[0:00] At the same time, this is very edifying. Like Pastor just said, we just heard about Jason speaking about being sealed with that spirit.
[0:12] ! And that's pretty close to what I'm about to talk about, right? And even what Greg was talking about, you know, salvation. Like, getting that spirit is also about salvation, right?
[0:22] And none of this comes together without this King James Bible, yeah? Amen. And I just want to thank them for the labor that they're putting into studying. I want to thank the other men that are putting in that same labor.
[0:34] And it's a good work. And speaking of good, how good is God? Amen? Amen. And how do I know that I have God's spirit in me? I know because the Bible tells me it's a promise from God, right?
[0:50] See, how many promises do we actually have from God? Really, you know, in this era that we're living in, we can't really get into the entire Bible and start looking at all these promises.
[1:04] Because really, not all of them are for us, right? But I do know one thing. If we were to name a few, what would happen to your faith?
[1:17] You know, what would happen if God kept his word on his promises? And what would happen if he didn't? You know, if you guys could open your Bible to Titus 1. Just real quick, just want to get there.
[1:34] See, church, this is an incredible privilege for me because I didn't grow up in church. I was an enemy of God. I knew about God, but I was his enemy.
[1:47] I made a mess of my life when I was young, and I wrecked everything that I did. And even in all that wreck, God was very merciful unto me, and he sure did save me at Calvary, didn't he?
[2:02] That's where it all happens, guys. It really is just a beautiful thing, what he did at Calvary. And what does Romans 5, 10 say real quick?
[2:16] It says, for if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Amen? And that's absolutely right.
[2:28] I was an enemy. I was reconciled. So beautiful. And there was a promise, you guys, of eternal life for me long before any of us were actually even here. If you read in Titus 1 through 3, it actually says, Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began, but hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior.
[3:07] And although I had eternal life waiting for me, I still needed to receive that word of truth and be renewed and be, as Pastor just said, regenerated.
[3:18] You know, and that comes, as it says in Titus 3, 3 and 7, it says, It says, For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
[3:38] But after that, the kindness and love of God our Savior towards man appeared, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
[4:03] See, when I started going to church, I really understood hell and that fear that comes. And like I said, I didn't grow up in church, but when I started, that's what I began to hear.
[4:18] You know, I began to believe. I began to start to trust in what God did for me and how he shed his blood and died for me. And I prayed for God to save me.
[4:31] It was a small prayer. I know it wasn't the most, like, exaggerated prayer ever, but I remember being on my knees in my wife's past church that we were at, and nothing really crazy happened.
[4:49] I can't say I was speaking in tongues or, you know, I started prophesying to the church. No, no. It was just a moment when I just asked God to save me.
[5:02] You know, but even then, I still lived my life in sin, right?
[5:12] I didn't know what I was, I didn't know the book. And so, God was being very merciful unto me. And if you guys could just turn to Ephesians 1. It says in Ephesians.
[5:26] See, I wasn't very knowledgeable of the Bible about 10 years ago when I got saved.
[5:42] And I didn't know much, but I did know that I was going to hell and I got saved. And I was no longer in that direction. I was actually glory bound, guys. That's something I did know.
[5:54] And see what it says here in Ephesians. It says, in Ephesians 1, 13, 14, it says, In whom ye also trusted after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of our purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
[6:20] Amen? Amen. See, brothers, if you have done these things of trusting, hearing, and believing the word of truth, then you all have been given that promise of that Spirit. And the Bible says that we've been baptized with one baptism, guys.
[6:36] It says in Ephesians 4, 4, 6, that there is one body and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. And we all know that baptism came from Jesus right when he did that.
[6:50] One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all. Now, the exact details of each and every one of your testimonies can change. But if you trusted in that one Lord with the one faith, then you have that one spirit of promise, you guys.
[7:07] Amen. Amen. Right? Now, if you guys could turn to Philippians 2. It says here in Philippians. Just want to make sure I'm there.
[7:22] Okay. Okay.
[7:32] Philippians 2, it says, Well, once again, church, I know I have the spirit, because even though I was attending a different church back in the day that was really teaching baptism for salvation, I still heard the gospel.
[7:52] A saving gospel. And I was spiritually baptized, you guys. You know? And it took me a while to get into the Bible. And it really was that spirit that showed me how to discern my choices, you guys.
[8:07] And that is exactly it. It was the spirit. You know? It was God doing that in me, you guys. And as it says in Philippians 2.13, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.
[8:20] Yes? And of course there's evidences of the spirit living in me. And that came over time, like I said. And it didn't get solidified up until I was really in the Bible. And I knew everybody was getting baptized around me.
