When we receive Jesus into our lives, the Holy Spirit comes and resides in our hearts as a guest - a guest who is with us forever (John 14:16-17 and Ephesians 1:13, 14), available to help us when we face difficulties. He fulfils this ministry in a number of ways. We have an advantage over the Old Covenant saints in that they didn’t have the Holy Spirit as a constant companion. Only Judges, Priest, Prophets, and King were “anointed” for service, but not born of the Spirit as we are through the work of Jesus Christ on Calvary. We have both the fruit of the Spirit (God’s character) and the Gifts of the Spirit (God’s power) available to us through faith in Jesus Christ. (See John 14:26 and John 15:26). God will fill anyone that is thirsty for His presence! I don’t care what denomination you are with, Jesus wants to fill you with His Spirit! Being Spirit-filled means being SPIRIT CONTROLLED!
This sermon was created for Christians that want study the Holy Spirit without being intimidated or ashamed to ask questions in Bible Study. I have found there are two topics in scripture that people run from, The Book of Revelations and The Holy Spirit! Put on your seat belts and get ready to learn the truth of scripture. How does the Holy Spirit help us? So often believer act like the Holy Spirit is too mysterious to study or understand. Or they act like just saying “I am spirit-filled” is enough!
1. The Holy Spirit testifies of our relationship with God
''Those who obey his commands live in Him and He in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us'' 1 John 3:24 (see also 4:13; Galatians 4:6).
When we were born into God's family as His sons, the Holy Spirit came and fused with our spirit in an everlasting relationship. Now the Holy Spirit ''testifies with our spirit" (Romans 8:16) concerning our new relationship with God. Even when we go through difficult times, we still have God's Spirit as a ''guarantee'' (Ephesians 1:14). The Holy Spirit gives us the confidence that we belong to the Father based on His love.
''This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything" 1 John 3:19-20.
2. The Holy Spirit teaches
''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" John 14:26.
God has sent into our hearts His very own Spirit - the Spirit who ''knows everything'' (1 John 3:20; Hebrews 4:13) and who "searches all things, EVEN THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD'' (1 Corinthians 2:10). Thus the Holy Spirit helps us by teaching us - and in times of spiritual attack, He helps us recall parts of His own Word, making it alive to our hearts (see Luke 12:11-12; Nehemiah 9:20). God NEVER wants us to be taken unaware by demonic doctrines, so The Holy Spirit leads us in accordance with His Word!
''This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit... ‘1 Corinthians 2:13 (read also verses 9-16; 1 John 2:27).
3. The Holy Spirit guides
''... Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" Romans 8: 14.
As an expression of the Father's loving heart, the Holy Spirit is ever present to help God's children follow the right path. The Book of Acts gives many accounts of, the direct guidance’s of the Holy Spirit (see 10:19-20; 13:2; 16:6). Whenever we are faced with a decision that we can't handle by ourselves, we can ask for help from the Holy Spirit - for He is in us to express the mind of Christ so that we can fulfill the will of God.
''O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you . . . Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it' '' Isaiah 30: 19,21 (see also 42:16; 48:17).
4. The Holy Spirit helps us live a life pleasing to God
''So l say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature . . . Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit'' Galatians 5:16-17,25.
The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to live a righteous life. If we strive to do this in our own strength, we will fail - but with the Spirit's help, backed by the full legal work of the Cross, we have a God-given formula for success. This success is described as the ''fruit'' of the Holy Spirit's own character, and that fruit can begin to grow in our lives only when the Holy Spirit is allowed to express Himself.
''But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law" Galatians 5:22-23.
5. The Holy Spirit helps us in prayer
''In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" Romans 8:26.
Because of our human limitations, we often don't know exactly how to pray, but the Holy Spirit knows exactly what needs to be expressed. When we lean on the Holy Spirit in prayer, we can have full confidence that our prayer will be answered - because we are in teamwork with God Himself!
"And the Father who knows all hearts knows, of course, what the Spirit is saying as he pleads for us in harmony with God's own will'' Romans 8:27 (TLB).
6. The Holy Spirit gives power to witness
''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses . . . to the ends of the earth'' Acts 1:8.
The Holy Spirit is not only our power to live the Christian life, but is the power to tell others about the Good News of what God has done for us! God has given us a Commission (Matthew 28:18-19) that is far too big for us to fulfill in our own strength, but when we allow the Holy Spirit to demonstrate His power through us, we are enabled to fulfill the call.
'' . . . And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly . . . With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
