The Holy Spirit And Believers

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BELIEVERS

John 16:7-14

INTRO: We have been studying the Holy Spirit. We have seen the person of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit and unbelievers. Today, lets look at the role of the Holy Spirit and believers. What does the Holy Spirit do for the believer? There are several things that are given in our text. READ TEXT!

I. ESTABLISHES OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

Man without Christ is separated from God. Salvation is the experience which brings us back together.

Reconciled means: two things which were separated have been joined again (2nd Corinthians 5:19).

This new relationship is the work of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

II. ENRICHES OUR LIVES.

He dwells within us to help us experience the abundant life that Christ wants us to have.

1. By Giving Us Gifts (2 Corinthians 12:7).

2. By Producing Certain Fruit Within Us (Galatians 5:22-23).

3. By Developing Christlikeness In Us (Romans 7:1-6).

III. ENLIGHTENS OUR MINDS.

In verse 12, Jesus told his disciples there were many things they could not yet understand. The Holy Spirit would make them known, and guide them in the truth.

IV. ENCOURAGES OUR HEARTS.

The word translated Counselor, NIV; Comforter, KJV; Helper, NASB— is the Greek word ðáñÜêáëçôïò (parakaletos). It is a compound word made up of the preposition ðáñÜ (para) which means by the side of, beside and the verb êáëçþ (Kaleo) which means to call. A literal translation would be “one called alongside.”

Whenever we are discouraged, depressed, or defeated, the Holy Spirit is there to console and comfort us and encourage us along—to keep us going.

V. EMPOWERS OUR SPIRIT.

In Acts 1:8, Jesus said “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;...” (NIV). Power comes from the Spirit of God. Jesus predicted it, the early church portrayed it, Paul proclaimed it, and all of history has proved it.

CONC: Many years ago a tall slender Jewish man entered the most famous cathedral in all of Europe, the Cathedral of Notre Dame. The organ in that Cathedral was even more famous than the Cathedral. The young man asked the organist for the key to the organ so that he could play it. The organist refused, saying, “I cannot give the key to a stranger.” The young man was persistent, so finally, the organist gave in and let the young stranger have the key. The stranger played the most beautiful music and the greatest sounds ever heard from that organ. After he finished, he gave the key back to the organist. As he was leaving, the organist asked the young man, “What is your name, sir?” The young man answered, “Felix Mendelssohn.” the organist with tears said: “To think that the master was here, and I almost refused him the key.”

The Holy Spirit is the master who wants to play in our lives. We must not refuse him the key.