This is a Creedal statement we make
every Sunday. It is part of our affirmation of Faith in the Trinity. The
difference is that unlike the Creedal statements about God the Father and Jesus
the Son in the Apostles Creed; nothing is said about what it is we are supposed
to believe about the Holy
Spirit. This is deliberate. The point is we are to believe in the Holy Spirit so we can be led by the Holy Spirit into
a deeper and eternal relationship with God. This process of developing a deeper
spiritual life is called being born again.
1.
The
Holy Spirit is the part of a God who is with us in our lives
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 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 a relationship 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 that can never know very much about what God is doing in the world –
are dependent
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 ins 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, but that we invite Him into our lives by making a holy place for
Him in our hearts and listening to Him – we believe in Him.
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