Category Archives: Ghost Stories (Holy Spirit)

Ghost Stories (9): Life and Freedom in the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:1-30
The Spirit sets you free.
The Spirit gives you peace.
The Spirit gives you eternal life.
The Spirit makes you a child of God.
The Spirit helps you.
The Spirit fights for you.
The Spirit works to transforms you.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18
You have Life and Freedom in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:1, 13a, 16-18, 25
You have Life and Freedom in the Spirit.

The Spirit in the Lives of Unbelievers
John 16:7-9

Miraculous Sign Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:31

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
Matthew 12:24-37
Luke 12:8-10

The Holy Spirit is working for OUR GOOD, and for OTHER’S SAKE, but it’s for GOD’S GLORY.

Ezekiel 36:22-23 22“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name… 23 …And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

Revelations 7:9-12

Ephesians 3:20-21

Ghost Stories (8): The Holy Spirit Through Us

He destroys barriers
Ephesians 2:12-22

Ephesians 2:18

He brings unity.
Ephesians 4:1-3

He makes us one.
Romans 10:12-13
Galatians 3:26-28

He equips us uniquely.
Romans 12:6-8
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
1 Corinthians 12:27-28

He calls us to work together.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Romans 12:3-5

Video: Jason Hewlett – Gift

What are your spiritual gifts?
How you using them?
Are you developing them?

2 Timothy 1:6

Assignment: give some thought to these questions this week, and take some next steps to better use your gifts for God’s purposes.

For access to the assessment tool, check out this website: http://whataremyspiritualgifts.org

Discover how God has uniquely wired you for his glory and service to others!

Ghost Stories (7): The Holy Spirit in Us

His presence and power give us what we need to live a Godly life and be a witness in the world.

Galatians 5:16-25
The Holy Spirit sanctifies us.

hagiasmos (hag-ee-as-mos’): consecration, sanctification
The process of making or becoming holy or set apart.

It is a principle of grace savingly wrought, whereby the heart becomes holy, and is made after God’s own heart. ~Thomas Watson
Galatians 5:16-17
The Holy Spirit roots out sin.
Galatians 5:19-21
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Ephesians 4:30
Galatians 5:24
The Holy Spirit produces fruit.
Galatians 5:22-23
Galatians 5:25

The Holy Spirit sanctifies us, roots out sin and grows fruit. It is up to us to cooperate with him.

Assignment: Pick a fruit each day over the next 9 days. Pray that the Holy Spirit would work in you to produce more of it in practical ways that day.

Ghost Stories (6): The Holy Spirit’s Presence and Power

The Holy Spirit works in us similarly to how He worked within Jesus.

John 14:15-18
John 14:25-27
John 15:26-27
John 16:6-7
John 16:12-14


16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,

to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth… and He will be in you.

The PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:16
John 16:7

They didn’t have to go where Jesus was; Holy Spirit would be with them wherever THEY went!

Psalm 139:7-10


The POWER of the Holy Spirit
16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.”

Paraclete: one who comes beside, or comes alongside.
He is a defender, counselor, advocate, supporter, comforter, advisor, supporter, ally, champion.

His presence and power gives us what we need to live a Godly life and be a witness in the world.

He helps us obey Jesus’ commands.
He bears witness about Jesus.
He guides us in all truth.
He speaks for Jesus.

Luke 11:5-13
His resources become our riches.

Prayer time:
What do you need to live a Godly life?
What do you need to be a witness in the world?

Ghost Stories (5): The Holy Spirit in Redemption

The Holy Spirit works in us similarly to how He worked within Jesus.

The Gospel Coalition: Redemption means to secure the release or recovery of persons or things by the payment of a price. It is a covenantal legal term closely associated with ransom, atonement, substitution, and deliverance, thus salvation.

Before Christ, Redemption was ANTICIPATED.
In Christ, Redemption was ACCOMPLISHED.
Since Christ, Redemption was APPLIED.
John 3:1-10

Ezekiel 26:22-25 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says… 23I will show the holiness of My great name…. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes.
24For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries… 25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.

Water = being cleansed

Ezekiel 26:26-28 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. 28…you will be My people, and I will be your God.

Spirit = being indwelled

Matthew 3:11
The Spirit enables our belief.
John 14:6
John 6:44
John 16:8-11
They Holy Spirit brings conviction.
elegchó: to convince with solid, compelling evidence, especially to expose (or to prove wrong).

