Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 20 Issue 19 Aug 29th, 2010
It is my privilege to speak to you about the Holy Spirit. Most Christians have no problem to relate with God the Father, or in relating to Jesus Christ the Son.
But, many are not sure how to relate to the Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit is part of the trinity:
One Spirit various administrations.
This isn’t hard to understand when you consider that as a man, I can be a son, a father and a husband. I’m not three different people. I’m one, yet hold three offices.
God's children must learn to trust the Holy Spirit, one step at a time.
Loot at Elijah. It was when only one step was completed did the word of the Lord come to Him, saying “go there....”.
I like the fact, that Elijah didn’t need to search for it, it just came. “The word of the LORD came to him”. That is the spirit's leading.
As in Elijah’s case, God's children are often called to sit by drying brooks.
We would much rather hear a sermon on Psalm 23, where the Psalmist said, “He leads me by the still waters”.
However, unfortunately we are a strange lot and it seems it is only along the banks of the “drying” brook that we learn TO PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM!
So often we trust in the “brook” to see us through - but we must turn from the brook to the creator of the brook.
Once we have put our trust in Him alone
the waters become “still”.
· Where God guides He provides!
God had said to Elijah, “I’ve commanded the ravens to feed you there!”
Later on in that chapter God says, “I’ve commanded a widow woman there!”
· Where God guides He provides!
God is responsible for our upkeep
when we follow His directions.
II Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart is perfect toward him.”
Obedience to the Word of the Lord brings us to God’s there for us!
Sadly, many believers neglect any attempt the Holy Spirit makes to have a relationship with them.
The true role of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Jesus.
There is also much confusion regarding the methods or evidences of receiving the Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:9-13 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you... If you being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
As in salvation, we see we are to ask in faith, then go in faith, believing God's word to be true!
Here are a few points of interest regarding the Holy Spirit:
· Luke 4:1
“Jesus, full of the Holy Ghost, was led by
the Spirit.”
· John 14:16
“Another Comforter, to be with you for
Ever.”
· John 14:26
“He shall teach you all things, remind
you of whatsoever I have said to you.”
· John 15:26
“The Spirit of truth, will testify of me.”
The Holy Spirit is our advocate.
Not only interceding for the saints, but in fact makes intercession in them.
Romans 8:27 and John 15:26-27
· John 16:13
“The Holy Spirit will guide us into all
Truth.”
· John 16:15
“The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ.”
The official title is “Comforter”, but the word used in the original is “Paraclete”.
Paraclete is a very complex word... with two sides to its meaning.
· One called to come to our aid, to help our weaknesses, to suggest, to advocate or to guide
· One who calls to us; our teacher, our remembrancer, our incentive and comforter
Interesting..One called and one who calls!
Many who seek this Blessed Fullness, refuse to believe in the Spirit's abiding presence unless they detect certain signs that they or their denomination consider fitting.
John 7:37-39 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
WARNING! To ignore or neglect His leading is an ivitation to spiritual deadness!
The Holy Spirit is described as being like the wind as to His manifestations.
On the day of Pentecost, there was a sound of a mighty rushing wind. Notice, it does not say that there was a mighty rushing wind but that there was a sound of a might rushing wind.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty!” II Corinthians 3:17
The Lord has set you free to go where His word calls you to go!
And now you find the greatest liberty in going His way!
· He helps you to walk in the ways of God
· He lends you wings so you can mount the wind as the eagle
In the greatest sense, the Holy Spirit of God has set you free!
There are a lot of things regarding the Spirit may that may always remain a mystery, but this one thing we know, “Whereas I was blind, now I see”. John 9:25
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
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