1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,990 Speaker: What you were just watching there is something that they have manufactured. 2 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:05,680 They call it the glory cloud. 3 00:00:06,009 --> 00:00:10,930 It amounts to a handful of gold dust or glitter that they put in 4 00:00:10,930 --> 00:00:15,680 the air vents that they have timed to go off during the service. 5 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:20,549 And these glory clouds, as they manufacture them, they attribute 6 00:00:20,549 --> 00:00:22,029 to the presence of the Holy Spirit. 7 00:00:22,990 --> 00:00:24,240 And that's what's going on there. 8 00:00:24,300 --> 00:00:26,560 They're watching these and he's saying, well, shouldn't we just get in the 9 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:31,399 corner and watch this and take pictures of this and be enthralled by this? 10 00:00:31,399 --> 00:00:34,940 And as he said, you know, I, I want to be distracted by his distractions. 11 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:39,039 I think the only thing accurate that Bill Johnson said there was at the end when 12 00:00:39,039 --> 00:00:40,760 he said, we don't know what we're doing, 13 00:00:45,820 --> 00:00:47,309 but what do we do with the Holy Spirit? 14 00:00:49,750 --> 00:00:53,320 Do, is this it, are they right? 15 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,609 And we're wrong or fire tunnels. 16 00:00:58,844 --> 00:01:01,724 Ecstatic utterances, healings, 17 00:01:04,185 --> 00:01:05,114 slaying in the spirit. 18 00:01:05,525 --> 00:01:07,934 Should I be wearing a sport coat up here and have you come up here and I'm 19 00:01:07,935 --> 00:01:10,074 just going to hit you with my sport coat and you're going to fall over? 20 00:01:12,055 --> 00:01:14,184 What do we do with the Holy Spirit? 21 00:01:15,924 --> 00:01:19,615 In fact, the question really at the heart of our text this morning is this. 22 00:01:19,935 --> 00:01:22,745 Jesus is going to tell his disciples, it's better that I 23 00:01:22,775 --> 00:01:24,255 go away than that I stay here. 24 00:01:24,255 --> 00:01:27,405 I preached a message a little while ago called it's good that Jesus is gone. 25 00:01:28,675 --> 00:01:31,845 That's what Jesus is telling us in this text. 26 00:01:32,015 --> 00:01:35,745 It's good that I go away, and he says it's good that I go away because if I don't 27 00:01:35,745 --> 00:01:38,375 go away, you're not gonna get the helper. 28 00:01:38,925 --> 00:01:40,164 You're not gonna get the Holy Spirit. 29 00:01:41,024 --> 00:01:46,414 And so that impresses upon us to understand why the Holy Spirit matters. 30 00:01:47,624 --> 00:01:50,905 And what should we be expecting the Holy Spirit to be doing in our midst? 31 00:01:52,925 --> 00:01:55,654 I'll admit I didn't put any gold dust in the air vents this morning. 32 00:01:56,585 --> 00:01:57,914 I don't think the school would have liked it either. 33 00:02:00,205 --> 00:02:02,015 What should the Holy Spirit do in our life? 34 00:02:03,195 --> 00:02:05,755 That's an important question for us to ask and answer as a church. 35 00:02:06,255 --> 00:02:07,884 It's also an important question for you to understand. 36 00:02:08,945 --> 00:02:13,145 As an individual follower of Jesus, what difference does the 37 00:02:13,145 --> 00:02:14,425 Holy Spirit make in your life? 38 00:02:16,045 --> 00:02:19,805 I think, Doctrinally, theologically, conceptually, all of us in the room 39 00:02:19,805 --> 00:02:23,165 could probably say, well, the Holy Spirit is important to me because of this. 40 00:02:23,195 --> 00:02:24,085 The Holy Spirit does this. 41 00:02:24,085 --> 00:02:28,335 He indwells, He seals, He, uh, He convicts, so forth and so on. 42 00:02:28,355 --> 00:02:29,704 He illuminates. 43 00:02:30,375 --> 00:02:34,895 We know maybe doctrinal categories, but what does that actually mean? 44 00:02:35,005 --> 00:02:37,954 What difference does that make for you Monday through Saturday? 45 00:02:38,435 --> 00:02:42,125 Why, in other words, is it true that you need the Holy Spirit 46 00:02:42,165 --> 00:02:43,375 as much as you need Jesus? 47 00:02:44,934 --> 00:02:45,605 Because that's the truth. 48 00:02:46,005 --> 00:02:46,954 For all of us this morning. 49 00:02:47,375 --> 00:02:52,545 You need the Holy Spirit, and I need the Holy Spirit, as much as we need Jesus. 50 00:02:53,454 --> 00:02:55,565 Take your Bibles to John 16, if you're not already there. 51 00:02:56,545 --> 00:02:58,045 I promise no more Bill Johnson this morning. 52 00:02:58,054 --> 00:02:58,625 That's it. 53 00:02:59,465 --> 00:03:02,364 Hopefully, Lord willing, that's as much heresy as you're gonna get this morning. 54 00:03:04,335 --> 00:03:05,055 John 16. 55 00:03:06,145 --> 00:03:07,335 John 16, 4 through 7. 56 00:03:07,345 --> 00:03:11,535 We're picking up Again, Jesus is on the way to Gethsemane if he's 57 00:03:11,535 --> 00:03:12,725 not already reached the garden. 58 00:03:12,735 --> 00:03:13,955 He's with his disciples. 59 00:03:13,955 --> 00:03:17,454 This whole series in John Upper Room has been called Discipled 60 00:03:17,695 --> 00:03:19,425 because that's what Jesus is after. 61 00:03:19,565 --> 00:03:23,185 He's preparing his disciples to know how to follow him once he's gone. 62 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,380 And so that's where we are as we pick up in verse 4 in our text, 63 00:03:27,380 --> 00:03:29,779 really the second half of verse 4. 64 00:03:29,780 --> 00:03:31,899 Let's read down through verse 7. 65 00:03:31,950 --> 00:03:34,870 It says this, I did not say these things to you from the 66 00:03:34,870 --> 00:03:36,640 beginning because I was with you. 67 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:37,950 In other words, what things? 68 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:39,450 Things about his departure. 69 00:03:39,869 --> 00:03:42,780 Things that he's been teaching them from John 13 onward. 70 00:03:42,790 --> 00:03:46,940 Jesus is saying I wasn't telling you all of this from the very beginning because 71 00:03:46,950 --> 00:03:48,500 for three years I've been with you. 72 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:48,760 you. 73 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:49,960 I've been walking with you. 74 00:03:49,970 --> 00:03:50,920 I've been your rabbi. 75 00:03:50,930 --> 00:03:52,600 You've had me in the flesh and blood. 76 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,190 I'm getting ready to go away though. 77 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:56,680 So he says, I did not say these things to you from the 78 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:58,030 beginning because I was with you. 79 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:03,710 But now I am going to him who sent me and none of you asks me, where are you going? 80 00:04:04,579 --> 00:04:07,760 But because I've said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 81 00:04:08,290 --> 00:04:09,649 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. 82 00:04:09,660 --> 00:04:10,180 Here it is. 83 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:14,820 It is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away, 84 00:04:14,820 --> 00:04:16,640 the helper will not come to you. 85 00:04:16,649 --> 00:04:19,464 But if I go, I will send him to you. 86 00:04:19,755 --> 00:04:21,265 Alright, let's stop there for just a second. 87 00:04:21,714 --> 00:04:25,125 So Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure and he's telling 88 00:04:25,125 --> 00:04:29,215 them you know what, you're shocked about these things, I get it, I haven't 89 00:04:29,215 --> 00:04:32,074 been talking to you about all this from the very beginning because why? 90 00:04:32,074 --> 00:04:32,815 Because I've been with you. 91 00:04:33,460 --> 00:04:36,350 And I've had other points and other purposes before this. 92 00:04:36,380 --> 00:04:39,050 I've been preparing you, I've been teaching you, I've been talking to 93 00:04:39,050 --> 00:04:40,150 you about the Kingdom of Heaven. 