good evening ladies and gentlemen welcome to our services here at faith
word Baptist Church very good see you all here on this Wednesday evening find
your seats please go to him 158 will begin tonight 158 oh for a thousand
tongues to sing hymn number 158 once you find your place we'll lift up together
on that first him number 158
father we thank you for the privilege that we have to be in church on this
one safety event to each and every each and every one of us to be able to be
here ask the Lord your blessing upon us as we lift up these songs unto you and
praise and worship and just for our hearts for the preaching of your word
thank you for having us the having a pastor Bruce me here here with us
tonight thank you for bringing him here safely as well we ask that you please
just fill with their Holy Spirit film with power and unction so that he may
preach your word boldly to us and that we may have open hearts and ears to
receive the message tonight and that all that said and done would give you the
honor and glory you deserve for it and we'll thank you for it in Jesus name
amen. Hymn number 165, 165 I'll worship the king. Hymn number 165.
The bulletin please raise your hand and then usher will bring you a bulletin as
soon as they can. If you have your bulletin open it up. The upper left-hand
corner is our service times below that is our church-wide soul winning and at
the very bottom is our regional soul winning groups and also our salvations
and baptisms for the year. Next Sunday is the third and final installment of our
annual Mother Daughter Tea Party and on their Mother's Day at Spicerain Glendale
via previously RSVP'd but aren't able to attend or if your name is not on the
list of attendees you know please speak to Mrs. Anderson as soon as you can. Also
please continue to pray for the expecting ladies in our church on the
back of the bulletin. Thank you once again to those who participated in the
small town soul winning to Clifton Arizona. There were four soul winners and
27 salvations and also there'll be more coming trips you know as Raymond
returns and in case you didn't know right there it says that pastor Bruce
Mejia will be preaching for us tonight so after the service thank him for
coming down all the way from LA to preach for us while pastor Anderson you
know is in Georgia at a capping trip with pastor Berzins and the other
pastors as well. The annual mega conference will take place every Sunday
and Wednesday July 14th through August 7th and the upcoming events are right
there you can take a look at them when you get a chance. Let's count our
soul winning and so if you got somebody saved on Monday go ahead and raise your
hand we'll start from my left side somebody got somebody saved five okay we
got eight miss anybody on this side all right and besides the eight anybody
here all right Tuesday three anybody else and today that's four that was
yesterday right two all right any other salvations going once going twice all
right lead us in the next song in front of your him though you should find the
insert of the him his eyes on the sparrow you don't have an answer you can raise
your hand we'll sing it on that first together why should I feel discouraged
Please turn to John chapter 16. Turn to John chapter 16. So as you guys turn to
John 16 the usher is going to pass the offering plates. John chapter number 16.
John chapter 16 Bible reads these things have I spoken unto you that you should
not be offended they shall put you out of the synagogues yea the time cometh
that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God's service and these
things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me
but these things have I told you that when the time shall come you you may
remember that I told you of them and these things I said not unto you at the
beginning because I was with you but now I go my way to him that sent me and none
of you asketh me whither goest thou but because I have said these things unto
you sorrow hath filled your heart nevertheless I tell you the truth it is
expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the comforter will not
come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you and when he is come he
will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment of sin
because they believe not on me of righteousness because I go to my father
and you see me no more of judgment because the prince of this world is
judged I have yet many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now
how be it when he the spirit of the truth is come he will guide you into all
truth free shall not speak of himself but what's it who's but whatsoever he
shall hear that shall he speak and he will show you things to come he shall
glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you all things
that the father hath are mine therefore said I that he shall take of mine and
shall show it unto you a little while and you shall shall not see me and again
a little while and you shall see me because I go to the father then said
some of his disciples among themselves what is this that he saith unto us a
little while and you shall not see me and again a little while and you shall
see me and because I go to the father they said therefore what is this that he
saith a little while we cannot tell what he said now Jesus knew that they were
desirous to ask him and said unto them do you inquire among yourselves of that
I said a little while and you shall not see me and again a little while and you
shall see me verily verily I say unto you that you shall weep and lament but
the world shall rejoice and you shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be
turned into joy a woman when she is in travail has sorrow because her hour has
come but as soon as she is delivered to the child she remembereth no more the
anguish for the joy that a man is born into the world and ye now therefore have
sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice in your joy no man
taketh from you and in that day you shall ask me nothing verily verily I say
unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you
hitherto have you asked nothing in my name ask and you shall receive that your
joy may be full these things have I spoken unto you in Proverbs but the time
cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in Proverbs but I shall show you
plainly of the Father and that day you shall ask in my name and I shall and I
say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself
loveth you because ye have loved me and I believe that I came out from God I
came forth from the Father and am come into the world again I leave the world
and go to the Father his disciples said unto him lo now speakest thou plainly
and speakest no proverb now are we sure that thou knowest all things and needest
not that any man should ask thee by this we believe that thou came is forth from
God Jesus answered them do you now believe behold the hour cometh yea is
now come that you shall be scattered every man to his own and shall leave me
alone and yet I am not alone because the Father is with me these things have I
spoken unto you that in me you might have peace in the world you shall have
tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world father in heaven
thank you for your son Jesus Christ and thank you for the Holy Spirit in the
hearts of your children I pray that you please bless Pastor Maia as he preaches
your word so that we your children will be exhorted and edified in the word and
in the faith in Jesus name I'll pray amen amen it's great to be here tonight
really thankful for the invitation from Pastor Anderson I will say that I am
coveting him at this point because I want to be at that camping trip and so
it sounds like it's a lot of fun I've seen a lot of videos from it and so
next year I will not be here to preach for you I will reserve my spot and you
guys will have to find someone else but until then we're in John chapter 16 this
evening all right the title of my sermon tonight is the ministry of the Holy
Spirit I want to talk about the ministry of the Holy Spirit something really
basic tonight but of course a truth that many of us as Christians need to
remember and relearn at times because there's a lot of nonsense being put out
there regarding the Holy Spirit and if you look at John chapter 16 look at
verse number 7 it says nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient for
you that I go away for if I go not away the comforter will not come unto you but
if I depart I will send him unto you and when he has come he will reprove the
world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment of sin because they believe not
on me of righteousness because I go to my father and he see me no more of
judgment because of the prince of this world is judged now as I mentioned a
lot of misconceptions out there about the third person of the Trinity and I
think if you think about it you know the Holy Spirit is probably what the third
