Holy Spirit II

Spirit and I want to deal with this question

Why are we who are dead in our sin brought back to life through the spirit?

Just want to start there and this will continue over the next two weeks to I think guys one of the reasons

You and I are brought back to life and please understand that you've been brought back to life

if if God hadn't done that we'd be dying in our sin and we'd be

Dead for the rest of eternity in terms of our separation from God what has happened is colossal

We don't realize how colossal it is that you and I have been brought back to life from the dead

You thought Lazarus was a miracle

That is sheer power at work here power at work and great sacrifice where Jacob has been brought back from the dead

And why have I been brought back from the dead?

One of the reasons I've been brought back from the dead but by the spirit and please understand that

Very clearly the Bible says it is the spirit of God who raised Christ from the dead

Let me say that again Romans chapter 8. It is the spirit of God who raised Christ from the dead

Romans 8 · chapter mention

It is the spirit of God who has raised the way from the dead

It is the spirit of God that has raised Marcus from the dead. It is the spirit of God that has raised me from the dead

He has raised us from the dead the whole idea of baptism

When you come out of the water raised from the dead by the spirit of God

And why does the spirit of God raises from the dead?

Yes, and the reason he does that is because he wants us to live the life of heaven here on earth a

People not just individuals. Yes

He is life as Wayne is saying we are brought back to life by the spirit

So that we may live the life of heaven on earth so that we may live the life of heaven on earth

Live the life of heaven on earth

Now

By that I don't mean prosperity and happy happy that's not what I mean by that

But please understand that Eden was a place where man was

Supposed to have lived a certain way and God is restoring Eden and we'll talk about that some more later

But the point is this guys like Philippi remember Philippi was in Greece

we heard this some time ago Philippi was in Greece Philippi was a city in Greece and

because they took

Brutus and whoever else messed around with Caesar and

Released them back to the Romans when they hid in Philippi the Romans conferred on Philippi

Roman citizenship and so Philippi was a city in Greece that had

Roman citizenship and was a Roman colony

This is why Paul keeps talking about

Citizenship of heaven in the book of Philippians because he knew the Philippians would get it it keeps

Reminding them hey your citizens of another kingdom your citizens of heaven and the Philippians would have immediately got it because they were the only

city in Greece

That had Roman citizenship and were a Roman colony

so in the middle of Greece was a Roman colony with Roman citizens and

It is the same with us and the sooner we begin to

Marry let that marinate in us as soon as we again walk in awareness

That one of the reasons the Spirit of God has raised a people is so that they can become a colony of heaven here on earth a

colony of heaven here on earth a

colony of heaven here on earth

citizens of a kingdom here on earth

Who have a different nature who have a different way of responding to things and

who have who display a hope that is ridiculous in a world that is dark a

I'm not preaching I'm teaching

Though it sounds preaching

The whole idea of the colony of heaven here on earth is so that a people

Can display a nature that is different from the kingdoms of the world?

Where there is no shaming other?

Motorists

Where our response to situations is different because we hail from a different kingdom

and

Where our hope in this small circumstances is different unlike the world

And so this local body is a small part of that colony of heaven here on earth and

Remember we said this last week and this is very important the ultimate goal of

Salvation is to create a people for the name of God and for him to dwell in let me say that again

The ultimate intent of salvation is

To create a people of God who carry his name and in whom they can he can dwell

That is the ultimate intent of salvation the ultimate intent of salvation is not to go to heaven

the ultimate intent of salvation is to form a

people who are called by his name and in whom he

Dwells you get saved individually

but the intent of salvation is to become a

body

First Corinthians 12 13 we are baptized into a body

This is why sometimes we have to question is it possible for you to continue being a Christian?

Sitting in front of a TV and watching a church service for the next 10 years

Is it even possible to exist unless there is a reason why you're shut in or

When you're not able to move around is it even possible? I'm not saying it is not possible

Posing the question is it even possible for a Christian to exist as an individual?

Christian for the next five ten years

Biblically it's not sound

But there may be reasons okay, so I'm not saying a Christian does not attend church is not a Christian

I'm saying the question needs to be asked though

So

As we said last time and I just repeated it God is not simply saving individuals and preparing them for heaven

The goal of salvation is creating a people for his name among whom he can dwell

Creating a people for his name among whom he can dwell and Acts 29 has got the hang of it

I was telling Eric two days ago that somehow this body has gotten the hang of the body

It's very hard to get the hang of it, but you have

Very little infighting here, and that's not because we are small numbers you can have infighting in four people

Not very little almost no infighting here, I hardly hear of any infighting in this house

Sorry other than coming out of the house

Sorry other than Kamala me yeah

Guys God's desire, I just listened to his desire his desire is that in our life together

We will reproduce his life and character

His desire is that in our life together, and this is the desire for your small family unit to

His desire is that in your small family unit at home?

