The question is what
is the unpardonable sin?
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What is this terrible sin
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which the Bible
says God cannot forgive?
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You know, there are those
who want us to believe that
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the unpardonable sin is murder
is to take him another's life
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or maybe he's
committing suicide.
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I mean, somebody
who commit suicide
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can never come back
and say I'm sorry, Lord,
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you know, I
shouldn't have done that
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or maybe the
killing of an unborn child
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or some other terrible deed.
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However, this evening
as we open God's word,
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we will discover
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that the unpardonable
sin is not a particular sin,
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so horrible that
God cannot forgive it.
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There is simply no
sin that is so great
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as to take us
beyond God's mercy.
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Can you say amen to that? Amen.
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In fact, we have the assurance.
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And I want to begin
with a word of assurance
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where it says,
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"Where sin increase,
grace abounded all the more."
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Now think of what that
means, where sin, you know,
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where-- where sin increase,
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grace is more than sufficient
this verse's what talking about.
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Grace is always
sufficient for our need.
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Need and we
need to believe that.
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And another word of assurance
as we look at 1 John 1:9
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where it says and
"If we confess our sins,
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He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins,
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and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
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So I'm gonna set this
foundation with these two texts
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before we get into this--
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This issue of
the unpardonable sin.
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I want each of us to have a
sense of assurance in Jesus.
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We can have that
assurance, but nevertheless,
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Jesus spoke of
the unpardonable sin
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in these words.
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He said,
"Therefore I say to you,
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any sin and blasphemy
shall be forgiven men,
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but blasphemy against the
Spirit shall not be forgiven."
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And so the
unpardonable sin is blasphemy
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against the Holy Spirit.
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It was my
sophomore year at college.
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It was in the
fall time of the year.
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It's actually before I
think I met my wife to be Donna.
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I was in my dorm room
and I was study one evening
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and somebody
knocked on my door and then
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when I open the door,
there I found Jim standing.
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I'd know Jim. He
was a year behind me.
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I known Jim, you
know, we were friends,
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but we were
really close friends.
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And so I was a little surprised
to him and invited him in
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and he didn't waste
anytime getting to the point.
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He shared with me
that the previous summer
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in a fit of hanger he had
sworn against the Holy Spirit.
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And now he was
filling this grief in heart,
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wondering if and
swearing against the Holy Spirit
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whether he had
committed the unpardonable sin.
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Well, is that what
the Bible is talking about
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when it talks about
the unpardonable sin?
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Was he guilty on
the unpardonable sin?
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Well, you and I cannot
really understand the sin
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against the Holy Spirit without
understanding the ministry
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and the function
of the Holy Sprit.
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So our subject tonight--
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Tonight is on the wonderful
gift of the Holy Spirit to us.
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And so I am gonna
approach this subject
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kind of through the back door.
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I'm not gonna
approach it directly at first.
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I'm gonna set a
foundation as we discover
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what the Bible
teaches about the Holy Spirit.
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And we're gonna be looking
at a number of vital things
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in reference to the
ministry of the Holy Spirit.
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In fact, you remember six weeks
ago as we began the seminar,
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I had you in Genesis 1
and we looked at verse 2
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where it says "And the
earth was without form and void,
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and darkness was
upon the face of the deep.
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And the Spirit of God moved
upon the face of the waters."
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And remember, we
talked about the fact
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whenever God is in the
process of establishing life
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whether it is, you know, in this
case of creation literal life
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or whether He is
establishing spiritual life
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as God certainly did
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in the lives of
Philippe and Libya
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and other members of
their family as He is doing,
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has done in your life and
as He's doing in your life.
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My friend, there
is the indication
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of the powerful
working of the Holy Spirit.
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There is no life
without the Holy Spirit.
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And then I take you
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where Jesus said, "Go therefore
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and make disciples
of all the nations,
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baptizing them in
the name of the Father,
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the Son and the Holy Spirit."
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So we also see as we look
at this particular passage.
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We recognize
that the Holy Spirit
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is one of the members of
the God head of the three.
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And number three,
the most mysterious
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is that of the Holy Spirit.
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I'll take you to John 14
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and beginning with the verse 16
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as Jesus-- Jesus that
night that He was betrayed.
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As He was in the upper room,
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as He was sharing
with His disciples,
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some of the most
beautiful teachings
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that Jesus gave
where in that setting,
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and in that setting anticipating
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that He was gonna believing
them on a number of occasions.
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He kept coming
back to the importance
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of the vitality and
the power the Holy Spirit
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that will be present in
their lives in His absence.
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Notice what He said, John
14 and looking at verse 16.
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Jesus said, "And I
will ask the Father,
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and He will give
you another Helper."
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He's talking
about the Holy Spirit.
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And, you know, we'll look at--
We will see in a few moments
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the Holy Spirit is called
our comforter, the comforter.
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I love these
descriptions of the Holy Spirit.
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He is our
divine spiritual helper
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and we need the help of
the Holy Spirit, don't we?
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It just gives us assurance
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to know that
we're not alone in this.
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The Holy Spirit
has been promised
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to be with us to help us.
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So He will give
you another helper that
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He may be with you for how long?
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Forever. That is
the Spirit of truth."
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I want you to
notice that phrase because
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we're gonna see at
least three other passages
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or scripture that speak of the
spirit as the spirit of truth.
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And so there is
direct coloration,
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there is a direct
relationship between
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the Holy Spirit and truth.
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"That is the Spirit truth,
whom the world cannot receive,
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because it does not
behold Him or know Him,
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but you know because He abides
with you and will be, what?
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He will be in you."
Oh, is that wonderful?
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The promise that the
Holy Spirit will be in us.
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And then Jesus said, "I
will not leave you as orphans,
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I will come to you."
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And, my friend, it is clear,
it is through the Holy Spirit
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that Jesus comes to us,
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it is through the Holy
Spirit that Jesus abides in us.
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And very simply
put without the Savior
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and without the indwelling
presence of the Holy Spirit.
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My friend, there
is no spiritual life.
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There is no spiritual life.
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Within the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and understanding an acceptance
of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
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is a test of fellowship.
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It is one of the things that
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we ask an individual
to be in agreement on
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as He come into the
fellowship of the church.
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The primary test of
fellowship of course
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is a relationship
with Jesus Christ, right?
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That under guards everything,
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it was
foundational to everything,
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but the gifts of
the spirit are vital
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to us
individually and to the church.
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And, yes, we
have this particular--
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Well, we have this
council in 1 John 4:1
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where it says, "Beloved,
do not believe every spirit,
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but test the spirits to
see whether they are from God."
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And so, my friend,
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we are council in
this passage or scripture
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that we need to have
discernment to determine
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indeed that it is the
spirit of God that is at work
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or whether it's
another sprit that is at work.
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I tell you the evil ones
counterfeits are so masterful.
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They are so deceptive.
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And sometime
unless we are really--
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Unless we really have
a sense of discernment
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and I'll share with
you that means by which
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we can discern
whether it's of God or not.
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But unless we discern
that this is indeed of God,
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we can find ourselves in a state
of deception that can happen.
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It could happen.
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So we need to
know what's going on.
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You know, there are all
kinds of representations
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that are made
about the Holy Spirit
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and the reception of the spirit
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or as some refer to it,
the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
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You know, there are
those who want us to believe
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that the baptism
of the Holy Spirit
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will result in all
kinds of wild demonstrations
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and unintelligible utterances.
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But, my friend, we must never--
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We must never
confuse a rush of emotion
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for the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit.
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I'm gonna repeat that.
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We must never confuse
a sense of the emotion
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for the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit.
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Emotions,
emotions coming though.
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Emotions cannot
to be depended upon
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but, my friend,
Jesus can be depended upon.
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And His word can
be depended upon.
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Amen? Absolutely.
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As we turn to 1 Corinthians 14
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and beginning with verse 33.
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Paul gives us council
to the Corinthian Church.
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He says, "God is
not a God of confusion,
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but a peace, as in all
the churches of the saints,
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but let all
things be done properly
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and in orderly manner."
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And if you
check out the context,
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he is talking about--
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He's talking about the
ministry of the Holy Spirit.
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Indeed, he is talking
about the gift of tongues
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in this context
of this statement
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when he says, "Let
everything be done--"
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What did He say?
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"Properly and in
an orderly manner."
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And so, my friend, we understand
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that when the
spirit is at work, things--
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You know, things
don't get under--
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Out of control.
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Things do not
get out of control.
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Things will be done
properly when the spirit of God.
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They will be done
in the orderly manner
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when the spirit of
God is truly at work.
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In Matthew 3--
Let me take you to--
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I believe it's
a greatest baptism
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of the Holy Spirit that
anybody has ever experienced.
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It's the baptism of
Jesus where it says,
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"Then Jesus arrived
from Galilee at the Jordan
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coming to John, to
be baptized by him.
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And after being baptized
00:11:28.43\00:11:29.61
Jesus went up
immediately from the water,
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and behold the
heavens were opened,
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and He saw the Spirit of
God descending as a dove,
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and coming upon Him, and behold,
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a voice out of
the heavens, saying,
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'This is My beloved Son,
in whom I am well-pleased.'"
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And take a note it says
the Holy Spirit came down
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upon him like a dove.
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You know, the very
word Messiah means anointed.
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And I believe this is
that a special unique occasion
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which Jesus was
anointed by the Holy Spirit
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for the ministry,
00:12:01.58\00:12:02.77
His ministry that
followed His baptism.
00:12:02.80\00:12:05.29
But when we look at this
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:12:05.32\00:12:08.11
upon Jesus Christ,
we have no indication
00:12:08.14\00:12:10.53
that Jesus came
up out of the river,
00:12:10.56\00:12:12.18
out of the Jordan
River, upon the riverbank.
00:12:12.21\00:12:14.87
You know, somehow
dancing around, dancing the jig.
00:12:14.90\00:12:18.88
We have no
indication that, you know,
00:12:18.91\00:12:21.14
he threw himself
into the dust shrinking.
00:12:21.17\00:12:24.24
And sometimes is done in
the name of the Holy Spirit.
00:12:24.27\00:12:29.39
You know, something
about this, don't you?
00:12:29.42\00:12:31.52
Some of the things that are done
in the name of the Holy Spirit.
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Let me take you on to Acts 2
00:12:36.59\00:12:38.41
as we look at the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:12:38.44\00:12:40.88
upon the disciples
on the day of Pentecost.
