Brookfield Church of Christ
Aug 14, 2019 Wed pm - Holy Spirit
      • Bible Trivia
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  • II. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

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    A. What Is the Fruit of the Spirit?

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    Jesus paints a word picture from nature in order to emphasize the believer’s responsibility to abide in Him. “I am the vine; you are the branches.
    If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”
    John 15:5
    John 15:5 ESV
    5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
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    Catch the imagery.
    The sap inside the vine carries life-giving nutrients to the branches, enabling them to bear grapes.
    In a similar way, the Holy Spirit inside a Christian is a life-giving source that enables a believer to bear spiritual fruit … qualities that are evidenced both inwardly and outwardly.
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    “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
    Galatians 5:22–23
    Galatians 5:22–23 ESV
    22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
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    WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE OF BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT?

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    Love
    Am I seeking the highest and best for others or seeking to serve my own needs?
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    Joy
    Am I living with gladness over what I have or fretting over what I don’t have?
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    Peace
    Am I resting in the strength and security of God or worrying about my circumstances?
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    Patience
    Am I enduring difficult trials calmly or complaining and becoming bitter?
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    Kindness
    Am I exhibiting a benevolent heart by helping others or resenting having to meet the needs of others?
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    Goodness
    Am I displaying godly character with purity of heart or adopting the world’s standards of morality?
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    Faithfulness
    Am I trusting God in the midst of suffering and sorrow or doubting His perfect and persistent love?
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    Gentleness
    Am I treating others with tenderness and respect or being harsh and short-tempered?
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    Self-control
    Am I rising to God’s call to do what is right in His sight or giving in to my feelings and selfish desires?
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    “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
    James 3:17
    James 3:17 ESV
    17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
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    B. What are the Gifts of the Spirit?

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    An apple tree grows apples for the benefit of others.
    In the same way, when you grow in Christ, you will bring blessings to those around you.
    Understanding your spiritual gifts and using them to benefit the body of Christ are vital for spiritual growth and maturity.
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    QUESTION: “What are spiritual gifts?”

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    ANSWER: Spiritual gifts are …
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    — At one time it was Supernatural abilities that the Holy Spirit bestowed upon a believer for the purpose of strengthening the church (the “body of Christ”)
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    — An opportunity for the Lord to accomplish His personalized plan and purpose for your life
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    — A means through which you express God’s love to others
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    “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”
    1 Corinthians 12:4–6
    1 Corinthians 12:4–6 ESV
    4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
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    QUESTION: “What if I don’t have a spiritual gift?”

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    ANSWER:
    A spiritual gift is given to every believer.
    If you are an authentic Christian, you have been given a spiritual gift, even if you don’t know what that gift is.
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    “To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
    1 Corinthians 12:7
    1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV
    7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
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    QUESTION: “Does everyone have the same gift?”

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    ANSWER:
    God doesn’t give everyone the same gift. Even though some my have a similar gift. Always remember the gift is for the Church.
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    “To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.”
    1 Corinthians 12:8–10
    1 Corinthians 12:8–10 ESV
    8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
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    QUESTION: “What are the different spiritual gifts?”

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    ANSWER:
    There are different ways to categorize the gifts of the Spirit.
    The following are two of the passages that list spiritual gifts and how to use them.
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    Romans 12:6–8
    Romans 12:6–8 ESV
    6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
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    — Prophecy
    an ability to proclaim or reveal God’s truth
    — Serving (ministry)
    an ability to recognize and meet the needs of others
    — Teaching
    an ability to communicate and clarify truth
    — Encouragement (exhorting)
    an ability to inspire and stimulate the faith of others
    — Giving
    an ability to entrust assets where they are most needed
    — Leadership
    an ability to administrate, organize, and coordinate efforts
    — Mercy
    an ability to reach out with active compassion to comfort others
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    “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
    Romans 12:6–8
    Romans 12:6–8 ESV
    6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
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    1 Corinthians 12:7–11
    1 Corinthians 12:7–11 ESV
    7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
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    — Wisdom
    an application of knowledge
    — Knowledge
    an revelation
    — Faith
    an ability to believe that God will provide
    — Healing
    an ability to believe that God will cure human illness
    — Miraculous powers
    an ability to perform feats outside the laws of nature
    — Prophecy
    an ability to proclaim or reveal what is hidden
    — Discernment
    an ability to distinguish between truth and error, as well as good and evil spirits
    — Tongues
    an ability to speak in a language that the speaker has never learned
    — Interpretation of tongues
    a supernatural ability to understand and interpret messages in tongues
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    “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
    1 Corinthians 12:7–11
    1 Corinthians 12:7–11 ESV
    7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
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    QUESTION: “Can I choose a spiritual gift?”