person of the Trinity that's easily attacked because of the fact that there's
not necessarily not a lot of information in the Bible about him but a whole lot
of focus isn't necessarily placed on it because the Bible in general highlights
and exalts the Lord Jesus Christ and so a lot of these false cults will seek to
give him attributes and characteristics that are not biblical you know you think
of the Jehovah's Witnesses for example that will say that the Holy Spirit is
not a person he's a force you know they have this Star Wars type of interpretation
of who the Holy Spirit is you know you have the Pentecostals that will
attribute the Holy Spirit to being able to speak in an incoherent language
right speaking in tongues as they say where you jibber-jabber and somehow that
is pleasing unto God that is essentially a qualifier if you are filled with the
spirit if you are a spiritual person and then you just have Christians in
general who would try to credit the Holy Spirit with being led in areas that the
Bible does not say right well the Holy Spirit told me this or God told me that
the Spirit led me into this particular doctrine or to do this particular thing
just giving him credit where he had no you know saying it it wasn't part of his
ministry he didn't say anything in the Bible about it but of course you have
people proposing that they hear from him in those ways now if you think about
it you know the Holy Spirit obviously we know is in subjection to the Son just as
the Son is in subjection to the Father but of course we know that that doesn't
mean that he's not important or just as powerful as God the Father and God the
Son and if you will turn with me if you went to Matthew chapter 12 we'll come
back to John chapter 16 in just a bit go to Matthew chapter 12 you know anytime
someone speaks ill of the Son you know God doesn't take that God the Father
doesn't take that lightly and in fact people can say that they have God the
Father all they want you can have people in Israel saying well we believe in God
we just don't believe in the Son but of course the Bible makes it very clear if
you don't have the Son you don't have the Father and God makes that very
clear but not only that you know the Holy Spirit is so important when it comes
to the Godhead to the point that if someone were to blaspheme him they
actually lose out on salvation period and in fact look what the Bible says in
verse 31 it says, "Wherefore I say unto you all manner of sin and blasphemy shall
be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be
forgiven unto men." Of course this is Jesus speaking he said in whose service
speak at the word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven him. Now that's
pretty powerful because he's saying you can say all manner of evil against the
Son you can blaspheme him you can speak words against him but you know at the
end of the day you can still believe on him and be saved and God's willing to
forgive that and forget that right but it says but who service speaketh against
the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world neither in the
world to come now people often ask me what does that mean and here's my answer
I don't know and I don't care to know because I'm a safe person I just know
this is that any person out there who wants to play and dwindle in blaspheming
the Holy Ghost you know you're playing with fire literally because of the fact
that the Bible specifically says that if you blaspheme him that you don't have
forgiveness in this world neither in the world to come basically saying you're a
reprimand okay you lose out on the opportunity to be saved it's not saying
that you that you were once saved and then you lost your salvation you're just
losing out on your opportunity to be saved and of course the audience that
he's talking to are the Pharisees and the Pharisees are blaspheming the Holy
Ghost because they're claiming that he's an unclean spirit and so that is a
response to that and so we see here that obviously the Holy Spirit plays a vital
role in the Godhead. Jesus Christ takes a major offense when it comes to any type
of blasphemy or railing accusations against the Holy Spirit of God. Not only
that but in the New Testament we know that after salvation the Holy Spirit
comes to dwell within us. The Bible says that we are the temple of the Holy
Ghost which you have of God and you're not your own and that's one of the
major differences between Old and New Testament right? In the Old Testament the
Holy Spirit would come upon believers and in fact there were even instances
where he would dwell in them for a period, possibly to write the Word of God, to be
able to preach the Word of God, but he didn't remain there permanently per se
and the reason for that is because of the fact that in the New Testament it's
no longer a physical tabernacle or a physical temple in which the presence of
God dwells, it's our bodies right? And so now the Holy Spirit has been relocated
permanently within the body of a believer as we see in 1st Corinthians
chapter 3 and elsewhere that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise
that is the major difference. Not only that but the Bible also tells us and
commands us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of
edifying that it may minister grace into the hearer. It goes on to say grieve not
the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed until the day of redemption, let all
bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speak and be put away
from you the Bible tells us. So God's constantly telling us look don't sin you
know don't get involved in wickedness make sure you know allow corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth why because the Holy Spirit will leave
you no because you'll just grieve the Holy Spirit because you can't the Holy
Spirit can never leave you the power of the Holy Spirit can leave you but the
presence and the sealing of the Holy Spirit will be there unto the day of
redemption the Bible says according to Ephesians 1 13 but isn't that interesting
that it lists all these things that you should not be doing and the result of
you doing them would be that you grieve the Holy Spirit not lose the Holy
Spirit just another confirmation that we cannot lose our salvation for any reason
whatsoever and so the ministry of the Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the
life of a believer and yes even in the lives of the unsaved and tonight I'm
gonna go over five points regarding the ministry of the Holy Spirit here are the
five points just to give ahead of time so you're not wondering what I'm gonna
say okay number one is illumination number two is regeneration number three
is education force consolation and lastly number five will be activation
these are the ministries of the Holy Spirit now go with me if you would to
Acts chapter 7 Acts chapter 7 if you would let's talk about the first aspect
of the Holy Spirit or what is it that he does the ministry of the Holy Spirit and
that is illumination now this is referring to or addressing the unsaved
right why is that well because of the fact that the Holy Spirit plays a vital
role in enlightening the unsaved to the truth he's the one that kind of opens
the eyes spiritually speaking to the unregenerated to the unsaved so they
could understand the Word of God okay and in fact let me read to you from 1st
Corinthians chapter 12 you're in Acts chapter 7 1st Corinthians 12 1 says now
concerning spiritual gifts brethren I would not have you ignorant ye know that
you were Gentiles carried away unto these dumb idols even as you were led
wherefore I give you to understand that no man speaking by the Spirit of God
calleth Jesus a curse and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by
the Holy Ghost so obviously there's people out there that will pay lip
service to saying that Jesus is Lord right and you know either they're just
kind of going along to get along or they're just lying to you or you know
they're just believing in vain as 1st Corinthians 15 puts it what the Bible
is teaching here is that anybody who's saved they're not gonna get saved but by
the Holy Ghost so the Holy Spirit plays a vital role in enlightening the eyes of
an unbeliever to the truth of the gospel and obviously we know that a lot of
churches will teach that the Holy Spirit is just kind of moving around just kind
of working in hearts and convicting people of sin and often use John chapter
16 to try to prove that but I believe that the way that the Holy Spirit
illuminates the unbelievers is through the believers you say how is that
because we have the Holy Spirit and when we go out and preach the gospel or just
preach any truths of the Bible we're speaking by the Spirit and this is why
John 16 talks about the fact that the Holy Spirit will reprove the world of
sin of righteousness and of judgments referring to the fact that we as
