Sermon Notes: 5/22/22

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📝 It’s so much that God HAS for you, but you’ll never get there if you continue to allow trivial things to HAVE you.

This morning I’m going to introduce you to the driving force of truly being unleashed.

““But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’” John‬ ‭16:5‬ ‭

“But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.” John‬ ‭16:6‬ ‭‬‬

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, THE HELPER will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send HIM to you.” John‬ ‭16:7‬

The Contemporary English Version reads it this way...

But I tell you I am going to do what is best for you. This is why I am going away. THE HOLY SPIRITcannot come to HELP YOU until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you. John 16:7

LET HIM WORK

Paul came across some believers after they left a service and he asked them a question and every time I read their answer it shakes me to my core. Acts 19:1 reads,

“While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:1‬

““Did you receive THE HOLY SPIRIT when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a HOLY SPIRIT.””

‭‭Acts 19:2‬‬

The Holy Spirit is GOD.

The Holy Spirit isn’t an it. The Holy Spirit is A PERSON.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, THE HELPER will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send HIM to you.” John‬ ‭16:7‬

Another name for Him is The Holy Ghost.

His first name is HOLY. His last name is Ghost. He is a Holy Ghost that will help you live a Holy Life. Will you see Him? No! Why? Because He’s a Ghost!

He is a member of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity that consist of The Father. The Son. And The Holy Spirit.

In John 16:7 the Holy Spirit is described in a very truthful way throughout different translations.

The Holy Spirit is our ADVOCATE.

The Holy Spirit is our ADVANTAGE POINT.

The Holy Spirit is our HELPER.

The Holy Spirit is our COMFORTER.

The Holy Spirit is our COUNSELOR.

The Holy Spirit is our REDEEMER.

The Holy Spirit is our PARACLETE.

The word Paraclete means one called to the side of another. It means to counsel and support the one who needs it. In a nutshell...

The Holy Spirit is our EVERYTHING!

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10‬ ‭‬‬

“Cast me not away from thy presence; and TAKE NOT THY HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME.” Psalm‬ ‭51:11‬ ‭‬‬

The Old Testament is seen primarily as THE WORK OF THE FATHER. The New Testament is seen primarily as THE WORK OF THE SON. But in our present age this is THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The Father introduced and sent the Son. The Son introduced and sent the Holy Spirit.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is EXPEDIENT for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send HIM unto you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16:7‬‬‬‬‬

Even though the Holy Spirit was introduced and promised by Jesus, just like God, and Jesus, the Holy Spirit was ALWAYS HERE.

Genesis 1:1 tells us

“IN THE BEGINNING God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED upon the face of the waters.” Genesis‬ ‭1:1-2‬ ‭

Job 26:13 tells us...

“BY HIS SPIRIT He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.” Job‬ ‭26:13‬

In Genesis 1:26 when God said LET US make man in OUR image according to OUR likeness, the Holy Spirit was part of the US.

In Genesis 3:22 the Bible says,

“Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like ONE OF US knowing good and evil...3:22‬‬‬

The Holy Spirit was part of the ONE OF US.

It was the spirit who prophesied through the prophets the coming of JESUS.

“for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the HOLY SPIRIT.” II Peter‬ ‭1:21‬ ‭‬‬

“Now these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; Thus says the man raised up on high, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel:” II Samuel‬ ‭23:1‬‬‬

Out of all the things David could’ve said to sum up his life, look at what he said,

““THE SPIRIT of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.” II Samuel‬ ‭23:2‬ ‭‬‬

It was the Holy Spirit who conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary.

“Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”” Luke‬ ‭1:34‬ ‭‬‬

“And the angel answered and said to her, “ The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke‬ ‭1:35‬ ‬‬

It was the Holy Spirit who sealed the baptism of Jesus.

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw THE SPIRIT OF GOD descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.” Matthew‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭‬‬

“And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”” Matthew‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭‬‬

It was the Holy Spirit who led Jesus in the wilderness to be tempted in the wilderness for preparation.

“Then Jesus was led up by THE SPIRIT into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭

It was the Holy Spirit who helped Jesus overcome in the wilderness.

‬‬ “Then Jesus, FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭‬‬

Jesus ministered by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 12:28

“But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.” Matthew‬ ‭12:28‬ ‭

““The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because HE has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke‬ ‭4:18‬

The Holy Ghost was with Jesus on the cross.