94 00:04:40,159 --> 00:04:41,930 Think about all the parables that He taught them. 95 00:04:42,310 --> 00:04:44,790 I've been doing things that you would understand that I'm different. 96 00:04:44,890 --> 00:04:47,499 All the miracles that He revealed part of His glory to 97 00:04:47,499 --> 00:04:48,679 them as they were going along. 98 00:04:49,130 --> 00:04:52,959 Jesus has been investing in these disciples all the way up until this point, 99 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:54,210 and now He's getting ready to leave. 100 00:04:54,210 --> 00:04:57,125 So He says, He says, now I'm telling these things to you because 101 00:04:57,125 --> 00:04:58,795 I'm getting ready to go away. 102 00:04:59,695 --> 00:05:01,675 And then he says, I'm, I'm getting ready to go away. 103 00:05:01,685 --> 00:05:05,385 And he says, and yet none of you has asked me, Lord, where are you going? 104 00:05:05,995 --> 00:05:09,205 And that may seem odd because if you recall back in John 14, 105 00:05:09,215 --> 00:05:11,034 that question was actually asked. 106 00:05:11,395 --> 00:05:14,305 Philip asked the question, well, Lord, where are you going? 107 00:05:14,315 --> 00:05:15,905 You're talking about going, where are you going? 108 00:05:16,125 --> 00:05:17,985 And so what does Jesus mean here when he says, none of 109 00:05:17,985 --> 00:05:19,085 you asked me where am I going? 110 00:05:21,179 --> 00:05:25,059 What Philip was really after was, Philip was, was really after Jesus, where are you 111 00:05:25,070 --> 00:05:26,999 going because we don't want to lose you. 112 00:05:28,049 --> 00:05:31,380 In other words, Jesus is indicting Philip's question or, or their 113 00:05:31,380 --> 00:05:34,669 lack of interest in the glory that he was about to return to. 114 00:05:35,558 --> 00:05:38,890 Jesus is saying, you're not concerned about what you should be concerned about. 115 00:05:39,249 --> 00:05:41,539 What you should be concerned about is the fact that I'm going 116 00:05:41,539 --> 00:05:42,590 back to be with the Father. 117 00:05:42,969 --> 00:05:44,659 That my glory is going to be restored to me. 118 00:05:44,689 --> 00:05:46,889 That I'm going back to sit at the right hand of the Father. 119 00:05:46,889 --> 00:05:48,759 And none of you are consumed with that. 120 00:05:49,069 --> 00:05:51,639 None of you are saying, what's that going to be like for you, Jesus? 121 00:05:51,969 --> 00:05:53,419 What's that going to be like to be with the Father? 122 00:05:53,419 --> 00:05:54,460 How should we understand that? 123 00:05:54,659 --> 00:05:57,729 When, when are we going to be able to come and be with you? 124 00:05:57,729 --> 00:05:58,669 And what's that going to be like for us? 125 00:05:58,669 --> 00:06:00,339 What do you want us to be doing in the meantime? 126 00:06:01,559 --> 00:06:02,999 Jesus instead indicts them. 127 00:06:03,780 --> 00:06:06,979 He says, instead sorrow has filled your hearts. 128 00:06:08,139 --> 00:06:11,544 And again, before we beat up the disciples, I think we would have 129 00:06:11,544 --> 00:06:13,444 felt the same sorrow, the same grief. 130 00:06:14,044 --> 00:06:15,534 What do you mean you're going away? 131 00:06:16,444 --> 00:06:18,064 What do you mean you're not going to be with us? 132 00:06:18,965 --> 00:06:21,264 Jesus, you're the Messiah, right? 133 00:06:21,264 --> 00:06:24,444 Think about Peter, when Peter pulled Jesus aside in a different context and 134 00:06:24,444 --> 00:06:26,224 rebuked him for talking about dying. 135 00:06:27,274 --> 00:06:29,384 Uh, don't talk about dying anymore, Jesus. 136 00:06:29,384 --> 00:06:30,284 You're supposed to be the Messiah. 137 00:06:30,304 --> 00:06:32,025 I don't know if you know what that means. 138 00:06:33,130 --> 00:06:35,060 Sorrow has gripped their heart. 139 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,320 That word sorrow is the same word that Paul uses in Romans 9 when he talks about 140 00:06:39,330 --> 00:06:44,500 the sorrow and unceasing anguish that he feels for the lost Israelites when he 141 00:06:44,500 --> 00:06:47,779 says, I would give up my own salvation for theirs if that were possible. 142 00:06:48,779 --> 00:06:53,539 And so in other words, Jesus is softly indicting the pity party that 143 00:06:53,539 --> 00:06:55,060 the disciples have been throwing. 144 00:06:55,990 --> 00:06:58,760 Woe are we because Jesus is leaving us. 145 00:06:59,985 --> 00:07:04,335 Instead, he said, you should be joyful over this. 146 00:07:04,735 --> 00:07:07,255 You should be rejoicing over this. 147 00:07:07,865 --> 00:07:12,695 He says, I tell you the truth, it's to your advantage that I go away. 148 00:07:14,714 --> 00:07:16,555 What a puzzling statement that is. 149 00:07:17,365 --> 00:07:21,815 God in the flesh, how in the world could it be to their advantage 150 00:07:22,125 --> 00:07:25,655 that God in the flesh would no longer be with them in their midst? 151 00:07:27,155 --> 00:07:28,144 He answers the question. 152 00:07:28,844 --> 00:07:30,604 He says, it's to your advantage that I go away. 153 00:07:30,604 --> 00:07:34,125 For if I do not go away, the Helper, who we've already identified 154 00:07:34,125 --> 00:07:37,674 previously in John's Gospel as the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the 155 00:07:37,674 --> 00:07:40,134 Holy Spirit, will not come to you. 156 00:07:40,844 --> 00:07:43,424 If I don't go away, the Helper will not come to you. 157 00:07:43,433 --> 00:07:44,945 We're going to see why in a moment here. 158 00:07:45,655 --> 00:07:50,325 But Jesus is saying, but if I go away, then I will send him to you. 159 00:07:51,114 --> 00:07:55,075 So the whole reason why it's an advantage, and that word advantage means it's better, 160 00:07:55,515 --> 00:07:57,544 It accrues to your positive accounting. 161 00:07:57,594 --> 00:07:59,474 It's to your benefit that I go away. 162 00:07:59,755 --> 00:08:03,974 The whole reason why is everything to do with their receiving the 163 00:08:03,974 --> 00:08:06,534 Holy Spirit, which comes back to our question this morning. 164 00:08:07,374 --> 00:08:08,614 Why does the Holy Spirit matter? 165 00:08:08,864 --> 00:08:12,395 What should we expect the Holy Spirit to do in our lives corporately 166 00:08:12,414 --> 00:08:13,784 and in our lives individually? 167 00:08:14,275 --> 00:08:15,844 What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit? 168 00:08:16,074 --> 00:08:17,854 How do we understand this? 169 00:08:19,895 --> 00:08:24,864 You know, our theological circles here, uh, Have probably swung the pendulum 170 00:08:25,215 --> 00:08:29,705 away from the, the, the charismatic, the, the, and, and even beyond. 171 00:08:30,514 --> 00:08:33,794 Bill, I'm not Categorizing all cares, categorizing all 172 00:08:33,794 --> 00:08:35,244 charismatics as Bill Johnson. 173 00:08:35,244 --> 00:08:36,693 Bill Johnson is an extremist. 174 00:08:36,734 --> 00:08:38,424 Bill Johnson is a false teacher. 175 00:08:38,984 --> 00:08:41,344 There are charismatic brothers and sisters in Christ, okay? 176 00:08:41,344 --> 00:08:43,484 We disagree on some key things, but not the gospel. 177 00:08:44,944 --> 00:08:49,024 But I think our theological circle has swung the pendulum so far this way 178 00:08:49,024 --> 00:08:52,394 when it comes to the Holy Spirit that the risk we run is underestimating 179 00:08:52,394 --> 00:08:55,314 how much we need and depend upon the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. 180 00:08:56,404 --> 00:08:59,305 And I think we're gonna get a glimpse of that this morning when we consider what in 181 00:08:59,305 --> 00:09:03,104 the world did Jesus mean that it's better that He's not here, but that He's gonna 182 00:09:03,114 --> 00:09:05,194 go away so that we get the Holy Spirit. 