Christians will go out there and preach righteousness will preach judgment we
will preach against sin and that is a testimony of the Holy Spirit because
we're speaking by the Spirit okay and here's a great example of this in Acts
chapter 7 you have Stephen the first martyr in the book of Acts and he's
preaching a fiery sermon right I mean he's a deacon he just got ordained and
he's just hitting the ground running preaching hard and against out of all
people the Jews right and he doesn't have anybody backing him up he's just
there and he's just calling them all out right then and there and he's kind of
giving them a synopsis of their history he's kind of going over their history
and you know just showing himself that he is knowledgeable about the history of
Israel but then he's gonna hit him really hard right and just say it's like
I'm talking about you and not be apologetic about it look at verse 51
after he's done given the history lesson there he says ye stiff-necked and
uncircumcised in heart and ears so what a great transitional statement right you
know because I'm sure all the Israelites are like yeah that's good you know this is our
people you know it's our history he knows and then he's like ye stiff neck and uncircumcised
and ears and hearts and ears listen to this you do always resist the holy ghost as your
fathers did so do ye you know because obviously Stephen knew that even though they're hearing
the word of God preached unto them they're not happy with it what are they doing they're
resisting the holy ghost through Stephen they're resisting the holy ghost through the preacher
through the soul winner through the prophet the man of God the deacon Stephen they're
resisting the holy ghost and it's the holy ghost that abides in Stephen that is testifying
of these things and of course you know what you have here in Acts chapter 7 is that the
result of resisting the holy ghost is they just kill Stephen you know and they kill Stephen
not because necessarily of Stephen but because of the holy ghost that dwells in Stephen so
just keep in mind if someone rails against you threatens you says all manner of evil
against you you know they might have something against you but specifically they have something
against the holy ghost that dwells within you they have something against the one testifying
and reproving them of sin of righteousness and of judgment according to the Bible why
because that's what the holy spirit does he illuminates the unsaved to these biblical
truths okay and in fact the Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 3 verse 7 wherefore as
the Holy Ghost sayeth today if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the
provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness the Bible says so the Apostle Paul
is saying in the book of Hebrews you know you're listening to me write this unto you
you're listening to me preach this unto you don't harden your hearts to the Holy Ghost
he's not saying I am the Holy Ghost he's saying that he's speaking by the Holy Ghost
you understand he's saying don't harden your hearts don't become hardened and resist the
Holy Spirit and the words that are being spoken unto you you know the flesh prophet
of nothing is the spirit that quickeneth the words that I speak unto you they are spirit
and they are life the Bible says and so more specifically when we speak when we preach
when we are soul winning when we are prophesying of the word of God we're doing it by the spirit
and really we can say it's the Holy Spirit that's bringing this thing to their attention
now this proves a couple things number one it proves that only saved people can get people
saved only regenerated people can get people saved according to many scriptures but particularly
first Corinthians chapter three is a great one and in fact you know a great proof of
this is the fact that how can an unsafe person illuminate someone of biblical truths that
they don't even accept how can they try to convince someone of biblical truths that they
don't even believe themselves they believed in vain but somehow they're going to be able
to convince someone else of that biblical truth of the gospel nonsense but even more
so according to the Bible in order for the ministry of the Holy Spirit to be involved it has to come from a mouth of someone who
actually has the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within them because then you would have to say well the Holy Spirit is just you know
He's just like a force and just kind of going in and out of places and touching hearts no
He needs you to do it and so you know if a person has a vacancy
And they're trying to preach the word of God the vacancy of salvation and they're trying to preach the word of God
It's of no effect. That's not to say that it seeds can't be planted
But at the end of the day in order for the Holy Spirit to illuminate that person to their condition before God
Illuminate that person to the consequence of sin illuminate that individual to the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ
Illuminate them to the gospel that if they just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
They can be saved and the salvation cannot be lost. They need a safe person to tell them that
Because the same person has and is indwelt by the Holy Spirit that is speaking through them
And so that's important. Obviously we know that as Christians we're indwelt by the Holy Spirit
But you know what?
The Holy Spirit needs us though in order to get people saved right because of the fact that he's dwelling within us
But he needs us to open our mouths boldly to make known the mysteries of the gospel. We're not Calvinists
No, we're not these reform
Catholic light, you know Protestants or whatever no matter how much Catholics try to accuse us
Oh, you you're the Protestant or Catholic
No check check one box Protestant or Catholic other I'll make my own box and just put other
So Baptist because I don't believe in reform theology. I'm a fundamental Baptist and at the end of the day, you know
Reformers will hold to this doctrine of total depravity, which is total total stupidity, right?
claiming that oh, you know people aren't just gonna get saved by just desire to get saved or here in the gospel because
You know god has to elect them. They're totally depraved
Then how is it that they can do those things which are written in the law according to roman chapter 2
When the Gentiles which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law
how in the world are they able to respond how would you say that they can't respond to the gospel or
They don't they can't understand the word of god if even previous to salvation. They can't understand those things
God has already provided the mental faculties
Necessary to understand biblical truth because he's willing. He's not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance
What he needs is a bible-believing saved individual who's filled with the holy ghost to just open their mouths
And illuminate that person to the to the truth go to hebrews chapter 6 if you would hebrews chapter 6
hebrews chapter number 6 so ministry number one of the holy spirit is illumination but illumination requires your
Interpatient amen illumination requires you
To learn the word of god to know how to preach the gospel
It doesn't require you to know how to give a testimony other than the testimony of the lord jesus christ
You have a lot of churches today that want to emphasize the importance of sharing your testimony in a gospel presentation
But here's the thing not everyone who gets saved has a crazy past
Or is saved from some crazy life or whatever. Some people just live really boring lives
Some people just have never done anything sinful or fun or whatever
They never lived any crazy anything didn't do anything crazy
So how are the you know, what do they what do they got to share nothing?
So that's why it's important for us to focus on the testimony of the lord, right?
That's what saves the person not our personal testimony
And obviously, you know, we we can often uh
supplement the gospel with a little bit of our testimony in regards to us believing on jesus christ
And you know the fact that we had to also understand and we were in that same position at one point
But some people kind of put a little too much emphasis on that, you know cough cough victory outreach
Cough cough these cholo churches where it's just all about them. They but but they're not illuminating. They're a black light
They're not illuminating anybody. They're putting people further into darkness is what they're doing
In order for us to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our father
Which is in heaven and specifically the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ that should shine unto them
We have to make sure that our gospel is not hid, right?
And the way we can make sure of that is uh, open your mouth and you talk and you preach the gospel
The this is the bushel, right?
