Welcome, Holy Spirit, #3 | Jim Hammond
 
Recap
 
Pastor Jim gave his third installation of his series entitled, “Welcome, Holy Spirit.” He talked about how people say, “Jesus lives in your heart.” But actually, Jesus presently sits at the right hand of the Father. It is the Holy Spirit that lives and dwells inside us. Pastor Jim brought a greater awareness to the fact that it is the Holy Spirit that daily guides and directs us. The book of Acts describes the acts of the apostles as they went forth into the world preaching salvation through Jesus, His sacrifice and resurrection. But Pastor Jim illuminated how there was an overwhelming number of scriptures in Acts where the Holy Spirit is mentioned, where the Holy Spirit directed and guided the apostles in everything they did. And it is still the Holy Spirit directing and guiding the body of Christ today!
 
Dive Deeper
 
Resources:
1.    John Bevere’s book that he wrote with his son, Addison, called “The Holy Spirit: An Introduction.”
2.    Dr. Cheryl Salem’s book “The Holy Spirit”
 
There are many scriptures in Acts where the Holy Spirit is directing and guiding the New Testament believers.
 
In the book of Acts, you read how people testify about the Holy Spirit… lied to the Holy Spirit… the Holy Spirit being a witness to things… people resisting the Holy Spirit… the Holy Spirit showing them there was going to be a famine… the Holy Spirit telling them to go with certain people and don’t have any misgivings about it… asking the Holy Spirit and then them commenting, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit”… people were being sent out by the Holy Spirit… being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go to Asia… they tried to go to Bethia, but the Holy Spirit said, “No, you can’t go there”… Paul is compelled by the Holy Spirit… the Holy Spirit giving Paul resolve… asking people, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit?”… Paul being compelled by the Holy Spirit to go into Macedonia… the Holy Spirit making certain people overseers in Acts 20:28.
 
If you read the book of Acts and just focus on the verses that have anything to do with the Holy Spirit, it will open your eyes to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in a way you’ve never realized before.
 
James 4:5 is the main scripture for the series: “Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?” (Amp.)
 
Do you suppose that the scripture is “speaking for nothing”? That’s what “for no purpose” means.
 
The Holy Spirit yearns for you… it’s a love so deep, that He is jealous for your love. If you need advice and you go to someone else before you consult Him, it makes Him jealous.
 
John Bevere says, “Ask the Holy Spirit directly to show you what you can do daily to more freely abandon yourself to His friendship.” You have to yield yourself to Him.
 
We are to ask the Holy Spirit directly for the Spirit of grace. That’s one of His names in the Bible.
 
Ask Him to shower you with His love of acceptance and peace.
 
Learn to “be still” before Him. For some, it’s hard to just be still. It’s something you have to practice. God knows you’re waiting on Him, eventually those thoughts clear and you start to hear Him better. And it gets to the point where you can be in a workout class with secular music blaring and you can hear Him clearly.
 
He’s yearning for you to welcome Him. Do you welcome Him?
 
First Corinthians 12:5–7, “There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”
 
There are differences of administrations. There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God.
The Father initiates the operations and administrations, the diversities of those operations. It’s very clear that the manifester of all this is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings it into play… into action.
 
If you’re going to build a house, you hire an architect, a general contractor, and then you have subcontractors that actually build it. You could say God the Father is the architect. Jesus is the general contractor. And the Holy Spirit is the subcontractor that does the actual building. He’s building your house!
 
Read About It
 
Acts 20:28, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
 
James 4:5, “Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
 
First Corinthians 12:5–7, “There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”
 
Discussion Questions
 
The Holy Spirit yearns for you. Do you welcome Him into your life?
Do you “practice the presence of God” in your life?
Can you think of ways you might have caused the Holy Spirit to be jealous, ways in which you didn’t put Him first?  

Recent Sermon Notes

The Importance of Fresh Encounter | Heidi Baker

Pastor Mac taught the fourth message in his series, “The Impossible Dream.” We are called to dream the impossible dream. Or you could say God’s dream for us, because for us, it’s an impossibility. But nothing is impossible for God. That’s why it’s called the impossible dream. Pastor Mac said, “I feel like that this particular subject is something that will do as much to move your life forward in God while you’re on this earth as anything possibly could.”

THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM, “Trust” #4 | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught the fourth message in his series, “The Impossible Dream.” We are called to dream the impossible dream. Or you could say God’s dream for us, because for us, it’s an impossibility. But nothing is impossible for God. That’s why it’s called the impossible dream. Pastor Mac said, “I feel like that this particular subject is something that will do as much to move your life forward in God while you’re on this earth as anything possibly could.”

GRACE UNVEILED: “Law of the Spirit of Life; The Law of Sin and Death” | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim presented his 30th installment in his series on the book of Romans entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” The book of Romans has been deemed one of the most priceless literary treasures in the world. In fact, many secular colleges study the book of Romans just for its literary value. Many scholars call Paul’s letter to the Romans the Definitive Statement of the Christian Doctrine. Presently, our study of Romans brings us to chapter 8—a chapter scholars claim to be one of the most powerful chapters in all the Bible.

GRACE UNVEILED: “Ever Doing the Things I Don’t Want to Do” #29 | Jim Hammond

Last weekend, Pastor Jim gave the 29th installment to his teaching series on the book of Romans entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” In this chapter, Paul talks about his own personal struggle as to why he keeps doing carnal things that he doesn’t want to do, yet he keeps doing them. This portion of scripture has to do with believers who are alive in their spirit man but are walking out their lives in spiritual defeat because they’re trying to obey the law with all of its rules and regulations in their own self-effort, their own strength. Thus, the subtitle of this message is “Ever Doing the Things I Don’t Want to Do.”

The Impossible Dream: Strongholds, #3 | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac presented the third installment of his new series entitled, “The Impossible Dream.” He said it was important that we have a clear understanding of what is the impossible dream. It’s not enough simply to dream. You need to go out on a limb and dream an impossible dream. What is an “impossible” dream? It’s a dream that can’t be fulfilled without God’s ability and power! Pastor Mac said, “God has called us to be dreamers.”