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Christian Life Church
November 9, 2025 at 9am & 11am
More than 50% of Evangelical Christians believe the Holy Spirit is only a symbol, not a living entity, or some type of spiritual force (surveys from Arizona University, State of Theology, and TGC).
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
THE BOOK OF ACTS NOVEMBER 9, 2025
THE SPIRIT WITHIN
SCRIPTURE
“The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed Him by hanging Him on a cross. Then God put Him in the place of honor at His right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:29-32
INDWELLING, IMMERSION, & INFILLING
Indwelling: At conversion, the Spirit of God immediately and permanently lives within!
Don’t you realize that…the Spirit of God lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
Immersion: At some point, we may experience the “Baptism in the Holy Spirit”.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:4
Infilling: All throughout life, we should seek to be filled with His Spirit!
Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD
More than 50% of Evangelical Christians believe the Holy Spirit is only a symbol, not a living entity, or some type of spiritual force (surveys from Arizona University, State of Theology, and TGC).
God is Trinity. One Being represented in Three Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
“Trinity is the Christian name for God.” Karl Barth
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper…” John 14:16
IMAGERY
God speaks in ways we can understand. These metaphors are “divine accommodation”.
1/ He is described as a gift & a gift giver.
Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 1 Corinthians 12:4
2/ He is described as wind.
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
Wind has to do with the invisible, powerful work of God within us.
3/ He is described as breath.
Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22
Breath has to do with vitality and life.
4/ He is described as a flame.
What looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. Acts 2:3
A flame has to do with us being purified.
5/ He is described as oil.
Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David form that day on. 1 Samuel 16:13
Oil has to do with us being separated from the world and separated to God.
6/ He is described as water.
“I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.” Isaiah 44:3
“Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” When He said “living water,” He was speaking of the Spirit… John 7:38-39
Water has to do with the ability to smooth out our rough, temperamental edges.
7/ He is described as a dove.
“I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove…and resting upon Him.” John 1:32
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
A dove has to do with the gentleness & peace of God.
8/ He is described as a seal.
When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13
A seal has to do with our eternal security.
9/ He is described as clothing.
The Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon… Judges 6:34
Clothing has to do with power to complete spiritual tasks.
10/ He is described as a cloud.
The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud… Exodus 13:21
A cloud has to do with guidance.
CLOSE
You honor me by anointing my head with oil (Holy Spirit). My cup overflows with blessings. Psalm 23:5
There is a pattern in the New Testament that connects the laying on of hands to the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8, 9, 19, 1 Timothy 4, 2 Timothy 1, Hebrews 6).
THE SPIRIT WITHIN
SCRIPTURE
“The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed Him by hanging Him on a cross. Then God put Him in the place of honor at His right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:29-32
INDWELLING, IMMERSION, & INFILLING
Indwelling: At conversion, the Spirit of God immediately and permanently lives within!
Don’t you realize that…the Spirit of God lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
Immersion: At some point, we may experience the “Baptism in the Holy Spirit”.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:4
Infilling: All throughout life, we should seek to be filled with His Spirit!
Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD
More than 50% of Evangelical Christians believe the Holy Spirit is only a symbol, not a living entity, or some type of spiritual force (surveys from Arizona University, State of Theology, and TGC).
God is Trinity. One Being represented in Three Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
“Trinity is the Christian name for God.” Karl Barth
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper…” John 14:16
IMAGERY
God speaks in ways we can understand. These metaphors are “divine accommodation”.
1/ He is described as a gift & a gift giver.
Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 1 Corinthians 12:4
2/ He is described as wind.
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
Wind has to do with the invisible, powerful work of God within us.
3/ He is described as breath.
Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22
Breath has to do with vitality and life.
4/ He is described as a flame.
What looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. Acts 2:3
A flame has to do with us being purified.
5/ He is described as oil.
Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David form that day on. 1 Samuel 16:13
Oil has to do with us being separated from the world and separated to God.
6/ He is described as water.
“I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.” Isaiah 44:3
“Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” When He said “living water,” He was speaking of the Spirit… John 7:38-39
Water has to do with the ability to smooth out our rough, temperamental edges.
7/ He is described as a dove.
“I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove…and resting upon Him.” John 1:32
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
A dove has to do with the gentleness & peace of God.
8/ He is described as a seal.
When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13
A seal has to do with our eternal security.
9/ He is described as clothing.
The Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon… Judges 6:34
Clothing has to do with power to complete spiritual tasks.
10/ He is described as a cloud.
The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud… Exodus 13:21
A cloud has to do with guidance.
CLOSE
You honor me by anointing my head with oil (Holy Spirit). My cup overflows with blessings. Psalm 23:5
There is a pattern in the New Testament that connects the laying on of hands to the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8, 9, 19, 1 Timothy 4, 2 Timothy 1, Hebrews 6).