Nica Cabutin, an eight year old first grader, who, a few months ago became an orphan. You saw it on the news: Typhoon Yolanda. On November 8th, by the time it hit landfall, it was arguably the strongest storm in recorded history – with sustained 200 mph winds, the super storm swept through the Philippines. Tens of thousands displaced. Over 6,000 killed, including Nica’s family. Bodies were still being found last month and many are missing. Nica said that her mother, father, three siblings and her entire house were “brought away by the sea.” I don’t know if you can call her blessed or lucky in something like this, but she was found by rescuers as she clutched on to wreckage. Nica was temporarily taken in by a government shelter. Other orphans weren’t so lucky. There were real fears that many of them would be abducted by pedophiles and slave traders. What happens to those who aren’t taken in and helped out?

Orphans in places of need are subject to hunger, sickness, neglect, abuse, exploitation. These orphans have…No parentsNo identity No protection No comfortNo powerNo rightsNo provisions – food, clothing, shelter What do you think that does to a kid? What kind of person comes out of this crucible?These children have got to learn how to live like orphans.

Self-sufficient

Self-reliant

Self-absorbed

Self-seeking

It’s my opinion that many of the traits and qualities that we’ve listed for orphans can be found not just on the streets, (self-reliant, self-sufficient, self-absorbed) but Sunday sitting next to you in church. Here in this room. Here at this podium. Most of us have learned to be Self-sufficient, self-reliant, self-absorbed, and self-seeking. Just like these orphans. But we’ve done it in abundance and we’ve learned to make it civilized and hidden. What’s the problem here?SELF. We’ve learned to live out the our lives on our own to meet our own needs and to follow after our own idols. To seek comfort and provision from our own industry and resourcefulness. We’ve learned to live like orphans. We’ve forgotten, or never known, who’s we are and who we are. We try to live out the Christian life on our own and while doing this, we unknowingly encourage others to do it as well.

“We’ve learned to ‘live’ without theHoly Spirit and we really don’t expect

Him to act or work like we see in the Old or New Testaments…

Given our talent set, experience, and education, many of us are fairly capable of living rather successfully without any

strength from the Holy Spirit.” Francis Chan in The Forgotten God

“We may as well face it: the whole level of spirituality among us is low. We have

measured ourselves by ourselves until the incentive to seek higher plateaus in the things of the Spirit is all but gone… (We) have imitated the world, sought popular

favor, manufactured delights to substitute for the joy of the Lord and produced a cheap

and synthetic power to substitute for the power of the Holy Ghost.”

A.W. Tozer in Of God and Men

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of

truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in

you. I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.”

John 14:16 – 18

“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from

Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he

said, ‘you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but you will be

baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”Acts 1:4

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of

woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that

we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has

sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba! Father!’.”

Galatians 5:4 - 6

This is one of the most important messages, if not the most important message, that a Christian can hear.  Everything we do pours out from this truth!  That’s why, in this class, we want to periodically teach about the Holy Spirit and His role in the life of the believer.  This is an intentional, planned focus to talk about the Third Person in the Trinity.  While understanding who He is and what He does is foundational to the Christian walk, we often neglect focusing on Him. One of the reasons to look at the Holy Spirit is because it reminds us of who we are…

“Christian” (3x in the NT)

“Saint” (60x in the NT)“Holy One”

Acts, Romans, I & 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2

Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, Philemon, Hebrews, Jude, and Revelation.

1 Kings 8:10 & 11

Colossians 2:9

1 Corinthians 3:16 & 17

YOU ARE HOLYBECAUSE

HE IS HOLY.

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ

does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is

life because of righteousness.”Romans 8:9 & 10

So why don’t we live like Holy ones? 

1.We haven’t thought of ourselves rightly.2.We don’t recognize the power and the

presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Because of this, we’ve learned to live like orphans. We’re self-seeking, self-serving, self-reliant.  

