Life Giving Spirit

 

    You are dead to your sins until you meet Jesus, believe, and start living a new life.  It is the Holy Spirit that makes your new life possible.  When you live without Jesus your mind is on worldly things.  You can't change on your own.  You need the Holy Spirit living in your heart and talking to your mind to be a different person.

    When you are a person of the world you are an enemy of God.  When you live by the Spirit your mindset changes from death focused to what brings forth life and peace.  Life is unpredictable, hard, and lonely at times.  When you have the Holy Spirit you never face anything alone.  He counsels you.  He comforts you.  He knows your mind and heart, so He knows how to reach you if you will let Him.  

    If you are Christian, then world will overwhelm and break you in suffering until you reject your sinful nature and face God.  Christians were never meant to fit into Satan's environment.  You belong to God.  If you follow Satan, then life may coast.  Why would Satan get in your way?  He already has you.  He wants to stop Christians.  Endure this world because you will find your reward in Heaven.  You will get to spend eternity worshipping God as the first fruits.

    First fruits is your faith in action.  In gardening it is the first and the best.  In the church it means you are living out your spiritual gifts to serve Jesus.  In eternity it means you get the full reward from God.  You sacrifice your sinful nature to experience life with the the Holy Spirit who promises to give you a future close to God.

    The Holy Spirit is your spokes person.  When life is too much and you can't even find the words to pray, He reads your heart and speaks to God on your behalf.  He is there with you in it and He loves you enough to go to God to ask to make things better.  No matter how bad things get they won't stay that way forever if you belong to God.  Do not live like you are still in bondage to sin.  Live free to do good in the world.

Leviticus 23:9-14, Job 33:1-7, & Romans 8

Holy Spirit Seal

 

    When you put your faith in Jesus the Holy Spirit comes to live within you.  His presence is the seal of salvation.  It is not something you deserve.  It is done because you chose to believe and God keeps His Word.  You have the seal that can't be broken because God loves you.  It is a guarantee that when you die your soul will live eternally in Heaven with the Trinity.  Nothing can ever take that away from you.

    The seal of the Holy Spirit means you get to live freely for and with God now.  He is God's signature on your heart from now to eternity.  Things will change and be better once eternity begins, but you can live with peace and freedom now.  

    When you are sealed by the Holy Spirit, then there should be a difference in you.  People should be able to see that you belong to God even if they don't understand what the change is about.  This is not a signet ring, tattoo, or regular seal of authority or importance.  The seal of the Holy Spirit is God imbedding Himself as a part of your soul.  It is the missing piece of your soul that makes you complete and sustains you.  

    No matter what people do, you do, or anything that happens when you have the seal of the Holy Spirit you belong to God.  He protects His own.  That doesn't mean that life wont happen.  It does not mean that people will not make life difficult.  It does not mean that you will not die one day.  It means that you have protect of God.  He will allow things to happen to serve a purpose, but it doesn't change the fact that your eternity is guaranteed. The truth always comes out eventually.

    The Holy Spirit seal is irrevocable.  Once you are adopted into God's family, you can never be kicked out or removed.  You can live life with humble assurance because you are loved, favored, protected, and secure.  You never have to doubt your relationship with God even if you don't hear or feel Him close to you all the time.  Know that He is still there watching and protecting you.  You can ask Him all your heart questions and not worry about annoying Him or being rejected.  He loves it when you come to Him.

    The seal of the Holy Spirit enables you to walk in authority to do God's work.  You are not walking into anything alone.  When you seek to obey doors of opportunity open up.  The Holy Spirit will give your stillness, peace, quiet, and rest when you need it.  He will also be with you when you need to move, act, or respond instantly.  All you have to do is believe, repent, and trust in God to have salvation (the Holy Spirit's seal).  It can never be taken away or revoked.

Esther 8:1-8, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Ephesians 1:3-8, 4:20-30, 2 Peter 1:10-11

Holy Spirit Guidance

 

    The Holy Spirit is your reminder what what is holy,.  He speaks truth into your life.  He is your counselor and teacher.  He doesn't use a voice, but He whispers to your conscience and subconscious.  He brings truth out of the scripture you are reading.  He clarifies your prayers to God while giving you wise counsel.

