Hello, friends, and welcome
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to our Wednesday
night Bible study here
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at the 3ABN Worship Center.
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Thank you for tuning
into A Sharper Focus.
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As you know, my
name is John Lomacang.
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I'm your presenter
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and also the pastor
here at the worship center,
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but thank you
for taking the time
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to tune in with us
as we begin this walk
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through the Bible in a new topic
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on how to know the
truth about the truth
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is the overall theme,
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but the topic
tonight is the truth
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about the Holy Spirit.
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In just a moment,
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I'll tell you how to
get a copy of the lesson,
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and invite your friends
and family members to tune in,
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if you got the
church joining us,
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this is a good
time to hit record
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just in case you want
to share with someone else.
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If you're home,
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it's a good time
to record it too,
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but if you have your Bibles,
and your pens, and your family,
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and your friends,
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you are ready
for a dynamic study
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in God's Word.
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Now before I tell
you how to get a copy
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and where to download,
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and how to get the other lessons
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and the videos that go
along with this program,
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we always begin
with the word of prayer.
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Let's bow our heads together.
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Loving Father in heaven,
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thank You for the opportunity
presented to us tonight.
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We know that Your Word is
sure and we want to pray tonight
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that as we study
about the Holy Spirit
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that You will
send the Holy Spirit.
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Lord, our teacher and our guide,
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the one who strengthens us
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and the one that You have left
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as our Comforter and our Helper.
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We are so Lord in need
tonight of examining ourselves.
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We pray that You
will connect the audience
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as well as those who
are here at this live venue
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that Your Word may
go forth with power
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and Jesus might be uplifted,
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in Your precious and
holy name we pray, amen.
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Now, the weather may be
nice in the Virgin Islands.
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We have...
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Weather changes
around the world,
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whether it's snow
where you are, or rain,
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or whether it's sun,
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as long as we trust in the Lord,
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tonight we're
going to be blessed.
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Can we all say amen to that?
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And we have some
pastors visiting us tonight
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from various places,
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my conference as well
as the Michigan Conference,
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and I don't
want to mention names
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just in case their
conference presidents
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will know where they are.
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Just kidding.
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No, they do know where they are,
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but they're here
for Dare to Dream.
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Just little
tongue-in-cheek joke.
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But we're so glad that I'm
under the watchful eye and ears
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of pastors tonight,
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so I have to be on top
of the work of the Lord.
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If you want to get
a copy of the lesson,
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the lesson is entitled,
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The Truth about the Holy Spirit.
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Go to this website ASF.3ABN.org
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and download lesson number 34.
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What lesson did
I say? Thirty four.
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Download lesson number 34,
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The Truth about the Holy Spirit.
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And, I could also say, tonight,
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we're going to play 20 questions
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because we only
have 20 questions.
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If we get through them all,
that's going to be a miracle.
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You know we never get
through all of our questions,
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but the good thing
about this program,
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whatever we don't
do tonight, we do when?
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Our next program.
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So we also have a theme
song which we sing together.
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And our theme song is what?
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Victory in Jesus.
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Let's sing our theme song
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before we go into
our lesson tonight.
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I heard an old, old story
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How the Savior came from glory
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How He gave His life on Calvary
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To save a wretch like me
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I heard about His groaning
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Of His precious blood's atoning
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Then I repented of my sin
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And won the victory
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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I heard about a mansion
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He has built for me in glory
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And I heard about
the streets of gold
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Beyond the crystal sea
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About the angels singing
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And the old redemption story
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And some sweet day
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I'll sing up there
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The song of victory
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Key change.
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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Amen? Amen.
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Praise the Lord.
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Now the topic
tonight, repeat that with me
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as we see it on the screen,
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it is The Truth
about the Holy Spirit.
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The Truth about the Holy Spirit.
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Now, the reason
I chose this topic
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'cause there's
so much being said
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about the Holy Spirit
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that is not
according to the Bible.
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There's so much contributed
to the work of the Holy Spirit
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as one writer once said,
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"If the Holy
Spirit were withdrawn,
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much of the
activity that take places
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in lot of the
churches will continue."
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And so we have to know
according to God's Word
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what the Bible
teaches about the Holy Spirit.
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What are the
fruit of the Spirit?
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What are the
gifts of the Spirit?
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What does the Spirit do
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before the fruits are manifested
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and before the gifts
are chosen to be given?
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And so tonight we're going to go
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through those questions
as we lay the foundation.
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Now, I've never
gone through 20 questions
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in a single meeting,
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so don't expect me to
cover 20 questions tonight.
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Amen.
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But you all have your
lessons, you have your Bibles.
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If you've just joined us,
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the topic is The
Truth about the Holy Spirit.
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Get your Bible
quickly, and the website
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I gave just a
moment ago, ASF.3ABN.org.
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There you can
download the other lessons
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that you may have missed.
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If you've missed
any of the broadcast,
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there are videos there too
that will bring you up-to-date.
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I think to date we
have about 110 videos,
00:07:04.12\00:07:07.26
and so you can have
some dynamic Bible studies
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by just going to the lesson,
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and at the
beginning of the actual video
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it will tell you what
lesson it correlates with,
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so you can follow along.
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Now to make good
use of our time tonight,
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let's go ahead and go
to question number one.
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Question number one.
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And the questions and
the answers will appear
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on your screen,
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but we want to use our Bibles
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and so, let's
not allow the screen
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to do all the talking.
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Question number one tonight.
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What terminology did Jesus
use to describe the Holy Spirit?
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Go to John 16:7.
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What terminology did Jesus
use to describe the Holy Spirit?
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As you're looking that up.
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One of the reasons
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why this topic is
vitally important is,
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many people don't have an
issue with God the Father,
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and many people don't have
an issue with Jesus the Son,
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but some people have
taken the Holy Spirit
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and made Him a force,
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they've made Him just the wind,
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they've made Him a feeling,
they've made Him only a power.
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And some people have
said, "I want the Holy Spirit."
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But the fact is, the
Holy Spirit wants us.
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The Holy Spirit's power
is not something we use,
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but we are used
by the Holy Spirit.
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Some people speak
of the Holy Spirit
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as a manifestation of God.
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Somebody I spoke to a number
of years ago, matter of fact,
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I had a friendly
discussion with a pastor.
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Some call it a debate.
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I was in Northern California
Conference at the time,
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and there was a
television program
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I was invited to be a part of.
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And the pastor from a
different denomination said
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that the Holy Spirit is simply
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a third
manifestation of God, meaning,
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and I wondered what
he meant, and he said,
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"Well, first
there is God the Father,
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and then God the
Father manifested Himself,
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almost like a
transformer into Jesus,
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and then when Jesus was done,
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manifested
Himself like a transformer
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into the Holy Spirit.
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So I said, "Well, is
there the Father, Son,
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and the Holy Spirit.
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He said, "No."
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There's only one at a
time, one in the beginning,
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then Jesus in the personage,
and then when Jesus was done,
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He manifested
Himself in the Holy Spirit.
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And I took him to a
couple of Bible texts
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which we're
gonna look at tonight,
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to show him that,
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that is not what
the Bible teaches.
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So tonight what we want to
do in our lesson particularly
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is not just to establish
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the things about the Holy Spirit
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but who is the Holy Spirit.
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Is he just a
manifestation of God?
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And if so, how? Is he
a part of the Godhead?
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Is he verily God?
What does the Bible say?
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So let's look at the
answer here, John 16:7.
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Since it is our
first text for the night
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and it is on the screen,
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I'd like us to read it together.
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Are you ready? Here we go.
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Jesus says together,
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"Nevertheless I
tell you the truth.
00:09:58.53\00:10:02.03
It is to your
advantage that I" do what?
00:10:02.06\00:10:05.10
"Go away, for if
I do not go away,
00:10:05.13\00:10:08.04
the Helper will not come to you,
00:10:08.07\00:10:11.67
but if I depart, I
will send Him to you."
00:10:11.71\00:10:16.61
Now get that, the
word Him is in the setting
00:10:16.64\00:10:21.58
or in the tense of a person,
is not in the tense of a force.
00:10:21.62\00:10:26.05
You don't send the wind
00:10:26.09\00:10:27.76
in the personage
of a gender, him,
00:10:27.79\00:10:31.19
male nor female.
00:10:31.23\00:10:32.56
So the Greek word there
speaking of literally a person.
00:10:32.59\00:10:35.80
If I do not go away,
the Helper will not come.
00:10:35.83\00:10:38.80
Some of the translation say
the Comforter will not come,
00:10:38.83\00:10:41.44
the King James version.
00:10:41.47\00:10:42.80
So the answer you
gonna write down tonight,
00:10:42.84\00:10:44.17
what terminology did Jesus used
to describe the Holy Spirit?
00:10:44.21\00:10:47.38
What do you see highlighted?
00:10:47.41\00:10:49.11
Him. Him.
00:10:49.14\00:10:51.75
The Helper is fine,
the Comforter is fine,
00:10:51.78\00:10:54.25
but Jesus, the
terminology He used was Him,
00:10:54.28\00:10:58.52
I will send Him to you.
00:10:58.55\00:11:01.99
But get this, if
Jesus is the Holy Spirit
00:11:02.02\00:11:06.26
then He wouldn't have to leave
because He is already there.
00:11:06.29\00:11:09.63
So it's not a manifestation.
00:11:09.66\00:11:11.30
Jesus is not
going into a phone booth
00:11:11.33\00:11:12.90
and coming out different.
00:11:12.93\00:11:14.84
I don't want to be
sacrilegious at all.
00:11:14.87\00:11:16.50
But Jesus said,
00:11:16.54\00:11:17.87
"I need to go away in
order for Him to come."
00:11:17.91\00:11:21.18
And we'll find out more
about that in just a moment.
00:11:21.21\00:11:23.45
So the answer is,
00:11:23.48\00:11:24.81
Jesus referred
to the Holy Spirit,
00:11:24.85\00:11:27.02
I will send, together, Him.
00:11:27.05\00:11:30.39
That's exactly what Jesus
said, so He's a personage.
00:11:30.42\00:11:33.62
Let's go to the next one.
00:11:33.66\00:11:34.99
The indication that
he is in fact a personage
00:11:35.02\00:11:37.29
is found in this
very next question.
00:11:37.33\00:11:40.00
Question number two.
00:11:40.03\00:11:41.36
And by the way, if you
have any questions or comments,
00:11:41.40\00:11:43.03
at that same website,
00:11:43.06\00:11:44.40
you can upload
questions and upload comments,
00:11:44.43\00:11:46.94
and you can send those also
to our website ASF.3ABN.org.
00:11:46.97\00:11:52.61
If you send a question,
00:11:52.64\00:11:53.98
try not to send a
doctoral dissertation.
00:11:54.01\00:11:56.81
We had a guy that
sent us a question,
00:11:56.85\00:11:58.55
and the question
was five pages later.
00:11:58.58\00:12:00.98
And he really wanted to
tell me what he believed
00:12:01.02\00:12:03.79
and so we didn't
get to the question.
00:12:03.82\00:12:06.29
But let's look at
the second question.
00:12:06.32\00:12:07.79
Here it is.
00:12:07.82\00:12:09.39
What characteristic
does the Bible connect
00:12:09.42\00:12:13.53
to the Holy Spirit?
00:12:13.56\00:12:15.66
Let's go to
Ephesians 4:30. Ephesians 4:30.
00:12:15.70\00:12:21.07
As you're turning there...
00:12:21.10\00:12:23.91
There are
churches around the world
00:12:23.94\00:12:26.21
and there is some text
that I did not put here
00:12:26.24\00:12:28.14
which I'll add to
and refer to later.
00:12:28.18\00:12:30.65
But I'm thinking right
now of John 4:23 and 24
00:12:30.68\00:12:33.85
where Jesus
speaking to the woman,
00:12:33.88\00:12:36.65
the woman of Samaria.
00:12:36.69\00:12:38.39
We say the woman at the well.
00:12:38.42\00:12:40.22
He made it clear when
he talked about worship.
00:12:40.26\00:12:42.66
He said, "The Lord is looking,
00:12:42.69\00:12:44.69
the Father is looking
for those to worship Him
00:12:44.73\00:12:47.10
in blank and
truth," what did he say?
00:12:47.13\00:12:49.86
"In spirit and in truth."
00:12:49.90\00:12:52.43
Now there are those
that manifest truth.
00:12:52.47\00:12:55.87
There are those
that emphasize spirit.
00:12:55.90\00:12:58.77
I should say emphasize
truth, emphasize spirit,
00:12:58.81\00:13:01.61
but the Bible
didn't separate either.
00:13:01.64\00:13:03.41
The Bible says
spirit and what? Truth.
00:13:03.45\00:13:06.61
So in order to have the truth,
00:13:06.65\00:13:08.38
you have to be
led by the Spirit.
00:13:08.42\00:13:10.62
And to have the Spirit,
you cannot divorce the truth,
00:13:10.65\00:13:14.29
Spirit and truth.
00:13:14.32\00:13:15.66
And the Bible says
that we must worship
00:13:15.69\00:13:19.29
the Father in
Spirit and in what else?
00:13:19.33\00:13:22.16
So you can't divorce the two.
00:13:22.20\00:13:23.53
We'll look at that
verse in just a moment.
00:13:23.57\00:13:24.90
But look at this characteristic
00:13:24.93\00:13:26.27
that the Bible contributes
or connects to the Holy Spirit.
00:13:26.30\00:13:28.94
Here is Ephesians 4:30.
00:13:28.97\00:13:32.14
And the Bible says,
00:13:32.17\00:13:33.51
"And do not,"
what's the next word?
00:13:33.54\00:13:35.88
"Grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
00:13:35.91\00:13:40.32
by whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption."
00:13:40.35\00:13:44.75
Now have you ever
experienced grief before?
00:13:44.79\00:13:48.09
Now, this is
different from grieve
00:13:48.12\00:13:50.06
because it's so
close, grief and grieve.
00:13:50.09\00:13:52.73
The word here grieve
in a realistic sense,
00:13:52.76\00:13:56.83
it's not in the sense of
just getting somebody upset,
00:13:56.87\00:13:59.77
but it is in the sense
of a repetitive behavior
00:13:59.80\00:14:02.57
to in essence say no, I
don't want to hear that.
00:14:02.60\00:14:06.44
No, I'm turning my ear off.
00:14:06.47\00:14:08.88
That's why
Revelation, seven times,
00:14:08.91\00:14:11.58
when it talks about the
work of the Spirit of God
00:14:11.61\00:14:13.88
in Revelation, it says, he
who has ears, let him what?
00:14:13.92\00:14:18.05
Hear what the Spirit
says to the churches,
00:14:18.09\00:14:20.49
because when you
chose, when you choose to...
00:14:20.52\00:14:23.79
Well, let me
use an illustration.
00:14:23.83\00:14:25.99
That was the perfect
formula for a whipping,
00:14:26.03\00:14:28.23
if my mother was
talking to me when I was young
00:14:28.26\00:14:29.90
and I put my fingers in my ears.
00:14:29.93\00:14:33.03
She had a phrase,
00:14:33.07\00:14:35.67
"If you don't
hear, you will feel."
00:14:35.70\00:14:37.04
That's a good old
West Indian terminology.
00:14:37.07\00:14:39.11
Those that don't hear will what?
00:14:39.14\00:14:40.94
Feel, and so in
the very same way
00:14:40.98\00:14:43.11
if we choose not to hear,
00:14:43.14\00:14:45.25
the way that
this is referred to is
00:14:45.28\00:14:47.15
if we stop our
ears or if we resist,
00:14:47.18\00:14:51.05
repeatedly resist the
promptings of the Spirit.
00:14:51.09\00:14:54.96
And you know,
you think about that.
00:14:54.99\00:14:57.06
There are points
in our walk with God
00:14:57.09\00:14:58.86
and even when we're
not walking with God.
00:14:58.89\00:15:01.76
And let me tell
you what I mean by that
00:15:01.80\00:15:03.13
because there are certain
ways the Spirit of God works.
00:15:03.16\00:15:06.13
Here it is.
00:15:06.17\00:15:07.50
One, he works to
bring you to conviction.
00:15:07.54\00:15:10.97
He continually as the Bible says
00:15:11.01\00:15:12.71
and we'll get to that,
00:15:12.74\00:15:14.08
as it was in Noah's
day, as it is in our day,
00:15:14.11\00:15:16.75
as will be beyond our day,
00:15:16.78\00:15:18.35
as it was during the Dark Ages,
00:15:18.38\00:15:19.98
in all the times of the
work of the Holy Spirit.
00:15:20.02\00:15:22.92
The Holy Spirit
first works to bring us
00:15:22.95\00:15:24.65
to a conscious
awareness of our need of God.
00:15:24.69\00:15:28.02
And then when we respond,
00:15:28.06\00:15:31.29
then we are inviting
00:15:31.33\00:15:32.66
the Spirit of God into
our lives, so now first.
00:15:32.69\00:15:36.30
Bring us to a
knowledge of our need,
00:15:36.33\00:15:38.53
then we give our lives to
the Lord and are justified,
00:15:38.57\00:15:40.54
then we are filled by
the fruit of the Spirit.
00:15:40.57\00:15:43.87
Then, we are then
qualified to work for the Lord
00:15:43.91\00:15:46.94
by being filled by
the gift of the Spirit.
00:15:46.98\00:15:49.84
And here is the way to,
the best way to understand it.
00:15:49.88\00:15:52.01
He first works on us
before He works in us
00:15:52.05\00:15:56.42
and before He
can work through us.
00:15:56.45\00:15:59.05
He has to work on us
before He can work in us
00:15:59.09\00:16:04.09
to finally work through us.
00:16:04.13\00:16:05.73
Let me make the point.
00:16:05.76\00:16:07.10
There are some people that say,
00:16:07.13\00:16:08.46
the Spirit of God
is working through them
00:16:08.50\00:16:10.37
when the evidence says
00:16:10.40\00:16:11.97
that he is not
even working in them.
00:16:12.00\00:16:15.00
And you'll find in the
Bible many examples of that,
00:16:15.04\00:16:17.54
or some examples in particular
00:16:17.57\00:16:19.24
and one I'll talk
about in the moment
00:16:19.27\00:16:20.74
when the
apostles were manifesting
00:16:20.78\00:16:22.74
the power of the Spirit of God.
00:16:22.78\00:16:24.75
There was one who saw
what the Spirit of God
00:16:24.78\00:16:27.22
was able to do and he
says, where can I get it?
00:16:27.25\00:16:30.82
I need that.
00:16:30.85\00:16:32.19
He saw the Spirit as something
00:16:32.22\00:16:33.66
He wanted to use
and I said a moment ago,
00:16:33.69\00:16:36.12
the Spirit is not what we use
but we are used by the Spirit.
00:16:36.16\00:16:41.76
So look at the word there,
what's the word that's missing?
00:16:41.80\00:16:43.97
What characteristic
does the Bible connect?
00:16:44.00\00:16:45.90
He can be what?
00:16:45.93\00:16:47.40
He can be grieved
and the grieving process
00:16:47.44\00:16:50.44
is something that
you'll see in just a moment
00:16:50.47\00:16:52.27
how dangerous it really
is to grieve the Holy Spirit.
00:16:52.31\00:16:57.68
What happened in
the days of Noah,
00:16:57.71\00:16:59.71
and we'll get to
that in the moment,
00:16:59.75\00:17:01.08
I would have put
that back-to-back,
00:17:01.12\00:17:02.45
but I want to kind of milk
that and get to that eventually.
00:17:02.48\00:17:06.25
Can a person...
00:17:06.29\00:17:08.92
Can a force be
grieved? Yes or no?
00:17:08.96\00:17:12.53
No, you can't grieve a force.
00:17:12.56\00:17:16.56
What would you have to
have in order to be grieved?
00:17:16.60\00:17:21.40
Say it again, emotions.
00:17:21.44\00:17:23.00
You have to have emotions
for somebody to be grieved,
00:17:23.04\00:17:25.94
for someone to be upset.
00:17:25.97\00:17:27.41
And I could use the
word here, this is...
00:17:27.44\00:17:31.88
I want to use correctly,
00:17:31.91\00:17:33.42
this is when divinity
becomes upset with humanity
00:17:33.45\00:17:36.89
and then draws a line
00:17:36.92\00:17:39.59
over which
humanity can no longer pass.
00:17:39.62\00:17:42.12
Some of the
examples in the Bible
00:17:42.16\00:17:43.49
is when Nebuchadnezzar,
00:17:43.53\00:17:46.06
and the Bible doesn't say
he grieved the Spirit of God,
00:17:46.09\00:17:48.83
but he got to the
point where the voice of God
00:17:48.86\00:17:51.20
who had repeatedly
been spoken to him,
00:17:51.23\00:17:53.23
he ignored that,
00:17:53.27\00:17:54.60
it went beyond the
bound that God established,
00:17:54.64\00:17:56.30
and then he spent
seven years as a beast.
00:17:56.34\00:17:59.51
But the Lord allowed
him to be brought low,
00:17:59.54\00:18:01.58
so that one day he
can be brought up high.
00:18:01.61\00:18:03.48
So therefore, he did
not permanently grieve
00:18:03.51\00:18:05.51
the Holy Spirit,
00:18:05.55\00:18:07.02
but he passed the boundary
that God had established.
00:18:07.05\00:18:09.28
The grieving here
is such an infraction
00:18:09.32\00:18:13.86
because only through
the Spirit can we be sealed.
00:18:13.89\00:18:17.99
Some translation says,
00:18:18.03\00:18:19.43
sealed to the day of redemption
or for the day of redemption.
00:18:19.46\00:18:23.60
The sealing process is
done by the Holy Spirit.
00:18:23.63\00:18:26.43
So now, let's think about tape
00:18:26.47\00:18:28.97
for a moment and
we use an example.
