Preached · March 24, 2019
Text · Ephesians 3; Ephesians 3.14-19
\# March 24, 2019 Sermon, The Holy Spirit: A Conclusion? ## Opening Illustration \ There are more bacteria in your gut than there are stars in our galaxy. \ You are made up of 30 trillion human cells. 30 with 12 zeroes after it. \* There are 39 trillion microbial cells in and on you as well. You are mostly made up of stuff that's not you.
\#\# [[Ephesians 3]]:14-19
4 things the Spirit Does On Our Behalf
#1 The Spirit Confirms Our Identity \For this reason I kneel before the Father,\ \15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.\
[[Romans 8]]:15, "By the Spirit we cry, Abba Father."
The Holy Spirit is like a birth certificate, sealed and stamped onto our souls. We belong only to God. (Example: my own birth certificate)
\Therefore\ You are not the titles you give yourself. You are not the names a parent or schoolyard bully or belligerient boss gave you. You are only what God says. Heir. Son. Daughter.
\#\# #2 The Spirit Empowers Our Mission \16 I pray that out of his glorious riches\ \he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit\ \in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.\ So we are heirs. Being heirs means we get riches. What are the riches? Power through the Spirit! Power for what, "so that Christ may dwell in you."
If it weren't for the Spirit, we would not have Christ in us.
Acts 1:8, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes...you will be my witnesses." Power to be witnesses!
1 Cor 3:16, "You yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives among you." \ We are the fulfillment of OT promises (btw, if anyone tells you that the Temple has to be rebuilt in order for prophecy to come true, that means that they are denying Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit!) \ Another btw; if you do something to hurt the church, "God will destroy that person."
2 Cor 3:17, "Transformed into his image"
\Therefore\ Formation for mission. A life with God will compel you towards mission. You are the very presence of God on earth. And what is the kind of things that God does? Those are the kinds of things we do.
\Review: Spirit confirms our identity. Empowers our mission.\
\#\# #3 The Spirit Establishes Us In Love 17b \And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,\ \18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,\ \to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,\
\Example:\ Ruth Davidhizer trying to connect to Bethel WiFi. /When you stray away from the Holy Spirit, you will not be able to understand the love of God./
[[Romans 8]]:35, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ."
And how do we know about this love? [[Romans 5]]:5, "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit."
\Therefore\ Without the Holy Spirit, you wouldn't know the love of God. You could do worse than simply every day trying to expand your understanding of good and broad God's love is.
\Review: Spirit confirms our idenity. Empowers our mission. Establishes us in God's love.\
\#\# The Spirit Fills Us With God \19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—\ \that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.\
You will be filled with something. Your body right now is filled with 39 trillion microbes whether you like or not. Your soul, too, will be filled with either junk or with God Himself.
What is it to be filled with God?
Galatians 5:22 Fruit of the Spirit. This describes God. And God wants to make what's true of Him true of You.
\Therefore\ You are God's presence on earth.
\#\# Practically, How Do I Not Forget the Holy Spirit? \ Pray to Him. (Come Holy Spirit) \ Let Him pray on your behalf ([[Romans 8]]:26, He intercedes for us without wordless groans) \ Pay attention to His work - in your life and throughout Scripture \ Ask Him to fill You (Eph 5:18) \* Pray for the gifts of the Spirit ("Eagerly desire," 1 Cor 14)
\#\# Closing Exercise Open Posture. Holy Spirit, I am Yours. Do with me what you will.