He convicts the world about SIN.
He convicts the world about RIGHTEOUSNESS.
He convicts the world about JUDGEMENT.

The Spirit seals our destiny.
Ephesians 1:13-14
2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Turn from sin. Trust the Spirit.

Ghost Stories (4): The Holy Spirit A.D.

Isaiah 11:1-2

The Holy Spirit in Christ was both constant and permanent.

John 1:32-34
Matthew 12:25-27
Hebrews 9:14
1 Peter 3:18
Acts 1:1-3

The will of God the Father was commanded from Jesus the Son by/through the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16-17
John 16:7
John 7:37-39

Acts 1:4-9
Acts 2:1-41
The Holy Spirit works in us similarly to how He worked within Jesus.

Whatever the Holy Spirit says, we need to receive it as if it were the words of Jesus himself… because it is.

Assignment: Try to be aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life throughout the week.

Ghost Stories (3): The Holy Spirit B.C.

Numbers 11:1-35


Numbers 11:17
The Holy Spirit B.C. came upon certain individuals, not upon all who believed in God.

Numbers 11:25, 28, 29

The Holy Spirit B.C. was given selectively and (sometimes) temporarily to accomplish God’s purposes.

Individuals: Bezalel (Exodus 31:1-5)

Leaders: Moses, Joshua (Numbers 11:25, 27:18)

Judges: Othniel, Gideon and Samson
(Judges 3:10, 6:34, 13:25)

Kings: Saul, David (1 Samuel 11:16ff, 16:13-14)

Prophets: Ezekiel, Isaiah (Ezekiel 2:2, Isaiah 61:1)

The Holy Spirit B.C. was crucial in helping people anticipate the Messiah.

Ezekiel 36:22-27

Key Idea: When God’s Spirit (Holy Spirit) moves in God’s people, and they are seeking him out and walking in step with him, incredible things happen.

Question: Are we willing to be people who seek the Holy Spirit, surrender to Him, and allow Him to move freely in us and through us?

Ghost Stories (2): The Holy Spirit at Creation

The Nature of the Holy Spirit:
Holy Spirit is fully God, and nothing less.
Holy Spirit is a person, not an impersonal force.

Genesis 1:1-2:3
Holy Spirit was present at creation.
Genesis 1:2
Ruach (Hebrew) = breath, wind, spirit.

Holy Spirit was responsible for creation.
Genesis 1:1
Genesis 1:26-27

Holy Spirit was involved in creation.
Colossians 1:15-17
Psalm 149:2
Psalm 33:6

Psalm 19:1-6
Romans 1:20

Creation points us to God.
We often miss seeing Holy Spirit in it.

Assignment: take some time to acknowledge Holy Spirit in creation at least once this week.  Could be 10 minutes when the sun is going down.  Maybe it’s sitting and watching a rainstorm or thunder and lightning.  Maybe take a walk/an extra walk just spend time communicating with God acknowledging Holy Spirit directly… in nature.

Ghost Stories (1): The Nature of the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 3:14, 16, 19

Matthew 3:1-12

pneuma= wind, breath, spirit.  

Matthew 3:13-17

There is one God manifested in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

Key Idea 1: The Holy Spirit is God, not anything less.

Holy Spirit is uncreated. Genesis 1:1

Holy Spirit is eternal Hebrews 9:14

Holy Spirit is omiscient (all-knowing) 1 Corinthians 2:10

Holy Spirit is omnipresent (all-present). Psalm 139:7-121

Holy Spirit omnipotent (all-powerful). Luke 1:35, 37

Key Idea 2: The Holy Spirit is a person, not an impersonal force. 

Holy Spirit thinks like a person does 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, Romans 8:27

Holy Spirit acts like a person does. Acts 13:2, John 14:26, Acts 16:6-7, Genesis 6:3, 1 Corinthians 12:11, 2 Corinthians 13:14

Holy Spirit feel like a person does. Ephesians 4:30, Hebrews 10:29 , Acts 5:3, Matthew 12:31-32

(Holy Spirit has personal pronouns!) John 16:7-15

How do we interact with Holy Spirit?

As God.

As a person.

Assignment: This week, spend some time in prayer, and when you are speaking to God, specifically acknowledge Holy Spirit in prayer.