WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.400 Well, it's a great pleasure to be with you here this morning and to preach in this series. 00:00:05.500 --> 00:00:09.740 It's always tricky when you preach at the, I think, the end of the series, I suppose, 00:00:10.220 --> 00:00:15.259 and not knowing exactly what's come before, not knowing whether what you're going to say 00:00:15.259 --> 00:00:18.900 might contradict what's gone before or they might contradict you. 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:23.839 So, but of course, teaching will continue on here week after week anyway after I've gone. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:32.840 But it's great to hear, to be here and to speak to you about the Holy Spirit and knowing God as Spirit. 00:00:33.340 --> 00:00:36.100 So with that in mind and that task before us, let's pray. 00:00:38.179 --> 00:00:41.320 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Holy Spirit. 00:00:42.120 --> 00:00:47.439 We thank you for your Spirit who inspired these words of the Apostle John so long ago. 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:55.920 And we pray, Father, that your Spirit might do his work in our hearts and minds and lives this morning. 00:00:56.899 --> 00:01:04.099 Father, we pray that my words might be your words, that you would bless us through your Word and by your Spirit 00:01:04.099 --> 00:01:06.620 to the praise and glory of your Son. 00:01:07.340 --> 00:01:09.840 And we ask it in his name. Amen. 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:20.740 John's Gospel is a deep and rich reservoir for understanding God. 00:01:21.520 --> 00:01:32.080 An ancient writer in the early church described John's Gospel as a pool in which a child may play and an elephant may wait. 00:01:32.800 --> 00:01:38.560 Or in our view, perhaps a deep sea diver might continue to never fathom the depths of John's Gospel. 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:46.159 John's Gospel begins, as you well know, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 00:01:46.659 --> 00:01:50.840 All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. 00:01:51.799 --> 00:01:55.020 John deliberately evokes Genesis 1. 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:58.960 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.500 And in Genesis 1, there's a reference to and the Spirit of God moved over the waters. 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:10.419 And God said, let there be light, and there was light. 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:18.219 And there you see that Trinitarian aspect of God with regard to the creation of the world, the heavens and the earth, 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:22.439 by the breath of his mouth, speaking words. 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:28.960 And it's not surprising, therefore, as the Bible moves on through the Old Testament and the New Testament, 00:02:29.539 --> 00:02:35.680 that the language of breath, which of course is exactly the same word as spirit, both in Hebrew and in Greek, 00:02:36.259 --> 00:02:40.879 the Spirit of God, the empowerment of God, speaks words. 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:46.539 And the Word of God is characteristic of the Son of God, the incarnate Jesus. 00:02:46.539 --> 00:02:52.620 So here you get this interconnection of God, his Word and his Spirit. 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:59.379 If I was to quote to you from Psalm 33, verse 6, where the psalmist says, 00:02:59.959 --> 00:03:06.840 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:16.140 So John introduces his gospel with this concept and understanding of God in three persons. 00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:20.759 And yet you may say, well, where is the Spirit in John chapter 1? 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:25.180 In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:03:25.580 --> 00:03:29.300 There you can clearly see the divinity of the Son of God. 00:03:29.300 --> 00:03:36.160 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. 00:03:37.219 --> 00:03:47.800 But as you move through John's gospel, you see that it's the Spirit of God that empowers not only his people, but also Jesus himself. 00:03:48.660 --> 00:03:54.120 So when you get to chapter 3 of John, you have that extraordinary encounter with Nicodemus. 00:03:54.120 --> 00:04:07.240 Nicodemus, a ruler in Jerusalem, comes to Jesus by night, no doubt for fear of being seen by the other Jews and his fellow elders in Jerusalem. 00:04:08.780 --> 00:04:15.659 And Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus reveals that he must be born again. 00:04:16.500 --> 00:04:19.379 You must be born of water and the Spirit. 00:04:20.379 --> 00:04:23.280 And here the reference to the Spirit is arresting. 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:28.979 We've already seen the Spirit descend upon Jesus as a dove with regard to in Jesus' baptism. 00:04:29.459 --> 00:04:36.639 We've seen the way in which the Spirit has actually empowered, not in John's gospel, empowered him to go into the wilderness for the temptation. 00:04:37.479 --> 00:04:44.279 But here Jesus enunciates the important role of the Spirit in being born again. 00:04:45.559 --> 00:04:49.439 And the interesting thing is, that is not new teaching. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:54.040 It's new language, but not new teaching. 00:04:55.319 --> 00:05:01.779 And you can tell that because Jesus says to Nicodemus, are you a teacher in Israel and you don't know this? 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:10.519 You don't know that unless a person is born of water and the Spirit, they can't enter the kingdom of God. 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:13.819 What does it mean to be born of water and the Spirit? 00:05:15.139 --> 00:05:20.439 Well, being born of the Spirit is a reference to the work of the Spirit to change us from within. 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:23.859 The work of the Spirit to enliven us. 00:05:24.219 --> 00:05:26.859 To bring us from death to life. 00:05:27.799 --> 00:05:31.359 And the Bible's testimony with regard to that is as old as Adam. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:38.580 Adam and Eve were told, if you eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, on that day you shall die. 00:05:40.020 --> 00:05:47.879 In God's mercy, Adam and Eve did not die physically that day, but they did die spiritually. 00:05:48.960 --> 00:05:52.620 There was a spiritual death that entered the human race. 00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:59.480 A spiritual death which was not characteristic of Adam and Eve's relationship with God in the garden of Genesis 1 and 2. 00:06:00.220 --> 00:06:08.360 Whereby they could talk with God and walk with God and they do God's work in the garden, till the garden, eat of the fruit. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:14.000 But that all changed when they rebelled against him. 00:06:14.459 --> 00:06:18.399 And a spiritual death took place for Adam and Eve. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:28.979 By God's mercy, they did not die physically that day, because to have died physically that day in a state of spiritual death would have meant an eternal death. 00:06:29.859 --> 00:06:32.120 There are three aspects to death in the Bible. 00:06:32.579 --> 00:06:35.079 The spiritual, the physical, and the eternal. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:41.599 If you die physically in a state of spiritual death, then the outcome will be eternal death. 00:06:42.259 --> 00:06:47.039 What the Bible chillingly describes as the second death. 00:06:47.040 --> 00:07:00.220 But God, in his mercy, protected Adam and Eve from actually eating of the tree of life, which would have perpetuated their state of spiritual death. 00:07:00.379 --> 00:07:07.160 And he cast them out of the garden and put before him, put the cherubim there with a flaming sword. 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:11.620 The cherubim, of course, are not just ordinary old seraphim. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.000 They're not your ordinary garden common angels. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:18.980 The cherubim have a special place in scripture as cherubim of glory. 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:21.639 They're throne attendant angels. 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:23.959 They guard the throne of God. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:28.860 And the Garden of Eden was seen very much symbolically as God's dwelling place. 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:32.620 The Garden of God, described as such in the Old Testament. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:37.600 So here are Adam and Eve in this state of spiritual death. 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:43.300 And they, before they can be in relationship with God, must be born again. 00:07:44.300 --> 00:07:57.620 The language of being spiritually born, coming to life in God, is evident by the way in which Eve, in chapter 4, speaks of getting a child with the help of the Lord. 00:07:57.620 --> 00:07:59.980 There is a woman of faith. 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:02.259 There is her expression of faith. 00:08:02.540 --> 00:08:09.699 And so we see the godly line which would have begun with Abel, had he not been killed by his brother Cain. 00:08:09.899 --> 00:08:15.540 And there you get the battle between the spiritually alive and the spiritually dead. 00:08:15.540 --> 00:08:30.620 And that battle of the seeds between those who are of God and those who are not of God, seen actually from that first human family of Cain and Abel, is demonstrated in the death of Abel and the judgment that falls upon Cain. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:36.080 The line of faith continues through Seth and through generations. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:46.740 But throughout the Old Testament, there is the reality that you can be part of the family of Abraham, but not be alive to God. 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:56.000 You can have all the aspects of being part of God's people, but not be alive to God. 00:08:56.180 --> 00:09:00.000 And the difference is the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:03.919 Theologians have described that as regeneration. 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:11.480 For obvious reasons, regeneration is new birth, regenerating, bringing a person to life. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:14.860 So when Paul writes to the Ephesians, he says, 00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:21.960 You who were dead and trespassers in your sins, you he made alive. 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:26.940 And raised you to be with Christ and seated you in the heavenly places. 00:09:26.940 --> 00:09:30.940 That's all a work of the Holy Spirit. 00:09:31.780 --> 00:09:37.000 The Holy Spirit actually enables us to see things as they truly are. 00:09:38.060 --> 00:09:39.920 Enables us to see reality. 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:42.040 Enables us to hear God's word. 00:09:42.540 --> 00:09:45.580 Enables us to come to life spiritually. 00:09:46.520 --> 00:09:48.620 That's a work of the Spirit of God. 00:09:48.620 --> 00:10:18.600 Enables us to hear God's word. 00:10:18.620 --> 00:10:21.019 Forward and appeal at a crusade, for example. 00:10:21.700 --> 00:10:23.320 May have been taught by your parents. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:26.960 Became a Christian in scripture at schools. 00:10:27.340 --> 00:10:28.360 Or in Sunday school. 00:10:28.539 --> 00:10:29.679 Or some other venue. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:31.039 Or a neighbour or a friend. 00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:32.480 Or just by reading your Bible. 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:35.759 But what's actually happened is, 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:41.120 God has brought you from death to life. 