(RE)PRESSED GOD - PART 1 - Define the Relationship
(RE)PRESSED GOD - NEW PREACHING SERIES
Who is the Holy Spirit to YOU?
Is He an "it"?
A mysterious mist?
A scary presence?
OR
Is He a comforter?
Counselor?
Helper?
Guide?
Friend?
The writers of the first century encouraged us to earnestly desire a depth in relationship with Him. They wanted us to…
Not be ignorant of Him
To be attuned whereas not to grieve Him
To not to take Him for granted
Ultimately these leaders said we should pursue shared experiences that move us towards intimacy with Him. That is wild!
HOW would we do that?
Is this even something you and I even desire?
Maybe we should DTR (define the relationship). Maybe we should clarify for ourselves just how vulnerable and trusting we want to be.
We won’t need a DTR until we begin to expect more from the relationship. If we want shared experiences…
Deeper intimacy
More availability of His power and wisdom
Help with responsibilities in life and His ready defense
…it will require us to have a greater hunger and commitment to know Him.
We can turn from a conscious suppression of Him, or an unconscious repression of what He is all about, to know Him for who He is.
He comes with mystery.
He comes with power.
He comes with gifts.
Will He remain repressed to us? Or, will we press in to share in all He is? You may find the beginning formation of an addiction for the Holy Spirit.
TODAY’S EPISODE NOTES:
PRINCIPLE:
As we grow in increased EXPECTATION FROM a relationship,
we are pressed for increased DEFINITION WITHIN the relationship.
PRINCIPLE:
We aren’t prepared to COMMIT to a relationship
if we aren’t prepared to CLARIFY the DTR question.
REAL REASONS WE DON’T DEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP (DTR)
Unsure of what we really want
Fear of commitment
Unacknowledged desire for secular things
Fear of failure
Fear of other’s opinions
Fear it isn’t really real
Emotional connections are too difficult
Fear of weirdness
2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 NKJV The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the COMMUNION of the HOLY SPIRIT [be] with you all. Amen.
2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 MSG The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
HE’S A PERSON
JOHN 14:16-20 NKJV [Jesus said] And I will pray the Father, and He will give you ANOTHER HELPER (Comforter, Counselor, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Standby) , that HE may ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER-- 17 the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees HIM nor knows HIM; but you know HIM, for HE dwells WITH you and will be IN you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. 19 A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I [am] in My Father, and YOU IN ME, and I IN YOU.
HE HAS A PERSONALITY
KNOWLEDGE
1 CORINTHIANS 2:11 For what man KNOWETH the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the SPIRIT OF GOD.
FEELING – EMOTION
ISAIAH 63:10 But they rebelled, and VEXED his HOLY SPIRIT
EPHESIANS 4:30 And GRIEVE not the HOLY SPIRIT of God
ROMANS 15:30 and for the LOVE of the SPIRIT,
1 THESSALONIANS 1:6 having received the word in much affliction, with JOY of the HOLY GHOST:
WILL
1 CORINTHIANS 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame SPIRIT, dividing to every man severally as HE WILL.
HE HAS ACTIONS THAT ARE DESCRIPTIVE OF A PERSON
Here the Holy Spirit is set before us, not as an impersonal enlightenment that comes to our mind, but as a person who searches and whispers out of the depths of His own wisdom.
KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A PERSON
2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 NKJV The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the COMMUNION of the HOLY SPIRIT [be] with you all. Amen.
2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 MSG The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.
HUNGER FOR HIM
1 THESSALONIANS 5:19-21 KJV QUENCH (extinguish) NOT the SPIRIT. 20 DESPISE (displace or set aside, regard lightly, or not esteem) NOT prophesyings. 21 PROVE ALL THINGS; hold fast that which is good.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:1, 31 NKJV Now concerning SPIRITUAL [gifts] (things pertaining to and of the Holy Spirit), brethren, I do not want you to be IGNORANT: ... 31 But EARNESTLY DESIRE the best gifts…
1 CORINTHIANS 14:39-40 NKJV Therefore, brethren, DESIRE EARNESTLY to prophesy, and DO NOT FORBID to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
EARNESTLY DESIRE (covet) comes from the Greek word root ZELOS which means to be ZEALOUS or have warmth of feeling towards. It is an intense desire! Here it refers to a positive energy pocket.
BE ATTUNED TO HIM - HAVE EARS TO HEAR
REVELATION 2:7 NKJV (Jesus said) He who has an ear, let him hear WHAT THE (HOLY) SPIRIT SAYS to the churches…
MATTHEW 13:14-16 NKJV (Jesus said) And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: “HEARING you will hear and shall not understand, And SEEING you will see and not perceive; 15 For the HEARTS of this people have grown DULL. [Their] ears are HARD OF HEARING, And their EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED, Lest they should SEE with [their] eyes and HEAR with [their] ears, Lest they should UNDERSTAND WITH [THEIR] HEARTS and turn, So that I should heal them.” 16 But blessed [are] your eyes for they SEE, and your ears for they HEAR;
REAL REASONS WE DON’T DEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP (DTR) - HOLY SPIRIT
Unsure of what we really want
Fear of commitment
Unacknowledged desire for secular things
Fear of failure
Fear of other’s opinions
Fear it isn’t really real
Emotional connections are too difficult
Fear of weirdness
TIME TO ACTIVATE - DEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP TODAY
Unknown God
Distant Acquaintance
Close Acquaintance
General Friend
Close Friend
Covenant God