How to Use the Spirit of God

Fred R. Coulter—June 17, 1989

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• What is it that we are to do?

We know that as we respond to God, God also responds to us. As it says in Rom. 1 'from faith to faith'; God's faith to you! You're faith back to God! Those things continually going! Let's see how and what we are to do with the Holy Spirit of God. This becomes the key, important thing.

I know there are going to be times in your life, as it has been in mine, that a situation will come to where you come right down through whatever you're going through, and all of a sudden, something sort of clicks in your mind and you realize that yes, you've got to get back with God:

• in prayer
• in study
• in meditation
• in keeping the commandments

Let's see something that is so very important concerning Christian behavior, the use of God's Spirit and the things that we go through. Here is a very important thing:

• that we all live through
• that we all go through
• that we reflect upon
• that we share jointly together

We'll cover several thoughts as we go through Gal. 5; notice how Paul emphasizes this.

Galatians 5:13: "For you have been called unto freedom… [liberty] …brethren…" As we have seen, it is the 'law of liberty.' It is the liberty in yielding to God. It is also the liberty from sin. Can you misuse this liberty? Sure it can be! So, he says:

"…only do not use this freedom for an occasion to the flesh; rather, serve one another with love" (v 13).

We're talking about the different churches and the difference in Sabbath-keeping churches, and therein lies a tremendous principle through which God will allow differences within the Churches of God.

You go back and you analyze the different lives of the different kings. There were certain kings that were wholehearted for God. They cleaned up the whole population. They restored everything. There were certain kings that had their lives right, but they didn't put away the idols of the people. There were certain kings that started out good, but ended up in terrible misery because they forgot and rejected God because of the situation that goes on here.

When God deals with someone, they give them liberty. Just like with the children of Israel when they were liberated from their slavery and captivity of Egypt and brought out into the wilderness, God gave them liberty. He gave them His laws and His commandments. He was going to fulfill His promise and take them into the 'promised land' approximately 19 months after He brought them out of the land of Egypt.

• What did they do? They used that liberty in a wrong way!
• What happened? We can apply the same thing back there to the children of Israel!

Verse 15: "But if you bite and devour one another, watch out lest you be consumed by one another." That's exactly what the children of Israel did. They didn't believe God, they whined and they complained. So, God had to reject them, kill all of them in the wilderness and say, 'Okay, because of that, you're penalized for another 38 years.'

The same way in the Churches of God. Have we not seen that this is what has happened in the Churches of God? Yes! 'Biting and devouring one another' because they take advantage of the liberty. I gave a sermon years ago called The Sleight of Hand, how they take the prerogatives of God and use it for their own authoritative means.

I've seen churches that this has happened to—that they 'bite and devour one another,' which says, 'watch out lest you be consumed by one another,' where the whole church is run on just almost a gossipy thing. Church is secondary to the gossip:

• you hurry up to church to gossip before
• hurry up and get the sermon over with so you can gossip afterwards

Then you get together with your friends and:

• you gossip
• you backbite
• you devour

One of the reasons I'm sure we're going to see that there's differences between Churches of God, is that this a living principle that happens. It took place.

• Will God allow it? Yes!
• Why? So that we will learn!

Unfortunately, too many of us don't learn except by experience. There are some things we have to experience before we really know, before we really appreciate things.

As your children grow older—I'm sure you have gone through this, different ones of us at different degrees—and your children do something completely the opposite of what you know that they should not do that, and they do it anyway, you find yourself helpless to stop them. Now, how do you feel? You feel much like God feels when mankind rejects Him and He has told them! They know better, but they go ahead anyway!

• when they repent
• they come to their senses
• have experienced and admitted that they are wrong

then you have the same feeling that God has when you repent and go back to Him. That's a tough way to experience something. That is a hard way to learn something, but it helps you to appreciate and understand God even more.