You will live life together and you will let him reproduce his character even though you're very diverse

Even though you're very diverse I mean

Take the duac family or take the cable family or take the store boards

Each of them is so different from the other

I mean

Ranita and Maurice and the two boys are so different from each other and yet the intent is that in that family unit life

Happens together not as individuals life happens together

Diversity in unity whereby the character of God may be reproduced that is God's desire for us

So for us also as acts 29

And we talked about this in the last Bible study

But my giftings and graces and talents are completely different from Wayne's

I mean, I don't even like some of Wayne's talents and graces

He he likes digging trenches to make people come together or building fences which have

Absolutely no interest for me

But that doesn't mean that because his talent of grace or gifting is different from mine that I do not allow it one of

The things that a pastor has to be careful of is on one hand the house is built around some of the graces

Present in his life on the other hand his grace and giftings can become the

Plum line by which the rest of the church has to operate and that is dangerous because now your diverse gifts are no longer

given room

Yeah, because Jacob does not like this. I mean let's take for instance

James is rapper Jade that's his

Name for most of the week because he does a lot of rap all around the place. I dislike crap. So

If he begins to rap and because I don't like rap I can shut him down because that's not my cup of tea yet God

desperately wants diversity in the body

Because at the end of the day who gives him the skill to rap and who gives me the skill to do what I do same God

Why doesn't my entire body look like an elbow same God?

one body diverse parts

and

So the whole idea God's great desire for acts 29 maybe 26 or 260 is that guys?

May you live life together and in living life together may your diversity be

Being on display, but may you be

United living life together and then allow me to reproduce my character in you

So that first other churches may see it and then the city may see it

Deep desire God has and this is brought about by the Spirit

Why has the Spirit raised us from the dead so that we may begin to live the life of heaven here on?

Show them what it looks like

Not me not you us us us

This is why guys I keep going back to do not pull yourself out of the body dynamics of this church

I'm not talking about absence of presence that award has been taken by the meds for years. I'm talking about more than that I

Mean to see if it didn't give out awards for the same people who are winning it all the time, but I'm talking about

Yeah

Guys here's another thing that I'm I was really blessed by as I was

Preparing these notes one of the other reasons that we have been brought back to life

Or we have been redeemed

By the Spirit of God is so that listen to this song or see it too

So that we can live

the life of

the future

in

the

present

So that we can live the life of the future in the present. I'll explain that

So that we can live the life of the future in the present

See

Jesus said the kingdom is already come and yet we know it has not fully

Come so we're living in the present yet

We are citizens of the kingdom from the future that has already come please question me if you do not understand this

Jesus said

Now that I have come and now that I live in you the kingdom of God is in you

Meaning in this body right now sitting under this roof. There is a different kingdom operating a

different rule and reign operating let's assume that

What's his name?

Mitch Romney had won the election

Which means as on December 12th would be the handover

Had he won the election?

So we would now be saying if you were part of the White House

Some of you would be packing up stuff if you were in the Obama

administration and you would be packing up stuff to move while Mitch Romney's people will be packing in stuff to

Bring in because a new rule or a new reign of a new president was coming in

Some of the rooms would have already been emptied and Mitch Romney stuff would have been there

Saw the

Administrational duties would have already begun changing and some would have left why because a new kingdom was coming

But has it been completed? No, that will be completed on December 12th, but would it have already started?

Yes, things would be changing. Everything would be changing. It's a similar situation that has happened

Christ said my kingdom has already come and this is true the moment he arrived and he died and rose again a new kingdom

was inaugurated in Acts chapter 2 the power behind that kingdom came upon the earth the Spirit of God and

Acts 2 · chapter mention

Since then we've been living in the present, but we are already planning for December 12th when the kingdom will be

consummated

So in the present yes, there are realities that we struggle with but understand that one of the reasons the Spirit of God has raised

Us up is to live the life of the future or the kingdom that is to come already in the present for example

You may have been hurt terribly by somebody and you're finding it hard to forgive that is a reality of the present

You may be unwell in your body today. That is a reality of the present because we live in a fallen world

You may be someone who let me give you another example who

Are a person facing despair or you?

Things are happening in your life things haven't changed and there is despair in your life

That is a reality of the present but now look at what you're going to do

You're going to live the life of the future in the present

So here's how we live the life of the future in the present you have hurt me you have offended me

I'm finding it hard to forgive you, but because I belong to a different kingdom and a different king

who's very

essence of forgiveness I

Now stand in the present hurt offended deeply grieved and I exert a value of the kingdom that is to come and I say

Forgive you and the rest of the world watches and says he comes from a different kingdom

I'm he I'm sick in my body and I know that sickness in this

Kingdom has different ways to be solved, but I live by a

Future kingdom where I know that healing is perfect

And I also know that allowance has been made for healing now in the present

Through the world of God and through the stripes laid on Christ back

So I begin to live by a principle by the word by the power by the

Perfection of the future by bringing it into the present so that my body can be healed in the present and the world

Looks at me the churches look at me the city looks at me and says aha something strange here. It's a different kingdom

I'm in despair because I have been struggling through a situation for years and nothing has changed

It should break me to it should be like a snuffed out wick or a broken read and

Yet every time there's a downturn

There is something that begins to bring up hope in me because of the spirit of life in me the power-giving

Spirit and instead of despair and depression and this smell

Crumbling I keep rising up. I keep rising up

Why because the spirit of life in me begins to give me life and I live by the life of the future in the present

And the city watches and the church is watching they say different kingdom he belongs to

Please think like this begin to live like this

Because this is the reason you were saved so that God could form here on earth a people of God

Who are called by his name meaning have his authority and character and in whom he dwells?

