THE PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (3 OF 5)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: I Corinthians 2:1-16, I Corinthians 3:1-7
This content is part of a series.
The Purpose of The Holy Spirit (3 of 5)
Series: Breath of New Life
Jeff Strite
I Corinthians 2:1-3:7
OPEN: During the Middle ages, in Florence Italy, there was a wealthy citizen by the name of Lorenzo de'Medici. He was a patron of the arts and very proud of the grand plays and pageants he staged for the citizens of the area. Among his productions were several amazingly realistic religious pageants performed in church.
But one Pentecost, Lorenzo went too far: He had his players reenact Acts 2 where it tells of the tongues of fire which descended on the apostles… and he used actual fire.
As a result, the stage caught fire and the entire building burned to the ground.
One commentator observed: "The moral is clear: pray for Pentecostal power, but don't try to manufacture it." (Charismatic Chaos, J. MacArthur, Jr., Zondervan, 1992, p. 175)
APPLY: The people of God should always desire God's power in their lives. But, the Bible tells us: we don't have to manufacture that power.
We don't have to stage a grand production or experience earth shaking feelings of ecstasy to come into contact with the Spirit of God.
Because God's Spirit is right here.
He's inside of every believer.
We don't have to go through mental, or physical or spiritual gymnastics to have God' Spirit… because He's there with all the time.
And Paul tells us:
"We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 1 Corinthians 2:12
If you are a Christian today - you HAVE received God's Spirit. He's dwelling right inside of you.
And He has some very specific purposes to accomplish in your life.
I went down thru a list of things I could think of that God says His Spirit does for me, and I found that:
1. God's Spirit marks me as belonging to God (Ephesians 1:13-14). He is the seal of salvation. When God looks down from heaven on you and I, He sees His Spirit and knows us to be His son/daughter.
2 ...
Series: Breath of New Life
Jeff Strite
I Corinthians 2:1-3:7
OPEN: During the Middle ages, in Florence Italy, there was a wealthy citizen by the name of Lorenzo de'Medici. He was a patron of the arts and very proud of the grand plays and pageants he staged for the citizens of the area. Among his productions were several amazingly realistic religious pageants performed in church.
But one Pentecost, Lorenzo went too far: He had his players reenact Acts 2 where it tells of the tongues of fire which descended on the apostles… and he used actual fire.
As a result, the stage caught fire and the entire building burned to the ground.
One commentator observed: "The moral is clear: pray for Pentecostal power, but don't try to manufacture it." (Charismatic Chaos, J. MacArthur, Jr., Zondervan, 1992, p. 175)
APPLY: The people of God should always desire God's power in their lives. But, the Bible tells us: we don't have to manufacture that power.
We don't have to stage a grand production or experience earth shaking feelings of ecstasy to come into contact with the Spirit of God.
Because God's Spirit is right here.
He's inside of every believer.
We don't have to go through mental, or physical or spiritual gymnastics to have God' Spirit… because He's there with all the time.
And Paul tells us:
"We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 1 Corinthians 2:12
If you are a Christian today - you HAVE received God's Spirit. He's dwelling right inside of you.
And He has some very specific purposes to accomplish in your life.
I went down thru a list of things I could think of that God says His Spirit does for me, and I found that:
1. God's Spirit marks me as belonging to God (Ephesians 1:13-14). He is the seal of salvation. When God looks down from heaven on you and I, He sees His Spirit and knows us to be His son/daughter.
2 ...
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