Following and Finance
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 6th March 2021
Passage: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 Good morning, everyone. If you've just joined us for the first time here at St. Paul's,
00:00:06 --> 00:00:12 this is our third week into launching our strategic plan for the next five years, Follow
00:00:12 --> 00:00:18 25. We're particularly concerned in this series of what it means to be a follower of Jesus,
00:00:18 --> 00:00:29 what it means to follow Jesus in all of life and for all of life. And I should let you
00:00:29 --> 00:00:34 know. You've probably received it in the notifications throughout the email through
00:00:34 --> 00:00:39 the course this week. We lost one of our dear sisters this week, Betty Shearman, who hasn't
00:00:39 --> 00:00:45 been amongst us the last couple of years because of age issues and needing special care, passed
00:00:45 --> 00:00:54 away on Wednesday. She was 99. Someone who followed Jesus, much loved amongst us, someone who trusted
00:00:54 --> 00:01:03 in Jesus and particularly was committed to a very committed devotional life that saw her express
00:01:03 --> 00:01:10 the living relationship with Jesus right to the end and in such a way that had an impact
00:01:10 --> 00:01:16 upon several generations. So at some point in the near future, all details are yet to be
00:01:16 --> 00:01:22 finalised. We will have a Thanksgiving service for Betty here in the next, probably in the next
00:01:22 --> 00:01:28 couple of weeks, but keep your eye out and we'll bring that to you. As we launched in
00:01:28 --> 00:01:34 this series, the first thing we discovered was that being a Christian means that you are
00:01:34 --> 00:01:38 in fact a follower of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour of all. A Christian is a disciple.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:44 They're a follower of Jesus who learns from him, who submits to his teaching and becomes like
00:01:44 --> 00:01:50 him in all of life. And we saw last week that the foundation, sorry, before that, a couple
00:01:50 --> 00:01:57 weeks ago. The foundation of this relationship is the gospel. It is the good news that Jesus
00:01:57 --> 00:02:03 himself has absorbed God's punishment for our sin in us choosing to walk a different path
00:02:03 --> 00:02:10 in life, determining our own journey, rejecting God, our creator. And Jesus went to the cross.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:17 He died our death. He paid our debt. He turned God's anger away from us and has set us free
00:02:17 --> 00:02:24 to live a new life, the life that we were created for in the beginning. And that is in fact to live
00:02:24 --> 00:02:32 in obedience to our God who loves us infinitely and created us. So Christian discipleship is a
00:02:32 --> 00:02:36 lifelong journey of following Jesus and impacts every aspect of your life. It's not just something
00:02:36 --> 00:02:43 that you leave for Sundays. It changes your entire worldview of all things.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:49 So if we're going to follow well, and if we're going to keep following until this journey's
00:02:49 --> 00:02:56 end, God has given us resources for that. We need to take up those resources. And then last
00:02:56 --> 00:03:00 week we looked at the Bible and prayer. Today we're focusing on the gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:06 And I've got two things really to say, and that is, first of all, who is the Holy Spirit? And secondly,
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 what does it mean to live with the Holy Spirit? So if you've got the St. Paul's app open,
00:03:11 --> 00:03:17 that'd be great. If not, create your own app with paper and pen, and you can take some notes as we
00:03:17 --> 00:03:24 go through. So first of all, who is the Holy Spirit? We've touched on this on at least two
00:03:24 --> 00:03:30 occasions already in this series. We're going to do it again today. There's one aspect of the Bible's
00:03:30 --> 00:03:35 teaching. I mean, in fact, there's many aspects of Bible teaching which are difficult. It shouldn't
00:03:35 --> 00:03:42 surprise us because God is so huge and magnificent, bigger and greater than any of our minds could
00:03:42 --> 00:03:46 fully comprehend. So he has to be bigger than us. Otherwise, he's no more than us, and that makes
00:03:46 --> 00:03:52 him a pretty weak God. One of the difficult things, one of the challenging areas is the doctrine of the
00:03:52 --> 00:04:00 Trinity. We sang about it this morning. The Trinity calls us to believe that there is one and only one
00:04:00 --> 00:04:11 God. To know the one true God is, however, to know him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father, Son, and
00:04:11 --> 00:04:21 Holy Spirit, each is fully God, always and forever. So the Trinity functions kind of like an orchestra,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:28 where you have a multitude of different instruments and coming together at the right time in a rich
00:04:28 --> 00:04:34 harmony that any individual instrument wouldn't be able to do by itself. That is, the diversity
00:04:34 --> 00:04:41 of an orchestra is more beautiful sound than if the whole orchestra was just made up of cymbals.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:50 It's just a clanging noise. Each person of the Trinity does its own distinctive work. They work in
