Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, Jan. 14, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THERE’S A SUPERNATURAL,
HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BELIEVER

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6

Text: Ephesians 4:3

Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Introduction: Many Baptists ignore the existence of spirits in this world. There are many spirits, but, with the exception of the angels, only ONE spirit is HOLY, that is, the Spirit of God.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Not every emotion, thought, and impulse that you have comes from yourself! They do not all come from the Holy Spirit!

Without going further in this message into the subject of UNCLEAN spirits, or devils, I want us to see some things about the Holy Ghost, also called the Spirit of God, as well as many other titles in the Bible.

I’ve titled the message, “There Is A Supernatural, Holy Spirit In The Believer.” I have deliberately clarified and corrected the song, “There’s A Sweet, Sweet Spirit In This Place,” sung by many independent Baptists today. By the way, that song was written by Doris Akers, a black charismatic female choir director, the sister of an African Methodist Episcopal preacher.

“… a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place”?

In the New Testament, the Spirit of God is never said to be SWEET. God’s word is sweet (Ps. 119:103), but the Bible never refers to the Spirit of God as the Sweet Spirit , but He IS called the HOLY Spirit. He is HOLY.

“… a sweet, sweet Spirit in this PLACE”?

Also, in the New Testament, the Spirit of God is never said to indwell PLACES. He indwells PEOPLE, particularly, the saints of God.

There are many other mistakes that people make about the Spirit of God. Let me say by way of introduction that:

He is not the spirit of confusion.
The spirit of darkness confuses; the Spirit of God CLARIFIES. Some churches who talk the most about the Spirit of God have the biggest amount of confusion in their services.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

He is not the spirit of carnality.
He doesn’t lead you to follow the lusts of the flesh but rather to FIGHT the lusts of the flesh.

He is not the spirit of compromise.
He doesn’t lead you to cooperate with sin and Satan; He leads you to COMBAT sin and Satan.

He is not the spirit of cowardice.
When the Holy Ghost came on the day of Pentecost, Peter, who had denied Christ three times, became a fearless preacher, who confronted the multitudes with the word of God and had over three thousand converts in a single day!

I. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST

Romans 8:9 But ye are 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.

Although He exists eternally, the Spirit of God was not known in the Old Testament as the Spirit of Christ. According to 1 Pet. 1:11 He did work in people in the Old Testament, but He is known as the Spirit of Christ in the NEW Testament.

Perhaps only in the New Testament is God’s Spirit called the Spirit of Christ, because since Jesus ascended into heaven, the Spirit of God came for some express purposes:

A. He exalts Jesus

Jesus said of the coming of the Spirit of God:
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

B. He expresses Jesus

We learn about the Lord Jesus Christ through the ministry of the Holy Ghost.

II. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF CONVICTION

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

This inner “reproof” that we felt before we were converted was the work of the Spirit of God in our hearts. In drawing us to Christ, God uses what we call “Holy Ghost conviction.”

A. He exposes our depravity

B. He emphasizes our damnation

C. He explains our deliverance

III. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF CONVERSION

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

John 3:6-7 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

A. He gives life

The new birth
An unsaved person is dead in trespasses and sins

B. He gives liberty

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
He frees us from the chains of sin.

IV. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNION

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

A. We perceive God through the Spirit of God

Quiet time
Meditation and thinking
Study of the scriptures

B. We pray to God through the Spirit of God

V. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF COMFORT

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

A. He comforts by His presence

God is with us by His Spirit in our difficult times.

B. He comforts by His promises

He reminds us of the promises of the word of God about:
           a. Security
           b. Strength
           c. Supply
           d. Second Coming of Christ

VI. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF COUNSEL

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 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 unto you.

A. He counsels through the scriptures

He inspired the scriptures
He instructs the scriptures
           a. As you listen
           b. As you read
           c. As you study
           d. As you pray
           e. As you memorize

B. He counsels through the shepherd

Further down in the scripture reading for today’s message, we find that pastors and teachers were given to the church for the purpose of building up believers so that they will grow to maturity and not be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.
If you make a major decision without seeking the counsel of your pastor, you are cutting yourself off from some of the leadership of the Holy Ghost!
Consult your pastor about
           a. A career change
           b. A major purchase
           c. A change of residence
           d. A college for your child
           e. Courtship and marriage
           f. Courtship and marriage of your children

C. He counsels through the saints

Be sure that the saints who counsel you are GODLY saints.
The blessed man does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly (Ps. 1:1).
The saints to whom you should listen are
           a. SEASONED – not brand new Christians
           b. SERVANTS – workers in the church
           c. SUBMISSIVE – they loyally follow their pastor
           d. STEADFAST – they are faithful to every church service and have done so for years
           e. SEPARATED – they abstain from worldly habits, including the appearance of evil
           f. SOUL-WINNERS – they go into the homes of unsaved people and win them to Christ
           g. STUDENTS – they study the scriptures and are sound in the faith

VII. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF COURAGE

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

There’s a Supernatural, Holy Spirit in the Believer

THERE’S A SUPERNATURAL,
HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BELIEVER