THE HOLY SPIRIT- THE
BELIEVERS ADVANTAGE
The
Holy spirit is the most precious, most loving and most valuable person on earth. Please note the
emphasis on “person”. The Holy Spirit is not a thing He is a person, He is
personality. Here are some personality characteristics that will help you
understand that.
• The Holy Spirit has a Mind:
Romans 8:27
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (NIV)
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (NIV)
• The Holy Spirit has a Will:
1 Corinthians 12:11
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (NASB)
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (NASB)
• The Holy Spirit has Emotions:
The Holy Spirit grieves:
Ephesians
4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (NIV)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (NIV)
Isaiah 63:10
Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. (NIV)
Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. (NIV)
The Holy Spirit gives joy:
Luke
10: 21
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." (NIV)
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." (NIV)
1 Thessalonians 1:6
You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (NIV)
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (NIV)
Therefore,
any hurt you suffer as a Christian that grieves you so much is your fault and
the fault is that you have been living without fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU ALWAYS. (emphasis is
mine). Therefore when should you fellowship or commune with him? Always!
So,
if you are just hooking up to hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit, a big
congratulations to you He has been itching to speak with you all this why but
it is because you have not said anything to him and that’s why He has been so
quite all this while. Now that you now want to commune and fellowship with Him
always, here are some tips that will go a long way to help you achieve that.
Of course before the following can stand you must have accepted that you are a sinner and ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord and personal savior. Then after that you can now proceed.
• Determine to
“hear what the Spirit says...”
• Compare everything you hear to the final standard of truth — the bible.
• Seek to hear the voice that is “born of the Spirit”, not of the flesh.
• Remember that the Holy Spirit’s intent
is to point people towards Jesus Christ.
• Pray in tongues often. It will help you to learn to hear the voice of the
Spirit.
• Expect to hear precise, clear information — not just
“inklings” — from the Holy Spirit.
• You may hear God's voice especially
clearly during times of worship, fasting, prayer,
or bible reading.
• As a Christian, expect to be “led by the Spirit of God”.
• The voice of God is “spiritually discerned”, not by our “natural”
abilities or nature.
• Seek to be often “in the Spirit”.
BENEFITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
• He Testifies of Christ:
John 15:26
When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. (NIV)
When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. (NIV)
• He Convicts:
John 16:8
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt [Or will expose the guilt of the world] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: (NIV)
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt [Or will expose the guilt of the world] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: (NIV)
• He Leads:
• He Reveals Truth:
John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (NIV)
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (NIV)
• He Strengthens and Encourages:
Acts 9:31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. (NIV)
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. (NIV)
• He Comforts:
John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (KJV)
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (KJV)
• He Helps Us in our Weakness:
Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (NIV)
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (NIV)
• He Intercedes:
Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (NIV)
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (NIV)
• He Searches the Deep Things of God:
1 Corinthians 2:11
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (NIV)
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (NIV)
• He Sanctifies:
Romans 15:16
To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (NIV)
To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (NIV)
• He Bears Witness or Testifies:
Romans 8:16
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (KJV)
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (KJV)
• He Forbids:
Acts 16:6-7
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. (NIV)
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. (NIV)
• He Can be Lied to:
Acts 5:3
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? (NIV)
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? (NIV)
• He Can be Resisted:
Acts 7:51
"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" (NIV)
"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" (NIV)
• He Can be Blasphemed:
Matthew 12:31-32
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (NIV)
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (NIV)
• He Can be Quenched:
