This is the manuscript of the fifth and final sermon in the "Recognizing and Responding to God's Gift of the Holy Spirit" series.
Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 3:7-19 NIV [7] So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as you did i
L.n the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, [9] where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. [10] That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ [11] So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” [12] See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. [13] But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. [14] We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. [15] As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” [16] Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? [17] And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? [18] And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? [19] So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
Introduction
Our greatest need is to know God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:15-16 NIV [15] “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles [16] know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
Romans 3:21-24 NIV [21] But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. [22] This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Because our deepest need is spiritual, God sent his Son to die on a cross to show his love for us and to conquer death so that he might demonstrate to us the reality of eternal life.
John 3:16-17 NIV [16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
We were redeemed and reconciled to God by Jesus’ great redemptive work.
Colossians 1:19-20 NIV [19] For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, [20] and through him (Jesus ) to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood (Jesus's blood)), shed on the cross.
Following this great redemptive work accomplished by Jesus Christ, God sent his Holy Spirit into the church and into the world to invite all nonbelievers to come to Jesus Christ through faith that they too might receive the gift of eternal life and become the children and servants of God.
Here's what Jesus said to His disciples just before His ascension back to heaven.
Acts 1:8 NIV [8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
So here's our text for today
Text:
Revelation 22:17 NIV [17] The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
The words of our text declare that the purpose of the Holy Spirit and the church is to invite you to come to Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the fountain of the water of life we just read about in Revelation 22:17. "Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life."
Jesus is the only one that can quench the thirst of your soul.
Here's what he said to the Samaritan woman at the well.
John 4:10 NIV [10] Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
And then later on;
John 7:37-39 NIV [37] On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. [38] Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” [39] By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
The scripture that Jean read this morning from Hebrews urges us to listen attentively and responsively to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to our innermost being.
Hebrews 3:7-9 NIV [7] So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, [9] where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did.
Jesus, in the closing days of his ministry, detailed some of the activities of the Holy Spirit.
One of the primary functions of the Holy Spirit was to bear testimony to people’s consciences regarding who Jesus Christ is and what he came to do.
John 14:26 NIV [26] But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 15:26 NIV [26] “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.
I. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit because He is a divine person.
I’ve said this before, but the Holy Spirit is more than just an influence. The Holy Spirit is more than just a power like magnetism, electricity, or gravity. The Holy Spirit is the divine person of God and He uses various means of communicating with you.
A. The Holy Spirit uses the Scriptures.
First of all, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through His Word. He is the Author of Scripture, and He illuminates Scripture to us. The more we know Scripture, the more we think about it, the more we memorize it, and the more we repeat it to ourselves, that is the voice of the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV [16] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
B. The Holy Spirit uses the church.
The Holy Spirit communicates through the church. In the book of Acts, for example, the Holy Spirit speaks to the church while they are worshiping and fasting.
Acts 13:2-4 NIV [2] While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” [3] So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. [4] The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
C. The Holy Spirit uses individual believers as his spokespersons.
Here’s how that can happen;
God puts a Bible verse or a thought into the mind of a person and immediately that person knows the message is for someone else. So, in obedience to the sense of urgency that person gets from God, they share what was received. They may share it through a phone call, text, e-mail, or in person.
Another way God speaks through other people is during a conversation. They share what they have learned from their own walk with God. They talk about Scripture and share how God kept His promises in their lives. They have a way of refreshing and reviving your spirit.
D. The Holy Spirit uses the events of life to interrupt your thoughts and to speak to you.
God permits circumstances in our lives that will mature us and grow our faith.
1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV [6] In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
What may appear at first to be a “stumbling block” may, in actuality, turn out to be “steppingstones”.
As we develop our personal relationship with God, we will understand that He loves us and we can trust Him with every aspect of our life. Sometimes our circumstances will take us out of our comfort zone, but we can be assured we are not in them alone.
1 John 4:4 NIV [4] You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Next time you feel “under your circumstances”, ask God what He is saying to you.
II. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit because of his divine purpose for speaking.
