This sermon will hardly be all-inclusive or exhaustive on speaking of the Holy Spirit. Nor do I claim to perfectly understand Him and His work. But the Holy Spirit is a subject worth studying, so let us consult the scriptures!
The Holy Spirit is a Person of God
The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force that emanates from God. The Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of Deity.
Acts 5:1-11 -Holy Spirit and God are used interchangeably
Matthew 3:13-17 -The Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit
Matthew 28:18-20 -Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit and the Bible
The scriptures are give to us by the Holy Spirit, working through men. The Bible is not a book of stories that men came up with, but given by God.
John 14:25-26 -The comforter, the Holy Spirit, will teach the apostles
I Peter 1:10-12 -The Gospel was taught by those who preached by the Holy Spirit
II Peter 1:19-21 -All prophecy came from the Holy Spirit
II Timothy 3:16-17 -All scripture is God-breathed
The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
Much confusion exists when speaking on the subject of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That the Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian is simple Biblical truth. The means by which He does so is sometimes more difficult to understand. To this purpose, it becomes useful to see consider the indwelling of the Father and the Son.
Ephesians 3:14-19 -Christ dwells in the Christian’s heart by faith
John 14:19-24 -The indwelling of the Son and Father through faithful obedience
Galatians 3:1-14 -The Spirit dwells in us by faith
Romans 10:17 -Faith comes by hearing the word of God
Acts 5:26-32 -The Holy Spirit given to those who obey
Galatians 3:26-4:7 -The Spirit dwells in those who are sons (those who have been baptized)
What we see then is that the Holy Spirit dwells in us by faith, through the word of God. It is not a personal literal indwelling anymore than the indwelling of the Father and of the Son. It is also worth noting that everything that the Holy Spirit does for us is also stated as the word of God doing for us, showing the means by which the Holy Spirit has chosen to operate.
(The Power Point chart showing the verses correlating the Holy Spirit to the Bible are available upon request)
The Holy Spirit and Salvation
The Holy Spirit is involved in our salvation. Not by a miraculous event, but in our faithful obedience to the will of Christ, we are washed by the Spirit of God.
I Corinthians 6:9-11 -Washed, sanctified, and justified by the name of Christ and by the Spirit of God
Titus 3:1-8 -Salvation by Christ and the Holy Spirit
Matthew 28:18-20 -Be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Saturday, September 19, 2009
God's Watchman - 9/20/09am
Ezekiel 33:1-6 -The responsibility of a watchman
Ezekiel 33:7-9 -Ezekiel made God’s watchman to Israel
Colossians 1:24-29 -Warning every man and teaching
A Watchman’s Warnings
God, through Ezekiel, warns that He “has no pleasure,” that is, He is displeased. This is a dire warning, as God’s displeasure has been made known to men in the past. Just Israel should have been striving to avoid God’s displeasure, we must as well. We must aim to be pleasing to the Lord.
Ezekiel 33:10-11 -Ezekiel is to warn that God is displeased
Numbers 11:1-3 -God is displeased and brings fire on the Israelites
II Samuel 11:26-12:15 -David displeased the Lord by sinning with Bathsheba, and God punishes David
Ezekiel warns that God will punish those who are guilty and reward those who are righteous. In this is both a warning and an encouragement. First, a warning against sin. Second, an encouragement to live upright and blameless. And just as the Lord did then, we know that we will be judged by our actions and hearts.
Ezekiel 33:12-16 -Ezekiel is to warn that God will punish the guilty but save the righteous
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -The Lord judges all by their actions
Revelation 20:11-15 -All will be judged by their actions
John 5:24-30 -Christ judges justly
A People’s Response
Ezekiel 33:17-20 -The people complain that God’s way is “unfair”
Does this sound familiar? God has made the same promise: obey and be rewarded or disobey and punished. It’s reasonable, yet many call it unfair or unloving.
Ezekiel 33:21-22 -God’s judgment on Jerusalem is carried out
Ezekiel 33:23-29 -The reason Jerusalem feel was because of their wickedness
The judgment God had promised was carried out because of the sins of the people. Though they were warned clearly and plainly, the warning was not heeded, and destruction came.