No one has asked the question: What does God go through because of the sins of human beings when we backbite and devour God? Which we do as a population! I'm not saying, 'we, as Christians.' No! We're trying not to. I'm saying that as human beings we do that to God!

How many times is God taken into a conversation where He has nothing to do with it? Just like 'Robin HUD' (Marilyn Louise Harrell) who was stealing money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She said, 'I stole and gave to the poor because I love the Lord.' Which Lord?

Verse 16: "Now this I say, walk by the Spirit…" That's the hardest thing to continuously do, walk in the Spirit. Sometimes when you're really down and feeling low, about the only thing you can really do is pace back and forth, cry and pray. I'm sure you've all experienced that. If you haven't, I'm not wishing that you do, because it's miserable. It is an experience that helps draw you close to God. You learn the valuable lesson: Don't go out and backbite, pick, go after and so forth.

"…and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (v 16). That's why it's so very important to meditate in God's ways. 'I consider all things, concerning all your precepts to be right altogether, God.' That's walking in the Spirit. When you have that kind of attitude, think about that with your whole heart and you have that right kind of attitude:

• Where's the room for lust? It isn't there!
• Where's the room for hate? It isn't there!
• Where's the room for revenge? It isn't there!

because you're walking in the Spirit of God; that's what's so very important!

Verse 17: "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit…"—which it does. We've all experienced that. In other words, the flesh has desires against the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of God has desires—which the word lust can be translated desire—against the flesh.

If you take one simple precept of God, one simple precept of God: To avoid fornication, 'let every man have his own wife and every woman her own husband.' That one precept of God! If you walk in the Spirit with that, think how many problems could be avoided in each individual life and collectively, in the society.

Let's take another precept of God, which is right along those lines. My mind happens to be on it this morning because it was in the paper. There is this seven-year-old boy in Tacoma who was abducted, taken off the trail with his bicycle. A man came along and said, 'Oh, let's ride in the woods together.' Up near Tacoma they have woods right close by. He sexually abused the boy, choked him, stabbed him and amputated his penis, and the boy lived. Then they find out that this man, since 1969 and 1967, has been a mental sexual pervert and has already committed one other murder. You can get righteously indignant over that. You can see why God says that those kinds of people should die!

We've gotten to the point that we've become so absolutely rotten in our laws and the constitutional rights of the criminals that the innocent victim is no longer a consideration. When you have a society that is so totally devoid of any knowledge of God and His ways, the lust of the flesh is going to prevail and it will get worse, and worse, and worse! I've been sick to death all day after reading that story there. I couldn't even finish the article. Didn't do me any good to get mad; I can't change the situation. I felt like burning the paper, but what good would that do?

My wife and I were talking about it this morning. I said, 'You know, that shows why you can never stop crime until Christ returns, until the Kingdom of God is here that's going to get those people while they have the thought. Then we can say, 'Don't you dare fulfill that thought! Here's the way to walk in it.' Then there can be some control, not until then.

Verse 17: "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these things are opposed to each other, so that you cannot do those things you wish to do"—want to do or you would do. That's why the struggle and the flesh is so miserable. That's one of the reasons why.

Let's stop and think, here, for a minute. The sacrifices and the offerings were a type. Everyday there was a sacrifice in the morning and everyday there was sacrifice in the evening at the temple. All those things symbolized Christ. This tells us that we need the atoning of Christ every day—every morning and every night—on a continual basis. Why? Because of the flesh! The greatest thing we need to learn how to do is to use the Spirit of God and use it in our daily lives because there is this battle going on!

Verse 18: "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under works of law." That doesn't mean that you don't have to keep the law. Obviously, we've gone through that. This means that you are not under the penalty of law. That is a true meaning. It also means that you are not under law for justification. You have to be justified through the use of God's Spirit and the grace of God.

Verse 19: "Now, the works of the flesh are manifest…" There they are all laid out for us in great detail. Let's just read through them so we have them on record.