00:18:29.00\00:18:31.27
If I'm packing
packages that are to be shipped
00:18:31.31\00:18:35.38
and someone
throws away all the tape,
00:18:35.41\00:18:37.11
can I seal the box?
00:18:37.15\00:18:38.48
I can fold it over
00:18:41.78\00:18:43.12
but will what's
inside be secure, yes or no?
00:18:43.15\00:18:48.02
When trucks are on the
highway, these long 18 wheelers,
00:18:48.06\00:18:52.26
and they pick up their
cargo at the ship docks,
00:18:52.29\00:18:54.56
and they transport it
to their destinations.
00:18:54.60\00:18:56.53
There's something on the back
00:18:56.56\00:18:57.90
that's always
there to let you know
00:18:57.93\00:18:59.30
that what you signed for
is still in that container.
00:18:59.33\00:19:02.10
What is it called?
00:19:02.14\00:19:03.94
A seal.
00:19:03.97\00:19:05.31
If the seal is broken,
00:19:05.34\00:19:06.68
then you can
question the content.
00:19:06.71\00:19:08.74
In the very same way,
the work of the Holy Spirit
00:19:08.78\00:19:12.31
is to seal in us
the work of redemption
00:19:12.35\00:19:15.18
that God has been doing on us.
00:19:15.22\00:19:16.95
So once again, He works
on us, then He works in us,
00:19:16.99\00:19:21.86
so that He can work how?
00:19:21.89\00:19:23.22
Through us.
00:19:23.26\00:19:24.59
And if we grieve Him,
00:19:24.63\00:19:25.96
that process could
never be accomplished.
00:19:25.99\00:19:27.63
All right,
question number three.
00:19:27.66\00:19:29.56
Question number three.
00:19:29.60\00:19:31.73
In what three areas does
00:19:31.77\00:19:34.27
the Holy Spirit
bring conviction?
00:19:34.30\00:19:37.41
Let's go to John 16.
00:19:37.44\00:19:39.24
I want you to turn that with me
00:19:39.27\00:19:40.61
because I'm not
going to just finish
00:19:40.64\00:19:41.98
with what's on the screen,
00:19:42.01\00:19:43.35
I'm going to give you
more than what's on the screen.
00:19:43.38\00:19:44.78
Go to John 16:8, right?
00:19:44.81\00:19:49.72
Right, because we
read verse 7 a moment ago,
00:19:49.75\00:19:52.52
but we're going to break down,
after we answer the question
00:19:52.55\00:19:55.96
we're going to go to
the areas particularly
00:19:55.99\00:19:58.33
and see what these
three things are all about.
00:19:58.36\00:20:03.16
One of the reasons why
00:20:03.20\00:20:05.10
and I'm bordering on
giving you the answer
00:20:05.13\00:20:06.84
but I'm not doing it yet.
00:20:06.87\00:20:08.84
One of the reasons why
00:20:08.87\00:20:11.31
the antediluvian
world was lost is
00:20:11.34\00:20:15.41
because through
the preaching of Noah,
00:20:15.44\00:20:18.71
there was a constant appeal
to the people of Noah's day.
00:20:18.75\00:20:22.22
And the only
reason they ended up
00:20:22.25\00:20:23.59
on the outside of the
ark is because they grieved.
00:20:23.62\00:20:27.09
They got to the point
where they crossed the border,
00:20:27.12\00:20:29.52
and the voice of God
that would have been strong
00:20:29.56\00:20:31.49
at the very
beginning got to the point
00:20:31.53\00:20:33.33
where they no longer
even heard the voice of God.
00:20:33.36\00:20:36.16
They grieved God's voice.
00:20:36.20\00:20:37.93
Now look at the
answer here in John 16
00:20:37.97\00:20:40.17
and after we read the verse,
00:20:40.20\00:20:41.54
we're going to go
to some other answers.
00:20:41.57\00:20:42.90
Here it is.
00:20:42.94\00:20:44.27
The Bible reads as
follows, "And when he has come,"
00:20:44.31\00:20:46.84
notice once again,
He, "He will do" what?
00:20:46.88\00:20:49.94
"Convict the world of
sin." Write that down under A.
00:20:49.98\00:20:53.25
Convict the world of
sin is the first answer
00:20:53.28\00:20:56.02
and then what else?
00:20:56.05\00:20:57.92
"Righteousness"
and the third one
00:20:57.95\00:20:59.65
and of what else?
00:20:59.69\00:21:01.12
"Judgment."
Write those three down.
00:21:01.16\00:21:02.99
In what three areas does
00:21:03.02\00:21:05.53
the Holy Spirit
bring conviction?
00:21:05.56\00:21:08.03
Now, the first one
sin is the working on us,
00:21:08.06\00:21:13.40
is the working on us,
00:21:13.44\00:21:15.54
of righteousness
is the working in us.
00:21:15.57\00:21:20.81
You notice that.
00:21:20.84\00:21:22.91
The conviction of
sin is the working on us,
00:21:22.94\00:21:26.11
the righteousness
is the working in us,
00:21:26.15\00:21:29.95
and in the judgment,
00:21:29.98\00:21:32.02
depending on what
category you fall into,
00:21:32.05\00:21:33.86
it could be working
through us or working for us.
00:21:33.89\00:21:37.49
So these are not exactly falling
00:21:37.53\00:21:39.86
in the line of the
comparison I made earlier,
00:21:39.89\00:21:41.90
but these are
the three categories.
00:21:41.93\00:21:43.87
He convicts the world of sin,
righteousness, and judgment.
00:21:43.90\00:21:46.67
Write that down A, B and C.
00:21:46.70\00:21:48.27
And then let's go and look
at the verses in the Bible.
00:21:48.30\00:21:50.51
Let's look at verse 9,
00:21:50.54\00:21:52.07
and we're going to
go down to verse 11.
00:21:52.11\00:21:56.18
Notice what?
00:21:56.21\00:21:57.68
Verse 9 says, "Of sin"
because they do not what?
00:21:57.71\00:22:01.82
"Believe in me."
Let's pause on that.
00:22:01.85\00:22:06.02
Let's go to verse
10 a moment again.
00:22:06.05\00:22:08.19
Of righteousness
because I go to My Father
00:22:08.22\00:22:10.93
and you will see Me
no more, of judgment
00:22:10.96\00:22:14.50
because the ruler
of this world is who?
00:22:14.53\00:22:18.07
Judge? Who's the
ruler of this world?
00:22:18.10\00:22:19.83
Satan is.
00:22:19.87\00:22:21.20
In this very context
Jesus is giving His last message
00:22:21.24\00:22:24.64
before He is ascending,
before He leaves the world.
00:22:24.67\00:22:27.08
He's given the
disciples the work
00:22:27.11\00:22:28.78
that they have to do,
00:22:28.81\00:22:30.15
what they're going to go
forth to do to the world,
00:22:30.18\00:22:31.68
and He's letting them know
00:22:31.71\00:22:33.38
that through you the
world will be convicted of sin,
00:22:33.42\00:22:36.48
if the Spirit of God is
working through your ministry,
00:22:36.52\00:22:39.15
the world will
be convicted of sin.
00:22:39.19\00:22:41.66
Secondly, they need to
know the way of righteousness.
00:22:41.69\00:22:44.19
And thirdly,
He's saying to them,
00:22:44.23\00:22:46.90
the power that will
be manifested in you
00:22:46.93\00:22:49.86
can be manifested
because I placed a limit
00:22:49.90\00:22:52.73
on the work of the
prince of this world.
00:22:52.77\00:22:55.17
Now, the devil if he wanted
to, he can destroy us tonight,
00:22:55.20\00:22:57.17
but he cannot,
praise the Lord for that.
00:22:57.21\00:22:59.54
He cannot take our lives
00:22:59.57\00:23:00.91
because God has
placed a limit on him.
00:23:00.94\00:23:03.24
There's a boundary
beyond which he cannot go,
00:23:03.28\00:23:05.71
but look at this again.
00:23:05.75\00:23:09.28
Of sin because they
do not believe in Me.
00:23:09.32\00:23:12.55
What great evidence
today do we have in the world
00:23:12.59\00:23:14.59
and I don't
often ask for answers,
00:23:14.62\00:23:16.69
but let me just
kind of set the stage
00:23:16.73\00:23:18.13
because the
answer is so open-ended.
00:23:18.16\00:23:20.40
Which one is easier to believe
00:23:20.43\00:23:22.46
that we were
created accidentally,
00:23:22.50\00:23:24.40
that we were the
result of an explosion,
00:23:24.43\00:23:27.44
or that what we were
created by an intelligent being,
00:23:27.47\00:23:30.47
which one is easier to believe?
00:23:30.51\00:23:34.31
Why? Because we
all express what?
00:23:34.34\00:23:39.85
Okay, let me ask
another question.
00:23:39.88\00:23:41.48
Say it again. We
all express intelligent.
00:23:41.52\00:23:43.75
Let me just take it another way.
00:23:43.79\00:23:45.99
Which one would you
better identify with,
00:23:46.02\00:23:48.36
you are the result of
an explosive accident,
00:23:48.39\00:23:51.29
or you are the product
of a grand divine design,
00:23:51.33\00:23:54.16
which one would you prefer?
00:23:54.20\00:23:56.00
We're grand design.
00:23:56.03\00:23:57.37
If you look at the way
00:23:57.40\00:23:58.73
that God has
created any one of us.
00:23:58.77\00:24:00.94
The reason the
Lord has said here that,
00:24:00.97\00:24:03.34
of sin because they
do not believe in Me.
00:24:03.37\00:24:07.81
What does that have
to do with anything?
00:24:07.84\00:24:09.61
Let's go to John 3:16.
00:24:09.64\00:24:12.15
What does that have
to do with anything?
00:24:12.18\00:24:14.35
Okay.
00:24:14.38\00:24:16.62
Do you know that
text? Does anybody know it?
00:24:16.65\00:24:19.49
Okay.
00:24:19.52\00:24:21.52
Remember that because
they do not believe in Me.
00:24:21.56\00:24:25.16
What happens
00:24:25.19\00:24:26.53
when they do not believe in Him?
00:24:26.56\00:24:28.13
What's the
result? Okay, they perish.
00:24:28.16\00:24:31.33
So Jesus is
saying, the sin exist
00:24:31.37\00:24:33.74
because they
don't believe in Me,
00:24:33.77\00:24:35.90
and the end result
will occur, judgment.
00:24:35.94\00:24:40.14
When they don't believe in Me,
00:24:40.18\00:24:41.51
the end result is
inevitable, judgment.
00:24:41.54\00:24:44.11
But we're going to
see more as we go on.
00:24:44.15\00:24:46.08
They don't believe
in Me, therefore those
00:24:46.11\00:24:48.55
who do not
believe in Me will perish.
00:24:48.58\00:24:51.92
And of judgment
00:24:51.95\00:24:53.29
because the ruler of
this world is judged,
00:24:53.32\00:24:57.49
not will be
judged but is judged.
00:24:57.53\00:25:00.30
There was something
that Jesus was about to do
00:25:00.33\00:25:03.37
that will bring about judgment.
00:25:03.40\00:25:04.73
Go with me to Revelation 12
00:25:04.77\00:25:07.50
that will bring about judgment
of the prince of this world.
00:25:07.54\00:25:12.64
And one of the reasons why
the devil tried to stop Him
00:25:12.67\00:25:15.51
in His earthly
ministry is because he knew
00:25:15.54\00:25:17.25
that if Jesus accomplished this
that his judgment would come.
00:25:17.28\00:25:21.82
Look at
Revelation 12. All right.
00:25:21.85\00:25:26.02
And we are going
to go to verse 10.
00:25:26.05\00:25:29.56
And by the way, you'll
see the context of this.
00:25:29.59\00:25:34.83
Revelation 12:10,
00:25:34.86\00:25:37.63
this is the judgment that
Satan was hoping to avoid.
00:25:37.67\00:25:42.34
Revelation 12:10,
and the Bible says,
00:25:42.37\00:25:44.81
then I heard a
loud voice saying where?
00:25:44.84\00:25:48.81
In heaven, now
salvation and strength,
00:25:48.84\00:25:52.88
and the kingdom of our God
and the power of His Christ
00:25:52.91\00:25:56.28
has come for the," together
00:25:56.32\00:25:59.75
"accuser of our brethren
00:25:59.79\00:26:01.96
who accuses them
before our God day
00:26:01.99\00:26:05.63
and night has been cast" what?
00:26:05.66\00:26:07.30
"Cast down."
00:26:07.33\00:26:08.66
Now, get this, pause for moment.
00:26:08.70\00:26:10.33
He was cast out in the beginning
00:26:10.37\00:26:12.30
but now he's cast down.
00:26:12.33\00:26:14.47
What brought him down,
look at the very next verse.
00:26:14.50\00:26:17.11
"And they overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb,
00:26:17.14\00:26:20.44
and by the word
of their testimony,
00:26:20.48\00:26:22.88
and they did not love
their lives to the death
00:26:22.91\00:26:25.55
until the blood
of Jesus was shed."
00:26:25.58\00:26:28.92
Satan was only cast out.
00:26:28.95\00:26:31.29
When the blood of Jesus
was shed, he was cast down.
00:26:31.32\00:26:35.86
Look at the very next verse.
00:26:35.89\00:26:37.79
This is the
chronology, look at this.
00:26:37.83\00:26:40.06
Verse 12,
"Therefore rejoice," why?
00:26:40.10\00:26:42.30
Because he's been cast out,
00:26:42.33\00:26:43.97
because by the blood of Jesus
they overcame the wicked one.
00:26:44.00\00:26:48.10
And look at what the Bible says,
00:26:48.14\00:26:49.80
"Therefore rejoice, O heavens,
and you who dwell in them!
00:26:49.84\00:26:52.91
But woe to the inhabitants
of the earth and of the sea!
00:26:52.94\00:26:55.54
For the devil has come
down unto you," having what?
00:26:55.58\00:26:58.58
"Great wrath,
00:26:58.61\00:26:59.95
because he knows he has a" what?
00:26:59.98\00:27:01.58
"Short time."
That's the judgment.
00:27:01.62\00:27:04.19
He knows his time is short,
00:27:04.22\00:27:06.49
because of the blood of Jesus
he knows his time is short.
00:27:06.52\00:27:10.13
So the work of
the Holy Spirit here,
00:27:10.16\00:27:12.19
the conviction of
sin, and of righteousness,
00:27:12.23\00:27:14.90
and of judgment
is not only effective
00:27:14.93\00:27:18.00
in the world today,
but has been effected,
00:27:18.03\00:27:21.40
has been effective from the
day that sin entered the world.
00:27:21.44\00:27:24.77
Let's look at the next question
to see the evidence of that.
00:27:24.81\00:27:27.64
Question number
four. Question number four.
00:27:27.68\00:27:33.52
All right. Here it is.
00:27:33.55\00:27:37.19
How did the Holy
Spirit work on the hearts
00:27:37.22\00:27:40.36
of mankind in Noah's day?
00:27:40.39\00:27:42.76
Let's go to Genesis 6:3.
00:27:42.79\00:27:46.96
Genesis 6 and we're going
00:27:47.00\00:27:48.53
to look together at verse 3.
00:27:48.56\00:27:51.70
Right, look at verse 3.
00:27:54.80\00:27:56.37
I'm there.
00:28:01.31\00:28:03.51
Although I have
the text on the screen,
00:28:03.55\00:28:04.98
I'm going to
look at that together.
00:28:05.01\00:28:06.98
Right, here it is.
00:28:07.02\00:28:08.35
And the Lord said, "My" what?
00:28:13.12\00:28:17.23
"Spirit shall not
strive with man forever,
00:28:17.26\00:28:22.73
for he is indeed flesh,
yet his days shall be" what?
00:28:22.76\00:28:27.70
"One hundred and twenty years."
00:28:27.74\00:28:30.54
Now, you find here clearly,
00:28:30.57\00:28:32.87
let's put the
answer together first.
00:28:32.91\00:28:34.64
How did the Spirit work
00:28:34.68\00:28:36.68
on the hearts of
mankind in Noah's day?
00:28:36.71\00:28:38.55
What did he do? Strove.
00:28:38.58\00:28:43.49
S-T-R-O-V-E,
00:28:43.52\00:28:45.05
I won't always strive
but he strove with men,
00:28:45.09\00:28:47.26
that means he
combated with man's heart.
00:28:47.29\00:28:49.36
In other words, he
was working on mankind,
00:28:49.39\00:28:52.09
but mankind was not receptive
to the work of the Holy Spirit.
00:28:52.13\00:28:55.53
So therefore they ended
up on the outside of the ark.
00:28:55.56\00:28:58.73
In other words, he says,
00:28:58.77\00:29:00.10
I'm not going
to do this forever,
00:29:00.14\00:29:01.47
there is a time limit.
00:29:01.50\00:29:03.81
There's a time limit to the work
00:29:03.84\00:29:05.31
that God is going to do.
00:29:05.34\00:29:06.68
And what time limit
did the Bible indicate
00:29:06.71\00:29:09.28
from the time that
this is proclaimed,
00:29:09.31\00:29:10.65
what time limit
did the Bible give?
00:29:10.68\00:29:12.65
How long that it give?
Noah preached for how long?
00:29:12.68\00:29:16.18
A hundred and twenty
years, and that's a long time.
00:29:16.22\00:29:21.79
His sons were born, they
helped him build the ark.
00:29:21.82\00:29:24.19
And the Lord says,
00:29:24.23\00:29:25.56
"There's a time
limit to the work
00:29:25.59\00:29:26.93
of the Spirit of
God on this generation."
00:29:26.96\00:29:29.33
Now,
considering that people live
00:29:29.36\00:29:31.23
for hundreds of years,
00:29:31.27\00:29:32.60
there are some
people that probably live
00:29:32.63\00:29:34.40
from the time
Noah began to built
00:29:34.44\00:29:36.30
until the flood came,
00:29:36.34\00:29:38.01
and they did not
respond to the message,
00:29:38.04\00:29:40.28
that's the sad reality
00:29:40.31\00:29:41.64
and they ended up on
the outside of the ark.
00:29:41.68\00:29:44.81
But the key that we
wanted to bring out here
00:29:44.85\00:29:46.28
is the Spirit of God strives
with man, strives with man.
00:29:46.31\00:29:51.69
Now, how does he do that?
00:29:51.72\00:29:54.66
There are some individuals
00:29:54.69\00:29:56.62
that after giving
their hearts to God,
00:29:56.66\00:29:59.63
they said, you
know, I was battling with,
00:29:59.66\00:30:02.36
I was struggling with,
last week I was convicted of,
00:30:02.40\00:30:07.07
you know, I finally,
I'm finally giving in.
00:30:07.10\00:30:10.47
Those things don't happen
except the Spirit of God is
00:30:10.51\00:30:14.31
at work to bring
conviction to someone's life.
00:30:14.34\00:30:16.95
Go to John. Go
with me to John 3.
00:30:16.98\00:30:22.02
John 3.
00:30:22.05\00:30:23.39
Okay.
00:30:28.96\00:30:31.69
John 3.
00:30:31.73\00:30:33.06
And we're going
to look together,
00:30:33.09\00:30:34.50
add an example
of how this works.
00:30:34.53\00:30:37.97
John 3.
00:30:38.00\00:30:39.47
This is the conversation
00:30:39.50\00:30:40.84
that Jesus is having
with Nicodemus, with who?
00:30:40.87\00:30:43.14
Nicodemus.
00:30:43.17\00:30:44.51
And he's going
to talk about this.
00:30:44.54\00:30:45.87
Now, the reason why
I'm bringing this here is
00:30:45.91\00:30:47.24
because a lot of
times people say,
00:30:47.28\00:30:49.34
I was born again
on March 4, 1996.
00:30:49.38\00:30:54.72
And we say that may be
00:30:54.75\00:30:56.08
when you decided
to give your life
00:30:56.12\00:30:57.52
for the Lord,
00:30:57.55\00:30:58.89
but that's not
when the work began.
00:30:58.92\00:31:02.96
Somebody may say, I was
married on May 22, 1983,
00:31:02.99\00:31:05.73
but that was not the
day you fell in love.
00:31:05.76\00:31:08.50
The work began
already before that.
00:31:08.53\00:31:11.20
Somebody would
say, my house was...
00:31:11.23\00:31:13.84
We stepped into our new home
00:31:13.87\00:31:16.17
on January 1, 2015,
00:31:16.20\00:31:20.48
but that's not when
the building started.
00:31:20.51\00:31:23.35
There's always a process
00:31:23.38\00:31:24.71
leading up to a
point of acknowledgement.
00:31:24.75\00:31:26.28
Here's the point.
00:31:26.31\00:31:27.65
The striving of
the Spirit of God.
00:31:27.68\00:31:29.02
Notice, how the
Bible describes this.
00:31:29.05\00:31:31.55
John 3:5, let's start there.
00:31:31.59\00:31:35.96
Jesus answered, "Most
assuredly, I say to you,"
00:31:35.99\00:31:39.49
speaking to Nicodemus,
"Unless one is born of" what?
00:31:39.53\00:31:43.47
"Water and the Spirit,
00:31:43.50\00:31:45.43
he cannot enter
the kingdom of God.
00:31:45.47\00:31:47.90
That which is born
of the flesh is" what?
00:31:47.94\00:31:50.67
"Flesh, and that which is
born of the Spirit is" what?
00:31:50.71\00:31:52.81
"Spirit.
00:31:52.84\00:31:54.18
Do not marvel that I say
to you 'You must be" what?
00:31:54.21\00:31:57.35
"Born again."
00:31:57.38\00:31:58.71
Now notice, he's going
to talk about the process.
00:31:58.75\00:32:01.02
This is why when we select dates
00:32:01.05\00:32:03.15
of our new birth,
00:32:03.18\00:32:04.52
that may be the
day we were baptized,
00:32:04.55\00:32:05.89
but that's not
when the work began.
