Sermon Central
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The Work Of The Holy Spirit
Contributed by George Rennau on Sep 26, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: The biggest sin the Holy Spirit is working to convict men of is their unbelief in Jesus.
The Work of the Spirit
1. TO CONVICT US
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: [9] in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; [10] in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; [11] and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
The Holy Spirit is the prosecuting attorney of God attempting to get us to settle with God out of court
Before we face judgment1. day when the book is thrown at us
The Spirit is busy convicting men in 3 areas and to direct them toward Jesus
he gives us a sense of SIN
The biggest sin he is working to convict men of is their unbelief in Jesus
He is working to reverse that unbelief and distrust so that men believe in HIM
He convicts us to affirm the righteousness of Jesus
The Pharisees said he was of the Devil – The Spirit is saying – he is from the Father
The Spirit is working to gain a reversal of the Worlds verdict and view of Jesus
The world says Jesus is merely a man
Just a prophet or a good teacher
It has disturbed me recently to see the impact 2 Morman missionaries are having on our community. It seems like everyweek they have their picture in the paper – the most recent being an article of their donation of the book of mormon to Parker library
They are good looking kids
Helpful
Kind
Active
But their Jesus is not the Jesus of scripture..
And I am compelled by The Spirit of God to Worship JESUS only and when I get into their presence or read about their works –Spreading Lies-
I feel the conviction of the HOLY Spirit
The Spirit is confirming the righteousness of Jesus and is saying look to him alone…
The Spirit is convincing the world of judgment that is already handed down and judgment that is yet to come.
2. REGENERATE US
To take that which is dead
Our sinful nature and bring it to life
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Jesus acts upon this verse
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Up until this time the faith of the disciples had been the same as that of any OT Saint that looked forward to the messiah that would one day come
Their faith was in anticipation that God would send a saviour
In John 20:22
His work on the cross is finished
Jesus stands before the disciples with indelible proof of his living presence
On that basis the disciples are given an opportunity that no one before them had been given.
Now no longer would their faith be in anticipation
But it would look back upon a work that had already been accomplished.
When they received the Holy Spirit they received LIFE
There is life in the breath of God.
Man was created but did not come alive until God breathed into him the breath of life (Genesis 2:7).
God’s first breath made man different from all other forms of creation.
Now, through the breath of Jesus, God imparted eternal, spiritual life.
Once you have received new life
The enemy comes along and tries to tell you that you have not received new life
Because there are still signs of the old life
But the fact is New life has come
And the old life that show itself is only in it’s dying stages
The new life is taking hold and emerging
For when we are in Christ the sinful nature is dead and a new nature has risen
What a wonderful change in my heart has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart…
Just as we bore the likeness of the earthly man
Now we bear the likeness of the man of heaven
Through Jesus Christ the law of the Spirit of life has set me free from the law of sin and death
I am a new creature in Christ – through the Spirit who has brought the life of Jesus to me…
3. HE SEALS BELIEVERS
Ephes. 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephes. 1:13-14
….. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance …
