The Holy Spirit - The Most Neglected Member Of The Trinity

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. – NIV

• Certain Pharisees considered themselves to be better than other “non-religious” people.

(Apostle Paul said if there’s anything good in me it’s because of Jesus) so…

let’s be glad we’re saved but take others with us!

1. The Holy Spirit is the most neglected member of The Trinity
   1. Christians seek relationship with God (as they should)
   2. Christians seek relationship with Jesus (as they should)
   3. We pray to God in the name of Jesus (all these are Biblical)
   4. What do you think are the reasons for this? (Class discussion)
   5. easy for children of Israel to believe in God they saw Him (passed down knowledge)

they also had teachings handed down from Adam and Eve via Moses.

6. easy for us to believe in Jesus – He lived on earth (passed down knowledge)

(scripture)

2. God’s intentions toward us
   1. Why did God establish the earth and create man?(class discussion)
   2. relationship
   3. Fatherhood / mentor

Holy Spirit of OT

• Part of Godhead – God The Father, God The Son, God The Holy Spirit - Gen 1:1, 1:26 – Job 3:4
• God created man and gave him His Spirit – Gen2:7, 1 Cor. 6:19
• Spirit of God – Came to kings and prophets (wasn’t there all the time – only when God wanted to act specifically.)

Holy Spirit of NT

• The seed of God (re-establishing lost Kingdom) could NOT come through sinful man.
• Scripture records account of god coming to earth by way of the Holy Spirit -

• John prob. only person who has actually (through spiritual eyes) seen the Godhead
  • Luke 3:22 – Holt Spirit “like a dove” doesn’t mean He is one. He is a distinct person. strong as an ox

ran like the wind – that doesn’t mean they are an ox or the wind

Has mind Rom 8:27, a will and emotions -1 Cor 12:11, He speaks - Heb3:7

Jesus said to disciples before he departed – John 14:14-18

Then He says in chapt.16:7 – 8 – He said believe me.

Abide In Christ

This is a short Bible study from 2008. It was presented to a group of men, many being uncertain of their immediate future, but Jesus, showing the disciples, us (them) the Kingdom, insures eternal life for those who will accept it.
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       Pray

Jesus’ instructions to the disciples – “upper room discourse” also en route to garden and arrest

John 15 (Amplified Bible)

 1 I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

• “True Vine” – calls Himself True Vine, OT referred to Israel several times as “Vine” but it didn’t bear fruit over and over.
• Vinedresser as any farmer must be competent

    2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.

·         “In Me” = abide – have a relationship / depend on Me

·         some branches don’t bear fruit

·         fruit is outer evidence that people can benefit from. Evidence of inner change.

·         Special attention from Vinedresser

3      You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].

·         Grow and nourished = fed by Word

·         The nature of God to feed children – take care of needs – manna

·         Jesus assures the disciples, they are clean already, Jesus did not want the Eleven to conclude, as many people do, that the absence of fruit or the presence of difficulties indicates the absence of salvation.

4        Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

·         “Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you”

·         Jesus indicates He will take care of His “clean (saved) disciples

·         Abide in as opposed to flee from

5      I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

·         Jesus spoke of some fruit and more fruit (v2) but now speaks of “much” fruit.

·         Must stay connected – (how ?)

·         Much fruit = unhindered fellowship with Him

·         Whoever = any potential believer (John 3:16)

6      If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.

·         Literal

·         Non abiding = non believers (broken off branch)

7      If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

·         Must have fellowship and be connected

Humbleness And Humility

·        Pray

• Review:        

                     1.         God Chooses to draw near to us – up to us

2.          We hunger for what we feed on. Regularly feed on the Word.

3.         Protect hunger - meditate on Word daily.    -  Prov. 4:23 …guard your heart …   - (issues of life)

4          We need to want to be in God’s presence because of who He is – not what He can do.

5.            We need to have holy reverence – the fear of the Lord

                            ·        Humility

Our text scripture has been James 4:8 – but lets look at what God say to us through James before and after this verse – the entire passage.

James 6-10   6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  10 10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Lets also look at Isa 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

1.            God loves humble people

2.            hates pride

·        Most have a misconception of Godly humility –

1.            as used here means to make oneself lower than the other person on purpose

                     a)    Blessed are the humble (Matt 6)

b)    He who is first will be last -

c)    Defer to others –

d)    We are supposed to put other’s needs as a priority – help people – James calls this “true religion”

·        Let’s  take a look at another form of Godly humility –

2.        

            agreement with God – being in tune with Him : example 1 Sam 17:26-28      

 many confuse being in agreement with God with being conceited

1.            Little Shepard boy arrives on scene bringing supplies

2.            finds mighty warriors of Israel hiding behind rocks

3.            finds all are afraid of Goliath

4.            who is this uncircumcised Philistine? – (what is going on here?)

5.            Brother’s reaction

6.            God calls David man after His own heart

 other examples:

1.            Moses – Numbers 12:3

Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

Who wrote Numbers? – Moses!

2.            Jesus – Matt 11:28-29

28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Humbleness here consistent with the idea of

1.            obedience  - Jer. 29:11 -  links obedience and humbleness

2.            dependence on Him – 2 Cor 3:5 – 2 Cor. 12-9-10 – giving all the credit to God

3.            our view of ourselves – 1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Humbleness and fear of The Lord the aspect of Christian life that God is looking for –

If you know nothing else, but truly Seek His Presence showing these two things: you automatically will – be obedient in truth – because of who He Is,

You will be in agreement with Him.

Proverbs 22:4-5 tells us He will then reward us with His presence:

            4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honour, and life

5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

         

(Amp says He will reward with his presence)

If you want to be in agreement with God, you must get to know Him, much easier to agree with someone when you know them.

-         Meditate on Word – Josh 1:8

·        End meeting in prayer