00:32:05.92\00:32:08.22
Look at this. Look at this.
00:32:08.26\00:32:10.36
"The wind blows where it wishes,
00:32:10.39\00:32:13.73
and you hear the sound of it,
00:32:13.76\00:32:16.20
but cannot tell where it
comes from and where it goes.
00:32:16.23\00:32:21.04
So is everyone who
is born of the" what?
00:32:21.07\00:32:24.37
"Spirit." You can't tell.
00:32:24.41\00:32:26.07
You don't know when it started,
00:32:26.11\00:32:27.68
like for example
in the Midwest here
00:32:27.71\00:32:29.04
we get wind warnings.
00:32:29.08\00:32:32.25
We look at the Doppler,
00:32:32.28\00:32:33.62
and we have weather
radios and they say,
00:32:33.65\00:32:36.25
there's a chance
of severe weather,
00:32:36.28\00:32:37.62
but we look at
the way it's moving,
00:32:37.65\00:32:38.99
the direction
it's going and we say,
00:32:39.02\00:32:40.82
"It might hit us,
it might miss us."
00:32:40.86\00:32:43.36
And then many of us say,
00:32:43.39\00:32:44.73
"Well, they always say
it's going to be a bad storm,"
00:32:44.76\00:32:46.70
and sometimes it is.
00:32:46.73\00:32:48.36
But we don't know,
and when we look at that,
00:32:48.40\00:32:50.57
if you looked at
that four days earlier,
00:32:50.60\00:32:52.47
you'll see it
crossing the plains of,
00:32:52.50\00:32:55.30
leaving Nevada or Utah,
00:32:55.34\00:32:57.74
then crossing
over into Colorado,
00:32:57.77\00:33:01.04
then you'll see
and sometimes it say,
00:33:01.08\00:33:02.91
"Well, it's a jet stream
that came down from Canada,
00:33:02.94\00:33:05.81
or a jet stream
that came up from Mexico,
00:33:05.85\00:33:08.58
or from the Caribbean."
00:33:08.62\00:33:09.95
It starts somewhere, we
don't know where it began
00:33:09.98\00:33:13.49
but we know when it gets to us,
00:33:13.52\00:33:15.02
and the point
I'm making is this.
00:33:15.06\00:33:16.39
We don't know
when the Spirit of God
00:33:16.42\00:33:18.69
began to work on us,
00:33:18.73\00:33:20.56
but a person that
comes to giving his
00:33:20.60\00:33:22.63
or her life to the Lord
after 25 years of prayer.
00:33:22.66\00:33:26.77
It didn't begin
at the 25th year.
00:33:26.80\00:33:28.90
The Spirit has been striving
00:33:28.94\00:33:30.27
with that person and praise God,
00:33:30.31\00:33:31.91
God has been giving them time.
00:33:31.94\00:33:33.91
Look at number five.
00:33:33.94\00:33:35.28
The striving
process is a lengthy one,
00:33:35.31\00:33:38.21
and when that person responds,
it's all in God's timing.
00:33:38.25\00:33:42.75
Question number five.
00:33:42.78\00:33:44.25
What work does
00:33:44.29\00:33:46.35
the Holy Spirit
perform in our behalf?
00:33:46.39\00:33:49.62
Let's look at Romans 8:26.
00:33:49.66\00:33:52.73
This one is interesting,
00:33:52.76\00:33:54.10
in that it reveals
something that we often miss.
00:33:54.13\00:33:57.87
It's one of those
scriptures that are...
00:33:57.90\00:34:02.07
That include, we
often read Romans 8:28,
00:34:02.10\00:34:04.94
"And we know that all
things work together for good
00:34:04.97\00:34:06.47
to those who" what?
00:34:06.51\00:34:07.84
"Love God."
00:34:07.88\00:34:09.21
We know that
scripture almost by heart.
00:34:09.24\00:34:10.58
But Romans 8:26 reveal
00:34:10.61\00:34:12.35
something about
the work of the Spirit
00:34:12.38\00:34:14.78
and it also corrects something
that's incorrect and exercise
00:34:14.82\00:34:18.89
that many
Christians are involved in.
00:34:18.92\00:34:21.06
Let's look at the
question and the answer.
00:34:21.09\00:34:22.82
What work does the
Holy Spirit perform
00:34:22.86\00:34:24.66
in our behalf Romans 8:26.
00:34:24.69\00:34:28.60
The Bible says, "Likewise..."
00:34:28.63\00:34:31.13
Let's look at
the screen together
00:34:31.17\00:34:32.50
'cause I want you to
emphasize the one that's yellow.
00:34:32.53\00:34:34.20
"Likewise the Spirit"
what? "Helps our" what?
00:34:34.24\00:34:38.07
"In our weakness.
00:34:38.11\00:34:39.71
For we do not know
00:34:39.74\00:34:41.48
what we should
pray for as we ought,
00:34:41.51\00:34:45.21
but the Spirit Himself" together
00:34:45.25\00:34:47.82
"makes intercession for us"
00:34:47.85\00:34:50.79
together "with groanings
which cannot be uttered."
00:34:50.82\00:34:56.22
So let me ask you the question.
00:34:56.26\00:34:58.46
Can we utter
00:34:58.49\00:35:01.33
what the Spirit
Himself is able to utter?
00:35:01.36\00:35:04.60
Yes or no? So
let's put it this way.
00:35:04.63\00:35:08.74
You can bring the
scripture down now.
00:35:08.77\00:35:10.84
Let's put it this way.
00:35:10.87\00:35:12.94
There is a work
00:35:12.97\00:35:14.31
that the Spirit
does that we cannot do,
00:35:14.34\00:35:16.54
and there is work
that we are called to do
00:35:16.58\00:35:18.01
that the Spirit is
not called to accomplish.
00:35:18.05\00:35:20.75
This utterance,
00:35:20.78\00:35:22.12
and I want to use
this to kind of lay
00:35:22.15\00:35:23.49
the foundation
for the further study
00:35:23.52\00:35:25.45
about the work
of the Holy Spirit.
00:35:25.49\00:35:27.99
There's a phrase and
let's put these down together.
00:35:28.02\00:35:30.19
Let's answer the question first.
00:35:30.23\00:35:31.89
What work does
00:35:31.93\00:35:33.26
the Spirit
perform in our behalf?
00:35:33.29\00:35:35.06
He makes what? He
makes intercession.
00:35:35.10\00:35:39.03
And when it says,
"He helps our weakness,
00:35:39.07\00:35:40.60
for we do not know
00:35:40.64\00:35:41.97
what we should
pray for as we ought."
00:35:42.00\00:35:43.67
Reminds me of the children
that run to their parents
00:35:43.71\00:35:46.61
and they ask some of
the most ridiculous things.
00:35:46.64\00:35:49.94
And the parent says to them,
00:35:49.98\00:35:51.98
"That's not
really what you need,
00:35:52.01\00:35:54.02
that's not
really what you want."
00:35:54.05\00:35:55.92
When I was growing up,
00:35:55.95\00:35:57.29
I asked my dad
for a Honda Accord
00:35:57.32\00:35:59.25
when they first
came out in 1976,
00:35:59.29\00:36:01.16
I'll never forget that story.
00:36:01.19\00:36:02.66
I was so excited
about the Honda Accord
00:36:02.69\00:36:04.23
when they first
came out with four doors.
00:36:04.26\00:36:06.66
I said, "Papa, I
need a Honda Accord."
00:36:06.70\00:36:09.66
And what I didn't know
00:36:09.70\00:36:11.10
is he didn't like
foreign cars at all,
00:36:11.13\00:36:12.77
particularly Japanese cars,
00:36:12.80\00:36:14.90
because he was raised in an era
00:36:14.94\00:36:16.27
when America was
at war with Japan.
00:36:16.30\00:36:18.01
So he said, "I'm not
buying any Japanese junk."
00:36:18.04\00:36:20.01
So I had to change my story.
00:36:20.04\00:36:21.78
Now today, it's
not Japanese junk.
00:36:21.81\00:36:24.81
But he said,
"That's not what you need.
00:36:24.85\00:36:28.35
What do you want?" I
said, "I need a Honda."
00:36:28.38\00:36:30.45
He said, "No, what
you mean is a car."
00:36:30.49\00:36:32.15
So I changed my tune, I
said, "Okay, I want a Buick."
00:36:32.19\00:36:34.62
I found out he liked
Buicks, he liked American cars,
00:36:34.66\00:36:37.66
and I didn't get that either.
00:36:37.69\00:36:41.96
But what he did
was gave me a $1, 000
00:36:42.00\00:36:43.90
and I went out and put
it down on a Japanese Toyota
00:36:43.93\00:36:47.80
which lasted for us
many years until we replaced
00:36:47.84\00:36:50.67
where we finally
get a new vehicle.
00:36:50.71\00:36:52.51
The point I'm
making is, what we ask for
00:36:52.54\00:36:54.84
and what we get is
what this text is all about.
00:36:54.88\00:36:58.21
Sometimes we pray and
say, "Lord, I need a job."
00:36:58.25\00:37:01.92
And we get upset
00:37:01.95\00:37:03.28
when God doesn't
give us the job that we go
00:37:03.32\00:37:05.12
to get interviewed for.
00:37:05.15\00:37:07.49
But what the Holy Spirit
knows is that we need a job,
00:37:07.52\00:37:10.59
but what the Spirit of
God is able to do is to see
00:37:10.63\00:37:14.20
beyond the present need
we have to what may happen
00:37:14.23\00:37:19.23
if we get that particular job.
00:37:19.27\00:37:22.07
So we will go
for a job interview
00:37:22.10\00:37:23.47
and somebody will say,
00:37:23.51\00:37:25.07
"You know, I've been
on nine job interviews
00:37:25.11\00:37:26.98
in two months and I
did not get a single job."
00:37:27.01\00:37:29.44
You know why?
00:37:29.48\00:37:31.15
Because the Spirit
knows that we do not know
00:37:31.18\00:37:34.58
what we should pray
for, or how we should pray.
00:37:34.62\00:37:37.22
So sometimes we are
saying, "I need that job."
00:37:37.25\00:37:38.95
But the Lord says,
"No, you need a job
00:37:38.99\00:37:41.62
that won't cause you
to work on the Sabbath."
00:37:41.66\00:37:45.03
So far all the
jobs you've interviewed
00:37:45.06\00:37:46.86
for will require you
to work on the Sabbath.
00:37:46.90\00:37:48.76
So the Spirit now
takes that prayer and says,
00:37:48.80\00:37:51.90
"Lord, so and so needs a job,
00:37:51.93\00:37:55.57
but one that's in
harmony with Your will."
00:37:55.60\00:37:58.24
So while they're
praying just for a job,
00:37:58.27\00:37:59.97
and here's the point,
00:38:00.01\00:38:01.34
the Lord will
never give you a job
00:38:01.38\00:38:03.18
that will lead you to
violate His commandments.
00:38:03.21\00:38:06.65
So that's why it
says, "For we do not know
00:38:06.68\00:38:08.88
what we should
pray for as we ought."