Ezekiel 33:30-33 -The people hear, but do not obey God’s will
James 1:19-27 -Be doers, not only hearers of the word, deceiving yourselves
Just as they “listened” to Ezekiel, many “listen” to God today. It is essential that we do not be like the people in that day, but rather that we hear and faithfully obey the Lord.
I Corinthians 10:1-22 -Pay attention to Israel’s poor example, follow the Lord, do not turn aside to Idolatry and sin
Ezekiel 33:7-9 -Ezekiel made God’s watchman to Israel
Colossians 1:24-29 -Warning every man and teaching
A Watchman’s Warnings
God, through Ezekiel, warns that He “has no pleasure,” that is, He is displeased. This is a dire warning, as God’s displeasure has been made known to men in the past. Just Israel should have been striving to avoid God’s displeasure, we must as well. We must aim to be pleasing to the Lord.
Ezekiel 33:10-11 -Ezekiel is to warn that God is displeased
Numbers 11:1-3 -God is displeased and brings fire on the Israelites
II Samuel 11:26-12:15 -David displeased the Lord by sinning with Bathsheba, and God punishes David
Ezekiel warns that God will punish those who are guilty and reward those who are righteous. In this is both a warning and an encouragement. First, a warning against sin. Second, an encouragement to live upright and blameless. And just as the Lord did then, we know that we will be judged by our actions and hearts.
Ezekiel 33:12-16 -Ezekiel is to warn that God will punish the guilty but save the righteous
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -The Lord judges all by their actions
Revelation 20:11-15 -All will be judged by their actions
John 5:24-30 -Christ judges justly
A People’s Response
Ezekiel 33:17-20 -The people complain that God’s way is “unfair”
Does this sound familiar? God has made the same promise: obey and be rewarded or disobey and punished. It’s reasonable, yet many call it unfair or unloving.
Ezekiel 33:21-22 -God’s judgment on Jerusalem is carried out
Ezekiel 33:23-29 -The reason Jerusalem feel was because of their wickedness
The judgment God had promised was carried out because of the sins of the people. Though they were warned clearly and plainly, the warning was not heeded, and destruction came.
Ezekiel 33:30-33 -The people hear, but do not obey God’s will
James 1:19-27 -Be doers, not only hearers of the word, deceiving yourselves
Just as they “listened” to Ezekiel, many “listen” to God today. It is essential that we do not be like the people in that day, but rather that we hear and faithfully obey the Lord.
I Corinthians 10:1-22 -Pay attention to Israel’s poor example, follow the Lord, do not turn aside to Idolatry and sin
Thursday, September 10, 2009
God's Patience - 9/13/09pm
Ezekiel 20:1-4 -The elders of Israel seek the Lord
Ezekiel 20:5-9 -Israel’s unfaithfulness when coming out of Egypt
Ezekiel 20:10-17 -Israel’s unfaithfulness on the way to Canaan
Ezekiel 20:18-24 -Israel’s unfaithfulness when wandering in the wilderness
Ezekiel 20:25-26 -The depths of Israel’s depravity
Ezekiel 20:27-32 -Israel’s unfaithfulness in the promised land
Romans 9:18-33 -God’s patience had a purpose: it was for those who were obedient, and those to come who would be obedient
Israel had been rebellious against God, yet the Lord did not destroy them. Why? Because there were those that would come later that would serve the Lord, and by patiently enduring those who rebelled, He could show mercy on those who did not. In short, that God was patient with rebellious Israel so that we today might be saved.
Romans 2:1-11 -Do not despise God’s patience, leading to repentance
Some in Rome had been unrighteous judging others of the same thing they themselves had been doing. Paul here makes a point: God has shown patience to those that sin that they might repent of what they are doing and turn back to following Him. We too should have this attitude. Not to tolerate and accept the sin, but to patiently strive to turn the sinner back to God and to give opportunity and time for such to happen.
I Timothy 1:12-17 -Paul is an example of God’s patience
Paul serves as an example of God’s patience. The Lord did not destroy Paul when he blasphemed and persecuted the Lord’s church. Instead, opportunity was provided for Paul to repent and obey the Lord.
