Developing A Great And Intimate Relationship With God, The Holy Spirit - Part 3 Series

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:26-27 NIV)

A. You have been BORN-AGAIN of the Holy Spirit

1. You can only become a child of God.

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13)

We aren't born that way. Like begets like. An eternal God begets eternal children. In the human family, conception and birth are not dependent on the baby but the parents. So it is with God. The difference between natural birth and spiritual birth is spiritual birth gives spiritual life.

"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:5-8)

2. The Holy Spirit or the incorruptible seed is the source of your new birth. "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." (1 Peter 1:23)

B. You have been WASHED in the Rebirth.

1. This washing took place at the Cross through the shed blood of Jesus.

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Titus 3:5 KJV)

2. This is a once and for all experience.

"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11)

*Notice that this verse says that you were (past tense) washed.

Jesus taught us that to have fellowship with Him, we don't need to repeat over and over the complete bath of the new birth. We only need daily cleansing of our soul because it becomes dirty due to walking in a sin-cursed world.

Listen to what Jesus said to Peter after Jesus told them He was going to wash his feet:

"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." (John 13:8-10)

This is why Jesus said that eleven of them were clean (saved through the complete washing of the new birth), but not Judas, who had never experienced the new birth. When you sin, you need not be reborn repeatedly but experience the daily cleansing through confession and repentance of the sin.

C. You have been BAPTIZED in the Holy Spirit.

You have been permanently immersed in the Spirit and forever enclosed by Him. You are not only identified with the Holy Spirit but with all Christians as well.

"For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." (1 Corinthians 12:13)

D. You have been given the GUARANTEE of the Holy Spirit.

1. The Holy Spirit is in the heart of every Born-Again Christian, guaranteeing their inheritance.

"set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, <guaranteeing> what is to come." (2 Corinthians 1:22)

It is like an engagement ring that signifies the promise of marriage. It is an advance payment for things to come.

E. You have been SEALED with the Holy Spirit.

1. A seal is a sign of ownership and authority.

He has set His seal "of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Corinthians 1:22)

2. The proof that the Holy Spirit has sealed a person is if there is a desire to stop sinning.

3. The presence of the Holy Spirit causes your body to become a holy temple.