00:38:08.92\00:38:10.85
So what happens is
the Spirit now takes that
00:38:10.89\00:38:13.92
and he communicates
with the Father in a way
00:38:13.96\00:38:15.79
that we cannot communicate,
in a way that we cannot,
00:38:15.82\00:38:18.59
with groanings
which cannot be uttered.
00:38:18.63\00:38:20.23
And by the way,
00:38:20.26\00:38:21.63
there is no
secret prayer language.
00:38:21.66\00:38:23.87
Can you say amen to that?
00:38:23.90\00:38:25.63
Some people think, "Well,
there's a prayer language.
00:38:25.67\00:38:27.17
If I could just
speak in tongues,
00:38:27.20\00:38:29.40
then the devil won't be
able to hear what I'm saying."
00:38:29.44\00:38:31.57
There is no prayer language
00:38:31.61\00:38:34.01
that camouflage communication
between you and God.
00:38:34.04\00:38:37.68
If man could do it, the
devil could understand it.
00:38:37.71\00:38:40.22
We'll talk about
that in just a moment.
00:38:40.25\00:38:42.05
But this is
something that is done
00:38:42.08\00:38:43.82
by the Spirit of
God and get the point,
00:38:43.85\00:38:46.02
which cannot be uttered,
which means, we cannot do it.
00:38:46.05\00:38:50.93
All right.
00:38:50.96\00:38:52.29
Let's go to the
very next question.
00:38:52.33\00:38:53.66
Question number six.
00:38:53.70\00:38:55.03
We're moving right along,
00:38:55.06\00:38:56.40
but as I said, don't
expect to get to 20 tonight.
00:38:56.43\00:38:58.97
All right.
00:38:59.00\00:39:00.54
Don't expect to
get to 20 tonight.
00:39:00.57\00:39:03.44
All right.
00:39:03.47\00:39:05.81
What does the Spirit have
00:39:05.84\00:39:08.78
that enables His ministry?
00:39:08.81\00:39:12.05
What does the Spirit have
00:39:12.08\00:39:15.18
that enables His ministry?
00:39:15.22\00:39:20.16
Wow!
00:39:20.19\00:39:21.52
This is the very next verse,
00:39:21.56\00:39:22.89
but we have to turn
there to understand this.
00:39:22.92\00:39:24.26
What does the Spirit,
00:39:28.56\00:39:30.27
the Holy Spirit have
that enables His ministry?
00:39:30.30\00:39:33.13
More specifically, I
could term it another way.
00:39:33.17\00:39:35.50
What does He have
00:39:35.54\00:39:36.87
that we don't that
enables Him to minister
00:39:36.91\00:39:40.28
in our behalf?
00:39:40.31\00:39:41.64
Now, that was a long question,
that's why I narrowed it down
00:39:41.68\00:39:43.95
because I couldn't get
all that on the screen.
00:39:43.98\00:39:45.81
But what does He possess
that enables Him to minister
00:39:45.85\00:39:49.28
in our behalf?
00:39:49.32\00:39:50.69
Let's go to the
answer in Romans 8:27.
00:39:50.72\00:39:53.05
Here it is.
00:39:53.09\00:39:54.82
Now, I'll break
down some of the genders
00:39:54.86\00:39:56.32
that are mentioned here.
00:39:56.36\00:39:57.69
Now here it is.
00:39:57.73\00:39:59.06
"Now he who
searches the hearts know
00:39:59.09\00:40:02.76
what the mind of the Spirit is,
00:40:02.80\00:40:06.23
because he makes
intercession for the saints
00:40:06.27\00:40:10.07
according to the will of God."
00:40:10.11\00:40:11.91
Now, this is a
powerful context here.
00:40:11.94\00:40:13.88
Now, he who searches the hearts.
00:40:13.91\00:40:15.98
Who searches the hearts?
00:40:16.01\00:40:17.35
Now, you've got to get this.
00:40:22.48\00:40:23.89
He who searches the heart knows
00:40:23.92\00:40:25.59
what the mind of the Spirit is.
00:40:25.62\00:40:27.36
God searches our hearts.
00:40:27.39\00:40:29.92
The Father is
searching our hearts.
00:40:29.96\00:40:32.39
But He and the Spirit
are on the same plane.
00:40:32.43\00:40:36.60
He knows the mind of the Spirit.
00:40:36.63\00:40:40.07
So therefore, the
mind of the Spirit
00:40:40.10\00:40:42.74
and God the Father
are on the same plane,
00:40:42.77\00:40:47.01
which enables Him
to minister for us
00:40:47.04\00:40:49.24
in the fact that
our mind and God's mind
00:40:49.28\00:40:52.48
is not on the same plane,
00:40:52.51\00:40:53.85
that's why later on
the Apostle Paul said,
00:40:53.88\00:40:55.82
"Let this mind be in you
which is also in Christ Jesus."
00:40:55.85\00:40:59.79
He has a connection
with God that we don't have,
00:40:59.82\00:41:01.82
therefore He's able
to make intercession
00:41:01.86\00:41:05.26
according to the will of God.
00:41:05.29\00:41:06.80
Now, let's go to 1 John,
00:41:06.83\00:41:08.63
let me show you a
particular prayer.
00:41:08.66\00:41:12.10
The reason why
prayers get answered.
00:41:12.13\00:41:13.80
Let me show you this, 1 John 3.
00:41:13.84\00:41:18.64
Okay. Okay, 1 John 5.
00:41:18.67\00:41:24.81
Have you ever prayed
00:41:24.85\00:41:26.18
and your prayer
didn't get answered?
00:41:26.21\00:41:28.22
Come on, talk to me, yes or no?
00:41:28.25\00:41:29.75
Yes. Okay.
00:41:29.78\00:41:31.12
Well, there is no such
thing. All prayers get answered.
00:41:31.15\00:41:35.02
There is no such thing
as an unanswered prayer.
00:41:35.06\00:41:37.66
God just doesn't
answer it the way that
00:41:37.69\00:41:40.46
we wanted to be answered,
but there is no such thing
00:41:40.50\00:41:43.10
as an unanswered prayer.
00:41:43.13\00:41:44.47
Now, there's a prayer
that, you know, the Bible says,
00:41:44.50\00:41:46.74
"He who turns his
ear from hearing the law,
00:41:46.77\00:41:48.37
even his prayer
is an abomination."
00:41:48.40\00:41:50.24
But there is no such
thing as an unanswered prayer.
00:41:50.27\00:41:52.17
Here's the key.
00:41:52.21\00:41:53.54
Now, I'm going to use
it in the context of this
00:41:53.58\00:41:56.38
because the Holy
Spirit makes intercession
00:41:56.41\00:41:59.31
according to the what?
00:41:59.35\00:42:01.88
Talk to me,
according to the what?
00:42:01.92\00:42:03.85
According to the will of God.
00:42:03.89\00:42:06.25
So the intercession, the
communication between Him
00:42:06.29\00:42:08.62
and God for us is
according to God's will.
00:42:08.66\00:42:12.49
Now, look at this text.
00:42:12.53\00:42:13.90
Maybe it will come
into clearer picture here.
00:42:13.93\00:42:16.00
1 John 5:14.
00:42:16.03\00:42:19.10
Now this is the...
00:42:19.13\00:42:20.77
What's the next word?
00:42:20.80\00:42:22.64
Confidence that we have in Him,
00:42:22.67\00:42:25.61
that if we ask
anything according to what?
00:42:25.64\00:42:31.11
His will, He what? Hears us.
00:42:31.15\00:42:34.68
Now, what does the
Holy Spirit do here?
00:42:34.72\00:42:37.59
He makes intercession
00:42:37.62\00:42:38.95
for the saints
according to what?
00:42:38.99\00:42:40.69
The will of God.
00:42:40.72\00:42:42.06
And the Bible says,
00:42:42.09\00:42:43.43
"If we ask anything according
to God's will, He what?
00:42:43.46\00:42:47.30
Hears us.
00:42:47.33\00:42:49.83
But let's look at the next part.
00:42:49.86\00:42:52.13
And if we know that He
hears us whatever we ask,
00:42:52.17\00:42:57.64
we know that we have
00:42:57.67\00:43:01.11
the petition that we ask of Him.
00:43:01.14\00:43:04.31
Now get this.
00:43:04.35\00:43:05.68
If we ask according to
what? According to what?
00:43:05.71\00:43:08.78
Say, talk to me,
according to what?
00:43:08.82\00:43:10.55
His Word. Let's
say together, what?
00:43:10.59\00:43:12.32
His will.
00:43:12.35\00:43:13.69
Now, if every prayer we prayed
was according to God's will,
00:43:13.72\00:43:19.39
there will be no such
thing as an unanswered prayer.
00:43:19.43\00:43:22.36
It will always be
responded to because He says,
00:43:22.40\00:43:25.07
if we know, it's in
harmony with God's will,
00:43:25.10\00:43:29.00
He hears us and then
00:43:29.04\00:43:30.64
we have the
petition that we ask.
00:43:30.67\00:43:32.84
You know what
the scripture says.
00:43:38.21\00:43:40.08
So if you pray
according to God's will,
00:43:40.12\00:43:41.88
will He say no?
00:43:41.92\00:43:44.42
What are two
other possibilities now?
00:43:44.45\00:43:47.56
He didn't say no.
Okay, say it again.
00:43:47.59\00:43:49.32
Wait and yes.
00:43:49.36\00:43:51.83
Yes doesn't mean now,
00:43:51.86\00:43:53.73
it means, yes, sometimes now
00:43:53.76\00:43:56.00
and, or sometimes yes
and wait, but the key is,
00:43:56.03\00:43:59.13
if we pray
according to God's will.
00:43:59.17\00:44:00.74
Now, here's where
the Spirit comes in,
00:44:00.77\00:44:02.57
and I want to
make this very clear.
00:44:02.60\00:44:04.07
Sometimes we pray
00:44:04.11\00:44:05.44
but it's not in
harmony with God's will,
00:44:05.47\00:44:07.61
so the Spirit says,
00:44:07.64\00:44:08.98
"Father, this is
really what Yannick needs."
00:44:09.01\00:44:14.95
So I'm packaging this in harmony
00:44:14.98\00:44:19.69
with Your will for Yannick.
00:44:19.72\00:44:22.82
So that his heart can
be softened to receive
00:44:22.86\00:44:25.39
it according to Your will.
00:44:25.43\00:44:27.73
Somebody once said to me,
00:44:27.76\00:44:29.43
"I was praying for a
job and I got the job."
00:44:29.46\00:44:33.27
We didn't see them again.
00:44:33.30\00:44:35.64
And we said, "What happened?"
00:44:35.67\00:44:37.57
They said, "We have
to work on Saturdays."
00:44:37.61\00:44:40.38
Did God give them
that job? Come on.
00:44:40.41\00:44:42.34
No, God never answers a prayer
to violate His commandments.
00:44:42.38\00:44:48.22
But it was a test,
00:44:48.25\00:44:50.99
and they did
not endure the test.