00:12:40.91\00:12:44.21
Acts 2 and looking at
verses 2-4 where it says,
00:12:44.24\00:12:47.63
"And suddenly
there came from heaven
00:12:47.66\00:12:50.36
a noise like a
violent, rushing wind,
00:12:50.39\00:12:52.88
and it filled the whole
house where they were sitting.
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And there
appeared to them tongues
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as of fire
distributing themselves,
00:12:57.80\00:12:59.95
and they rested
on each one of them
00:12:59.98\00:13:02.15
and they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit."
00:13:02.18\00:13:05.76
Can't you just picture that?
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Wouldn't that be a
powerful experience
00:13:07.13\00:13:09.37
here if in this place,
the Holy Spirit came down
00:13:09.40\00:13:12.49
upon this in that--
with that kind of power.
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Can you just imagine, you
know, with tongues of fire?
00:13:15.78\00:13:19.05
You know, over each
one of this indicating
00:13:19.08\00:13:21.39
that we will
receive the Holy Spirit.
00:13:21.42\00:13:23.65
It was-- it was a
powerful experience,
00:13:23.68\00:13:27.60
but again we have no
record in the New Testament.
00:13:27.63\00:13:31.99
We have no record
in the Book of Acts.
00:13:32.02\00:13:34.27
Again of the any
uncontrolled exhibitions
00:13:34.30\00:13:37.49
or again on
intelligible utterances
00:13:37.52\00:13:40.53
that we're going on
00:13:40.56\00:13:42.05
when they received the
gift of the Holy Spirit,
00:13:42.08\00:13:45.19
when they were
baptized for the Holy Spirit.
00:13:45.22\00:13:48.48
So why as we talk about the
reception of the Holy Spirit
00:13:48.51\00:13:52.04
and with it the
receiving of the gift
00:13:52.07\00:13:54.75
or gifts of the spirit,
00:13:54.78\00:13:56.33
why are the gifts given to us?
00:13:56.36\00:13:59.90
Well, my friend, they are given
for the purpose of ministry.
00:13:59.93\00:14:04.07
That's why they are given
for the purpose of ministry.
00:14:04.10\00:14:06.94
It gives a purpose to
each one of our lives,
00:14:06.97\00:14:10.18
each of us is called a ministry.
00:14:10.21\00:14:13.00
And that's we will
discover tomorrow morning.
00:14:13.03\00:14:14.89
There are some 40
different gifts of the spirit
00:14:14.92\00:14:17.56
that are specifically
mentioned in the New Testament.
00:14:17.59\00:14:20.68
So it is the Holy Spirit
that empowers and qualifies
00:14:20.71\00:14:26.06
us for our own
personal ministry.
00:14:26.09\00:14:30.31
That's what it means
to be a follower of Jesus.
00:14:30.34\00:14:32.81
In Ephesians 4:8
It says, "When He--"
00:14:32.84\00:14:37.14
Speaking of Jesus,
"When He ascended on high,
00:14:37.17\00:14:39.40
He led captive a
hosts of captives."
00:14:39.43\00:14:41.46
Remember at the
resurrection of Jesus,
00:14:41.49\00:14:43.44
there were many that were
resurrected from the graves
00:14:43.47\00:14:46.12
and there were taken to heaven.
00:14:46.15\00:14:47.23
That's what its
talking about here.
00:14:47.26\00:14:49.25
And then it goes on to
say, "And He gave gifts to men."
00:14:49.28\00:14:52.70
When Jesus ascended to
heaven, it was His purpose
00:14:52.73\00:14:55.77
that the gifts would operate
among His people in His absence.
00:14:55.80\00:15:01.20
And that is really
very important to understand
00:15:01.23\00:15:04.41
as we talk about the
gifts of the Holy Spirit.
00:15:04.44\00:15:07.03
They operate in the
absence of the Savior
00:15:07.06\00:15:09.46
as we turn back to heaven.
00:15:09.49\00:15:11.81
You know, as I shared
with you some years ago,
00:15:11.84\00:15:14.14
I was on this
marvelous trip to the Holy Land.
00:15:14.17\00:15:18.65
And I tell you to be
in some of these places.
00:15:18.68\00:15:21.30
You know, when they told
us when we are in Jerusalem
00:15:21.33\00:15:23.37
that street level in Jesus day
was some 70 feet underground,
00:15:23.40\00:15:26.72
you know, it
wasn't quite the same,
00:15:26.75\00:15:29.69
but you were there.
00:15:29.72\00:15:31.02
I have to tell you,
00:15:31.05\00:15:32.08
my favorite
place in the Holy Land
00:15:32.11\00:15:33.77
was the Sea of Galilee.
00:15:33.80\00:15:36.53
You know, I
imagine largely unchanged
00:15:36.56\00:15:40.06
and all of the
events in the life of Jesus
00:15:40.09\00:15:42.45
is calling his
disciples, His ministry
00:15:42.48\00:15:45.61
in that particular region.
00:15:45.64\00:15:48.38
You know, you can just see it.
00:15:48.41\00:15:49.68
In fact, I remember we
were in a two decker boat
00:15:49.71\00:15:53.72
on the Sea of Galilee
and I'm in the upper deck.
00:15:53.75\00:15:57.37
This is a pretty big boat.
00:15:57.40\00:15:59.79
40, 45 maybe 50 feet long.
00:15:59.82\00:16:03.31
And we're out in
the Sea of Galilee
00:16:03.34\00:16:05.61
and storm comes up,
just like in the Bible story.
00:16:05.64\00:16:09.54
And I tell you, we
were going to the storm
00:16:09.57\00:16:11.93
and the waves, the
spray of that was coming up
00:16:11.96\00:16:14.54
and drenching
us on the top deck.
00:16:14.57\00:16:17.83
I mean, it was real getting
into the New Testament story
00:16:17.86\00:16:21.70
of Jesus and His disciples.
00:16:21.73\00:16:23.74
So that was my
favorite place, but you know,
00:16:23.77\00:16:26.26
after spending a
whole week there,
00:16:26.29\00:16:28.91
we were at Ben Gurion
Airport, going to the process
00:16:28.94\00:16:32.61
as we were going to
fly Air Alitalia to Rome
00:16:32.64\00:16:37.22
for the three days we
were gonna spend in Rome.
00:16:37.25\00:16:40.08
And so as we are
waiting to be process,
00:16:40.11\00:16:42.08
as we were waiting
for that 747 to come up
00:16:42.11\00:16:44.64
and to take us out of Israel.
00:16:44.67\00:16:48.54
We were in conversation.
00:16:48.57\00:16:49.73
I was in
conversation with a woman
00:16:49.76\00:16:52.80
that was
actually from California,
00:16:52.83\00:16:54.70
an African-American
woman, a wonderful Christian.
00:16:54.73\00:16:57.76
And, you know, when
you're in the Holy Land,
00:16:57.79\00:17:00.32
you are often
talking about the events
00:17:00.35\00:17:01.94
associated with
the life of Jesus.
00:17:01.97\00:17:04.17
And somehow in that process,
00:17:04.20\00:17:05.57
we began talking
about the Holy Spirit.
00:17:05.60\00:17:08.06
And I remember her saying to me,
00:17:08.09\00:17:09.38
you know, one has
not really received
00:17:09.41\00:17:11.35
or been baptized
in the Holy Spirit
00:17:11.38\00:17:13.54
unless you have
receive the gift of tongues.
00:17:13.57\00:17:16.18
Now not every
Charismatic Christian
00:17:17.75\00:17:19.91
will take necessarily
that position, but many do.
00:17:19.94\00:17:23.83
The one is I
received the Holy Spirit.
00:17:23.86\00:17:25.70
One has not been
baptizing the Holy Spirit
00:17:25.73\00:17:28.18
unless they have
the gift of tongues.
00:17:28.21\00:17:30.27
Because of some of the confusion
about some of these issues,
00:17:30.30\00:17:34.02
I am gonna spend just little
bit of our segment of our study
00:17:34.05\00:17:37.03
talking about
the gift of tongues
00:17:37.06\00:17:40.17
and how that
relates to our experience
00:17:40.20\00:17:42.77
receiving the Holy Spirit.
00:17:42.80\00:17:44.59
I guess I would actually
take you to 1 Corinthians 12:28,
00:17:44.62\00:17:49.69
where Paul is talking about
00:17:49.72\00:17:51.57
some of the gifts
of the Holy Spirit
00:17:51.60\00:17:54.37
and you will notice as we look
at this passage of scripture,
00:17:54.40\00:17:57.43
he is laying out the
gifts in an order of importance.
00:17:57.46\00:18:02.82
Now let me just say this,
00:18:02.85\00:18:04.04
every one of the gifts of
the Holy Spirit is important.
00:18:04.07\00:18:07.20
But some by nature are
more important of the deadly
00:18:07.23\00:18:10.15
because Paul makes a statement.
00:18:10.18\00:18:11.54
He says, "And God has
appointed in the church,
00:18:11.57\00:18:14.29
first apostles."
00:18:14.32\00:18:16.77
And we understand how
vital their ministry was.
00:18:16.80\00:18:19.60
"Second Prophets."
00:18:19.63\00:18:20.73
Of course, we
would expect prophets
00:18:20.76\00:18:21.98
to be at the top
of list, wouldn't we?
00:18:22.01\00:18:24.33
And then it goes on to say,
"Third teachers, then miracles,
00:18:24.36\00:18:27.31
then gifts of healings,
helps, administrations."
00:18:27.34\00:18:30.39
And at the bottom of the list
is various kinds of tongues.
00:18:30.42\00:18:35.85
And yet this gift is often
elevated above all of the gifts.
00:18:35.88\00:18:42.92
My friend, that's not
what is indicated here
00:18:42.95\00:18:45.00
in 1 Corinthians, is it?
00:18:45.03\00:18:46.32
Is it?
00:18:46.35\00:18:47.38
It's not first, it's
not second, it's not third.
00:18:47.41\00:18:50.38
It's at the bottom.
00:18:50.41\00:18:51.44
In fact, he goes on
to ask the question.
00:18:51.47\00:18:53.40
"All are not apostles, are they?
00:18:53.43\00:18:55.47
All are not prophets, are they?
00:18:55.50\00:18:57.52
What's the obvious
answer? Of course, not.
00:18:57.55\00:19:02.13
And then he goes on to ask
"All are not teachers, are they?
00:19:02.16\00:19:05.53
All are not workers
of miracles, are they?
00:19:05.56\00:19:08.14
All do not have
gifts of healings, do they?
00:19:08.17\00:19:10.73
All do not speak
with tongues, do they?"
