Introduction

·        Illustration: When Wylie and his wife bought their first home, they were stuck by the seriousness of the act of signing the contract and the check.

·        Ephesians 1 is God's way of telling us that he's serious.

Transition: Let’s examine the presence, the imprint, the pledge, and the preview of the Holy Spirit that guarantees God’s earnestness.

We have the presence of the Holy Spirit.

·        There is much misunderstanding about the Holy Spirit.

      -     Acts 19:1–2

·        For a believer to remain in ignorance or fear of the Holy Spirit is for him or her to miss out on God’s greatest blessing.

·        The Holy Spirit has a vital ministry:

·        The Holy Spirit is present in the life of every believer.

      -            Romans 3:11; John 6:44

·        The moment you ask Christ to come into your life, the Holy Spirit becomes your guide, your teacher, and your comforter.

      -     1 Corinthians 6:19

We have the imprint of the Holy Spirit.

·        After salvation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit who promises to come live within us.

      -            Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Romans 8:16

·        In ancient times, a seal was a symbol of authority belonging to a person of great authority.

·        God’s seal on the life of every believer is internal and eternal; it’s the Holy Spirit.

·        This seal is a sign of protection.

      -            Illustration: Alexander the Great sent an emissary bearing only his seal, with no             weapons or military escort, to a ruler in Egypt to demand that the king cease             hostilities against Alexander’s interests.

·        This seal is a sign of ownership.

·        This seal is a sign of a promise fulfilled.

      -     John 14:16, 17

·        This seal is a sign of completed transaction; our sin debt is paid in full.

·        This seal is a sign of commitment.

      -            Ephesians 4:30

We have the pledge of the Holy Spirit.

·        The Holy Spirit is the guarantee, or pledge, of our inheritance.

      -            Illustration: When Wylie got engaged, he gave his fiancée a diamond ring             symbolizing his love and commitment in the present and the future.

·        Note that the Holy Spirit is not the actual inheritance; he is the assurance that the inheritance is to come.

·        The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our security; our salvation cannot be lost.

We have the preview of the Holy Spirit.

·        The Holy Spirit gives us a foretaste if God’s glory.

·        Because the Spirit previews God’s glory to come, we should yield to him today.

      -     Psalm 34:8

Conclusion

·        Let’s be aware of the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives and listen to the still, small voice as we worship, study the Word, and pray.

      -            Galatians 5:16, 25

      -            Illustration: The great evangelist, D. L. Moody, challenged a crowd to get all the        air out of empty glass, then accomplished the feat by pouring water in.

·        Big Idea:Yield to the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life and he will fill you up with the tangible presence of the living God.