Getting To Know The Holy Spirit Series

Getting To Know The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5:18; Acts 19: 1-4

Introduction: John Calvin said, “The sin of the O.T. times was the rejection of God the Father. The sin of the N.T. times was the rejection of God the Son. The sin of modern times is the rejection of God the Holy Spirit.”

Much of what we behold today is not the moving of the “Holy Spirit” but the “unholy spirit.” Beware of extremism. But don’t let that keep you from knowing the Holy Spirit. Vance Havner said “We become so afraid of getting out on a limb that we never get up the tree.”

The key to the ministry of a Christian or the building of a loving, growing and evangelistic church is the Holy Spirit. Ron Dunn wrote, “If it isn’t supernatural, it is simply superficial.”

How can we get to know the Holy Spirit?

I. Prayer

Study Luke 11:10-13. The moment you trusted Christ is the moment you received the

Holy Spirit. You received all of Him you are ever going to receive. He took up residence in your life. But we did not receive the full knowledge of His ministry. That’s the reason we need to grow in grace and knowledge.

II. Study

Through study we learn what He does for believers.

A. He Helps Us To Pray: Rom. 8:26; John 16:13

B. He Teaches Us Truth: John 16:13; He takes information and turns it into revelation.

C. He Produces Fruit: Gal. 5:22

D. He Leads Us: Acts 16:7

E. He Empowers Us: Luke 24:49

III. Worship

See John 14:15-18; Romans 8:9; II Cor. 3:17.

We note that the Trinity is all co-equal, co-eternal and co-existent. The Holy Spirit is as much God as the Father or the Son. He is God living in you! Father = God above us. Son = God before us. Spirit = God within us.

IV. Experience

See II Cor. 3:6; I Kings 19:12; Acts 2. Many try to live on someone else’s experience. Many try to make their experience the norm for every other believer. The Holy Spirit

may not work in your life like another. He may come in a thunder or a still small voice. In one He may work in a slow painful process and, yet, in another He may come as a bolt out of the blue.

Many who claim to be filled with the spirit are not very Christ-like. It’s not how many “Jesus” stickers you have on your car bumper, but whether you have “I love you” written on your life! Don’t go through life trying to “be like Mike”. Just try to be like Jesus. A true experience with the Holy Spirit will always conform you to the ways of Christ.

Conclusion: Ask God for the filling of His Holy Spirit. You have not because you ask not. He’s not reluctant to grant your desire – He commands us to be filled!