Defending the Faith Jude 1:3 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

God’s Energizer the Holy Spirit Defending the Faith

I. The Spirit of God Genesis 1:1 - 2 1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  2The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Spirit of God comes upon Prophets, Priests, Kings Distinction between with and in

John 14:15-17 Father will give you another Advocate Comforter, Encourager, Counselor The Holy Spirit who leads you into all truth He lives with you now and later will be in you When the Father sends the Advocate The Holy Spirit – my representative He will teach you everything He will remind you of everything I told you

John 15:26 I will send you the Advocate – the Spirit of truth He will testify about me

John 16:5-14 It is best for you if I go away Then I will send the Advocate Holy Spirit – convicts the world of sin, of God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment So much I want to tell you now, but you cannot bear it When the Spirit of truth comes – Guide you into all truth Tell you about the future

II. Receive Power Luke 24:49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Acts 1:4 – 5,8 You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere

Acts 2 – the promised Holy Spirit sent on the day of Pentecost Signs Sound of roaring windstorm Flames of fire settling on each one Speaking in other languages as the Spirit gave them the ability Crowd amazed and perplexed – other ridicule them as being drunk

This was prophesied – pour out my Spirit on all people Promised to you, your children, Gentiles, all who have been called by the Lord Repent of your sins Turn to God Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:12-17 – the Samaritans Believed, baptized, not yet receive the Holy Spirit Peter and John prayed and laid hands on to receive Tangible evidence seen by Simon

Acts 10:44-48 – Cornelius’ Household As Peter preaches the gospel, the Holy Spirit falls on all who were listening Jewish believers amazed as they heard them speaking with other tongues and praising God Peter instructs them to be baptized in Jesus name

Acts 19:1-5 – The Ephesians Receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? No. didn’t know there was a Holy Spirit Laid hands on them They spoke with other tongues and prophesied

III. Living by the Spirit’s Power Ephesians 5:15-20 Don’t live like fools, or act thoughtlessly Understand what the Lord wants you to do Don’t be drunk with wine – it will ruin you Instead be filled with the Holy Spirit Led by the Spirit Romans 8:14 Praying by the Spirit – Romans 8:26, I Corinthians 14 Gifts of the Spirit – I Corinthians 12 Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5

1 John 2:26 - 27 26I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray.  27But 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. 

Reflection Time Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? What is the tangible evidence that you have been baptized, or filled with the Holy Spirit? What gifts and what fruit? How has the Spirit led you into truth, or how has he exposed other’s attempts to lead you astray? How has the Spirit revealed the future to you so you can be led by the Spirit?

Last week we discovered that one of the reasons people are reluctant to embrace Christianity is that people are afraid of the supernatural because it is mysterious and uncontrollable. How has that affected the church regarding the ministry of the Holy Spirit? How do we hold fast and defend this teaching delivered once for all time to God’s holy people?