183 00:09:06,064 --> 00:09:07,884 In fact, if I can put it this way, point number one this 184 00:09:07,884 --> 00:09:09,244 morning along those lines is this. 185 00:09:09,624 --> 00:09:13,064 Don't underestimate what the Holy Spirit can do for you. 186 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,760 Don't underestimate what the Holy Spirit can do for you. 187 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:25,550 It's not gonna be glory clouds and fire tunnels and grave sucking and 188 00:09:25,550 --> 00:09:27,040 resurrecting people from the dead. 189 00:09:29,549 --> 00:09:30,810 Can I suggest it's gonna be better? 190 00:09:32,010 --> 00:09:36,199 If we understand what the Holy Spirit does for us and how much we need 191 00:09:36,199 --> 00:09:39,260 him on a daily basis, then we're gonna understand why Jesus said, 192 00:09:39,370 --> 00:09:40,920 it's better for you that I go away. 193 00:09:40,990 --> 00:09:45,479 So, we understand that there are advantages that come from 194 00:09:45,479 --> 00:09:47,089 difficult situations, right? 195 00:09:47,629 --> 00:09:52,129 For example, I trust if you're in a good marriage that you understand the 196 00:09:52,129 --> 00:09:56,069 concept that it was better for you to leave your family to go and get married. 197 00:09:57,209 --> 00:10:00,719 And maybe you loved your mom and dad, you loved your siblings, 198 00:10:00,759 --> 00:10:03,689 and you had a good home, and you loved growing up in that home. 199 00:10:04,359 --> 00:10:04,649 And you know what? 200 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:09,219 There was some pain, there was some sorrow, excuse me, in leaving that. 201 00:10:09,835 --> 00:10:13,015 And yet you knew that it was gonna be better because you were going to cleave 202 00:10:13,015 --> 00:10:16,345 to your spouse, your, your, your wife or your husband, and that that was 203 00:10:16,345 --> 00:10:19,225 gonna be an even better relationship than the relationship you previously 204 00:10:19,225 --> 00:10:21,955 had with your mom and dad and siblings. 205 00:10:22,824 --> 00:10:26,755 It's better to leave and, and to cleave or a different way. 206 00:10:26,785 --> 00:10:31,645 It, it's better for some of you to have left beautiful, sunny Southern 207 00:10:31,645 --> 00:10:34,255 California and moved halfway across the country to the promised 208 00:10:34,255 --> 00:10:36,955 land to plant a church with us. 209 00:10:37,045 --> 00:10:37,345 Right. 210 00:10:38,154 --> 00:10:40,484 And maybe some of you are still getting there, and that's okay, we'll give 211 00:10:40,484 --> 00:10:41,864 you some patience on that one still. 212 00:10:42,954 --> 00:10:47,954 But you left something that wasn't inherently, well, wasn't all 213 00:10:47,954 --> 00:10:50,674 inherently evil and wicked over there in Southern California, right? 214 00:10:51,854 --> 00:10:54,384 No, but you left, the weather there is beautiful. 215 00:10:54,414 --> 00:10:56,314 We lived there for six years, it's gorgeous. 216 00:10:56,634 --> 00:10:59,714 And beyond that, and more importantly, you left friendships, relationships, 217 00:10:59,724 --> 00:11:00,954 you left a church family. 218 00:11:01,550 --> 00:11:05,689 In California, you left a job, you left your house in California to 219 00:11:05,699 --> 00:11:07,689 come here to plant this church. 220 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,089 In large part because at the end of the day, you made the decision, you said, 221 00:11:12,089 --> 00:11:15,369 It's better, it's to my advantage that I go and do this than if I stay here. 222 00:11:17,444 --> 00:11:20,915 Or maybe you might understand this one, it's, it's to your advantage, right? 223 00:11:20,935 --> 00:11:23,644 That you change your diet, the things that you eat and the things that 224 00:11:23,644 --> 00:11:27,624 you drink and start making healthier choices towards that end in order 225 00:11:27,624 --> 00:11:31,434 to increase the longevity of your life, your life, your, your lifespan. 226 00:11:32,785 --> 00:11:34,075 You still want the Twinkie. 227 00:11:34,095 --> 00:11:36,795 You still want the carton of Tillamook peanut butter ice cream with the 228 00:11:36,795 --> 00:11:39,795 swirls in it of actual real peanut butter that course through the carton. 229 00:11:40,125 --> 00:11:42,455 But you know it's not a good thing to open that carton up and 230 00:11:42,455 --> 00:11:43,644 sit on the couch with a spoon. 231 00:11:43,655 --> 00:11:47,024 That's not going to increase and add yours to your life. 232 00:11:47,564 --> 00:11:50,345 So you're willing to forego something that's good in order 233 00:11:50,345 --> 00:11:51,455 for the thing that's better. 234 00:11:53,125 --> 00:11:57,175 What Jesus is saying here is that it's better for us to have 235 00:11:57,175 --> 00:12:01,055 the Spirit in us than to have Him in our presence beside us. 236 00:12:03,285 --> 00:12:05,565 All of us as Christians have two primary tasks in life. 237 00:12:06,585 --> 00:12:09,215 All of us as Christians, every Christian in the room, two primary tasks in life. 238 00:12:09,215 --> 00:12:10,295 Number one, glorifying God. 239 00:12:10,994 --> 00:12:13,224 And number two, and this is not separate from number one, but, but 240 00:12:13,305 --> 00:12:14,825 number two is reaching the lost. 241 00:12:15,895 --> 00:12:17,574 Glorifying God, reaching the lost. 242 00:12:17,814 --> 00:12:18,725 That's our target. 243 00:12:18,735 --> 00:12:20,105 That's what we're here to do. 244 00:12:20,324 --> 00:12:24,005 And that's really what the Holy Spirit is here to equip us with. 245 00:12:24,335 --> 00:12:27,904 And in this first point about why it's good for us and not underestimating 246 00:12:27,904 --> 00:12:31,004 what it can do for us as Christians, I want us to think about how the Holy 247 00:12:31,004 --> 00:12:34,635 Spirit really helps us hit that first target of glorifying God with our life. 248 00:12:35,885 --> 00:12:38,865 Part of it is what I preached a few weeks ago, that we would 249 00:12:38,875 --> 00:12:40,365 be a church equipping church. 250 00:12:40,844 --> 00:12:44,045 that the Spirit embodies, the Spirit indwells you in order to equip you, 251 00:12:44,055 --> 00:12:47,344 empower you to serve the body of Christ, for the building up of the body of Christ. 252 00:12:47,915 --> 00:12:50,615 I just preached on that, and so that's not really where I want to land and 253 00:12:50,755 --> 00:12:53,635 zoom in this morning, but that's a key component of the Spirit's ministry 254 00:12:53,635 --> 00:12:58,525 within us, and we didn't need to, we need to not underestimate how the Spirit 255 00:12:58,525 --> 00:13:02,295 equips us to serve the body, and the role that we can have in doing that. 256 00:13:02,984 --> 00:13:05,425 But more than that, I want to suggest, and this is where I want to land, 257 00:13:05,970 --> 00:13:08,980 There's a fundamental reality of our relationship with God that has 258 00:13:09,010 --> 00:13:10,950 changed now because we have the Spirit. 259 00:13:12,590 --> 00:13:17,229 It's because Jesus was going away, the disciples were now going to experience 260 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:19,680 the Spirit dwelling within them. 261 00:13:20,289 --> 00:13:24,979 One well known pastor out there said it this way, the Spirit inside you 262 00:13:24,979 --> 00:13:27,019 is better than the Jesus beside you. 263 00:13:28,589 --> 00:13:30,999 That sounds odd, doesn't it? 264 00:13:31,329 --> 00:13:34,709 The Spirit inside you is better than the Jesus beside you. 265 00:13:35,510 --> 00:13:37,900 But that's what Jesus is saying to the disciples. 266 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,840 It's to your advantage that I'm going away. 267 00:13:41,620 --> 00:13:43,050 So that you will have the Spirit. 268 00:13:43,050 --> 00:13:46,160 And the Spirit is going to come and take up residence within them. 269 00:13:46,390 --> 00:13:49,069 And this is why Jesus has to go away. 270 00:13:49,850 --> 00:13:52,680 Because if Jesus doesn't go away, the Spirit can't be sent, 271 00:13:52,680 --> 00:13:53,819 and that's what He has said. 272 00:13:54,069 --> 00:13:58,400 The Spirit is only going to come to us if Jesus first goes through the cross, 273 00:13:58,620 --> 00:14:02,010 goes through the crucifixion, dies on the cross for our sins so that we can 274 00:14:02,010 --> 00:14:05,520 be forgiven, and rises from the dead so that we can live with Him forever. 