What's The Big Deal About The Holy Spirit Series

TITLE: What’s the Big Deal About the Holy Spirit?

TEXT: John 14:16-25

THEME: The Holy Spirit

P.S. If you are a Born again follower of Jesus Christ, then you have been called to the Spirit filled life.

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever been alone? I mean felt totally alone with no one to talk too? Or perhaps you have been lost while travelling and did not know who to call or turn too for help.

Can you imagine for a moment what it would be like to have someone with you, 24/7 who will always give you directions when you are lost? They will be there to give answers when you are at a loss for words. Imagine having a friend who constantly gives you encouragement to not give up. A friend who will be honest enough with you to tell you when you are making a mistake and direct you down a better path?

Does it sound too good to be true? Well, if you are a born again followers of Jesus Christ, you already have that friend. That friend is the Holy Spirit.

If you are a Born again follower of Jesus Christ, then you have been called to the Spirit filled life.

Today, and for the next few weeks, I would like to introduce you to the Holy Spirit. In this messahe, we will lay a foundation as we discover that The Spirit filled life is for every believer; we will also answer two important questions, why the Holy Spirit is important, and who exactly is the Holy Spirit.

As we consider the importance of the Holy Spirit, the first point I want us to consider is,

1. THE SPIRIT FILLED LIFE IS FOR EVERY BELIEVER.

Have you ever thought about this before? There may be some who may answer, “I don’t know what you’re talking about?” If that is your answer, don’t despair. Even as far back as the days of the early church, people were ignorant of the Holy Spirit’s reality and presence.

In fact in The book of Acts, Luke tells us that there were a group of believers in Ephesus, who were living their Christian lives and did not have a clue about the person or power of the Holy Spirit. When Paul asked them if they had recveived the Holy Spirit since they believed, their answer was a bewildered, “We have never heard of any Holy Spirit.”

You may be surprised to know that there are people in churches across Canada, who know nothing about the Holy Spirit, let alone what HE wants to do in thier life.

Another way you may respond is, “I’m not sure I want anything to do with the Holy Spirit. Everything I hear about the Holy Spirit seems divisive and too emotional for me.

There are many misconception and myths that Christians believe about the Holy Spirit. At the outset of this study I would like to dismiss some common misunderstandings about the Holy Spirit..

TO begin with, The Holy Spirit is not an it. Nowhere in Scripture is the Spirit of God treated as an inanimate object. He is given names. He is given a personality. He is given jobs. He is given functions. These are not qualities of an it, but of a living person of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is not something, He is someone.

Furthermore, The Holy Spirit is not the force from Star Wars. Many people view the Holy Spirit according to the description Obi-Wan Kenobie gives the force in the Star Wars movies. They see the Holy Spirit as “something” that controls your movements, but obeys your commands. They see the Holy Spirit as “something” that surrounds us and binds the galaxy together. Of course, Scripture says that binding creation together is Jesus’ job.

Finally, The Holy Spirit does not make you act weird, strange, foolish or contrary to His written word.

The Bible is clear, we do not need to be afraid of the Holy Spirit. Neither are we to neglect the Holy Spirit. And certainly we should avoid grieving the Holy Spirit.

So what then ought a relationship with the Spirit look like?.’

This relationship with the Holy Spirit will be marked by three things. Firstly it will be marked by PURPOSE. The reason Jesus has given to us the Holy Spirit is so that we can live life to the fullest. In John 10:10, Jesus promised true abundant life.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.(TNIV)

Eugene Peterson in the MESSAGE says, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

And I think that the Amplified really captures the meaning Jesus words, I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it [a]overflows).