian work is for more men and women to be Holy Spirit called and sent forth.
We have plenty of people whom men have called and sent forth, and we have far too many who have called themselves.
Many Christians say that they have never been called by the Spirit. The question is how do they know that and have they been listening for His call?
God often speaks in a still, small voice, which only the attentive ear can perceive.
Have you definitely offered yourself to God to be used by Him?
While no one should seek to Pastor a Church unless they are clearly called to do so, we should all definitely offer ourselves to God to be used somehow by Him.
We should then be ready for a call and listen carefully so that we hear it when it comes.
XIII. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO SHOW US WHERE TO GO AND WHERE NOT TO GO!
(Acts 8:27-29; Acts 16:6-7)
The Holy Spirit guides us in our daily lives and shows us where to go and where not to go, what to do and what not to do.
It is possible for us as believers to have the unerring guidance of the Holy Spirit at every turn in our lives–in our business or work, in our school work, in our social lives– in everything.
We can have God's wisdom if we desire it. (James 1:5-7)
How do we gain this wisdom?
1. We must be conscious of and fully admit our own inability to decide wisely.
2. We must sincerely desire to know God's way and be willing to do God's will.
3. We must definitely ask for guidance.
4. We must confidently expect guidance.
5. We must follow, step by step, as the guidance comes.
Just how it will come, no one can tell, but it will come. It may come with only one step made clear at a time, but that is all we really need to know.
Too many believers fail to go forward because the whole way is not made clear.
To know just the next step is enough. Take it and then He will show you the next.
We have no right to dictate to God how He should give His guidance to us. Although we may ask for and expect wisdom, we may not dictate how it is to be given.
XIV. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE POWER TO GIVE US BOLDNESS IN OUR TESTIMONY FOR CHRIST! (Acts 4:8-12; 31)
Many people are naturally shy. They long to do something for Christ, but they are afraid.
But, the Holy Spirit can make us bold if we will look to Him and trust Him to do it.
It was the Holy Spirit who turned the cowardly Peter into the one who fearlessly faced the Sanhedrin (or the Council) and rebuked their sin.
Conclusion
Two things stand out about the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.
1. We are to be utterly dependent on Him in every aspect of Christian life and service.
2. This privilege of having the Holy Spirit work in our life and service is available to every believer that truly wants it!.
Christian life is not to be lived in the realm of natural temperament or the power of natural endowment but in the realm of the Holy Spirit and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will do for us everything we will let Him do.
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NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!