OPENING SCRIPTURE:

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but WAIT FOR THE GIFT my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (Acts 1:4 NIV)

Why Wait? The mission ahead was greater than their abilities.
The Holy Spirit – Not optional but essential.
• The disciples could skip the Holy Spirit and move on.
• “WAIT FOR THE GIFT my Father promised…” (Acts 1:4)

We cannot operate in our calling without the empowering, the guiding, the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is God, co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. The 3rd person of The Trinity.

For John baptized with water, but in a few days, YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT… You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:5, 8 NIV)

“Baptize”- fully immersed.

#1: The Holy Spirit Helps Us

These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the HELPER, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:25-26 NKJ)

• “Helper” – Paracletes – Advocate, Counselor.
• He is your Helper when you need someone to teach you the word of God.
• He is your Advocate when you need someone to speak on your behalf.
• He is your Counselor when you need someone to defend you in front of your enemies

#2: The Holy Spirit Intercedes for Us

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans (words we do not understand). And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 NIV)

“Intercede” – intervene on our behalf.

When the Holy Spirit intercedes for you, He steps in and empowers you

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of POWER and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

#3: The Holy Spirit Guides Us to All Truth and Knowledge

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will GUIDE YOU INTO ALL THE TRUTH. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will GLORIFY ME because it is from me…” (John 16:13-15 NIV)

• The truth flows from The Father to The Son and to The Holy Spirit. That truth will never change.

#4: The Holy Spirit Produces Fruit in Us

But the HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES this kind of FRUIT in our lives: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL. (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)

• These fruits in our lives provide evidence that The Holy Spirit is at work in us.
• The Spirit transforms you so that you look more and more like Jesus.

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you… you will bear much fruit.” (John 15:4-5)

#5: The Holy Spirit is a Seal in The Lives of Believers

When you believed, you were marked IN HIM WITH A SEAL, the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13 NIV)

• That seal tells everyone, especially the enemy that you belong to Christ.

CONCLUSION:

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?