INTRODUCTION
* “Gifts You Won’t Find Under the Tree” series = these gifts are unique because of their source; take away God and you have no opportunity to receive the gifts
* Today: the gift of the Holy Spirit
- To understand the gift of the Spirit we must first understand the Trinity: a theological term we use to define God as an undivided unity expressed in a threefold nature of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
- The great claim of God in the OT: Deut. 6:4
- The role of each person of the Trinity: 1 Peter 1:2
* The importance of this gift: we cannot live an abundant or eternal life without the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14)
* The need to examine why the Holy Spirit is a gift and understand what our responsibility is to the Spirit...
1. The Holy Spirit is a gift because of who he is...God
- As part of the Trinity, the Spirit is just as much God as the Father and Son
- John 4:24 = “Spirit” = “living power”
- Since the Spirit is God, he possesses all the qualities we usually associate with the Father and the Son
* The Holy Spirit is eternal (Heb. 9:14)
- Implication: God will never leave us (Heb. 13:5; Joshua 1:5)
* The Holy Spirit is all-knowing/omniscient (1 Cor. 2:10-11)
- Implication: Nothing can ever happen that will surprise God
* The Holy Spirit is everywhere/omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-10)
- Implication: As David said, we are always guided by God, regardless of where we are
* The Holy Spirit is all-powerful/omnipotent (Acts 1:8; 2 Tim. 1:7)
- Implication: We can do anything with the Spirit’s help
2. The Holy Spirit is a gift because of where he is
- John 14:16-18
- The Spirit is within the believer, which means that God dwells in the believer
- All of God is within us, therefore we should seek to experience all of God, not just part of God
- 1 Cor. 6:19-20
3. The Holy Spirit is a gift because of what he does
- John 16:7-13
* The Holy Spirit brings conviction to our hearts
- Conviction of sin is the result of the Holy Spirit awakening us to a sense of guilt and condemnation because of sin and unbelief
- More than mental conviction is intended; the total person is involved; this can lead to action based on a sense of conviction
- Conviction results in hope, not despair. Once individuals are made aware of their estranged relationship with God, they are challenged and encouraged to mend that relationship. Conviction exposes sin but also calls for repentance.
* The Holy Spirit then leads us to truth (John 8:32)
* The Holy Spirit causes salvation/regeneration to occur (John 3:5; Titus 3:5)
OUR RESPONSE TO THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT...
1. We need to receive the Holy Spirit by placing faith in Christ (Acts 2:38)
2. We need to submit to the Spirit’s leading in our lives (Gal. 5:25)
3. We need to fill our live with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18)
