New Life, New Spirit February 7th, 2018

God loves you Wisdom 11:24-26 For you love all things that exist, and detest none of the things that you have made, for you would not have made anything if you had hated it. 25 How would anything have endured if you had not willed it? Or how would anything not called forth by you have been preserved? 26 You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord, you who love the living.

Called to be children of God Ephesians 1:4-5 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Our Problem—sin Revelations 21:27 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter [heaven], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

God the Father sends Jesus as the solution to our problem John 3:16 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus dies to save us Col 1:19-22 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

Jesus rose from the dead, proof of his victory over sin 1 Corinthians 15:17 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Now it is possible for me to fulfil my calling John 1:12 12 But to all who did receive him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God,

What I need to do Acts 2:37-39 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

The Basic Problem of the Old Covenant "I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead I shall put my spirit in you and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances... you shall be my people and I shall be your God." Ezekiel 36:26-29

New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31-34: “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant… “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Jesus taught about the Holy Spirit I tell you most solemnly, unless a man is born through water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God." John 3:5 If any man is thirsty, let him come to me, and drink; yes, if a man believes in me, as the scripture says, Fountains of living water will flow from his bosom. He was speaking here of the Spirit which was to be received by those who learned to believe in him." John 7:37-39

Pentecost He explains that He must go to the Father in order to send the Holy Spirit (John 16:4-7) He tells the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for what the Father has promised (Acts 1:4-5) He tells them He is sending the Holy Spirit to clothe them with power. (Luke 24: 49)

How do we receive the Holy Spirit? Baptism Confirmation

What are the effects of receiving the Holy Spirit? Knowing Jesus as Lord, glorified and exalted at the right hand of the Father Acts 2:33-36; Ephesians 1:19-2 Knowing the Father's complete forgiveness and His love for you, poured out in your heart (Romans 5:5. Jeremiah 31:34) Knowing true peace of heart the peace which only Jesus can give. (John 14:27) Experiencing a deep change in your prayer life a new freedom, confidence and power in prayer with God's word in scripture becoming alive for you and speaking to your heart with a new directness (John 14:26, 16:13 and 17:17)

What are the effects of receiving the Holy Spirit? Exercising His power and authority to resist temptation (particularly to break free from habitual sins) (John 8:34-36) Experiencing the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in you as you reach out in service to others (1 Cor 12 and 14) Experiencing the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your daily living and new health in mind, body and spirit (Ephesians 2:10: John 10:10) Experiencing the power to witness to others with confidence about how God has changed your life and the difference which Jesus makes. (Acts 1:8: 4:31 &33)

Why might I not experience that? Not knowing what to expect and ask for. We don’t “own” the decision to be a Christian Unconfessed Serious Sin, Feelings of inadequacy or Fear

Continually being filled again When Paul says, ‘Be filled with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18), he uses the present continuous tense, urging them and us to go on and on being filled with the Spirit.

Looking forward to what is to come at Transformer The Holy Spirit is critical to the Christian life. From now forward, we are on the journey to receiving Him afresh – we clear the barriers next week in preparation for the outpouring the following week. Come Holy Spirit!

Final Slide: Questions for Small Groups Q1: …What hampers the work of the Holy Spirit in me? Q2: …What change would I most like the Holy Spirit to effect in me?

Come Holy Spirit!