I. Does your heart hunger?
    a. To bring others to Jesus for salvation
    b. To minister to others according to their needs
    c. To help further the Kingdom of God in any way
    d. Romans 8:28 -- All are called according to His purpose.

II. We must prepare ourselves for His purpose for us
    a. John 5:39 -- 'search the scriptures'...we must study His word in order to give it to others
    b. b. I Thessalonians 5:17 -- 'pray without ceasing'...talk with God throughout the whole day, remembering that you are always in His presence
    c. Openly testify of Jesus; Matthew 10:33 -- "Whoever denies me before others, him I will deny before my Father." There are times when our silence is denial of Christ!
    d. Share in love...at work, with the neighbors, with our relatives, etc.

III. Find the source of your mind's input
    a. "Me"...If you think your own desires or thoughts are getting in the way, use a fleece to help guide you to the correct path
    b. God...the Comforter or Holy Spirit; the guidance of the Holy Spirit will never go against the Bible's messages
    c. Satan...sneaky and logical, he will work to discourage your actions through any means possible, such as health, personality, finances, limited time, human frailty, etc.

IV. Things which inhibit the Holy Spirit's leading
    a. Unwillingness to walk in blind faith (that is to say, with the end result unseen)
    b. Complaining spirit...this includes self-centeredness and self-pity... recall that Job's sin was complaining
    c. Lack of praise and thankfulness to God for His guidance and help.

V. The Spirit leads each individually
    Different people have different strengths & talents, and the Holy Spirit leads different people to different ways of ministering. This could be through:
        a. use of tracts
        b. vocal testimonies
        c. helping the sick, bereaved, lonely or needy
        d. writing, composing, painting, singing, etc.

Scriptures About the Holy Spirit:

    Luke 11:13
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

    Luke 24:49
"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high."

    John 14:16
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever."

    John 20:22
"....Receive ye the Holy Ghost."

    Matthew 3:11
"...but he that cometh after me is mightier than I,...he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:"

    Acts 1:4 & 5
"And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but 'wait for the promise of the Father, which' saith he, 'ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."

    John 1:33
"....Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."

    Acts 1:8
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you..."

    Acts 2:1-8
The account of the day of Pentecost.

    Acts 2:38 & 39
"....Repent and be baptized....and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children and to all that are afar off...."

    Acts 8:12-17
"But when they believed..., they were baptized,...Then Simon himself also: and...was baptized.... Now when the apostles...heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as of yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost."

    Acts 19:2-6
"And he said unto them, 'Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?'....They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them...."

    Hebrews 6:4-6
"For it is impossible for these who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted of the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance;...."

Scriptures on Blaspheming the Holy Ghost

    Luke 12:10
"And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven."

    Mark 3:29
"But he that blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:"

    Matthew 12:31 & 32
"Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

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