INTRODUCTION:

What do you do when you don't have an answer to something? Or when you cannot control something? I usually try to “fix it” but ultimately end up causing a problem somewhere else.

In one of my quiet times this week I wrote down this question…. Do I allow the Holy Spirit to work in my life? Meaning…do I give Him permission? Do I allow the Holy Spirit and faith to do God stuff in my heart, my daily life? What if we gave Him permission? Faith to fill in those gaps when we don't have an answer, or need to let go of control? What would that look like for you personally?

We are working through our belief statements for our church. As we do, I want to remind us of the grace that exists through our relationship with Jesus. Questions for you... Do you believe your beliefs shape your mindset? How about your decision making? Emotional reactions? How about our relationships? So far, we have shared our statement on The Bible, God and Jesus and this week we are looking at what we believe about the Holy Spirit. He had some attention last week but this week it's all about Him!

Why are we spending time going over these statements you may ask?

What we believe molds us and motivates us and defines us.

These belief statements, while they are specifically put together as a public statement for our 7 Creeks Church- they are the foundation we are building our church upon. These belief statements are our public declaration of faith. They are the foundation of everything we do as a church and everything we teach as a church.

Today we will look at our statement on the Holy Spirit and a few scriptures that support these statements.

Holy Spirit:

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully coequal with God the Father and God the Son in terms of divine being, but distinct from the Father and the Son in His personhood. We believe the Holy Spirit actively ministers to the world today. This ministry includes restraining evil, convicting the unsaved of sin and bestowing God’s goodness, including miracles, on mankind. We also believe the Holy Spirit actively ministers to every believer in Jesus Christ in numerous ways: regenerating, sealing, indwelling, baptizing into the Body of Christ, and the giving of spiritual gifts. Other ministries to believers include filling, assuring, teaching, guiding and comforting (2 Thess. 2:3-9, Acts 5:3-4, John 14:12-17, 16:7-11, Tit. 3:5, Eph. 1:13, 1 Cor. 6:19, 12:4-13, 1 Cor. 14, Eph. 5:18, Rom. 8:16, John 16:13).

While we often talk about Jesus, and rightfully so, as our Lord and Savior, sometimes I think we don't talk about the power of God that lives in each Believer. That is the Holy Spirit...and that is who we are talking about today in our belief statement....

So let’s get to it. I’ll start by explaining the statement and then we will move into the scriptures that these statements are based on. Keep in mind, there are many more in the bible that support. So… your challenge this week will be to go find some.

We believe the Holy Spirit actively ministers to the world today. This ministry includes restraining evil, convicting the unsaved of sin and bestowing God’s goodness, including miracles, on mankind.

Actively Ministers to the World Today

We believe that the Holy Spirit is not a passive or "historical figure" but is currently involved in the lives of people and the world. The Holy Spirit is active right here, right now.

Restraining Evil

We believe that the Holy Spirit plays a role in holding back or limiting the influence and spread of evil in the world. I know it may not look or feel like it in the world, but He is working!

Convicting of sin

This highlights the Holy Spirit's role in making us aware of our sins, leading us to recognize our need for repentance.

Bestowing God's Goodness, Including Miracles

From God to us…stamped and delivered. We experience God's goodness through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Miracles are included as a part of God's goodness, showing that supernatural interventions are still happening today! Have you ever witnessed a heart change? Pretty cool stuff right there.

We also believe the Holy Spirit actively ministers to every believer in Jesus Christ in numerous ways: regenerating, sealing, indwelling, baptizing into the Body of Christ, and the giving of spiritual gifts. Other ministries to believers include filling, assuring, teaching, guiding and comforting.

Regenerating...

"Regeneration" refers to the spiritual rebirth of a person. It is a transformative process initiated by the Holy Spirit, wherein an individual is renewed and given a new nature. You may have heard this phrase before, "born again", which marks the beginning of a person's journey as a follower of Christ.

Sealing of the Holy Spirit...

“Sealing” refers to the Holy Spirit's role in marking believers as God's own. When a person comes to faith, they are "sealed" by the Holy Spirit, which is a sign of their secure and eternal relationship with God, thank you Jesus! This seal signifies ownership, authenticity, and protection. It assures believers of their salvation and that they are part of God's family.

