“UPON THIS ROCK”
Matthew 16:13-18:
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
In this world in which we live there are great powers. Some of those powers are seen and some of those powers are unseen, but the mightiest of them are unseen.
In this world there are great military powers, great financial powers and great political powers. There are men with great persuasion powers, and great physical powers, but the greatest power on the earth is an unseen spiritual power know as “The Church of Jesus Christ.” When its people function as a New Testament Church, it is the greatest power on earth.
1 – THE PHRASE: In the Christian world “The Church” refers to a group of believers that gather together each Sunday to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.
These believers have been converted from living in the world for self to living in this world for the Lord.
All true believers have been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ and have personally and individually received Him into their hearts and lives.
There are many other activities during the week that many of the believers are involved in such as prayer meeting, Bible studies, visitation, youth meetings, music and many other gatherings.
However, to the world, the phrase, “The Church” may have a variety of meanings. For example in Australia, “The Church” is a rock group founded in 1980.
In London, “The Church” is a bar where friends gather to drink and party. They advertise over the web with this phrase, “The Church is a great place for a few drinks, a laugh, a dance and the chance to sing your heart out.”
Today, the word “Church” refers to many organization that claims to be a non-profit group.
-There are cult churches, where the true doctrines of God’s Word are twisted and scorned.
-There are satanic churches, where Satan is glorified and Jesus Christ mocked.
There are churches of all persuasions, fake churches, false churches, as well as faithful churches that are true to God’s Word.
Today, with the recent episodes of sexual abuse, infidelity and money scandals in many denominations, “The Church” does not necessarily have a good taste in the mouth of many people.
Therefore, it is vital that God’s children so live as to let the world know we are different. We must live the love of Jesus Christ.
Your friends do not picture our Church the way you do. You may think and say, we have a wonderful church. We have a wonderful choir. We have wonderful Sunday school teachers. We have a wonderful youth director and choir director. We have wonderful friends.
Your friends picture your church by the way you walk and talk, act and live.
The Church is not a building or a name. The Church is you. So let us talk about the people of the Church.
2 – THE PEOPLE: The word “Church,” in the Greek, means “called out” or “assembly.” The true Church is made up of blood washed believers who have been called out of the world, to assemble together in honor of God.
The church which brings glory to the Lord is comprised of those who love Jesus Christ and honor Him with their lives each week and each day. Within the “Church” are many that are spiritual and sadly, many that are carnal.
Within the Church one can find the greatest wisdom. Paul wrote in Colossians 1: 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
God wants you and me to bathe in His Scriptures, so we might know wisdom.
Paul also revealed that within the church can be great weakness: Read in First Corinthians 3:1 1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
The wisdom of the Church lies in the lives of those who seeks the Lord with all their hearts, studies with their minds and spends time in prayer and walk in God’s Word.
The weakness is found in those who are carnal: Those whose hearts are full of envy and strife, those who sow doubt and division and those who spend little time with the Lord.
Sadly, the unsaved world loves to look at the most carnal person that claims to be a Christian and then judge all believers in that church by that person.
That is why each true believer is admonished again and again in the Scriptures to honor God with their lives.
Remember, the Church is not a building, it is the people called out of this world, saved by grace, for God’s glory. It is the bride of Christ. It is God’s witness on this earth today.
The Church is to be a light in a dark world. The Church is to be comprised of those who are saved, surrendered, separated, sanctified and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 – THE PERCEPTION: The first time the word “Church” is used in the Bible is found in Matthew 16:13.
In this text we see three important thoughts of perception.
I – The Wonder of the Church,
II – The Worship of the Church,
III – The War of the Church,
I – THE WONDER OF THE CHURCH
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Why that seems like a simple question, yet in the days that Christ walked the earth, people had a difficult time believing that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, yea, God incarnate.
The disciples answered in verse 14, And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
True believers are taken back to think that the Jewish world, that should have known the prophecies and promises of God, simply did not know Him.
They were willing to say, that Jesus was the reincarnation from one of the great prophets like Elijah, for Jesus had the power to raise the dead.
They even compared Him to Jeremiah, because of His compassion and tears.
But, the religious world and the social world was not willing to yet believe that Jesus was God.
For a Church to bring honor to God, a church must recognize and understand who Jesus is.
Who He is to you will determine your faithfulness and service to Him. How much you love Him will determine the time you spend with Him and the service you give to Him.