Let’s revisit John 14 regarding Jesus’ promise that he wouldn’t leave them as orphans. Here are two observations from John 14, one obvious and one that’s really strange:The obvious one first:  When we read John 14, we rightly think that Jesus is comforting his followers.  This terrible time is upon them when Jesus would be arrested, tortured and killed.  “Let not your hearts be troubled.”  They won’t be left as orphans.  He and the Father have a plan.  And that while it seems tough, it will work out.   But, I think there’s something much more significant here than just trying to show comfort.  That leads to the second and really odd observation… He’s talking to adults.  Mature men who can provide for themselves.  You see, the term “orphan” is universally used for a child without parents (particularly a father back in those days).  We never use this term for adults who can take care of themselves, especially men.  Imagine Jesus’ audience:  Fully grown, bearded, smelly men who have learned to take care of themselves.  They were fishermen, businessmen, and even had a zealot in there!  

I believe the primary reason that Jesus and the Father knew they couldn’t leave the disciples (and us) as orphans was because they’d totally fail. They’d fail in their efforts as they tried to walk with the Lord.They’d fail in fulfilling the Great Commission. For God to fulfill his Master Plan in the way that he had prepared, his children can’t afford to be left as orphans!  What are orphans concerned about?  Who do they trust in?  Notice that Jesus literally orders the disciples (in Acts 1:4&5) not to leave Jerusalem until they were filled with the Spirit. Unfortunately, what God saw as primary – the filling of the Holy Spirit, we see as secondary. We, the modern church, attempt to do it on our own.  To find our own life paths, our own ministries, our own kingdoms and to meet our own needs.  To be self-reliant and self-consumed. Why are we like this?  When he hasn’t left us as orphans?Because it’s in our fallen DNA.  It’s the old flesh patterns.  It’s part of the body we wear and we’ve learned it from our parents, our experiences, and the world we live in.  

5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

1. Prideful Self-Reliance: The most basic of sins; it confronts each of us. Our pride places our ego in the center and on the

throne of our lives. Do you seek to manipulate people, situations, or even God to achieve your objectives? Do you trust in

your own strength, eloquence, cleverness, or ability to meet your needs? This “self-love”, this “me-first” attitude opposes God and His

work in our lives.

5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit 2. Worldliness: We often become so intrigued with the false treasures of this world that we

lose sight of the blessings God has for us. Do we hold on to all that we have and hope for; or do we sign over every present and future material, intellectual, physical, and spiritual possession to Him? Do we seek comfort and significance from

things we purchase and possess? Is there something you haven’t surrendered to Him?

Relationships, future dreams, health, finances…

5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit 3. The Approval of Others: Undue concern for popular opinion can stand in the way of all that God would like to do in your life. Do

you crave attention, recognition, compliments, and significance from those

around you? Are you seeking the approval of others or the “Audience of One”?

5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

4. Lack of Faith: Some believers cannot summon the will to place themselves

completely in God’s hands. Do you feel anxious? Are you finding peace in the

midst of the trials of life? Are you taking steps of courage that force you to rely on God? How could it be that He has yet to earn our complete loving faith? He is all-

powerful and all-knowing. He is in control and He loves you.

5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

5. Unconfessed Sin: Although Jesus has provided forgiveness for all sins – past, present, and future – we rob ourselves of intimacy with God through our disobedience. The prophet

Isaiah offers a description of this regular event in the lives of all believers: “There is a problem – your sins have cut you off from God. Because

of your sin, He has turned away and will not listen anymore.” (Isaiah 59:2) We need to confess and turn from our sins, in thought,

word and deed.

5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

Prideful Self-Reliance

Worldliness

The Approval of Others

Lack of Faith

Unconfessed Sin

These Obstacles should not be keeping us from the life Christ

wants us to live!He and the Father did not leave us

as orphans!

Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “If you are thirsty, come to Me! If you

believe in Me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living

water will flow out from within.” (When He said “living water,” He was speaking of

the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him. But the Spirit

had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into His glory.)

John 7:37-39

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walkby the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

For I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16

Practical Steps to Being Filled with the Spirit:

DESIRE to be controlled and empowered.

CONFESS your sins. Thanking God that He has forgiven all of them – past and future.

SURRENDER every area of your life to Christ.

ASK the Holy Spirit to fill you.

Holy Spirit, in what ways am I being: Self-seeking, Self-sufficient, and Self-absorbed?

Are there obstacles to Being Filled with the Spirit? Prideful Self-Reliance, Worldliness, The Approval

of Others, Lack of Faith, Unconfessed Sin

Have I dwelt on the reality of who I am becauseof the Holy Spirit? A Saint, a Holy One.

Read: Romans 8:9 – 11, John 14 - 16