00:44:51.02\00:44:52.95
So the key is, the
Spirit works in harmony
00:44:52.99\00:44:54.92
with the will of God,
so sometimes when we pray,
00:44:54.96\00:44:57.06
the reason why this text
is here is it saying to us,
00:44:57.09\00:44:59.49
"Don't lose heart
00:44:59.53\00:45:00.86
because even when you don't know
00:45:00.90\00:45:02.56
what you should pray for,
00:45:02.60\00:45:03.97
the Spirit of God
00:45:04.00\00:45:05.33
is still working in our behalf."
00:45:05.37\00:45:06.70
Amen, somebody? He
still works in our behalf.
00:45:06.74\00:45:10.31
Go to question number
seven. Question number seven.
00:45:10.34\00:45:13.14
Even when we don't know
what we should pray for,
00:45:17.81\00:45:20.35
He's still
working in our behalf.
00:45:20.38\00:45:23.32
All right.
00:45:23.35\00:45:26.05
How important is it to
respond to the promptings
00:45:26.09\00:45:31.39
of the Holy Spirit?
00:45:31.43\00:45:33.26
How important is it to respond
00:45:33.29\00:45:36.00
to the promptings
of the Holy Spirit?
00:45:36.03\00:45:39.67
Question number
seven. How important is it?
00:45:39.70\00:45:43.77
We'll all answer
with what phrase?
00:45:43.81\00:45:46.61
Very important.
00:45:46.64\00:45:49.51
Let's even go further than that.
00:45:49.54\00:45:52.21
Imperative, let's go
even further than that,
00:45:52.25\00:45:54.65
of eternal importance.
00:45:54.68\00:45:57.29
All right.
00:45:57.32\00:45:59.39
Matthew 12:31. Matthew 12:31.
00:45:59.42\00:46:05.86
Wow.
00:46:05.89\00:46:09.06
This text was used to
preach so many sermons.
00:46:09.10\00:46:13.50
Some call the unpardonable sin.
00:46:13.54\00:46:17.17
Other terminologies were given,
00:46:17.21\00:46:18.54
but look what
the Bible says here.
00:46:18.57\00:46:20.28
And by the way turn to Matthew,
00:46:20.31\00:46:22.24
because there's a
verse leading up to this.
00:46:22.28\00:46:26.51
I know you are.
I'm getting there.
00:46:26.55\00:46:27.98
That's kind of
like a, let me catch up
00:46:28.02\00:46:29.82
with you kind of terminology.
00:46:29.85\00:46:32.25
I saw you all turning,
but I'm there now, all right.
00:46:32.29\00:46:36.89
Matthew 12:31.
00:46:36.93\00:46:40.83
Let's go ahead and
I'm going to read...
00:46:40.86\00:46:46.13
Yeah, let's start with verse 31
00:46:46.17\00:46:47.70
and that will
come on the screen.
00:46:47.74\00:46:49.37
Here it is.
00:46:49.40\00:46:50.74
"Therefore I say to you..."
00:46:50.77\00:46:53.27
Let's say next word together.
00:46:53.31\00:46:55.68
"Every sin and
blasphemy will be forgiven men,
00:46:55.71\00:47:01.32
but the blasphemy
against the Spirit
00:47:01.35\00:47:05.85
will not be forgiven men."
00:47:05.89\00:47:09.49
Now you find one word that's...
00:47:09.52\00:47:13.36
In the beginning of a statement
00:47:13.40\00:47:15.26
that's also
included in reference
00:47:15.30\00:47:16.67
to the Spirit of God,
the word is blasphemy.
00:47:16.70\00:47:21.07
Now blasphemy, if
you look at the Bible,
00:47:21.10\00:47:23.77
it's used in terms,
00:47:23.81\00:47:25.24
and matter of fact the Jews
00:47:25.27\00:47:27.34
accused Jesus of
being blasphemous.
00:47:27.38\00:47:29.68
They said to Him,
00:47:29.71\00:47:31.05
"You being man
say that you are God."
00:47:31.08\00:47:34.02
And then on the
other terminology,
00:47:34.05\00:47:35.58
they said that
00:47:35.62\00:47:36.95
"How can You, no man
can forgive sin but God."
00:47:36.99\00:47:40.79
So on those two terminologies,
they try to indict Jesus
00:47:40.82\00:47:43.63
as being blasphemous,
00:47:43.66\00:47:45.86
but what is being
referred to here is not men
00:47:45.89\00:47:49.33
taking the place of God,
or men trying to forgive sins,
00:47:49.36\00:47:52.47
but what is being talked
about here is when you...
00:47:52.50\00:47:56.20
Oh, this is a powerful text.
00:47:56.24\00:47:57.77
It's not just when you
ignore the Spirit of God,
00:47:57.81\00:48:01.94
but when you fight
against the convicting power
00:48:01.98\00:48:06.85
of the Spirit of God,
00:48:06.88\00:48:08.22
when you almost
strive to resist as...
00:48:08.25\00:48:13.19
Such a powerful force here
in the context of the verse,
00:48:13.22\00:48:16.22
this is put together
almost in the battlements sense
00:48:16.26\00:48:19.46
that I don't want to hear,
I don't want to believe that,
00:48:19.49\00:48:21.86
I'm not going to receive
it, I don't care what you say.
00:48:21.90\00:48:24.60
It's a constant,
00:48:24.63\00:48:25.97
it's a persistent
refusal, resistance.
00:48:26.00\00:48:28.60
I don't really care
what you have to say.
00:48:28.64\00:48:31.47
I saw a commercial
that really brought...
00:48:31.51\00:48:34.18
I saw a commercial that really
emphasizes this to the hilt.
00:48:34.21\00:48:40.02
And I won't mention his name.
00:48:40.05\00:48:43.08
Well, it's on television,
okay, I'll mention his name,
00:48:43.12\00:48:45.52
Ron Reagan, the son
of former Ronald Reagan.
00:48:45.55\00:48:49.06
I'm Ron Reagan
and avowed atheist.
00:48:49.09\00:48:51.79
And I'd like you to
join me in my movement
00:48:51.83\00:48:55.56
of freedom from religion.
00:48:55.60\00:48:58.47
He wants to start a
movement freedom from religion.
00:48:58.50\00:49:02.04
He wants to stop
00:49:02.07\00:49:03.41
the intrusion of
Christianity in the government.
00:49:03.44\00:49:06.31
Now we believe in church
and state being separate,
00:49:06.34\00:49:08.54
but he said
freedom from religion.
00:49:08.58\00:49:10.78
And then he ends the
commercial by saying,
00:49:10.81\00:49:13.18
"I am unashamed, avowed atheist,
00:49:13.21\00:49:16.05
who is not
afraid to burn in hell."
00:49:16.08\00:49:18.09
That's this text.
00:49:22.19\00:49:23.93
"I am unashamed, avowed atheist,
00:49:23.96\00:49:26.43
and I'm not ashamed,
00:49:26.46\00:49:27.80
and I'm not
afraid to burn in hell."
00:49:27.83\00:49:30.03
That's what this is.
00:49:30.07\00:49:32.37
When you verbally say that,
I'm not afraid to burn in hell,
00:49:32.40\00:49:36.54
you know the judge,
00:49:36.57\00:49:37.91
you are expressing
the judgment to come,
00:49:37.94\00:49:40.21
but in his pea brain,
00:49:40.24\00:49:43.21
he doesn't have a clue
of what he's talking about,
00:49:43.24\00:49:47.18
because he's not going to be,
00:49:47.22\00:49:48.55
"Hey, guys, that's kind of
hot, ooh, look out, be careful."
00:49:48.58\00:49:52.02
Don't want to even
be light on that topic.
00:49:52.05\00:49:53.89
He's speaking
about his eternal...
00:49:53.92\00:49:55.56
He's speaking about his
eternal destiny, he says,
00:49:55.59\00:49:58.23
"I'm unashamed, avowed atheist,
00:49:58.26\00:49:59.86
and I'm not
afraid to burn in hell."
00:49:59.89\00:50:01.23
I have it on my phone,
00:50:01.26\00:50:02.60
I taped it and I
thought to myself,
00:50:02.63\00:50:04.07
"How could
somebody actually promulgate
00:50:04.10\00:50:06.53
and proliferate that
throughout the world."
00:50:06.57\00:50:09.24
But that is what
I'm talking about.
00:50:09.27\00:50:10.91
They are so recalcitrant
00:50:10.94\00:50:13.31
against the work
of the Spirit of God
00:50:13.34\00:50:15.54
that they know their
destiny and they said,
00:50:15.58\00:50:17.68
"I've accepted my
fate, I'm gonna burn in hell,
00:50:17.71\00:50:20.55
bring it on."
00:50:20.58\00:50:22.72
That's blasphemy
against the Spirit of God.
00:50:22.75\00:50:24.85
So, can God's
Spirit do anything for him?
00:50:24.89\00:50:28.19
Yes or no?
00:50:28.22\00:50:30.66
Because he said, "I
know where I'm going,
00:50:30.69\00:50:33.26
I'm ready to go there.
00:50:33.29\00:50:35.33
When the hellfires
come, I'm not afraid of it,
00:50:35.36\00:50:37.50
just bring it on."
00:50:37.53\00:50:40.24
He shuts the door.
Now, closed the door.
00:50:40.27\00:50:44.24
Now, whether or not he
has crossed the boundary,
00:50:44.27\00:50:49.38
he actually has advertised that,
00:50:49.41\00:50:50.81
but whether or not
00:50:50.85\00:50:52.18
God can break
through his foolish mind
00:50:52.21\00:50:54.45
is still to be seen.
00:50:54.48\00:50:55.88
I'm not saying he's
going to end up in hell,
00:50:55.92\00:50:57.62
but to say that is
somewhat of an indication
00:50:57.65\00:51:00.19
that I don't really
want to hear anything
00:51:00.22\00:51:02.26
that God has to say,
00:51:02.29\00:51:03.73
I've chosen my direction.
00:51:03.76\00:51:05.09
Thank you, honey, and
the Lord is not willing
00:51:08.26\00:51:10.00
that any should perish,
00:51:10.03\00:51:11.37
but that all
should come to repentance.
00:51:11.40\00:51:13.40
Now, somewhere
along the way maybe,
00:51:13.44\00:51:16.47
maybe if circumstances
change, there might be a chance.
00:51:16.50\00:51:19.84
But I tell you, that's as close
00:51:19.87\00:51:21.44
as I've ever heard somebody say,
00:51:21.48\00:51:23.68
I really don't care
and I want you to join me
00:51:23.71\00:51:28.18
in my campaign against religion
in America or in politics.
00:51:28.22\00:51:33.42
Wow!
00:51:33.46\00:51:34.79
The point of the
matter is, don't,
00:51:34.82\00:51:36.26
when you hear the voice of
God as one person once said,
00:51:36.29\00:51:38.66
when a child hears a
voice and parents know this
00:51:38.69\00:51:41.90
or they might say...
00:51:41.93\00:51:44.27
Timothy.