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, HE GAVE UP THE GHOST. Luke 23:46

The Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus. He was the last thing promised by Jesus before ascending into Heaven. Acts 1:4 reads,

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;” Acts‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭

“for John truly baptized with water, but YOU SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT not many days from now.”” Acts‬ ‭1:5‬‬‬

You shall be The baptized with the Holy Spirit. In other words…

You shall submerge your life in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to soak up your life. The Holy Spirit wants to soak up the old you, so that you can be fully immersed in the new you. Colossians 3:3 says it like this…

For you died to this life, and your real life is HIDDEN with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

📝 The Holy Spirit doesn’t just want you to HAVE HIM, the Holy Spirit wants to HAVE YOU.

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:15-16‬

‬‬ “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭

‬‬ “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT,”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭‬‬

‬‬📝 To be FULL of the Holy Spirit means to be EMPTY of me.

📝 It’s one thing to have The Holy Spirit, but does the Holy Spirit have YOU?

One of the many reasons that the Holy Spirit is our EVERYTHING is because…

• The Holy Spirit EMPOWERS me to CHANGE.

📝 The Holy Spirit walks with you from who you USED TO BE, to who God is calling you TO BE.

This is why Jesus refers to Him as the Helper in John 16:7. Let’s look at it again.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, THE HELPER will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send HIM to you.” John‬ ‭16:7

Titus 3:5 tells us,

“he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of REGENERATION and RENEWAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,” Titus‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭

The word REGENERATE means: to be formed or created again, to be spiritually reborn or converted. It means to be restored to a BETTER, HIGHER, or MORE WORTHY STATE.

...He washed away our sins, giving us a NEW BIRTH and NEW LIFE through THE HOLY SPIRIT.” Titus‬ ‭3:5‬

📝 The Holy Spirit desires to change your life FORWARDS not BACKWARDS, but you have to let Him work.

Let me say it like this…

📝 Because of the Holy Spirit, the NEW MAN no longer has to serve the OLD MAN’S life sentence.

This is why Jesus said WAIT ON HIM. Let’s look at it again. Acts 1:4-5,

“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but WAIT FOR THE GIFT my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with THE HOLY SPIRIT.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:4-5‬ ‭‬‬

“But YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER when THE HOLY SPIRIT has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭‬‬

You can’t be a husband, you can’t be a wife, you can’t be a parent, have a career, walk out your calling, and anything along these lines in your own strength, and neither does God desire you to. You have to receive His power. You have to receive His strength through His spirit.

“So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, BUT BY MY SPIRIT,’ Says the Lord of hosts.”

‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭4:6‬ ‬‬

Wait on Him. What does that mean? Why did Jesus say this?

Trying to walk out your salvation, while LIVING a changed life, that will witness to others is impossible without the Holy Spirit.

This is why Jesus instructs us to wait and to develop an understandable relationship with the Holy Spirit to receive His power to change.

But here’s the kicker…

📝 As powerful as the Holy Spirit is, He’s not going to override my free will, I have to LET HIM WORK.

I have to surrender to His counsel.

I have to surrender to His ways.

I have to surrender to His help.

Let Him work on your tongue.

Let Him work in your heart.

Let Him work on your mind.

Let Him work in your marriage.

Let Him work away the old you.

Let Him work greater works through you.

As powerful as the Holy Spirit is, He’s not going to force His ways on my ways, I have to LET HIM WORK.

I mentioned earlier the tongue. The Holy Spirit is here to help you with that.

“People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3:7-8‬

‬‬ “Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭

‬‬ “And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!”

‭‭James‬ ‭3:10‬

The Holy Spirit EMPOWERS me to CHANGE, and when He does, so does my character.

He empowers me to respond in LOVE.

He empowers me to respond with JOY.

He empowers me to respond in PEACE.

He empowers me to respond with PATIENCE.

He empowers me to respond with KINDNESS.

He empowers me to respond with GOODNESS.

He empowers me to respond with FAITHFULNESS.

He empowers me to respond with GENTLENESS.

He empowers me to respond with SELF-CONTROL.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭‬‬

The Holy Spirit SUPPLIES power for whatever is DEMANDED of my character in that moment.

But it’s up to me to LET HIM WORK.

““Look! I stand at the door and KNOCK. If you HEAR my voice and OPEN THE DOOR, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:20‬

He’s not going to invite Himself in. He’s going to knock first. I have to choose to listen. I have to make the choice to open the door, allow Him to come and LET HIM WORK.

It’s one thing to have The Holy Spirit but…

Does the Holy Spirit have YOU?