God has given us the perfect gift; a holy gift; the gift of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

God has given us the perfect gift; a holy gift; the gift of salvation.

“The Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10

“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear, but your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1-2

Greek word for “saved” is sozo—and that it refers to our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical salvation. It’s comprehensive.

“God is holy and holiness the moral condition necessary to the health of His universe.... Whatever is holy is healthy.”

• AW. Tozer

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1–2

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:14

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming

• f our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23

The 66 books of the Bible present God the Father as our Creator, God the Son as our Saviour, and God the Holy Spirit as the one who takes what Jesus did and applies it to

• ur lives. You might think of God the Father

as God for us, God the Son as God with us, and God the Holy Spirit as God in us.

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17

THE FOUR FREEDOMS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US TO: The Holy Spirit as Counselor

“But I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:7–8

The Greek word translated as “counselor” is paraclete.

“Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3

THE FOUR FREEDOMS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US TO: The Holy Spirit as Counselor First freedom: since the Holy Spirit draws us into a relationship with Christ, we are free to experience salvation.

THE FOUR FREEDOMS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US TO: The Holy Spirit as Guarantee

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your

• salvation. Having believed, you were marked in

Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13–14

“A seal denoted ownership and authenticity; this thereby guaranteed the protection of the owner.” Gordon Fee

“The Spirit Himself is the down payment…in

• ur lives that guarantees our certain future….

The gift of the Spirit is the first part of the redemption of the whole person.” Gordon Fee

THE FOUR FREEDOMS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US TO: The Holy Spirit as Guarantee Second freedom: since the Holy Spirit indwells us, we are free to experience security in our relationship with God.

“If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:9

THE FOUR FREEDOMS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US TO: The Holy Spirit as Coach

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each

• ther, so that you do not do what you want.”

Galatians 5:16–17

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

THE FOUR FREEDOMS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US TO: The Holy Spirit as Coach Third freedom: since the Holy Spirit empowers our lives, we are free to move forward spiritually.

Being filled with the Spirit is not the same thing as being indwelt by the Spirit. Every genuine Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit; it’s automatic. But we’re only filled by the Holy Spirit when we allow Him to empower

• ur lives on a moment-by-moment basis.

THE FOUR FREEDOMS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US TO: The Holy Spirit as Giver

“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

• f the same Spirit, to another faith by the same

Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers…” 1 Corinthians 12:7–11

“…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

• f one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to

each one, just as He determines.” 1 Corinthians 12:7–11

THE FOUR FREEDOMS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US TO: The Holy Spirit as Giver Fourth freedom: since the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts, we are free to serve God’s purposes.

The Holy Spirit gives every single follower

• f Jesus Christ unique gifts, and these gifts

are really gifts to the entire Christian community, yet when we don’t use these gifts for the common good, when we either use them for our own comfort or when we neglect them through our refusal to use them, we’re guilty of a kind of spiritual fraud.

You see, the Holy Spirit gives us these gifts, but it’s up to us to unwrap them. This means that every follower of Jesus is on a journey of discovering what his or her spiritual gifts are and using these spiritual gifts in specific areas of ministry.

The spiritual health of any church is determined not by how powerful the worship service is, not by how effective the speaker is, not by how great the facility is, but by how many individual members are using their spiritual gifts in ministry.

You see, it’s the Holy Spirit’s giving of these gifts that frees us to serve God. After all, what do we have to really offer God? Not

• much. But if we use that which He has given

us to manifest His presence, to make His invisible work visible through our tangible service, then we are free to serve God.

The Holy Spirit as Promised

“I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive…. But you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:16

T-R-U-S-T: Enhancing Your Relationship with the Holy Spirit T – Thank you R – Revelation U – Usefulness S – Strengthen T – Teach

Jesus said that out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38).