00:19:10.76\00:19:13.76
And at this
point, there are those
00:19:13.79\00:19:15.49
who would like to
us-- Like to tell us.
00:19:15.52\00:19:17.66
Yes, we all will.
00:19:17.69\00:19:20.44
If we really
receive the Holy Spirit.
00:19:20.47\00:19:22.99
But again,
obviously from the scriptures
00:19:23.02\00:19:25.26
not all will have the
gift of tongues, right?
00:19:25.29\00:19:28.21
Again, as we go back to
the experience of the church
00:19:30.15\00:19:34.37
on the Day of Pentecost,
00:19:34.40\00:19:35.87
when the gift of
tongues was initially given,
00:19:35.90\00:19:38.24
notice how it's described here.
00:19:38.27\00:19:40.46
Again Acts 2:6, "And
when this sound occurred."
00:19:40.49\00:19:44.19
That is that
mighty Russian wind.
00:19:44.22\00:19:46.98
That's what it sounded like.
00:19:47.01\00:19:48.04
It's the Holy
Spirit descended upon them.
00:19:48.07\00:19:50.69
"And when the sound occurred,
the multitude came together
00:19:50.72\00:19:53.36
and were bewildered
because they were each one
00:19:53.39\00:19:56.15
hearing them speak
in their own language."
00:19:56.18\00:20:01.67
So, you know, when
the gift of tongues
00:20:04.05\00:20:06.12
was given to the apostles
on the Day of Pentecost,
00:20:06.15\00:20:09.24
we had individuals from
all of the then known world
00:20:09.27\00:20:13.08
that were gather
there at Jerusalem,
00:20:13.11\00:20:14.67
they didn't all
speak the same language.
00:20:14.70\00:20:16.97
And so it is
clearly, it's obvious to us
00:20:17.00\00:20:19.95
why the gifts of tongues
was given to the disciples?
00:20:19.98\00:20:24.14
So that they could communicate
00:20:24.17\00:20:26.69
the gospel to those
who have come there, right?
00:20:26.72\00:20:30.86
And they heard them.
00:20:30.89\00:20:32.94
They heard the
disciples, the apostles.
00:20:32.97\00:20:34.61
They heard them,
speaking in their own language.
00:20:34.64\00:20:39.58
And, you know, that's
exactly the gift of tongues.
00:20:40.61\00:20:43.34
The word tongue is
in old English word,
00:20:43.37\00:20:47.47
which in the modern
vernacular means languages.
00:20:47.50\00:20:51.22
And so we really
ought to be talking
00:20:51.25\00:20:53.19
about the gift of languages.
00:20:53.23\00:20:55.42
And do you notice when we talk
about the gift of languages,
00:20:55.45\00:20:58.27
it demystifies the whole
idea of the gift of tongues
00:20:58.30\00:21:02.43
and it's in harmony
with what the Bible teaches
00:21:02.46\00:21:04.98
about the gift of tongues.
00:21:05.01\00:21:07.25
The gift of
languages. Now as we talk about.
00:21:07.28\00:21:10.82
I'm gonna move on now,
00:21:10.85\00:21:11.88
I'm not gonna spending more
time on this particular issue.
00:21:11.91\00:21:14.81
As we talk about the
reception of the Holy Spirit,
00:21:14.84\00:21:17.50
there are some qualifiers.
00:21:17.53\00:21:20.67
One of the
qualifications to receiving
00:21:20.70\00:21:23.00
the Holy Spirit
is one's acceptance
00:21:23.03\00:21:27.31
of Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior.
00:21:27.34\00:21:28.96
That is not to say
that the Holy Spirit
00:21:28.99\00:21:30.67
is not seeking to influence
us before that point, right?
00:21:30.70\00:21:34.72
But to receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit comes out of,
00:21:35.75\00:21:39.30
it come into
relationship with Jesus Christ
00:21:39.33\00:21:41.71
is what we find as we look
at the teaching of scripture.
00:21:41.74\00:21:44.77
But there is another qualifier
that is given to us in Acts 5:32
00:21:44.80\00:21:50.67
where he says, "And we
are witnesses of these things,
00:21:50.70\00:21:53.59
and so it is the Holy Spirit,
00:21:53.62\00:21:55.40
whom God has given
to those who, what?
00:21:55.43\00:21:57.93
Given to those who obey Him."
00:21:59.30\00:22:02.74
You see, this almost--
This is a natural result,
00:22:02.77\00:22:08.51
you know, coming
to the Lord Jesus.
00:22:08.54\00:22:11.21
I mean, apart of
communist fundamental
00:22:11.24\00:22:12.94
to coming to the
Lord Jesus in fact.
00:22:12.97\00:22:14.64
I mean, we on some
level have grown weary
00:22:14.67\00:22:17.00
with the life of sin.
00:22:17.03\00:22:18.73
At some point we have
come to the conviction.
00:22:18.76\00:22:21.15
We need a Savior.
00:22:21.18\00:22:22.35
And so we come to
Jesus as a Holy Spirit
00:22:22.38\00:22:24.57
is drawing us to the Savior.
00:22:24.60\00:22:26.54
We convicted our sins.
00:22:26.57\00:22:27.69
We repent of our sins, right?
00:22:27.72\00:22:29.62
And, my friend, having
grown weary with the life of sin
00:22:31.00\00:22:35.04
having recognized
that we need a Savior,
00:22:35.07\00:22:37.55
there is a natural desire that
00:22:37.58\00:22:39.92
we want to go another
direction in our lives.
00:22:39.95\00:22:43.19
Where we have been
in sin, where we've been
00:22:43.22\00:22:46.21
in state of transgression
and in disobedience,
00:22:46.24\00:22:49.35
the desire is that we
want to be in harmony with Him.
00:22:49.38\00:22:54.05
We want to be in harmony
00:22:54.08\00:22:55.38
with the teachings
of His word, right?
00:22:55.41\00:22:58.58
And to be in harmony
and so be in obedience.
00:22:58.61\00:23:02.08
And, my friend, that--
again, that is not something
00:23:02.11\00:23:04.72
that comes from us though
we have part to corporate,
00:23:04.75\00:23:07.88
but that is coming through
the power of Jesus Christ
00:23:07.91\00:23:11.38
and the power of
the spirit within us.
00:23:11.41\00:23:14.31
And so obedience
is a qualifier to it.
00:23:14.34\00:23:17.48
Years ago, I was helping
00:23:17.51\00:23:18.69
with the series of
meetings at Pasco, Washington.
00:23:18.72\00:23:20.74
I wasn't speaker,
I was a young pastor,
00:23:20.77\00:23:23.01
but I was helping out
with some of the visitation
00:23:23.04\00:23:26.34
and we had a young
woman in her mid the late 20s
00:23:26.37\00:23:29.21
that was attending, married.
00:23:29.24\00:23:31.05
I think she had a
child as I remember back.
00:23:31.08\00:23:33.69
And a Charismatic Christian,
00:23:33.72\00:23:36.10
a very active in
Charismatic Movement.
00:23:36.13\00:23:38.35
But she was
coming to the meetings
00:23:38.38\00:23:40.50
and she was
processing what she was hearing,
00:23:40.53\00:23:44.01
trying to come--
trying to come to a decision.
00:23:44.04\00:23:47.16
And I remember
visiting with her in her home
00:23:47.19\00:23:49.82
and she opened up to me
and she said, "You know--"
00:23:49.85\00:23:53.26
She had been in a lot of
trouble, this young woman.
00:23:53.29\00:23:57.02
Because married though she was
00:23:57.05\00:23:59.07
she had, had a number of affairs
00:23:59.10\00:24:02.55
already in her mid the late 20s.
00:24:02.58\00:24:06.05
So she had some real struggles,
00:24:06.08\00:24:09.73
but through all
of this experience
00:24:09.76\00:24:12.38
she had been very active
with the gift of tongues.
00:24:12.41\00:24:16.23
I guess I'm gonna return
to that for just a moment.
00:24:16.26\00:24:18.90
My friends, something
does it match up there, right?
00:24:18.93\00:24:22.97
Something that is that
how the Holy Spirit works
00:24:23.00\00:24:26.88
when we're in a willful
state of something that is so
00:24:26.91\00:24:29.98
substitute as what
she was going through.
00:24:30.01\00:24:32.88
No.
00:24:32.91\00:24:33.98
Again, willing obedience,
a desire to be obedient
00:24:34.01\00:24:38.46
is one of the qualifiers that
we'll find in the scriptures.
00:24:38.49\00:24:41.39
And Jesus spoke of it in John
14 and beginning with verse 15
00:24:41.42\00:24:47.32
where He said,
"And if you love Me,
00:24:47.35\00:24:49.20
keep My commandments.
00:24:49.23\00:24:50.46
If you love Me, keep
My commandments, and--"
00:24:50.49\00:24:54.04
Notice that word of connection.
00:24:54.07\00:24:56.20
It's connecting loving Jesus
and keeping His commandments
00:24:56.23\00:24:59.91
to what follows of
what follows verse says,
00:24:59.94\00:25:02.96
"And I will pray the Father,
00:25:02.99\00:25:05.09
and He shall give
you another Comforter."
00:25:05.12\00:25:08.39
And again, I just love that
00:25:08.42\00:25:09.52
description of the
Holy Spirit, right?
00:25:09.55\00:25:11.58
He's a helper. He's
the Spirit of Truth.
00:25:11.61\00:25:15.06
He is our Comforter.
00:25:15.09\00:25:17.79
And what's we comfort
00:25:17.82\00:25:19.30
we find through
the Spirit of Jesus
00:25:19.33\00:25:22.70
as He inhabits us.
00:25:22.73\00:25:24.15
"And He shall give
you another comforter,
00:25:24.18\00:25:26.56
that He may abide
with your forever,
00:25:26.59\00:25:29.75
even the Spirit of truth."
00:25:29.78\00:25:31.63
And then we will
see it again, don't we?
00:25:31.66\00:25:33.03
The spirit of truth.
00:25:33.06\00:25:35.01
And so notice the
connection between loving Jesus
00:25:35.04\00:25:38.74
and keeping His commandments
and receiving the Holy Spirit.
00:25:38.77\00:25:44.42
There is direction coloration.
00:25:44.45\00:25:46.85
And I know we've
taught-- We've talked.
00:25:46.88\00:25:49.11
I've had several two or
three subjects on the matter
00:25:49.14\00:25:52.36
of the commandments
of Ten Commandments.
00:25:52.39\00:25:55.02
We've been
through those studies.