00:51:44.30\00:51:47.07
Oh, Timothy. Timothy.
00:51:47.10\00:51:51.94
Are you there,
Timothy? Yes, mom.
00:51:51.97\00:51:57.35
Timothy, I've called
you four times already,
00:51:57.38\00:51:59.08
you haven't responded.
00:51:59.11\00:52:00.45
Are you there, Timothy?
00:52:00.48\00:52:02.85
Timothy, are you here today?
00:52:02.88\00:52:04.95
Timothy, if you're here,
00:52:04.99\00:52:06.32
come here for a moment please?
00:52:06.35\00:52:08.16
Timothy.
00:52:08.19\00:52:10.29
Oh, Timothy, I'm
serious. Come on down here.
00:52:10.33\00:52:15.70
Come here, Timothy,
00:52:15.73\00:52:17.73
you know how long he's heard me.
00:52:17.77\00:52:21.07
Come over here, Timothy.
Oh, no, not with the glasses.
00:52:21.10\00:52:25.44
Timothy, he finally responded
to my call after six times.
00:52:25.47\00:52:30.91
Did you hear me
call you the first time?
00:52:30.95\00:52:33.11
Yeah. And what happened?
00:52:33.15\00:52:35.85
I heard you.
You heard me, right?
00:52:35.88\00:52:37.89
But you didn't think
I was serious, right?
00:52:37.92\00:52:39.95
You thought I was kidding,
00:52:39.99\00:52:41.32
when did you
decide I was serious.
00:52:41.36\00:52:43.66
About the fifth or sixth time.
00:52:43.69\00:52:45.59
Okay. Okay.
00:52:45.63\00:52:46.96
That's what I meant,
that's what I'm talking about.
00:52:47.00\00:52:49.20
People, they say,
00:52:49.23\00:52:50.57
"I heard God's voice,
but did He really mean me."
00:52:50.60\00:52:54.04
You know, the Bible says,
00:52:54.07\00:52:55.77
"You'll hear a
voice behind you say
00:52:55.80\00:52:57.61
this is the way, walk in it."
00:52:57.64\00:53:00.14
Samuel heard the
voice of the Lord say,
00:53:00.18\00:53:02.14
speak Lord for your what?
00:53:02.18\00:53:03.95
Servant heareth.
00:53:03.98\00:53:05.31
When you hear the
voice, don't ignore it
00:53:05.35\00:53:08.08
because it's a
still small voice.
00:53:08.12\00:53:10.55
God doesn't often
speak in the thunder
00:53:10.59\00:53:13.05
and in the lightning,
00:53:13.09\00:53:14.66
sometimes He speaks
in a still small voice
00:53:14.69\00:53:17.16
and the prompting will
come to your heart sometimes
00:53:17.19\00:53:19.06
and you'll say, "Ah.
00:53:19.09\00:53:22.06
I know God's talking to me,"
00:53:22.10\00:53:23.93
but then we turn that voice off.
00:53:23.97\00:53:26.94
And that's where we
move in the direction
00:53:26.97\00:53:29.17
where we can possibly
grieve the Spirit of God,
00:53:29.20\00:53:31.91
and then what
happens is that very voice
00:53:31.94\00:53:34.61
that we have
chosen not to listen to
00:53:34.64\00:53:36.78
is the voice one day
we wish we would hear.
00:53:36.81\00:53:39.51
Wow!
00:53:39.55\00:53:40.88
Let's go to
question number eight.
00:53:40.92\00:53:43.12
How important is it to respond?
00:53:43.15\00:53:45.32
You can grieve
the Spirit of God.
00:53:45.35\00:53:47.46
That can be a
blasphemous decision
00:53:47.49\00:53:49.79
to turn away from the
voice of God's Holy Spirit.
00:53:49.82\00:53:53.50
Number eight. Number eight. Wow!
00:53:53.53\00:53:59.27
In what position
does the Bible categorize
00:53:59.30\00:54:03.77
the Holy Spirit to be?
00:54:03.81\00:54:07.18
In what position...
00:54:07.21\00:54:08.81
Let's go to Acts 5.
00:54:08.84\00:54:10.48
In what position
does the Bible categorize
00:54:10.51\00:54:14.68
the Holy Spirit to be?
00:54:14.72\00:54:17.02
Let's go to Acts 5.
00:54:17.05\00:54:20.69
The story is the
beginning of the birth
00:54:20.72\00:54:22.56
of the New Testament church.
00:54:22.59\00:54:26.90
They were pulling their
administration together,
00:54:26.93\00:54:29.76
they were pulling
their resources together,
00:54:29.80\00:54:32.73
people were poor, some
people were without possessions,
00:54:32.77\00:54:35.84
and one Sabbath
00:54:35.87\00:54:38.94
or whether during the week
00:54:38.97\00:54:40.31
or whenever the
campaign was made,
00:54:40.34\00:54:42.08
the call was,
00:54:42.11\00:54:43.45
how many of you want to donate
00:54:43.48\00:54:44.81
what you have and
the call was made,
00:54:44.85\00:54:46.88
and people started
raising their hands,
00:54:46.92\00:54:48.52
"I got some
property, I'll sell it."
00:54:48.55\00:54:50.69
And a man by the name of Ananias
00:54:50.72\00:54:52.69
and his wife Sapphira said,
00:54:52.72\00:54:54.29
"I've got some land,
00:54:54.32\00:54:55.66
seem like
nothing's happening with it,
00:54:55.69\00:54:57.33
so we'll go ahead and
sell it and whatever comes in,
00:54:57.36\00:54:59.93
we'll give it to the church."
00:54:59.96\00:55:04.27
Whenever you make
that dedication to give
00:55:04.30\00:55:06.84
what you have to God,
00:55:06.87\00:55:08.20
God blesses it
and multiplies it.
00:55:08.24\00:55:10.24
So God blessed and multiplied
00:55:10.27\00:55:11.77
what Ananias and Sapphira had
00:55:11.81\00:55:13.98
and they came when everyone
was bringing in their gifts,
00:55:14.01\00:55:17.75
and their alms,
and their offerings,
00:55:17.78\00:55:19.75
and they lined up
and one day time came
00:55:19.78\00:55:22.62
to give in the offering.
00:55:22.65\00:55:24.15
Look at the story, Acts
5, I'm going to go over,
00:55:24.19\00:55:26.65
but don't bring the
text up on the screen yet.
00:55:26.69\00:55:28.99
Verse 2, it says,
00:55:29.02\00:55:30.36
"But he kept back
part of the proceeds,
00:55:30.39\00:55:32.53
his wife also being aware of it,
00:55:32.56\00:55:34.96
and brought a certain part
00:55:35.00\00:55:36.33
and laid it at
the apostles' feet."
00:55:36.36\00:55:38.20
Now, bring the text up.
00:55:38.23\00:55:39.93
But Peter said, "Ananias,
00:55:39.97\00:55:42.70
why has Satan
00:55:42.74\00:55:47.48
filled your heart to
lie to the Holy Spirit
00:55:47.51\00:55:51.61
and keep back part of the
price of the land for yourself?"
00:55:51.65\00:55:56.35
And look at verse 4,
00:55:56.38\00:55:58.39
"While it remained,
was it not your own?
00:55:58.42\00:56:01.12
And after it was sold, was
it not in your own control?
00:56:01.16\00:56:06.29
Why have you conceived
this thing in your heart?"
00:56:06.33\00:56:10.33
Together, "You have not
lied to men but to God."
00:56:10.37\00:56:14.90
In what category did
00:56:14.94\00:56:17.41
the Bible put
the Holy Spirit, God.
00:56:17.44\00:56:21.98
You lied to the Holy
Spirit, you lied to God.
00:56:22.01\00:56:24.91
When we lie, we lie to God.
00:56:24.95\00:56:28.08
When the Holy
Spirit appeals to us
00:56:28.12\00:56:29.75
and we refuse to
respond, we are lying to God.
00:56:29.78\00:56:33.76
So now, if you lie to God,
are there going to be results?
00:56:33.79\00:56:37.63
Well, we know what happened.
00:56:37.66\00:56:39.36
We know what happened.
I'll just go and wind up.
00:56:39.39\00:56:41.13
I won't go to the
next question for tonight,
00:56:41.16\00:56:43.50
but I'll go and
wind up the story
00:56:43.53\00:56:44.87
since we have just
about a minute or so left.
00:56:44.90\00:56:47.27
It says in verse 5,
00:56:47.30\00:56:50.34
"Then Ananias,
hearing these words,
00:56:50.37\00:56:52.27
fell down and
breathed his last."
00:56:52.31\00:56:55.14
He died.
00:56:55.18\00:56:56.51
I had a sermon called
heart attacks in holy places.
00:56:56.54\00:56:59.21
This is it.
00:56:59.25\00:57:00.58
"So great fear
came upon all those
00:57:00.62\00:57:02.72
who heard these things.
00:57:02.75\00:57:04.75
And the young men
arose, the deacons arose,
00:57:04.79\00:57:07.52
and wrapped him
up, carried him out,
00:57:07.56\00:57:09.32
and buried him.
00:57:09.36\00:57:10.69
Now it was about three
hours later" in verse 7,
00:57:10.73\00:57:14.66
"when his wife came in,
not knowing what had happened."
00:57:14.70\00:57:17.83
She told the same lie.
00:57:17.87\00:57:19.50
In verse 8, "And
Peter answered her,
00:57:19.53\00:57:21.47
"Tell me whether you
sold the land for so much?"
00:57:21.50\00:57:24.27
And she said,
"Yes, for so much."
00:57:24.31\00:57:27.18
And she died.
00:57:27.21\00:57:28.54
And verse 10, I'm
going to go and read it
00:57:28.58\00:57:29.91
because our time is running.
00:57:29.94\00:57:31.28
"She fell down and
breathed her last breath.
00:57:31.31\00:57:34.65
And they came
and carried her out
00:57:34.68\00:57:36.42
and buried her by her husband."
00:57:36.45\00:57:38.72
So what happened
here is a sad story,
00:57:38.75\00:57:41.06
as the church was
beginning to be formed.
00:57:41.09\00:57:43.16
Now the reason why
this happened was God
00:57:43.19\00:57:44.89
didn't want the church to think
00:57:44.93\00:57:46.49
that they could
lie to the Holy Spirit
00:57:46.53\00:57:48.06
and still have a
successful walk with God.
00:57:48.10\00:57:50.67
So, friends, as you think
about this topic in the way
00:57:50.70\00:57:52.53
that God is working on your life
00:57:52.57\00:57:53.90
and working in your heart,
00:57:53.94\00:57:55.50
you may say, is God
speaking to my heart the way
00:57:55.54\00:57:57.97
that He spoke to
Ananias and Sapphira.
00:57:58.01\00:57:59.61
And I tell you what?
00:57:59.64\00:58:00.98
If it doesn't make
sense, keep studying,
00:58:01.01\00:58:02.34
one day it will come
into a sharper focus.
00:58:02.38\00:58:04.75
God bless you.
00:58:04.78\00:58:06.11