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:44.480 He's actually enabled you to see the truth. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:46.820 Whether it's from the words on the page of the Bible. 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:49.580 The testimony of a friend or teacher or parent. 00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:50.920 Or pastor. 00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:54.840 What God has done has brought you to life. 00:10:56.180 --> 00:10:57.080 You see, 00:10:58.220 --> 00:11:01.120 we're all humans are dead in trespassers and sins. 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:05.060 Unless God brings us to life, 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:06.639 there is no hope. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:09.299 We can't bring ourselves to life. 00:11:09.580 --> 00:11:12.059 We can't believe or by ourselves. 00:11:13.559 --> 00:11:14.340 If you can think of, 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:15.860 if a dead person, 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:18.659 if after a ship has sunk and there's a life raft 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:20.879 and there are dead people floating in the sea, 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:24.500 it doesn't matter how many life boys you throw them, 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:27.019 they can't hold on to it. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:28.559 Because they're dead. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:31.379 They need to be made alive 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:35.039 before they can actually hold on to that life raft. 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:37.859 In John's Gospel, 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:41.000 you get the beautiful story of Lazarus. 00:11:42.239 --> 00:11:43.459 And there, you recall, 00:11:43.599 --> 00:11:45.959 when Lazarus was dead in the tomb, 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:48.459 Jesus speaks and says, 00:11:48.939 --> 00:11:50.299 Lazarus, come forth. 00:11:51.979 --> 00:11:54.179 Now, if anyone else had spoken like that, 00:11:55.359 --> 00:11:56.319 nothing would have happened, would it? 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:59.300 Lazarus would remain dead in the tomb. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:01.620 In fact, you can imagine, 00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:03.480 you wonder what on earth the people thought 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:05.740 as they were gathering around that tomb. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.360 What was Jesus doing? 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:09.140 Lazarus, come forth. 00:12:10.760 --> 00:12:12.420 Jesus didn't go into the tomb 00:12:12.420 --> 00:12:14.140 to pick up Lazarus and bring him out. 00:12:14.820 --> 00:12:15.340 Notice that? 00:12:16.540 --> 00:12:19.120 What Jesus did was he spoke 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:22.940 life-giving words. 00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:25.720 The very words he uttered 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:28.500 brought life into Lazarus. 00:12:29.560 --> 00:12:31.600 And when Lazarus was brought 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:33.200 from death to life, 00:12:34.060 --> 00:12:36.420 he hears in that instance, 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:39.920 Lazarus, come forth. 00:12:40.560 --> 00:12:43.020 And he gets up and walks out. 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:47.300 He responds to the invitation of Jesus. 00:12:48.300 --> 00:12:51.360 He responds because he's been made alive. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:53.580 You can't imagine him, can you, 00:12:53.680 --> 00:12:55.300 waking up in that tomb and saying, 00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:56.480 oh, Jesus is calling me, 00:12:56.539 --> 00:12:57.700 but it's not too bad here. 00:12:57.940 --> 00:12:58.899 I've been here four days. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:12:59.800 I can stay a bit longer. 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:01.600 It's a bit damp, it's smelly, 00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:03.720 but I think it's all right, a bit dark. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:04.879 No. 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:07.639 Once he knows the condition of death 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:08.279 that he's in, 00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:11.419 it's irresistible for him to come forth. 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:14.360 It's the spirit of God 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:16.960 that brings him to life 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:19.379 and enables him to walk out. 00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:21.299 Actually, he didn't walk out. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.679 He hopped out 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:23.779 because it's all bound up with linen, 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:24.639 but that's not the story. 00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:28.580 What's interesting here is 00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:30.299 Jesus is the focus. 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:33.439 There's no reference to the spirit 00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:36.580 in that episode 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:38.340 of the raising of Lazarus 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:40.419 because the spirit 00:13:40.419 --> 00:13:43.639 never works for his own glory. 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:47.600 The spirit always works 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:49.299 for Jesus' glory. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:51.019 Have you noticed that? 