Lesson 31: Blessed with the Earnest (promise) or First-Fruits of the Spirit
 
The Holy Spirit is God’s contract-deposit, or down-payment guaranteeing us all the gifts of Heavenly glory that will one day be ours (see Ephesians 1:14 and Romans 8:23).

There are five things the Spirit of God has already done to us as He came to bring life and take up permanent residence in us:
1) Born of the Spirit. John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
2) Baptism by the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
3) Indwelt by the Spirit. Romans 5:5, 8:9, “… and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us… You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.”
4) Sealed by the Spirit. Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
5) Filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”