I Peter 3:18-22 -God’s patience in the days of Noah led to salvation
Christ, through Noah, preached what men must do. They rejected the word of God and continued in their sin, leading to their “imprisonment.” Nonetheless, eight were saved by the Lord’s patience. Instead of immediately destroying all, he gave opportunity for salvation.
II Peter 3:1-18 -”The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation”
The Lord has not destroyed the earth, giving opportunity for all men to obey the gospel and have eternal salvation. Will you not obey the gospel? Or will you delay until God’s patience has reached its end and it is too late?
Ezekiel 20:5-9 -Israel’s unfaithfulness when coming out of Egypt
Ezekiel 20:10-17 -Israel’s unfaithfulness on the way to Canaan
Ezekiel 20:18-24 -Israel’s unfaithfulness when wandering in the wilderness
Ezekiel 20:25-26 -The depths of Israel’s depravity
Ezekiel 20:27-32 -Israel’s unfaithfulness in the promised land
Romans 9:18-33 -God’s patience had a purpose: it was for those who were obedient, and those to come who would be obedient
Israel had been rebellious against God, yet the Lord did not destroy them. Why? Because there were those that would come later that would serve the Lord, and by patiently enduring those who rebelled, He could show mercy on those who did not. In short, that God was patient with rebellious Israel so that we today might be saved.
Romans 2:1-11 -Do not despise God’s patience, leading to repentance
Some in Rome had been unrighteous judging others of the same thing they themselves had been doing. Paul here makes a point: God has shown patience to those that sin that they might repent of what they are doing and turn back to following Him. We too should have this attitude. Not to tolerate and accept the sin, but to patiently strive to turn the sinner back to God and to give opportunity and time for such to happen.
I Timothy 1:12-17 -Paul is an example of God’s patience
Paul serves as an example of God’s patience. The Lord did not destroy Paul when he blasphemed and persecuted the Lord’s church. Instead, opportunity was provided for Paul to repent and obey the Lord.
I Peter 3:18-22 -God’s patience in the days of Noah led to salvation
Christ, through Noah, preached what men must do. They rejected the word of God and continued in their sin, leading to their “imprisonment.” Nonetheless, eight were saved by the Lord’s patience. Instead of immediately destroying all, he gave opportunity for salvation.
II Peter 3:1-18 -”The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation”
The Lord has not destroyed the earth, giving opportunity for all men to obey the gospel and have eternal salvation. Will you not obey the gospel? Or will you delay until God’s patience has reached its end and it is too late?
Fervent in Spirit - 9/13/09am
John 2:13-17 -Jesus clears the temple
II Peter 3:10-13 -Fervent heat
Zeal is Commanded
Titus 2:11-15 -The Lord wants His people to be zealous for good works
Romans 12:9-21 -Among other things that Christ requires, we must be fervent in spirit
Jude 3 -Contend earnestly for the faith
Zeal is Contagious
II Corinthians 7:5-16 -Repentance produces zeal, their zeal causes Paul to rejoice
II Corinthians 9:1-2 -Their zeal stirred up others
Zeal in Love
I Peter 1:22-25 -Love fervently with a pure heart
I Peter 4:7-11 -Among other things, be fervent in love
Zeal in Prayer
James 5:13-18 -Fervent prayer
Luke 22:39-44 -Christ’s fervent prayer
Acts 12:1-10 -The church’s fervent prayer on Peter’s behalf
Zeal with Knowledge
Acts 18:24-28 -Zealous/fervent Apollos
Romans 10:1-4 -Zeal needs to be built on knowledge
Philippians 3:2-6 -Paul had been zealously wrong
Galatians 4:12-20 -We must be zealous for the right things
II Peter 3:10-13 -Fervent heat
Zeal is Commanded
Titus 2:11-15 -The Lord wants His people to be zealous for good works
Romans 12:9-21 -Among other things that Christ requires, we must be fervent in spirit
Jude 3 -Contend earnestly for the faith
Zeal is Contagious
II Corinthians 7:5-16 -Repentance produces zeal, their zeal causes Paul to rejoice
II Corinthians 9:1-2 -Their zeal stirred up others
Zeal in Love
I Peter 1:22-25 -Love fervently with a pure heart
I Peter 4:7-11 -Among other things, be fervent in love
Zeal in Prayer
James 5:13-18 -Fervent prayer
Luke 22:39-44 -Christ’s fervent prayer
Acts 12:1-10 -The church’s fervent prayer on Peter’s behalf
Zeal with Knowledge
Acts 18:24-28 -Zealous/fervent Apollos
Romans 10:1-4 -Zeal needs to be built on knowledge
