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The Holy Spirit: What He Gives To Every Christian
Contributed by James Dunn on Jan 26, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: Many Christians today are asking the question, "What can I do to have more of God?" when the real question should be, "How much of me does God really have?
The Holy Spirit: What He Gives To Every Christian
Introduction:
D. L. Moody was to have a campaign in England. An elderly pastor protested, "Why do we need this ’Mr. Moody’? He’s uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?" A younger, wiser pastor rose and responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody."
Source Unknown
Transition:
What about you? Do you know Who the Holy Spirit is? If so, when was the last time that you sensed His leading? Today, there are those who say, "I want more of the Holy Spirit."
In truth, that is an inaccurate, unbiblical question. The real question is: "How much of you does the Holy Spirit truly have?"
In our text today, we can see what we truly have in Christ through the Person of the Holy Spirit.
I. The Holy Spirit Gives Us a New Life (1Cor. 12:13)
A. This Life is Spiritual……… (John 3:1-8)
1. This life is from God
2. This life is through Christ
3. This life is by the Holy Spirit
B. This Life is Eternal ………. (John 3:16)
1. When we trust Christ, we are given “eternal life.”
2. When we trust Christ, we have a New Home in Heaven.
3. When we trust Christ, we are always His.
II. The Holy Spirit Gives Us a New Family (1Cor. 12:14-26)
A. This Family is Spiritual …… (Rom. 6:1-5)
1. We have the same Father
2. We have the same Jesus
3. We have the same Spirit
B. This Family is Eternal…….(John 10:28)
1. We will never be lost
2. We will never be taken away
3. We will always Be Kept By Our Father …(John 10:29)
A. We are given to Christ
B. We are never taken from Christ
III. The Holy Spirit Gives Us a New Identity (1Cor. 27)
A. I am God’s child……. John 1:12
B. As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ…...John 15:15
C. I have been justified…… Romans 5:1
D. I have been bought with a price and I belong to God…... 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
E. I am a member of Christ’s body…... 1 Corinthians 12:27
F. I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child…… Ephesians 1:3-8
G. I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins…... Colossians 1:13-14
H. I am complete in Christ…... Colossians 2:9-10
I. I am free from condemnation…... Romans 8:1-2
J. I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances…... Romans 8:28
K. I have been established, anointed and sealed by God…... 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
L. I am hidden with Christ in God…... Colossians 3:1-4
M. I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me…… Philippians 1:6
N. I am a citizen of heaven…... Philippians 3:20
O. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me…... Philippians 4:13
P. I am God’s workmanship…... Ephesians 2:10
IV. The Holy Spirit Gives Us A New Ability ……….(1 Cor. 12:12-14)
A. This Ability is Spiritual….. (1Cor. 12:1-12)
1. We must recognize our gifts (1Cor. 12:3)
2. We must Utilize our gifts (1Cor. 12:6-8)
B. This Ability is Eternal …… (1Cor. 3:10-15)
1. If what we build survives……….we will receive a reward (1Cor. 3:15)
2. If what we build is destroyed……we will suffer loss (1Cor. 3:15)
Conclusion:
Speaking to a large audience, D.L. Moody held up a glass and asked, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man shouted, "Suck it out with a pump!" Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After numerous other suggestions Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then went on to explain that victory in the Christian life is not accomplished by "sucking out a sin here and there," but by being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Today in the Word, September, 1991, p. 30.