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The Comfort of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit - Part 5 By Pastor Dan Kennedy © March 17, 2013b www.pastorkennedy.com Over the past few weeks we have been studying Biblical teaching on the Holy Spirit. Below is a brief review on topics of previous messages on the Holy Spirit: 1. God, The Holy Spirit, Part 1 2. The Presence of the Holy Spirit in Our Daily Life, Part 2 3. The Holy Spirit and Our Eternal Inheritance, Part 3 4. The Conviction of the Holy Spirit, Part 4 Additional Scriptural Review concerning the Holy Spirit: Jesus Promised the Coming of the Holy Spirit after His Death, Burial, Resurrection, and Glorification John 14:15–21 15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (Comforter, Advocate, Along-side-One) to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (See also John 16:7-8; 7:37-39) • Why did God Create the World? God created the world so He could build an Eternal Kingdom drawing out from every nation, tribe, people and language (Rev. 7:9) (from the beginning of the creation of the world – to the end of the world’s kingdoms), those who choose to follow Him, love Him and faithfully serve Him, and establish with them His Everlasting Kingdom. He loves us, He knows us, He chose us, He infill’s us, He prepares us, and He empowers us to serve Him! (1 Peter 2:9-10; Titus 2:11-14) Why did the Holy Spirit Come? The Holy Spirit is the Person of God, sent at Pentecost following Christ’s Redemptive Sacrifice on the Cross and Ascension to Heaven. The Holy Spirit indwells those who trust Christ and therefore accomplishes on earth, the work of preparing those He has transformed to be Children of God, to be presented to Christ as His “Bride” (in a relationship of Oneness – patterned by the Trinity) for God’s Eternal Kingdom. • The Holy Spirit Came to Convict the World and bring Guilt Regarding Sin. The Holy Spirit came to convict each person in the world of sin, righteousness, judgment and things to come, so everyone will be given the opportunity to repent, receive God’s Gift of Christ’s Redemption, and turn away from sin (John 16:7-11, 13; Romans 1:18-20; see all of Rom. 1). • The Holy Spirit Came to bring Spiritual Transformation and New Birth through the Redemption of Christ. If one receives God’s Gift of Jesus Christ to be our Redemptive Sacrifice for sin, his or her sins are judicially and eternally cleansed – we are justified and made right, by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, before the Eternal Throne of our Holy, Almighty, Creator God (Acts 13:39; Rom. 3:23-28; 5:1; 6:23; 8:30-33; 1 Cor. 6:11; Titus 3:7). The spirit of those who believe in Jesus Christ is then “Born Again” and Transformed by the Holy Spirit, to become a Child of the Most High God, and whose body becomes the Temple of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3, 5-8, 16; Eph. 1:13-14; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19–20; Titus 3:5-6). • The Holy Spirit Came to Teach, Lead, Inspire, Encourage, Give Hope and Comfort, and Empower those who have been Born Again through faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit came to teach us about Christ and the meaning of His Word; to lead, inspire, encourage, give hope and comfort, and empower God’s Children in their daily life (John 14:16, 26; 16:13-14; Acts 1:8, 9:8; Rom. 8:14). • The Holy Spirit Came to Be God’s Down-Payment-Seal upon God’s Children, Anointing them, become God’s Down-Payment-Guarantee for their Eternal Inheritance… living within them on this earth, their bodies being His Temple! 2 Corinthians 1:21–22 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 5:5 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Ephesians 1:13–14 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. • The Holy Spirit Came to Make God’s Transformed Children on Earth to be Part of Christ’s Eternal Bride. The Holy Spirit came to transform those who repent and receive God’s Gift of Eternal Life through Jesus Christ and are Spiritually Born Again through His Presence, to become part of the eternal Bride of Christ and to live, worship and serve in His Kingdom, forever! (Matt. 22:2; Eph. 5:22-32; Rev. 19:6-9). Ephesians 5:32 32 This mystery (the union of marriage) is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb Revelation 19:6–9 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8  it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” The Holy Spirit’s Comfort Today, we are looking at Romans 8 and how this chapter in the Bible explains in detail the Comfort that the Holy Spirit brings to those who are true believers in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit’s Comfort: • The Comfort of No Condemnation before God • The Comfort of Freedom from the Law of Sin and Death • The Comfort of Life and Peace in our Mind • The Comfort of not being Controlled by our Sinful Nature • The Comfort of having an Assurance of our Salvation in Christ • The Comfort of knowing that as Christ was Raised from the Dead, so we will be raised from the Dead through His Spirit living in Us Job 19:25–27 25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! The Coming of the Lord 