    Jesus had to return to Heaven for the Holy Spirit to come live within the followers of Jesus.  I do not know why they could not co-exist on earth together other than it was not a part of God's plan and because Jesus declared it himself.  That is why it is called faith.  You trust God even when you don't have all the answers.  

    Everything the Holy Spirit tells you is the truth.  He gently guides you to find certain truths for yourself, but is with you every step of the way.  It is a faith journey that you never will travel alone.  He convicts individuals of their sin, directs toward righteousness, and provides judgment now to avoid it for eternity.

    Being convicted of sin is a gift.  It means you can repent and change things for eternity now.  He removes the confusion that the world provides.  He reminds you that you can't be righteous on your own.  You need God like it or not.  He provides clarity on what judgment applies to and how to avoid condemnation.  The closer you get to God the less you hear Satan's lying whispers.

    The Holy Spirit will never lead you astray.  He speak on behalf of Jesus and God.  He is what unites you God while you are still alive through righteousness.  Don't get lost in things of this world:  selfish desires, money, experiences over relationships, entertainment over service, other people over God, or sinful desires.  God never said go follow your heart or that love is always comfortable.  Your heart will lie to you if you allow it to become worldly.

    The Holy Spirit guides you to obedience to God, humble heart, and ways to glorify God.  He helps you to become more like Jesus everyday.  He helps you face life without giving into fear and anxiety.  It doesn't happen in one day.  It takes work and willingness to change.  He will guide the transformation of your heart to live more like Jesus than who you were before.  

Isaiah 64:1-7 & John 14:23-26, 15:18-27, 16:5-15

Theology of the Holy Spirit

 

    The Holy Spirit is the part of the Trinity that seems to hold the most mystery or misconception for people.  However, he is the most intimate part of God that is with all true Christians.  The Holy Spirit is what Jesus promised to come after he left.  He lives within everyone who believes and walks in faith with Jesus.  

    The Holy Spirit is the counselor, comforter, advocate, and guide in this world for all true Christians.  He affirms that God's Word is true.  He teaches and transforms the heart to be more like Jesus.  He empowers you to do God's will and follow the path God designed for your life.  

    The Holy Spirit provides you with supernatural gifts to benefit the church (God's people).  They also help you in ministry to show people who Jesus is.  He gives out blessings from God.  Like God and Jesus, he never changes.  His character is true and steadfast.  He will never leave you once he lives within you.  

    The Holy Spirit shows you true love.  He gives the mundane meaning.  He is intimately involved in your life.  He gives your life awareness to the truth, answers questions when you read the Bible, rids your doubts, and helps you triumph over your sinful nature.  He is your biggest advocate in life and before God.  

Genesis 1:1-2, Matthew 28:16-20, John 14:15-21, Acts 1:4-5, 2:1-13, & Romans 8:1-17

Early Church Theology

 

    When the first true church began to form they became enemies of the existing holy church.  The Pharisees and the spiritual leaders considered following Jesus as heresy.  It was heresy to declare that Jesus was God and man, he was more than human, or that he was two entities in one working together for mankind and God.

    The first church literally put their lives on the line to follow Jesus.  Of his 12 apostles, Judas killed himself and 10 others were martyred.  That only enhances the truth.  Judas knew the truth and could not live with his betrayal and the others were willing to die horrific deaths to tell the world about Jesus.  No one would not be willing to do that if they were not convicted of the truth to their very core.

    The first church fought the way Jesus fought: prayer and not backing down.  They grew in numbers and made decrees to keep the faith going as a religion.  Many people then and today misunderstand and misinterpret Scriptures, so the Christian Creed is to keep God's Word intact and holy.  

    In Nicaea in 325 AD the Roman emperor Constantine placed his focus on Jesus.  He didn't fully understand, but he studied and created the Nicene Creed that was amended in 381 by the Council of Constantinople.  It declares who Jesus is and the only way to achieve salvation.  The Council of Chalcedon created their own creed in 451 under Marcian who was over the Christian church.  This councils purpose was to confirm who Jesus is: human and divine.  This creed vows to acknowledge and teach about Jesus and the Trinity.