So that he can show the community of believers outside and the city that here stands a man who operates

by the drums or by the

They follow the beat of a different drama

Guys if you receive the spirit at conversion

And I deliberately call it conversion because water turned into wine when you received Christ

if you received the spirit of God at conversion then

in your spirit

Divine perfection came in but in the rest of your life I suggest you divine infection came in you were divinely

infected in

Your spirit you became divinely perfect, but in the rest of you you have been divinely infected

You've been divinely infected divine perfection set in your spirit, but divine infection affected the rest of your life so

Think like this and as I ask this question see how your responses have you been

Invaded by the living God himself have you been invaded by the living God?

The true answer is yes, but usually we walk around like we don't know it

But have you been invaded by the living God just think of that guys

The God of the universe has taken up a dwelling in a people have you been invaded by the living God have you been?

Infected by the living God have you been made perfect in your spirit by the living God yet

Have you been invaded by the living God the powerful life-gain spirit has he invaded my life?

Yes, do I know it do I walk in its awareness usually know?

God invading this piece of earth

Have you been invaded in the living God

By the person of his spirit and what is his desire his desire is to infect you

Thoroughly with God's likeness. What is the intent of invasion?

What is the intent of invasion? Why did why did?

empires invade another Empire

One of the things that Rome used to do well one of the things that is still done quite well

One of the things that is still done quite well in different parts of the world is

They invade or infect a place with their own kind so that that nation becomes like them. I

Go to a place in Indonesia called Monado

Monado has a large

population of Christians a

large population of Christians

Isn't it wonderful when people have to look for seats to sit and it feels like ah, this is a church

That's running out of space. We should go to a smaller space than this. It'll make us feel better

Sorry, we need a bigger place why oh it's overflowing

There are people sitting in the overflow room right now

We need to set up a mic or so speaker so that others can hear too. Yeah

So

Yeah in Monado, it's a very Christian part of Indonesia

Which is the largest Muslim country in the world and so here's what is being done now

Muslim families are being given

perks money and

Incentive to go and settle in Monado. Why so that Monado can be infected with Islam?

It's it's very sensible

So in the same manner understand that the reason God has invaded me or you and us

Is so that we may be infected with his character

With his nature with his response to things with his likeness at the end of the day

That's the intent to be made into his likeness

Any questions before we move on

If you have questions write them down we can deal with them at the end

So rise up church rise up and embrace the fact that you have been invaded by

the life-giving spirit the the the God of the universe rise up and

Understand that you are infected

You're divinely infected that you have been infected by God so that you may show the likeness of him rise up rise up

Maybe you rise up in our little things in our driving over the bridge in our stopping at a signal in our treatment of our spouse

In our attitude towards our children in in our work in everything rise up

Because for this reason we have been saved

Ha what a relief to move salvation away from individual

Salvation and to make it a thing where we understand that the reason we are saved is to become a people of God who are called

By his name and in whom he dwells

What a relief the ultimate intent of God

This is why the body is so important

This is why I have to be concerned about you and you have to be concerned about me

This is why sin is no longer your business and sin is no longer my business

But has to be occasionally confronted with gentleness so that we may escape the snare of the devil

This is why we have different gifts, which I hope we will practice during and after worship today

So that in the practicing of different gifts, we may edify and build up each other

So that a people of God called by his name in whom his character responds hope and nature and likeness is displayed

will become evident to other churches and

to

the city

Let's not even go to the world. Let's start with the city

Okay, let's move on to the next bit righteous life and the power to live it we said last time

We said last time that the spirit of God

is

Deeply involved in salvation the spirit of God is deeply involved in salvation

Remember John 3 15. I think unless you be born of the water and of the

Spirit you cannot be born again

He's deeply involved in salvation

And

I want to just touch on this

Because every time we talk about this this question comes up

Salvation by the way is both getting into the kingdom and then staying in the kingdom. It's getting

Into the kingdom and staying in the kingdom because often the question is asked

So what's this person saved or what this person not saved can salvation be lost or salvation cannot be lost

Let's just state it this way for future reference of Acts 29 that salvation includes getting it

Salvation includes getting in and staying in

Salvation includes getting in and staying in

And remember we talked about what it means to get saved to get saved first you have to do you remember guys

To get saved you have to first

Here after hearing you have to exert faith

Here after hearing you have to exert faith

Yeah, first we have to hear one cannot be saved unless once one hears after here you exert faith

after faith you

Are converted after conversion the spirit of God who is involved in every stage of this process begins to give you life

And what is your human response to the whole idea of being saved?