00:04:50 --> 00:04:57 harmony with each other as each person fulfills the work, the overall work that is right and good for
00:04:57 --> 00:05:05 that member of the Trinity to do. And yet all three persons of the Trinity are committed to the one
00:05:05 --> 00:05:13 work of God. They contribute to the one work of God. And so the Holy Spirit is equally God,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:21 that is equally God, same as God the Father and God the Son is God. That's the first point. The Holy Spirit
00:05:21 --> 00:05:33 is not some lesser thing than God. For example, in Acts chapter 5, Peter rebukes Ananias for lying to
00:05:33 --> 00:05:40 the Holy Spirit about the land that he had sold. And then Peter says, you have not lied to men,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:47 but to God. So when he lied to the Holy Spirit, he is lying to God. We also note the Holy Spirit are
00:05:47 --> 00:05:51 certain qualities that are only true of God in the Bible, such as living forever and eternally,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:57 according to Hebrews 9, and being everywhere, according to Psalm 139, and having all knowledge
00:05:57 --> 00:06:05 in 1 Corinthians 2.10. He's also declared to be equal with the Father and the Son in Matthew 28
00:06:05 --> 00:06:13 and 2 Corinthians 13. So that's the first thing. I want to be clear. The Holy Spirit is equally God,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:23 as the Father and Son is equally God. But secondly, the Holy Spirit is a person, not a force. The Holy
00:06:23 --> 00:06:31 Spirit is a divine person, as the Father and Son are divine persons. So in John 14, just read out to us,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:40 verse 16, Jesus calls him another counselor. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you
00:06:40 --> 00:06:48 another counselor, another advocate to be with you forever, the Spirit of truth. So when Jesus calls
00:06:48 --> 00:06:56 him another advocate or comforter or counselor, he treats him as a person, not as a force.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:09 When he calls him another, he means another like me. The Holy Spirit is an advocate.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:18 Like Jesus is. He is a person. We also know the Holy Spirit is a person because he shows the
00:07:18 --> 00:07:23 qualities of true personhood, a genuine personhood. For example, Holy Spirit can be lied to,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:30 as we just read in Acts 5, insulted according to Hebrews 10. And there are two things you cannot do
00:07:30 --> 00:07:38 to the electricity that's making your refrigerator work. You can't insult electricity, a force.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:46 The Holy Spirit also has personal qualities, like a mind, according to 1 Corinthians 2, emotions,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:50 according to Ephesians 4, and a will, according to 1 Corinthians 12.
00:07:52 --> 00:08:00 But possibly the most important aspect, the most important aspect of the personhood of the Holy Spirit
00:08:00 --> 00:08:12 is that 94 times in the New Testament, he is called holy. He has the character of holiness,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:19 which along with having emotions and will can only ever be true of someone with personhood.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:31 And so the Holy Spirit is person and divine, divine person. And so when you add the second truth about the Holy Spirit,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:40 the first bit becomes even more precious. It will make an enormous difference in your life.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:51 If you believe that you are being led, changed, transformed by a person who is in their very essence,
00:08:52 --> 00:09:00 the personal God of love and not an impersonal force. It makes a world of difference as you live the Christian life day by day.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:08 The person who leads and purifies is no one less than God, the Holy Spirit.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:16 This is a personal relationship of love. This is not a force connecting you to God.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:24 So there's a lot more that can be said about the Holy Spirit and masses of books have been written on this.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:29 But I want to jump to what does it mean for us to live with the Holy Spirit.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:37 Now for too many Christians, the Holy Spirit has either faded into the background somewhere
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 to be almost non-existent in their life,
00:09:40 --> 00:09:47 or he's been brought to the forefront in such a way that he dominates the Trinity and all things about God.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 Either ends of the spectrum are deficient.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:57 For too many of us, the Holy Spirit doesn't factor enough in our discipleship.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:03 So therefore, what does it mean to live with the Holy Spirit?
