What We Believe - Spirit

Secular:

Have you ever been asked to do the impossible?

Given a task and wondered how it could ever possibly get done on time…?

When I was hear just about two years ago…

Actually the end of November…

I returned to Orangeville the first week in December…

When the Senior Pastor came up to me and asked me to write the script, produce and direct that year’s Christmas Program.

… My first reaction

Do you not know there is only 3 weeks till Christmas
Do you not know this one if the largest outreach opportunities in the whole year
Do you not realize that there will be well over 800 people in the congregation
Do you even have a clue!!
He responded with… oh and Wendy will help you with the music…
I had a head scratching moment…
I could never pull this off…
Too much at stake….
Too much work…
Too much to coordinate…
Wendy proved invaluable…. I trimmed the cast down to Josh and I… I wrote it in his vernacular… his words… and we prayed…. And prayed… and prayed….
Living a life for Christ is even more overwhelming….

The gracious and glorious God of the universe… choose to redeem us… showing us his love through the ultimate sacrifice… His Son….
Yet we struggle everyday… to understand God’s call on our life… to live lives empowered for Christ…
God in his mercy has given The Holy Spirit… in order to enable us in our Christian life…

Biblical:

Section D - The Holy Spirit
We believe in the absolute and essential deity and personality of the Holy Spirit Who convinces of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; Who regenerates, sanctifies, illuminates and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Personal:

You know that gnawing voice that challenges us in our daily living…
That power to share the right words at the right time…
Brings clarity to the Word of God in your life…
Gives you strength in times of great trial…
Jesus promised The Holy Spirit…
The Holy Spirit is a living and vital part of the life of the believer…

Bridge:

Rebirth in the Spirit gives us new life

Knowing the Spirit helps us live right

Power in the Spirit makes us effect for Christ

Should we not desire to know the Spirit of God….

Body:

The Spirit our Living Water

The Spirit our Comforter and Illuminator

The Spirit our Seal, our Promise

The One True Spirit

Belief…

The Spirit our Living Water

NAU John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

So far…

Bible
God
Christ
Holy Spirit
Promise… in Scripture
Fully God
Attested to be Christ…
the indwelling spirit… He is given to everyone who believes in Christ

The feast celebrated God’s faithfulness…

Palm branches
And fruit of the harvest
And water from the pool of Siloam

NAU Isaiah 12:3 Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation.
Festival… last day… no ceremonial drinks

Last day of festival… pray for rain

It is then Jesus while standing gives a load proclamation… the promise of the Holy Spirit to those who trust…
Living water in answer to their prayers for water…

Living flowing an active water…
The gift of Pentecost in view through Calvary…
Jesus would be glorified…. And the Spirit poured out.

The Spirit our Living Water

The Spirit our Comforter and Illuminator

NAU John 14:16 "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

When we are indwelt with the Spirit of truth
We have a Helper to guide us in our life of faith. (Strengthening us… Jesus didn’t leave us… specifically asked the Father to provide help those who believe)

The Helper does not come to the world… the helper comes to those who are the Children of God

The Spirit is our illuminator

NAU 1 Corinthians 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
The Gospel message is only makes sense to those whom the Spirit Illuminates…
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God
We have a Spirit that convicts of sin…

Keeps us on the narrow road
It is hard… can’t it in our own strength
A real helper is honest…

Coach in training…
Send you in…. simple pat on the back
No… challenge…
Point our error…

The Spirit works in our life to sanctify us…
Jesus prayer to his Father at his death…NAU John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Show us the righteousness of God
Show us the judgement due
Purify us through the washing of the Word

Help is like a pro athlete

Dietician - Eat Right… Devour the Word
Trainer - Train Right…Live a right life
Physician – Be Healthy… root out illness… sin…
Lawyer – No the rules… live according to the plan
Accountant – Protect your assets… guard against fraud… pro-planning… misuse…
Counsellor – Protect your mental health – keeping you on track… comforting

Jesus promised the Help we would need…

The Spirit our Comforter and Illuminator

The Spirit our Seal, our Promise

NAU Romans 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

The Spirit indwells us… those who have been regenerated… born again… born anew… enlivened in Spirit
As a seal of the Promise of the Father NAU Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Shows authority
Shows belonging
Show responsibility

NAU 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The Spirit of truth is the promise of protection from God…

To convict, to judge, to illuminate
God’s power to regenerate
To sanctify
To Empower
To persevere (the Seal… deliver on Promises

The Promise of the Spirit to those who trust in faith!!

The Spirit our Seal, our Promise

The One True Spirit

NAU 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

The Spirit is available to all…

Regardless of background
Regardless of economic standing
All are welcomed into the family of God

No Super Christians…

We all have the same Spirit
We are all under the Lordship of One Lord
We are all have salvation…through one Saviour

We are all brought into the body Christ through our Faith in Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit of God…

It isn’t about our own merit but about God’s mercy

The One True Spirit

Passion…

The Spirit our Living Water

The Spirit our Comforter and Illuminator

The Spirit our Seal, our Promise

The One True Spirit

Obedience…

The Spirit our Living Water

The Spirit our Comforter and Illuminator

The Spirit our Seal, our Promise

The One True Spirit