    Some important facts that can get misconstrued easily is the resurrection.  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but he also raised himself.  Lazarus could not raise himself from the dead.  That power lies with Jesus alone.  Jesus' resurrection unites the church in faith.  He makes his followers righteous, and adopted into God's family making them heirs to Heaven.

    Jesus never broke God's laws.  The religious people believe he broke laws of heresy.  People have a limited view point and without the guidance of the Holy Spirit they are likely to get it wrong in one way or another.  That is why Bible study is personal and serious business.  Jesus is sinless and living in Heaven with God preparing a place for all who follow him.

John 14:1-4, Acts 1:7-11, Romans 6:5-11, 8:31-34, 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, 15:20-23, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, 13:5-6, Galatians 2:17-21, Ephesians 2:4-7, Colossians 2:11-12, Hebrews 4:14-16, & 1 Peter 2:22-25

Jesus the Leader

 

    Jesus is the ultimate leaders.  He speaks for God like a prophet, teaches God's Word like a priest, and is the king of the world.  His leadership style is as the faithful witness, God's firstborn, and ruler of all nations.  One role would be a lot responsibility for a leader, but he runs all three roles flawlessly.  He is the perfect leader that you strive to be like.

    Jesus fulfilled prophecy and foretells what still is to come.  He performed miracles to glorify God while helping people.  Jesus' word is the final word.  It is supreme because he is God in the flesh.  He is the mediator for humans and God because he is the holy of holies.  He is the ultimate sacrifice for all people.  

    Jesus is the ultimate authority in this world.  He holds power and authority over every nation, culture, and individual.  He sits at God's right hand.  He led through sacrifice and example.  He humbled himself to live a simple existence instead of a lavish one.  

    Jesus made himself relatable to everyone instead of a select few.  When you follow Jesus you become the best leader you can be because you lead with Jesus.  He was always transparent, honest, and spoke with authority.  Lead like him in obedience to his commands, then your leadership will carry impact in the world.

Matthew 17:22-23, 28:16-20, Mark 1:21-34, Luke 1:30-33, 7:11-17, John 13:36-38, Hebrews 1:1-8, 7:18-28, 9:11-15, & Revelations 1:4-6

Jesus the Savior

 

    Jesus is the savior of the world.  He is the savior for every person that has or will ever live.  The cost of sin has always been blood.  He bled and died for you.  He paid the price, so that you would not have to.  He is the perfect sacrifice.  It can't ever be tainted.  You do not have to sacrifice animals or be circumcised anymore to be righteous.  All you have to do is believe and follow Jesus.

    The law of God was given to reveal sin.  It shows everyone how much each person needs God to be holy.  Obedience is expected and required, but since Jesus it should come from a place of love instead of fear alone.  Jesus atoned for your sins, so that you would not have to face eternal death.  His atonement makes you holy and gives your forgiveness.

    Jesus is the savior of the world.  His sacrifice opened the door to Heaven, so that you have access to God.  You no longer have to go through another person to find atonement, forgiveness, or any type of communication with God.  You can pray directly to God yourself.

    Jesus' death and resurrection replaced the Passover.  He freed you from any type of spiritual bondage or slavery.  All you have to do is believe and start following him.  He was the last sacrificial lamb.  He is the lamb that lives peacefully with the lion (God) in Heaven.  He protects you from the full wrath of God.  

    Sin brings God's wrath.  Everyone has sinned.  That means no matter how righteous you may find yourself, you have sinned.  God's idea of a good person does not match up with how people consider themselves or others as good people.  If you do not turn to Jesus, the truth, then your sin will separate you from God for eternity.  

    Jesus did not suffer in the manner that he did because it didn't affect him.  He felt everything.  He did it because he loves you and will always be obedient to God.  He endured and died a criminal's death to take your place so that you have the opportunity to spend eternity with God.  He absorbed all of God's wrath from your sins.  He paid the blood payment to make you pure and righteous before God.  His sacrifice defeated evil and eternal death.  Without Jesus, death has no meaning.

Leviticus 16:3-10, 15-22, Mark 14:12, 15:42-47, Romans 3:9-26, 5:6-11, 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Ephesians 1:3-8, Hebrews 10:1-10, 1 Peter 1:17-20, & 1 John 1:5-7