Sermon Central
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Hosts Of The Holy Ghost Series
Contributed by Bruce Landry on May 25, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: We as Christians have the blessed experience of hosting God’s Holy Ghost within us. Since God is present within us, we might remember to walk in a manner that is pleasing and glorifying to HIM.
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Hosts of the Holy Ghost
Who is HE?
What does HE do?
Who is HE?
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his [Rom. 8:9].
Who is the Holy Spirit and is HE in your life?
We learn that all who have truly called upon the name of Christ for salvation has HIS indwelling spirit. Are you included?
Also here: "But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit since the Spirit of God really dwells in you." That is the real test.
And why letting others know about Christ and Christ in your life is so important.
Because if anyone has "not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of HIS."
The true mark of a born-again believer is the indwelling Spirit of God. Paul said to the carnal Corinthians: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1Cor. 6:19). Paul missed their mark when he went to Ephesus the first time…
Are you displaying the mark? Are you a new creation.
Do you love Jesus?
Do you serve Jesus?
Are the things of Christ uppermost in your mind and heart?
The power of the Spirit is seen in the word “dwell” (oikeoô). Picture a home, the Holy Spirit dwells within the believer: HE makes HIS home, takes up residence, and lives within the believer just as we live in our homes.
Creates the glorious truth of the indwelling presence of God within the believer.
The believer is said to be “in the [Holy] Spirit” (Romans 8:9).
The Spirit of God is said to “dwell” in the believer (Romans 8:9).
The believer is said to have “the Spirit of Christ” (Romans 8:9).
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16-17).
The “Spirit of Christ” is said to indwell the believer the same as the “Spirit of God.” Both equally within the believer.
Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Philip. 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
1 Peter 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
The power of the Spirit removes the believer from being “in” the flesh and places him within HIMSELF, within the Spirit of God...
The believer is no longer positioned “in” the flesh: not in God’s eyes nor in God’s accounting. We no longer dwell “in” the flesh: are no longer comfortable with the things of the flesh.
The believer is positioned “in” the Spirit of God. God counts the believer as placed and positioned in HIS Spirit; we should dwell “in” the Holy Spirit.
Are you uncomfortable today?
If so it is because we Christians are only at home and comfortable with the things of the Spirit.
The power of the Spirit identifies us as being “in” Christ.
Whatever spirit dwells within a man, it is that spirit to whom man belongs. What spirit lives within you?
Will you fully and humbly submit yourself to Christ and HIS leadership in your life?
If you have the Spirit of Christ, you belong to Christ and will be known as a “follower of Christ”.
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18).
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Ephes. 3:17).
What does HE do?
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness [Rom. 8:10].
First, HE helps us put to death this flesh…
If we are truly in Christ, when HE died, we died. We have this through yielding our lives and bodies to HIM.
Don’t say you can’t do it -- this is not the language of a believer. Paul could say, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).