In 1989 a man bought a picture in a yard sale for $4.00 in Adamstown, Pennsylvania. When he got it home, he was taken it apart and discovered one of the 500 original copies of the Declaration of Independence. He had it appraised and sold it for 2.4 million dollars in 1991.
The person that sold it in the yard sale had no idea that right under his nose was a fortune and he allowed another man to become rich at his lost.
The application is this: The beauty of Jesus Christ has become obscured by wrong pictures spoken by human voices and wrong books written by human hands.
But, to anyone who will take the Word of God seriously and look into it, they will find the original Jesus, who changes and empowers lives.
Jesus is God. He is the creator of the universe.
Before the first Cherub ever fluttered a wing, Jesus was.
He hung the stars in space and named them one by one.
He created the billions of angels and every particle of life.
Jesus is the Messiah of whom 456 prophecies were fulfilled in His first coming.
Jesus is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.
Jesus is the beloved of God and our blessed redeemer.
Jesus is the Christ, the Cornerstone of the Church.
Jesus is our deliverer.
He is the eternal Father, our everlasting life.
Jesus is God. Jesus is good, Jesus is great, Jesus is gracious.
Jesus is holy and honorable. He is heavens light.
Jesus is God incarnate. He is invincible and absolutely incredible.
Jesus is the Joy of man’s desire.
Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Jesus is the maker of heaven and earth, the master of the universe.
Jesus is notorious and has a name above all names.
Jesus is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscience.
Yes, He was born of a virgin. Yes, He was sinless. Yes, He touched the eyes of the blind and gave them sight.
Yes, He healed the lepers and gave strength to the cripple to walk again.
Yes, He walked upon the waters and calmed the storms.
Yes, He wept and He raised the dead.
Yes, He allowed man to crucified and bury Him in a tomb.
Yes, He descended into hell.
And yes, He conquered hell and the grave and rose again.
I can tell you all day who Jesus is to me and you may marvel at that, but not until he becomes your “all in all” will the world marvel at you.
Not until He becomes your best friend, will your friends know that He is your best friend.
Not until He becomes your Savior will be know He is your Savior.
Not until He becomes your Lord, will people know He is your Lord.
If you want a relationship that will make the world wonder, get to know my Jesus.
He will make the sun shine on a cloudy day.
He will give you joy in the midst of sorrow.
He will make you laugh when the rest of the world is crying.
He will give you a love that the world can’t take away.
The Wonder of the Church belongs to those who truly wonder after Jesus Christ.
II – THE WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
If you go to play a ballgame or go to the gym, you go to exercise your physical abilities. When you go to church you go to exercise your spirit.
When Peter answered the Lord, you can sense his excitement. You can hear as he raises his voice with great joy and proclaims, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
His answer did not come because he heard someone else say it. He did not read it in a book. It came from God. It came from his mind, his heart, his soul, his spirit, for he had been examining the life of Christ.
Do you worship Christ? Does the fact that He is the Messiah, the Savor of your soul excite you? It should!
Worship comes from the heart of the beholder. Some folks worship life. Some folks worship self.
But, to those who worship Christ, the greatest blessings come and it is truly evident to all who live near that person.
The church must be built around the beauty of Jesus Christ.
-Songs must lift Him up.
-When a song is sung, Christ should be praised, not a person, not a people.
When a sermon is preached, Christ should be lifted up.
-Christ should be seen, not a person, not a preacher.
-May the Father, through his Spirit reveal to our hearts the beauty of Jesus Christ!
Worshipping Christ is spiritual. Jesus told the woman at the well that the day is coming when they that truly worship God will worship Him in spirit and truth.
God’s Spirit is holy. Thus, true worship transpires in the heart of those whose hearts are pure and clean.
It takes place in the hearts of those who are humble in spirit and hate sin.
True worship comes to those hunger and thirst after righteousness.
True worship takes place in the hearts of those whose motives in coming to church is to see God and not to be seen by man.
True worship takes place when the cares of this world are set aside and our eyes are filled with He who is mighty, magnificent and marvelous.
True worship takes our minds to Calvary and true worship sets our sights on the soon coming of our Lord.
True Worship honors God. True Worship changes us.
True Worship heals our hearts and our homes.
III THE WAR
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Before the Church was ever birthed, Jesus warned that there would be a war.
Who will be fighting against you that are saved? Satan and his cohorts from hell!