275 00:14:05,749 --> 00:14:08,500 That's the only way that we can have the Spirit. 276 00:14:09,060 --> 00:14:11,720 John 7, 38 39 says it this way. 277 00:14:12,100 --> 00:14:16,609 John 7, 38 39, whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his 278 00:14:16,609 --> 00:14:18,449 heart will flow rivers of living water. 279 00:14:19,150 --> 00:14:22,440 Now, He said this, Jesus did, about the Spirit, whom those who 280 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:24,370 believed in Him were to receive. 281 00:14:24,630 --> 00:14:28,530 For as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. 282 00:14:29,559 --> 00:14:33,570 So see, Jesus had to first go to the cross and then be raised from the dead 283 00:14:33,570 --> 00:14:35,559 before we could receive the Spirit. 284 00:14:35,559 --> 00:14:38,869 And that's why it's better for Him to go away so that we can receive the Spirit. 285 00:14:38,879 --> 00:14:42,579 The Spirit inside you is better than the Jesus beside you. 286 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,609 This is where we need to wade into some Trinitarian waters for a second. 287 00:14:49,015 --> 00:14:53,805 Because even though Jesus was going away, in giving the Spirit, Jesus is still 288 00:14:53,815 --> 00:14:55,375 going to be present with the disciples. 289 00:14:56,395 --> 00:14:59,285 And by extension, still be present with us. 290 00:15:00,755 --> 00:15:02,714 John chapter 14, verse 28. 291 00:15:02,945 --> 00:15:07,655 John chapter 14, verse 28 says this, You heard me say to you, I am going away. 292 00:15:07,655 --> 00:15:10,045 Jesus says, I will come to you. 293 00:15:11,305 --> 00:15:12,975 I'm going away, but I will come to you. 294 00:15:13,935 --> 00:15:16,395 Was that he would come to them through the resurrection? 295 00:15:16,395 --> 00:15:16,454 Is that true? 296 00:15:17,275 --> 00:15:21,145 Yeah, in part, in the immediate, but even more so longer term. 297 00:15:21,145 --> 00:15:24,075 He was going to come to the disciples through the giving of the Spirit. 298 00:15:24,485 --> 00:15:28,384 That as the Spirit comes and takes residence within us, Christian, that 299 00:15:28,384 --> 00:15:31,615 we experience the presence not only of the Spirit, but also of Christ. 300 00:15:32,325 --> 00:15:35,975 And this is why the Apostle Paul can write in Ephesians chapter 3 what he does 301 00:15:35,985 --> 00:15:39,955 when he says, For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every 302 00:15:39,955 --> 00:15:43,324 family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his 303 00:15:43,325 --> 00:15:47,985 glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit. 304 00:15:47,995 --> 00:15:48,504 Notice that. 305 00:15:48,985 --> 00:15:53,615 Through his spirit in your inner being so that, we have the spirit in 306 00:15:53,625 --> 00:15:57,854 our inner being so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. 307 00:15:57,854 --> 00:15:58,644 Amen. 308 00:15:59,035 --> 00:16:03,214 So you see, having the Spirit means that we also have the presence of Christ 309 00:16:03,224 --> 00:16:05,314 dwelling within us through the Spirit. 310 00:16:06,194 --> 00:16:08,555 So it's through the Spirit's presence in our lives that we have 311 00:16:08,564 --> 00:16:10,834 the presence of Christ as well. 312 00:16:10,844 --> 00:16:13,305 And you say, well how is that, how is that possible? 313 00:16:14,204 --> 00:16:17,175 And the reason it's possible is because the oneness of the, the Trinity. 314 00:16:17,175 --> 00:16:18,275 One God, three persons. 315 00:16:18,285 --> 00:16:19,785 Father, Son, Holy Spirit. 316 00:16:20,495 --> 00:16:23,694 And they are united in perfect, in will, in action. 317 00:16:24,380 --> 00:16:27,460 And so the Spirit is only going to act in perfect accordance with the will 318 00:16:27,460 --> 00:16:28,880 of the Father and the will of the Son. 319 00:16:29,310 --> 00:16:31,790 And so the Spirit's presence within us is really an extension 320 00:16:31,790 --> 00:16:34,530 of the Son's presence with us. 321 00:16:35,670 --> 00:16:35,980 Okay. 322 00:16:37,630 --> 00:16:38,210 So what? 323 00:16:40,219 --> 00:16:41,660 What difference does that make? 324 00:16:42,665 --> 00:16:46,254 What is the Monday through Saturday reality of this for us? 325 00:16:46,714 --> 00:16:48,454 How does this show up in our lives? 326 00:16:48,454 --> 00:16:52,094 And I want to suggest that what the Spirit does in our life can be broken 327 00:16:52,094 --> 00:16:54,435 down into categories like these and more. 328 00:16:55,925 --> 00:16:58,864 But these are some ones that I want you to ponder about not underestimating 329 00:16:58,864 --> 00:17:00,514 what the Spirit can do in your life. 330 00:17:01,004 --> 00:17:04,003 And we're going to break these down more as we go along here. 331 00:17:05,230 --> 00:17:07,450 But the Spirit has a bearing on your worship. 332 00:17:07,460 --> 00:17:08,950 The Spirit has a bearing on your prayer life. 333 00:17:09,010 --> 00:17:11,660 The Spirit has a bearing on your fellowship with other believers. 334 00:17:12,260 --> 00:17:15,450 The Spirit has an impact on the confidence that you feel as a believer. 335 00:17:15,999 --> 00:17:19,910 The Spirit has an impact on the affections that you experience for Christ. 336 00:17:20,339 --> 00:17:24,098 The Spirit has an impact on the joy that you experience as a follower of Jesus. 337 00:17:24,460 --> 00:17:28,580 The Spirit impacts your ability to persevere, to endure. 338 00:17:28,590 --> 00:17:33,019 The Spirit gives you a wisdom, not of the world, but a wisdom of God. 339 00:17:33,020 --> 00:17:37,955 The See, these are all ways that we experience tangibly the Spirit's 340 00:17:37,975 --> 00:17:41,345 presence in our life that are better than the gold dust coming down out of 341 00:17:41,345 --> 00:17:45,024 the vents, that are better than the fire tunnels, that are better than the grave 342 00:17:45,025 --> 00:17:48,275 sucking, and all of the other things that have crept into and distorted the 343 00:17:48,275 --> 00:17:49,755 biblical view of what the Spirit does. 344 00:17:49,765 --> 00:17:53,625 See, that's what I hope us to see this morning, is to ask and answer what does 345 00:17:53,625 --> 00:17:57,945 the Spirit do in my life by looking at the Word of God and seeing what the Spirit 346 00:17:57,975 --> 00:17:59,414 does in our life through the Word of God. 347 00:18:01,595 --> 00:18:06,100 If we didn't have the Spirit, Following Jesus would be nigh impossible. 348 00:18:08,470 --> 00:18:12,680 This week we had storms, Wednesday night, and these storms blew in, and I remember 349 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,919 sitting at home, my kids were down at youth, and Amanda and I were sitting 350 00:18:15,919 --> 00:18:18,970 at home, and I remember sitting there thinking to myself, man, if the power 351 00:18:18,999 --> 00:18:24,240 goes out all of a sudden, it's pitch black outside, do I have enough battery power on 352 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,100 my phone to have my flashlight work there? 353 00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:27,560 Do I know where a flashlight is in my house? 354 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:29,130 Do I own a flashlight in my house? 355 00:18:29,150 --> 00:18:29,670 I think I do. 356 00:18:30,540 --> 00:18:31,420 But do I know where it is? 357 00:18:31,460 --> 00:18:33,310 What's going to happen if the power goes out? 358 00:18:33,310 --> 00:18:34,860 Man, the internet's going to go down. 359 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:35,850 What's going to happen? 360 00:18:35,860 --> 00:18:37,900 The street road lights are going to be out. 361 00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:39,120 The stop lights are going to go out. 362 00:18:39,129 --> 00:18:40,870 Nobody knows how to handle that, by the way. 363 00:18:42,140 --> 00:18:44,440 I was, uh, was driving in downtown Dallas this week and there was 364 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:47,660 a flashing red light and it was like the apocalypse happened. 