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with (“a shout”) a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. • The Comfort of the Power to Put to Death our Sinful Flesh • The Comfort of our Relationship with God our Father and that He Guides Us • The Comfort of Knowing Some Day we will be Free of the Suffering in this Life • The Comfort of Understanding that He Helps us in our Weakness and Intercedes for Us before God • The Comfort of Comprehending that God allows Everything to work for Good for His Children • The Comfort of Knowing that if God is for us, who then can be against us? • The Comfort of Realizing that Nothing Can Separate us from God’s Love! Romans 8 The Advocacy and Comfort of the Holy Spirit is huge. If we have, in this fallen world, He who is All-Powerful, All-Knowing and All-Wise who will be with us, along-side us, caring for us, advocating for us and guiding us; that is phenomenal! We will be able to walk through the unknown valleys and fearsome mountain terrains without constant fear and agony of mind, knowing that He is with us. The Holy Spirit is our Comfort. • The Comfort of Knowing that there is No Condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, • The Comfort of Knowing the Law of the Holy Spirit in our life has set us Free from the Law of Sin and Death - Romans 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. • The Comfort of Having our Minds Set on things of the Spirit – which is life and peace Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. • The Comfort of Not being Controlled by the Sinful Nature but by the Spirit Romans 8:9a You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. • The Comfort of knowing that We have Salvation and Belong to Jesus Christ Romans 8:9b And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. • The Comfort of knowing that as Christ was Raised from the Dead, so we will be raised from the Dead through His Spirit living in Us! Romans 8:11 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 through his Spirit, who lives in you. • The Comfort of knowing that by the Holy Spirit we can Put to Death the Misdeeds of our Flesh Romans 8:12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, • The Comfort of knowing that We can be Led by the Spirit of God – Revealing that we are Children of God! – A Spirit of Son-ship crying, “Daddy” to our Heavenly Father! Revealing that We are God’s Children and Heirs of God and Co-Heirs with Christ (if we share in His Suffering, we will also share in His Glory) Romans 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. • The Comfort of Knowing there will be a time of Freedom of Suffering – the Patience of Hope Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. • The Comfort of Knowing that the Holy Spirit Intercedes and Helps us in our Weakness and Lack of Ability to Know How to Pray as we should Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. • The Comfort of Knowing that God Works Everything for the Good of those who Love Him – Foreknowing, Predestining, Calling, Justifying, and Glorifying us to be Confirmed to the Likeness of His Son Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. • The Comfort of Knowing that if God is for us, who then can be against us? Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. • The Comfort of Knowing that Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of Christ! Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Conclusion Jesus Promised the Coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came to accomplish and finish the work of God in preparing those He has transformed to be Children of God, to be presented to Christ as His “Bride” for God’s Eternal Kingdom. This has been God’s goal from the beginning of time… …Choosing and bringing together (from the beginning of the creation of the world – to the end of the world’s kingdoms), from every nation, every tribe, every people and language, those who choose to follow Him, love Him and faithfully serve Him, and establishing with them His Everlasting Kingdom. The following verses are from the Prophet Daniel. The first is after Daniel revealed and interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about the Image with the head of gold, chest of silver, thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet mixed with iron and clay – identifying world governments which were to rise. At the end of human governments, the dream revealed the stone cut without hands from a mountain, rolled down to crush the feet of the stature and subsequently the whole Image, bringing human governments to an end. From this climax rises the revelation of the Eternal Kingdom of God evidenced in Daniel 2:44-45. The second passage in Daniel 7, is prophetic as well. “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” Daniel 2:44-45 “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His Kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” Daniel 7:27 http://www.pastorkennedy.comGod,_The_Holy_Spirit.htmlThe_Presence_of_the_Holy_Spirit.htmlThe_Holy_Spirit_and_Our_Eternal_Inheritance.htmlThe_Conviction_of_the_Holy_Spirit.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2shapeimage_2_link_3shapeimage_2_link_4