You choose to display by baptism you declare that okay. I have heard I have now exerted faith

I have changed and have been converted. I have one master

I know his spirit now dwells in me and gives me life

But having known all this my human responses to now

Get baptized and show that aha here. I'm making a public declaration of my private belief and in the

In Christendom all this time. It's only recently that we've had problems with this baptism was always seen as a part and parcel of

Salvation it's not that one has to be baptized to be saved, but it's a natural

Display of what has happened guys so here are two things we need to do we need to understand to get saved

Is to be

Joined

By the spirit

To the people or the body people of God or the body

Because remember we keep saying this the ultimate intent of salvation is to form a people of God

Who are called by his name in whom he dwells?

So to get saved is

To be joined by the spirit to the people of God

To get saved is to be joined to the people of God by the spirit to be saved

To be saved

Means to live the life

Of a

Saved person by the spirit to be saved

Is to live the life of a served person saved person by the spirit so do to get saved is to join

To get saved is to join the people of God of people of God by the spirit

To

Be saved is to means to live the life of a saved person by the spirit

So it's not enough to get saved you now that you are saved you have to

Leave the life of a person who is saved by the spirit see guys one of the things we need to understand that in the in

the Bible there is

Absolutely no concept of optional righteousness

The Bible never talks about righteousness is optional once you get saved

Never never talks about that

It's understood that one who is saved now begins to live like one who is saved in the Bible

There's no concept of oh, I'm a justified sinner

It is we who have created this justified sinner in the Bible there is only one who is justified there is no justified sinner

There is no such thing as salvation in Christ that does not include practical righteousness

There is no such thing as salvation in Christ that does not include practical righteousness

And what do I mean by practical righteousness practical righteousness is when you come into alignment with the ways of God

the excellent

virtues of God the moral nature of God

This is practical righteousness

The moral nature of God

This is practical righteousness. I'm made righteous and perfect in my spirit forever

I'm as holy as Christ in my spirit, but there is this whole element of practical righteousness where I'm I are my ways aligned

with the ways of God with the

moral virtues of God with the excellent

Character of God am I continuously increasingly being aligned with that because for a Christian it is vital that there be an increase of this

and

Any questions on that before we move on

Why is righteousness important let's ask it this way what's the purpose of righteousness what's the purpose of practical righteousness

To be like him the purpose of practical righteousness

What is the purpose the purpose is I've got to display his cupboard or his glory or his excellence or his splendor or

his moral nature or his

character the

Cabo glory is all those words put together the way splendor character nature power

Brilliance magnificence of God all combined into this one word called the glory of God

What is the purpose of righteousness the purpose of Jacob's practical righteousness is so that you may see so that my family may see

So that the city may see and so that the world may see a display of the glory or the cupboard or the nature or the

Character and the splendor of God to a simple human vessel that is free

that is weak fragile and

Infirm

That is the purpose

Why is it important to talk about these things guys because some of you are drifting off and I say come back because you have the

Capacity to listen and to understand it is a lie if you think you can't understand this

Because then Paul was writing all this stuff just for the heck of it and the spirit of God wasn't behind it

I'm not telling you anything new. This is stuff that Paul wrote to the churches for years man

You have the capacity to understand this understanding gives us basis to stand on guys

Gives us basis to stand on

So

The purpose of righteousness is to display the glory. Well, who is the pattern for our righteousness?

Jesus Christ because he

modeled

He modeled everything and that God was Christ himself

Was the likeness or the visible image of God and now we are called to be the likeness

So not only what is the purpose the purpose of display the glory who is the pattern Jesus Christ?

What is the principle underlying righteousness, what is the principle that underlies practical righteousness

first Corinthians 13

The principle underlying practical righteousness is love love God would and love man would for example guys

Look at how easy it becomes if love becomes the essence on one hand when I like God more I will begin to

act behave

Be like him more I mean why has he changed in certain areas because he likes her because he likes her he has changed

It's not out of fear. It's not out of making the marriage work

It is not a sheer liking that in some areas he has changed and as he likes a more he'll change in

More areas and the same applies both ways

same principle here guys

God would love allows me to change so that I take on his ways, but look at the man would love her

It is this is why guys just think of it

If I love you

Then do I have to worry about the commandment do not kill?

Do I have to worry about the commandment do not covet? What is yours?

Suddenly the Torah or the law is no longer required

Because I live under this new thing called love in my heart

Therefore it says once love is established you are at liberty and the law no longer applies

Because why would I need you to tell me don't kill don't hate don't covet when I love you because the moment

I love you. I do not need to operate under law

Isn't that brilliant?

