Deep Roots: Part 4 – The Holy Spirit

WHAT (OR WHO) IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

~ The Holy Spirit is God not a force.

Acts 5 [1] Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. [2] With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. [3] Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? [4] Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”

~ The Holy Spirit is member of the Trinity.

Deuteronomy 6 [4] Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

Matthew 28 [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

~ The Holy Spirit performs some key ministries today.

John 14:15-17; John 16:5-16.

1) The Holy Spirit convicts all people (v. 8-11)

2) The Holy Spirit guides followers of Christ (v. 12-13)

3) The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ and declares Him to the world
(v. 14-15).

4) The Holy Spirit baptizes each Christian the moment they begin a new relationship with Jesus Christ (1 Cor 12:13; Rom 8:9)

5) The Holy Spirit gives each Christian spiritual gifts the moment they begin a new relationship with Jesus Christ. We don’t seek gifts – God gives them as he desires. Spiritual gifts were never intended to be used for self-edification. They are to be used to serve others (1 Cor 12:7; 1 Peter 4:10).

HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT HELP ME LIVE A LIFE THAT PLEASES GOD?

~ Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4 [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

~ Don’t quench the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5 [17] Do not quench the Spirit.

Deep Roots: Part 3 – On Jesus

When we realize who Jesus really was and what he came to do, we’re often surprised that he doesn’t fit into what we may have believed about him.

Perhaps the best summary of who he was and what he came to do is summarized in Philippians 2:5-11.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

In summary, this passage tells some things about the nature of Jesus:

1. He was fully God (v.6)
2. He as a servant and did not lord It over others
3. He was also fully human
4. He was humble
5. He was obedient to his mission and sacrificed himself for human kind.

This is just a glimpse of who Jesus was and what he came to do.

Deep Roots: Part 2 – Ancient Treasure

Maybe you don’t know where any buried treasure lies, but did you know that there is invaluable ancient treasure near you? You have an incredible treasure chest that’s probably right in your own home. It’s your Bible. Your Bible is priceless ancient treasure. Maybe you’re thinking —what do you mean by that?

It’s the one and only book authored by the God that created you. There is no book like the Bible. Someone said this about the Bible – Its inspiration is divine. Its information is transformational. And, its claims, unprecedented. It has predicted the future with 100% accuracy. Archaeology has validated the Bible so we can trust it. It has been studied by theologians, researched by historians and picked apart by skeptics and modernists. It is the best selling, most widely read and, might I add, most misinterpreted piece of literature of all time.

But even beyond all of these reasons to believe that the Bible is true, Christianity is more than any other faith path – meshes with our inner nature and our wants and our desires as humans. More than any other faith path, Christianity meets the deepest needs and inner void that we that we all have. Nothing comes even close.

Every one of us is really on a desperate search for love, connection and acceptance. Without love, life is at best “ existing at worst, without love, life is painful, confusing and a complete letdown. We go through life looking for the perfect lover and we never find him or her. You see, the perfect lover that we dream about is always loving, always there for me, always accepts me BUT there is no perfect lover other than God Himself as revealed to us in Jesus Christ. Only the God of the Bible speaks to our inner, deeper desires and needs that we all have for love when we truly connect with Him, something incredible happens inside of us.

Deep Roots: Part 1 – God is …

~ God has always existed.
Psalm 90 [2] Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

~ God has revealed Himself to everyone.
Romans 1 [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

~ God is present everywhere.
Psalm 139 [7] Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? [8] If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! [9] If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, [10] even there your hand shall(M) lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. [11] If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,“ [12] even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

~ God is unchanging.
Psalm 102 [25] Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. [26] They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, [27] but you are the same, and your years have no end.

~ God is pure.
Isaiah 6 [3] “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! Leviticus 11 [44] 44 I am the Lord your God. Keep yourselves holy for me because I am holy.

~ God is powerful.
Job 38 [4] Where were you when I made the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. [5] Who marked off how big it should be? Surely you know! Who stretched a ruler across it? [6] What were the earth’s foundations set on, or who put its cornerstone in place [7] while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted with joy? [8] “Who shut the doors to keep the sea in when it broke through and was born, [9] when I made the clouds like a coat for the sea and wrapped it in dark clouds, [10] when I put limits on the sea and put its doors and bars in place,

[11] when I said to the sea, ‘You may come this far, but no farther; this is where your proud waves must stop’? [12] “Have you ever ordered the morning to begin, or shown the dawn where its place was [13] in order to take hold of the earth by its edges and shake evil people out of it? [14] At dawn the earth changes like clay being pressed by a seal; the hills and valleys stand out like folds in a coat. [15] Light is not given to evil people; their arm is raised to do harm, but it is broken. [16] “Have you ever gone to where the sea begins or walked in the valleys under the sea? [17] Have the gates of death been opened to you? Have you seen the gates of the deep darkness?

[18] Do you understand how wide the earth is? Tell me, if you know all these things. [19] “What is the path to light’s home, and where does darkness live? [20] Can you take them to their places? Do you know the way to their homes? [21] Surely you know, if you were already born when all this happened! Have you lived that many years?
(2) ELOHIM – God as Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong.

~ God is the one and only Creator.
Genesis 2 [1] Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. [2] And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. [3] So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. [4] These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

Isaiah 43 [10] “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. [11] I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.

~ God is transcendent.
Hosea 11 [9] I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.

~ God is a Preserver.
Psalm 86 [15] But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. [16] Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. [17] Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Deep Roots – Get a Fresh Start for 2009

During its lifetime, a tree undergoes an amazing transformation. From the time it is planted in the ground until the time it becomes fully mature, each tree is a testament of strength, struggle and survival. More than anything else, it’s the roots that keep a tree standing strong and tall no matter what. Spiritually speaking, God wants us to plant our roots deep in the truths and promises in the Bible. As we do that, we can stand strong and tall no matter what comes our way in 2009.

And when several trees are joined together, a forest takes shape and provides an environment of growth and development. That’s a picture of church.

Get a fresh start for the New Year. Discover what the Bible has to say about about God, faith and spirituality, and begin to plant deep spiritual roots in 2009.