The weapons of are warfare must be put on individually.
I can’t wear your armour and you can’t wear mind. Every individual believer must dress in God’s armour if he is to win.
Look at Ephesians 6:11, Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. God says to stand you must dress in His military uniform. That uniform is spiritual
The war we fight is not human, but spiritual.
It is not with what we can see but with what we can’t see. Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
The armour is a must if we are to have victory. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Victory will then come:
1-- Victory comes to those who wrap their lives in truth and live righteously. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
2-- Victory comes to those who have a good foundation. 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
3-- Victory comes to those who live by faith, walk by faith, yea those who trust in the Lord and His Word with all their hearts for the doubt wiles of Satan will not penetrate their shield of faith. 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
4-- Victory comes to those who have the assurance of the Salvation, Who have memorized God’s Word is knows how to use it against the attacks of Satan. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
5-- Victory comes to those who understand that each piece must be put on with prayer. 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
The churches that will be in the greatest war are the churches that build upon the principles and precepts of God’s Word.
Those that worship truly and witness openly, Satan will attack.
Remember that the true Church is spiritual.
Everything about the true Church is spiritual.
The love that last is spiritual.
The life that brings glory to God is spiritual.
Therefore, Satan wants to destroy the Church’s spiritual relationship with the Lord.
He plots and plans to take away your devotional life, your prayer life, and your personal and private time with God.
He messes with your mind and poisons your heart.
Jesus wants the believers to understand that we are soldiers for Christ and Satan has declared war on Christ’s church.
Listen: The reason we gather together often is multifold:
1 – We gather to honor Jesus Christ.
2 – We gather to worship the Lord.
3 – We gather to sing praises to Him.
4 – We gather for sweet fellowship.
5 – We gather to learn our gifts and sharpen our lives and gain knowledge.
6 – We gather to equip the saints for the daily wars we face.
7 – We gather to pray and intercede for our children and friends who are lost and on their way to hell.
8 – We gather to exalt Christ and no man.
9 – We gather to grow spiritually, to unite our families and to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.
10 – Jesus is why we gather together.
Satan will sow doubt, depression and discouragement in your life.
He will attack your mind then he will stomp on your heart.
I promise you, if you stay close to God you won’t fall. And I promise you if you don’t, you will fall. And when you fall, your family will fall with you.
How do you win? James gives us the answer.
James 4: 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
When we are humble towards God, God has first place in our life. We surrender and submit to live a life pleasing to Him.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
This is a verse on victory. Josh Hamilton was a young man who was the greatest baseball player in America. His family went to church and Josh was a good kid. He never smoked, drank, cussed or ran with the wrong crowd. One day he went to his uncle and aunts house for he was under conviction. He said, there were a lot of people in church, but my uncle and aunt were different. They were Christian. There, he ask about salvation and there he invited Christ into his life. When he graduated from High School, he was given a 3.96 million dollar singing bonus in baseball.
Then, came Satan. He was injured. He couldn’t play for a while. His idle mind would soon become Satan’s workshop. Bars, alcohol and cocaine became his life style. In three years, he spent 3.96 million dollars on a big party. His lies and deception left him friendless and homeless. He went to his grandmother’s house. She took him in and begin to feed him and gave him a bible to read. Josh memorizes James 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
He quoted this verse over and over and over. That was a beginning of a long trip back to God and to life. Today, he is living for the Lord and giving Him honor.
I tell you this story so you will know, you are no match for Satan.
Whether you are a Christian or not you will fall if you don’t submit and surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
You may never take crack cocaine or alcohol in your body, but the any unconfessed sin will start you down a trail of no return.
Sin will take you father than you want to go. It will keep you longer than you want to stay. And it will cost you far more than you want to pay.
Continue with James 4:8.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Taking time for God begins with humility. We realize our time is God’s time. We realize we should draw near to Him daily. And when we do, we will clean our hands. That means we will make things right with our family, friends, neighbors and enemies.