This is why I

Command you that acts 29. We haven't had the need for rules and

The reason we haven't had the need for rules here is because you care sufficiently for each other

So that policy does not have to be put in place so that you behave a certain way. I

I

Commend you on that

I

Commend you on that. It's a hard thing to get guys

Don't think this is easy. You have you have no idea what you have become in that sense

Same thing with God man once you love you don't have to tell somebody

Keep the Sabbath holy you don't have to tell somebody do not worship idols in the Torah

That was a problem the people followed the rules, but they forgot love and yet God had revealed himself as father very early in

Genesis in Deuteronomy you see the word father being used of him only he says I'm a father to you

They would never turn and say that to him

But the idea of the father was present as early as Genesis in Deuteronomy

But the point is that he gave them the rule do not worship

Idols, but if you're in love that God do you need that rule? No because you would not worship anything else, but the true living God

So what is the principle underlying righteousness very simple guys the essence of God which is love both man-word and God-word

Cultivated because it takes care of everything else isn't that going to be awesome as you as you

Cultivate and we talk about the fruit of the spirit when we and by the way that those food that I mentioned Galatians are not

Exhausted God has far greater characters than those nine things

But that's just part of it

But just imagine as I begin to develop love in my heart towards you who I see and towards a guy in the

Lane next to me who I don't see who's cutting me off. What happens is I do not need to live by law anymore

Because I will not I will not enter into rage

On the road

Because of this beautiful essence of God that the Holy Spirit has already shed in my heart Romans 5 5

This is why the Torah no longer applies

This is why Jesus said it simply do you understand now why he calls it the golden law

Love is the golden law

Why he calls it the golden law love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as you love

Yourself takes care and it says in this

Is the sum of all the law and the prophets?

It's beautiful man, I think so

Yes

so that is a underlying principle and

Who is the power of the power a source of righteousness?

The Holy Spirit what is the purpose to display is glory

Who is the pattern Jesus Christ

What is the underlying principle?

love

And who is the power or the source of righteousness the Holy Spirit?

Why because at the end of the day is the Spirit of God who brings the life of Christ in me?

The Spirit of God brings the life of Christ into me and now I begin to have the powers of the Holy Spirit

To be the way I need to be

I'm so glad we're talking about the Holy Spirit because I missed out on these truths for very long

Guys in the New Testament there is never a concept of oh i'm going through a deep internal struggle

And the flesh is always winning out

Never hear of that in the New Testament

The the New Testament knows nothing about an internal struggle within me in which the flesh is continuously proving to be the greater power

Than the Spirit of God something is strangely wrong in that picture

The New Testament knows nothing of an internal struggle within me. I'm not saying internal struggles are not real

They are present. I've had them umpteen times in my life

But the New Testament does not give credibility to an internal struggle in Jacob's life where always

The flesh wins over the Spirit

Something is wrong there

Life-giving spirit invaded by God himself infected divinely and yet the flesh wins every time

The New Testament does not give room for that Paul never says that

This does not mean that

That

God is saying oh you'll be perfect throughout your life Jacob

No, it actually in Galatians 6 1 says if any of you is overtaken by a

fault

Then let the rest of the body

help him

Lifting them up so God knows that even though i'm perfect in my spirit that I will be overtaken by faults

So we're not talking about perfectionism here and if i'm overtaken by faults there is there's amazing thing of

Forgiveness that is available but for a Christian to be sold out to sin

It's incompatible with the life of the spirit

Let me say that again for a Christian to be sold out to sin is not possible. It is incompatible

Where um

The flesh continually proves to be greater than the spirit of God that is incompatible with the life of a spirit person

In fact if the spirit of God is resident in me guys become aware of this so that next time you have an internal struggle

You're aware that this is a lie if you are a spirit person or if we are a spirit people

know this that you will first

have a will to do the good pleasure of God and

Two you will be empowered by the spirit of God to fulfill that desire you have both

And you'll ask me so how come we'll talk about that

Therefore increasing righteousness is natural should be natural to someone who has the spirit of God in him

Increasing righteous behavior

Increasingly righteous behavior

Should be natural to someone who has a spirit in him

Because at the end of the day they will be able to do the good pleasure of God

day

It's the outcome of the life of the spirit in me

If

vain spirit came and lived in me it is natural for me to be able to

Be very handy with doing things

It's natural

If my spirit came into you some of the things I do well will be very natural for you

So it is natural for a christian to increase in righteousness

Because the fruit of the spirit is basically the righteous nature of God being displayed through you

Why is the fruit coming because the spirit of God the life-giving spirit dwells in you

Yeah

Yeah, the display of christ

As a people so that like we were saying earlier

The city and other churches and the world will see that here are people who belong to a different kingdom

Yeah

When the ground absorbs the rain that falls on it, yeah

So that it can bear fruit for the farmer

But if it just bears all the vessels then the farmer doesn't like it

This fruit is being born for the farmer for the lord so he can use it for his kingdom

Yeah

That's

Agreed agreed which is the whole idea of salvation

Us being made into a people of god in whom he dwells and through whom his glory can be seen

Yeah

Others yeah, that's why in the we got to move away from this individual brilliance. It's a people