Philippians 3:2-6 -Paul had been zealously wrong
Galatians 4:12-20 -We must be zealous for the right things
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Jeremiah's Letter - 9/6/09pm
Jeremiah 29:1-3 -The letter containing God’s word that Jeremiah sent
Jeremiah 29:4 -The Lord had caused the exile to be
The Lord is in control, and all has gone by His plan
A reminder that though they are in captivity, they are still God’s people
Job 42:1-6 -Job realizes God’s plans cannot be stopped, and that God’s way are greater
Jeremiah 29:5-9 -Build houses, do not listen to false prophets
They are going to be in exile for a while, so get used to it
Turn to the Lord in prayer, seek peace
Do not heed the many false prophets
I John 4:1-6 -Test the spirits
Jeremiah 29:10-14 -Exile will end after 70 years, and the people will turn to God
Things will continue to go as God has planned, even to when they will leave exile
The exile will cause the people to turn back to God, as they should have done from the beginning
Acts 26:19-23 -God wants all to turn to Him
Jeremiah 29:15-20 -Because the people have turned to others, those remaining will face trials
Because they still have not turned to God, but rather to the false prophets, punishment will continue in Jerusalem as well as in Babylon
They had ignored God’s prophets to listen to false prophets
Romans 1:20-25 -Reject the truth for a lie
Jeremiah 29:21-23 -The problem of false prophets
Two false prophets are singled out and condemned by God
They will become a curse, taken up by all of Israel
II Peter 2:1-3, 12-22 -As there were false prophets, there will be false teachers
Jeremiah 29:24-28 -Shemaiah is rebuked for not heeding prophets
Shemaiah had written letters telling Zephaniah the priest to put Jeremiah in prison with others who are “demented”
Shemaiah seems to blame Jeremiah for the captivity
I Peter 3:13-17 -Live so that shame comes on those who revile
Jeremiah 29:29-32 -Shemaiah’s house to be cursed, never to see the good that the Lord will do
Zephaniah had shared the letter with Jeremiah
The Lord will punish and destroy the house of Shemaiah for teaching rebellion
The Lord will do good things for His people
Matthew 25:31-46 -The sheep and the goats
Will you be one of the sheep who will see the good that God does for His people? Or will you be like Shemaiah who rejected what God had to say, and so was accursed?
Jeremiah 29:4 -The Lord had caused the exile to be
The Lord is in control, and all has gone by His plan
A reminder that though they are in captivity, they are still God’s people
Job 42:1-6 -Job realizes God’s plans cannot be stopped, and that God’s way are greater
Jeremiah 29:5-9 -Build houses, do not listen to false prophets
They are going to be in exile for a while, so get used to it
Turn to the Lord in prayer, seek peace
Do not heed the many false prophets
I John 4:1-6 -Test the spirits
Jeremiah 29:10-14 -Exile will end after 70 years, and the people will turn to God
Things will continue to go as God has planned, even to when they will leave exile
The exile will cause the people to turn back to God, as they should have done from the beginning
Acts 26:19-23 -God wants all to turn to Him
Jeremiah 29:15-20 -Because the people have turned to others, those remaining will face trials
Because they still have not turned to God, but rather to the false prophets, punishment will continue in Jerusalem as well as in Babylon
They had ignored God’s prophets to listen to false prophets
Romans 1:20-25 -Reject the truth for a lie
Jeremiah 29:21-23 -The problem of false prophets
Two false prophets are singled out and condemned by God
They will become a curse, taken up by all of Israel
II Peter 2:1-3, 12-22 -As there were false prophets, there will be false teachers
Jeremiah 29:24-28 -Shemaiah is rebuked for not heeding prophets
Shemaiah had written letters telling Zephaniah the priest to put Jeremiah in prison with others who are “demented”
Shemaiah seems to blame Jeremiah for the captivity
I Peter 3:13-17 -Live so that shame comes on those who revile
Jeremiah 29:29-32 -Shemaiah’s house to be cursed, never to see the good that the Lord will do
Zephaniah had shared the letter with Jeremiah
The Lord will punish and destroy the house of Shemaiah for teaching rebellion
The Lord will do good things for His people
Matthew 25:31-46 -The sheep and the goats
Will you be one of the sheep who will see the good that God does for His people? Or will you be like Shemaiah who rejected what God had to say, and so was accursed?