You got to like open your mouth and allow the words to come out from under the bushel to get people saved to illuminate
Hebrew 6 verse 4 says for it is impossible for those who were
Once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift that were made partakers of the holy ghost
Taste of the good word of god and the powers of the world to come and of course we know that this passage
Is addressing those who were in close proximity to the truth
So this is kind of showing you that the holy spirit
Enlightens a person and sometimes people wonder, you know, how can you guys believe in the referee doctor? That's so crazy
You know, it's it's just so unloving but think about the fact that the holy spirit is literally right there
Enlightening the person right? He is giving them the taste of the heavenly gift
He they're made partakers of the holy ghost because he's right there and just say I don't want it
I mean that requires a special kind of wickedness a special kind of uh, you know, uh
Evil and iniquity to just say no. Thank you
Even though the holy spirit is directly working on their hearts to and that means they because you know, sometimes people say well
Maybe they just didn't understand no they understood because it says that they were enlightened through the truth
You know what? That means it's like, you know, it's for a moment there the holy spirit peeled back the scales
From their eyes, right because to be enlightened that's often something that we would use to describe us, you know
We're awake. We're enlightened to the truth
So it's almost as if the scales are peeled back and then they're just like no bring them back down. That's wild
But the holy spirit works with the unsaved works in the unsaved should I say?
Through believers by preaching the word of god
And this is why it's so important that we preach the right gospel and that we know what we're saying when we preach the gospel
Right, obviously god can can can work through just imperfect people and people who just you know
Maybe they have the best of motives and they don't know all the verses and they're doing the best they can
You know god can work with imperfect people, but i'm sure that he would prefer
To work with the gospel presentation that is just clear cut from the bible. It's very clear
It dissolves doubts
It gets the job done. I'm sure that's what he wants in order for the holy spirit to truly enlighten
And work in a person's heart. He needs the believer to do so go with if you would to titus chapter 3 titus chapter 3
So ministry number one of the holy spirit is that he enlightens the unsaved he illuminates them
You know churches like this this church and churches like it
Are houses of illumination, right where we're constantly working on helping people
Turn up the light
Spiritually speaking so they can illuminate the loss to salvation so they can understand their condition before god
But unfortunately, there's a lot of churches out there that don't mind having the dimmer all the way down
And unsafe people come into those churches all the time and it's just really dark and there's a little bit of light in there
And you know, maybe they might slip up and actually
Say a biblical word here and there might get a little light might say sin every once in a while
Might say believe on the lord jesus christ accidentally just a little light, you know, it's like a theater in those churches
How dim it is and you know
i'm sure there's people there who are sincere who are there sincerely looking for the truth and they might even find a little bit
Of truth but folks I think god would prefer a church that's nice and bright
Where the truth is just clearly laid out the unsaved or illuminated and there's no question in their mind
I mean, how many times have you heard either at the door or with your friend and family after you've given them the gospel
They'll say this i've never heard it explained that way, you know, how many times you've ever heard
I've never heard someone actually present it the way you did you explained it so clearly
And you know, you might have the temptation to be like, get it, huh?
But really what it is is the fact that the words that are coming out of your mouth
Through the holy ghost has illuminated that person, right?
And at the end of the day think about this, you know, this world is really dark. It's not hard to shine bright
So what you know, you just you just turn up the the light just a little bit people are like, whoa
It's really bright to them because there's so much darkness around there's so many false religions and false cults and false
Sex of Christianity when the truth finally cuts in and they see the light then the holy spirit can work
So the ministry of the holy spirit includes illumination, but it also includes regeneration
Okay regeneration. What is that talking about the fact that he brings your spirit to life
Once you believe on the lord jesus christ, right basic doctrine this evening look at titus chapter 3 one of my favorite
Verses passages here look at verse 5 not by works of righteousness, which we have done
But according to his mercy he saved us
by the washing of regeneration
and renewing
Of the holy ghost which he shed on us abundantly through jesus christ our savior being justified by his grace
We should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Now. What is this referring to?
Well, I believe what I believe this is talking about is that once you are illuminated to the truth
Now the ball's in your court now you have to choose to believe on jesus christ to take what's being stated into scriptures as fact
And to call upon the name of the lord, right once you do so the holy spirit that illuminates that person
Comes to dwell within them and not just dwell within them
But he actually brings back to life the dead spirit that was once in them now. Why is the spirit dead?
Well, the spirit was not always dead because according to romans chapter 7 the spirit actually started off living, right?
We would consider this or we would say that this is innocence
And this is another thing that we disagree with about the calvinists and why I think calvinism is so wicked and awful
It's because of the fact that they believe that or not just calvinists by the way catholics
Catholics believe this to the 10th degree where it's like if you don't baptize a baby and that baby dies that baby goes to hell
I mean that's wicked as hell and the calvinists they have like a like a diet version of that where it's just like well
You know, we just he just has to be elected
So basically if a child dies and they weren't elected they go to hell according to the Calvinist because they believe in total depravity
Okay, but what the Bible actually teaches is that everyone starts off with the living spirit
They're innocent and this is why
Everyone's name starts off in the book of life
Because the Bible doesn't record necessarily anyone being written in as soon as someone believes on Jesus Christ
Bible seems to indicate that everyone already starts off in the book of life
So why would that be because he's not willing to perish like that's what he wants
He wants people to be saved
He wants your name to remain and your name is permanently embedded within the book of life
Once you believe on Jesus Christ, then it's never removed from the registry
Just always there Bible actually records people being blotted out which obviously happens when either you die
You're not saved or you blaspheme the Holy Ghost. You're not saving you blaspheme the Holy Ghost or
You just become a reprobate who hates God you never get saved and you do that
We take away or add to God's Word take the mark of the beast things of this nature
Can get you blotted out permanently from the book of life
but the Bible teaches that a person starts off in the book of life because they are innocent and
According to the Bible there comes a point in that person's life
Where they are exposed to the truths of God's Word or to the standard of God which ultimately slays their spirit
It's it basically kills them spiritually speaking
They recognize that they sin against God or they're committing something that's sinful and the Bible says that they are slain by the commandment
So after that people just live their lives with the slain
That's really by the way, that's really being slain in the spirit. Okay, we're like he slays you through the law
You know the law slays you and of course once the gospel is given unto you you're illuminated
Then your spirit is brought back to life and this is why the Bible often describes it as being born again
Okay, the Bible tells us go to Ephesians if you would Ephesians chapter 1 and then we're gonna go to
Ephesians chapter 2 Ephesians chapter 1 look at verse 13
It says here in whom you also trusted after that you heard the word of truth
Oh, isn't that interesting that you trusted after that you heard the word of truth, right?
The gospel of your salvation and whom also after that you believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchase possession
Unto the praise of his glory look at chapter 2 the Bible says that after you trust in Christ
When you hear the word of truth referring to the gospel of your salvation you believe and the Bible says that you're permanently sealed with the Holy
Spirit of promise until the redemption of the purchase possession another way of saying the rapture
Okay, look at chapter 2 verse number 1 and you hath he quicken
What is quicken brought back to life who were dead in trespasses and sins wearing in time past
He walked according to the course of this world
According to the prince of the power of the air the spirit and now worketh in the children of disobedience
So we see that the second ministry of the Holy Spirit is that after he illuminates the unsaved
He brings them back till he brings a spirit back to life. And what's the one point about this?
