The Holy Guest, pt. 1
John 4:24
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“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”—John 4:24.
The Bible calls the Spirit of God “The Holy Ghost” and “The Holy Spirit”; but tonite, I’d like to call Him the “Holy Guest.” He must be invited in and given liberty as a visitor in the home. We need to start letting Him call the shots as our conscience…this is how we can “walk with God.” When we allow and “unholy guest”, the devil, to win in his efforts to hurt us, our homes, our church, our evening service, we offend our other guests, not the least of which is our “Holy Guest”, the Holy Ghost. He is God with us, the Comforter…God’s “Presence”…Col. 1:27—“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Now, in order that we might be more acquainted with the Holy Spirit who lives in our bodies, let me present a three-pronged study concerning His PERSONAL ACTIONS, PERSONAL REACTIONS and PERSONAL TRANSACTIONS.
I. PERSONAL ACTIONS OF OUR HOLY GUEST
1. HE SPEAKS. Acts 13:2: “ . . .the Holy Ghost said,
Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” He knew exactly whom He wanted and what they were to do. When He speaks to us we should be ready to obey.
2. HE TESTIFIES. John 15:26: “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.” While others testify and advertise themselves and their ideas, activities and programs, the Holy Spirit only presents Jesus Christ.
3. HE TEACHES. John 14:26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Who would be more qualified to teach us than one who has God’s attributes of omniscience or one who knows all things?
4. HE GUIDES. John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the
Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” The Spirit of God knows the answer to all questions, and He can see the dangerous places in our pathway. He is familiar with every inch of the trail of life. He is an excellent guide.
5. HE LEADS. Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” To follow His leading shows great intelligence and spiritual wisdom. We read in Luke, chapter 4, of the account of Jesus’ being tempted of the Devil in the wilderness. This story begins with the statement, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” We, too, can come out of our wilderness temptations without sinning, if we will follow as the Spirit leads.
6. HE SEALS. Ephesians 4:30: “And grieve not the
Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” The seal signifies God’s ownership and protection over us.
7. HE GIVES GIFTS. I Corinthians 12:4: “now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” These gifts are listed in the following verses as: the gift of wisdom, gift of knowledge, gift of faith, gift of healing, gift of working miracles, gift of prophecy, gift of discerning spirits, gift of divers kinds of tongues and gift of interpretation of tongues. He gives these to whomsoever He will.
8. HE BAPTIZES. I Corinthians 12:13: “For by one
Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” This, of course, refers to spiritual baptism into the body of Christ, and not to water baptism.
9. HE INTERCEDES. Romans 8:26: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh groanings which cannot be uttered.” How many times we are not able to express what we really mean! How difficult to get across what we have on our hearts! But when the Spirit intercedes for us, He expresses our heart to the Lord.
10. HE FORBIDS. Acts 16:6,7: “now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not.” It is clear to see that the Holy Spirit is a person with a will. He has the will of the Father, and He forbids what is contrary to the will of God. Those who oppose and rebel against His leading are out of God’s will for their lives.
11. HE GIVES LIFE. John 6:63: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Man is dead in trespasses and sin, until he is given eternal life, by the Spirit. Spiritual death comes because of Adam’s sin; but resurrection comes by Christ through the Spirit.
12. HE CONVICTS. John 16:7,8: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” Conviction comes as the Spirit points out our sins and points us to Jesus on the cross, judging our sin.
13. HE COMFORTS. John 14:26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost . . . .” He is also the Comforter in John 15:26 and John 16:7.
14. HE REGENERATES. John 3:5: “Jesus answered,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” To be born of the Spirit is to be born of God or born from above. This is regeneration or salvation, by the hand of God.
15. HE EMPOWERS. Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
16. HE BEARS WITNESS. Romans 8:16: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” I John 5:10 tells us, “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself . . . .” Assurance and peace about our salvation come by the Spirit.
II. PERSONAL REACTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit has a personality and a will and can be
affected by our actions toward Him. Ways in which He is affected are as follows:
1. HE CAN BE GRIEVED. Ephesians 4:30: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” To grieve means to go against His desires and injure, harm or hurt Him by resisting, rebelling and spurning His leading. It is for our good and benefit that He acts. When we do not respond, He is grieved.
2. HE CAN BE VEXED. Isaiah 63:10: “But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.” To be vexed means to be grieved, annoyed, angered or agitated. The Spirit will take so much of this, and then He will take no more.
3. HE CAN BE TEMPTED. Acts 5:9: “How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?” Ananias and Sapphira twisted the truth around and tried to hide it from the people. They seemed to think that the Holy Spirit would go along with them in the thing, but they were wrong.
4. HE CAN BE LIED TO. Acts 5:3: “But Peter said,
Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost . . .?” Ananias thought his little scheme was well covered; and, when he lied, he considered it a small matter involving man only. Many still feel the same about sinfulness. Little do men realize the seriousness of sinning against God.
5. HE CAN BE RESISTED. Acts 7:51: “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” These words of Stephen to the Jews clearly express the true picture of so many today. The Holy Spirit is ready to help, but so often He is resisted.
6. HE CAN BE QUENCHED. I Thessalonians 5:19:
“Quench not the Spirit.” Paul saw that men were restraining and holding back the Spirit. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to give the Spirit His way.
7. HE CAN BE BLASPHEMED. Matthew 12:31: “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men.” It is possible to go too far in resisting the Spirit until He is so offended that He will not attempt to help any further. This can only be done by a non-Christian.
8. HE WILL WITHDRAW. Genesis 6:3: “And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man . . . .” In the days of Noah, God’s Spirit spoke, pleaded and warned men, but finally it was enough and judgment fell. It is still the same today. God’s Spirit will only strive with a man so long; then He will depart.
III. PERSONAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
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