365 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,980 Let's all, okay, driving lesson, quick driving lesson right now. 366 00:18:52,010 --> 00:18:55,260 A flashing red light, treat it like a stop sign, like a four way stop. 367 00:18:55,300 --> 00:18:56,829 Okay, that's how you do it. 368 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:57,770 It's super easy. 369 00:18:57,780 --> 00:19:02,000 It's not difficult and you don't get to go just because you need to be somewhere 370 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:03,430 faster than someone else gets to go. 371 00:19:03,430 --> 00:19:04,440 You got to wait your turn. 372 00:19:04,450 --> 00:19:06,800 Okay, we're all on the same page on the flashing red light. 373 00:19:07,810 --> 00:19:09,960 Lights are gonna go out if you lose power, all kinds of stuff. 374 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:10,860 And it, what did it do? 375 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,730 It made me just appreciate the presence of electricity all that more. 376 00:19:14,550 --> 00:19:15,889 Something that I just take for granted. 377 00:19:15,890 --> 00:19:17,290 Something that's always there. 378 00:19:18,270 --> 00:19:20,680 Or, or public restrooms at Starbucks. 379 00:19:21,529 --> 00:19:22,480 They're taking those away. 380 00:19:22,490 --> 00:19:23,290 Did you hear about that? 381 00:19:23,679 --> 00:19:24,259 Not the toilets. 382 00:19:24,259 --> 00:19:25,130 They're still gonna be there. 383 00:19:26,009 --> 00:19:29,470 But 4 cup of coffee now. 384 00:19:30,149 --> 00:19:32,300 Used to be you could go into Starbucks and use the bathroom. 385 00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:34,000 Now they're like, nope, you need to be a customer here to 386 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:34,730 be able to use the bathroom. 387 00:19:34,730 --> 00:19:37,080 But good news, they're going to write your name on the cup in Sharpie again. 388 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,980 So it, it, it evens out in the end. 389 00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:40,889 It evens out in the end. 390 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,169 Things we take for granted, like the Spirit's presence in our life, 391 00:19:45,169 --> 00:19:47,760 what the Spirit does for us, right? 392 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:49,730 So as we break this down, don't underestimate. 393 00:19:49,740 --> 00:19:51,620 How about that, just the area here of worship? 394 00:19:52,660 --> 00:19:55,590 How does the Spirit improve our worship? 395 00:19:55,610 --> 00:19:58,430 Well, I think the Spirit not only improves our worship, but facilitates 396 00:19:58,430 --> 00:19:59,340 our worship in the first place. 397 00:20:01,170 --> 00:20:03,960 Philippians chapter 3 verse 3, for we are the circumcision who 398 00:20:03,970 --> 00:20:06,880 worship by the Spirit of God. 399 00:20:08,380 --> 00:20:14,910 You worship by, enabled by, through, on the, because of the Spirit of God. 400 00:20:16,159 --> 00:20:22,420 The prompting, the facilitation there, the access that you have is by the Spirit. 401 00:20:23,805 --> 00:20:28,615 In Romans chapter 12, Paul says this, I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the 402 00:20:28,615 --> 00:20:32,765 mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable 403 00:20:32,774 --> 00:20:36,375 to God, which is your spiritual worship. 404 00:20:37,205 --> 00:20:40,594 So I'm not just talking about when you show up here and sing, I'm talking 405 00:20:40,594 --> 00:20:44,695 about the life of worship that you live is a life that you live by the Spirit. 406 00:20:45,245 --> 00:20:46,655 The Spirit empowers you to do that. 407 00:20:46,655 --> 00:20:50,425 In other words, you are not an acceptable offering to God because 408 00:20:50,425 --> 00:20:51,635 you had a good week last week. 409 00:20:52,785 --> 00:20:55,605 You are not acceptable to God because you've read the Bible 410 00:20:55,605 --> 00:20:56,875 every day so far this year. 411 00:20:57,575 --> 00:21:01,205 You are not acceptable to God because your marriage is intact. 412 00:21:02,325 --> 00:21:04,765 You are acceptable to God because the Spirit dwells within you. 413 00:21:05,895 --> 00:21:09,935 And your worship is acceptable to God because you worship by the Spirit. 414 00:21:10,974 --> 00:21:14,095 You worship by the Spirit, which leads to the second thing. 415 00:21:14,095 --> 00:21:17,335 The Spirit gives you access to God in the first place. 416 00:21:18,175 --> 00:21:20,405 It's another reason why we have to worship by the Spirit. 417 00:21:21,395 --> 00:21:23,605 Paul says this in Romans chapter eight, verse 15. 418 00:21:23,605 --> 00:21:26,905 He says, you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but 419 00:21:26,905 --> 00:21:32,994 you have received the spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry, Abba, Father. 420 00:21:34,304 --> 00:21:37,034 See, without the spirit, you and I are still strangers and 421 00:21:37,054 --> 00:21:39,034 aliens and exiles and foreigners. 422 00:21:39,804 --> 00:21:44,115 To have the access to even come into the presence of God in worship or in prayer, 423 00:21:44,735 --> 00:21:48,284 in confession, we need the spirit first. 424 00:21:49,175 --> 00:21:52,535 The Spirit is what signifies that we belong to the family of God. 425 00:21:53,615 --> 00:21:56,245 Without the Spirit, you don't belong to the family of God. 426 00:21:57,435 --> 00:21:58,434 The Spirit of adoption. 427 00:22:00,024 --> 00:22:02,935 Speaking of the family of God, the Spirit also impacts our fellowship. 428 00:22:04,355 --> 00:22:08,185 Our fellowship with one another as the body of Christ, the Spirit unites us 429 00:22:08,185 --> 00:22:11,924 together from all kinds of different backgrounds, all kinds of different 430 00:22:11,925 --> 00:22:15,975 socioeconomic statuses, all kinds of different stories, all kinds of 431 00:22:15,975 --> 00:22:19,135 different marital statuses, whether you have kids, you don't have kids, 432 00:22:19,135 --> 00:22:22,085 whether you're a student, you're an adult, whoever you may be in the room, 433 00:22:22,085 --> 00:22:26,855 the thing that brings us together and bonds us together is the Spirit of God. 434 00:22:27,015 --> 00:22:29,395 1 Corinthians 12 verses 12 through 13. 435 00:22:30,350 --> 00:22:33,240 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the 436 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:36,400 members of the body, though many are one body, so it is with Christ. 437 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:37,160 How? 438 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:43,380 Well, he answers, for in one spirit, we were all baptized into one body. 439 00:22:43,380 --> 00:22:46,360 Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and all were made to drink of one spirit. 440 00:22:46,369 --> 00:22:50,600 So the spirit unites us together as the body of Christ. 441 00:22:51,950 --> 00:22:55,060 Something else the spirit impacts for us is our confidence 442 00:22:55,090 --> 00:22:56,180 in our standing with God. 443 00:22:58,780 --> 00:23:01,770 The Spirit is given to us as a guarantee. 444 00:23:01,770 --> 00:23:03,490 In fact, Paul says that multiple times. 445 00:23:03,490 --> 00:23:05,130 22. 446 00:23:05,770 --> 00:23:12,510 God has also put a seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 447 00:23:14,289 --> 00:23:15,743 Ephesians 1. 448 00:23:15,743 --> 00:23:16,629 13 14. 449 00:23:16,919 --> 00:23:21,080 Similarly, in him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your 450 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:25,379 salvation, and believed in him, you were sealed with his promised Holy Spirit, 451 00:23:25,649 --> 00:23:27,600 who is the guarantee of our inheritance. 