[8:34] My mother-in-law was telling me I had to be baptized. But her baptism was a water baptism, right? And that took me some time. But in the meantime, I knew I needed more preaching.
[8:46] I knew I needed more teaching, more fellowship with the believers. I attended the Lord's Supper. You know, more fear of the Lord came upon me as I kept hearing the words.
[8:57] And I began to finally praise God. That never happened to me. And it was actually a great feeling. These feelings of comfort really came also.
[9:08] And just that the heavy burden of losing my salvation, it passed away as I got into the Bible. And really what did happen is when I received the Lord, I wanted to compare spiritual things with spiritual, you guys.
[9:26] And it says in 1 Corinthians 2, you guys probably know this by heart, but verse 9-13 it says, But as it is written, I have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the hearts of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
[9:44] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of man, save the Spirit of man which is in him?
[9:55] Even so, the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God which is in him. But the Spirit of God is of God.
[10:09] That we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which also we speak not in the words of which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth.
[10:22] Comparing spiritual things with spiritual. See, finally, I know I have the Spirit of God because I want to put my flesh down, you guys. Any wicked thing that comes around, I just bring it to Christ and I want to put it down.
[10:39] And I want to live as a son of God. Right? Sanctified life. Romans 8, 13 says, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die.
[10:50] But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
[11:07] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we also might be glorified together.
[11:24] See, even if I'm praying for many other promises, and I don't see them happening, it's not God being unfaithful.
[11:35] It's just, it's us not understanding his will. You know, and that's one thing that he did will, is for all of us to be saved, that promise to be given. And finally, it says here in Romans, like Romans 8, 26 through 28, it says, Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.
[11:53] For we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the heart knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
[12:12] And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. So I pray, church, that as we try to live this life for Christ, that we stay faithful to his words, to his promise.
[12:29] And so that one day we can hear, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. And also, as it says in John 15, I henceforth not call you servants, for the servant not knoweth what his Lord doeth.
[12:44] But I have called you friends. For all things have I heard of my Father I have made known unto you. And he sure did, you guys. Well, guys, I pray.
[12:54] I hope I showed you that I do have the Spirit living in me. And that's all I have. Amen. Thank you. Good evening, everyone.
[13:13] If you could do me a favor and let me get my paper. I need you to please just mark in your Bibles Luke 15 and Colossians 2, please.
[13:27] We're going to be turning to those places. I want to thank you for this opportunity to be here. This is pretty special for me. Brother Andrew, thank you for being here and your family.
[13:39] It's pretty amazing that you're here. Because my whole family is saved and we were once practicing Jews. We were in a temple for almost 20 years.
[13:53] Reformed, but we were still faithful. So I want to hopefully give you encouragement that there are Jews who look for salvation. And that who want the truth. That's what we always ever wanted.
[14:05] So thank you so much for being here. It's very encouraging for us as well. So the pastor asked me to speak on, I know that I can live my life for the Lord Jesus Christ.
[14:18] So why can I live my life for the Lord Jesus Christ? So forgive me, I'm going to read because I can ramble. So I will just try to stay close to the text here. So I know that I can live my life for the Lord Jesus Christ because up until the time I was saved, I hadn't known that I should.
[14:36] I live for myself, my own thoughts of how things should be. I leaned upon my own understanding. I was selfish, thought I was a good enough person even though I was counting on my own righteousness and worldly worship.
[14:52] Because of that, I know what it is like to be desperate, fearful, alone and helpless without any guarantee of any kind of hope.
[15:05] Forget salvation. No hope. None. I was lost without any Savior. Blinded to the truth. 2 Corinthians 4.4 says, In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
[15:29] I did not have the Son, so I did not have the Father. I had assurance of nothing. So Deuteronomy 28.66 says, And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee, and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life.
[15:50] Amen. That's what it was like. That is how I live with no assurance. As many of you know, my family and I were at one time regular attendees of synagogue. And even so, thinking back, we were left to our own interpretation of Scripture.
[16:04] Scripture. And the vain babblings of clergy. And I'm being very kind when I say vain babblings. If it weren't for the Lord seeking me out and bringing me to Him through friends.
[16:21] That's how the Lord works. I would not be here today and would still be on my way to hell. So how do I know that I can live my life for the Lord Jesus Christ?
[16:31] Because I know He saved me. Through reading of Scripture and believing it to be true, I found the Lord and He saved me. As to my testimony, 1 John 1.9 says, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[16:52] So many of you are familiar with the passage in Luke 15 about the prodigal son. Can we just turn there real quick? Because this is how I was saved by reading the Scripture and right here.
