Appropriating God's Power In your Life 3. The Holy Spirit from Creation till Today

1. The Holy Spirit from Creation to the Birth of Christ The Holy Spirit’s Work in Creation Genesis 1:2 “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Colossians 1:16 “all things have been created through him [Jesus].”

1. The Holy Spirit from Creation to the Birth of Christ The Holy Spirit’s Work in Creation Gen 2:7 “Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Job 33:4 “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Zechariah 12:1 “The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit in human beings.”

1. The Holy Spirit from Creation to the Birth of Christ The Holy Spirit’s Work in OT Writers 2 Peter 1:21 “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

1. The Holy Spirit from Creation to the Birth of Christ The Activity of the Holy Spirit in the OT 1. 2Chronicles 24:20 “Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest.” 2. Numbers 11:25 “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again.” 3. “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills” (Exodus 31:3)

2. The Holy Spirit from the Birth of Christ to Pentecost Luke 1:30-35 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus…. 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

2. The Holy Spirit from the Birth of Christ to Pentecost Spirit’s work in and through Christ:  8th Day – Simeon indentifies Jesus as the Messiah (Luke 2:25ff) / Anna prophesies about Jesus (Luke 2:36ff)  12years old – Jesus amazes the teachers of the law revealing the wisdom of the Spirit on his life (Luke 2:41ff)  Jesus’ baptism - Holy Spirit anoints Christ (Luke 3:21-22)  Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1 – “Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness”)  Beginning of Christ’s ministry – “Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the surrounding countryside. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” (Luke 4:14, 18)

2. The Holy Spirit from the Birth of Christ to Pentecost Spirit’s work in and through Christ:  Christ’s miracles and casting out of demons – (Mt 12:28 “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”)  Spirit involved in the death of Christ (Heb 9:14 “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God)  Spirit involved in the resurrection of Christ (Rom 8:11 “Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead…”)

3. The Holy Spirit from Pentecost to the Present Acts 2 1 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

3. The Holy Spirit from Pentecost to the Present Acts 2:38 “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.

3. The Holy Spirit from Pentecost to the Present Work of the Holy Spirit post-Pentecost  To give life through regeneration, being born again  He reveals Christ as the way the truth and the life  He convicts people of sin  He convicts people that Jesus is the Righteous Judge  He sustains and preserves this planet  He hinders the work of lawlessness and the work of the anti-Christ  Brings unity in the Church  The Church is the dwelling place of the Spirit (Eph 2:22)

3. The Holy Spirit from Pentecost to the Present Work of the Holy Spirit post-Pentecost  The Spirit says keep lifting up the name of Jesus  The Spirit fills us with the presence of Christ, of God himself  Urges people to live lives worthy of the Lord and please him in every way (Colossians 1:10)  The Spirit urges us to live life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1)  The Spirit ensures that God’s purposes are achieved in the world.  The Eternal Spirit gives purpose, direction, destiny and guidance. In view of eternity, remember that our life is but a mist; a life well spent is a life daily aligned to the purposes of the Eternal Holy Spirit

3. The Holy Spirit from Pentecost to the Present Reflective Questions 1.When I think of the Role of the Holy Spirit from Creation to today, does it inspire you in an attitude of worship? 2.Has the Holy Spirit revealed the Lord’s purpose for my life and if so, can I articulate them? Or is it unclear? 3.Is my life truly aligned to the Holy Spirit’s purposes for me? 4.Self: Am I holding onto things that I simply need to let go so as to give the Holy Spirit freedom in my life?