00:25:55.05\00:25:56.71
But, my friend, here there
is again another connection
00:25:56.74\00:25:59.88
as Jesus clearly indicates
in this particular passage.
00:25:59.91\00:26:03.51
So willing, willingness to
obey is one of the evidences
00:26:03.54\00:26:08.05
that we have
received the Holy Spirit,
00:26:08.08\00:26:10.21
one of the evidences that
we have been truly born again.
00:26:10.24\00:26:13.53
We must be concern of anyone
00:26:16.10\00:26:17.58
who claims to have received
the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
00:26:17.61\00:26:20.83
but who holds
back from obedience
00:26:20.86\00:26:23.55
to the spirit of truth.
00:26:23.58\00:26:26.89
In John 14:26,
again Jesus speaks
00:26:26.92\00:26:30.22
about the matter
of the Holy Spirit.
00:26:30.25\00:26:31.93
He says, "And
when the Helper comes,
00:26:31.96\00:26:33.90
whom I will send to
you from the Father,
00:26:33.93\00:26:35.85
that is the Sprit of truth."
00:26:35.88\00:26:37.79
I think this is the four time
00:26:37.82\00:26:38.91
we've seen the
statement, isn't it?
00:26:38.94\00:26:40.64
"The Spirit of truth, He
will bear witness of Me."
00:26:40.67\00:26:45.39
Now there is two
vital things in this text
00:26:45.42\00:26:47.61
that we want to take note of.
00:26:47.64\00:26:50.21
And the first
thing is the last one.
00:26:50.24\00:26:52.30
What is one of the primary
functions of the Holy Spirit?
00:26:52.33\00:26:55.63
To bear witness to whom?
00:26:55.66\00:26:57.99
My friend, the spirit is
not bearing witness of himself.
00:26:58.02\00:27:01.13
I want you to take note of that.
00:27:01.16\00:27:03.60
He is given to
bear witness to Jesus.
00:27:03.63\00:27:09.42
And so, my friend,
to make the Holy Spirit,
00:27:09.45\00:27:11.89
the focal point of
one's experience is
00:27:11.92\00:27:15.86
missing the point.
00:27:15.89\00:27:17.64
Jesus, our Lord and
Savior is the focal point
00:27:17.67\00:27:20.72
of our experience, right?
00:27:20.75\00:27:22.46
We value the Holy Spirit,
but we understand that is--
00:27:22.49\00:27:26.07
It is Jesus Christ that
is-- He's our Lord and Savior
00:27:26.10\00:27:29.88
as I just
mentioned a moment ago.
00:27:29.91\00:27:32.62
And as I turn back to those
phrases of Spirit of truth,
00:27:32.65\00:27:35.90
one of clears evidences
of the spirits outpouring--
00:27:35.93\00:27:40.50
Outpouring is a rich
and growing understanding
00:27:40.53\00:27:45.01
an experience in the truth.
00:27:45.04\00:27:47.41
You see, my friend,
00:27:47.44\00:27:48.47
if our hearts are
open to the Holy Spirit
00:27:48.50\00:27:51.73
and we have been
praying and seeking
00:27:51.76\00:27:54.10
for greater understanding
of God's will for us,
00:27:54.13\00:27:57.20
we will by His
grace accept all the truth
00:27:57.23\00:28:01.93
that the spirit has led us to.
00:28:01.96\00:28:06.23
And, my friend,
let me just say it.
00:28:06.26\00:28:08.46
These six weeks that
we have spent together,
00:28:08.49\00:28:11.50
you know, we've had
good times together but,
00:28:11.53\00:28:14.51
you know, we are not
really playing games.
00:28:14.54\00:28:16.80
We are not really
playing games here.
00:28:16.83\00:28:18.89
These-- the things that
00:28:18.92\00:28:20.21
we have been
studying are vital issues
00:28:20.24\00:28:23.27
in regards to our
relationship to Jesus Christ.
00:28:23.30\00:28:25.60
He is as-- I've been
saying night after night
00:28:25.63\00:28:28.12
He is the focal point of it all.
00:28:28.15\00:28:30.11
It is all about
the relationship,
00:28:30.14\00:28:32.18
that relationship
is transformational.
00:28:32.21\00:28:35.39
And, my friend, it is all about
relationship to Jesus Christ
00:28:35.42\00:28:38.19
that we value His word.
00:28:38.22\00:28:40.80
I just really don't
believe that one can truly--
00:28:40.83\00:28:43.89
Well, I'm gonna be
careful how we say this but,
00:28:43.92\00:28:47.57
you know, it's
like that old song,
00:28:47.60\00:28:49.56
Love and
Marriage, Love and Marriage,
00:28:49.59\00:28:51.00
go together like
an horse and carriage.
00:28:51.03\00:28:53.05
This I tell you, brother,
00:28:53.08\00:28:54.11
you can't have
one without the other.
00:28:54.14\00:28:57.20
And, my friend,
on a certain level
00:28:57.23\00:28:58.70
one cannot have a committed
relationship with Jesus Christ
00:28:58.73\00:29:03.58
without having a deep
and abiding experience
00:29:03.61\00:29:07.93
with Jesus through
the teachings of His word.
00:29:07.96\00:29:13.08
They go directly together.
00:29:13.11\00:29:16.40
Again, it's not all about
having a warm fuzzy feeling.
00:29:16.43\00:29:20.84
You know, there
will be those joy--
00:29:20.87\00:29:22.46
Those times of tremendous
joy that we will have.
00:29:22.49\00:29:26.16
And we ought to have joy.
00:29:26.19\00:29:28.80
But, my friend, it's not
all about the fuzzy feeling.
00:29:28.83\00:29:31.76
It is about a
committed relationship of that.
00:29:31.79\00:29:34.25
And out of that
committed relationship,
00:29:34.28\00:29:35.88
the commitment to the
teachings of the word of God.
00:29:35.91\00:29:40.61
And it's the Spirit of
truth that bears witness
00:29:40.64\00:29:43.15
to the teachings
of the word of God.
00:29:43.18\00:29:45.16
And that's why you find within
00:29:46.17\00:29:47.44
the Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:29:47.47\00:29:48.54
such an emphasis upon the Bible.
00:29:48.57\00:29:51.90
We've been known
for a very long time
00:29:51.93\00:29:53.59
those that really know
us and some don't really us,
00:29:53.62\00:29:57.03
but we've been
known for a long time
00:29:57.06\00:29:58.52
as the people of the book
and I happen to write that.
00:29:58.55\00:30:02.07
And particularly
when we understand
00:30:02.10\00:30:03.84
as we talk about
being a people of book,
00:30:03.87\00:30:06.21
it's talking about people
00:30:06.24\00:30:07.49
that are in a committed
relationship with Jesus Christ
00:30:07.52\00:30:12.18
because you can't be
committed to the book
00:30:12.21\00:30:14.79
without be committed
to the Savior, right?
00:30:14.82\00:30:19.12
You can't act like you can't
have one without the other.
00:30:19.15\00:30:22.73
And so again if our hearts
are open to the Holy Spirit
00:30:22.76\00:30:26.12
and if indeed we have
been praying for the truth,
00:30:26.15\00:30:28.94
we will accept all the truth
that the spirit has lead us to.
00:30:28.97\00:30:34.62
So I'm getting into
a spiritual process,
00:30:34.65\00:30:37.01
involving the Holy
Spirit that first of all we've--
00:30:37.04\00:30:40.55
One of things we've noted,
00:30:40.58\00:30:41.85
one of the key
purposes of the Holy Spirit
00:30:41.88\00:30:44.94
is to bear witness of Jesus
that is to bring us to Jesus.
00:30:44.97\00:30:49.08
But another key aspect of
the ministry of the Holy Spirit
00:30:49.11\00:30:52.76
is to lead us into the truth
00:30:52.79\00:30:56.43
and that is vital to
our spiritual experience
00:30:56.46\00:30:59.29
and to our spiritual growth.
00:30:59.32\00:31:01.22
We don't always maybe
right at the moment sets
00:31:01.25\00:31:04.83
how as we are responding
as we study the word of God.
00:31:04.86\00:31:07.51
How we are
growing in the process.
00:31:07.54\00:31:10.67
We are deepening
our commitment to Jesus.
00:31:10.70\00:31:14.18
We're deepening
our understanding
00:31:14.21\00:31:16.20
of the spiritual life
00:31:16.23\00:31:18.38
and we're
deepening understanding
00:31:18.41\00:31:19.82
of the will of God.
00:31:19.85\00:31:22.60
All of that is a part of it.
00:31:22.63\00:31:25.05
But I want to add
this particular text.
00:31:25.08\00:31:26.79
James 4:17 where it says,
00:31:26.82\00:31:29.40
"Therefore, to the one who
knows the right thing to do,
00:31:29.43\00:31:32.01
and does not do
it, to him it is sin."
00:31:32.04\00:31:35.93
So there is two sides
in this particular text.
00:31:35.96\00:31:38.12
"To the one who knows
the right thing to do,
00:31:38.15\00:31:41.34
and fails to do
it that Bible says,
00:31:41.37\00:31:43.89
it is accounted to
that person as sin.
00:31:43.92\00:31:46.49
In another words,
we are accountable,
00:31:46.52\00:31:49.58
we become responsible
for the true's that--
00:31:49.61\00:31:54.99
Let's not just about true
because it's talking about
00:31:55.02\00:31:57.24
knowing the right thing to do,
00:31:57.27\00:31:58.30
but part of knowing
the right thing to do
00:31:58.33\00:32:00.30
is knowing the
right things to believe
00:32:00.33\00:32:02.79
and the right
things to practice, right?
00:32:02.82\00:32:06.51
Is a part of it.
00:32:06.54\00:32:08.59
And so to
understand the right thing
00:32:08.62\00:32:11.60
and to fail to do it,
00:32:11.63\00:32:14.18
it is held against us as sin.
00:32:14.21\00:32:17.68
Now some people are
uncomfortable with that,
00:32:17.71\00:32:21.61
accountability and
responsibility as Christians.
00:32:21.64\00:32:26.42
But let me tell you, look at all
of the tragic lessons we've had
00:32:26.45\00:32:31.07
in the Christian Church
and some of the terrible things
00:32:31.10\00:32:34.46
that have come about
because of irresponsibility
00:32:34.49\00:32:38.72
and a lack of accountability
00:32:38.75\00:32:42.23
take the Carl's, take Jim
Jones and the people's temple
00:32:42.26\00:32:46.13
just one of many illustrations
that we could be talking about.