"…which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, witchcraft…" (v 19-20). Those things perhaps start out with the most important thing that happens. When you start looking at a child's life and how they grow up and what happens to them, these become the experiences of life as you grow up. Then after you get through those things of idolatry, witchcraft and hatred—children have their little idols: baseball players, football players, track people. Now we find out that Ben Johnson knowingly took steroids for years and years and knowingly lied when he said that he didn't.

"…hatred, strifes, jealousies, indignations, contentions, divisions, sects, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such things as these; concerning which I am telling you beforehand, even as I have also said in the past…" (vs 20-21). So, this is not the first sermon on it that Paul gave, nor is the first one that I've given, nor the last.

"…that those who do… [the word there in Greek is 'poieo'—practice] …such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God (v 21). We need to look for the opposite:

Verse 22: "But the fruit…" Isn't it interesting that the Feast of Firstfruits or Feast of the Firstborn, has to do very much with this? Here is the thing that we need to work at, to develop. In other words, if we're going to be fighting against the 'desires of the flesh' and the 'desires of the mind' then we also have to be developing:

"…the fruit of the Spirit… [which is] …love…" (v 22). We're going to be tried not only with love toward each other, but love toward God.

Let's pick up on what we learned from Psa. 119, 'with my whole heart.' Note Mark 12:30, which is to 'love God with all your heart, mind, soul, strength and being.' That's where it has to be with everything that we do. All of the things that we go through and experience, brings us back to the fact: do we love God that way? That's the most important thing!

The first thing in using the Spirit of God is to develop that love of God! Grow in that love of God! Then we will grow in that love toward each other, too.

Verse 14: "For the whole Law is fulfilled in this commandment: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" They tie together. One thing we want to maintain with our small, little Church is that love. That doesn't mean that we don't have problems:

• I may have a certain set of problems
• you may have a certain set of problems
• our kids may have certain sets of problems
• our relatives may have certain sets of problems

I am absolutely dismayed after talking to some senior citizens how much we have senior adultery going on. It's incredible! It's absolutely unbelievable! It ties right in with the very first thing: adultery/fornication. It is absolutely amazing!

Let's concentrate on that love; then when you have that there will be "…joy…" (v 22). Maybe in this society we won't have quite as much joy as we would like, but remember that we need to have the joy of Christ in us. Through the Holy Spirit of God Christ said, 'My peace I give to you that your joy may be full.' The true joy comes when you know that you love God and when you know that everything is going to work our all right. When sorrow comes along and difficulties come, you may have to just block your mind out to it.

I don't know if you've ever gone through things where the only survival that you have is just to block your mind out and go right back to the very basic thing of loving God. You ever had that? You just to absolutely block your mind out from it and just put it in God's hands and let Him work it out. It will be worked out. God will work it out!

"…peace… (v 22). The peace we're talking about here, is really the peace with God. That's what's so important. We have peace with God through Christ.

"…long-suffering…" (v 22). That's one of the fruits of the spirit. We'll have to say that in our congregation, I think we've had one of the champions of that: Esther. She suffered longer, harder, and more difficult than anybody else. Yet, in her very lowest moment, you could call her in your little shallow, low moment, and she would pick you up out of it. That is sure true. Of course, who was the longest suffering of all? Jesus Christ! Can you imagine what He suffered?

• being God, giving up His Divinity?
• being made less than an angel?
• being given human nature?
• walking this earth?
  • no one cared for Him
  • no one loved Him

all the way down the line:

• rejected
• despised
• hated

Then to go through the crucifixion! Look at the long-suffering of God, how God has put up with the world. It's absolutely amazing!

"…kindness…" (v 22). Sometimes we're lacking in that. Maybe I, as a person, that's what I need to work on a little more gentle.

"…goodness, faith" (v 22). That's a thing we need, faith! That kind of faith of believing in Jesus Christ! That faith to really believe!

