|
THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
INTRODUCTION: For many hundred years great and learned men have researched and discussed this
topic. I am not a scholar and do not know the answers to all the questions on this subject,
yet I feel that the Bible does make certain things concerning this subject very clear and we
need to understand as much as possible concerning The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
I. The Holy Spirit does Dwell Within Us Today.
A. It is not the same measure as Christ had (without measure)
B. It is not the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit which the Apostles had.
C. It is not the "miraculous" measure that the Apostles could give.
D. Yet, it does dwell within us.
1. The Holy Spirit was promised to those who would be baptized for the remission of
their sins ... first on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:38)
2. He is given to all those who will obey God. (Acts 5:32)
3. The Galations received the Holy Spirit by the hearing of faith. (Gal 3:2,3)
4. The Holy Spirit dwells in those who make up the church. (1 Cor 3:16,17)
5. The Spirit dwells in our bodies. (1 Cor 6:19,20)
E. God and Christ are also said to dwell in the Christian.
1. If we love one another ...God dwells in us. If we will confess that Jesus is the
Son of God ... God dwells in us. (1 Jn 4:12-15)
2. By our being rooted and grounded in love ... Christ
dwells in our hearts by our faith. (Eph 3:17)
a. We have the Holy Spirit within us by our faithfulness to God's word. ... By our
love ... example ... by our very being part of the "body of Christ."
b. Our Faith is made alive by the Word of God. (Rom 10:17)
II.How Does the Holy Spirit Dwell in the Christian?
A. I have read several writings of scholars and they do not give any satisfactory answers
.. yet all affirm as does the Bible that the Holy Spirit does dwell in a person ...
born into the family of God.
B. How does your Spirit (Soul) dwell in your mortal body?
1. Have you ever seen it .... Have you ever felt it? ... You accept the fact that it is
in your body. BUT HOW?
a. The Bible tells us that God breathed into the nostrils of man the breath of life
... man became a living soul. (Gen 2:7) ... What more proof do you need?
b. We know we have a "living" soul because our bodies live!
C. I don't think anyone can tell you how the holy Spirit dwells in a Christian ... but, we
can tell that our Spirit lives in our body
1. We can tell that the holy Spirit dwells in the Christian by the results ... that is
he lives spiritually... The proof is in your fruits of the Spirit!
III. The Principle of the Seed. (1 Pet 1:23)
A. Seed regardless of the kind .. bears in it the spark or essence of life.
1. Seed itself is not life ... yet it bears in it the power to produce life.
2. Conditions must be just right ... before a new form will come forth with life in it
... Fertile Ground .. Ground prepared .. Watered .. Weeded
B. The Bible says that .. "The seed is the word of God." (Luk 8:11)
1. The Bible, "The word of God" is not life itself. ... Yet it contains in it the
ability to produce life.
2. Certain conditions must be met before this life can be produced ... Hear .. Believe
.. Confess .. Repent .. Baptized.
C. New life come about in the spiritual realm the same as in the physical realm.
1. The seed must be planted in good soil ... there must be a coming forth .. "birth" ..
to produce life. .. Nurtured .. Feed .. Weeded.
2. The seed is planted in our minds ... we are born of the water and the Spirit to
enter into the kingdom. (Jhn 3:5)
D. The Word of God is living and powerful. (Heb 4:12) ... What makes it living and
powerful if it is not the Spirit of God that is therein?
1. In physical birth we receive a "human" spirit ... in the spiritual birth ... we
receive the "Holy Spirit".
E. We cannot find where the Holy Spirit separate and apart from the Word of God .. the
seed ... ever changed the character of a person.
1. Through the means of the Word ... the Holy Spirit operates on the heart of a person.
2. When that person becomes obedient ... meets the conditions ... the Spirit enters and
a new life is the result.
b. This life then becomes part of the body of Christ ... and Christ adds this new
life to the church. (Acts 2:47)
IV. How Can We Know That the Spirit Continues to Dwell in Us
A. We know that the Holy Spirit enters our lives when we "obey the Gospel" because God has
given the Spirit to us. (Acts 5:32)
1. We need no other evidence than this. ... We need no special sign from God. .. No
Tongues .. Dance .. Shouts .. Tears .. Demonstrations.
B. We can know that the Spirit continues to dwell in us by the signs of life.
1. When the Spirit leaves the body ... the body dies. ... When the Holy Spirit leaves
the body ... we die spiritually.
2. We know that the Spirit lives within by the "fruits of the Spirit". (Gal 5:22,23)
a. When we live ... our bodies need food to sustain life ... So it is with the Holy
Spirit within ... we need "Spiritual Food".
C. Are we actively engaged in "Spiritual things"? ... Or are we barely hanging on
"spiritually" ... at the point of death with the "Spirit" about to leave the body?
D. Are we vibrantly alive ... feeding on "Spiritual food" and giving our "Spiritual"
bodies needed exercise? ... Bible Study ... Prayer ... Teaching the lost ...
1. It is not hard for us to look at our "Spiritual" live and see whether we are alive
or dead!
CONCLUSION:
1. The Holy Spirit does dwell in a person who has been born into the family of God.
2. The instrument that the Spirit uses in bringing about life is the "Word of God".
3. For that life to continue (Holy Spirit abiding) ... we must continue to feed on the "Word
of God" and exercise Spiritually.
4. Have you been born into the family of God (Biblically) ... If not ... the Spirit of God
does not dwell in your life.
|