It's very important that a lot of people a lot of churches seem to miss is the fact that he brings your spirit back to life
Not your body. Your body's still ugly sinful corrupted, but your spirit
he brings back to life and and in other words
The batteries are included because he dwells within you but that carcass of yours is just a major issue though
And will remain an issue until the day that you die or until Christ returns a lot of churches say no once you're saved
You're not gonna sin. You're not gonna do wrong, but then they'll turn around and say yeah, no one's perfect though
Which one is it because you know you asked them like well do you sin we're like well of course cuz you know
No one's perfect then stop preaching that stupid gospel then you're contradicting yourself
What the Bible actually teaches is that he quickens our spirit not our body our bodies are quicken at the resurrection
Our bodies are quicken at the rapture and in fact, you know these people who preach this
Gospel that once you get saved you never sin. They're basically saying we could do without the resurrection
We don't need the resurrection. Why because the resurrection is the solution to our sin problem of our flesh, right?
That's what we look forward to the resurrection
Because at that point we don't have to battle this corruptible body anymore the answer to our sinful flesh
The answer to Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death
The resurrection will when this corruption shall put on in corruption the Bible tells us that's important
You know, but these people out there a lot we don't either we got the resurrection today, you know
I'm there we don't sin now and you have great comfort with this. I don't sin ministry
That guy's all sin inside and out
Spirit his spirit is not just dead. It's twice dead. There's no Holy Spirit in that body
There's only a devil in that body. So how do you know because the spirits not speaking through him?
He's not speaking about the spirit
He's speaking by an unclean spirit that is preaching a false gospel saying that people can stop sinning
Bible tells us that there's not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sin it not
But then they want to turn around and say well
No, I mean if you're saved though if you love the Lord if you fill in the blank all the while
They don't do those things the Holy Spirit quickens our spirit brings us back to life creates
What's the Bible refers to as the new man?
right created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians chapter 4 and
obviously thereafter it's our job to walk in the spirit that we may not fulfill the lust of the flesh and you know what if
After salvation, we just never desired to sin that God wouldn't have to command us to walk in the spirit
He just be like just live just live just you're good to go
But he's constantly telling us don't are a walk in the spirit
Don't fulfill the lust of the flesh these things right onto you that you sin not right?
Why because there's a probability that you will sin even after you get saved
And in fact sometimes after salvation is one of the biggest struggles there are for Christians because you're just assimilating to this
New nature that you just inherited and now it's just like the flesh is battling the spirit
The spirit is against the flesh these are contrary the one to the other so that you cannot do the things that you would
You know before salvation you're just like oh sin and don't bother you just like whatever
But now you got this new nature because you're regenerated and now you can enjoy sin the way you used to but you still want
To sin but you just can't enjoy the way you used to why would number one because now you know what the Bible says about it
But number two you come to this church and the man behind this sacred desk is constantly reminding you those things are sinful
You know because he's speaking by the spirit reminding you of these things
Condemning sin and so obviously there's a constant battle with the flesh and the spirit the point being is that he regenerates
Yes, our spirit, but the body is not yet regenerated. It shall not put on in corruption
It shall not put on immortality
Until the resurrection in the rapture, you know
We are in quote unquote the process of sanctification or being cleansed by the water of the Word
We're repenting of our sins daily. We're walking with God on a daily basis trying to live a life
That's pleasing unto the Lord, but let's just be quite honest
We're still sinners and we're not perfect and which is why we look forward to that day
Where we will completely be removed from the presence of sin and so we see there that he
regenerates us
Let me read to you a couple verses here turn with me if you would
Go to 1st John chapter 2 if you would 1st John chapter 2 out in Arizona
Yeah, how you guys do it in 1st Corinthians 12 13 here in 1st John chapter 2 says for by one spirit
Are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been made
Been all made to drink into one spirit the Bible tells us in Acts chapter 10 verse 43
To him give all the prophets witness that through his name whosoever believed in him shall receive our mission of sins
While Peter yet spake these words the Holy Ghost fell on them
Fell on them which heard the word so we see number one when it comes to the ministry of the Holy Spirit is
That he illuminates the unsaved he then regenerates them and now we're gonna look into the ministry of education
So you have illumination regeneration and now education. What is that? Well now that he's here dwelling within us now
One of his main ministries for the believer is to teach them, right?
Teach them the Word of God and here's the awesome thing about being a Christian
I love this part of being a Christian is that now when I read the Bible, I understand it and then awesome
You know, it's not chained up in some ugly Catholic Church where I have to get the interpretation from a priest
Some dude in a dress to tell me what the Bible says now. I could actually open up the Bible myself
Read it and completely understand it now are there passages in the Bible that can be obscure
Absolutely, but you know what the very clear teachings of the Bible I can get it
And in fact the longer I'm a Christian the more that I read the Bible guess what the more I understand it
You know because you have the Catholic Church today that'll tell you oh, you're not sanctioned to understand the Bible
You need to go to the priest, you know
Apostolic succession and you got to go to the Pope and they're the ones who are authorized to teach you the Bible
You're misinterpreting the Bible. You need the authority of the church to understand the Word of God
But why would I go to some unsaved reprobate to understand the Bible when all they're gonna do is pervert it and people tell
Me this all the time, especially right now right now on social media. All the Catholics are out to get me
they hate me right now and I've been posting a lot about Catholicism on my Instagram and
All these Catholics are coming at me and they're making videos about me
Which is great and it's funny because you know on Instagram, I try to be a little nicer on Instagram
you know, I don't try to put like really crazy stuff on there because
Social media platforms have a tendency to ban me. Okay, so I try to put the the real mild things on there and
So this guy got a hold of some of my preaching and you know
He's trying to refute the stuff that I'm saying. He's a Catholic guy on online with the big following
But recently he just posted some videos about me using the f-word faggot
Case you guys are you know, and then he posted pastor Anderson, you know saying the f-word and he's like for him
He's like, oh, this is gold
He didn't know where you know that we're gonna find this and he's like reposting it and I'm thinking to myself
You could have picked a better one like some of the stuff that the videos it was like very mild compared to some of the other
Stuff we've said, you know in excess and you know, he's probably used to just these Protestants
You know just kind of capitulating and wanting to apologize. I went on there and I said bravo
You know, I approved this message and it kind of backfired on him because I guess he doesn't know this but there's a lot
Of Catholics out there who hate homos and it doesn't take Catholicism to hate home
It's just they're just regular people and so they're just like actually he's right about this
Like the other stuff. I don't agree with the trance of sanctification. I don't agree with them on but this he's actually right about it's like
You know, I spake by the spirit. I got the Holy Ghost dwelling within me and you think you think that five-second clip is bad
June is right around the corner. I forgot where I was going with all that. Oh education. I still forgot where I was
Oh, no, what I was gonna say is oh, they'll tell me they're like, oh, they'll say no, but you need the whole the the church
Capital C you need them to authorize you and I always give them this passage right here first John chapter 2 verse 26
These things have I written unto you the concerning them that seduce you
But the anointing which he have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you
but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and
Even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him the Bible says and they're just like no
But you're taking out a context the context is in the verse though. There's no misinterpreting what it's saying there
I can read this to my five-year-old and they'll understand what it's saying
This is basic English and it's telling us that at the end of the day because the Holy Spirit of God indwells the believer
We don't necessarily need an outside source to teach us the Word of God because we have the author living within us
This is why we don't need commentaries because we have the greatest commentator doing within us
He's the one who wrote all 66 books. He's the one who has the greatest understanding of the Word of God
Yeah, but how am I gonna understand the deep things of God by the Spirit?