I can see, in studying all these things I'm studying now on Judaism and the temple, the great missing ingredient with Judaism is faith. The great missing thing that we have is that we've got to grow in faith. That's very important.

• What kind of faith?
• What does faith do?

When you see some of these healing things that people are familiar with on television—heal them, knock them down and all this sort of thing. What does real faith produce? The very next trait!

Verse 23: "Meekness…" That kind of meekness is, that you trust God! You don't come before God and say, 'Oh, God. Do this.' You come before God and you say, 'God Almighty, You have promised and we are nothing!'

Literally, as human beings, we are nothing. Just like Psa. 22—the crucifixion of Christ—'I am a worm.' Nothing! It all resides with God. Where is the accomplishment of the person? It's not there! If you have that true faith and belief it will result in more meekness. That doesn't mean that you're going to be without human nature. It's still fighting and warring over here, you know. That's true, but for that meekness God gets all the credit.

"…self-control…" (v 23)—so that we're not charging off and doing things we ought not do. That's another one I need to work on.

Sometimes you get so anxious to do something that you go charging down the road before you thought out what it is that you need to do, before you go down the road. Then when you get down the road, you're already down the road too far. You can't go back and turn the clock back. Have some patience, have some self control. Sit there and think about it and analyze it first before you do it and then you may save yourself a little bit. Notice this next great statement:

"…against such things there is no law…. [Who's going to legislate against these things? Nobody!] …But those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live by the Spirit, we should also be walking by the Spirit" (vs 23-25). That is how to grow in the spirit and the use of God's Holy Spirit!

What we are getting into really is down to the 'nitty-gritty' of what conversion is all about. Conversion is all about using the Spirit of God.

Romans 5:1: "Therefore, having been justified by faith…" That requires the greatest thing you can give, the faith and belief in:

• Christ
• His death
• His resurrection
• His life before His death

"…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we ourselves boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also boast in tribulations, realizing that tribulation brings forth endurance, and endurance brings forth character, and character brings forth hope. And the hope of God never makes us ashamed because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us" (vs 1-5). So, it's shed abroad in our hearts and our minds.

Tie that in with Psa. 119 and all the wholeheartedness that is to be there with the ways of God, and now with the Spirit of God it's shed abroad in our hearts.

Rom. 8 is one of the greatest things that we can do for 'growing in grace and knowledge' and using the Spirit of God. This is tremendous and powerful, the whole chapter so that we can understand what it is we need to do in growing in the use of the Spirit of God and understanding what that is to do for us.

Romans 8:1: "Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." There, again, we have the difference between the flesh and the Spirit.

Let's not misconstrue this to think that every desire of a nice thing is sin. That is not so, but it is:

• Where is your heart?'
• Are you walking in the Spirit?

or:

• Are you walking in the flesh?

CNN News had some sort of fashion show; everything about it was walking in the flesh:

• the very way that these models walked
• the very clothes that they wore
• the very things that people are wanting out of this sort of thing and striving after

It's not wrong to have nice clothes. It's not wrong to look nice. That's all proper. God wanted everything in the flesh to look nice, but don't set your heart on it. That's what He's saying. Don't make the flesh God. Don't make the creation part of what is worshipped, because God created it.

Verse 2: "Because the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has delivered me from the law of sin and death." Just like we need that grace of God every day—just like the morning and evening sacrifice—there is that freedom that God gives us, but don't use it for an occasion to the flesh.

Verse 3: "For what was impossible for the Law to do…" Yea, in which no law can do.

I'm amazed at these legislators. Every time something goes wrong, they hurry up and run to the chambers and say, 'Fellow senators and representatives, we need a law.' The Law can only tell you what to do and not to do. The law cannot make you do or not do. It is your choice to do or not do. The Law cannot make that choice and give you the Spirit. The Law cannot impart the Spirit!

"…in that it was weak through the flesh, God, having sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (v 3). That is the whole fulcrum of the Gospel.