Yeah

It's all the same. Yeah the display of fruit in my life now makes evident that there is a god and there is a kingdom here on earth

How will they see it? This is why paul says you have become our you have become epistles

Or you've become letters not written with ink but written with

uh not written with

And written on stone but written with ink on hearts of flesh meaning to display letters of god to the world

Yeah, yeah

Someone and you shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bear its fruit in every season

Its leaves shall not wither

And the what i'm trying to say is guys be aware that we are called to increasing righteousness increasing practical righteousness

And it's it is natural for a people in whom the life-giving spirit dwells to begin to display it

Because there the bible does not have

Verses that say uh thou art a justified sinner or righteousness is optional doesn't say that

It it acknowledges that we will have false and we will shortfall and therefore god provides forgiveness

But sold out to sin as a spirit people is not possible

This is why paul grieves and cannot understand how a church can tolerate a man living with his tecma

He says shame on you. He doesn't attack the individual believer first

He goes after the body saying don't you know that you are a people

Who have been called by the name of god and are supposed to display his character?

How can you tolerate this?

Guys i'm sorry i'm saying it again, but I commend you on what you have become because

North american christianity is highly individualized and independent and you have defied that

The fruit of the spirit is nothing else

Than the spirit producing in me the righteousness of god

Tasty tasty the fruit of the spirit is nothing else

The fruit of the spirit is nothing else than the spirit of god producing in me the righteousness of god

In practical ways in practical ways

I may say this too guys the spirit empowers all alike

Like

Everybody here who is a spirit man meaning who is born again

Is and all of us are empowered alike by the spirit of god. So really we should stop

Dividing ourselves into spiritual christians and carnal christians

All right, I don't know whether paul uses the word carnal christians, but I know yeah

I mean we've come up with this whole idea of when you are like this you're spiritual when you're like this your carnal

I understand the reality of it, but we need to understand that all of us have been empowered alike

It's not like some of us have gotten more or some of us have gotten

less

So let's conclude what is my role then we've talked about what the spirit of god can do so what is my role

In this what is my role?

What is my role

What is my role

How do I now work with this that I know so that I can increase in my righteousness

First guys cease focusing on your struggles as much as you do

cease focusing on your struggles

As much as you do it's very hard to ignore them i'm talking about struggles with sin struggle with circumstances

Focusing as much as you do on your struggles because when we

Go that route we barely are able to see jesus christ

In the struggle because our focus is on the struggle you barely see christ

And there is hardly any chance that you will have any degree of confidence in the work of the spirit in your life

When your focus is so intently on the struggle

peter

Was so

So beaten up by his failure and his denial

That he barely had sight of who christ is

He stands and says, oh, I want to go fishing anybody coming with me going fishing

A christ had to literally restore him stand at the shore and make himself evident so that this man's eyes may be opened again

Sometimes one of the ways we end up some one of the requirements to be

In koinonia with the spirit or in to participate in the life of the spirit is to abstain from or seize from

Focusing so intently on our very real struggles because when that focus is so intent it is barely

We can barely distinguish christ standing on the beach

No, this is about moving our face away from our

Intense struggles that we go through so that christ is evident. Otherwise christ disappears in the struggle

Yeah, you do

Like I said, we can't ignore it like you're gonna like it

We can't ignore it like you're gonna like it

We can't ignore it like you're gonna like it

We can't ignore it like you're gonna like it

Like I said, we can't ignore it it's very real but in the midst of it

I've got to stop beating myself up over my failure over my

losing to sin multiple times and

Focus on he who is forgiver redeemer

Ransomer rescuer and focus on him who is life-giving

Spirit in me so that for once I can take my eyes off the struggle

I'm having with sin and look at him who to begin with is the only one who's capable of rescuing me

And when we focus on our struggles another thing happens guys because we don't find much success. We start blaming god for not coming through

That too happens

That too happens you start blaming god

Second

So cease from focusing on me. I remember a man coming up to me at act 29

He just came that one sunday and he came up to me and as he's coming up to me

The lord is saying to me

he's going to come up and he's going to tell you that he has a problem with smoking and that

It is impossible for him to get out of it

It's tried and it's just a sin that he's struggling with for so long that it is impossible and he his life is

completely shattered because of his

Inability to get through it and when he comes before he even begins to tell him that tell him that i'm not concerned about his

Smoking right now. I've got other things I want to do with his life

And so he comes up to me and he's standing there and he says, you know, jacob

I have a problem with and I said god is not concerned with your smoking right now

And this is what he wants to say to you and that man was just weeping

Why because for the last six seven years all he had focused on is his inability to be a successful christian because he's been completely consumed with

Smoking now this does not for a second mean that god is saying go ahead smoke your way to heaven

Not saying that at all

But the point is the focus was so intent on the sin that christ could not be distinguished

Even when he was standing on the beach and saying son, do you have any fish?