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    ANSWER:
    No. Each person’s gift is chosen by the Spirit of God.
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    “He gives them to each one, just as he determines.”
    1 Corinthians 12:11
    1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV
    11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
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    QUESTION: “Can my spiritual gift change?”

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    ANSWER:
    No.
    God is the One who put you in a specific place of service in the body of Christ.
    God uses the analogy of the physical body to explain how spiritual gifts function, and He makes it clear that if He made you a “hand” in the body of Christ, you should not try to be a “foot.”
    In the same way that a hand remains a hand in the physical body, so spiritual gifts do not change.
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    “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”
    1 Corinthians 12:18
    1 Corinthians 12:18 ESV
    18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
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    QUESTION: “Can I become ineffective in the exercise of my spiritual gifts?”

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    ANSWER:
    Yes. Gifts mean nothing if they are not administered with a heart of love.
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    “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”
    1 Corinthians 13:1–3
    1 Corinthians 13:1–3 ESV
    1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
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    QUESTION: “Is one gift more important than another?”

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    ANSWER:
    No. Each plays a vital role in the body of Christ. Gifts that may seem less honorable are indispensable.
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    “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.”
    1 Corinthians 12:21–23
    1 Corinthians 12:21–23 ESV
    21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
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    QUESTION: “Why should I try to know my spiritual gifts?”

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    — To establish God-given priorities in your life. The place where you serve must be in line with your spiritual gifts and God’s truth.
    “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
    1 Peter 4:10
    1 Peter 4:10 ESV
    10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
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    — To experience the joy of being used by God.
    “The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
    Acts 13:52
    Acts 13:52 ESV
    52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
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    — To build up the church.
    “To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
    Ephesians 4:12
    Ephesians 4:12 ESV
    12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
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    HOW DO YOU DISCERN YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

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    “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.”
    Proverbs 18:15
    Proverbs 18:15 ESV
    15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
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    • Make sure you have come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
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    • Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to the truth about your personal spiritual gift(s).
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    • With a humble heart, desire only the gift(s) that the Spirit has given you to serve others. Don’t covet the gift of another.
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    • Make a list of all the gifts and mark off those that you do not enjoy.
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    • Think about the times when you as a Christian knew that God successfully used you to help others. Evaluate those successes in light of spiritual gifts.
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    • Be aware of God’s confirmation through your own joy and fulfillment when helping others.
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    • Ask one or more mature Christians who know you well for their observations regarding your spiritual strengths and giftedness.
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    “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”
    Proverbs 19:20
    Proverbs 19:20 ESV
    20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
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    Hunt, J. (2008). Biblical Counseling Keys on Holy Spirit: Living Free in the Power and Peace of the Spirit. Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart.
    Exported from Logos Bible Software, 10:10 AM June 02, 2019.
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      • Proverbs 18:15NIV2011

      • Proverbs 19:20NIV2011

  • III. CAUSES FOR HINDERING THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

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    One of the symbols used in the Bible to represent the unseen power of the Holy Spirit is the wind.
    No one is more aware of the force of the wind than those who pilot aircraft.
    Everyone grieves the tragedy of an airplane crash. What needless loss of life!
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    A seasoned pilot always heeds weather reports.
    Wind information is especially important.
    It vitally affects safety at takeoff and landing … and accurate navigation en route.
    Novice pilots would do well to do the same to assure a safe flight.
    Every person who is trained and licensed to fly knows the regulations governing every aspect of flight.
    Pilots ignore them at their own peril.
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    The Holy Spirit gives us direction much like weather reports guide a pilot.
    However, some people ignore the Spirit’s call and His cautions.
    Though the Holy Spirit (the Wind) “speaks,” they resist Him and refuse to obey.
    When they resist, they may very well find themselves in a spiritual “crash.”
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    “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
    John 3:8
    John 3:8 ESV
    8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
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    A. Are You Rejecting God’s Flight Reports?

