%20(1).png)
ICYMI: You Need the Holy Spirit!
- Free Church
- May 4
- 7 min read
In Case You Missed It, we are discussing some of the essential things to know and do following Jesus' return from the dead. These are not just messages but life-transforming principles and practices.
In Case You Missed It: You Need the Holy Spirit! | Gareth Nicholson | 4 May 2025
Amy makes the best chocolate brownies. Once, I tried to make them, but I left out the salt.
They looked good, smelled good, but tasted horrible!
Followers of Jesus sometimes miss the key ingredient: The Holy Spirit.
After being raised from the dead, Jesus did not go to heaven right away. He spent forty days with his disciples. Before he left, Jesus gave the impossible task of changing the world to His followers, and he was very clear that they couldn't do this on their own!
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:1-11
God gives his followers the Holy Spirit so that they might change the world through his power.
6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 9 And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ… 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:6,9,11
The Holy Spirit is essential to being a follower of Jesus.
There should be a (supernatural) difference between people who have the Spirit (that raised Christ from the dead), and those who don't.
The Holy Spirit Is God
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 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. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3 (NIV)
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, Genesis 1:26 (NIV)
The Spirit is the first of the Trinity mentioned by name. There is unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit as they work together. They are one in purpose, but three in person. One in essence but not in function.
Initiator - Architect Father
Administrator - Foreman - Son
Manifestor - Builder/Creator - Spirit
All powerful and present everywhere (Ps 139:7-12)
What would your life look like if you handed over completely and allowed the Holy Spirit to call the shots?
The Holy Spirit is a Person
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship {Partnership} of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
Not some influence, but infinite in wisdom!
A Person with mind and emotions, not a force, not an "it"
Before the work and power, get to know the person
Jesus is not living in your heart!
Father and Son are in the heavenly realm - Spirit is here, and lives in you
Can be revered or disrespected
Do you want to get more of the power or give more to the person?
The Holy Spirit Empowers You To Follow Jesus and Live With Purpose
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)
The Holy Spirit Empowers Us
in what to say. (Mark 13:11)
to abound in hope (Rom 15:13)
with a supernatural prayer life (1 Cor 14:2)
by helping in our weakness (Rom 8:26-27)
with gifts for the common good (1 Cor 12:4-7)
Communication: Prophecy, Diverse tongues, Interpretation of Tongues
Revelation: Wisdom, Knowledge, Discerning of Spirits
Power: Faith, Healings, Miracles
When we work in our own strength to be the kind of people who are like Jesus, we're missing the point.
The Holy Spirit Reveals Truth & Reminds You of Your True Identity
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16 (NIV)
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 (NIV)
Convicts the world of sin, and believers of righteousness (John 16:8)
Helps Get Your identity right - He convicts you of who you are.
That check before you make a dumb decision…
The only way you will understand the Bible is through the Spirit
Learn to Listen!
The Holy Spirit Helps You Grow In Freedom
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)
The tension to hold:
Free from the penalty of sin & being freed from the power of sin
Justification & Sanctification
Being set free & Spiritual Formation to live in freedom
You are out of Egypt, and now it's time to get Egypt out of you!
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)
If the Spirit is everywhere, why isn't there freedom everywhere? Well, because he is not Lord everywhere (yet)
Produces the fruit of the Spirit
- love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23)
Takes time!
The Holy Spirit doesn't come upon you when you are like Jesus, but rather to help you become more like Jesus.
ICYMI...You need the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus, know your true identity, grow in freedom, and go live with purpose
FOLLOW JESUS: Receive the Gift of and Be Constantly Filled with the Holy Spirit
Receive the GIFT of the Spirit. in Acts 19:1-7 Paul found disciples who hand't heard of the Holy Spirit, and he prayed for them, laying hands on them to receive the Spirit.
From there being filled with the Spirit is really a lifelong, ongoing process. (Eph 5:18)
Intimacy with God is the deepest desire of the human heart. God desires a relationship with us, so much so that He gives His Spirit so we have constant fellowship with Him.
KNOW TRUE IDENTITY: You Are The Temple of the Holy Spirit
You are the temple, and the spirit of God lives you; he doesn't have to come visit, he is with you!
If your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, when was the last time that you asked if the Holy Spirit is comfortable in that space? Maybe there are some things that need to be cleaned out… Sin grieves the Spirit!
GROW IN FREEDOM: Sanctification Requires Participation with the Holy Spirit
Transformation happens slowly
Walking by the Spirit is a daily dependence in the mundane moments.
Sin struggle might not get easier, but it becomes easier to make the right choice.
As we follow the Spirit's leading, He also gives us the strength and power to walk in the direction He leads
There has to be a willingness to participate with the Spirit
The more you surrender to the prompting on the inside, you know you are articipating more and more with the Spirit
GO LIVE WITH PURPOSE: Live in a Way That is Only Possible by the Holy Spirit
Step out of your comfort zone
Do something where you desperately need God to show up
Engage the hurting, broken, serve others, and speak out
A life that demands an explanation is one where people know that you couldn’t be doing this in your own power. It's living in a way that you are desperate for Him to come through
I pray that the Spirit of God would radically transform your life and that your life will never be the same!
Recommended Extra Reading To Go Deeper
Discussion Questions for Life Groups:
Why do you believe what you believe about the Holy Spirit?
Why do you want more of the Spirit? What are your motivations
What might be distracting you from a deeper relationship with the Spirit?
If you were absolutely, 100 percent submitted to the will of God at this moment, what do you think He might ask you to do?
What would your life look like if you handed over completely and allowed the Holy Spirit to call the shots?
コメント