“Purify your hearts,” means we will make things right with God. You see, to have wrong feelings towards someone or to have sin in our heart and claim to be right with God is to be double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
James is saying, the key to winning the war with Satan is to hate his fruits. His fruits are sinful. Pride is ugly, greed is wicked, sin is a cancer. Mourn and weep over your sins. Then God will give you joy.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
You don’t have the ability to lift yourself up. The philosophies of the world want you to blame your parents, your friends, your peers, society, government and even your genes when you fail. You see, man’s humanistic psychology says, that you were born basically good and society make you fail. God says, nobody is responsible for your failure but you, and until you admit that, you begin at no beginning and your end is horrible. So, don’t blame another…
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
First Timothy 1: 18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
Thursday, January 22, 2009
THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT (1-9)
Isaiah 44:1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
We will examine three thoughts in the passage:
1 – THE MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Isaiah 44:3 reads, “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:”
Many in Israel waited for the day when the Messiah would come and set up His Kingdom on earth. Others knew when He came He would take away the sins of the world.
John the Baptist said, “Behold the lamb of God who shall take away the sins of the world.”
Simeon was an old man, but a godly man who gave his life to wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus. When he saw him, he turned his head towards heaven and said to God, “My eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:30).
Anna, a widow of 84 years of age saw the Lord and gave praise to the Lord and prophesied that He would be the redeemer of Israel.
The Angel that appeared to Joseph and said, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
Mary said, “…my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.”
When Christ came, many people recognized Him, but most did not. Jesus Christ was not crowned King of the Jews but was crucified and became the Savior of the world and the bridegroom of the Church.
**He will yet in the future come again. When He does, he will then set up His kingdom.
He will come in two events separated by seven years.
He will come in the rapture of the church and in the revelation.
At the first of the Tribulation the betroth Church will be taken to heaven. There we will be purified and dressed in His righteousness.
John speaks of the celebration in Revelation 19:7. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Seven years after the rapture, the Church will return to this earth with the Lord. At that time He will reveal Himself to the world as the Christ, the Judge, the Savior of the world, King of kings and Lord of lords.
At that time Isaiah 44:3 will take place in its fullness.
As the Lord came to betroth (promise of marriage) His Church 2,000 years ago. And the consummation of that betrothing period will not take place until He returns. So, the promise of the fullness of the Spirit began at Pentecost but will not fully be consummated until the future, partially in the Tribulation and completely in the Millennium.
To understand this completely two Scriptures need to be examined: Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:16-21.
Joel 2: 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. Acts 2: 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Notice four very important thoughts that place the fullness of these Scriptures in the future:
1) God said He would pour out His Spirit on all flesh. At Pentecost His Spirit was poured out on 120 and then on 3,000. After that whosoever received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, was given God’s Spirit.
A believer is given the earnest of God’s spirit, today. (II Corinthians 1:22) 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Earnest money seals the deal, but it is full payment. When we receive Christ, we are sealed until the day of redemption, but the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy is in the future.
2) There is a future day when all of God’s children will be given the spirit in such a way that our sons and daughters will be given prophetic messages. The young men will be given visions and the old men will dream dreams.
Now listen to and understand this prophetic scripture that will take place in the Millennium. Isaiah 11:9 “…the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
In Old Testament days, the Word of God was spread by the patriarchs, the prophets and the priest through the preaching and proclaiming of God’s Word.
In New Testament days, which are the days we are living in, the Word has been spread through the spoken word and the written word.
But, it seems that during the Millennium, the Word of God will be placed in His children lives by the Holy Spirit through visions and dreams, for the knowledge of His Word will cover this world as the water cover the sea.
Many folks I know have given themselves to memorizing the Scriptures and that is great and should be done. I remember someone asking me, “How do you memorize Scripture?” I said, just put your Bible under your pillow and when you wake up the next morning, you will have memorized Scripture.” Well, you know that is not true. Today, you must read it over and over and over and quote it again and again and again. And after you memorize it, a few months later, you forget it and you have to rememorize it.
Well, during the Millennium, it seems as if God’s Word will come to people supernaturally. The Old men will but go to sleep and God will put in their minds great and wonderful truths that they never studied.
The young children will have such innocent hearts that they will speak prophecy. They will be able to tell what will happen in the near future and young men will be see visions of tomorrow and they will share that with their families and others.
3) A third truth that places the fullness of the Spirit, yet in the future is Joel 2:31. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. That has not happened yet. The moon turning blood red and the sun going black will take place during the Tribulation in Revelation 16.
4) Lastly, a prophecy in both Joel’s account and Peter’s account in Acts is prevalent today and will be during the tribulation and future. Joel 2:32 or Acts 2:21 reads, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (delivered).”
