This is a Creedal statement we make
every Sunday. It is part of our affirmation of Faith in the Apostles Creed. God
the Father is defined as the creator who gives us life. Jesus is defined as the
Son who is God with us in human form on Earth and gives up his physical life to
pay the price for all human sin. Nothing is said about what it is we are
supposed to believe about the
Holy Spirit. The point is we are to believe
in the Holy Spirit as the continuing presence of God in the world so we can
be led into a deeper and eternal relationship with God. This process of being led by the Spirit in developing
a new spiritual life is called being
born again – we get new identity.
a.
Trinity
Sunday is a good time to learn how God works in our daily lives as Father, Son
and Holy Spirit
b.
The
Holiness of God is something we sometimes forget
c.
God
the Father is the creator who creates a holy world
d.
God
includes freedom of choice in His creation
e.
Rebellion
-à Sin à Guilt à un-holiness à separation
f.
Like
Isaiah we all have unclean lips and need healing
g.
Cannot
be in the divine presence until we are clean
h.
Fire
burns up un-holiness, old self dies, new self born
i.
God
intervenes as Jesus, Redeemer to pay the price
j.
Again
freedom of choice on Jesus part and ours
k.
God
also intervenes by coming as the Holy Spirit
l.
Holy
Spirit is the Sanctifier who makes us holy
m.
Helps
us see our sin and decide to repent to Jesus
n.
Holy
Spirit is the Comforter who teaches and heals us
2.
Belief In is more than acknowledgement
a.
Belief
in means trust in, dependence on, involvement
b.
Story
of tightrope walker going across Niagara falls – asks man if he believes he can
do this - walks, takes wheelbarrow then invites man to sit in wheelbarrow
c.
We
tend to get caught up on knowledge about the HS
d.
We
intellectualize what should be an experience of love
3. Religious people have trouble understanding the Holy Spirit
a.
Nicodemus
is the ultimate religious person – read all the books, taken all the classes,
held all the offices, risen to the highest place as a “Teacher of Israel”
b.
But
Nicodemus ‘does not get it’ – believe in Holy Spirit
c.
Nicodemus
is trying to figure out how to control Jesus as a Member of the Sanhedrin –
there could be trouble
d.
Nicodemus
is drawn to Jesus by the miracles
e.
He
is right there with Jesus – and he misses the point
f.
Why?
– Because he is not really open to new ideas
g.
Story
teaches us not to depend on ourselves – are dependent on the Holy Spirit to
teach us
h.
Holy
Spirits like the wind – can’t see or predict what - but something will happen
as She blows on us
4.
Believers
are led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8.14)
a.
Like
Isaiah(6.4) we are led into truth – lips not clean
b.
“...testifies
with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (v. 18)
c.
Born again when we see who we are – our identity
d.
Breaks
Satan’s lies that we are no good / unloved by God / not wanted
e.
This
is the Good News – have been redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus – but have to
claim it
f.
Die
to self-dependence and Given a new spiritual life
g.
Holy
Spirit leads us into a deeper relationship with God
h.
Holy
Spirit Shows us our faults in self
examination
i.
Encourages
us, strengthens us and comforts us
j.
Holy
Spirit teaches and heals us – opens our eyes
5.
“I believe in the Holy Spirit” means
we not only acknowledge the existence of the Holy Spirit;
·
Invite Him into our lives, make a holy
place for Him
·
Listen to Him and depend on Him - as
Jesus with us
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