Sermon by Ps Alex
In Genesis Chapter 1 God spoke the word and the Holy Spirit brought the word into existence.
Similarly we are His workmanship / handiwork. We are being made into a new creation according to the Word of God by the Holy Spirit.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
ephesians 2:10
Holy Spirit is the author of the Word and where His word is accepted as a blue print He starts creating anew. He cannot operate without the blueprint in place. (God’s word is looking for a willing vessel – “Be it done unto me according to your word”).
We usually think of the Holy Spirit speaking to us, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the fruits of the Holy Spirit as an evidence of Him living in us. That is not all. Him living in us should lead to, Him living through us.
Jesus was fully obedient to the Word and fully led by the Holy Spirit. This is our destiny. This is what we are BEING MADE into. We are being made into the image of the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Children of God are those who accept the sacrifice of Jesus and enter into the Kingdom. From that starting point each one who is called has a chance to become a son of God. From children we have to become mature sons of God fully led by the Holy Spirit. Many are called, few are chosen.
Romans 8:19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
Paul is talking to the Romans church. The church is already in place. Then for whom is the creation waiting for? Sons of God and children of God are two different things. Sons of God are mature sons lead by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Mathew 22:10 – 14 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Garment always represents the life we lead. The man who was thrown out of the wedding hall – was invited but was not wearing wedding clothes. After accepting God’s invitation to be transformed into mature sons, if we continue to live our life according to our desires there remains only hell to enter into.
A changed life is the mark of a true disciple of Jesus. A changed life is only possible by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is our leader to fulfill our destiny in Christ.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Within the church there will be two kinds of people – One that is committed to working out their salvation with fear and trembling and the other to select what they hear and accept that which condones their own sinful desires.
There will be two kinds of prophets too. The false prophets who are marked by the desire for their own glory and the true prophets who are marked by their desire to glorify God alone.
Matthew 7:15-23 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; LEAVE ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
The only way to do God’s will is to set your mind on the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8: 5-11 For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9However, 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. 10If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Luke 6: 46-49 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
How do we know we are being led by the Holy Spirit? What are the signs to show that He is working in us?
- We will do greater works
John 14: 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
The presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives would be marked by them doing greater works.
2. He will guide you into all truth
All truth is not just revelations from the Word but fresh understanding, insight into ALL issues, wisdom to handle and deal with various challenges and to grow from strength to strength and glory to glory.
The truth will set you free from cycles of defeat, bondage and strongholds.
John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
3. We will have power to overcome our weaknesses
Romans 7:17-20 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
This is Paul talking about his journey in Christ. This struggle between the sinful nature and the spiritual nature took place in Paul AFTER he was baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Paul was baptized with the Holy Spirit but he was not yet being led by the Holy Spirit. He was led by his sinful nature. He desired to obey God’s law but he lacked the power to overcome his weaknesses.
Transformation is a process. In different seasons God deals with different aspects of our lives. Our job is to align ourselves to His word. Transformation happens only when our worldly thoughts are replaced by the Word of God. The Word of God should become our core values that determine our behavior.
Paul’s life transforms in stages from Romans 7:21 to Galatians 2:20
Romans 7:21 And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
The most important factor behind his transformation is the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:13, 14 So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God.
Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit enters our spirit and lives there. Our intuition and conscience are awakened as we begin the fellowship with the Holy Spirit. But the mind, will and emotion (our inner being) are still under the influence of the sinful nature. As we set our mind on the Word and choose to obey the Word He will give us power to overcome our fleshly desires and live according to God’s perfect and pleasing will.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Where is our mind set? What are we thinking most about? For as a man thinks so is he or he is going to become. The Word of God tunes our thoughts to God’s thoughts. If our mind is not renewed by the Word of God we cannot be led by the Holy Spirit.
4. Holy Spirit will make us increasingly into the image of Christ
Ephesians 3:17-18 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ
(i) He will establish us in our faith. He will impart faith
(ii) He will establish us in our love for God. The evidence of which is the increase in our love for other people
(iii) He will always exalt Jesus in our life. He will reveal Jesus in our life
(iv) He helps us understand how great is God’s love for us
(v) He will work in us to bring us to the full measure of Christ
He will progressively make us more and more like Christ. As Paul says finally in
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Paul was now fully led by the Holy Spirit.
Through the Holy Spirit we will put an end to the flesh. As we partner with Him, we go from strength to strength and glory to glory.
5. We will receive power to do His work
The Lord Jesus promised His disciples that they will have power to do the work He has given them when the Holy Spirit comes on them.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 6:10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
Peter was a coward before he received the Holy Spirit. But after the Holy Spirit came down on him he spoke with courage.
Whenever we talk about God’s work people are always looking for methods. Man is looking for methods. Christianity is not knowledge transfer. God is looking to form a pattern in a man. It is a pattern of principles for living.
Initially Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit over and over again. As he walked with the Holy Spirit the level of intimacy became greater. The Holy Spirit became part of everything.
Acts 10:19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you”.
Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements
As the intimacy increased it was no longer Peter speaking but the Holy Spirit speaking through him.
Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
As we mature more and more our authority increases, stature increases, influence increases.
Ways we stop the work of the Holy Spirit
1. Grieving
Ephesians 4:29-32 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
2) Resisting
Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!
James 4:4,5 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
Friendship with the world implies the attitude we hold towards the world as opposed to the attitude we hold towards God.
3) Quenching
1 Thessallonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.
Quenching happens when we ignore Him.
4) Rebellion
Psalm 106:43 Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin
1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
5) Carnal mind
1 Corinthians 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
6) Clinging to old ways or mindsets
Jeremiah 8:5,6 Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.
They cling to deceit because they enjoy it. Some people say faith is sufficient for building your life. Faith is not for building your life. Faith is necessary for doing His work. Faith is for future hope.
Building of life is done by you. We work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
The demand on our life
God is looking for sons who are fully obedient to the Word and fully obedient to the Holy Spirit.
Permanent victory over sin is possible only by being fully led by the Holy Spirit
Son-ship is not based on what you do but what you become
Our Lord Jesus is our prototype. We are increasingly being made into His image as we progress from glory to glory. There is a level where the Holy Spirit is given without any limit. God is ready to give but the person has to be prepared to contain the limitless measure of the Holy Spirit. This is the narrow path that Jesus was telling about. It is difficult but leads to life.
Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, LET US KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT.
Living in eternity with God depends on Him living in us now.
Revelations 22:14, 15 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Dogs are false teachers.
Murderers are those who are haters of their brothers.
Witchcraft is the sin of rebellion and arrogance.
Rebellion is anything against the Word of God and arrogance is idolatry.
Falsehood is anything to do with lies. No difference in white lies or small lies or hiding. All will send us out of the presence of God.
Invite the Holy Spirit. Honestly communicate with Him. The moment He speaks be ready to obey. He is building our level of maturity. We must desire, decide and determine.
Rehoboth 