00:32:46.16\00:32:50.34
My friend, we need in
love to be held accountable
00:32:50.37\00:32:55.45
and we need to be
responsible as Christians
00:32:55.48\00:33:00.22
in our
commitment to Jesus Christ.
00:33:00.25\00:33:01.59
Isn't that sensible?
00:33:01.62\00:33:03.34
It does make a lot of sense,
but the other side of it is
00:33:03.37\00:33:06.47
we are not held
accountable for that
00:33:06.50\00:33:08.74
which we did not know was right.
00:33:08.77\00:33:12.71
When we were in
ignorance about the truth,
00:33:12.74\00:33:15.35
God did not hold
this accountable, right?
00:33:15.38\00:33:19.08
That's the other side of it.
00:33:19.11\00:33:21.17
And I tell you the law
on the land is not even
00:33:21.20\00:33:23.64
that open-minded about it,
00:33:23.67\00:33:25.54
you know, ignorance is
no excuse before the law
00:33:25.57\00:33:28.55
which I found out
for myself some years ago
00:33:28.58\00:33:31.55
as I was conducting
the series of meetings
00:33:31.58\00:33:33.48
in Deer Park, Washington,
00:33:33.51\00:33:35.59
that's just a community,
just north of Spokane.
00:33:35.62\00:33:38.99
It was an hours drive from home
00:33:39.02\00:33:41.41
and it was just joy
to be able to be at home
00:33:41.44\00:33:43.96
and I found the
shortcut through the back roads
00:33:43.99\00:33:46.73
to Deer Park from
Spokane Valley where I live.
00:33:46.76\00:33:50.36
And I had driven this many times
during the series of meetings.
00:33:50.39\00:33:54.36
I was doing four
or five nights a week
00:33:54.39\00:33:57.43
at that period of time.
00:33:57.46\00:33:58.89
So I've been driving
him from back country
00:33:58.92\00:34:00.69
coming from the
east side of Deer Park in
00:34:00.72\00:34:03.74
and I knew, well you
know, the speed limit dropped
00:34:03.77\00:34:06.25
as you came towards
this-- Towards the town
00:34:06.28\00:34:08.17
is not really a
city, it dropped to 35
00:34:08.20\00:34:11.00
and little
further, it dropped to 25.
00:34:11.03\00:34:13.27
This one night I was
scheduled to have special music.
00:34:13.30\00:34:18.25
And so I had my tape in
the cassette player in my car.
00:34:18.28\00:34:21.26
I was vocalizing, I
was going over my song,
00:34:21.29\00:34:23.99
I caught the 35
mile per hour sign,
00:34:24.02\00:34:26.86
but I missed the 25 mile
-- 25 mile per hour sign,
00:34:26.89\00:34:31.87
and guess who was sitting there
00:34:31.90\00:34:33.97
just waiting for
somebody like me.
00:34:34.00\00:34:36.25
A policeman.
00:34:38.28\00:34:40.26
Now just remember, my Dad
was Washington State Patrolman
00:34:40.29\00:34:43.08
and he made it clear to us kids.
00:34:43.11\00:34:45.14
I think it's changed
somewhat through the years,
00:34:45.17\00:34:47.12
but back then he said, don't
you ever call policeman a cop.
00:34:47.15\00:34:49.95
That is not a term of respect.
00:34:49.98\00:34:53.45
You call him sir or
you call him the policeman.
00:34:53.48\00:34:56.49
But anyway, so what--
For whatever that's word so.
00:34:56.52\00:34:59.41
Anyway, he pulls
me over and he said,
00:34:59.44\00:35:02.52
do you know that you were--
00:35:02.55\00:35:03.91
And I said, "Yes, officer, I--"
00:35:03.94\00:35:06.50
You know, I thought
if I was honest with him
00:35:06.53\00:35:08.79
that maybe he would
have pity upon on him.
00:35:08.82\00:35:10.43
I told him what I was doing.
00:35:10.46\00:35:11.55
I was heading to a meeting,
00:35:11.58\00:35:13.40
you know, and I was practicing,
00:35:13.43\00:35:16.52
I was singing that
night and I just missed it.
00:35:16.56\00:35:20.79
Do you think he
had mercy upon me?
00:35:20.82\00:35:23.11
Not at all.
00:35:23.14\00:35:25.68
Handed me a big fat ticket.
00:35:25.71\00:35:28.87
I don't know.
00:35:28.90\00:35:29.93
Anyway, he handed
me a big fat ticket.
00:35:29.96\00:35:32.21
And so I determined.
00:35:32.24\00:35:33.72
I was gonna show up to court,
00:35:33.75\00:35:35.51
at least make my
case before the judge.
00:35:35.54\00:35:38.67
I don't get a lot of tickets
by learn that long time ago.
00:35:38.70\00:35:41.40
It pays a show up.
00:35:41.43\00:35:43.53
And so I showed up and I
made my case to the judge.
00:35:43.56\00:35:47.88
I was guilty. What could I say?
00:35:47.91\00:35:50.03
You know, I
broke the speed limit.
00:35:50.06\00:35:51.76
But there were, you
know, there were circumstances.
00:35:51.79\00:35:54.98
And praise the
Lord, He cut that.
00:35:55.01\00:35:57.23
I think it was
$85 ticket in half.
00:35:57.26\00:36:00.36
And I thought so good,
00:36:01.75\00:36:02.78
but see ignorance was
no excuse for the law.
00:36:02.81\00:36:05.79
You know, inside of the law.
But, my friend, God is fair.
00:36:05.82\00:36:10.49
He does not hold us accountable
00:36:10.52\00:36:12.86
for that which we didn't know.
00:36:12.89\00:36:14.38
Isn't that wonderful
to know that about God?
00:36:14.41\00:36:18.33
But, my friend, again
there is accountability
00:36:18.36\00:36:21.51
when we come to know.
00:36:21.54\00:36:23.86
In Acts 17:30, it as,
00:36:23.89\00:36:26.29
"Therefore having overlooked
the times of ignorance."
00:36:26.32\00:36:29.20
The time in which
we were not aware,
00:36:29.23\00:36:31.34
when we didn't really understand
some of these important issues
00:36:31.37\00:36:35.23
as we've studied them
these last few weeks together.
00:36:35.26\00:36:37.93
"Therefore, having overlooked
the times of ignorance,
00:36:37.96\00:36:40.28
God is now declaring the men
00:36:40.31\00:36:42.30
that all
everywhere should repent."
00:36:42.33\00:36:45.83
My friend, it is not
God's intention for any of us
00:36:45.86\00:36:48.90
and some of us maybe have
been Christians for 50 years
00:36:48.93\00:36:52.17
or maybe we've come
to it in recent years
00:36:52.20\00:36:54.44
or maybe we're just coming to it
00:36:54.47\00:36:55.77
during the course of
these series of meetings.
00:36:55.80\00:36:57.64
It is never God's
intention to leave us
00:36:57.67\00:36:59.98
where we are in a
state of ignorance.
00:37:00.01\00:37:03.09
I'll tell you a
relationship and you know this
00:37:03.12\00:37:05.95
from your own
experience about relationships.
00:37:05.98\00:37:08.08
If you are married or you have,
00:37:08.11\00:37:10.41
you know, you have
friends and family.
00:37:10.44\00:37:12.36
You know this
about relationships.
00:37:12.39\00:37:14.31
Sometimes a
subtle, but relationships,
00:37:14.34\00:37:16.70
if they're viable a
growing relationships,
00:37:16.73\00:37:22.00
there is growth
that's taking place.
00:37:22.03\00:37:23.75
And so it is with our
relationship with Jesus.
00:37:23.78\00:37:26.59
There is a growing relationship
00:37:28.51\00:37:31.14
and that is where the
Bible becomes quite vital
00:37:31.17\00:37:34.97
in our growing relationship.
00:37:35.00\00:37:37.54
Growing and understanding.
00:37:37.57\00:37:40.32
You see, to understand the truth
00:37:40.35\00:37:41.81
is to understand
the truth about Jesus,
00:37:41.84\00:37:45.53
that's the coloration.
00:37:45.56\00:37:47.64
So God doesn't want to
leave us in that state.
00:37:47.67\00:37:50.38
Yes, we know there
is a final judgment
00:37:50.41\00:37:52.39
in which we will
be held accountable.
00:37:52.42\00:37:54.45
But, my friend, we do not
need to fear the judgment,
00:37:54.48\00:37:57.23
not in Jesus Christ.
00:37:57.26\00:37:59.88
Apart from Jesus, we
have to be thinking about it.
00:37:59.91\00:38:03.27
There is a day
of accountability.
00:38:03.30\00:38:05.86
Let me take you onto John 16:13
00:38:05.89\00:38:08.93
another statement that
Jesus made about the Holy Spirit
00:38:08.96\00:38:11.70
in the upper room.
00:38:11.73\00:38:13.06
It says, "But when He,"
00:38:13.09\00:38:14.26
Jesus said, "But when He,
the Spirit of truth comes."
00:38:14.29\00:38:17.78
Let's see, that's
fourth or fifth time
00:38:17.81\00:38:19.10
we've seen that
phrase, isn't it?
00:38:19.13\00:38:20.95
Notice the intimate relationship
00:38:20.98\00:38:23.39
between the
ministry of the Holy Spirit
00:38:23.42\00:38:25.41
and this matter of truth.
00:38:25.44\00:38:28.12
And by the way, again where
00:38:28.15\00:38:29.63
let's be sure
we're clear on this.
00:38:29.66\00:38:30.97
I know I've been saying it.
00:38:31.00\00:38:32.03
Where do we find
truth? Where do we find it?
00:38:32.06\00:38:36.44
I see Abel holding up his Bible.
00:38:36.47\00:38:39.11
It is in the Bible
that we find the truth.
00:38:39.14\00:38:42.33
So, "But when He the
Spirit of truth, comes,
00:38:42.36\00:38:45.14
He will guide you into
just the New Testament."
00:38:45.17\00:38:49.85
Ah, the New Testament, mine
is the Book of Revelation no.
00:38:51.99\00:38:54.96
No.
00:38:54.99\00:38:56.55
It says, "He will guide
you into all the truth."
00:38:56.58\00:39:00.56
Does that mean we
get it all at once?
00:39:00.59\00:39:02.84
No. No.
00:39:02.87\00:39:03.92
We grow, as
we're going in Jesus,
00:39:03.95\00:39:06.14
as we're studying His
word, as we come to church
00:39:06.17\00:39:09.29
at Sabbath School,
as we study our lessons
00:39:09.32\00:39:11.91
and other opportunities
like this that we have.
