The Holy Spirit Character and Calling

The Holy Spirit

Character and Calling

If you feel weak,

Get plugged into the Spirit’s power!

 The Holy Spirit’s first work in our lives is to clean us up.

His conviction of sin

and the developing of the Fruit of the Spirit

is a life long work

to bring out the righteousness of Christ in us.

The Holy Spirit is not satisfied with us looking good.

The Holy Spirit wants to empower you

to live a life of service to God.

Jesus said these words,

“You shall receive power

after the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

It is after this power is on us

that we can truly be His witnesses;

the representatives of God and His Kingdom.

Being a wonderful and good looking person

doesn’t mean you can get the job done.

Jesus was a wonderful person

but I wonder how long He would have been remembered

had His words not been backed up with power.

Although Jesus sent His disciples out when He was with them,

He gave them strict orders

to wait after He went to Heaven

until the Holy Spirit came upon them.

The first work of the Holy Spirit is

a work that is done inside of you.

The second work of the Holy Spirit

comes upon you.

The first work is

to develop Godly character in you.

The second work is

to come upon you with power.

Where the first work of the Holy Spirit is

to develop the fruit of the Spirit in you.

The second work of the Holy Spirit is

to give you gifts of the Spirit.

We find a partial list of these gifts

is found in 1 Corinthians 12.

Paul starts with saying,

“I do not want you to be ignorant of Spiritual Gifts.”

It is a very exciting thing to think that God wants us

to the have the same power as He had.

And why not,

we are His representatives.

Jesus said His power came from the Holy Spirit

and the same Holy Spirit wants to come upon you

and cloth you with power.

Oh, God,

teach us how to wear the robe of your power.

Come upon us Holy Spirit!

Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 12:1-13:1 NIV

12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers,

I do not want you to be ignorant.

2 You know that when you were pagans,

somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says,

"Jesus be cursed,"

and no one can say,

"Jesus is Lord,"

except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts,

but the same Spirit.

5 There are different kinds of service,

but the same Lord.

6 There are different kinds of working,

but the same God works all of them in all men.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit

is given for the common good.

8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom,

to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit,

to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

10 to another miraculous powers,

to another prophecy,

to another distinguishing between spirits,

to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,

and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,

and he gives them to each one,

just as he determines.

12 The body is a unit,

though it is made up of many parts;

and though all its parts are many,

they form one body.

So it is with Christ.

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body

— whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free

 — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 If the foot should say,

"Because I am not a hand,

I do not belong to the body,"

it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.

16 And if the ear should say,

"Because I am not an eye,

I do not belong to the body,"

it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye,

where would the sense of hearing be?

If the whole body were an ear,

where would the sense of smell be?

18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body,

every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?

20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand,

"I don't need you!"

And the head cannot say to the feet,

"I don't need you!"

22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.

And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,

24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment.

But God has combined the members of the body

and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,

25 so that there should be no division in the body,

but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it;

if one part is honored,

every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ,

and each one of you is a part of it.

28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles,

second prophets,

third teachers,

then workers of miracles,

also those having gifts of healing,

those able to help others,

those with gifts of administration,

and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

29 Are all apostles?

Are all prophets?

Are all teachers?

Do all work miracles?

30 Do all have gifts of healing?

Do all speak in tongues?

Do all interpret?

31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And now I will show you the most excellent way.