[17:05] So if you look at Luke 15, 20 to 24. And He arose and came to His Father.
[17:17] That tells everything. But when He was yet a great way off, His Father saw Him and had compassion and ran and fell on His neck and kissed Him.
[17:29] And the Son said unto Him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in Thy sight and am no more worthy to be called Thy Son. But the Father said to His servants, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.
[17:49] And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry. For this, my son was dead and is alive again.
[18:02] He was lost and is found and they began to be merry. I can't tell you how much that means to me. It is so powerful. I've read it so many times and I am so moved by it every time.
[18:14] It is just so true of how I came to the Lord. So lost. So lastly, I know that I can live for the Lord Jesus Christ because my life has been forever changed.
[18:27] I no longer fear death because I know where I'm going when I die. I also have the truth of Scripture, the understanding of His words, and the authority of His word to lean on.
[18:40] He has given me assurance that I am saved. Colossians, this is where we're going, Colossians 2, 10-14. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power, in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, wherein all ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised Him from the dead.
[19:16] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.
[19:26] Blotting out the handwriting. This is big for Jews, folks. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.
[19:41] Finally, I know that I can live my life with the Lord Jesus Christ, is summed up for me in this one verse, Galatians 2, 20. I am crucified with Christ.
[19:52] Nevertheless, I live. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
[20:05] Amen. Thank you. We've got time for one more.
[20:17] But we'll just go with that then. Amen. That's powerful stuff to hear how the Lord saves a soul. And everybody here has a different story, don't you? You all have a different story of how the Lord opened your eyes to your need and to what He did for you by the blood of His Son.
[20:35] And it doesn't get old to hear that stuff to me. It never gets old. And some of them are, you know, kind of spectacular, and then some of them are just what we would, in comparison, they're just not as exciting.
[20:46] But what in the world? Why would we stick that way? In the eyes of God, to see one of these little ones come to Him and believe on His Son, and to not just save the soul for eternity, but then, in essence, save a life from a mess, potentially, of living in the depths of hell in this world and going through all that drudgery and sin.
[21:08] And so those testimonies are just as precious, too. But I hope you have got that testimony here tonight. I hope everybody here knows for sure that the Holy Spirit of God lives in them, that their sins are forgiven, even though you did touch on that in Colossians 2, so we can chalk that one up to say we got that one, too.
[21:27] Having forgiven you all trespasses, He said. So that works. We'll get out a little bit early tonight and get a chance to meet the family here, the Lewis family that's with us, and just introduce yourself to them.
[21:40] And I don't know if we'll see them again or what their plans are around the area, but just take the opportunity to meet somebody. You never know what the Lord does.
[21:50] He brings a family in on a Wednesday night, and you get to see somebody you didn't even know was out there trying to do something for our Savior. And they're out there, and God has His people everywhere.
[22:01] And He comes from Australia, and then trying to witness and minister to the Hebrew people by the grace of God. So we'll dismiss with that. Thank you for being here. And let's have a word of prayer, and then you can get out a little early.
[22:13] Father, it's been good to be here. Thank you for these men, for the time they put in, and for the effort and just the living words of God that speak to us and give us assurance and minister.
[22:25] The words are spirit, and they are life, and they are alive in us, and we're thankful for this book. Lord, we'd be lost and confused without it, and we're still confused people about some things in this life.
[22:37] And this book is deep, and it is infinite, and we don't understand everything. It's holy, and we are unholy. But Lord, we're grateful for it. Thank you that we can read it and study it, that we can declare that what we do know.
[22:51] And thank you for the assurance that we have because of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for the relationship that we have to you through Him. And Lord, thank you that we could meet again tonight and come together out of this world and just get around the fellowship of salvation and thanking you for saving our souls and open up these holy words once again and just having it reviewed to us and refresh some of these truths that we almost take for granted.
[23:18] Thank you for salvation, and thank you for eternal security, and thank you for service, an opportunity to serve you in this life. And may we give ourselves to you. May, God, you burden our souls and our hearts for those that are around us that are lost and on their way to hell and help us to be faithful and not overlook them because we're busy and help us not to be selfish about our cares of this life.
[23:43] But God, open our eyes. Help us to look on these fields. And I pray that you'll do a work through us that Jesus Christ could be glorified. Thank you for the Lewis family. Thank you for the burden you've given them to minister to Jews.
[23:56] I pray that you'll meet their needs and supply them. I pray that you'll also give them fruit for their labor and guide their steps, and may they be used to bring the light of the gospel to a lost people.
[24:06] And we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. You are dismissed.