00:10:03 --> 00:10:11 In the John reading, we see something very significant about our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:19 John chapters 14 to 17 are known as the farewell discourse.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:27 As Jesus is here farewelling his disciples, he's about to depart back to the Father via the cross.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 And he's going to die and he's going to leave his disciples.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 And they are distraught by this news.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:33 They are confused.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 It was uncertain times.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 Their world is falling apart.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:42 We thought that Jesus was the one who would ascend the throne in Jerusalem
00:10:42 --> 00:10:47 and make all things right that are wrong and beat up the Romans and all that kind of stuff.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:52 And so Jesus comforts his disciples by telling them,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 Yes, I am departing.
00:10:55 --> 00:11:02 And I am departing to prepare an eternal place for them in the Father's house.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 It is fantastic news.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 Fantastic news.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 That some rooms are getting ready,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:15 but it would feel so distant and unknown for them.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 What about now?
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 What about now?
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 Are we going to be left abandoned in the meantime?
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 And that's when Jesus says,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 I will send a permanent resident.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 Chapter 14, verse 16.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 Jesus tells him,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:43 I will ask the Father and he will give you another advocate to be with you forever.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 One who will never depart.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 The spirit of truth.
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 So Jesus says to his grieving disciples,
00:11:51 --> 00:11:55 I am going to the Father and I will send you another advocate.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:58 Another, meaning one of the same kind.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 Another, in verse 16,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 is going to be with them forever
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 and he will not depart as Jesus must depart.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:11 Now this is exactly what the grieving disciples need in this moment.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:15 When they're feeling abandoned.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 Or is it?
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 Is it really?
00:12:22 --> 00:12:25 Is this really a comfort to these disciples?
00:12:25 --> 00:12:30 Now, not that we actually can at the moment,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:33 but imagine if Nat and I were about to go on a long trip.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 And we didn't know,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 it was a one-way ticket,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 we didn't know exactly when we'd be coming back.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 And we sat down our three girls
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 and said to them,
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 we're going away on a trip,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 not sure when we're going to come back,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 but it's okay.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 We've organised for an uncle
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 who you've never met,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:53 ever,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 to come and look after you in the meantime.
00:12:56 --> 00:13:00 Oh, that's the comfort we needed.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 We haven't gotten over the first bit.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:14 But I think verse 23 reveals the staggering implications of verse 16.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 If anyone loves me,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 he will obey my teaching,
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 my father will love him,
00:13:24 --> 00:13:28 and we will come to him
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 and make our home with him.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 Now, let me just unpack this a little bit
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 and get a bit technical for you.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 This is very, very important.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 Notice the word home in verse 23.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:45 It is a very rare word
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 in the original language in the New Testament.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 In fact,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:53 it is used in only one other place
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 in the entire New Testament.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 One other place.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 And it's in chapter 14, verse 2,
00:14:01 --> 00:14:04 where it is translated rooms.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 In verse 2,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 Jesus says that by going to the cross,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 he is preparing a room,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 a dwelling place,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 an eternal dwelling place
00:14:14 --> 00:14:17 in the perfection of relationship with the Father,
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 with God forever.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 But in verse 23,
00:14:22 --> 00:14:25 Jesus says that by going to the cross,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 I'm not just preparing a room
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 with the Father in the future,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:35 but I'm going to prepare in us.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 He is going to prepare in us
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 a home,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 a dwelling place,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 a room for his Father
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 to dwell with us.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:47 The departure of Jesus
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 to his Father
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 via the cross
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 is going to prepare two things,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 a room for us
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 with the Father and the Son
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 and the Spirit
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 in heaven forever,
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 and a room for the Father
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 and Jesus
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 with the Spirit
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 with us
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 now on earth.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 What a promise.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 Not just a place for us
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 we've got at some point
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 in the future.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 That is,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 the promises
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 of the Christian faith
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 is not just pie in the sky
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 when you die,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 but it's now.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 For God's presence
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 with us
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 now.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 The coming of the Spirit
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 doesn't replace
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 the presence of Jesus.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 It guarantees
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 the presence of Jesus
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 with us
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 now.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 The Holy Spirit
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 unites us with Christ
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 and the Father.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 Jesus is not distant.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 He has not abandoned
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 his disciples.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 I think Jesus
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 is actually saying
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 to his bewildered
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 disciples
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 in this moment,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 guys,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 you've got to understand
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 it will be better
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 for you
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 when I depart.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 My presence
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 will be
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 stronger.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 Jesus promised
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 not just to
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 leave us as orphans
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 to do our best
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 to survive,
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 to pull up our socks
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 and work really hard
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 on this journey
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 of discipleship
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 just to,