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:53.199 That's why it's almost subtle, 00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:54.259 the way in which the spirit 00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:55.819 is referenced in the Old Testament. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:58.659 The spirit is always there 00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:02.159 empowering, as it were, 00:14:02.299 --> 00:14:03.379 the saints of old, 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.220 the prophets. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:06.759 The prophets speak by the spirit of God. 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:08.960 The apostles speak by the spirit of God. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.440 The spirit of God is actually there, 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:14.800 but he's always bringing glory to the Son. 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:16.840 And you'll find that there 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:21.139 in chapter 16 of John's Gospel, 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:21.920 which we're looking at, 00:14:22.300 --> 00:14:26.040 where the spirit takes what is mine 00:14:26.040 --> 00:14:28.060 and declares it to you. 00:14:28.580 --> 00:14:30.580 And he glorifies me. 00:14:31.680 --> 00:14:33.019 It's a bit like if you think of, 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.940 if you look at the Harbour Bridge at night, 00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:39.100 and you'll see it's lit up by floodlights. 00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:42.040 If you look carefully, 00:14:43.260 --> 00:14:45.060 all you can see is the bridge. 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:49.440 You don't actually see the floodlights. 00:14:50.900 --> 00:14:52.540 The floodlights' purpose 00:14:52.540 --> 00:14:55.680 is to light up the bridge. 00:14:57.380 --> 00:14:58.960 That's how the spirit works. 00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:00.900 The spirit's purpose 00:15:00.900 --> 00:15:03.540 is always to glorify Jesus 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:05.319 so that the attention 00:15:05.319 --> 00:15:07.159 is upon Jesus, 00:15:07.839 --> 00:15:09.199 not upon himself. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.259 Whenever you hear 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:13.480 of Christian conversations 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.519 talking about the importance 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:15.259 of the spirit 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:17.379 and they're glorying in the spirit 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:18.419 or they're glorying in the fact 00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:19.459 that they've got manifestations 00:15:19.459 --> 00:15:19.959 of the spirit, 00:15:20.339 --> 00:15:21.939 it's always a slight danger 00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:24.039 if they're not glorifying Jesus. 00:15:24.719 --> 00:15:26.899 For to have the spirit of God 00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:30.039 means you'll be glorifying Jesus 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:32.699 because that's the spirit's 00:15:32.699 --> 00:15:34.199 chief task. 00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:37.819 Now let me come to parts 00:15:37.819 --> 00:15:39.759 of this chapter in John 16. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.039 Do the second part too 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.679 from verse 12 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:44.699 if you've got your Bibles open. 00:15:44.699 --> 00:15:46.480 I have many things to say to you 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.860 but you cannot bear them now. 00:15:48.319 --> 00:15:50.079 When the spirit of truth comes, 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:52.299 he will guide you into all truth 00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:53.639 for he will not speak 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.620 on his own authority 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:56.179 but whatever he hears, 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:56.819 he will speak 00:15:56.819 --> 00:15:58.339 and he will declare to you 00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:59.280 the things that are to come. 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:01.960 He will glorify me 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:05.000 for he will take what is mine 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.980 and declare it to you. 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:09.180 Although the father has his mind 00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:10.160 therefore I said that 00:16:10.160 --> 00:16:11.660 he will take what is mine 00:16:11.660 --> 00:16:12.960 and declare it to you. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.680 Now he's talking to the apostles here 00:16:15.680 --> 00:16:18.259 and I want you to realise 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:19.920 that he's actually talking about 00:16:19.920 --> 00:16:21.259 the coming of the spirit 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:23.320 which is a bit strange 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.400 because I've just been saying to you 00:16:24.400 --> 00:16:25.460 the spirit's already there. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.900 The spirit's already been active 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:29.539 in the lives of the Old Testament saints. 00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:32.360 No person could have believed in God 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:33.959 without the spirit of God 00:16:33.959 --> 00:16:35.480 making them alive, 00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:37.319 regenerating them. 