Listening and Following the Holy Spirit
Jesus promised to send us the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18,26) “and I will pray the
Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you
forever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it sees
Him not, neither knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you, and shall be in
you. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. But the comforter, which is
the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things,
and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you”.
He tells us why He send the Spirit in John 16:7-14; which says “nevertheless I tell
you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come to you, but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He is
come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of
sin, because they believe not on Me. Of righteousness, because I go to My Father,
and you see Me no more. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I
have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when
He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak
of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear that shall He speak; and He will show you
things to come. He shall glorify Me for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it to
you”.
Romans 8:5-16 says “for they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the
flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally
minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal
mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can
be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Bt you ae not in the
flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man
have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is
dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit
of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from
the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwell in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if
you live after the flesh, you shall die, but if you through the Spirit do mortify the
deeds of the body, you shall live. For as any as are led by the Spirit of God, they
are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;
but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father. The
Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God”.
Everyone can go to another level in God by prayer and study of the word. The Holy
Spirit helps us to pray as we should (Romans 8:26-28) “likewise the Spirit also helps
our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit
Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He
that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes
intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things
work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to
His purpose”. Jude tells us “but you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most
holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20).
Everyday you are either yielding to ether God, or to the world; there is no middle
ground. Don’t fool yourself, you cannot be in control of your life, and be yielded to
the Holy Spirit at the same time. Proverbs 3:1-8 gives us good advise; it says “my
son forget not my law, but let your heart keep my commandments. For length of
days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you. Let not mercy and truth
forsake you, bind them about your neck; write them upon the table of your heart.
So shall you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust
in the Lord Yahweh with all your heat; and lean not to your own understanding. In
all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your
own eyes, fear (reverence) the Lord Yahweh, and depart from evil. It shall be health
to your navel, and marrow to your bones”. Relinquish control, listen to the still small
voice of your inner man. Pursue Him.
Yield to the Holy Spirit – (yield means to submit to). James says it this way “submit
yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to
God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:7-8a). As you are worshipping and
praising God, you are drawing near to Him (Psalms 100:4) “enter into His gates with
thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise, be thankful to Him, and bless His
name”.
In Ephesians 4:22-32 says “that you put off concerning the former conversation the
old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And be renews in the
spirit of your mind. And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man
truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be you angry, and sin
not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil. Let
him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor; working with his hands the
thing which is good that he may have to give to him that needs. Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of
God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and
wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all
malice. And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you”.
Galatians chapter 5 shows us the difference between the things of the flesh and the
things of the Spirit, verses 16-25 says “this I say then, walk in the Spirit and you
shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the spirit and the
spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other, so that you
cannot do the things that you would. But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not
under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness
reveilings, and such like of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s
have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit”.
We have to remember that the Spirit and the Word are One (I John 5:7). Test what
you hear by the word of God; remember the Holy Spirit will only speak what He has
heard of Jesus.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: January 8, 2010
Jesus promised to send us the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18,26) “and I will pray the
Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you
forever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it sees
Him not, neither knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you, and shall be in
you. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. But the comforter, which is
the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things,
and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you”.
He tells us why He send the Spirit in John 16:7-14; which says “nevertheless I tell
you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come to you, but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He is
come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of
sin, because they believe not on Me. Of righteousness, because I go to My Father,
and you see Me no more. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I
have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when
He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak
of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear that shall He speak; and He will show you
things to come. He shall glorify Me for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it to
you”.
Romans 8:5-16 says “for they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the
flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally
minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal
mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can
be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Bt you ae not in the
flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man
have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is
dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit
of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from
the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwell in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if
you live after the flesh, you shall die, but if you through the Spirit do mortify the
deeds of the body, you shall live. For as any as are led by the Spirit of God, they
are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;
but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father. The
Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God”.
Everyone can go to another level in God by prayer and study of the word. The Holy
Spirit helps us to pray as we should (Romans 8:26-28) “likewise the Spirit also helps
our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit
Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He
that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes
intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things
work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to
His purpose”. Jude tells us “but you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most
holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20).
Everyday you are either yielding to ether God, or to the world; there is no middle
ground. Don’t fool yourself, you cannot be in control of your life, and be yielded to
the Holy Spirit at the same time. Proverbs 3:1-8 gives us good advise; it says “my
son forget not my law, but let your heart keep my commandments. For length of
days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you. Let not mercy and truth
forsake you, bind them about your neck; write them upon the table of your heart.
So shall you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust
in the Lord Yahweh with all your heat; and lean not to your own understanding. In
all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your
own eyes, fear (reverence) the Lord Yahweh, and depart from evil. It shall be health
to your navel, and marrow to your bones”. Relinquish control, listen to the still small
voice of your inner man. Pursue Him.
Yield to the Holy Spirit – (yield means to submit to). James says it this way “submit
yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to
God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:7-8a). As you are worshipping and
praising God, you are drawing near to Him (Psalms 100:4) “enter into His gates with
thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise, be thankful to Him, and bless His
name”.
In Ephesians 4:22-32 says “that you put off concerning the former conversation the
old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And be renews in the
spirit of your mind. And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man
truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be you angry, and sin
not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil. Let
him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor; working with his hands the
thing which is good that he may have to give to him that needs. Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of
God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and
wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all
malice. And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you”.
Galatians chapter 5 shows us the difference between the things of the flesh and the
things of the Spirit, verses 16-25 says “this I say then, walk in the Spirit and you
shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the spirit and the
spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other, so that you
cannot do the things that you would. But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not
under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness
reveilings, and such like of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s
have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit”.
We have to remember that the Spirit and the Word are One (I John 5:7). Test what
you hear by the word of God; remember the Holy Spirit will only speak what He has
heard of Jesus.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: January 8, 2010