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 he has not left us
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 to our own devices.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 The promise
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 to his first disciples
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 extends to us.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 He added eternal
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 words of comfort
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 in saying
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 that the Spirit
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 will come
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 not just dwelling
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 with us,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 not just walking
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 beside us,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 but dwelling
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 in the disciples
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 of Jesus.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 The intimacy
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 of the disciple
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 of Jesus
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 and the Holy Spirit
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 is captured
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 in the word
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 abiding.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 Abiding.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 The Holy Spirit,
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 the third member
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 of the Trinity,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 abides
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 in you
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 and me
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 in his church
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 in all
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 who belong
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 to Jesus Christ
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 by faith.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 The Holy Spirit,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 his abiding
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 restores
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 all hope
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 and secures
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 us
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 on the
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 sure
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 foundation
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 of faith
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 in uncertain
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 times
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 as we
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 trust
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 in the
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 promises
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 of God
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 in Jesus.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 So the Holy Spirit
00:17:14 --> 00:17:17 explains
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 how the church
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 survives
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 and how the gospel
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 continues to spread
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 to the ends
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 of the earth
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 even when all
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 else is collapsing
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 around.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 The Holy Spirit
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 abiding
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 in us
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 explains
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 how the
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 disciple
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 of the Lord
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 Jesus
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 can hear
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 the words
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 of the Bible,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 can hear
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 the gospel
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 not as the
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 words of merely
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 a human philosopher,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 not just the
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 opinions of
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 other human
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 beings,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 but as the
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 word of God
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 revealing truth
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 and reality.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 The Holy Spirit
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 is the difference
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 from darkness
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 to light.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 The Holy Spirit
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 is the difference
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 between you
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 reading this
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 as being
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 black ink
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 on white paper
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 and it being
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 the very word
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 of God.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 The creator
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 of the universe
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 speaking to you.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 The Holy Spirit
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 abiding in us
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 is the reason
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 why the
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 disciples of Jesus
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 have life
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 in the face
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 of death.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 The Spirit
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 does not flee
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 when we are
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 struggling with sin.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 His presence
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 does not hinge
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 upon our
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 obedience
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 and our
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 effort.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 His abiding
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 in the Christian
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 rests upon
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 the infinite
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 grace
00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 and the love
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 of God
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 out for us.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 So then,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 how do we
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 get the
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 experience,
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 how do we
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 get to
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 experience
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 this presence
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 of the Holy
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 Spirit right
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 now?
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 especially
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 when we
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 at times
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 may not
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 feel like
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 it?
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 And crucial
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 to this,
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 last week
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 we talked
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 about
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 absolutely
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 essential
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 for the
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Christian
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 life
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 is
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 word and
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 prayer.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 How does
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 the word
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 and prayer,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 devotional
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 life,
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 not just
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 become
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 about a
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 regulation,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 a rule,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 a duty
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 that must
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 be performed,
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 a dry
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 activity that
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 makes no
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 difference in
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 my life?
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 What's the
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 difference?
