Your Helper the Holy Spirit: Session 4 – The Holy Spirit and Your Life’s Purpose

Notes:

The Holy Spirit and Your Life’s Purpose

Lk.1:26-27. Mary was betrothed to Joseph. She was excited about the prospect of marriage. She planned to have a family in the process of time. Her heart was set on her dream…until God stepped in. He had plans for her that were far greater (see Lk. 1:28-30). She was ‘highly favoured’ and chosen to bring forth Christ to the world. Not just a son, but God’s Son. This could only be possible as the Holy Spirit came upon her.

Like Mary, we probably have our own plans for our lives. But God wants you to give your life to this one thing… To know Christ and to make Him known. This is possible through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

1) Conception (Luke 1:31-33)

  • It takes two to conceive (Lk. 1:34). We can conceive many things without God. But, in order to conceive God’s purpose you will need the Holy Spirit. That’s how we were conceived spiritually, (Jn.1:12-13).
  • Jn. 3:6. That which is conceived of the flesh, is flesh; but that which is conceived of the Spirit is of God.
  • Jn. 1:15-16. God’s purposes are never brought to birth in conference. That’s where they are aborted!
  • Luke 1:34-35. When Mary understood God’s purpose for her life she didn’t ask if it would happen, but how would it happen? Answer: The Holy Spirit, (Isa.54:4-5).
  • If you can fulfill the dream you have it is not of God. It will take the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s dream.
  • Lk. 1:38. Her faith would be tested. She exposed herself to ridicule, gossip and stoning. She saw beyond this.

 2) Preparation

  • The task of carrying that which has been conceived begins. There is nothing visible.
  • The Bible speaks of the trial of your faith. It is a quiet period of preparation. During this period, that which has been conceived is being formed. Many have faith, but not patience. It is a period of testing.
  • Luke 2:6. There is an appointed time.
  • What did God do to encourage Mary in this difficult time? See Lk. 1:26; 1:39-40. He sent her to Elizabeth. She was 6 months pregnant with a miracle baby. Lk. 1:56. She stayed with her for three months. So she would have been present at the birth of John the Baptist. Like attracts like. See Lk. 1:41-45.

3) Intercession

  • Nothing is brought to birth without travail, (Isa.53:11; Gal.4:19; Isa.66:8)
  • It will not happen automatically even though the Lord promised it (Zech.10:1;  1 Kings 18:41; Jas.5:17-18)

4) Separation

  • At birth the umbilical cord is cut and the placenta discarded. The after birth (placenta) does not come over into the new. The placenta played a vital role throughout the duration of pregnancy.
  • If it is retained by the mother it will provide a risk of infection and hemorrhaging. Also, it has no further purpose for the child. It is cut from the umbilical cord.
  • Often, when the Holy Spirit does a new thing, there has to be a transitioning out of the old. There is nothing wrong with the old, but it has served its usefulness and does not come over into the new. It will hinder the new. In fact the after birth is actually poisonous. The placenta develops from the same sperm and egg cells that form the fetus, yet it has fulfilled its purpose and needs to be cast away.
  • New wine required new wineskins to accommodate the new wine so that it could reach its full potential.
  • The wineskin exists for the purpose of containing the wine. So the wineskins are important, otherwise the wine will be lost. But always remember that they exist to contain the new wine. Wineskins have no justification for existence unless they contain wine.
  • The old wine only tastes good to those who have never tasted the new wine.
  • Sometimes we develop systems and structures that help facilitate the flow of new wine. E.g. denominations. But the danger is that we become more loyal to those systems than to the new wine they are meant to dispense.
  • Some things of the old cannot come over into the new, e.g. ways, methods, structures, denominations. Some things are scaffolding. Sometimes people are.
  • The greatest enemy of the new is the old.


# Answers to this quiz are found in the notes above. Click on quiz to commence. Only correct spelling is recognised. A minimum 70%  correct is required to advance to the next session.