00:39:11.94\00:39:14.34
We have an opportunity to grow
00:39:14.37\00:39:16.46
in our
understanding of the truth,
00:39:16.49\00:39:18.41
but the Spirit has
been promised to lead us
00:39:18.44\00:39:20.83
ever deeper in
our love for Jesus
00:39:20.86\00:39:24.00
and ever deeper in a
knowledge of the truth.
00:39:24.03\00:39:28.41
And we've been
experiencing that, haven't we?
00:39:28.44\00:39:32.02
You know, I've
learned some things
00:39:32.05\00:39:33.08
during the six weeks.
00:39:33.11\00:39:34.14
You will be surprised.
00:39:34.17\00:39:37.16
Now you just think I'm up
here preaching and teaching,
00:39:37.19\00:39:39.70
but I am still learning.
00:39:39.73\00:39:41.79
I'm still in the
process of learning.
00:39:41.82\00:39:43.99
So he's promised to
guide us into all the truth.
00:39:44.02\00:39:46.81
My friend, that
means we want to truth,
00:39:46.84\00:39:49.37
the whole truth and
nothing, but the truth will do.
00:39:49.40\00:39:53.45
Not just what is
popular? You got that?
00:39:53.48\00:39:56.89
Not just what is popular, not
just that which is convenient?
00:39:56.92\00:40:01.54
We want to have knowledge
of all of the truth, don't we?
00:40:04.38\00:40:07.47
We really do.
00:40:07.50\00:40:09.62
In Acts 24:25, we find that Paul
00:40:09.65\00:40:12.86
now a prisoner imprisoned
for his faith in Jesus,
00:40:12.89\00:40:17.24
standing before the
Roman governor Felix.
00:40:17.27\00:40:21.62
This is after the
Roman Governor Pilate.
00:40:21.65\00:40:24.55
Pilate's no longer,
the governor Felix is.
00:40:24.58\00:40:27.21
And so he is
standing before Felix
00:40:27.24\00:40:29.00
I think this is down in Caesarea
00:40:29.03\00:40:33.20
and Caesarea down by
the Mediterranean Sea
00:40:33.23\00:40:35.24
which was official residence
00:40:35.27\00:40:37.05
of the governor of Judea, okay.
00:40:37.08\00:40:41.30
So here he is.
00:40:41.33\00:40:42.38
He is a prisoner and he
is brought before Felix.
00:40:42.41\00:40:45.10
Felix had this, you
know, he was bringing Paul.
00:40:45.13\00:40:47.32
He'd like to listen to Paul.
00:40:47.35\00:40:49.45
And so Paul was preaching away.
00:40:49.48\00:40:52.38
He was bearing witness
to Jesus into the truth.
00:40:52.41\00:40:54.79
And notice what we find here
00:40:54.82\00:40:56.22
and He says, "And
as he reasoned." Paul."
00:40:56.25\00:40:58.49
And as he
reasoned of righteousness,
00:40:58.52\00:41:00.54
temperance and
judgment to come."
00:41:00.57\00:41:02.83
Notice He says, Felix trembled.
00:41:02.86\00:41:05.06
My friend, that tells
you the Holy Spirit was
00:41:05.09\00:41:06.98
really taking a whole
of that man convicting him.
00:41:07.01\00:41:11.21
We just tremble.
00:41:11.24\00:41:12.27
I mean, there was a power going
on there in that experience.
00:41:12.30\00:41:15.94
He trembled and answered.
00:41:15.97\00:41:17.85
Notice his response,
"Go thy way for this time,
00:41:17.88\00:41:20.99
when I have a convenient season,
00:41:21.02\00:41:23.28
I will call for thee."
00:41:23.31\00:41:25.39
A convenient season.
00:41:25.42\00:41:27.01
My friend, the
devil think he'd do it.
00:41:27.04\00:41:28.43
He's gonna make sure
it is never convenient.
00:41:28.46\00:41:31.88
And so we can never
look at convenience.
00:41:31.91\00:41:35.74
When it comes to the
spiritual issues, can we?
00:41:35.77\00:41:39.00
You see some, my friends,
00:41:39.03\00:41:40.60
are unwilling to
make the sacrifice.
00:41:40.63\00:41:43.90
It may not seen
convenient as with Felix.
00:41:43.93\00:41:47.33
There is the fear of change.
00:41:47.36\00:41:49.62
There is the
fear of what family.
00:41:49.65\00:41:51.51
Sometime family members
or what friends may think.
00:41:51.54\00:41:54.94
Sometimes there's
a fear of, you know,
00:41:54.97\00:41:57.19
what is this mean about
my connection to the church
00:41:57.22\00:42:00.13
I've been with
for so many years.
00:42:00.16\00:42:02.46
There is fear of change.
00:42:02.49\00:42:03.85
All of that is involved in this.
00:42:03.88\00:42:06.10
But if we are willing,
my friend, we gain so much.
00:42:06.13\00:42:08.72
If we are willing, we gain love.
00:42:08.75\00:42:10.43
If we are
willing, we gain peace.
00:42:10.46\00:42:12.26
If we willing,
we gain acceptance.
00:42:12.29\00:42:15.43
And, my friend,
if we are willing,
00:42:15.46\00:42:17.54
we gain a good conscious
00:42:17.57\00:42:19.82
which I tell you is something
00:42:19.85\00:42:21.19
to be valued in
this day and age.
00:42:21.22\00:42:23.86
A good conscious before God.
00:42:23.89\00:42:26.34
And so, my
friend, we must respond
00:42:26.37\00:42:28.64
to the grace of Jesus.
00:42:28.67\00:42:29.97
When the Sprit is at work
in our lives convicting us
00:42:30.00\00:42:34.18
and if we are unresponsive
when we are being convicted,
00:42:34.21\00:42:38.96
if at some point we do not
00:42:38.99\00:42:42.23
yield to the
promptings of the Holy Spirit,
00:42:42.26\00:42:45.39
it puts us on dangerous ground.
00:42:45.42\00:42:48.45
Clackamas Town Center.
00:42:50.21\00:42:51.64
I don't know if you
probably been there,
00:42:51.67\00:42:52.89
haven't you some of you?
00:42:52.92\00:42:54.32
I was pastoring
in Canby, Molalla,
00:42:55.40\00:42:57.84
two churches in those two towns.
00:42:57.87\00:43:01.07
They're in Canby.
00:43:01.10\00:43:03.30
This is going-- this
going back some years ago
00:43:03.33\00:43:05.71
when they built
Clackamas Town Center,
00:43:05.74\00:43:08.23
it was built if I
remember right something right
00:43:08.26\00:43:11.24
the biggest shopping
center on the west coast.
00:43:11.27\00:43:13.40
I don't know if that
was true but, you know,
00:43:13.43\00:43:15.29
they were really building this.
00:43:15.32\00:43:16.96
So I had been there,
it was Sunday morning.
00:43:16.99\00:43:19.62
It was before we had children,
00:43:19.65\00:43:21.72
so we had a lot more independent
00:43:21.75\00:43:24.07
to our lives at
that point in time.
00:43:24.10\00:43:26.43
And Donna said,
"I'm gonna go shopping.
00:43:26.46\00:43:28.49
I'm gonna go to
Clackamas Town Center.
00:43:28.52\00:43:30.49
I've got to
find a pair of shoes,
00:43:30.52\00:43:32.20
and why don't you come with me?"
00:43:32.23\00:43:34.84
And so I said, "Okay, I will.
00:43:34.87\00:43:36.87
I spend part of
the day with you."
00:43:36.90\00:43:38.91
We went to
Clackamas Town Center.
00:43:38.94\00:43:41.25
It was something else.
00:43:41.28\00:43:43.38
You're gonna know
this about my wife.
00:43:43.41\00:43:44.76
You know, she is of a
seamstress so, you know,
00:43:44.79\00:43:47.07
when you are
buying-- buying clothing,
00:43:47.10\00:43:49.10
she's is
looking at the stitching
00:43:49.13\00:43:51.58
if there is a pattern,
00:43:51.61\00:43:52.71
she is looking at
how the patter matches up
00:43:52.74\00:43:55.40
on either side of the stitching.
00:43:55.43\00:43:58.40
And I tell you, I married a,
you know, she is very frugal.
00:43:58.43\00:44:02.56
She is practical. She wants--
00:44:02.59\00:44:04.92
She wants good
quality. She's got eye for it.
00:44:04.95\00:44:08.80
And she wants it
at a bargain price.
00:44:08.83\00:44:12.17
So here we are, we're
on this expedition at,
00:44:12.20\00:44:17.61
what is it
Clackamas Town Center.
00:44:17.64\00:44:20.26
Had no idea how many shoes
stores there were in this place
00:44:20.29\00:44:24.67
until we visited
every last one of them.
00:44:24.70\00:44:29.05
You got to take
look at what's available
00:44:29.08\00:44:31.36
that she was sells or, you know,
and you got to try them on.
00:44:31.39\00:44:34.80
And I'm so glad
most of those shoe stores
00:44:34.83\00:44:36.47
had a place
where the guys can sit.
00:44:36.50\00:44:38.97
Well, she went through
the racks looking at shoes
00:44:39.00\00:44:41.86
she would, I want
to try this one on,
00:44:41.89\00:44:44.08
they would bring them out
and she would put them on,
00:44:44.11\00:44:47.62
she wants to know
if they are comfortable
00:44:47.65\00:44:49.56
then she would come
over by me and she would say,
00:44:49.59\00:44:51.87
"Well, what do you think?"
00:44:51.90\00:44:53.02
And I'll say, "Well l,
they look pretty nice."
00:44:53.05\00:44:55.46
And so after two
hours-- two hours now
00:44:56.94\00:45:00.73
going from shoes
store to shoes store
00:45:00.76\00:45:03.71
she just kind of
blows me away when she says,
00:45:03.74\00:45:06.08
"I think I'm gonna go
home and think about it."
00:45:06.11\00:45:09.66
Now you see, I
got the male mentally.
00:45:09.69\00:45:12.42
It just, you know,
it just seems like,
00:45:12.45\00:45:14.14
it's like going
hunting or fishing.
00:45:14.17\00:45:16.66
I mean, there is
an experience of it,
00:45:16.69\00:45:18.27
but most of us we really like
to catch something, you know.