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 difference
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 between the
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 legalist
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 who's doing
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 more than
00:19:25 --> 00:19:28 four and
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 not really
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 moving forward?
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 What makes
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 the difference?
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 The Holy
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 Spirit is
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 the difference.
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 In John
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 chapter,
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 that is,
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 it's crucial
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 to listen
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 to the
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 Holy Spirit.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 John
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 chapter 16
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 verse 13,
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 we get a
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 key part of
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 the Spirit's
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 work.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 book,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 but when
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 he,
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 the Spirit
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 of truth,
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 comes,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 he will
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 guide you
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 into all
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 truth.
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 He will
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 not speak
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 on his
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 own.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 He will
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 speak only
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 what he
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 hears,
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 and he
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 will tell
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 you what
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 is yet
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 to come.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 So in
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 chapter 14,
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 Jesus
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 promised that
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 the Spirit
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 of truth
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 will remind
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 the disciples
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 of everything
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 that Jesus
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 taught them.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 Now,
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 he promises
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 something a
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 little bit
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 more than
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 that.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 The 11
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 disciples will
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 be led
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 into truth,
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 into a
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 true understanding
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 of all the
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 saving events
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 which are
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 about to
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 take place
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 about the
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 death and
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 the resurrection
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 of Jesus,
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 and they'll
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 be given
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 glimpses of
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 the future,
00:20:39 --> 00:20:41 of this
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 final work
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 being
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 played out.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 The final
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 climax, if
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 you like,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 of world
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 history will
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 partially be
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 unveiled to
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 them so
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 that they'll
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 be able to
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 get a glimpse
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 of the
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 sweep of
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 God's
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 enormous plan
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 of salvation
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 and the
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 central part
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 that Jesus
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 plays in
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 that with
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 his death
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 and his
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 resurrection.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 But in
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 leading them
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 into truth,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 the Holy
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 Spirit will
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 not speak
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 on his
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 own,
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 Jesus
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 insists.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 He will
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 speak only
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 what he
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 hears.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 In
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 John
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 16,
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 13 to
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 15,
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 but when
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 he, the
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 spirit truth
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 comes, he
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 will guide
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 you into
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 all truth,
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 he will
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 not speak
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 on his
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 own, he
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 will speak
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 only what
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 he hears
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 and he
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 will tell
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 you what
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 is here
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 to come.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 He will
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 bring glory
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 to me
00:21:29 --> 00:21:31 by taking
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 from what
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 is mine
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 and making
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 it known
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 to you.
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 All that
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 belongs to
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 the Father
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 is mine,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 that is
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 why I
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 said the
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 spirit will
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 take from
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 what is
00:21:43 --> 00:21:45 mine and
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 make it
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 known to
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 you.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 So the
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 general
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 subject matter
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 of the
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 Holy Spirit,
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 it's saying
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 there in
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 John 16,
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 is restricted.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 It's a
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 glorious
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 restriction.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 salvation.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 The spirit
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 will take
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 that which
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 is Jesus'
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 and make
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 it known
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 to the
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 disciples of
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 Jesus.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 The focus
00:22:13 --> 00:22:15 is entirely
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 on Jesus.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 The role
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 of the Holy
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 Spirit is to
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 bring glory
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 to Jesus.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 It was
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 necessary for
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 Jesus to be
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 glorified by
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 returning to
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 the Father
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 via the
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 cross,
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 but when
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 he leaves,
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 he receives
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 more glory
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 through the
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 ministry of the
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 Spirit to
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 his disciples.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 As Jesus
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 took that
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 which belonged
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 to the
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 Father and
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 made it known
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 to them,
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 to his
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 disciples,
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 so the
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 Spirit takes
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 that which
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 belongs to
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 Jesus and
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 makes it
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 known to
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 us.
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 Nothing
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 brings more
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 glory to
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 our Lord
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 Jesus than
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 for his
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 followers to
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 become steeped
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 in all
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 truth concerning
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 him.
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 Jesus
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 prays for
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 his disciples
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 one chapter
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 later,
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 that they
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 would be led
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 into that
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 truth,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 and then
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 he prays
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 for the
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 disciples who
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 come to
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 the truth
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 because of
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 his original
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 disciples being
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 led into the
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 truth.
