The Holy Spirit’s Desire for You
James 4:5 KJV
Dr. Timothy M. Hill, General Overseer
Introduction: The Holy Spirit wants each of us that He may transform us into the image of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit wants to ...
- Invade You
- Envelope You
- Instruct You
- Impress You
- Indwell You
Conclusion: The Holy Spirit wants to invade you, envelope you, instruct you, impress you, and indwell you. "Be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18 NKJV) and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14 NKJV).
The Holy Spirit's Desire for You
James 4:5 KJV
Dr. Timothy M. Hill, General Overseer
Scripture Text: "Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?” (James 4:5 KJV).
Introduction: This verse has been the source of much debate and deliberation. Ten different commentators writing ten different commentaries would offer as many variations of thought regarding this verse. The debate centers on whether James is referring to the human spirit (small "s") or the Holy Spirit (capital "S"). Regardless of how one fine-tunes the debate over this verse, the central truth remains the same: God is jealous over His creation and will not share us with this carnal world. We will be "all of His" or "none of His." He has invested Himself in us by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not an emotional influence, a magical formula, or merely an "it." The Holy Spirit is a person with personal attributes. He has presence, and He has a language. He distributes wisdom and peace, and grants direction. The Holy Spirit can even be grieved. One of the overlooked attributes of the Holy Spirit is His ability for yearning, longing, and having great desire.
A most astounding word is used in this most astounding text. It is the word lust. In its normal connotations and typical use, this word casts a negative shadow. Most often, this word is associated with the Proverbs 6 application, and is listed among what is often referred to as the "seven deadly sins." The fact is, all sin is deadly and carries eternal penalties.
It is even more astounding that this word relates to another word that typically carries some negative association and that is the word "envy." "The Spirit Iusteth to envy." Aren't we taught in Scripture that "envy" is something that should not be allowed to enter into the life of a Christian?
What is James saying with this verse? The definitions of these words, in and of themselves, are not evil.
It's what they are connected to that ultimately definestheir intended use.
Lust most often is associated with the flesh and carries immoral connotations. However, it simply means to crave and desire something beyond a light or casual "wanting." It is the expression of great longing, and a demeanor that exemplifies the unwillingness to do without something.
Similarly, the word envy carries with it the sense of desire to have something that someone else has. While James is referring to the negative influence that lust and envy have on the human spirit inherent in the very nature of what they are, he is also by contrast, indicating how the Holy Spirit longs for fellowship and ownership of us.
This fellowship and ownership brings about radical deliverance and ultimate change from the warring and strife that James had previously written about earlier in the chapter. I especially like the transitional verse that James uses to bring about this idea when he writes, "But He gives more grace" (James 4:6 NKJV).
God distributes more grace in order to have me. Hedistributes more grace that I may walk with Him and fellowship with Him. He desired it so much that He said, “If it takes more grace than anything previously given to this point, then I’ll ‘cross' that place now and give my only begotten Son."
I belong to God. "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV).
The Holy Spirit wants each of us that He may transform us into the image of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit wants to ...
I.Invade You
A.Invade is a term of warfare and battle. When one army conquers another, it is an invasion. When the Holy Spirit invades your being, you are no longer your own.
B.The Holy Spirit wants every square inch of your life. There are no territories held in reservation and no secret closets held for an individual's own use.
II.Envelope You
A.To envelope means “to enclose or surround completely."
B.The most common concept of this is the mailing envelope. An envelope is designed to do three things:
1.Seal its contents and keep them clean.
2.Deliver its contents to the destination.
3.Protect its contents.
C. What a simple yet complete picture of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Bible states that we are sealed with the "Holy Spirit of promise." The apostle Paul wrote: "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13 NKJV). The Holy Spirit will keep us and deliver us to the Father.
III.Instruct you
A.Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will teach us. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26 NKJV).
B.He also said that the Spirit will guide us. "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come" (John 16:13 NKJV).
C.I didn't know anything about algebra until I went to school, and a very patient instructor taught what all those different symbols meant.
1.The Holy Spirit is our schoolmaster teaching usabout Christ.
2.He continually turns the floodlight on the Savior. Jesus said, "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore Isaid that He will take of Mine and declare it toyou" (John 16:14-15 NKJV).
IV.Impress You
A.One of the frequent operations of the Spirit is to bring impressions on us of things we would not know on our own. "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10 NKJV).
B.Our forefathers called it "getting a witness."
1.An impression to pray for others.
2.An impression to step out in faith.
3.An impression to speak.
V.Indwell You
A.The Holy Spirit is an indwelling presence. He shalI be in you as a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
1."Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14 NKJV).
2."He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:38-3 NKJV).
B.A simple hand glove illustrates perfectly what the Holy Spirit desires to be in one's life.
1.A glove is useless without a hand to fill it. If the glove is not "indwelt," then it is no good. The glove is made to be completely filled with the hand.
2.The Holy Spirit is the living hand, and you and I are the glove. It is a winning combination. With His power using us, we can lay hands on the sick and reach out to a hurting world.
C.The Holy Spirit yearns to have you as a willing vessel that He can employ for the Master's service.
Conclusion:The Holy Spirit wants to invade you, envelope you, instruct you, impress you, and indwell you. "Be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18 NKJV) and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14 NKJV).
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