00:45:18.30\00:45:21.68
Most of us, you know,
kind of sense when, you know,
00:45:21.71\00:45:23.83
most of us guys feel when
you go in shopping, ladies,
00:45:23.86\00:45:26.59
you are to come
back with something else
00:45:26.62\00:45:28.63
you kind of wasted your time.
00:45:28.66\00:45:30.38
And so I was reasoning with her.
00:45:30.41\00:45:31.92
I said, "Donna,
there is no better time
00:45:31.95\00:45:34.09
to make up your mind
about it then when it's fresh.
00:45:34.12\00:45:36.81
You know remember,
you know, I was review
00:45:36.84\00:45:38.53
and remember those
shoes you saw in that store
00:45:38.56\00:45:40.14
that you like that one.
00:45:40.17\00:45:42.40
And do you think I
could persuade her?
00:45:42.43\00:45:44.47
No."
00:45:44.50\00:45:45.53
We went home, but
there is a spiritual point.
00:45:47.21\00:45:50.82
You know, there is
shopping, there is shopping
00:45:50.85\00:45:53.85
and then there is
the spiritual process
00:45:53.88\00:45:57.33
of studying God's word.
00:45:57.36\00:45:59.87
And my friend, what may not be
00:45:59.90\00:46:01.41
really true about
shopping is true--
00:46:01.44\00:46:03.86
Surely true when
we studied God's word.
00:46:03.89\00:46:06.77
There is no better
time to make up our minds
00:46:06.80\00:46:10.26
that by the grace of Jesus that
we're going to follow the truth.
00:46:10.29\00:46:13.92
Then when it is
most clear to us?
00:46:13.95\00:46:17.89
When we have seen it clearly?
00:46:17.92\00:46:20.51
I guarantee unless you
continue on the process,
00:46:20.54\00:46:23.56
unless you continue
to come fellowship here,
00:46:23.59\00:46:26.06
unless you continue in growing
a new experience in Jesus,
00:46:26.09\00:46:29.79
this will become a
faith memory over time.
00:46:29.82\00:46:33.07
I hate to say that. But it will.
00:46:33.10\00:46:36.51
So there maybe for
some of us no better
00:46:38.02\00:46:41.21
opportunity or time
than just right now.
00:46:41.24\00:46:45.15
Who knows about tomorrow?
00:46:45.18\00:46:46.86
Who knows about next week?
00:46:46.89\00:46:49.10
Do we have any guarantees?
00:46:49.13\00:46:51.19
Of course, not.
00:46:51.22\00:46:52.47
In 2 Peter 1:21, it says,
00:46:52.50\00:46:54.84
"For no prophecy was ever
made by an act of human will,
00:46:54.87\00:46:58.65
but men moved
but the Holy Spirit
00:46:58.68\00:47:00.71
spoke from God."
00:47:00.74\00:47:02.15
And so the Holy
Spirit was the gift
00:47:03.25\00:47:07.85
that was given to
these men and women
00:47:07.88\00:47:11.25
who had the prosthetic gift,
00:47:11.28\00:47:13.16
they spoke as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit.
00:47:13.19\00:47:15.78
As these revelations
of truth came to them
00:47:15.81\00:47:18.85
by means of the Holy Spirit.
00:47:18.88\00:47:21.02
And so, my friend,
the spirit presence
00:47:21.05\00:47:22.94
is most distinctly experience
in the study of the Bible
00:47:22.97\00:47:26.82
and if we've been born
again of the Holy Spirit
00:47:26.85\00:47:29.41
we will have
thirsting for the truth.
00:47:29.44\00:47:31.91
Now I want to say it again,
00:47:31.94\00:47:32.97
we've been truly
born of the Holy Spirit,
00:47:33.00\00:47:34.49
we will have a
thirsting for the truth
00:47:34.52\00:47:36.45
a longing and a
desire for the truth.
00:47:36.48\00:47:39.23
Listen to me, the
sprit will never influence us
00:47:40.38\00:47:44.46
contrary to the truth, right?
00:47:44.49\00:47:49.00
This spirit will
never lead us away
00:47:49.03\00:47:52.42
from the truth of scripture.
00:47:52.45\00:47:54.60
And so if there is a spirit
that we're struggling with
00:47:54.63\00:47:58.14
that is leading us
away from the truth
00:47:58.17\00:48:01.93
then, my friend, we need to
recognize it for what it is.
00:48:01.96\00:48:05.38
It is not the spirit of Jesus.
00:48:05.41\00:48:08.01
For the spirit of Jesus will
never lead us from the truth,
00:48:08.04\00:48:11.26
that is a given and then I
had individuals on occasion
00:48:11.29\00:48:14.20
tell me, well, I'm gonna see
00:48:14.23\00:48:16.11
the Lord impresses me about it.
00:48:16.14\00:48:18.10
Well, my friend, in the light
of the Bible's clear teaching,
00:48:18.13\00:48:20.69
a born again Christian
needs no further impressions.
00:48:20.72\00:48:25.75
I tell you, this
is a dangerous ground
00:48:25.78\00:48:27.67
to get on this
idea that, you know,
00:48:27.70\00:48:29.48
I'm going to look to
impressions of conviction.
00:48:29.51\00:48:33.28
My friend, there is a place in
our commitment to Jesus Christ
00:48:33.31\00:48:37.35
when we discover the
truth to embrace the truth
00:48:37.38\00:48:41.27
whether convicted
or impressed or not.
00:48:41.30\00:48:44.21
Are you with me?
00:48:45.48\00:48:46.70
You understand what I am saying?
00:48:46.73\00:48:48.11
It's nice to have convictions
00:48:51.49\00:48:53.44
and we shouldn't be a
people of convictions.
00:48:53.47\00:48:55.68
But there is a place by
faith to embrace the truth
00:48:55.71\00:49:01.18
even though or may be
contrary to the natural
00:49:01.21\00:49:04.51
l or natural inclinations,
that's what I'm talking about.
00:49:04.54\00:49:08.22
And I want to say it
again, we must never confused
00:49:08.25\00:49:10.83
impressions or feelings
00:49:10.86\00:49:13.54
or emotions apart from the Bible
00:49:13.57\00:49:17.99
for the workings
of the Holy Spirit.
00:49:18.02\00:49:20.65
Furthermore, I want to
say the spiritual work,
00:49:24.23\00:49:26.14
I'm gonna say it
again, will always
00:49:26.17\00:49:28.06
the spirit will always working
harmony with the scriptures.
00:49:28.09\00:49:31.00
And if we want hear the
spirits speak to us in terms
00:49:31.03\00:49:33.44
that cannot
possibly be misunderstood,
00:49:33.47\00:49:37.35
it is to the Bible
that we go for, my friend,
00:49:37.38\00:49:40.44
this is the
testimony of the Holy Spirit.
00:49:40.47\00:49:44.01
Amen.
00:49:44.04\00:49:45.07
Impressions,
convictions of feelings.
00:49:46.52\00:49:49.01
Look at the Christian world.
00:49:49.04\00:49:50.75
Some impressed this way
00:49:50.78\00:49:52.20
and some impressed
the very opposite way.
00:49:52.23\00:49:54.64
I mean, you
know, it's unreliable.
00:49:54.67\00:49:57.83
This is what's reliable
in our commitment to Jesus.
00:49:57.86\00:50:02.94
I love this book,
you love this book.
00:50:03.35\00:50:06.84
I know you do.
You love studying it.
00:50:06.87\00:50:09.83
And there's gonna
be a body of truth
00:50:09.86\00:50:11.82
that we're just
gonna embrace us,
00:50:11.85\00:50:13.34
it's gonna rejoice us.
00:50:13.37\00:50:14.44
I mean, remember when we
talk about the coming up Jesus
00:50:14.47\00:50:17.21
and all that follows.
00:50:17.24\00:50:18.37
I mean, that is glorious.
00:50:18.40\00:50:21.17
But there are other
truths that may not just
00:50:21.20\00:50:23.29
again be in
keeping with the natural,
00:50:23.32\00:50:26.47
you know, inclinations
of our human hearts,
00:50:26.50\00:50:30.17
unless recognize
that we are human.
00:50:30.20\00:50:33.63
And the evil one
has a way to getting
00:50:33.66\00:50:35.12
into the mix in those things,
00:50:35.15\00:50:36.41
you know, he likes
to die in other issues
00:50:36.44\00:50:38.94
that really are not that vital.
00:50:38.97\00:50:41.44
And so we got to
sort all of that out.
00:50:41.47\00:50:44.61
And, my friend, on
some level when we reject
00:50:44.64\00:50:47.99
the truth on some level,
00:50:48.02\00:50:49.84
we are rejecting the
ministry of the Holy Spirit.
00:50:49.87\00:50:52.88
You know, I want
to be very careful
00:50:55.88\00:50:57.21
how I wrote this that
there is not mean the spirit
00:50:57.24\00:51:00.00
that the spirit
sees us to work with us,
00:51:00.03\00:51:03.56
the sprit still
seeks to draws us back.
00:51:03.59\00:51:06.88
Some people will
come back years later
00:51:06.91\00:51:09.43
to that which they
once were convicted about.
00:51:09.46\00:51:13.28
But on some level at some
point when we reject truth,
00:51:13.31\00:51:17.41
we're rejecting the
ministry of the Holy Spirit.
00:51:17.44\00:51:19.63
Isaiah 8:20, we
have this statement.
00:51:19.66\00:51:23.50
It says, "To the
law and the testimony."
00:51:23.53\00:51:26.20
And that's a
testimony of the Holy Spirit
00:51:26.23\00:51:28.24
as we have it
in the word of God.
00:51:28.27\00:51:30.63
"If they speak not
according to this word,
00:51:30.66\00:51:32.88
it is because there
is no light in them."
00:51:32.91\00:51:38.14
So there is two
standards that we look to.
00:51:38.17\00:51:41.92
First of all is
the moral standard
00:51:41.95\00:51:43.93
of the
commandments of the law of God.
00:51:43.96\00:51:46.27
It must be in
keeping with the teachings
00:51:47.30\00:51:49.41
of the commandments of God
00:51:49.44\00:51:50.82
and it also must be in
keeping with the testimony,
00:51:50.85\00:51:54.00
the testimony of the Holy
Spirit that is the word of God.
00:51:54.03\00:51:59.17
And if they do not
harmonize with the law of God
00:51:59.20\00:52:01.79
in their teaching
and with the word of God
00:52:01.82\00:52:04.91
then we know
there is no light in it.
