Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Rev. 2:5 (CSB) Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.
HOW? This is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Today, rather than focus on what we should or can do, let’s talk about what God promises to do through His Spirit.
John 7:37-39 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and drink. 38 The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” 39 He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
1. The power to convict, convert and change
John 6:63 The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
Titus 3:3-7 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
2 Cor. 3:18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at, the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
- Only the Holy Spirit can take us from unrepentant sinner to redeemed saint
- It is His work and His job to bring us to this point
2. The power to teach
John 16:13-14 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
3. The power to protect
Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Eph. 1:13-14 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
1 Cor. 3:16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
- Once we have believed and accepted Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells each of us
John 14:17b But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.
4. The power to propel
John 14:15-17 If you love me, you will keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.
1 Cor. 12:11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.
- The work of the Holy Spirit is a continual, progressing work throughout our lives
- He equips us to do the work of the Gospel
- The gifts He gives are for the purpose of helping us fulfill God’s call