DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

INTRODUCTION

ILLUS: To those of you with Scandinavian heritage, let me remind you of your rightful place in American history.

As you know, Columbus who sailed the ocean blue in 1492 was not the first to discover America. The Scandinavian Vikings were the first.

What brave and daring lot of sailors they were. Along with being rude and crude, and devilish and dangerous - but that is beside my point today. Daring describes them well in their sea travels, for they sailed nearly a millennium ago without the most basic of sea navigational tools - they didn’t have a compass, it was not invented yet.

Now how could one cross a vast ocean without a compass? They did have a means of navigation that we would think strange and unreliable.

The Vikings carried with them a cage containing several ravens. When they were uncertain where they were or where they were going, they would release one of the ravens. As the bird flew high into the air, the Viking sailors would follow the same direction the bird flew. Reason being the raven had very keen eyesight and with a higher point of view could lead them to land. Pretty smart.

Do you realize that when we are uncertain where we are or where to go in life, we too have One with keener eyesight and a higher point of view that can lead us in the right direction. We have the Holy Spirit. To follow Him takes courage and faith like the Vikings of old in following the raven, but unlike following the raven, H.S. is guaranteed to lead us in the right direction.

Timely Truths that Transform US. Doctrine of the H.S. (SCREEN)

TEXT: John 16:7-15 shows us the Holy Spirit’s power. Read v. 7

1. The Holy Spirit’s Power in Convicting the World. vs. 8-11

• He can show the people of the world the right way to God. On our own we will never find the way. Our world is lost in the darkness of sin, if they seek to find God, and most don’t, their human attempts are failures.



• Key word “convicts” = or convince = to demonstrate to someone they are guilty of a crime. H.S. exposes man sin and seeks to correct it.



• If you are saved, it is because the H.S. worked in your heart and convinced you that you are a sinner, lost without Jesus, going to hell, and you needed Jesus the Savior.
ILLUS: At a criminal trial, the case is made, and the judge sums up the evidence and passes judgment. Holy Spirit is the Judge. Drops gavel.

a). Convicts the world of sin. v. 9
• the sin is not believing in Jesus. The greatest sin of all is rejecting Jesus Christ, it is the only sin that condemns to hell.
• The unsaved are unsaved because they do not have Jesus as their Savior. H.S. convicts them of their rejection, and convinces them to stop rejecting/ignoring Jesus and accept Him.
• Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9


b). Convicts the world of righteousness. v. 10
• Jesus is going back to the Father, His sacrifice for sin will be accepted, He is the righteous standard at the right hand of God.
• H.S. shows the world what pure righteousness is in Jesus, and we don’t measure up. We can never be good enough.
• The devil seeks to convince people they are either good enough by their works or will never be good enough because of their sins. The Holy Spirit shows us the righteousness of Jesus is all we need - Jesus gives it to us.
QUOTE: “God never alters the robe of righteousness to fit man, rather he alters the man to fit the robe of righteousness.”
• Most people admit they sin, they don’t realize how offended God is. God has a perfect standard - Jesus. We must have Jesus.


c). Convicts the world of judgment. v. 11
• when sin and righteousness meet there is always judgment. That took place on the cross - Satan was judged and condemned.
• This is a warning to all who fail to come to Jesus, who fail to heed the promptings of the H. S. “Here comes the Judge.”



• QUOTE: Ryrie: “The order is a logical one. Man needs to see his state of sin, have proof of the righteousness which the Savior provides, and be reminded that he if refuses to receive the Savior he faces certain condemnation.” (Basic, 325)



• Be assured of this: with the cross of Jesus, we have our salvation and Satan has his doom. Satan lost. Christ won. Who has you?



• We must avoid the same judgment of Satan by being convicted by the H.S. By saying “Yes, I am a sinner, I need Jesus.”
ILLUS: Frank Peretti - tape. Satan is like a big bumble bee. Christ took the sting for us. It cost Jesus His life. Then Christ rose from the dead. All that Satan can do is buzz us. He sounds vicious, but He can’t sting. 1 Cor. 15:57



• 1 John 4:4 “Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world.”