The Bible says, "I hath not seen, nor ear have heard, neither have entered into the heart of men the things that God has prepared for them that love him; but he hath revealed unto us by his Spirit," the Bible says
"Yea, the deep things of God." Now, I will say this though, okay, because the Holy Spirit is not a drive-through service
He doesn't run a drive-through ministry of teaching God's Word, meaning that you're not gonna learn everything overnight
He will teach you as much as you can handle and as much as you're willing to put in the work for him
So sometimes it just takes years to understand certain things
Even with the Holy Spirit because sometimes you just need to get the basics down first and you know what?
I've been saved going on 17 18 years and there I'm still learning the Word of God
I'm still learning the deep things of God
why because sometimes it takes years to understand that and obviously you can facilitate that and
Accelerate that knowledge by coming to church
But at the end of the day when you come to church you should be
Hearing from the pulpit things that you're reading in the Bible
And you're like, well, I'm not hearing from the pulpit things that I'm reading things that I'm reading in the Bible
It's probably because you're not reading the Bible enough. That's probably what it is
You know God wants us to hear the preaching of God's Word because he gave us
These offices for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ
He gave us preachers to teach us the Word of God to lead us in righteousness
But at the end of the day, you should be doing your own Bible study at home when you're reading the Bible every single day
Give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine the Bible says for in doing so thou shalt both save thyself
And then down here the Bible tells us what is that education?
you know, we have the greatest educator of the Bible living within us and
God wants us to submit to the ministry of the Holy Spirit by simply doing this you go home
You open up the Bible you said Lord open down my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law
And you know what? Sometimes you got to treat the Bible like an SAT exam
So what do you mean by that you guys remember that rule that they had or it's like, I don't know if they still have it
But back in my day
When you took tests specifically the SAT test they said if you didn't understand something skip it
Just go on to the next one. You guys remember that or this is just an alternate universe or
Okay, this is the Mandela effect or something
You know say it's skip it and go to the next and that's what I've done for the last 17 years
I don't just try to get stuck on one verse that I don't understand
Just let it just sit in my mind. I just don't read the Bible if I don't sound like well
I don't get it
But I'm gonna just keep reading and after my fourth fifth time through the Bible then I get it
You know the the the Holy Spirit is not operating a drive-through ministry and he's not operating like steroids
We're just you just get that steroid boost real quick and you'll get the muscle really fast and you'll get the the numbers really quick
No, it's sometimes you just got to go natty
Amen, and just allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and be patient and read the Word of God meditate upon the Bible
Allow the Holy Spirit to educate you the Bible tells us actually I'm gonna skip some of these verses here
But we'll come back to that in just a bit go with me
If you would to Romans chapter 8 Romans chapter 8 Romans chapter 8 and look, you know
The reality is this when it comes to the primary doctrines of the faith if you're saved and you have the Holy Spirit of God
We're not gonna come to different conclusions. Why because the same God is not author of confusion
We're talking about the essentials of the faith. Obviously there's room for interpretation on
secondary third type doctrines
Bible prophecy at times, you know enigmatic verses and passages
But the clear doctrines of the faith
We're not gonna come to different conclusions on because the Holy Spirit that dwells within you that dwells within me is gonna teach the same
Thing, you know, no prophecy of the scriptures given of any private interpretation. The Bible tells us so Ellen G
Why that's why she's burning in hell because she had a private interpretation and anybody who tells you well
God told me this just automatically X amount
Well, I thought you were cool until until you just said that right there because that's not how the Holy Spirit works
And you know, he educates us regarding doctrine. He educates us when we're reading the Bible
He educates us from the pulpit when the pastor is preaching
But you know, he also educates backsliding Christian sometimes
You know
Sometimes people get backslide to the point where they get it just enveloped in so much sin and they're out of church for so long
They're they're so far from the truth. They haven't read the Bible so long. They start thinking man
I don't know if I'm saved or not
You guys know what I'm talking about to start doubting their salvation and then you have a Christian come to them and say well
This is what the Bible says, right?
And what does it do the spirit bears witness?
In fact, look what it says in Romans 8 14 for as many as are led by the Spirit of God
They are the sons of God for you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear
But you have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father
the spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and I've spoken to people who doubt their salvation because they're
Just really backslidden and you know, you give them these biblical truths and they're just like, you know, I know that I'm saved
I'm just really backslidden right now and I've just don't have an appetite for the things of God because I've just been involved in sin
But the spirit bears witness that they are the children of God and so, you know
Obviously the Holy Spirit is almost to a certain extent dormant in them not because of him not because that's what he wants
But because the person in whom he's dwelling has chosen to feed the flesh
Has chosen to go after corruption has chosen to quench the spirit
You know that phrase quench in the spirit is a powerful phrase because the thing that comes to mind when I hear that is like
Fire, right you quench it you're putting out the fire
Well, the Holy Spirit can be likened unto that fire that burns within us
You know what Christians do when they walk in the flinch they're quenching that fire because sometimes people boy
God just really led me to talk to that one, but God commands us to talk to everyone that fire is like get them all
Saved, you know all they all need it. It's not like no, no, no him, you know, it's not the way it works
It's the the Holy Spirit is like unto a fire burning within us as Jeremiah put it right as a burning fire
Shut up in my bones and he just wants to get the truth out to just anybody and when a person decides not to live
Righteously not to preach the gospel not to go out there and do that which is pleasing unto the Lord
It's like they're quenching that fire. You're in Romans chapter 8 still right Romans chapter 8
So ministry number one illumination then regeneration then education education via you reading the Bible
Memorizing the Bible meditating upon the Bible coming to church hearing the preaching of God's Word being a doer of the word
Not a hero only teaching the Bible even right but then also, you know, these things are great and they're very much important
But we also need this consolation and this is one of the reasons why the Holy Spirit is also referred to as what?