00:52:04.94\00:52:09.04
I tell you, that's why so
many people make their minds up
00:52:09.07\00:52:12.02
to become apart of this church
00:52:12.05\00:52:14.45
because they want to--
in their love for Jesus,
00:52:14.48\00:52:16.91
they want to get
as close to the truth
00:52:16.94\00:52:19.83
as they possibly can.
00:52:19.86\00:52:21.40
And let me tell you,
churches do represent something.
00:52:21.43\00:52:24.36
And I know there is many
sincere Christians out there.
00:52:26.40\00:52:28.36
I do not deny that.
00:52:28.39\00:52:31.21
And I know there are
many good pastors out there.
00:52:31.24\00:52:33.43
But, my friend,
it is no substitute
00:52:33.46\00:52:36.38
for a growing
deeper experience in Jesus
00:52:36.41\00:52:40.08
that leads us to a
desire to willingness,
00:52:40.11\00:52:44.12
in willingness to
embrace all of the truth
00:52:44.15\00:52:46.78
and against some of those
truths that are not popular.
00:52:46.81\00:52:49.71
So the church
stands for something,
00:52:51.74\00:52:53.79
this church
stands for the things
00:52:53.82\00:52:55.79
that I have been
teaching you from God's word
00:52:55.82\00:52:57.96
as I shared last night.
00:52:57.99\00:52:59.17
Where do you
think I got all of this?
00:52:59.20\00:53:01.41
You just think I was
born with the Bible in hand
00:53:01.44\00:53:03.32
and I'm just a genius.
00:53:03.35\00:53:05.00
No.
00:53:05.03\00:53:06.55
You know, I've
learn this because
00:53:06.58\00:53:09.58
I have the benefit of haven't
been a part on this church.
00:53:09.61\00:53:13.64
I was raised, you know,
in the Sabbath school church,
00:53:13.67\00:53:16.74
I was in the Christian,
Christian education system,
00:53:16.77\00:53:20.97
you know, right on
through my two masters programs.
00:53:21.00\00:53:24.22
You know, I have
all of that benefit.
00:53:24.25\00:53:26.83
And, my friend, the
church provided that.
00:53:26.86\00:53:29.61
And the church the Corvallis
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:53:29.64\00:53:33.71
has provided this opportunity
for you in a similar way
00:53:33.74\00:53:38.03
to come into a
deeper understanding
00:53:38.06\00:53:40.05
of what the Bible teaches.
00:53:40.08\00:53:42.21
You know, I'm grateful
for the Corvallis Church
00:53:42.24\00:53:44.07
that they were willing
to have these meetings.
00:53:44.10\00:53:47.18
You know, this church
could have been satisfied
00:53:47.21\00:53:48.89
to just be taking care
of their own interests,
00:53:48.92\00:53:50.62
doing their own thing,
00:53:50.65\00:53:52.08
but they had some
interest in the community.
00:53:52.11\00:53:54.39
You know, when
you've got good news,
00:53:54.42\00:53:55.96
when you really got good news
you've just got to share it.
00:53:55.99\00:53:59.34
That's what it is
about, it selfishness
00:54:00.91\00:54:04.04
to keep the goodness
to ourselves, isn't it?
00:54:04.07\00:54:06.99
That's so
selfishness. I got to move on.
00:54:07.02\00:54:08.98
I have to I've a few things
more to cover before I end.
00:54:10.44\00:54:13.72
Now we could talk
about oh, yeah, Genesis 6,
00:54:13.75\00:54:16.82
"My spirit will not
always strive with men,
00:54:16.85\00:54:18.83
you know, God does
not force the issue.
00:54:18.86\00:54:20.97
John 6:44, Jesus said,
"No one can come to Me,
00:54:21.00\00:54:24.44
unless the Father who
sent Me draws me, draws him."
00:54:24.47\00:54:27.48
That is the
spirit that draws us.
00:54:27.51\00:54:29.95
Isaiah 30:21 says,
"And your ears will hear
00:54:29.98\00:54:33.27
a word behind you,
this is the way, walk in it,
00:54:33.30\00:54:35.73
whenever you turn to
the right or the left."
00:54:35.76\00:54:38.65
My friend, that
is again the still
00:54:38.68\00:54:40.69
small voice of the Holy Spirit.
00:54:40.72\00:54:42.74
And if we fail to listen
to that still small voice,
00:54:42.77\00:54:45.37
the day will come
-- the day will come
00:54:45.40\00:54:49.85
when we were no longer sense
00:54:49.88\00:54:51.85
the convicting
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:54:51.88\00:54:54.37
We will no longer hear it.
00:54:54.40\00:54:56.50
It is usually a gradual process
because let me assure you
00:54:56.53\00:55:01.39
God is extremely patient.
00:55:01.42\00:55:04.16
But again, He will not
force one of us in the end.
00:55:05.73\00:55:09.93
There comes a point.
00:55:09.96\00:55:11.42
He will convict, He will draw,
00:55:11.45\00:55:13.92
He will lead us in
the spiritual process,
00:55:13.95\00:55:17.56
but He will not
make the decision for us
00:55:17.59\00:55:20.89
that is what we've got
to do, that is our part
00:55:20.92\00:55:23.60
and it is an act of faith.
00:55:23.63\00:55:26.08
I mean, Matthew 7 Jesus said,
00:55:26.11\00:55:27.53
"Not everyone who
says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,'
00:55:27.56\00:55:30.19
will enter the
kingdom of heaven,
00:55:30.22\00:55:31.48
but he who does the will of
My Father who is in heaven."
00:55:31.51\00:55:35.58
Who is gonna enter heaven?
00:55:35.61\00:55:37.45
Those who make a big profession,
00:55:37.48\00:55:40.60
you know, Lord,
Lord who is gonna heaven?
00:55:40.63\00:55:43.57
Who?
00:55:43.60\00:55:44.90
Those who through
the grace of Jesus,
00:55:44.93\00:55:49.79
through the grace of Jesus,
00:55:49.82\00:55:51.16
those who do the "will of
My Father who is in heaven."
00:55:51.19\00:55:55.68
I said again, it is
not just a fuzzy feeling,
00:55:55.71\00:55:57.94
it is not just about conviction,
00:55:57.97\00:55:59.70
it is not just
about list of them.
00:55:59.73\00:56:01.22
I believe this, this
and this. It is integrating.
00:56:01.25\00:56:05.61
It's integrating all
of this into our lives,
00:56:05.64\00:56:08.82
making the part of who we are.
00:56:08.85\00:56:11.50
That's what it's about.
00:56:11.53\00:56:12.88
Many will say to me in that day,
00:56:12.91\00:56:14.40
"Lord, Lord, did we
not prophesy in Your name,
00:56:14.43\00:56:18.09
and in Your
name cast out demons,
00:56:18.12\00:56:20.08
and in Your name
perform many miracles?"
00:56:20.11\00:56:22.09
I mean, they were
doing powerful things
00:56:22.12\00:56:23.20
in the name of
Jesus and yet He said,
00:56:23.23\00:56:25.68
"And then I will
declare to them. '
00:56:25.71\00:56:27.77
I never knew
you, depart from Me,
00:56:27.80\00:56:30.32
you who practice lawlessness."
00:56:30.35\00:56:32.56
So I mean, that's the
ultimate state of deception
00:56:32.59\00:56:35.76
to at some point to give
oneself over to on believe
00:56:35.79\00:56:39.09
to resists the Spirit of truth.
00:56:39.12\00:56:41.76
And we can resist the
Spirit of truth so long
00:56:44.21\00:56:46.24
that we actually
feel that we're right
00:56:46.27\00:56:47.82
when we're actually wrong.
00:56:47.85\00:56:49.54
So what did Jesus
mean in Matthew 12
00:56:49.57\00:56:52.27
when He talked
about the unpardonable sin
00:56:52.30\00:56:55.05
being the, you know, blasphemy
against the Holy Spirit.
00:56:55.08\00:56:58.55
Let me take you
to the context of it.
00:56:58.58\00:57:01.19
Matthew 12 going back
in context of verse 22
00:57:01.22\00:57:04.32
and we'll drop down to verse 24.
00:57:04.35\00:57:05.80
This is what was going on.
00:57:05.83\00:57:07.48
It says, "Then a
demon-possessed man
00:57:07.51\00:57:09.96
who was blind and
mute was brought to Jesus,
00:57:09.99\00:57:13.95
and He healed Him.
00:57:13.98\00:57:16.05
He healed Him."
00:57:16.08\00:57:17.36
And verse 24 says,
"The Pharisees said,
00:57:17.39\00:57:19.64
"This man casts out demons by
Beelzebul, the ruler of demons."
00:57:19.67\00:57:25.94
You see, they had to
account somehow for the power,
00:57:25.97\00:57:29.04
the evident power that was
our work through Jesus Christ
00:57:29.07\00:57:31.47
and they were not willing
to admit that this was of God
00:57:31.50\00:57:34.38
for they had set them
on a course of unbelief.
00:57:34.41\00:57:36.94
They have rejected
consistently every conviction,
00:57:36.97\00:57:40.22
every indicator
that this was the Lord,
00:57:40.25\00:57:42.85
the Savior of life.
00:57:42.88\00:57:44.85
And so they had to
count for it somehow
00:57:47.15\00:57:49.56
and so they said
it's not the power of God,
00:57:49.59\00:57:51.60
it's the power of devil himself
of demons that is at work.
00:57:51.63\00:57:55.00
And it is then that
Jesus said to the Pharisees,
00:57:55.03\00:57:59.17
you every sin will be forgiven,
00:57:59.20\00:58:01.27
but that a blasphemy
against the Holy Spirit
00:58:01.30\00:58:03.53
for they were rejecting the
testimony of the Holy Spirit.
00:58:03.56\00:58:07.37
That's what he is talking about.
00:58:09.37\00:58:11.95
And so this spiritual
process is a vital one.
00:58:11.98\00:58:15.21
And the question is when are
we going to do it, my friend?
00:58:15.24\00:58:18.73
Are we going to having looked,
00:58:18.76\00:58:22.10
having learned, are
we going to turn away?
00:58:22.13\00:58:25.98
I believe that Jesus
waits for us to give an answer.
00:58:26.01\00:58:28.93
And I believe again that
He speaks to us this evening
00:58:28.96\00:58:32.17
saying, "Behold, I
stand at the door, and knock.
00:58:32.20\00:58:37.51
If anyone hears my
voice and opens the door
00:58:37.54\00:58:40.62
I will come into Him.
And I will sup with Him.
00:58:40.65\00:58:44.97