• The H.S. is compass for the world, the power to show Jesus to world.

2. The Holy Spirit’s Power in Guiding the Believer. v. 13, 14

• After conviction comes guidance by the H.S. for the believer. The Holy Spirit has keen eyesight and a higher view to reveal to us the great riches of the gospel. Key word “guide” = Name is “Spirit of Truth”



• 4 powerful overlapping actions in the life of the believer
a). “He will guide you into all the truth” - gently show us.

b). “whatever He hears, He will speak” - repeat words of Jesus

c). “He will disclose to you what is to come” - death/resurrection

d). “He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”
• The truth of Jesus. He uses the written Word of God to reveal the Living Word of God. H.S. is not self promoting, Talks about Jesus, impresses on us the words and works of Jesus. 15:26
QUOTE A.W. Tozer: “I wonder how many Christians believe there really are in the world today whose spiritual lives have been transformed by the acceptance of the fact that the Holy Spirit has come as a person and that He is willing, yes, waiting - to do for us all that Jesus would do if He were here on earth?” (When, 44)



• Jesus, although God in the flesh, could one be one place at one time, Holy Spirit works in all believers everywhere at the same time.



• So as the H.S. works in our lives, we become closer to Jesus, more like Jesus, more obedient to Jesus, more in love with Jesus.



• Remember Pentecost came and stayed, we have long lasting power.



• Study Holy Spirit in Acts - The church was so filled with the H.S. they were continually talking about Jesus Christ, doing the work of Jesus Christ, winning souls, changing the world. One of 2 things happened everywhere they went, many both: revival or revolution. Acts 4:29-31



• Is any of that taking place here in our church? In your life?

3. The Holy Spirit’s Power in Guiding the Believer. v. 13, 14

• This point is obvious - Key word “glorify” The Spirit honors Jesus. Jesus is saying: “The Spirit will demonstrate Me to You.”



• It really is about Jesus.



• H.S. is like a spotlight that shines on Jesus, everything around is dark and unnecessary. Remember also the compass that points to Jesus.



• The H.S. is the means to the end. Is the H.S. working in you so you can see Jesus more clearly? Not just a historical person, but the present Lord?

CONCLUSION

ILLUS: Had a Norwegian and raven illustration at beginning of message. Conclude with a homing pigeon illustration, and another Norwegian explorer. Homing or carrier pigeons have been used extensively to communicate messages. They know by instinct how to return home from anywhere. A homing pigeon delivered the first news of the Napoleons defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. They were used by the Allies in both WWI and WWII. It has been said when Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen in early 1900’s reached the north pole, he released a homing pigeon that flew home, signaling to his wife of safe arrival.

In Christian art, the Spirit is often pictured as a dove. The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus in the form of a dove at His baptism "the Spirit of God descended as a dove and lighted upon Him." (Matt. 3:16)

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He made a promise to His disciples, to us, that He would send the Holy Spirit. And Spirit came at Pentecost and filled and mobilized the church, and every believer since. The Spirit is the messenger of God that homes in on us, and shines the light of glory on Jesus, and the light of revelation on the Word of God, the indwelling presence showing us that Jesus is alive and victorious at the right hand of the Father.

ILLUS: While I was finishing up this message on Friday, received a call from Jews for Jesus - next year "Christ in the Passover." "How can I pray for you?" "Pray that the Holy Spirit will get a hold of our church - fill us, empower us!"

Ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal more of the Jesus to you today, and to dynamically move our church!

How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 5:18

• Ask God.

Luke 11:13 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”


• Present yourself a living sacrifice to God.

Romans 12:1,2 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”


• Obey the Word of God.

Acts 5:32 “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”


• Depend upon the Spirit of God.

Galatians 5: 22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

What will you be like when filled with the Holy Spirit?

• A bold witness Acts 4:31



• A servant Acts 6:3



• An exposer of sin Acts 13:9-11



• A melodious worshipper Ephesians 5:19



• Thankful Ephesians 5:20



• Submissive Ephesians 5:21



• Gifted 1 Corinthians 12:1-11



• A Fruit Bearer Galatians 5:22-23

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18