June 12, 2005
Morning Sermon Outline
”The Giving and Coming of the Holy Spirit”
John 7:37-39; John 3:4-8
How does God give us the Holy Spirit? How does He come to us? How do we receive Him? How do we receive His gifts and graces?
I. The coming of God’s Spirit is a mysterious thing -
1. The Spirit is mysterious like the wind – John 3:4-8
2. This is true even about being born again
3. This flies in the face of all “a, b, c” “step-by-step” formulas, etc
II. God alone is sovereign in the giving and moving of His Spirit
1. Going almost hand-in-hand with the idea of God the Holy Spirit being mysterious is the fact that He is out of our control, in this the Spirit is also like the wind – John 3:8
2. As God alone controls the Spirit, so God alone has authority to give the Spirit
3. God gives the Spirit according to His own will and in His time – John 7:37-39
III. God is abundantly gracious in the sending of His Spirit – Titus 3:5-6
We see this abundant grace in:
1. In the greatness of the Gift (gifts) compare Matthew 7:11 to Luke 11:13
2. In the great need of us who receive this Gift – Ephesians 2:1-5; John 6:63; Ezekiel 37
3. In the heart attitude of God Who gives the Gift – Luke 11:11-13
4. In some of the Biblical descriptions of how the Spirit and His gifts are poured – Proverbs 1:23; Isaiah 32:15; Joel 2:28-29; Revelation 4:5
(a.) Pouring implies abundance -
(b.) Pouring is in reference to His gifts and graces
(c.) Pouring also relates to His power to cleanse, sanctify and refresh – Ezekiel 36:25-27; Titus 3:4-6; Isaiah 44:3
5. In the freedom of God Who gives the Spirit and His gifts – Ephesians 2:8-10
IV. How then should we go about seeking God’s Spirit?
1. With fervent persevering prayer – Luke 11:5-13
2. With humility and repentance because of our sin, knowing that such repentance is also a gift – Zechariah 12:10; Daniel 9:4-9; Acts 11:16-18
3. With boldness because of God’s promises – Acts 1:4-8; Hebrews 4:16
“Who can create a wind? The most ambitious of human princes would scarcely attempt to turn, much less to send forth the wind. These steeds of the storm know no bit nor bridle, neither will they come at any man’s bidding. Let our senators do what they will, they will scarcely have the madness to legislate for winds. Old Boreas, as the heathens called him, is not to he bound with chains and welded on earthly anvil, or in vulcanian forge. “The wind bloweth where it listeth;” and it does so because God directeth it and suffereth it not to stay for man, nor to tarry for the sons of men. So with the Spirit of God.”
C.H. Spurgeon
Application for Today
1. Realize the work of God’s Spirit is out of your hands
2. Pray that God would send His Spirit, gifts and graces
3. Pray for true repentance and power from the Spirit for ministry
