Who's the Spirit?

I just finished preaching a 5-session series on the person and work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christ-follower. I did this series because there is so much confusion concerning the mystical, elusive-seeming nature of the Holy Spirit. Many churches/pastors/bible teachers have abused the HS on two main fronts: 1) Attribution to the Spirit what He is not, and 2) Ignoring the Spirit out of fear and ignorance. You may be familiar with the traditional statement made at a person's baptism: “Buried in death with Christ, and raised to walk in the newness of life”. I think that MOST Christians pretty well understand the first part, but have no concept of what it is to “walk in the newness of life”. The HS’s main role is found through the newness of life.

Here's my person brief belief statement about the HS...

-On the Holy Spirit: "He is the Holy Spirit, the intercessor for God and humanity, the breath and power of God; the very spirit of Jesus Christ. He illuminates and transforms believers." (Matthew 28:19; John 14:16-17; John 15:26; John 16:5-15; Acts 1:8; Acts 2; Ephesians 1; Acts 10:36-48; Romans 8)

Quickly, I just wanted to share some series notes with you. Take a look at the passages in the outline below. Feel free to comment on this post to interact with one another and with me...or start a conversation with your accountability partner or Home Group!

5-Session-Series-Outline "The Person and Work of the HS":

Study #1 -Ephesians 1:17-23 (HS is God’s presence in the life of the Christ-follower) and we pray for better spiritual perception of who God is and what He’s doing in us.

Study #2 -Romans 8:25-27 (HS prays for us and helps us know the will of God) and we pray that God would bring about the decisions and circumstances that would most magnify Christ in our lives when we are at a loss as to what the specific will of God is.

Study #3 -Isaiah 43:28-44:5 (HS is engaged through study of God’s Word/the Spirit’s Word; here, we experience/recognize the filling of the HS which satisfies us) and we dedicate ourselves to knowing the HS and making God known by the study of the Bible.

Study #4 -Acts 10:36-48 (HS is about the magnification of Christ and is seen most clearly where Christ is exalted) and we pray that we would see Jesus more clearly, and savor who He is, that the Holy Spirit would transform our lives.

Study #5 -Romans 8:3-12 (HS gives you life as He sanctifies you) and we pray that we would trust in the work of the HS to transform us from death to abundant life.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS: To walk in the newness of life is to be led by the Holy Spirit in obedience, being continually transformed into the likeness of Christ, during the messiness of life on earth. We cannot reach our potential in Christ without engaging with the HS's work in our life. Without this life transformation, Christ is not magnified and we never step out of "buried in death with Christ" into "the newness (or abundance) of life".