Because of the working of God’s Spirit today as well as future here is what a person must do to be saved:
1 - A person must see themselves a sinner and the need of salvation
2 – A person must believe the story of salvation.
3 – A person must repent. They must change their minds about life.
4 – A person must be pricked in the heart or convicted by God’s Spirit.
5 – That person must humbly and earnestly cry out to God from their hearts asking to be forgiven for their sins, and delivered from hell and saved for God’s glory.
It isn’t the exact words one prays, but the humble, broken condition of a man’s heart when he cries to the Lord that will save that person.
II – THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The ministry of the Holy Spirit today is numerous.
1 – He convicts of sin people’s needs of salvation and fellowship.
John 16: 7 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.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Remember that “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). With that verse in mind know also that the Bible, in written text was not readily available for people till the fifteenth century and then only a hand full.
Whereas we need to hear the reading, teaching and preaching of God’s word, we need to read it personally for ourselves to increase our faith.
2 – He indwells the believer and gives the fruit of the Spirit. Here is the difference in how God’s Spirit deals with a lost person and a saved person (Romans 8:9).
The Spirit convicts the lost to come to Christ and be saved.
He reproves the believer to give himself to God’s Word.
The believer is admonished to “Abide in Christ.” Meditate on God’s Word. As we abide in Christ and think on His word, we become like Christ. His likeness in us comes from our abiding in His Word. (John 15).
3 – He comforts the saints. He gives us peace and consolation no matter how bad things seem to get (Acts 9:31).
4 – He seals us for heaven and fills us with power (Eph 4:30).
5 – He anoints God’s children in service (1 John 2:27).
III – THE MOVING OF GOD’S SPIRIT
TURN TO JOHN 16:13-15 and notice four final thoughts on the work of God’s Spirit:
I - THE PURPOSE OF GOD’S SPIRIT:
John 16: 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
His purpose is to bring glory to Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit is like floodlights on a building. If you drive by a beautiful house or building that has flood lights on it at night, you see the building, but you don’t see the lights. That is the work of God’s Spirit today. He shows forth the glory of Jesus Christ. He is not seen.
That is a picture of a spirit filled person. They don’t need to be seen. They don’t want to be seen. If they can use their gift for God’s glory, they simply want the Lord Jesus Christ to receive that glory. If our purpose in singing, teaching, preaching, serving, giving is to be seen, we lack the fullness of God’s spirit in our lives.
II - THE POWER OF GOD’S SPIRIT:
The power of God’s Spirit is like the function of a dam. The doors of the dam must be open so water can run through the dam; turning the turbines that generates electricity. If the water can’t go through the dam there will be no power and no lights for anybody.
Sin locks the doors and prevents them from opening. Once we confess our sins and fill our hearts and minds with God’s word, the water of His Word begins to slowly turn the turbines. The more water we let in, the more power is given to our family and friends and this world.
It takes the power of God’s spirit to change us and remake us.
III- THE POURING OUT OF GOD’S SPIRIT:
Romans 15: 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
One preacher used greatly of God in America in the late 1800’s was a man by the name of D.L. Moody. He only had a sixth grade education. But, he read and studied and was determined to be successful in life. He became a shoe salesman and a good on. Then he got saved. He began studying the Bible. He went to the preacher of his church and ask if he could teach Sunday school. The preacher said, “We have plenty of teachers, what we need is students. So, Moody went out and brought in people to teach.
One day he overheard someone say, “What would God do with a man totally surrendered to Him.” Mr. Moody said, “I’ll be that man” and God greatly used him.
When he went to England to preach, an elderly pastor denounced his coming. “Why do we need this ‘Mr. Moody’?” said the pastor. “He’s uneducated and inexperienced. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?”
A younger, wiser pastor rose and responded, “No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody.
The power of God on a person’s life comes from how much time they surrender to Him and how much they meditate on the Scripture. Walking in the will of God, yielding our actions and attitudes to being like Christ, is all part of receiving the pouring out of God’s Spirit.
D. L. Moody said, “I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and our own ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s Word, then the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God.
We must be emptied before we can be filled.”
Today, for the Spirit of God to overwhelm a person that person must hunger and thirst after God, His Word and righteousness.
IV- THE PROVING OF GOD’S SPIRIT:
It is seen in one who gives himself to the scripture, the church and prayer. It doesn’t come by the asking but by abiding.