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 What does
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 that mean
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 for us?
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 The
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 acquisition of
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 this truth
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 of God is
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 intellectual,
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 but it's not
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 merely intellectual.
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 As this
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 truth is
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 truly absorbed
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 by the
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 followers of
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 the Lord
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 Jesus,
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 it transforms
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 them,
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 it enables
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 them to
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 reflect the
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 glory of
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 the Lord
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 Jesus,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 and thereby
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 being praised
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 to his
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 name.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 That is,
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 his priorities
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 become our
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 priorities,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 his character
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 our character.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 Glory comes
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 to Jesus
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 when the
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 truths
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 that the
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 original
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 disciples
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 recorded
00:24:13 --> 00:24:15 become
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 truths
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 for us.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:30 glory comes
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 to Jesus
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 when the
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 truths of the
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 gospel,
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 the word of
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 God,
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 are established
00:24:35 --> 00:24:47 in our
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 lives.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 Up until
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 this point,
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 the disciples
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 have been
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 quite confused,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 have been
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 characterized by
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 misunderstanding as
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 the person of
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 Jesus.
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 All of this
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 is going to
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 change with
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 the arrival
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 of the
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 Holy Spirit
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 on the day
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 of Pentecost.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 The Spirit
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 would ensure
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 that these
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 original
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 disciples
00:25:05 --> 00:25:07 would not
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 forget Jesus,
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 would not
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 forget what
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 he said to
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 them.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 He would
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 ensure that
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 they accurately
00:25:14 --> 00:25:17 remembered
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 everything,
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 his life,
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 his commandments,
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 his teachings,
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 everything.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:29 So how
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 does that
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 happen for
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 us then?
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 I think
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 that one
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 main answer
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 comes from
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 Ephesians
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 chapter 5
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 verse 18
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 which may
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 come up on
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 the screen
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 in a moment.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 This is
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 where Paul
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 teaches
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 believers to
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 be filled
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 with the
00:25:45 --> 00:25:47 Spirit so
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 that their
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 thoughts,
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 their attitudes,
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 their words,
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 their actions
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 would be
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 directed by
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 the Spirit.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 That is,
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 Paul's command
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 is to be
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 filled with
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 the Spirit
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 in Ephesians
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 5 18
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 is not a
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 one-off
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02 event when
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 someone first
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 comes to
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 faith in
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 the Lord
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 Jesus.
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 It is also
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 not what
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 some might
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 claim a
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 reference to
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 some sort
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 of second
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 blessing
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 reserved for
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 serious
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 disciples of
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 Jesus,
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 often referred
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 to as a
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 baptism of
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 the Holy
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 Spirit.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 Ephesians
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 5 18
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 is what
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 scholars call
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 an imperative
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 in the
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 present tense
00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 which means
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 the command
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 here in
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 5 18
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 is to
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 constantly be
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 filled with
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 the Holy
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 Spirit,
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 a continuing
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 experience
00:26:38 --> 00:26:41 and to be
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 filled implies
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 something total,
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 completely filled,
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 that is the
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 Spirit has
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 full control
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 over all
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 aspects of
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 your life,
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 no area
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 of life
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 is off
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 limits to
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 the work
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 of the
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 Spirit in
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 your life.
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 Andreas
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 Kostenberg in
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 his book,
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 What Does
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 It Mean
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 To Be
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 Filled
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 With
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 the Spirit
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 says that
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 it is
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 something
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 that God
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 does.
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 So while
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 it's a
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 command in
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 Ephesians
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 5 18,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 it is a
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 passive
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 command,
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 be
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 filled.