the comforter because you know the Christian life is about discipline and character and reading your Bible and getting right with God but
Not at the exclusion of emotion and God knows that you know
We struggle and sometimes we're discouraged and sometimes we can be overwhelmed with depression or we just feel
Delusioned and we're just going through a tough time and you know, luckily he's built in the answer for us
Which is the Holy Spirit that comforts us and all our tribulation. He provides the consolation necessary to
endure
hardships in this life and
Everyone's gonna go through hardships this side of eternity if you're right with God
You're gonna go through hardships because ye all that will live God the in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution
If you're not right with God, you will go through persecution by God when he's chastising you and spanking you and trying to get you
Right, and you're gonna be in pain. We're always gonna experience pain
So therefore we need consolation and he doesn't leave us without that. He gives us the consolation necessary
Look at Romans 8 26 says likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought
But the Spirit itself maketh intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered now here are two
Interpretations to this that I think are possible
They could be to possibly explain this particular verse here because he says that the Holy Spirit
makes intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered and
One interpretation can mean that you know when we pray when we're going through a tough time
Sometimes we just pray for the wrong things
Right like we're praying and it's just like that's not what we need and it's almost like the Holy Spirit is kind of going to
The Lord is like that's not what he needs. This is what he needs. He's like interceding on our behalf
He's kind of like filtering our prayers, right?
So it's just like Lord if you could just give me a million dollars to pay off all this debt
he's just like that's not what he needs what he needs is to
budget and to pay off his debt and to have patience as he does and to learn endurance and
To just not quit and to learn contentment and not be so greedy and covetous, you know
He's gonna filter that and you're like, please let me help. Help me win the lottery. I'll tie it to the church
I'll give out I'll give to a missus trip and you know
You could be sincerely praying that to people out there can like literally just in tears pray that and the whole you know
Cuz you know, you're not really edgy
Maybe you might be not be educated in what the Bible says about those things
And I think any Christian can admit that we've all prayed something that's just unscriptural
We didn't pray according to the will of God and then later on when we learned about like well, that was a dumb prayer
That's embarrassing
So he makes intercessions for he like filters our prayers or it can also mean and I think this is very likely as well
Is that when we're going through a tough time, have you ever prayed where you just don't even pray?
You're just like crying has ever been times in your life where you're in so much pain and
Anguish and sorrow of heart and soul where you just don't say anything
You're just you're just kind of on your knees and you know what to say
I'm not gonna ask for a raise of hands
But I think we've all kind of been or you will go through something like that
I have where you don't even know what you should pray for. You're just kind of like I just I just and then nothing comes out
You're just kind of crying and you're just you're just like there's no words
And then the Holy Spirit comes is like what he's trying to say to this and so he intercedes on our behalf
He consoles us when we need it and obviously, you know, we don't want to be like a feely feely type Christian
So just keep in mind when you go through something like that go to the Psalms
Amen, because you know, there's nothing wrong with a little depression every now and get every now and then I think it's it's
Good to feel heaviness in our souls every now and again to feel that sense of anguish and sorrow
but it should it should
Propel you to go to the Psalms though and read the Psalms because you know right now if you're if you're if everything's good
When you read the Psalms, you're just doing it out of character. You're like Psalm 5 5 baby Psalm 139
I want to read that you know, you're just like you're you're for the impregnable your words the impregnatory Psalms
But when you're going through a hard time
Every psalm is like honey and you're like I feel like I know exactly what David was going through, you know
And you experience that that that communion with the Lord
The what the Bible calls the fellowship of his suffering and it's in those times that you feel the closest to God
When you're going through a tough time and you know what who's actively working during that time is the Holy Spirit
Interceding on your behalf. You're like why just you know, I you know, I'm not crying, you know
I mean, don't just cry, you know, that's part of his ministry. He wants to console you. That's why he's called the comforter
He wants to provide hope and you know the we don't the best thing about being a Christian is when it comes to going through
A hard time is it somehow even though we're going through a tough time
We still have joy and so it's great that we have
this element that as we're weeping and crying and we're going through anguish of soul and just going through you're just going through a
Hard time there's still joy within your heart. How is that? It's the Holy Spirit providing that joy because my joy no man
Take it consolation is important. He provides comfort
He says likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we offer the spirit itself
Making intercessions for us with groanings
Which cannot be uttered and he that search at the hearts know is what know is what is the mind of the spirit because he make
It intercessions for the saints according to the will of God and we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God to them who are the called according to his purpose
So it follows up with verse 28 that when you're praying for something, you're just like I don't know
But this is what I want
He gives you what you need and it all works out together for good in the long haul as long as you love the Lord
Consolation is the ministry of the Holy Spirit and lastly and I'm done. We said that he participates in illumination
regeneration
education
Consolation and lastly activation. What is that? He empowers us to go and do the work. Amen
He emboldens us to preach the Word of God to stand for truth and to be turned into another man
Turn with me if you would to go to Acts chapter 1 Acts chapter 1 Acts chapter 1
It requires boldness to say certain things believe certain things stand for certain things
It requires a level of confidence to do those things
But at the end of the day it requires the activation
The empowering of the Holy Spirit to be emboldened to stand for truth to be emboldened to stand for the Lord to not be ashamed
Of the words of Jesus Christ Acts chapter 1 and verse number 6 says when they therefore were come together
They asked of him saying Lord without at this time restoring in the kingdom to Israel and he said unto them
It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the father had put in his own power
But ye shall receive power
After that the Holy Ghost has come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in
Samaria and into the utmost part of the earth. So what do we see here? We see that God through the Holy Spirit
the Holy Spirit activates us and
Emboldens us and gives us the power to get people saved and look sometimes
I've been doing this for like 17 years and still that first door. I still get a little nervous from time to time
You know just never know what's gonna happen and it's just like for me. It's muscle memory. I already have the verses memorized
I know what I'm gonna say. I'm a pastor, but even then because of my flesh I could be timid
I know you don't believe me
I'm a very timid person actually and you know, you just you know, there's a temptation to just here's all I'm talking about
You just want to they're not home. There's that temptation
But you know what we need the power of the Holy Spirit not that crazy
but you know enough for them to hear and then they open the door and then your heart kind of drops a little bit and
You just take that deep breath and you're like, how's it going?
I'm so-and-so from Faithful Word Baptist Church just out here inviting folks to church
Want to give you this invite just ask you a really important question. And then what is it? You start speaking about the Spirit
It just happens. I hope everyone out here
I'm sure everyone does but I hope there's someone here who doesn't go so one of you would start going
So that the ministry of the Holy Spirit can work in you
You'd be amazed what the Holy Spirit can do through you
You just ask them to fill you and just go out and you're like, well, how do you know if I'm Philip?
You won't know until you knock on the first door. You'll find out like well, yeah, like do you feel anything?