In a dormitory room were four young men. They all had the same test the next day. Three of them studied diligently for the test. The other young man was a Christian, he decided to spend hours in prayer, asking God to endow him so he might do well on the test. After the test, the three young men that studied made a B and two C’s. The young man who prayed for hours and ask for a miracle from God made an F.
God Spirit does not empower us because we ask but because we abide, meditate, memorize and hunger and thirst after Him then ask.
Look at Isaiah 44:3 again. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:”
I have often heard parents say, “I want to give my children what I never had.” Well, there it is! Give your children the blessings of God. Give your children a mom and dad filled with the Spirit of the living God.
Twenty-five years ago I heard an evangelist gives this illustration. He said a man in India came to a Guru seeking to know God.
The Guru ask the man how much he wanted to know God. The man said, I want to know Him more than anything in the world. The Guru told the man to follow him. He went down by a body and water and walked waste deep. The younger man followed. He said again, “How much do you want to know God?” The younger man replied. “With all my heart.”
The Guru grab the man, lifted him off his feet and put his head under water for about a minute. The man came up grasping for breath. The Guru asked, “Do you want to know God?” “Yes,” cried the younger man. Again, the Guru put the man’s head under water for over a minute. When the young man came up he was grasping for air.
The guru said, “Do you want to know God?” “Yes! Yes!” cried the young man.
The guru said, “When you want to know God as much as you want to breath, only then will you get to know Him.
When I heard that story, I thought, “Wow, that is an amazing story.” Over twenty-five years I have discovered that to be true.
A lot of folks want to live close enough to God as to just get along in life without getting in trouble.
But, for those who really want to know God; that person must hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Psalms 42; 1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
Everything in life will be different if you ever come to that place where you hunger and thirst after the Lord.
Have you ever been physically hungry and you began looking in the house for something to eat. Maybe you saw something you didn’t think you liked, but you ate it, and you liked it and developed a taste for it. And you ate more and more and more.
That will happen to you if you begin eating of God’s Word and drinking from God’s fountain.
Song:
Like the woman at the well I was seeking for things that could not satisfy:
And then I heard my Savior speaking: "Draw from my well that never shall run dry".
Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord! Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
There are millions in this world who are craving. The pleasures earthly things afford; But none can match the wondrous treasure, That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
So, my brother, if the things this world gave you Leave hungers that won't pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you, If you kneel to Him and humbly pray:
5 One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Galatians 3: 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them.
8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isaiah 44:1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
We will examine three thoughts in the passage:
1 – THE MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Isaiah 44:3 reads, “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:”
Many in Israel waited for the day when the Messiah would come and set up His Kingdom on earth. Others knew when He came He would take away the sins of the world.
John the Baptist said, “Behold the lamb of God who shall take away the sins of the world.”
Simeon was an old man, but a godly man who gave his life to wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus. When he saw him, he turned his head towards heaven and said to God, “My eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:30).
Anna, a widow of 84 years of age saw the Lord and gave praise to the Lord and prophesied that He would be the redeemer of Israel.
The Angel that appeared to Joseph and said, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
Mary said, “…my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.”
When Christ came, many people recognized Him, but most did not. Jesus Christ was not crowned King of the Jews but was crucified and became the Savior of the world and the bridegroom of the Church.
**He will yet in the future come again. When He does, he will then set up His kingdom.
He will come in two events separated by seven years.
He will come in the rapture of the church and in the revelation.
At the first of the Tribulation the betroth Church will be taken to heaven. There we will be purified and dressed in His righteousness.
John speaks of the celebration in Revelation 19:7. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Seven years after the rapture, the Church will return to this earth with the Lord. At that time He will reveal Himself to the world as the Christ, the Judge, the Savior of the world, King of kings and Lord of lords.
At that time Isaiah 44:3 will take place in its fullness.
As the Lord came to betroth (promise of marriage) His Church 2,000 years ago. And the consummation of that betrothing period will not take place until He returns. So, the promise of the fullness of the Spirit began at Pentecost but will not fully be consummated until the future, partially in the Tribulation and completely in the Millennium.
To understand this completely two Scriptures need to be examined: Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:16-21.
Joel 2: 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. Acts 2: 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Notice four very important thoughts that place the fullness of these Scriptures in the future:
1) God said He would pour out His Spirit on all flesh. At Pentecost His Spirit was poured out on 120 and then on 3,000. After that whosoever received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, was given God’s Spirit.
