Come Holy Spirit. Part 1

Recognizing the Work of the Holy Spirit

What comes to your mind when someone says the word supernatural? At first, the terror you felt when you were six years old about a ghost being under your bed might be your first thought. However, today we will be learning about something way more powerful and essential than any supernatural thing: God and His Holy Spirit.

WATCH FULL SERMON HERE.

Since the beginning of the old testament, the Holy Spirit has been busy. He would shake the heavens and earth. He would fill people with power and anoint His servants. The Lord’s Spirit would anoint prophets, disciples, and teachers with His Holy Spirit, including Jesus. 

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him.”

Acts 10:38

Who wouldn’t love to be anointed by the Holy Spirit, am I right? Who wouldn’t want to be filled with power and authority? I sure would! 

We can see the beautiful connection Jesus had when He would complete ancient prophecies and reference them because of the Holy Spirit. A massive example of this was in Matthew 3:16, when Jesus recognized the connection between the prophecy given to Isaiah and the Holy Spirit that came upon Him in the Jordan River. After reading the prophecy, Jesus said with confidence that the scripture had been fulfilled on this day.

When people feel the presence of God…

• Some think it’s time to cue the shout music (Psalm 16:11)
• Some feel it’s confirmation that everything is going to be alright.

But don’t forget that in the Old Testament, when the presence of God came upon someone, it was usually for empowerment in service to others. 

 What if we had more of that today? What if every time we felt God’s presence upon us, we went out and used that presence to serve others? How different would our homes, communities, workplaces, and our churches be?

Very different.

God moves:

1. Upon us
2. Around us
3. Within us

God moves around us in the lives of other people. Have you ever had a front-row seat in someone else’s transformation? Someone else’s encounter with God? If you had, this shouldn’t make you jealous. It should make you hungry for more, grateful, and full of joy.

We can recognize what God is doing based on what’s going on within us. 

In 1 John 2:20 AMP, it says, 

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One you have been set apart, specially gifted and prepared by the Holy Spirit, and all of you know the truth because He teaches us, illuminates our minds, and guards us from error.”

When you have an anointing, a lot is going on within you. Just like 1, John 2:20 stated, the Holy Spirit will prepare you for what you need to do. He will teach you the truth. Illuminate your mind and guard you against sin or mistakes you shouldn’t make.

Do you know that the Holy Spirit has a voice? That it communicates with us? Well, then you must understand that it is vital to recognize this voice. Let’s look into the definition of recognition.

Recognition Definition

1. An acknowledgment of someone or something’s existence, validity, or Legality
2. Knowledge or feeling that someone or something present has been encountered before
   1. We can grow in our ability to recognize what God is doing in our midst through experience.
3. Special notice or attention

One of the reasons why it’s so essential to RECOGNIZE what the Holy Spirit is doing is because when we don’t know what God is doing, we don’t respond appropriately.

Romans 8:14-17 NKJV states that the sons of God are led by the Spirit of God, which is not a spirit of fear but adoption that we are children of God. If we are children, then we are heirs of God, and if we suffer with Him, we will also be glorified together. So are we acting and behaving like God’s heir? If we are not, the Holy Spirit is here to help and guide you. 

Being a stranger to the power of God.

In 2 Timothy, it says that one of the signs of the end of times will be when people will have a form of true religion but will be strangers to the power of God. Who will we be able to witness this? Because their lives will remain unchanged. The power they profess to know hasn’t been powerful enough to change them. 

How can someone close in proximity still feel like a stranger? Here are three main reasons.

1. Self-absorbed
   1. So into yourself that you lack intimacy with who lives within you. 
2. Not a people person
   1. Some Christians are not a “Holy Spirit person.”
   2. Some are into Jesus and the Father, but not into the Holy Spirit or only to a certain degree.
3. Don’t talk enough
   1. There is a lack of relationship, interest, and communication. There are many Christians who don’t speak to Him.

God is so much more than just a shout, a goose bump at the end of a worship song, or someone you “catch” in church. 

Let’s look at an example of a person whom the Holy Spirit came upon and recognized what He was doing in their lives.

Peter

“And all were beside themselves with amazement and were puzzled and bewildered, saying one to another, What can this mean? But others made a joke of it and derisively said, They are simply drunk and full of sweet intoxicating wine.” Acts 2:12,13 AMPC

Let’s take a deeper look at the Holy Spirit’s typical responses that are still true today.

3 Responses to the work of the Holy Spirit

1. Amazed
2. Confused
3. Mocked

We should not mock something we do not understand because the very thing you laugh at maybe the same thing that will transform your life forever.

Samson

Samson’s life was supposed to serve as an example to Israel of what real commitment to God looks like. As a Nazarite, he was expected to 

1. Refrain from wine/strong drink
2. Never eat anything unclean.
3. Never cut his hair

The key to Samson’s anointing was honoring his Nazarite vow and the secret to his strength. Has Samson kept his vow, his head would never have been in Delilah’s lap.

Samson recognized God’s power was upon him, but I’m not so sure Samson fully understood what God was trying to use Him to do.

Here you have this guy who knows the power of God is upon him but is unable to make the connection between how God was moving upon him and what God was attempting to do within him.

Now, how about you? What is your story relating to recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit? Comment and let us know.

Written by Jazmin Miguel – FCC Marketing Assistant