Verse 4: "In order that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us…" Not because we're great, not because we're different than the rest of the world in as much as, 'God had to do it because I'm so-and-so.' No, but because God has called us!

"…who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (v 4). Notice again, after the Spirit. Your mind is after the spiritual things not after the fleshly things.
Verse 5: "For those who walk according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh…" That's why Imelda Marcos has 3,000 pair of shoes. Never enough! That's why Solomon had so many wives and concubines. God appeared to him twice and he said, 'Boy! I like the appearance of my wives and my concubines better.' It cut him off from God.

"…but those who walk according to the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit" (v 5). In other words, how do you love God? How do you love your neighbor?

• Are you thinking and meditating on the ways of God and His precepts?
• Are you using His Spirit?
• Are you having faith and belief?

The more that I think on what God did for the world, for everyone, for us—and applies it individually—and what He did through Jesus Christ, the longer that I live, the more overwhelming that becomes to me. The fantastic and marvelous thing that God did, which really shows that God really loves the world and loves us. If you are after the Spirit, then you are going to be minding the things of the Spirit.

Verse 6: "For to be carnally minded is death…"

• What does the carnal mind always do when there is death?
• Why did God allow this?
• Why did God do this?
• If there be a God, why did He do this?
• If there be a God, why did He allow this?

Always accuse God. God is always the One Who is at fault, when God is not the One Who is at fault.

They're just like the scribes and Pharisees, 'Show us a sign, then we'll believe you.' Jesus said, 'You're not going to get a sign, except the sign of Jonah.' When He was on the cross they said, 'Save Yourself and come down off of there; then we'll believe you.' They didn't believe when He was raised out of the grave three days later.

"…but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (v 6). That's what we need, that life and that peace! Again, that doesn't mean that there isn't going to be this war against this flesh. That doesn't mean that there won't be those things coming along.

Verse 7: "Because the carnal mind is enmity… [an enemy] …against God…" You can tie that in with:

Romans 5:10: "For if, when we were enemies…" It's the same word—enemies, from which the word derivation is the same. 'enem'—enmity, enemy—same root word in the Greek and same in the English, "…enmity against God…" You're an enemy against God.

Romans 8:7: "…for it is not subject to the Law of God; neither indeed can it be." That's why we need the Spirit of God to lead us, to guide us, to help us in keeping of the laws and commandments of God.

Verse 8: "But those who are in the flesh cannot please God." It's an impossibility! You can't please God after God has sent His Son, do you think that carnal things are going to please God? No way!

We're going to find in Eph. 2 that the ways of living in the world are just so filled with the physical and carnal things, which is true. You can't expect much different in the world. You can't expect much different from other people than what you see them do. Here is the understanding of it.

Ephesians 2:1: "Now, you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you walked in times past according to the course of this world…" (vs 1-2).

If some how you didn't feel in concert with this world, then maybe that was because God's Spirit was working with you. Remember John 14:16-17 where Jesus said that the Spirit is 'with you and shall be in you'? That's just the way that it is.

I hate to see all of these holidays coming up again. I don't know about you, but that Halloween is becoming stronger every year. I think it's because of all the satanism that is in the land.

"…according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience; among whom also we all once had our conduct in the lusts… [desires] …of our flesh, doing the things willed by the flesh and by the mind…" (vs 2-3). That is exactly what all this scientific endeavor is all about—the desires of the mind against the ways of God.

• What is science going to do? Save us from all of this!
• It's going to bring us what we need—right? Wrong!

It won't work. It's just going to lead for more enslavement and entrapment.

That's what the mark of the beast is going to be all about. It's going to show that the highest pinnacle of the development of man is going to lead to the enslavement of every human being on this earth. Absolute enslavement!

"…and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world" (v 3). Then it goes on showing about the richness of God and forgiving us.

(go to the next track)
Rom. 8:9 is another fantastic gracious viewpoint of God. I want us to really think on this. This might be something to really meditate on. I don't want you to poke yourself with needles or anything like that. We're all fleshly enough to understand that we're still flesh.

