The Spirit in Us

Roger Bacon in the 13th Century wrote:

• “…nobody can obtain to proficiency in the science of mathematics by the method hitherto known unless he devotes to its study thirty or forty years.”

Today all the mathematics Bacon knew has already been taken up by children before they finish high school.

The same can be said for our knowledge on the Holy Spirit

This great illustration of the Trinity for example wasn’t around during the time of

the apostles:

But compare our experience of the Spirit’s power with that of

Peter for example:

Simon Peter in the book of Acts:

• Spoke in a foreign tongue about God• Addressed the crowd, 3000 were converted to

God in that day.• Healed a man lame from birth (this man was

more than 40 years old)• Detected through the Spirit that a couple

were lying, they died right after talking with Peter (Ananias and Sapphira)

• Raised a person from the dead

As Francis Chan points out:

“The reality is that the early church knew less about the Holy Spirit than most of us in the church today, at least in the intellectual sense. But they came to know the Spirit intimately and powerfully as He worked in and through their lives. All throughout the New Testament, we read of the apostles whose lives were led by the Spirit and lived out by His power.”

Chan, Francis (2009-09-01). Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit (p. 36). David C Cook. Kindle Edition.

Think about these points on how we can have more of the work of

the Spirit in our lives:

The Spirit is at work in us when we obey.

John 14:15-17 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Some areas where we need to obey

• The Spirit and unplanned changes• The subtle inclinations to serve our spouses,

do what is right, read the Bible, love the widows, orphans and the poor

• Speaking the truth in love• Spending time with GodSome of these thoughts taken from Dodson, Jonathan K. (2012-

03-07). Gospel-Centered Discipleship (Re: Lit) (Kindle Locations 2153-2154). Good News Publishers. Kindle Edition.

The Spirit is at work when we no longer miss God (in the right way)

John 14:18-20 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

Would the physical presence of Jesus be better than the invisible presence of God?

Yet in John 16:7, Jesus himself says:

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

The Spirit is at work when we are in the Scripture

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Buhay sa iyo ang Espiritu Santo, kung ang Bibliya ay parang nasa iyong dugo

As was said of John Owen, “Prick him anywhere; his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him.”

What is said of John Owen I hope is said of you as well.

The Spirit is at work when Jesus is being made much of

John 16:13-15 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Some countries conduct what are called Memory Championships

Some of these individuals are just as ordinary as you and I. Yet with some training they do feats some would call extraordinary.

How about you and I in comparison to those in whom the Spirit worked with great

power?Was not Elijah or the apostles

men just like us?