452 00:23:28,419 --> 00:23:31,219 And so the Spirit gives you a confidence before the Lord, 453 00:23:31,229 --> 00:23:33,459 gives you a hope before the Lord. 454 00:23:34,009 --> 00:23:37,459 In fact, we read it in Romans chapter 8 during our scripture reading. 455 00:23:37,659 --> 00:23:41,830 It says in verse 16, the Spirit himself bears witness with our 456 00:23:41,860 --> 00:23:44,179 spirit that we are children of God. 457 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,830 That is the confidence that you have as a believer as a result of the 458 00:23:47,830 --> 00:23:51,370 Spirit bearing witness with your own spirit as to your standing before God. 459 00:23:52,190 --> 00:23:55,999 That you belong to Him as a son of God. 460 00:23:57,790 --> 00:24:00,260 So the Spirit impacts our confidence, our standing before God. 461 00:24:00,270 --> 00:24:05,080 The Spirit also has bearing on your sanctification, your Christ likeness. 462 00:24:06,300 --> 00:24:09,460 For it is by the Spirit, according to Romans 8, 13 through 14, 463 00:24:09,460 --> 00:24:13,519 it's by the Spirit that we put to death the deeds of the body. 464 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:15,950 We mortify the flesh. 465 00:24:15,950 --> 00:24:19,530 In fact, John Owen, the great Puritan writer, wrote a whole entire book 466 00:24:19,540 --> 00:24:22,120 based, basically, on this concept. 467 00:24:23,349 --> 00:24:26,209 That it's by the Spirit that we put to death the deeds of the body. 468 00:24:26,210 --> 00:24:28,520 That is, that as Christians, that is our task. 469 00:24:29,629 --> 00:24:34,320 Right before this, in Romans 8, 11, he says, If the Spirit of Him who raised 470 00:24:34,330 --> 00:24:38,899 Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will 471 00:24:38,899 --> 00:24:41,930 also give life to your mortal bodies. 472 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:45,450 To the end that you're able to put to death the deeds of the body. 473 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:49,870 So church that means that one of those spirits roles in your life 474 00:24:49,870 --> 00:24:52,580 is to make sure that there is no sin that has a death grip on you. 475 00:24:53,709 --> 00:24:57,800 There is no sin as a, as a believer that you cannot be free from. 476 00:24:59,610 --> 00:25:04,210 There's no sin that you cannot put to death by the Spirit dwelling within you. 477 00:25:05,950 --> 00:25:12,650 Sanctification, wisdom, The Spirit also helps us to grow in wisdom. 478 00:25:13,990 --> 00:25:17,660 Not necessarily, again, in the wisdom of the world, but the wisdom of the Lord. 479 00:25:17,700 --> 00:25:19,700 1 on this one. 480 00:25:19,700 --> 00:25:20,179 1 Corinthians 2. 481 00:25:20,230 --> 00:25:24,209 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God. 482 00:25:24,679 --> 00:25:26,809 For they are foolishness to him, folly to him. 483 00:25:27,220 --> 00:25:31,380 And he's not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 484 00:25:32,300 --> 00:25:33,630 They're spiritually discerned. 485 00:25:34,555 --> 00:25:36,865 See, the Spirit helps us grow in our understanding and knowledge 486 00:25:36,875 --> 00:25:40,105 of the matters of God, the matters of the Gospel, who God is. 487 00:25:40,105 --> 00:25:43,874 And this is why we can stretch ourselves to understand things about God that 488 00:25:43,875 --> 00:25:45,475 are difficult for us to understand. 489 00:25:46,045 --> 00:25:49,044 Why we can pick up a systematic theology and read about the character 490 00:25:49,044 --> 00:25:53,045 of God, read about His acts, read about Him in a deeper level and grow 491 00:25:53,045 --> 00:25:56,459 in our understanding of Him because the Spirit helps us to understand Him. 492 00:25:56,820 --> 00:25:59,280 It's why every single year you pick up the Bible and you read through 493 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,450 the daily Bible reading, you're gonna learn more about God every single year, 494 00:26:02,450 --> 00:26:03,990 even though the words don't change. 495 00:26:04,870 --> 00:26:07,570 Because the Spirit's continually growing us and teaching us more 496 00:26:07,570 --> 00:26:08,489 and more and more about God. 497 00:26:08,510 --> 00:26:09,860 That's part of what He does in our life. 498 00:26:10,750 --> 00:26:14,509 But fundamentally, before, first and foremost, all of these things that 499 00:26:14,509 --> 00:26:18,620 I've just talked about, the Spirit, first and foremost, is present in our 500 00:26:18,620 --> 00:26:20,330 lives through the act of regeneration. 501 00:26:21,910 --> 00:26:23,479 In other words, causing us to be born again. 502 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:29,020 This is something that John recorded Jesus words for us back in John chapter 503 00:26:29,020 --> 00:26:31,590 3 as Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus. 504 00:26:32,540 --> 00:26:36,300 John chapter 3 verses 5 through 8, Jesus said this, Jesus answered, 505 00:26:36,309 --> 00:26:40,539 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, 506 00:26:41,349 --> 00:26:43,150 he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 507 00:26:43,810 --> 00:26:45,770 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. 508 00:26:46,030 --> 00:26:48,910 That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 509 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,050 Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. 510 00:26:52,060 --> 00:26:54,900 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear it sound, but you do not know 511 00:26:54,900 --> 00:26:56,300 where it comes from or where it goes. 512 00:26:56,310 --> 00:26:59,200 So it is with everyone who's born of the Spirit. 513 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:03,380 And so the Spirit causes us to have new life. 514 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:06,740 And so what does the Spirit do? 515 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:08,810 The Spirit does all of these things in our life. 516 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,940 Which again, if you ask me, is far better than gold dust 517 00:27:11,950 --> 00:27:12,910 coming down from the ceiling. 518 00:27:14,860 --> 00:27:19,300 But it's also worth us pondering and thinking about how great Christianity is 519 00:27:19,570 --> 00:27:23,320 because it's unique in the fact that no other religion will you ever find where 520 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:27,380 the, the founder, the, the figurehead, the God or the gods in the religion 521 00:27:27,630 --> 00:27:30,179 have done this for their followers. 522 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:36,240 Jesus could have gone to the cross, died on the cross, risen 523 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:40,240 from the dead, and hung out on earth for the rest of eternity. 524 00:27:41,805 --> 00:27:45,915 And never given us the spirit and looked at us and said, good luck following me. 525 00:27:47,825 --> 00:27:50,374 That's essentially what every other world religion looks like. 526 00:27:50,965 --> 00:27:55,315 The founder, the leader, the Muhammad, the prophet, Allah, Gandhi, Buddha, and 527 00:27:55,315 --> 00:27:58,274 none of the pantheon of all the Hindu gods and goddesses that are out there. 528 00:27:58,554 --> 00:28:00,945 All of them basically say, hey, good luck. 529 00:28:00,985 --> 00:28:02,754 Here's what I, what you're supposed to do for me. 530 00:28:03,885 --> 00:28:09,554 No other religion will you find God coming to take up residence in his followers. 531 00:28:10,665 --> 00:28:12,245 to help them follow Him. 532 00:28:14,005 --> 00:28:15,505 That's what we have in the Spirit. 533 00:28:16,885 --> 00:28:19,065 That's why we can't underestimate what the Spirit can do for 534 00:28:19,095 --> 00:28:20,584 us as followers of Jesus. 535 00:28:20,584 --> 00:28:23,065 But not only for us, remember, the Christian has two tasks. 536 00:28:23,874 --> 00:28:26,704 Glorify God and reach the lost. 537 00:28:27,459 --> 00:28:30,219 And it's that reaching the lost part that he goes to next, look at verse 8. 