In our last post, we discussed the many benefits and blessings of Life In The Spirit. We discussed how we experience Freedom, Peace, and Fellowship, because of The Spirit. We also addressed how easy it is to write off the Holy Spirit, because of some “weirdness”
The blessings that come from a life in the Spirit should never be taken for granted. That blessing seems to come with a qualifying condition.
John 14:15–18 (NLT) “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.”
John reveals four things about the Holy Spirit living with us…
1) You don’t work to receive the Holy Spirit; you welcome Him.
We don’t work or earn the Holy Spirit, rather we welcome Him through our obedience.
John 14:15 (NLT) “If you love me, obey my commandments.”
Christ wants us to have the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, but obedience is the key to receiving. Not asking the right way, or at the right time. Obedience is the key!
2) You receive an Advocate, not an Assistant, in the Holy Spirit.
What’s the difference? An assistant helps you with your agenda. An advocate instructs and sticks up for you. The Advocate also speaks the truth and testifies about Jesus.
3) You have a divine reminder of important information.
John 14:26 (NLT) “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to help the disciples remember what Jesus had said. He did this so they could record it accurately in Scripture for our benefit. The Spirit still reminds God’s people about His Word and makes it come alive to us.
4) You have a godly conviction in regards to sin.
John 16:8 (NLT) “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”
In this second post on The Holy Spirit, I had three main points that I wanted everyone to walk away with. They are that The Holy Spirit, working as our Advocate, gives us Power, Love, and Perspective.
THE SPIRIT ENERGIZES YOU WITH POWER
There are a lot of people who are anxious about the future. But the Psalms encourage us.
Psalm 27:1 (NLT) “The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?”
When you’re in a difficult time, it’s easy to listen to yourself rather than the truth of God’s Word. But the Holy Spirit brings hope, power, and confidence in the midst of uncertainty.
God speaks through ideas from the Holy Spirit. He gives you thoughts. He gives you suggestions. He puts impressions in your mind.
When the devil talks to you, that is temptation. But when God talks to you, that is inspiration. The Holy Spirit will bring God’s truth to your mind and that truth gives you power.
Jesus said in John 14:26 (Phillips) “But the one who is coming to stand by you, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will be your teacher and will bring to your minds all that I have said to you.”
If the Holy Spirit brings God’s truth to your mind, that means there’s got to be something in there to bring out. That’s why you need to get God’s Word, the Bible, deep into your heart. When you read, study, and fill your mind with God’s Word, you are storing the truth in your mind, and then the Holy Spirit can bring it to mind at just the right time.
THE HOLY SPIRIT ENRICHES YOU WITH LOVE
Love is a great force in overcoming fear. We often fear what we don’t know, haven’t encountered, or can’t comprehend.
The differences between love and fear are:
Love looks for opportunities to give; fear is self-protecting.
Love causes us to move toward other people; fear causes us to withdraw from others.
Love is a sign of trust; fear is a sign of doubt.
Love has lost some of its distinction and true definition in today’s culture. What is love? How do you define it?
Affection—takes delight in affirming others.
Friendship—Deep and deeply felt; togetherness; a sense of joy when two people are together.
Eros—A Greek word—a romantic, passionate kind of love; a love between lovers, those who are “in love.”
Agape—The highest form of love; gift love. Agape love longs to give what’s best unconditionally and regardless of the cost; selfless; seeking the highest good for the other person!
1 Corinthians 13:1–8, 13 (NLT) If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
The Holy Spirit enriches our hearts with this kind of love for one another. Here’s a good strategy for loving others well:
Start with where they currently are, not where you currently want them to be.
Be patient with people’s progress.
Connect with others when they hurt.
Desire what is best for others
Erase all offenses.
THE HOLY SPIRIT ENLIGHTENS YOU WITH A PROPER PERSPECTIVE
The Holy Spirit helps our perspective because His job is to magnify Jesus. Perspective shapes how we see things. In many ways, it influences our actions, shapes our thinking, and ultimately impacts our life.
Have you ever found yourself asking, “Where is God?” and the more you asked it the worse you felt? It’s one thing to know that God is everywhere (He is omnipresent), but there are times that you need to know He is right here, right now, with you.
The Holy Spirit helps you keep life in perspective by bringing the truth of God’s Word to your mind. If circumstances have you . . .
Feeling lonely? The Holy Spirit reminds you that God is with you.
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’”
Feeling insecure? The Holy Spirit reminds you that God is your confidence.
Psalm 16:8–9 (GNT) “I am always aware of the Lord’s presence; he is near, and nothing can shake me. And so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure.”
Feeling uncertain? The Holy Spirit reminds you that He is your Counselor.
Job 13:27 (GNT) “You watch every step I take, and even examine my footprints.”
Feeling depressed? The Holy Spirit reminds you that He is your Comforter.
Psalm 34:18 (GNT) “The LORD is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope.”
If you’re not careful, circumstances can skew your perspective, and you start questioning if God is anywhere near. But you just have to keep reminding yourself through God’s word that He is right there.
Final Thoughts
In preparation for next week, I want us to have three very deliberate prayer points this week. That God would give us His power, His love, and His perspective.
We need all three of these elements. Just having His Love and Perspective but not His Power says you can carry out His heart without Him.
Just having His Power and Perspective means you have the tools and sight but lack the Love of God. Where God desires that none should perish, your desire becomes about who you want to have eternal life.
Just having His Power and Love but not Perspective can cause you to miss out on when and where God wants you to move in Power and Love.
But all three together? Look out! God can move! Here is how you respond to this message today. Spend this week praying that God’s Power, God’s Love, and God’s Perspective will become real in your life. And come expecting God to do something incredible next week. Nothing that we can create, but what God’s will is for our local church!