HOLY PRESENCE: "Why We Need the Holy Spirit"

Here are the notes from yesterday's message at New Life Community Church.  Series: HOLY PRESENCE.  Title: "Why We Need the Holy Spirit".  If you would like to listen to this message, you may do so by going to our website at www.newlifesite.com.  God bless!

Holy Presence, Part 1                                                                                    Sunday, May 19, 2013

 “Why We Need the Holy Spirit”

¹⁶ John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  Luke 3:16-17 (NIV)

Meaning of the Greek word baptizo: 

Strong’s Concordance and Thayer’s Bible Dictionary

1. to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)
2. to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe
3. to overwhelm

Jay Adams:

1.      to dip

2.      to immerse

3.      to dye

4.      to drown

5.      to saturate

The plan of Jesus is to lead you into an every-increasing, ever-deepening relationship with God the Holy Spirit.

Francis Chan:  “I have yet to meet anyone with too much Holy Spirit.” 

⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”  Luke 24:46-49 (ESV)

Francis Chan:  “There are millions of churchgoers across America who cannot confidently say they have experienced His presence and action in their lives over the past year.  And many of them do not believe they can.” 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  Acts 1:8 (ESV)

¹ When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.  Acts 2:1-4 (ESV)

1.     The Holy Spirit is our ADVANTAGE.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.  John 16:7 (ESV)

Advantage – Greek sunphero. Def. expedient, advantage, profitable.

Which means that it is a good move, gives you a leg up.  It is a good partnership.  It is profitable.

Imagine setting up a business partnership. 

Who would you like to partner up with in order to give you an advantage?

2.     The Holy Spirit affects our ABILITY.

Does He make a difference?

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. ⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  I Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV)

3.     The Holy Spirit always leads us into ACTION.

Not a doctrine

and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  I Corinthians 2:4 (NASB)