What does the Holy Spirit Do in My Life?
Luke 24:39-49 Acts 1:4-8
There can be little doubt that the doctrine of the Holy Spirit has been the seedbed for an enormous amount of misunderstanding during the last 35 years, and it’s a subject every Christian needs to understand.
Clearing away some of the current confusion is our goal as we look at our Lord’s promise of the Holy Spirit in John 14. His words provide answers to such questions as Who is the Holy Spirit? Is the Spirit a person or a power? Why did the Spirit come? What difference does all of this make to me?
As we turn to Jesus’ words for answers, it’s my desire that we will not only understand the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit but that we will embrace His Presence in our lives.
- The Resident Within – Jn. 14:17“He dwells with you and will be in you”
The Spirit of the Living God takes up residence in the lives of believers. There are 2 Great Realities:
- a) The Indwelling of the Spirit – In the O.T. the Spirit fell upon Isaiah 59:20. In the N.T. the Spirit Dwells in John 14:17, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Cor. 3:16. When you give your life to Christ, the Spirit takes up permanent residence, but He can be grieved.
b) The Filling of the Spirit – This is different from the indwelling but it flows from it. The Holy Spirit is maintained moment by moment.
Controls and Influence: Ephesians 5:18
2. Gives you a new language: Acts 2:4
3. Gives you righteous boldness: Acts 4:8,31
- The Point of His Presence– We are are Temple of the Holy Ghost 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
- Presence should result in holiness
1) not just for empowering, but motivation
2) Surrender & Control (the danger of grieving the Holy Spirit Eph 4:30)
3) The work he performs we cannot do in our own selves: John 14, Matthew 5:13-48
- There’s a Crowing from Crushing
- There are things we have placed in the ground because we labeled them as dead but the very fact that life emerged from the grave as a response to Jesus death suggests that what you’ve buried still has a purpose.
- We struggle because the appearance is quite different from how we last saw it
- The crushing separates the unusable parts from the fruit
- If you choose to dwell on the fruit that has already fallen and spoiled, then you miss out on letting God redeem that fruit by making you into His Wine.
- You choose what you will do with your crushing: You can choose to ignore the work the Holy Spirit is working to do in your life by the despondency that sours your soul or you can choose to celebrate the satisfaction of the Saviors sacrifice to restore your temple. What will be your choice?
III. The Power of His Presence – Acts 1:8 Power (Greek term: dunamis) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature. There are at least 3 ways He expresses His Power:
- a) Power for life – to be different from the world Rm. 15:13, 2 Cor. 4:1-18
b) Power for Outreach – (1 Thess. 1:5, Acts 2:17-21, ) Not by cleverness or ability to craft words
c) Power for Ministry in the Church – Not achieved by human brilliance or skill Acts 2:38-47, 1 Cor 14:26, Eph 4:12, 1 Thess 5:11
- The Power of Greater Works– John 14:12, 2 Corinthians 3:18
- ) Spiritual Growth – (Galatians 3:1-5)
Submissive to His control over our lives
2. Produce His Image (Galatians 5:13-25)
3. Produce His Attitude (Matthew 5:3-12)
b) Spiritual Gifts – Gifts are tools not toys 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Romans 12:3, Eph 4:7-16
1. Minister to body -(1 Peter 4:10-11)
2. Do the Extraordinary- (1 Cor. 12:4-6)
3. Build the Body – (Romans 12:4-8, Eph 4:11-15)
c) Spiritual Worship
1. Spirit gives true worship (John 4:24)
2. Glorify by bearing fruit (John 15:8)
3. Shows you the need for Spiritual Maturity (Hebrews 5:1-14)
- Living in the Spirit- Those in Christ must submit Hebrews 12:1-15
a) What kind of Temple are you providing for His dwelling place?
b) His Cross Provides Forgiveness, His Spirit offers His Presence
c) How can I be filled? Being filled involves 4 essentials:
1. Christ Centered – Christ is our focus (2 Cor 5:10, Phil 2:5-11, Phil 3:10-14)
2. Be in the Word – Seek God’s will for your life (Matthew 6:33-34) (Lk 4:1-2)(Colossians 3:16)
3. Be Submissive – Under the Influence or control (Colossians3:15 – 4:10)
4. Be Confident – You can know with absolute certainty that by doing your part, God is doing His part
- d) How Can I tell when I’m Spirit-Filled?
Some people say that the way you can know you are filled with the Holy Spirit is to speak in tongues or to just “feel it”. Some even dare to say that anybody who doesn’t speak in tongues is not Spirit-filled. When Paul described the results of being filled with the Holy Spirit, however, he didn’t mention tongues-speaking or a feeling. But he did mention there is substance “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Eph.. 5:19-21; Col 3:16). He also listed nine fruit of the Spirit as evidence in Galatians 5:22-23
According to Ephesians 5:19-21, a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit will know it because of four evidences in his life: joyful fellowship, heartfelt praise, abounding gratitude, reverent submission. Let’s look briefly at each of these.
- Joyful Fellowship. The first evidence of being Spirit-filled is joyful fellowship with other Christians. It is described as “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”(19). Singing with God’s people had its roots in Hebrew worship. Psalms 29, 33, 37, 40, 95, 96, 100 are just a few of the songs in which the Israelites encouraged one another to join together in praise, gratitude, and obedience.
- Heartfelt Praise. The second result of being filled with the Holy Spirit is heartfelt praise to God: “Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”(v.19)The term “in your heart” means singing from a sincere heart, as expressed in Colossians 3:16, “Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
- Abounding Gratitude. The third evidence of being Spirit-filled is abounding gratitude: “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”(20). In his letters, Paul repeatedly gave thanks to God, and he encouraged his readers to follow his example (Phil. 1:3; 4:6; Col 1:3,12; 2:7; 3:15, 17; 4:2; 1Thess 1:2; 2:13; 5:18; 1 Tim. 1:12; 2:1; 4:3-4). He told us to give thanks to God in everything and for everything.
- Reverent Submission. The fourth way we can know we are filled with the Holy Spirit is reverent submission: “Submitting to another in the fear of God”(21) A Spirit-filled person is humble, gentle, and meek. He is not proud, aggressive, or self-assertive. His reverence for Christ is the source of his humility. As a servant of Christ, he possesses a servant’s spirit. Therefore, he does not find it difficult to submit to his fellow believers.
In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul pointed out that the life of a Spirit-filled person will be marked by nine moral qualities that he called “the fruit of the Spirit.” When they are present, it is further evidence that a person is filled with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Let’s look at each one of these spiritual qualities.
- Love: an attitude that moves us to put God and others ahead of ourselves. A spirit that impels us to give, to serve, and to forgive.
- Joy: a spirit of gladness rooted in our faith, expressed through song, and accompanied by an optimistic spirit.
- Peace: inner serenity derived from God and based on the reality of our peace with God through Christ’s sacrifice.
- Longsuffering: patience in the midst of difficult circumstances and in our relationships with difficult people.
- Kindness: practicing the golden rule of treating others as we expect them to treat us.
- Goodness: open, honest, pure, and generous behavior.
- Faithfulness: we can be trusted and depended on in all our relationships.
- Gentleness: a tenderness of spirit that enables us to discipline others properly, to endure persecution graciously, and to witness to others sensitively.
- Self-Control: the quality that gives us control over our desires, especially those that relate to the body.
Helen Keller-Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired and success achieved.