Nope. Well, I do then there's something weird if you do gas not to tell you it's not a feeling so what I do
You just pray for it pray for God to fill you pray for God to empower you and then you go
Well, how do I know if I'm really filled? I guess you'll find out who knows we'll see but you know
Every time I've gone he just confirms that I'm filled with the spirit
Well, what if people don't get saved? Well then not getting saved is not an indicator that I'm not filled with the spirit
It's an indicator that they're resistant to Holy Ghosts the indicator that I'm filled with the spirit is that I knocked on the door
Opened my mouth boldly and told him the gospel. That's the indicator
But you know not just for so many how just how about just for daily Christian living just for you to just live as a
Christian to live righteously
To lead about your family to read the Word of God
To express love for your children for your family for church members to be a blessing to others
To be a hard worker at your job and all areas of life
It requires the feeling of the spirit to do it with the right motive and to do it for the right reasons
Ye shall receive power and you know people like to use Acts chapter 2 as a text verse to say oh, you know
That's that's what we're talking about there
You know the halachalla balla crowd and a six-pack dolla or just like the indicators that you'll speak in gibber jabber
That's the indicator that you're possessed
You know, you give me a person speaking in tongues and it's and I don't understand what they're saying and it's not any
You know language that we know of in this earth then you're possessed
But you know what act chapter 2 is an indicator that these people were
Filled with the spirit because of the fact that they preached the word of God and obviously God enabled them during this time
To speak in different languages in order to facilitate, you know
The fact that all these people were coming to the day of Pentecost
They're like this is a perfect time to give them the word of God preach to them so he enabled them
But you know
They still have to be filled with the spirit to preach the word of God turn with me if you would to
Matthew chapter 10 and then this would be the last passage
Matthew chapter 10, you know, the Bible tells us be not drunk with wine wearing his excess but drink alcohol in moderation
Oh, no way. That's the Calvinist interpretation, right?
It's like the Bible says be not drunk with wine. We're in his excess. Also the alternative is to drink in moderation
That's what it says. No, it says be filled with the spirit till the Bible actually says
We're to be filled with the spirit. We're not to grieve the spirit. We're not to quench the spirit
We're to walk in the spirit and you know
There's gonna be times when you're confronted by a family member by a friend by a co-worker
Regarding a biblical truth that you believe and you might be timid you might be afraid you might be
tempted to kind of tiptoe around the tulips a little bit and give a
Watered-down answer look what the Bible says in Matthew 10 19
But when they deliver you up take no thought how or what you shall speak
For it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak for it is not ye that speak but the spirit of your
Father which speaketh in you the Bible tells us be filled with the spirit is just to give the right answer at the right time
I remember I'll finish with this illustration when uh when we were bombed
couple years back
the
City manager called me in for a meeting and the chief well the chief of police came to me and he said hey
We want to meet with you, and I said who's we?
Like me and the city manager want to meet with you at City Hall or whatever
I'm like what do you guys want to talk about it's like well
We'll tell you when we get there like all right, so we go there
And I'm waiting and I'm like so seriously though. What is this about like?
Oh, did she just wants to talk to you about some things. I'm like do you think it's about the bombing you know?
So we get there and we go into this room
And I'm like you know I and it's like I wasn't prepared
I just wasn't prepared because I don't know what they're gonna talk to me about you know and
I get there, and they're just like there's turmoil in this city, and I'm thinking I'm like there's turmoil in my church
Because you just people just bombed it. I don't know about the city, and there's just like we need to come to a
Reconciliation, and I'm like okay
Speak on and she's just like I just I want to ask you
What do you think we should do and I said oh that's easy, so leave me alone
I said you're experiencing like like the cities in turmoil you said yeah, I'm like okay. Yeah for sure
Just leave me alone. It'll go away leave me and my church alone, and it'll stop
I looked at both of them like that pretty much it and she said I get that but what do you think we should do though?
Well, you should leave me alone
I said I'm gonna keep doing the things that I'm doing
But if you and those people leave me alone, then your city won't have any turmoil
I said because God is judging your city because of what you guys allow to happen to me
And my church because there was there was a lot there
I mean there was a lot of bad stuff that was taking place during that time and even since then
That city is just in shambles and I said just leave me alone. It'll be fine and they're like, well, we're just wondering
You know if we could just get you guys together and I said, are you asking me to apologize to them?
and she said well, you know, I just think it would be a good idea if you can just come to a
Reasonable, you know, I said you want me to I'm not gonna apologize
I've swam too far into in to ever apologize to anybody
I said so and what I said, why are you asking me to apologize? You should ask them to apologize
I said I'm the one with the blown-up building. I'm a gaslighting meeting. Is this are you trying to gaslight me?
Oh, you're a politician. Of course you are and I said that's my answer and no
I'm not gonna apologize
And because they wanted to have like a prayer breakfast with homos and stuff and I was just like, you know
And for a minute there, I was like, well, gee, who kind of you know, did something like that?
And yeah, there's a choose it those intrusive thoughts, you know came in
It's like in another time and other times it would have been different and I said, I'm not I don't want to look at them
I said I said I will never apologize
I'm never gonna stop preaching this and in fact, I'm I'm turning it up a couple degrees just because this happened to us
And I said, I'm gonna tell everyone what you told me tonight today and they're just like, okay. I'm like, alright guys
We'll see you later. Nice building, you know, it's like leave
But you know, I guarantee there's a lot of pastors out there that if they were put in that position
They would apologize just like that. They would have capitulated just like that. There was oh, yeah
Let's come to a reasonable conclusion. We'll reason together with them. I'm not making any covenants with them their own covenants
Zero agreements like what did you do before you went in there? Oh, I left one little detail
I prayed and I said Lord because again, I'm a timid person
I am a timid person and you know the heart's beating a little bit because you just don't know what's gonna happen
And I don't want to mess up
So Lord just fill me with your spirit
Help me to say the things you would want me to say and refrain from saying the things that you would not want me to
Say and it worked out in our favor and so the message tonight is simply this submit yourselves to the ministry of the Holy Spirit
If you're not saved, well, you've been illuminated tonight allow yourself to be regenerated after the regeneration
Submit yourself to the education and the more you're educated the more, you know, the more you obey the more trouble
You're gonna find yourself in submit yourself to the consolation and then activation. Amen. Go do something about it
Let's pray father
we thank you so much for your word and we're so thankful for the Holy Spirit of God that dwells within us and
we're thankful that we have the Spirit of God in us and imperfect people and that you
Enable us to do great and mighty works for you Lord
And of course you sanctify us on a day-to-day basis as we read the Word of God on Sundays as we come together and exhort one
Another and Lord you I'm so thankful that you use this as well as we go out and preach the gospel to a lost and dying
world I pray that you continue to console us in times of trial and tribulation and that we would continuously
Put in the effort to walk in the spirit to not fulfill the lust of the flesh to be filled with the spirit and keep
In mind not to grieve them and we pray you bless us as we go on our way
We love you. We thank you pray this is in Jesus name. Amen
And if you need a hymnal for I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever 195 195
The Lord