You Shall Be Changed

March 7, 2004

Morning Worship

Text: 1 Samuel 10:1-7

Subject: The Holy Spirit

Title: You Shall Be Changed

Revival is here! I have been waiting to say that for many years. I have looked here and there searching for evidence of revival wherever I have been. I’ve been to the mountaintop, thinking revival had come, and have spent time in the valleys of disappointment when it did not last. But I’m telling you now that revival is here and I believe it is here to stay and it is not at all what I thought it would look like. This revival has quietly taken place in the hearts of many and has stirred this church to worship, exalt, love, and serve the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit. This revival is not defined by the sensational outward experiences that often occur, but is characterized by an awesome sense of expectation every time we come together. We expect to see people healed, delivered, filled. We expect the word of God to come alive when it goes forth. We expect the gifts of the Spirit to be fully operational so that every time we come together, Jesus is magnified through the Spirit. I want to continue today, not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

Who is the Holy Spirit? Various groups have described the spirit as an impersonal force, an abstract principle, a subordinate being, or even as an angel. But what does the Bible say about the Holy Spirit? Let’s first look at the Holy Spirit on the spiritual plane. The Holy Spirit is mentioned on an equal level with God. In the great commission, Jesus tells us to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. John 14:16-17 Jesus says, “And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” By using the word, “another” (GR. Allos) Jesus is saying that the Father and I will send another one just like Me. He is equal in power, authority, majesty, and importance. But His job is not the same as Jesus’. Jesus’ purpose was redemption; the Holy Spirit’s purpose is empowerment.

The Holy Spirit is named by many different names in the Bible. He is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of truth, and the Spirit of the Lord.

He is a person. God gives life … “through His Spirit who dwells in you…”. It is the Spirit who bears witness…” John 14:26, “He will teach you all things…” Romans 8:26, “the Spirit Himself intercedes for us…”.

The Holy Spirit has emotions. He can be grieved, and He loves.

He has a mind, He speaks, He knows, has awareness, can be lied to, can be tested, is a witness, forbids, searches, and teaches.

The one thing that the Spirit does not do is exalt Himself. John 16:13-14, “However, when He, the spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

The reason that I have gone into this preliminary teaching about the person of the Holy Spirit is because the Holy Spirit is central to revival in this church. Why do I say that? 1) “The hour is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” 2) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” 3) No one comes to Jesus unless they are drawn by the Father who sent Him. How does that happen? The convicting power of the Holy Spirit. In essence, revival is all about getting closer to God. It doesn’t happen without the Holy Spirit’s activity in our lives.

Our passage today is from the book of 1 Samuel. It defines the activity of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. If this is the type of thing that happened before the Holy Spirit was given to all, how much more should it be happening today?

I. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WILL COME UPON YOU.

A. The Holy Spirit Ministers. Which member of the trinity has His total ministry here on earth? The Holy Spirit. God revealed Himself to humanity in a pre-incarnate form. Jesus walked the earth for about 33 years. But the Holy Spirit has been here since the creation. In Genesis 1 He hovered above the face of the waters. In Genesis 41 speaking of Joseph, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the spirit of God?” Moses was empowered by the Spirit. All the Prophets were enabled by the Spirit. The judges were raised up by the Spirit. The New Testament believers receive the Holy Spirit when they are saved. Ephesians 1:13, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” When you accept Christ the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you.