The second one is abstain from sin. Oh, that's easy to say jacob

So abstain from sin how

Abstain from sin how first which we always talk about here

abstain from sin the first

And these are very good ways to abstain from sinner first

Love the father

How by letting the father love you?

So that you can love him back

First love the father. That's one of the best ways

I won't even go into that because we have repeated it almost every second week in this church

One day and yet i'm repeating it again

The way I give up sin is when I like something else more

The way I will give up sin is when I like my father more

How can I like my father more by recognizing how much the father likes me?

For he first loved me and my heart starts running after him and i'm able to let go of the things

How do you know that jacob is in the pursuit of god?

You will know that jacob is in the pursuit of god when you look behind him and you see

A trail of all things behind him. That's how you know the pursuit of god old habits

old ways of speaking old ways of thinking you'll see like a

Like a trail of debris

That is how you know jacob is pursuing god

I

Don't know how to get those two points that came in my head

The smoking guy or let's somebody's cheating on their wife with the internet like how he loves the wife is to stop doing the internet

So how does the guy keep smoking? That's what he's got to stop the smoking to love the god. Yeah

So, yeah, why do you not focus on the smoking?

Righteousness is not a requirement for salvation. It is the outcome of salvation and the work of the spirit

so

And i'll talk about that in the third point sometimes the focus is so intent on the sin that is impossible to see jesus

so one of the things I need to do at times is to

Be helpless and heavily dependent on the work of the spirit of god to change the thing in my life guys

I had a severe problem with heroin

And with marijuana for years for years. It was impossible to come out of it

and then

Helplessly heavily dependent on the sheer power of the life-giving spirit

Changed me in

In five minutes for the rest of my life

Good point sometimes sin the the enemy uses sin to to to completely drive you into

A place where you don't even reach out to jesus because you're so ashamed. You're so ashamed

Guys, one of the things the bible does and we have to realize is we live in a society where we

Sometimes like black and white separate many things the bible holds intention and it holds them intention happily

Holds them intention happily in the sense

Righteous there is nothing called optional righteousness and yet as long even though there is nothing called optional righteousness

Very clearly the bible says and if you sin there is one who?

forgives

On one hand it says and um

If you are born again, you can enter the kingdom of god on the other hand

It says anyone who does these these and these things will not inherit the kingdom of god

It is not actually one thing against the other both are held in

Tension it's like a aircraft that is flying

Two things are working in happy tension and thank god. It's happy tension when it's not you feel air pockets

So the happy tension is there is a beautiful principle called aerodynamics at work

And there is amazing principle called gravity at work. Otherwise, we would never land

And both are held in happy tension

And when any time tension is not happy strange things happen

So one of the prayers you pray when you board an aircraft is father keep these two laws in happy tension

It's not

The bible has many of these things

I hold them in happy tension not in they're not contradictory

They're not contradictory

So abstain from sin one by loving the father two

uh understand that

The power of the spirit is the power of the spirit

Is fully capable

To help you overcome, uh, you may not think so you may not have experienced it you may not feel so but it's still the truth

The power of the spirit is fully capable to help you overcome

This is what was happening when I was shaming people on the road in my driving

I began to say father three times in two days

This is getting nasty lord, I need now help to begin to overcome this

And that's a very small thing greater things pornography masturbation

Disharmony strife lying

Rage cheating

I mean, there's no limit to what can not be overcome by the life-giving spirit

The same spirit who raised christ from the dead a sin a sin-bearing christ

that should not rise because

He rose because he didn't sin but a sin-bearing christ was

Raised from the dead

The life-giving spirit who brought order to a chaotic world

The same life-giving spirit is in me. Surely

he has power to change some of the my struggles of the

present reality that I live in

So the first one is love the father first. John 4 18, which is tremendous

To the power of the spirit that is at work in me

three

Just cry out to him

Just cry out to him beseech him

That's part. Yeah, just beseech him. I I I mean when I had sins in my life that wouldn't let me go I

Sometimes cry out to him saying oh god. I can't continue in this. You've got to help me out of this

four

This is uh, like bob newhart, it's very

Free

It's very clearly paul says flew with full lust meaning

Don't wait for the holy spirit to help you with certain things guys

Just flee like bob newhart said stop it

Yeah

Free is not a gentle sauntering as in see you later. No, please like out of here

Next one feeding what you eat you will become

What you eat you will become i think there's someone at the door, I don't know whether they thought it's coffee

What you eat you will become what do I feed on i'm finding this so helpful in my life

to feed on the right things man

It it just takes away the tendency to fall into the same

failings that I used to fall into just by eating by by feeding my face correctly

Just feed yourself well some of us need to take a break from television

Some of us need to take a break from places we go to where there are situations that feed us

Feed yourself well

Feed yourself well, it's so helpful so helpful

Next one seek the help of believers

seek

The help of the body seek the help of the body

Seek the help of the body

I

Seek the help of the body.

Seek the help of the body.

Guys, observe in some of these ways. These are like the ways.

These are not rocket science. It's very simple.

When I know that something is not going to be helpful, that is a sin honey pot or a trap, run!

