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Part 2: The Holy Spirit Witness
Review from prior week: John 16:12-15 "The Spirit was left to witness Jesus" He will be our guide.
John 3:3-5 "Water & Spirit = Born Again"
Cryptic language... but the Spirit is here. If we can establish Water and Spirit, what they are, we can hopefully figure this out.
Genesis 1:1-2 "Spirit over the Water"
Cryptic image: Is this the image of the Spirit passing OVER the water and a "Born Again" creation?
Can God birth something in each one of us with water and spirit?
Acts 19:1-6 "Baptism: Water & Spirit"
Cryptic thought: 2 types of Baptisms. From here we will separate the two
1 John 5:8 "Witness on Earth: Spirit, Water, Blood"
The Holy Spirit was left behind to Witness. This follows John 16 in part 1 above. The Water is here, and the Blood.
Establish the following: The Spirit is for the Inner Man. There is no other place to witness. The Water if for Forgiveness.
It was the reasons for the Baptism of John the Baptist: a baptism by water unto Repentance. The Blood is the Blood of Christ.
So, John is trying to show us that (1) we need Christ (2) Baptism is a sign of believer ( Note: the Jews had circumcision ) and
(3) the Spirit is involved.
Note: Water is also signifies the Word. A Christian is a new creation speaking in with new
tongues. Talking like a Christian is "a new tongue", the old way has passed away. So, water is used to give life. Then water
also signifies that Christians who can take up the Cross of Christ have (1) Christ (2) The Word to back it up (3) and The Spirit
to back it up. And why? To be a witness.
More on Forgiveness ( The water )
Jeremiah 29:11-13 "Good Thoughts to those who seek"
This is similar to saying "God is good". It is a faith statement of a believer, all can obtain repentence.
2 Chron 7:14 "If my people would turn to me..."
God 's choice is to heal. But, repentence is key.
More on Blood: ( Christ - the Blood )
Leviticus 17:11 "Blood is the Attonement"
Attonement is a price paid to wipe away a debt. It makes the slate clean. Blood is necessary. ( Blood is life )
John 19:31-35 "Water and Blood - part of the Body of Christ"
So, Christ signifies both the Attonement AND Forgiveness AND the Word. ALL are found in Christ.
More on the Spirit:
John 3:6 "Born of Spirit is spirit"
What evidence do we have that the Holy Spirit can birth something of spirit? This is the spirit of man. This is the mustard
seed that is to grow into something wonderful. A born again person obtains this birth when he/she comes to Christ.
Luke 1:26-35 "Here is the evidence that the Holy Spirit can Birth both Flesh and Spirit"
Jesus was born By the power of the Holy Spirit. So God birth'd the Earth from water by the Holy Spirit. He birth'd Jesus by
the Holy Spirit (a baby grows in water). Discussion: Can the Holy Spirit birth something in a non-believer to make them
a believer? Does the Holy Spirit have a part in making someone Born Again?
2 Corinthians 5:17 "New Creation"
All creations in this world start with a seed, an embryo, something small. It grows into maturity. The Spirit does this. The
function of the Holy Spirit is to "grow" witnesses. Isn't it amazing that the message of Christ is the seed? So, the seed is
to be watered. Then the Spirit goes out as a mature plant to "reseed". Perhaps, God uses nature to define His devine way
that things should be done?
1 John 5:9-13 "Our Inner Witness"
Our witness is eternal life in Christ. Any other witness make God out ot be a liar, which He is not. If the Spirit inside of you
does not hold that truth, then ask yourself... whom are you listening to? Are you living in sin? Repent. Are you seeking
Christ? Have you not been watered by the Word? John 1:1 "Jesus is the word". A liar is not a witness.
Summary: The Holy Spirit has gifts and power. But they will be found IF we are working with the Spirit to witness Christ. Since God wants to have the witness to Himself, power in the Spirit had better provide glory back to the Father Himself. We will look
at the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be used to witness Christ and the Father in coming sessions.