Romans 8 Want to take a moment and praise God for His Word, His Son, and His Holy Spirit. These past 8 weeks have been a rewarding challenge (to say the least). At the same time, the study, the illumination of the Word, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and the glory of the Lord has been nothing short of remarkable. The Holy Spirit has opened my eyes to a deeper, richer, sense of gratitude and humbleness for His presence in my life. I hope the series on the Holy Spirit (thus far) has benefitted you in similar fashion.

John 16:1-15 In 1907 Robert Baden-Powell formulated the Boy Scout Motto 'Be Prepared.' The motto served to signify a state of readiness in mind and body to perform one's duty and handle accidents or emergencies.

Select passages from the Gospel of John 'Born-again' a phrase most of us are familiar with. Born-again – a term rooted in Scripture and the biblical doctrine of regeneration. Born-again – a phrase that has been used and misused over time. Here are some examples of how the phrase 'born-again' has been misused.

Select Passages From The Gospel Of Luke Messiah - A Hebrew term meaning "anointed one." In the OT, the people of Israel came to anticipate a person anointed by God who would function as a king. In the NT the word 'Christ' also means anointed one. Jesus, THE Messiah, anointed by God to carry forth His threefold ministry of Prophet, Priest, and King. Christ, the anointed one is the deliverer – who rescues people from the bondage of sin. In that sense, Messiah means deliverer.

Select Cameo's from The Book of Judges We are going to look at several individuals from the OT Book of Judges this morning and how the Holy Spirit operated in the lives of these men. But, before we look at these men we need to have a general understanding of how the Holy Spirit worked in OT.

Genesis 1:1-3 There was a time in the history of the Church that the divine nature of the Holy Spirit was questioned. As far back as 380 A.D. many 'theologians' in the church were uncertain concerning the identification of the Holy Spirit. Was the Holy Spirit God? Was the Holy Spirit creator? In the Year 381 A.D. the Council of Constantinople convened. There were several crucial doctrines that were established at this Council – in a nutshell the Council established key doctrines solidifying the Trinity, revising the Nicene Creed to explicitly affirm the divinity of the Holy Spirit (co-equal with the Father and Son), condemning heresies like Arianism and Macedonianism, and setting administrative canons that gave Constantinople honor second to Rome, solidifying Orthodox Trinitarian theology.

Multiple Passages As we seek to understand the Holy Spirit we must admit – as frail creatures of dust – our words are insufficient to do him justice. The Holy Spirit, like his name 'Spirit' is a mystery – beyond our finite mind to fully grasp. Let us be amazed as we unfold the Scriptures and allow the Holy Spirit who invites us (each personally – and corporately) to explore him, journey with him – here and for all eternity. Let us worship Him to discover his endless love, his unlimited power, and eternal wisdom.

2 Corinthians 6:2

Acts 15:12-35 We all know the story. Strict legalists from Judea show up in Antioch. They are determined. Their ultimatum was unbending; 'You Gentiles can't be saved unless you're circumcised and follow Moses!' This wasn't just a marginal disagreement; it was a crisis threatening the very foundation of the Gospel. The very grace of God was in question. The tension led to a historic meeting – the Jerusalem council. What happened next wasn't just a debate; it was a divine intervention that shaped the Church forever. In Acts 15:12-35, we see apostles and leaders wrestle with God's will, hear powerful testimonies, and ultimately, experience the Holy Spirit guiding them to a revolutionary conclusion.

Acts 15:6-11 In Antioch, Gentile believers were living freely in Christ. Unfortunately, their freedom (salvation) was not celebrated by all. In the eyes of a group that had come Judea, they deemed the Gentiles salvation insufficient. This heresy was a direct challenge the 'heart' of salvation (God's grace). Their agenda was adamant 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.' Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem. They met with the apostles and elders to consider a consequential matter. The meeting of the minds wasn't just about differences of opinion; it was a critical time for the early church both theologically and culturally.