538 00:28:30,699 --> 00:28:34,360 He says, When he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and 539 00:28:34,360 --> 00:28:38,350 righteousness and judgment, concerning sin because they do not believe in me, 540 00:28:38,620 --> 00:28:41,869 concerning righteousness because I go to the Father, and you will see me no 541 00:28:41,870 --> 00:28:47,365 longer, and concerning judgment because the ruler of this world has been judged. 542 00:28:47,365 --> 00:28:52,730 And so Jesus says that the Spirit is not only there to help the disciples, 543 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:56,360 but the Spirit is also going to have a role in the life of the lost. 544 00:28:57,580 --> 00:29:01,700 Our second point this morning is this, don't just not, don't just underestimate 545 00:29:01,700 --> 00:29:05,260 what the spirit can do in your life, but also don't underestimate what the 546 00:29:05,260 --> 00:29:07,620 spirit can do in the life of the lost. 547 00:29:08,269 --> 00:29:10,699 Let me say that in a way that isn't not just a total train wreck. 548 00:29:12,170 --> 00:29:15,220 Point number two, don't underestimate what the spirit can do for the lost. 549 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:17,130 Tripping over my words. 550 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:22,060 This is what Jesus is saying here, and this is another massive 551 00:29:22,070 --> 00:29:25,250 benefit of what we get to have by the spirit dwelling within us. 552 00:29:26,899 --> 00:29:29,580 Because he empowers the words of the gospel as we preach the 553 00:29:29,580 --> 00:29:31,149 gospel to the lost in our midst. 554 00:29:31,530 --> 00:29:33,100 He says he's going to convict the world. 555 00:29:33,110 --> 00:29:35,269 The word convict means to expose, to reprove. 556 00:29:36,100 --> 00:29:39,020 He's going to convict the world concerning three things, sin, 557 00:29:39,270 --> 00:29:40,560 righteousness, and judgment. 558 00:29:41,139 --> 00:29:43,370 Sin is a word that means missing the mark. 559 00:29:43,990 --> 00:29:47,310 And he's going to convict them concerning sin, he says, because 560 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:49,560 they do not believe in me. 561 00:29:50,290 --> 00:29:53,720 The main charge against every unbeliever that's going to condemn them in 562 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:57,750 the end is a rejection of Christ, a disbelief, an unbelief in Jesus. 563 00:29:58,850 --> 00:30:01,990 That is the primary charge levied against every unbeliever. 564 00:30:02,590 --> 00:30:06,400 They will pay the penalty for their other sins as well, but that is the main one. 565 00:30:06,670 --> 00:30:09,980 And so, Jesus is saying that the Spirit is going to convict the lost, convict 566 00:30:09,980 --> 00:30:12,530 the world, about their unbelief in Him. 567 00:30:13,430 --> 00:30:18,170 And cause them to feel the weight and desire then to believe in Christ. 568 00:30:19,210 --> 00:30:22,180 He's going to convict them concerning sin, but also concerning righteousness. 569 00:30:22,550 --> 00:30:25,430 He said, because I go to the Father and you will see me no more. 570 00:30:26,700 --> 00:30:29,519 The Pharisees and Sadducees in Jesus day would have said anything 571 00:30:29,539 --> 00:30:31,120 other than Jesus is righteous. 572 00:30:31,980 --> 00:30:34,180 In fact, they accused Jesus of being the opposite of righteous. 573 00:30:34,180 --> 00:30:35,660 They accused Him of being a sinner. 574 00:30:36,500 --> 00:30:39,630 They accused Him of breaking the Sabbath, of undermining the law, 575 00:30:39,650 --> 00:30:41,230 undermining the law of Moses. 576 00:30:42,275 --> 00:30:45,675 And so Jesus is saying, you know what, I'm going to be vindicated 577 00:30:45,675 --> 00:30:47,585 because I'm going to go to the Father and you're going to understand that 578 00:30:47,585 --> 00:30:50,855 the righteousness that you need is not this righteousness of morality. 579 00:30:51,225 --> 00:30:55,235 It's not a righteousness of adherence to the law and obedience. 580 00:30:55,705 --> 00:31:00,245 It's a righteousness of faith in Christ and an unmerited righteousness that can 581 00:31:00,245 --> 00:31:01,575 be yours through that faith in Christ. 582 00:31:02,500 --> 00:31:05,470 And so the Spirit is going to convict the world of the righteousness that they 583 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:09,390 truly need, which is the righteousness that's theirs in Christ, which is 584 00:31:09,390 --> 00:31:13,260 going to be vindicated through his return to the right hand of the Father. 585 00:31:13,910 --> 00:31:16,339 And then finally the Spirit is going to convict the world concerning judgment, 586 00:31:16,769 --> 00:31:19,199 because the ruler of the world is judged. 587 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:22,660 See, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, they thought they were about to judge 588 00:31:22,660 --> 00:31:27,290 Jesus, but Jesus is saying, no, no, What's going to happen through you thinking 589 00:31:27,290 --> 00:31:30,940 you're judging me is ultimately the ruler of the world is going to be judged. 590 00:31:31,390 --> 00:31:34,970 And so the Spirit is going to convict the world regarding what side of that 591 00:31:34,970 --> 00:31:36,959 judgment they want to be on in the end. 592 00:31:38,270 --> 00:31:41,590 And so the Spirit is going to help us through this process. 593 00:31:42,119 --> 00:31:45,969 There are times in our lives, right, where we feel helpless and hopeless, don't we? 594 00:31:46,849 --> 00:31:49,929 Imagine, if you will, if there were cell phones when the Titanic went down. 595 00:31:51,819 --> 00:31:53,839 And imagine having a family member on that boat. 596 00:31:54,895 --> 00:31:56,135 And you get the text. 597 00:31:56,705 --> 00:31:57,935 We just hit an iceberg. 598 00:31:59,195 --> 00:32:00,185 The boat is going down. 599 00:32:02,205 --> 00:32:03,734 There's this lady floating in the water. 600 00:32:03,734 --> 00:32:08,525 She says, there's not room on the door for both her and this other guy, but there is. 601 00:32:08,885 --> 00:32:10,064 Here's the picture. 602 00:32:10,064 --> 00:32:10,724 I sent it to you, 603 00:32:14,234 --> 00:32:16,285 but imagine being on the receiving end of a texting. 604 00:32:16,285 --> 00:32:16,855 The ship's going down. 605 00:32:16,855 --> 00:32:18,725 We don't know if the rescue boats are going to get there in time. 606 00:32:19,745 --> 00:32:21,815 Imagine the helplessness you would have felt. 607 00:32:23,155 --> 00:32:23,855 What would you do? 608 00:32:24,855 --> 00:32:26,935 The only thing you can do We should pray. 609 00:32:26,935 --> 00:32:32,755 Church that's where we stand when it comes to the state of the lost in our life. 610 00:32:34,815 --> 00:32:38,864 We should feel that helplessness and the problem is where we get 611 00:32:38,864 --> 00:32:42,655 into trouble is when we try to be the spirit in the life of the lost. 612 00:32:43,444 --> 00:32:44,954 We think to them, well, you know what they need? 613 00:32:44,954 --> 00:32:46,195 They just need a different approach. 614 00:32:47,095 --> 00:32:48,145 They need a different tone. 615 00:32:48,435 --> 00:32:49,645 They need to listen to this podcast. 616 00:32:49,675 --> 00:32:50,755 They need to listen to this sermon. 617 00:32:50,755 --> 00:32:51,795 They need to read this book. 618 00:32:55,185 --> 00:32:59,575 And we're doing everything in our power to try to get them to be convicted 619 00:32:59,575 --> 00:33:01,035 about sin, righteousness, and judgment. 620 00:33:02,515 --> 00:33:04,774 And here's the thing, y'all, that's not in our power to be able to do that. 621 00:33:06,175 --> 00:33:09,214 I'm not saying God doesn't use a different tone or a different podcast or 622 00:33:09,215 --> 00:33:10,464 a different sermon or a different book. 623 00:33:11,114 --> 00:33:12,945 I'm just telling you God uses those things. 