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    ARE YOU … RESISTING THE HOLY SPIRIT?

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    Unbelievers demonstrate their resistance to the Holy Spirit …
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    — by ignoring their God-given conscience
    “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
    Romans 1:20
    Romans 1:20 ESV
    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.
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    — by rejecting the claims of the Lord Jesus Christ
    “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ”
    John 14:6
    John 14:6 ESV
    6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
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    — by holding to a form of religion without having a relationship with Christ
    “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
    2 Timothy 3:5
    2 Timothy 3:5 ESV
    5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
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    “You stiff-necked people.… You always resist the Holy Spirit!”
    Acts 7:51
    Acts 7:51 ESV
    51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.
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    ARE YOU … QUENCHING THE HOLY SPIRIT?

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    In Scripture, another symbol for the Holy Spirit is fire … representing His judgment and purifying presence. Believers hinder the work of the Spirit in their lives …
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    — by refusing to act or speak as the Holy Spirit leads
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    — by resenting circumstances that God allows to come into their lives
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    “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.”
    1 Thessalonians 5:19
    1 Thessalonians 5:19 ESV
    19 Do not quench the Spirit.
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    ARE YOU … GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT?

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    Another symbol in Scripture for the Holy Spirit is a seal like the official ones used by kings … indicating ownership, security, and a completed action. Believers bring sorrow to the heart of the Holy Spirit …
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    — by doubting and distrusting God’s love and promises
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    — by refusing to submit completely to God
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    — by neglecting personal time with God through His Word
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    “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
    Ephesians 4:30
    Ephesians 4:30 ESV
    30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
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    B. Are You Refusing God’s Provision?

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    When you enter into a personal relationship with Christ, God places His Holy Spirit within your human spirit.
    Through the presence of His Spirit in you, God will meet your inner needs.
    He may do this in many ways.
    For instance, God may use other people, directed by the Spirit, to meet your needs.
    By refusing to rely on God’s provision of the Holy Spirit, you are choosing to rely on your own resources to meet your God-given needs for the following:
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    • Unconditional love
    “Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
    Romans 5:5
    Romans 5:5 ESV
    5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
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    • Significance
    “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
    Romans 8:16
    Romans 8:16 ESV
    16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
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    • Security
    “It is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
    2 Corinthians 1:21–22
    2 Corinthians 1:21–22 ESV
    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.
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    C. Are You Remaining in Control?—The Root Cause of Not Being Spirit-filled

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    WRONG BELIEF:
    “It is only natural for me to be in control of my life and depend on my own efforts to achieve all that I can.”
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    • The Unbeliever:
    “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
    1 Corinthians 2:14
    1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV
    14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
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    • The Believer:
    “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”
    Galatians 3:3
    Galatians 3:3 ESV
    3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
    RIGHT BELIEF:
    “Life is not to be lived in my own strength but in submission to the Holy Spirit, giving Him complete control.”
    “ ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
    Zechariah 4:6
    Zechariah 4:6 ESV
    6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
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    Hunt, J. (2008). Biblical Counseling Keys on Holy Spirit: Living Free in the Power and Peace of the Spirit. Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart.
    Exported from Logos Bible Software, 9:21 AM June 03, 2019.
    ​

      • John 3:8NIV2011

      • Romans 1:20NIV2011

      • John 14:6NIV2011

      • 2 Timothy 3:5NIV2011

      • Acts 7:51NIV2011

      • 1 Thessalonians 5:19NIV2011

      • Ephesians 4:30NIV2011

      • Romans 5:5NIV2011

      • Romans 8:16NIV2011

      • 2 Corinthians 1:21–22NIV2011

      • 1 Corinthians 2:14NIV2011

      • Galatians 3:3NIV2011

      • Zechariah 4:6NIV2011

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