A believer is given the earnest of God’s spirit, today. (II Corinthians 1:22) 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Earnest money seals the deal, but it is full payment. When we receive Christ, we are sealed until the day of redemption, but the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy is in the future.
2) There is a future day when all of God’s children will be given the spirit in such a way that our sons and daughters will be given prophetic messages. The young men will be given visions and the old men will dream dreams.
Now listen to and understand this prophetic scripture that will take place in the Millennium. Isaiah 11:9 “…the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
In Old Testament days, the Word of God was spread by the patriarchs, the prophets and the priest through the preaching and proclaiming of God’s Word.
In New Testament days, which are the days we are living in, the Word has been spread through the spoken word and the written word.
But, it seems that during the Millennium, the Word of God will be placed in His children lives by the Holy Spirit through visions and dreams, for the knowledge of His Word will cover this world as the water cover the sea.
Many folks I know have given themselves to memorizing the Scriptures and that is great and should be done. I remember someone asking me, “How do you memorize Scripture?” I said, just put your Bible under your pillow and when you wake up the next morning, you will have memorized Scripture.” Well, you know that is not true. Today, you must read it over and over and over and quote it again and again and again. And after you memorize it, a few months later, you forget it and you have to rememorize it.
Well, during the Millennium, it seems as if God’s Word will come to people supernaturally. The Old men will but go to sleep and God will put in their minds great and wonderful truths that they never studied.
The young children will have such innocent hearts that they will speak prophecy. They will be able to tell what will happen in the near future and young men will be see visions of tomorrow and they will share that with their families and others.
3) A third truth that places the fullness of the Spirit, yet in the future is Joel 2:31. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. That has not happened yet. The moon turning blood red and the sun going black will take place during the Tribulation in Revelation 16.
4) Lastly, a prophecy in both Joel’s account and Peter’s account in Acts is prevalent today and will be during the tribulation and future. Joel 2:32 or Acts 2:21 reads, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (delivered).”
Because of the working of God’s Spirit today as well as future here is what a person must do to be saved:
1 - A person must see themselves a sinner and the need of salvation
2 – A person must believe the story of salvation.
3 – A person must repent. They must change their minds about life.
4 – A person must be pricked in the heart or convicted by God’s Spirit.
5 – That person must humbly and earnestly cry out to God from their hearts asking to be forgiven for their sins, and delivered from hell and saved for God’s glory.
It isn’t the exact words one prays, but the humble, broken condition of a man’s heart when he cries to the Lord that will save that person.
II – THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The ministry of the Holy Spirit today is numerous.
1 – He convicts of sin people’s needs of salvation and fellowship.
John 16: 7 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.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Remember that “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). With that verse in mind know also that the Bible, in written text was not readily available for people till the fifteenth century and then only a hand full.
Whereas we need to hear the reading, teaching and preaching of God’s word, we need to read it personally for ourselves to increase our faith.
2 – He indwells the believer and gives the fruit of the Spirit. Here is the difference in how God’s Spirit deals with a lost person and a saved person (Romans 8:9).
The Spirit convicts the lost to come to Christ and be saved.
He reproves the believer to give himself to God’s Word.
The believer is admonished to “Abide in Christ.” Meditate on God’s Word. As we abide in Christ and think on His word, we become like Christ. His likeness in us comes from our abiding in His Word. (John 15).
3 – He comforts the saints. He gives us peace and consolation no matter how bad things seem to get (Acts 9:31).
4 – He seals us for heaven and fills us with power (Eph 4:30).
5 – He anoints God’s children in service (1 John 2:27).
III – THE MOVING OF GOD’S SPIRIT
TURN TO JOHN 16:13-15 and notice four final thoughts on the work of God’s Spirit:
I - THE PURPOSE OF GOD’S SPIRIT:
John 16: 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
His purpose is to bring glory to Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit is like floodlights on a building. If you drive by a beautiful house or building that has flood lights on it at night, you see the building, but you don’t see the lights. That is the work of God’s Spirit today. He shows forth the glory of Jesus Christ. He is not seen.
That is a picture of a spirit filled person. They don’t need to be seen. They don’t want to be seen. If they can use their gift for God’s glory, they simply want the Lord Jesus Christ to receive that glory. If our purpose in singing, teaching, preaching, serving, giving is to be seen, we lack the fullness of God’s spirit in our lives.
