The God Who Lives in Us THE SPIRIT’S WORK OF SANCTIFICATION, Part 2 John 16:12-15 Intro.: Last week we began talking about the Holy Spirit’s role in making us more like Jesus. John 16:12-15 The Spirit of Truth works in us this process of sanctification in at least two ways: 1. The Word of God 2. The Voice of God (There are other ways—he uses our connection with other believers/he uses our service and ministry opportunities/he uses the circumstances and experiences of our life) God has always spoken to individuals and He is continuing to speak through the Holy Spirit today. Part of growing in Christ is learning to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us. We must develop an awareness of the Spirit’s presence in our life. (He lives in us and is with us forever) - Galatians 5:16 & 25 We must constantly surrender to the Spirit’s control of our life. - Control means being filled with either self or the Holy Spirit. - Proverbs 14:14 (KJV) “the backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways…” - Ephesians 5:18 We must seek to live in obedience to the Spirit’s direction for our life. - The voice of God is speaking to grow us in sanctification. - Everything the Spirit speaks will glorify Jesus. -John 16:14-15 - The Spirit of God will not—cannot—lead us into sin or anything that does not glorify Christ. - It is vital that we learn to “test the spirits” and not quench God’s Spirit in our life (1 Thess. 5:19-21). - If we live in sin we grieve the Holy Spirit and silence His voice in our life. - Ephesians 4:17-25 is clearly a call to live holy and pure lives as Christ followers. - We cannot expect to hear God continue to speak when we have not been obedient to what He has already spoken. A.W. Tozer said “And to expose our hearts to truth and consistently refuse or neglect to obey the impulses it arouses is to stymie the motions of life within us and, if persisted in, to grieve the Holy Spirit into silence.” - If the Holy Spirit reveals to us a point of departure from obedience we should immediately repent and seek His forgiveness. Next Step: Pray this prayer as you begin each day this week: - God, please help me to be: - aware of your presence. - surrendered to your control. - obedient to your direction. each moment today. In the name of Jesus, Amen.