Indwelling...

"Indwelling" means that the Holy Spirit resides within a believer. This is like a power up 2.0! After regeneration, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the individual's heart, makes a home, guiding, comforting, and empowering believers to live according to God's will. This indwelling presence is a source of spiritual strength and assurance, enabling believers to grow in their faith and spiritual maturity.

Baptizing of the Holy Spirit...

Baptizing by the Holy Spirit involves the Spirit's work of incorporating believers into the body of Christ, the Church. You may have heard it described as an initial act that occurs when one becomes a Christian, confirming their unity with Christ and other believers.

Giving of Gifts...

To follow the baptism of the Holy Spirit there is this moment when spiritual gifts show up on the scene in the Believer, which are used to build up the Church, serve others and help fulfill God’s purposes which we see in 1 Corinthians Chapter 14.

Other Ministries to Believers…

Filling - The Holy Spirit fills believers, empowering them to live out their faith and perform God’s work. By the way.. This isn't a one-time event but a continual process where we are encouraged to ask the Holy Spirit to fill us and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power.
Assuring - The Holy Spirit provides assurance of salvation and God’s love.
Teaching - The Holy Spirit helps believers understand and apply God’s Word making it relevant to our lives. Have you ever tried to read something in the bible, and it made zero sense? But then at a later time in your life it made complete sense?
Guiding - Direction: The Holy Spirit guides believers in their decisions and life path.
Discernment: This guidance includes helping believers discern God’s will and avoid wrong choices.
Comforting - The Holy Spirit provides comfort in times of distress or trouble.
Encouragement: Believers can experience encouragement and hope through the Holy Spirit’s presence.

Additional note here… the Holy Spirit working through another believer in these areas above is also evidence of Him at work.

Now let’s look at a few scriptures chosen to support this statement.

2 Thess 2:3-9 - Speaks to the Holy Spirit working to restrain evil…

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,

Acts 5:3-4 - Speaks to the conviction of sin in the Believer’s life…

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”

John 14:12-17 - Listen to the work of the Holy Spirit here…

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 16: 7-11 - The Holy Spirit HAS to come, He has work to do!

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Titus 3:5 - Oooh! That regeneration word we used earlier!

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Eph 1:13 - BAM! Sealed! Yes, I am!

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

1 Cor 6:19 - Proof The Holy Spirit is within me…you!

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

1 Cor 12:4-13 - Here we go... not everyone gets the same gift folks. They are "apportioned" to each person individually as HE WILLS.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

1 Cor 14 - Tongues and Prophecy and Building up the Church. Reading just a portion of this scripture but please feel free to read it further this week!

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

Eph 5:18 - We get to choose what we are filled up with!

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Rom 8:16 - What a statement on belonging, being part of His family

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

John 16:13 - He is our Guide in all truth

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

As we wrap up today, we want to answer a couple questions that have come in from last week. And if today’s teaching on the Holy Spirit has left you with questions, please write them down on the cards provided on your table and drop them in our offering box.

What does apologetics mean as it relates to Christianity?
- It is the discipline of defending and explaining the beliefs of the Christian faith through reasoned arguments and evidence. It seeks to provide a rational basis for Christianity, respond to objections, and clarify misunderstandings. Logical!
How can a good God allow…? Let’s say evil/suffering…
- Let's start with free will. God gave us free will. Oftentimes we or others misuse the gift.
- How about a “test of faith”. These are not new to man in general ... Started in the Garden and then remember Abraham and Isaac? Through the Disciples and even us today we experience these “tests of faith...They ultimately are to draw us closer to Him and build our faith.
- How about God’s patience? He is patient with us not wanting any to perish.
- If that doesn't seal it for you, let me share this…. You can look to the cross and see that God himself sent his son, who experienced suffering and death on a cross, to die for an abuser of free will like myself. Man, I sure can be selfish. I sure am thankful He isn't.

For Further Thought and Study

Find more scriptures….
What are your gifts…
Start each day asking the Holy Spirit to fill you
Psalm 51
1 Cor 14

This We Believe - Week 3

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