Romans 8:9: "However, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit…" This is how God views us. This is a tremendous attribute of grace. It'd have to be.

Let's look at it another way. 'You're not in the flesh but in the Spirit.' Could you—in viewing a newborn child—look at that child is if it were fully-grown and mature? Our minds cannot comprehend that. That's how God views us. Though we're still human beings in the flesh, God doesn't view us as being in the flesh ifwe have the Spirit of God. Don't use that for an occasion to sin. I'll always have to interject that in here, as Paul always has.

"…if the Spirit of God is indeed dwelling within you…." (v 9).

• which we know is the earnest
• which we know is the down payment
• which we know is the guarantee of eternal life

"…But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. But if Christ be within you, the body is indeed dead because of sin; however, the Spirit is life because of righteousness" (vs 9-10). Wonderful words! Yes, indeed!

Verse 11: "Now if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is dwelling within you…" Absolute promise! That's why it's important to stir up the Spirit. That's why it's important to grow in the grace and knowledge.

"…He Who raised Christ from the dead will also quicken… [make alive] …your mortal bodies because of His Spirit that dwells within you. So then, brethren, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh; because if you are living according to the flesh, you shall die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you shall live" (vs 11-13).

Again, right where I started in Gal. 5, that the flesh 'lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit fights against the flesh.' What do you do? You use the Spirit of God to 'put to death,' to mortify the deeds of the flesh and you shall live spiritually!

That's the whole battle. That will be wonderful when we get to the point like the Apostle Paul said, 'I have run the race, I have finished the course; I have fought a good fight,' as he walked after the Spirit, not after the flesh.

Verse 14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." That's what becomes so absolutely important being the sons of God, being led by the Spirit of God! That's one of the first things we need to note!

• that doesn't mean that you're going to be perfect
• that doesn't mean that you're not going to sin
• that doesn't mean that you're not going to have trouble overcoming the flesh

but you're led by the Spirit of God!

Verse 14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God"—the children of God. Sons is 'huios,' which is a broad terminology meaning the offspring of God, the children of God, or the sons of God.

Verse 15: "Now, you have not received a spirit of bondage again unto fear…" This is how cults are made. This is how Satan entraps people: with a spirit of fear. We haven't received that. The Church of God is to be run by love, not fear. We are to fear God, because He is so great, marvelous, wonderful and powerful. We are to fear breaking the commandments of God because of sin, but we are not to be intimidated and run by fear. That is, someone leveraging something over us to use fear against us. If God be for us, who can be against us? Nothing can!

"…but you have received the Spirit of sonship, whereby we call out, 'Abba, Father'" (v 15). That's something to really contemplate! That's what the word adoption means. It's not adopting, because it's very evident that all men are the offspring and children of God. Now we have been brought into the very Family of God! That's the Spirit that God has given us:"…whereby we call out, 'Abba, Father.'"

Verse 16: "The Spirit itself bears witness conjointly with our own spirit, testifying that we are the children of God." We're to:

• use that Spirit
• grow in that Spirit
• yield to God in every way that we can

Because we're led by the Spirit, here are some things that we should and should not do!

• Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God

Ephesians 4:30: "And do not vex the Holy Spirit of God by which you have been sealed for the day of redemption."

How do you grieve [vex] the Holy Spirit of God? You ever thought of that? By yielding to sin! By using deceitful purposes of the human mind you grieve the Spirit of God.

Verse 25: "Therefore, let each one put away lies… [that's part of what grieves the Spirit of God.] …and speak the truth with his neighbor because we are members of one another. When you become angry, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger" (vs 25-26).

Verse: 28: "Let the one who stole, steal no more; rather, let him labor with his hands, working at what is good, so that he may impart something to the one who has need. Do not let any corrupt communication come out of your mouth…" (vs 28-29).

