Living by Holy Spirit
John 14:26(NLT) But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
Introduction : Welcome to another week as Scriptures speak to us and as we study at His feet.
There may be confusion as some men of God interpret God’s word differently thereby misleading followers who trust and depend on words from their pastors. This week, let us look into “Living by the Holy Spirit”.
I pray that Holy Spirit will grant us understanding in Jesus name.
Do you know that absence of Holy Spirit in the life of a believer will not only bring confusion into every facets of life, fear and intimidation will be present thereby making denial of Christ easy in the trials of life.
Hear Peter before Pentecost;
Luke 22:56-57 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally, she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”
Boastful Simon Peter who during the arrest of Jesus cut-off the ear of high priest’s servant in defence of Jesus, shivered before a mere servant girl to deny Jesus.
Hear Peter after Pentecost when he faced mockers during his sermon that saved 3,000 souls.
Acts 2:13-14 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!” Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.
If any Christian is not living by the Holy Spirit, there will be confusion, intimidations, denial of faith and fear in marriage and all facets of life.
In marriage for example, the unifying factor that brings bliss into Christian marriage is the presence of Holy Spirit in the life of the couple.
I can assure you due to experience of almost 32years in marriage that man and woman differs in thinking due to human composition. Holy Spirit alone unifies the gender differences to bring peaceful coexistence in marriage.
This gender difference alone is enough instrument for Satan to destabilize and scatter Christian marriage. Only Holy Spirit in the couple’s life that can pull down satanic stronghold and restore God’s will for marital bliss.
Sometimes ago, my wife shared a post with me on what was trending about the husband that killed his wife and himself because DNA revealed one of their children doesn’t belong to him.
Comment posted on the incidence reads; “If DNA says they are not mine, I will make my wife swear never to let the kids know because as far as I know, they remain mine.”
I told my wife that it is easier said than done. For any man, that issue will never go like that. “If you’re not involved in a battle, you’ll claim to be a man”. Whenever those children born in adultery are seen, several thoughts will come into the heart of the man.
God is a jealousy God…. For I the LORD thy God am a jealous God Exodus 20:5 and man is created in His image.
Christ is jealous over the Church just like husbands are jealous over their wives.
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
God wanted Hosea to feel the pain of having an adulterous wife. God asked Hosea to go and marry a prostitute. The prostitute, Gomer, gave birth for Hosea in prostitution. Hear the names God gave the children.
Hosea 1:2,8-9 When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods. “After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she again became pregnant and gave birth to a second son. And the Lord said, “Name him Lo-ammi— ‘Not my people’—for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God.
Lo-ruhamah means Not loved and Lo-ammi means Not my own.
The way any man will think on children born in adultery is different from how a woman reasons.
My wife said; the husband should blank out other thoughts and enjoy children that are not his own because he has grown to love them before the DNA revelation. It is easier for a woman to think that way. She carried those children in her womb, and it’s natural for a woman to think that her husband is unreasonable not to accept children born in adultery.
Do you wonder why God gave those children born in prostitution the names; “Not loved” and “Not my own”?
That’s the natural way a man feels in those circumstances. I can tell you that even when the child is named Loveth, anytime the man remembers DNA results that Loveth isn’t his own, hatred will emanate from inside and that name Lo-ruhamah (Not loved) will replace Loveth.
When Holy Spirit lives in the couple under this situation, then there will be peace. Through the Holy Spirit, the woman will not see the man as unreasonable, and the Holy Spirit will also help the man to love the child as Bible instructs Christians to love their enemies. It can never be resolved by human will or efforts.
Remember when Joseph realized Mary was pregnant, God had to visit Joseph to defend Mary and there was no problem thereafter.
Why is the presence of Holy Spirit a MUST in believers?
1️⃣ To receive comfort and truth amidst worldly turbulence and lies
John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
2️⃣ Living daily by Holy Spirit makes Christians to please God in everything with assurance of belonging to God.
Romans 8:8-9 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
Without Holy Spirit, decisions will be based on sinful nature and consequence is death. (Death of business, marriage etc.)
3️⃣ Presence of Holy Spirit in Christians makes the real temple or Church of God.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
4️⃣ Living by Holy Spirit prevents seduction and deceptive teachings from God’s word.
1 John 2:26-27 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
5️⃣ Living by Holy Spirit will nullify worldly wisdom and human traditions and philosophies.
1 Corinthians 2:12-14 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
6️⃣ Holy Spirit enables believers who live in Him to know the truth in every prophecy.
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
7️⃣ Holy Spirit brings life by God’s word into dead circumstances in the life of believers.
John 6:63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
8️⃣ Holy Spirit gives true identity of Jesus Christ and identify spirit of error prevalent in churches today.
John 15:26 “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.
1 John 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
How do we receive Holy Spirit?
1️⃣ Those who surrender to Jesus Christ are qualified to receive Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
2️⃣ Believers must desire and ask for Holy Spirit baptism.
Luke 11:13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Holy Spirit is the only power to witness about Jesus Christ anywhere we find ourselves.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Holy Spirit can leave believers who disobey and constantly obey the Flesh, human nature, sinful nature, Adamic nature, Old man through Satanic influence.
Ephesians 4:30(NLT) And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
When David was overcome with flesh and lust that led to murder, he cried unto God:
Psalms 51:11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Finally brethren, no one can survive in marriage and in all spheres of life as true Christian without the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:6,14 (NLT) So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
✋Maranatha