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 We are
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 to respond
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 to the
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 command,
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 but it
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 is something
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 that primarily
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 that God
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 does in
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 us.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 Paul also
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 wrote a
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 parallel
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 passage to
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 Ephesians
00:27:30 --> 00:27:32 5 and
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 it's
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 Colossians
00:27:33 --> 00:27:35 3 16
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 and 17
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 and they
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 are almost
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 interchangeable,
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 different language
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 but almost
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 interchangeable.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 The structure
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 is exactly
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 the same.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 Let the
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 word of
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 Christ dwell
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 in you
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 richly,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 teaching and
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 admonish one
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 another in
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 all wisdom,
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 singing psalms
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 and hymns and
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 spiritual songs
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 with thankfulness
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 in your heart
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 to God.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 And whatever
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 you do in
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 word or
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 deed,
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 do everything
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 in the name
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 of the Lord
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 Jesus Christ,
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 giving thanks
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 to God the
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 Father through
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 him.
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 In both
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 passages,
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 Ephesians
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 5,
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 Colossians
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 3,
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 the results
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 are the
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 same.
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 Words
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 and deeds
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 that honour
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 Christ,
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 bring glory
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 to Christ.
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13 But what
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 brings about
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 the results
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 are stated
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 differently in
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 both passages.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 In Ephesians
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 5,
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 Paul says,
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 be filled
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 with the
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 Spirit.
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 In Colossians
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 3,
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 he says,
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 let the
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 word of
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 Christ dwell
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 in you
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 richly.
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 What this
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 means is
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 that the
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 Spirit has
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 greater influence,
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 provides us
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 with more
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 direction in
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 life,
00:28:40 --> 00:28:42 more comfort
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 as his
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 disciples,
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 more enabling
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 as his
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 disciples,
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 provided
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 that
00:28:49 --> 00:28:51 God's
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 word dwells
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 more and
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 more within
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 us.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 That is,
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 it is
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 impossible,
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 both in
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 Old Testament
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 and New
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 Testament,
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 to separate
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 the word
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 from the
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 Spirit.
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 Our reading
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 of the
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 word,
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 our time
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 spent memorizing
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 and meditating
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 on Scripture
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 is the
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 main tool
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 that the
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 Spirit of
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 God uses
00:29:14 --> 00:29:16 to help
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 us to
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 think,
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 feel,
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 speak,
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 and act
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 in ways
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 that are
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 more and
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 more glorifying
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 to the
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 Lord Jesus,
00:29:25 --> 00:29:27 which is
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 why you
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 were saved.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 You see,
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 the goal of
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 all biblical
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 learning is
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 knowing God.
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 the Holy
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 Spirit is
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 absolutely
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 essential to
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 this process.
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 The Holy
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 Spirit enables
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 us not
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 just to
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 see the
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 facts of
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 the Lord
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 Jesus Christ
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 and the
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 gospel and
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 the word of
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 God,
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 he helps
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 us to
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 see the
00:29:48 --> 00:29:50 glory and
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 the beauty
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 and the
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 worth and
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 the magnificence
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 of all of
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 that truth.
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 He convicts
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 us of the
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 necessary
00:29:58 --> 00:30:00 submission and
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 transformation and
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 repentance of
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 sin and
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 obedience to
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 Christ that
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 follows.
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 And so
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 listening to
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 the Spirit
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 in the
00:30:10 --> 00:30:12 word is
00:30:12 --> 00:30:14 so, so
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 crucial for
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 the Christian.
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 But so is
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 speaking.
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 So is
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 speaking.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 See, I would
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 further suggest
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 that we pray
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 for God to
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 fill us with
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 his Spirit as
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 we engage with
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 him in his
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 word.
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 That is, our
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 engagement with
00:30:30 --> 00:30:32 God in his
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 word,
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 prayerfully,
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 is encountering
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 God's presence.
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 And if you
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 want to know
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 more about
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 that, Tim
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 Keller's
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 written a
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 great book
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 on prayer and
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 there's a
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 great section
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 on what it
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 means to
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 encounter God
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 in his
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 word and
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 prayer.
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 Paul doesn't
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 explicitly command
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 anywhere that
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 we pray for the
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 filling of the
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 Holy Spirit,
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 but he
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 himself does
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 it that God
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 would in fact
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 give us the
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 spirit of
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 revelation and
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 wisdom in
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 Ephesians 1.
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 Also, that
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 we would be
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 strengthened in
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 our inner being
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 by the Spirit
00:31:06 --> 00:31:08 in Ephesians 3.