624 00:33:13,655 --> 00:33:15,045 The Spirit does that work. 625 00:33:16,255 --> 00:33:18,505 So as you're thinking about this second and final point, by the 626 00:33:18,505 --> 00:33:20,195 way, if you're wondering is there a third point to this sermon? 627 00:33:20,215 --> 00:33:20,715 No, just two. 628 00:33:20,715 --> 00:33:21,165 Amen. 629 00:33:21,635 --> 00:33:23,475 Trust the Spirit to do the work of the Spirit. 630 00:33:24,835 --> 00:33:26,625 It's His job to convict. 631 00:33:27,255 --> 00:33:28,955 It's His job to do the heavy lifting. 632 00:33:29,965 --> 00:33:32,205 And so I get the helplessness, right? 633 00:33:32,675 --> 00:33:35,115 You can't get them to see the sin that they're in. 634 00:33:35,125 --> 00:33:37,735 They're saying, well, that's true for you, but it's not true for me. 635 00:33:38,195 --> 00:33:39,154 Or they say, you know what? 636 00:33:39,165 --> 00:33:43,725 I don't really get the same urgency that you're telling me I should feel right now. 637 00:33:44,605 --> 00:33:47,635 I don't really think I need the salvation that you're offering right now. 638 00:33:48,885 --> 00:33:50,335 Or they're sitting there saying, you know what, I feel 639 00:33:50,335 --> 00:33:51,915 like I'm a good enough person. 640 00:33:51,915 --> 00:33:53,715 I get it, but I'm a good person. 641 00:33:54,585 --> 00:33:55,995 There's people way worse than I am. 642 00:33:55,995 --> 00:33:57,915 There's no way God's gonna send me to hell. 643 00:33:58,995 --> 00:34:01,104 I'm a decent human being. 644 00:34:02,195 --> 00:34:05,875 And when you've heard those things, or the person that's just like, you know 645 00:34:05,875 --> 00:34:08,125 what, I just, I can't believe in God. 646 00:34:08,125 --> 00:34:10,445 I can't believe in God for this reason, this reason, this reason, this reason. 647 00:34:10,824 --> 00:34:13,625 And you just think to yourself, oh man, how can I get through to them? 648 00:34:13,625 --> 00:34:16,114 The answer is you can't get through to them. 649 00:34:16,175 --> 00:34:18,505 But the spirit can. 650 00:34:19,735 --> 00:34:22,085 And so pray, pray. 651 00:34:23,175 --> 00:34:28,184 And if your response is, that feels like a cop out, then I'm just gonna say you 652 00:34:28,185 --> 00:34:29,514 don't understand the power of prayer. 653 00:34:31,065 --> 00:34:32,105 In what you have. 654 00:34:33,715 --> 00:34:37,034 In access to the throne of God, to pray that God would soften the hearts 655 00:34:37,034 --> 00:34:39,145 of the unbeliever, to pray that the Spirit would do the work of the Spirit 656 00:34:39,145 --> 00:34:41,945 in the lives of the lost, to pray that He would bring their conviction over 657 00:34:41,945 --> 00:34:45,074 sin and righteousness and judgment, to pray that their eyes would be opened. 658 00:34:45,074 --> 00:34:48,995 So I want to encourage you to pray for the lost in your life. 659 00:34:49,684 --> 00:34:50,554 But don't just pray. 660 00:34:50,583 --> 00:34:51,583 God, please save them. 661 00:34:53,185 --> 00:34:54,565 Pray specifically for them. 662 00:34:54,875 --> 00:34:57,775 God, please cause them to feel the weight of their sin. 663 00:34:58,415 --> 00:35:01,754 God, please cause them to see the ugliness of their sin. 664 00:35:02,525 --> 00:35:04,965 compared to the holiness that you've called them to. 665 00:35:07,445 --> 00:35:11,185 Pray that they would desire righteousness instead of sin. 666 00:35:12,475 --> 00:35:15,724 Pray that they would understand that they're not good enough. 667 00:35:17,374 --> 00:35:20,585 Pray that God would bring them to the end of the trust in 668 00:35:20,585 --> 00:35:22,975 themselves for their goodness. 669 00:35:24,695 --> 00:35:28,515 Pray that they would fear the wrath of God and the judgment that awaits the 670 00:35:28,515 --> 00:35:33,430 lost If they don't repent and believe in Jesus for the salvation of their sins 671 00:35:34,050 --> 00:35:38,310 Pray and ask the Spirit to do the work of the Spirit Don't underestimate what the 672 00:35:38,310 --> 00:35:40,760 Spirit can do in the lives of the lost and if you're sitting there going but 673 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:42,490 prayer just seems like A cop out again. 674 00:35:42,899 --> 00:35:46,979 It's only because you don't understand the weapon that you have in prayer And 675 00:35:46,979 --> 00:35:50,099 the power that you have access to you through praying that God would do what 676 00:35:50,099 --> 00:35:55,229 God does through the Spirit So pray specifically second pray with hope Pray 677 00:35:55,229 --> 00:35:59,965 with hope God delights to answer these prayers The Bible tells us God does 678 00:35:59,965 --> 00:36:01,415 not delight in the death of the wicked. 679 00:36:01,845 --> 00:36:04,485 The Bible tells us God does not wish that any should perish, but 680 00:36:04,515 --> 00:36:05,665 all should reach eternal life. 681 00:36:05,665 --> 00:36:09,394 So when you pray, God, use your spirit to bring conviction upon the lost. 682 00:36:09,395 --> 00:36:11,425 You are praying a prayer that God delights to answer. 683 00:36:11,855 --> 00:36:15,365 So pray with hope, just like George Mueller did. 684 00:36:16,754 --> 00:36:19,515 And then pray for yourself in this process. 685 00:36:20,165 --> 00:36:24,295 Pray that as you are pursuing, as you are praying, as you are pleading, 686 00:36:24,554 --> 00:36:27,624 pray for patience as God works. 687 00:36:28,435 --> 00:36:30,745 Pray for trust in God's timing. 688 00:36:31,675 --> 00:36:34,225 Pray for peace regardless of the outcome. 689 00:36:34,975 --> 00:36:37,945 Pray for a passion for the glory of God no matter what happens. 690 00:36:37,945 --> 00:36:41,534 Pray. 691 00:36:43,215 --> 00:36:47,114 Pray for the Spirit to do the work of the Spirit. 692 00:36:48,475 --> 00:36:52,285 Feel the desperation and know that you are not powerless, though 693 00:36:52,285 --> 00:36:53,475 it feels like you are powerless. 694 00:36:53,475 --> 00:36:57,705 You are more powerful than you ever could be because you have access to the Spirit. 695 00:36:57,705 --> 00:36:59,284 Pray. 696 00:37:02,695 --> 00:37:05,285 You need the Holy Spirit as much as you need Jesus. 697 00:37:07,235 --> 00:37:10,154 And it's on us to look to the Bible to say, What does the Holy Spirit do for us? 698 00:37:10,155 --> 00:37:11,535 What does that mean for us? 699 00:37:13,604 --> 00:37:15,644 And one of the things that the Holy Spirit does, as we've been talking 700 00:37:15,644 --> 00:37:20,125 about, is the Holy Spirit is integral in us coming to faith in Christ. 701 00:37:22,745 --> 00:37:26,275 In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, Paul says, The word of the cross is 702 00:37:26,285 --> 00:37:27,795 foolishness to those who are perishing. 703 00:37:29,075 --> 00:37:29,715 It's folly. 704 00:37:29,725 --> 00:37:30,615 It's stupidity. 705 00:37:31,865 --> 00:37:35,745 to worship a Savior who died in abject humility and weakness. 706 00:37:37,985 --> 00:37:43,065 And yet, if you have come to understand that that is true, that Jesus did die 707 00:37:43,065 --> 00:37:47,055 on the cross for you, so that your sins can be forgiven, then that is evidence 708 00:37:47,055 --> 00:37:48,545 of the work of the Spirit in your life. 709 00:37:49,334 --> 00:37:52,425 We're about to remember that act as we observe communion together. 710 00:37:53,755 --> 00:37:57,285 And so right now, the elements are going to be passed, and as they're passed, 711 00:37:57,305 --> 00:38:00,105 there's gonna be some music playing softly in the background, but I want 712 00:38:00,105 --> 00:38:03,864 you to ponder, I want you to consider, I want you to give thanks, if you are in 713 00:38:03,865 --> 00:38:07,795 Christ, for the Spirit's work to cause you to come to understand these things. 714 00:38:08,914 --> 00:38:12,425 And then I want you also to reflect on the greatness that we have in the 715 00:38:12,425 --> 00:38:13,675 sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. 716 00:38:13,865 --> 00:38:16,565 And I'll come back up and we'll take these elements together in just a moment. 717 00:38:16,565 --> 00:38:22,115 Amen.