The Best Gift = The Holy Ghost

The two realities of existence – flesh (or physical) or Spirit, are diametrically opposed to each other and we can not live in both realms.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (KJV)  17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. (NLT)

Either a person lives their days on earth confined to the chains of self in this present world, or they forsake self and stake their entire existence on the Spirit of God.  Sure, like Adam and Eve, we all live in bodies made of flesh and bone, but the body is merely the vehicle that our spirit is contained in.

The question is: will our spirit buy into the realm of humanity that is defaulted to us by Adam, or will it become meshed with the Spirit of our Creator, take on the attributes of Deity and walk with Him in the cool of the day?

This becoming “ONE” with God is not something a person can do on his own; instead it takes the POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST to overcome this present world.

We must surrender completely and absolutely to Jesus Christ, think with His mind and allow His Spirit to inhabit our body.  Then, and only then will we be led by the Spirit and walk in the Kingdom of God.

Spirit Baptism  | Subsequent Experience

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

More Scriptures of Holy Spirit baptism

Acts 8:14-18,  Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

4 Attributes of the Holy Ghost

1.  The Holy Spirit will fill you with POWER.

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,

John 1: 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

1 Thessalonians 1: 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

How many of you want assurance that God is there? Not just head knowledge.  Not just hearsay.  Divine Assurance.

2.  The Holy Spirit will be your COMFORTER.

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter,

We pray for that attribute during funerals and death, however, it is available 24/7 to those who are filled with the Spirit.

to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth (remember sermon on TRUTH at core), 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.

Where are you in that last phrase?  Do you know him only because he is around you?  He wants to be in you.  He wants to baptize you.  Like a warm blanket on a cold night.

We will never be alone again when the Holy Spirit is alive in our soul.  He will be our constant companion, never leaving us unless we forsake Him first.

3.  The Holy Spirit will LEAD YOU to all truth.

John 16: 13 Howbeit 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 shew you things to come.  14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (KJV)

1 Corinthians 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

When DECISIONS need to be made…We must have the Holy Spirit to be our guide.

Other tools: We have the “council of many” from Proverbs. We have experience. We have the Bible as a guide. Systematic Bible Reading prepares your mind to interact with the world.  However, God has created us with a need for his Spirit to guide us.  With the absence of the Holy Spirit, we are left to the influences of the world around us (which is dominate by the Flesh/sinful desires)

4.  The Holy Spirit will BEAR FRUIT in your life.

Galatians 5:22-24 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.

If you do not have these attributes, or results of the Holy Spirit working in your life, you are not walking in the Spirit.  It does not matter how much you call yourself a Christian, how much you attend church or how much you donate to good causes, unless your life exhibits the fruits of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit is not there.