II - THE POWER OF GOD’S SPIRIT:
The power of God’s Spirit is like the function of a dam. The doors of the dam must be open so water can run through the dam; turning the turbines that generates electricity. If the water can’t go through the dam there will be no power and no lights for anybody.
Sin locks the doors and prevents them from opening. Once we confess our sins and fill our hearts and minds with God’s word, the water of His Word begins to slowly turn the turbines. The more water we let in, the more power is given to our family and friends and this world.
It takes the power of God’s spirit to change us and remake us.
III- THE POURING OUT OF GOD’S SPIRIT:
Romans 15: 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
One preacher used greatly of God in America in the late 1800’s was a man by the name of D.L. Moody. He only had a sixth grade education. But, he read and studied and was determined to be successful in life. He became a shoe salesman and a good on. Then he got saved. He began studying the Bible. He went to the preacher of his church and ask if he could teach Sunday school. The preacher said, “We have plenty of teachers, what we need is students. So, Moody went out and brought in people to teach.
One day he overheard someone say, “What would God do with a man totally surrendered to Him.” Mr. Moody said, “I’ll be that man” and God greatly used him.
When he went to England to preach, an elderly pastor denounced his coming. “Why do we need this ‘Mr. Moody’?” said the pastor. “He’s uneducated and inexperienced. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?”
A younger, wiser pastor rose and responded, “No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody.
The power of God on a person’s life comes from how much time they surrender to Him and how much they meditate on the Scripture. Walking in the will of God, yielding our actions and attitudes to being like Christ, is all part of receiving the pouring out of God’s Spirit.
D. L. Moody said, “I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and our own ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s Word, then the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God.
We must be emptied before we can be filled.”
Today, for the Spirit of God to overwhelm a person that person must hunger and thirst after God, His Word and righteousness.
IV- THE PROVING OF GOD’S SPIRIT:
It is seen in one who gives himself to the scripture, the church and prayer. It doesn’t come by the asking but by abiding.
In a dormitory room were four young men. They all had the same test the next day. Three of them studied diligently for the test. The other young man was a Christian, he decided to spend hours in prayer, asking God to endow him so he might do well on the test. After the test, the three young men that studied made a B and two C’s. The young man who prayed for hours and ask for a miracle from God made an F.
God Spirit does not empower us because we ask but because we abide, meditate, memorize and hunger and thirst after Him then ask.
Look at Isaiah 44:3 again. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:”
I have often heard parents say, “I want to give my children what I never had.” Well, there it is! Give your children the blessings of God. Give your children a mom and dad filled with the Spirit of the living God.
Twenty-five years ago I heard an evangelist gives this illustration. He said a man in India came to a Guru seeking to know God.
The Guru ask the man how much he wanted to know God. The man said, I want to know Him more than anything in the world. The Guru told the man to follow him. He went down by a body and water and walked waste deep. The younger man followed. He said again, “How much do you want to know God?” The younger man replied. “With all my heart.”
The Guru grab the man, lifted him off his feet and put his head under water for about a minute. The man came up grasping for breath. The Guru asked, “Do you want to know God?” “Yes,” cried the younger man. Again, the Guru put the man’s head under water for over a minute. When the young man came up he was grasping for air.
The guru said, “Do you want to know God?” “Yes! Yes!” cried the young man.
The guru said, “When you want to know God as much as you want to breath, only then will you get to know Him.
When I heard that story, I thought, “Wow, that is an amazing story.” Over twenty-five years I have discovered that to be true.
A lot of folks want to live close enough to God as to just get along in life without getting in trouble.
But, for those who really want to know God; that person must hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Psalms 42; 1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
Everything in life will be different if you ever come to that place where you hunger and thirst after the Lord.
Have you ever been physically hungry and you began looking in the house for something to eat. Maybe you saw something you didn’t think you liked, but you ate it, and you liked it and developed a taste for it. And you ate more and more and more.
That will happen to you if you begin eating of God’s Word and drinking from God’s fountain.
Song:
Like the woman at the well I was seeking for things that could not satisfy:
And then I heard my Savior speaking: "Draw from my well that never shall run dry".
Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord! Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
There are millions in this world who are craving. The pleasures earthly things afford; But none can match the wondrous treasure, That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
So, my brother, if the things this world gave you Leave hungers that won't pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you, If you kneel to Him and humbly pray:
5 One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Galatians 3: 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them.
8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
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