1. 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.

2. 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.

3. God’s Energizer the Holy Spirit
Defending the Faith

4. I. The Spirit of God
Genesis 1: In 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.

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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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.”

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 1 John 2: I 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. 

18. 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?

19. 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?