Tune in to the Holy Spirit – Part 2

John 14:23-27 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Continuing Pastor Obie’s Sunday sermon message, in explaining the answer to the second question (What does the Holy Spirit do?), he presented three ways that the Holy Spirit helps us. (A) The Holy Spirit counsels and teaches us, giving us wisdom and knowledge. He reminds us, bringing to mind the appropriate and relevant Word of God in time of need. He guides us in trust and a “right” relationship with God and others (John 16:8-13). He convicts us of sin, right from wrong, and good from bad. Condemnation is not from God nor for Christians, who are the temple of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1). We were created in the image of God to live worthy of our godly calling. Live worthy.

Galatians 5:16 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

(B) The Holy Spirit comforts us in a few ways. (a) Emotionally. America is one of the most anxious nations on earth. The Christian is secure in the Father, the Prince of Peace )God the Son brings the peace of Christ and the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of peace (the peace of the Spirit); a peace that surpasses all understanding – godly peace. This peace is a shield from worldly distractions and a cushion from chaos that leads to emotional destruction in our lives. Galatians 5:22-24 explains that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” The branch that is rooted in Christ produces fruit which flow from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Everybody desire this lasting fruit in their lives, but it’s only a available from the Spirit who gives it.

(b) Spiritually. Mark 2:17 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Conversion from sinner to saint (those who have been sanctified) is by the Holy Spirit sent by Christ. Why? In John 3:5-6, Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Spiritual blindness to our own condition must be overcome if we are to be saved from sin. As long as we do not believe we are sinners, we cannot receive the cure, for only those who know they need a cure will receive it. 1 Corinthians 12:13 confirms, “No one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit regenerates the spirit within the faithful Believer that died within us with original sin, that we are born again from above unto salvation, reconnected with the Father for a whole and fruitful life walking in and with the Spirit now and eternal life in Heaven. 

(c) Physically. God the Holy Spirit heals us. In studies, all the reports are remarkably consistent in suggesting the potential measurable health benefit associated with prayer or spiritual interventions. The healing power of prayer in faith is documented. Studies and statistics show that 36% of Americans surveyed reported that they had experienced or witnessed a divine healing of an illness or injury. Hospitalized people who never attended church have an average stay of three times longer than people who attended regularly. Heart patients were 14 times more likely to die following surgery if they did not participate in a religion. Elderly people who never or rarely attended church had a stroke rate double that of people who attended regularly. Our church has experience multiple divine physical healing. It’s not mind over matter, but the Holy Spirit over matter to draw you close to God.

Let's continue Pastor Obie's message on God the Holy Spirit in the next post.

In Christ, Brian