Don't even hang around there.

Joseph ran for his life.

Don't go to the edge of the rooftop to see how far you will fall because that's not very helpful on a rainy day.

Just flee. Don't go towards the edge.

That day don't go on the roof.

It's flirting a problem in your life.

Flee every time you see a woman you want to flirt with.

Hold back your words so that you don't speak them.

Because most Christian men flirt with their words by the way.

They don't flirt with actions because they are too godly for that. They flirt with their words.

Is television a problem? Flee!

Don't watch it after 11 in the night.

Get your news the next morning.

Or give the television to one of us.

Not the flat screen.

If you are giving it away, don't give us any of those old box figures.

Give us your flat screens, your plasmas.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, bring me your plasmas and your LCDs.

Is that a must-say of the world?

We shouldn't give someone else the temptations.

Yeah, we can't bear.

We have to suffer that.

We have to listen to this tape, Miss Wonder.

Yeah. Sorry, someone was going to say something?

Go ahead.

Yeah.

Sometimes we seek the help of the body.

Sometimes we seek the help of the body and that somebody or the body cannot help us.

I don't think we should let it stop us because it's just like, say for instance, a leg in having a problem and smelling.

But it goes and it asks the hand and the hand is not gifted with the ability to smell.

But we say like, oh, the body cannot help us and we stop seeking help from the body.

Yeah, I agree.

And I'm hoping that we'll be able to come to a place where different gifts that exist can take care of different needs instead of the pastor or one or two being the main.

And it might need some training and maturity, but surely that is the way we are supposed to function.

So, yeah, that's why I didn't say seek the help of the pastor, seek the help of the body.

Because in the body there will be gifts and graces that are necessary for us to get healed or get whole.

Get whole. I love the word whole.

You know, I was just reading somewhere, God dwells in wholeness.

He dwells in well-being.

And that same God now as what's your name? Shantarul said, dwells in you.

The same God of wholeness and well-being dwells in you.

He dwells in wholeness.

It's his great desire to part with that wholeness and have it bestow on you too.

So guys, be helplessly dependent on the Spirit for change.

I can do nothing myself.

Be helplessly and heavily dependent on Him for change.

Remember, He's the agent that brings about that change.

Take the chaos of your life, howl over it and change it.

Be helplessly and heavily dependent.

Collaborate with Him.

Let Him reproduce the life of Christ in you.

Let Him empower you.

And the other thing is put one foot in front of the other.

This is what walking with the Spirit is.

Putting one foot in front of the other.

Because it may not happen in a day, but surely put one foot in the front of the other.

What happens is because nothing has transformed immediately, we stop and we are like this.

So it looks like we are all ready to go, but we stop moving.

I tell this to my sister often when she says, when will this change?

And I'll say, Reba, keep putting one foot forward.

Keep putting one foot forward.

Keep walking.

One foot forward at a time.

Keep moving.

Surely the intent of God is to make you into His likeness.

Surely you want to accomplish a lot of that before you leave the earth.

Surely you don't want all the transformation to take place in heaven.

What fun is that?

Here on earth, there everybody will be perfect.

You won't even be known as perfect.

I'm just kidding.

The point is here on earth be transformed.

Let them taste wine here.

Again, I'm not recommending that you start drinking.

It's just a statement.

And finally, learn how to let the spirit lead you.

It goes back to Jawad's initial question.

How do we deal with the Spirit of God bringing out plans?

And go back to the answer I gave him.

And in that, be led by the Spirit.

The sons of God are led by the Spirit of God.

Learn, learn.

Again, how will I learn?

One step at a time.

One step at a time.

One step at a time.

Learn.

God is not interested in time.

He is interested in growth.

Fourteen days I've been asking him now,

Father, would you please let me know how I should travel?

He has not told me yet.

Learn, step by step, Jacob.

Learn.

Ask him this morning.

Ask him this evening.

And be happy in your asking and your hearing.

Not a disgruntled gout saying how long before you answer.

No.

Happy in your hearing and your learning.

One step at a time.

And last point.

Guys, be continually saturated in the Spirit.

And this is what we deal with next time.

The Bible talks about fan into flames.

Be filled.

Be continually saturated.

Fan into flames.

Be filled.

So on one hand, the presence of the Spirit in your life is established.

But the presence of the Spirit does not automatically ensure a quick and fervent spiritual life.

Let me say that again.

On one hand, the presence of the Spirit of God in your life is established.

But the presence of the Spirit of God in your life does not mean that you will have, therefore, a quick and fervent spiritual life.

Because the Bible keeps talking about being filled with.

And it keeps, on a couple of occasions, talks about being fan into flames or stir up.

And so next week, we'll talk about how is it that I can walk in continual ongoing saturation in the Holy Spirit.

Again, concrete ways of how can we do that.

We'll talk about that next week.

So try to be here.

Because the CD doesn't have the same effect.

So try to be here.

If you can't, I understand.

Can I have the musicians up, please?