The Value of Prayer - 9/6/09am
Abraham’s Servant
Abraham sought a wife for his son Isaac. He wanted a wife not of the people around him, but of his own people, so he sent a servant to seek one.
Genesis 24:1-28 -The servant prays for guidance and a sign to know when his task is completed
The servant’s prayer was no for himself so much as for his master. He wanted to make sure the task was correctly done as Abraham wanted it. And we see that he is rewarded for his prayerful diligence, in that his prayer is answered.
Elijah
Elijah stood before Ahab, possibly the worst king Israel had ever suffered. And in rebuke, Elijah prayed and there was drought for 3 ½ years. And then he prays, and rain comes.
I Kings 17:1-7 -Elijah prays for drought
I Kings 18:41-46 -Elijah prays for the drought to end
Elijah’s prayers were answered. Once again, we see that there is nothing immediately miraculous about the answer, but what he had asked for came to be.
Daniel
Daniel was in exile in Babylon. But he did not stop praying to the Lord. When Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, he continued his prayer.
Daniel 2:1-23 -Daniel prayers for understanding of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream
Daniel 6:1-23 -Daniel prayers daily, survives lion’s den
We see Daniel’s effective prayer in that he was able to save the ungodly “wise men” of Nebuchadnezzar’s court. God answered his pryer on the behalf of others. We see also that Daniel made a practice of regularly going to the Lord in prayer. And for this he is rewarded for his diligence and godliness.
Disciples
Just as we see prayers fulfilled in the past, we can know that our prayers are heard by God today. We can have confidence that our prayers will be answered.
James 5:13-18 -The effective prayer of a righteous man
I Peter 3:7 -Do not let your prayers be hindered
I John 5:14-17 -God hears prayers
Acts 10:30-33 -God hears those who seek Him
Abraham sought a wife for his son Isaac. He wanted a wife not of the people around him, but of his own people, so he sent a servant to seek one.
Genesis 24:1-28 -The servant prays for guidance and a sign to know when his task is completed
The servant’s prayer was no for himself so much as for his master. He wanted to make sure the task was correctly done as Abraham wanted it. And we see that he is rewarded for his prayerful diligence, in that his prayer is answered.
Elijah
Elijah stood before Ahab, possibly the worst king Israel had ever suffered. And in rebuke, Elijah prayed and there was drought for 3 ½ years. And then he prays, and rain comes.
I Kings 17:1-7 -Elijah prays for drought
I Kings 18:41-46 -Elijah prays for the drought to end
Elijah’s prayers were answered. Once again, we see that there is nothing immediately miraculous about the answer, but what he had asked for came to be.
Daniel
Daniel was in exile in Babylon. But he did not stop praying to the Lord. When Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, he continued his prayer.
Daniel 2:1-23 -Daniel prayers for understanding of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream
Daniel 6:1-23 -Daniel prayers daily, survives lion’s den
We see Daniel’s effective prayer in that he was able to save the ungodly “wise men” of Nebuchadnezzar’s court. God answered his pryer on the behalf of others. We see also that Daniel made a practice of regularly going to the Lord in prayer. And for this he is rewarded for his diligence and godliness.
Disciples
Just as we see prayers fulfilled in the past, we can know that our prayers are heard by God today. We can have confidence that our prayers will be answered.
James 5:13-18 -The effective prayer of a righteous man
I Peter 3:7 -Do not let your prayers be hindered
I John 5:14-17 -God hears prayers
Acts 10:30-33 -God hears those who seek Him
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