HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVES

How the Holy Spirit Moves

By James W. Goll

PRIMARY VERSE:

Genesis 1:2 - And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

NEGATIVE RESPONSES TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

         We are not just to be open to the Holy Spirit, but we are to passionately pursue Him. But there are several warnings given to us in scriptures of attitudes and actions to avoid in our relationship with and to the Holy Spirit.

         A.     Do Not Neglect or Ignorant

                  Paul uses the word ignorant thirteen times in the epistles.

                  I Cor.12:1 - Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be                            ignorant. NIV

         B.      Do Not Grieve

                  Eph. 4:29-31 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your                                     mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of                                     redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

         C.     Do Not Quench

                  I Thess. 5:19 - Do not put out the Spirit's fire;

         D.     Do Not Blaspheme

                  Mt. 12:31-33 - And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.  Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

         E.     Do Not Insult

                  Heb. 10:29 - How much more severely do you think a man deserve to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?  When you insult someone, they remove their presence from you.

         F.     Do Not Tempt

                  Acts 5:9 - Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."

POSITIVE RESPONSES TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

         Not only are there warnings listed in scripture, but there are positive responses specifically listed for us to obey.

         A.     Be Born of the Spirit

Jn. 3:3-8 - In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. " "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." NIV

         B.     Receive and Be Baptized in the Spirit

                  Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Mt. 3:11 - "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

         C.     Be Continuously Filled

                   Eph. 5:18 - Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

         D.     Know and See the Spirit

Jn. 14:16-18 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

         E.     Be Led By the Spirit

Rom. 8:14 - because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

         F.    Pray in the Spirit

                  I Cor. 14:14- For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

                  Jude 20- But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

         G.    Walk in the Spirit

Gal. 5:16 - So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

         H.    Hear the Spirit

Heb. 3:15 - As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."

A great definition of moving in the Holy Spirit is to so flow with the Lord as to not cast two shadows.

THREE THINGS TO DO WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

         A.     Honor Him as a Guest

                  Welcome Him on a first-name basis without over familiarity. Acknowledge Him as the third person of the Godhead, with His own distinct personality (Jn. 16:13).  Honor Him and desire His presence.

         B.    Seek Him

                   Ask for Him and seek to be equipped by Him (Lk. 7:7-11). He is more                            than “special guest”. He is our equipper. Ask the Father in Jesus name to be equipped by the Holy Spirit to do the ministry work.

         C.     Give Him Freedom and Liberty

                  Yield to Him (2 Cor. 3:17). When the Holy Spirit is Lord, there will be freedom for the people. Let the Holy Spirit be in control.

FIVE PRINCIPLES OF HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT ALWAYS MOVES

         Read John 14:16-21 and John 16:5-15 before proceeding into the following points.

         A.     In and Through (by means of) the Written Scriptures

                    He never moves contrary to the Word of God. He compliments and does not compete with the Word of God.

         B.     In Agreement With the Father and the Son

                    There are never three wills in the Godhead. The Holy Spirit reveals the council of the Father and the Son.

         C.     Brings Jesus into a Greater Reality

                  The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus as a living reality, and brings us into a deeper relationship with Him.

         D.     A Life-Giving Source

He brings us into the life of the Lord Jesus.  He is interested in maturing our character, not just bringing us personal comfort.  He is interested in bringing us truth, not false assurance or consolation.  He woos, convicts, shepherds, and leads us to the life-source of God.

         E.     Moving the Believer to Be a Witness

                    He helps us overcome our fears and He stretches us outside of ourselves, bringing both maturity and fruit. He motivates us to testify

                  of the love and power of God.

PREPARATIONS TO FLOW IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

         A.     Avoid Hurrying or Rushing

                    Quiet yourself before the Lord, Avoid being like a stirred-up fish bowl and rest before His presence.

Ps. 130:5-6 - I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.  NIV

Ps. 131:2 - But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

         B.     Pray in the Spirit

                    Build yourself up, in your faith by praying in the gift of tongues. This will edify your faith and turn you into the Fathers heart. I Cor. 14:4.

         C.     Get Involved

                  Seek God for something to take when you attend a gathering. Purpose in your heart to get involved and don’t go just to receive.

         D.     God Wants to Use You!

                  Yes! God wants to use little ole me! Believe that the Lord wants to use me to impart to others.

         E.     It’s Only by GRACE!

                  As God for a revelation of Grace. That way all the glory goes to God to whom it all belongs.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

         A.     The Kingdom of God is in the Holy Spirit

                  Rom. 14:17- For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

         B.     Rivers of Living Water Shall Flow

                  Out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water. Pray for this to occur in your life. Jn. 7:38 - Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

Father, I ask that out of my inner most being that streams of revelation, power and life would flow out of me. I stir up the gift of God within me. River of God flow out of me onto dry ground!     In Jesus Name!