A. He speaks words of comfort and assurance.
Romans 8:15-17 NIV [15] The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
It is the plan of the Father God to communicate the relationship that follows faith to each believer that they are now His children and part of the family of God.
The Holy Spirit comes to speak words of encouragement and to aid with living the Christian life. God does not want us to attempt to live the Christian life in our human strength alone.
Romans 8:31-39 NIV [31] What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Holy Spirit provides the power that is needed to overcome evil and to reap the harvest of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:17-18 NIV [17] For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The Holy Spirit will also speak to us who are saved about the needs of those who do not yet know Christ as Savior. He will seek to enlist us in leading people to become believers in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NIV [18] All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: [19] that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. [20] We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
III. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit because of his divine purpose and His divine power.
A. Only the Holy Spirit of God has the power to produce the miracle of the new birth in the believer.
Listen to what Jesus told Nicodemus
John 3:3-6 NIV [3] Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” [4] “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” [5] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Titus 3:4-7 NIV 4] But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, [6] whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
B. The Holy Spirit has the divine power to enable us to develop a Christian disposition and character.
The Holy Spirit begins his good work within us at the moment of conversion and will continue this work of seeking to produce within us the very character of Jesus Christ throughout our lives. This is the process of sanctification.
Philippians 1:3-6 NIV [3] I thank my God every time I remember you. [4] In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy [5] because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, [6] being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
C. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to assure us of our victory over death and the grave
2 Corinthians 5:1-5 NIV [1] For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. [2] Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, [3] because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. [4] For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. [5] Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
The indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that one day we will have complete victory over death and the grave.
Ephesians 1:11-14 NIV [11] In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, [12] in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. [13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit who comforts us and guides us into all truths. It is the Holy Spirit who reminds us of Your Words, Your commands and Your goodness and He empowers us to walk in love and in obedience. Thank You for sealing us with Your Spirit as an assurance that we are Your children and that You will never leave us or forsake us. It is Your Holy Spirit who fills us with the Your love that we may grow in wisdom and in knowledge of Your love so that we can demonstrate your love and be a blessing to the world. We are thankful and blessed that Your Spirit dwells inside us and our utmost desire is to always be in fellowship with You and experience Your wonderful presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Conclusion
If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior you may be shocked to learn that the Holy Spirit of God is inviting you to become a believer in Jesus Christ. He comes to convince you that the sin of unbelief is the sin that separates a man from God.
It is the Holy Spirit that can convince a person of their sinfulness and of their need to stop rejecting God’s love. The Holy Spirit does not come to convict you and convince you of your unsaved and lost condition just to make you feel bad and feel negative about yourself. He comes to convert you from unbelief to belief and from rejection to acceptance. Only the Holy Spirit can take an X-ray of your heart and soul and reveal to you your lost condition. He does this to attract and persuade you to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Listen to the Holy Spirit now. He invites you to receive Jesus Christ today. Nowhere in all of God’s Word do you find encouragement to believe in Christ for the forgiveness of sin and the gift of new life tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV says [2] For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Today is the day God wants to forgive your sins. Today is the day God wants you to become his child. Today is the day Christ wants to give you the gift of eternal life. Today is the day the peace of God can be yours. The Holy Spirit invites you. Come to him today now while you have time and opportunity.
If you want to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, say something like this to God. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer will not save you. Only believing in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross for you can save you from sin. This prayer is simply a way to express to God your faith in Him and thank Him for providing for your salvation.
Say this or something like it; “God, I know that I have sinned against You and deserve punishment. But I believe Jesus Christ took the punishment I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I receive Your offer of forgiveness and place my trust in You for salvation. I accept Jesus as my personal Savior! Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness—the gift of eternal life! Amen!”
If you have expressed your faith in God and thanked Him for salvation by praying something like this then you have done what it says in
Romans 10:9-10 NIV [9] If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
If you have done this let us know so we can rejoice with you and then find a church and we can maybe help you with that.
Sermon Audio
No comments:
Post a Comment