Fellowship of the Holy Spirit
The sermon emphasizes the importance of intimate relationship with God through the Holy Spirit and the dangers of grieving Him.
Erlo Stegen emphasizes the profound meaning of the 'fellowship of the Holy Spirit' as an intimate relationship with God, highlighting the Holy Spirit's role as the third Person of the Trinity. He warns against grieving the Holy Spirit, sharing his personal conviction of pride that hindered his ministry and the importance of recognizing the holiness of the Spirit. Stegen reflects on the consequences of rebellion against God, as seen in the Israelites, and encourages believers to seek God's strength and victory in temptation. The sermon serves as a reminder of the seriousness of our relationship with the Holy Spirit and the need for humility in our walk with God.
Text
2Cor 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
We get used to hearing this benediction pronounced after services. The phrase the "fellowship of the Holy Spirit", can become so common to us Christians that we forget the enormous depth of the meaning.
The Holy Spirit is often referred to throughout the Bible. He is the third Person of the Trinity. God is One and yet He is God in three Persons. This is the sense of the text in 2Cor 13:14. When Isaiah refers (in Is 6: 2 & 3) to the seraphim magnifying our thrice holy God the Lord was also revealing the glorious mystery of the Trinity.
It must be remembered that the Holy Spirit is not an "it" but Him. When we speak about fellowship with the Holy Spirit it means intimate relationship with God Himself.
We Christians often forget that the word "holy" is the Biblical emphasis to describe the Spirit of God.
Our Lord Jesus Christ warned about sinning against the Holy Spirit. All manner of blasphemy can be forgiven, Christ said. Blasphemy against the Father and the Son may be forgiven but to blaspheme the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this world and the next.
In 1966, when we were praying for revival, God convicted me of my own sin. The Holy Spirit often convicted me of my pride. I could only weep and beg Jesus for forgiveness. Though I had been preaching for 12 years and had often referred to the Holy Spirit, God showed me that I had been grieving Him all these years. I had been blaming others for not making a breakthrough in my ministry. My sinful pride was standing in the way. It was not the devil or other people hindering me. The verse "God resists the proud" was so stark and clear to me. The holiness of God's Spirit became so real to me. Even if the satan and all the world is against a person that is not the real "enemy". If God resists proud people it means that He becomes their enemy. This truth confronted me as I was seeking the Lord for revival.
The command not to "grieve the Holy Spirit" is often taken lightly. The danger and consequences of grieving Him must be seen in the most serious light. In Isaiah 63:10 we read that God's people "rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit". Notice the awful result of their falling away from God: "...therefore He turned to be their enemy and himself fought against them."
The rebellion of Israel is put before us in the New Testament so that we do not displease God as they did. In 1Corinthians 10: 1-11 we are warned not to fall into their idolatry and sexual sin for the Lord became their "destoyer".
This text goes on to encourage us to take God's "way of escape" in every temptation. He gives strength and victory to His children in the midst of temptation.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit
- A. The Holy Spirit as the third Person of the Trinity
- B. The importance of intimate relationship with God Himself
- II. The Holiness of the Holy Spirit
- A. The Biblical emphasis on the word 'holy'
- B. The danger of grieving the Holy Spirit
- III. The Consequences of Grieving the Holy Spirit
- A. Rebellion and falling away from God
- B. The importance of taking God's way of escape in temptation
Key Quotes
“When we speak about fellowship with the Holy Spirit it means intimate relationship with God Himself.” — Erlo Stegen
“God resists the proud, and if God resists proud people it means that He becomes their enemy.” — Erlo Stegen
“The rebellion of Israel is put before us in the New Testament so that we do not displease God as they did.” — Erlo Stegen
Application Points
- We must take God's way of escape in every temptation to avoid grieving the Holy Spirit.
- Intimate relationship with God through the Holy Spirit is essential for our lives.
- The Holy Spirit gives us strength and victory in temptation, but we must not grieve Him.