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 Pray that God's
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 Spirit will fill you
00:31:10 --> 00:31:12 day by day as
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 you are filled
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 with his word.
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 The Holy Spirit
00:31:16 --> 00:31:18 working through
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 the word of God,
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 the Bible,
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 is how the
00:31:20 --> 00:31:22 word of God,
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 Jesus Christ,
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 is present and
00:31:24 --> 00:31:26 active in our
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 daily life and
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 works in his
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 world right now.
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 That's how it
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 happens.
00:31:35 --> 00:31:37 The Holy Spirit
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 is essential
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 for that work.
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 The late
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 theologian Jim
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 Packer puts the
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 importance of the
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 Spirit of God for
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 the Christian
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 disciple like
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 this.
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 If you neglect
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 the Spirit,
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 you lose your
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 focus on the
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 fellowship with
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 Christ that he
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 creates.
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 The renewal of
00:31:57 --> 00:32:00 character that he
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 affects.
00:32:01 --> 00:32:03 The assurance and
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 the joy that he
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 evokes and the
00:32:06 --> 00:32:08 enabling of service
00:32:08 --> 00:32:10 that he bestows.
00:32:12 --> 00:32:14 Packer then goes
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 on to the
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 effects of the
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 person who ignores
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 the work of the
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 Spirit in their
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 life.
00:32:22 --> 00:32:24 And this may be a
00:32:24 --> 00:32:26 rebuke, so please
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 hear these words
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 from Packer.
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 You slip back
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 into orthodoxism
00:32:31 --> 00:32:33 and formalism,
00:32:33 --> 00:32:35 getting stuck in a
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 religion of
00:32:35 --> 00:32:37 aspiration and
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 perspiration
00:32:38 --> 00:32:40 without either
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 inspiration or
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 transformation.
00:32:43 --> 00:32:45 The religion of
00:32:45 --> 00:32:47 low expectations,
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 deep ruts and
00:32:49 --> 00:32:52 grooves that
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 become in the
00:32:53 --> 00:32:55 end graves.
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 Our key
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 objective for the
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 next five years
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 is to see 65%
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 of St.
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 Paul's identifying
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 much growth in
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 the faith.
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 As I said last
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 week, a devotional
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 life of more than
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 four a week is
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 absolutely essential
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 to that growth.
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 That is,
00:33:16 --> 00:33:18 without that,
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 how on earth
00:33:19 --> 00:33:21 is God going to
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 mediate his
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 presence in your
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 life.
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 He has given
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 you a resource
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 that he might
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 dwell with you
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 day by day in
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 all the complexity
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 of life.
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 But these
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 objectives are
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 not about you
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 pulling up your
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 socks and sweating
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 a lot harder,
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 a bit more
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 perspiration, a bit
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 more effort.
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 They are about
00:33:44 --> 00:33:46 bringing you to a
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 point and us as a
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 point as a church
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 to say, we
00:33:49 --> 00:33:51 cannot do this
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 by ourselves.
00:33:53 --> 00:33:55 It should force
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 us back into
00:33:56 --> 00:33:58 every moment of
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 every day of
00:33:58 --> 00:34:00 total reliance
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 upon the Holy
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 Spirit.
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 Spirit.
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 And so what a
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 resource that we
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 have as disciples
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 of Jesus.
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 He has not
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 left us.
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 He's not just
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 giving us a
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 promise that one
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 day when you
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 die, there will
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 be some great
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 future for you.
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 He gives you a
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 promise now, the
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 future's now.
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 He gives you his
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 presence now.
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 So look to the
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 Spirit as your
00:34:22 --> 00:34:24 enabler to move
00:34:24 --> 00:34:26 out of, as
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 Packer says, a
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 Christian life of
00:34:28 --> 00:34:30 low expectations,
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 of religious
00:34:32 --> 00:34:36 effort, formalism,
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 ruts, grooves,
00:34:38 --> 00:34:40 so that in the
00:34:40 --> 00:34:42 end, it might not
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 be for your
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 grave.
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 Thank you.
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 Thank you.