All of these things are those things that grieve the Holy Spirit, frustrate, or work against the Holy Spirit.

"…but that which is good and needful for edification that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not vex the Holy Spirit of God by which you have been sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and indignation, and wrath, and clamor, and evil speaking be removed from you, together with all malice" (vs 29-31).

• Aren't these all the things that sour, spoil and ruin relationships of brethren one with another and church one with another? Yes, absolutely!
• Is the Holy Spirit grieved? Yes!
• Does it have to be a healing of God's Holy Spirit within you? Yes!

So, don't grieve the Holy Spirit!

Verse 32: "And be kind and tenderhearted toward one another, forgiving one another, even as God has also in Christ forgiven you."

• Don't quench the Holy Spirit

Quench means to put out;1-Thessalonians 5:19 says: "Quench not the Spirit." Don't turn off the Spirit! Don't put it out! Don't stop the power of God's Holy Spirit in your life.

• Stir up the Spirit of God

2-Timothy[transcriber's correction]1:6: "For this reason, I admonish you to stir up…" That's what trials, circumstances and difficulties will do for you. They'll create the circumstances so you "…stir up…" the Holy Spirit in your mind. This helps draw you back to God.

"…the gift of God that is in you by the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of sound-mindedness" (vs 6-7). That's what the Holy Spirit of God will do.

• Walk worthily of God's Holy Spirit

What we are to do with the Spirit of God; Ephesians 4:1: "Therefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, am exhorting you to walk worthily of the calling to which you were called."

• Seek the things which are above

Colossians 3:1: "Therefore, if you have been raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your affection on the things that are above, and not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life has been hid together with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, is manifested, then you also shall be manifested with Him in glory (vs 1-4).

• Mortify the deeds of the flesh

To mortify the deeds of the flesh is what we are to do with the Spirit of God.

Colossians 3:5: "Therefore, put to death your members which are on earth—sexual immorality, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desires, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

• Grow up into Christ

Ephesians 4:23: "And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind." That's what to use the Spirit of God for, when you put to death one, be renewed with the spiritual things.

Verse 24: "And that you put on the new man, which according to God is created in righteousness and Holiness of the Truth."

Verse 12: "For the perfecting of the saints…" That's what we are to use the Spirit of God for! It shows what the ministry is to do, the:

• apostles
• prophets
• evangelists
• pastors
• teachers

"For the perfecting of the saints…" That's what it's for:

• not some great office
• not some great thing
• not some great superstructure within another structure.

Verse 13: "Until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man… [perfect character] …unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; so that we no longer be children… [I think we're learning this] …tossed and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men in cunning craftiness, with a view to the systematizing of the error; but holding the Truth in love, may in all things grow up into Him Who is the Head, even Christ" (vs 13-15). That's what we are to do with the Holy Spirit!

What a tremendous and fantastic lifelong thing that God has set out for us to do. That is marvelous.

If we use the Spirit of God to realize and understand that God's Spirit is fantastic, great, marvelous and a tremendous thing to have as a gift from God, and then, use it to 'grow in the grace and knowledge,' it is going to be fantastic the things that God has in store for us!

All Scripture from The Holy Bible In Its Original Order, A Faithful Version

Scriptural References:

• Galatians 5:13, 15-22, 14, 22-25
• Romans 5:1-5
• Romans 8:1-7
• Romans 5:10
• Romans 8:7-8
• Ephesians 2:1-3
• Romans 8:9-16
• Ephesians 4:30, 25-26, 28-32
• 1-Thessalonians 5:19
• 2-Timothy 1:6-7
• Ephesians 4:1
• Colossians 3:1-5
• Ephesians 4:23-24, 12-15

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Romans 1
• Psalms 119
• Mark 12: 30
• Psalm 22
• John 14:16-17

Also referenced: Sermon: The Sleight of Hand

FRC:nfs
Transcribed:10/01/17
Proofed: bo—10/4/17