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:39.360 So what is Jesus saying here 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:40.939 about the coming of the spirit? 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.659 What does he mean 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:44.159 in terms of the spirit coming? 00:16:44.459 --> 00:16:45.179 Well hasn't the spirit 00:16:45.179 --> 00:16:46.199 already been there? 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:48.100 Haven't they already been 00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:50.179 baptised into Jesus? 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:52.720 Haven't they already been born again 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:54.139 in terms of John 3 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:56.340 which comes several chapters 00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:57.320 before John 16? 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:00.399 Aren't they already clean 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:02.700 by the word that Jesus 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.620 has spoken to them? 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.120 True. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.900 But what Jesus is saying is 00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:09.460 the spirit of God 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:10.900 is now going to come 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:12.140 in a 00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:14.059 quantitatively 00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:15.180 different manner. 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:17.539 In a new manner. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:20.340 And the language of the baptism 00:17:20.340 --> 00:17:21.180 of the Holy Spirit 00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:21.779 which you find 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.920 in the book of Acts 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:24.600 describes this 00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:26.700 coming of the spirit of God 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.460 with power. 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.279 And what the 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.480 main difference 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.820 between the Old Testament 00:17:31.820 --> 00:17:33.340 activity of the spirit 00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:34.759 and the New Testament 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:35.660 activity of the spirit 00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:36.200 is 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:39.000 the same spirit of Christ 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.080 which is in the Old Testament 00:17:40.080 --> 00:17:40.660 prophets 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:42.000 we read of that 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.560 in 1 Peter chapter 1 00:17:43.560 --> 00:17:46.100 that is the 00:17:46.100 --> 00:17:46.840 unascended 00:17:46.840 --> 00:17:48.100 spirit of Christ. 00:17:48.800 --> 00:17:50.140 The spirit of Christ's 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:51.740 activity in the New Covenant 00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:53.340 for us as Christians 00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:54.900 is the spirit 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:55.540 of the 00:17:55.540 --> 00:17:56.740 ascended Christ. 00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:59.220 That's why Jesus says 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:00.000 I'm going to send 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.720 another counsellor to you 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:03.300 notice that 00:18:03.300 --> 00:18:03.860 another 00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:05.120 counsellor to you 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:07.500 but he cannot come 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.640 unless I leave you. 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.180 He cannot come 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.620 until I 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:11.759 go to the Father. 00:18:13.080 --> 00:18:13.880 And what Jesus 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:14.520 here is saying 00:18:14.520 --> 00:18:15.400 is that there's going to be 00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:15.700 a 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.520 qualitative 00:18:16.520 --> 00:18:17.840 difference between 00:18:17.840 --> 00:18:19.000 the Old Covenant Christians 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.920 and the New Covenant Christians 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.980 and it all 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:21.960 focuses upon 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:22.759 Jesus 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:24.480 and his death. 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.819 Because after 00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:27.960 his death and resurrection 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:29.359 Jesus ascends 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.039 to the Father 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:32.299 and from there 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:33.539 he sends 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.640 the Holy Spirit. 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.259 He sends 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.400 the spirit of truth. 00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:38.799 He sends 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.920 the spirit of power. 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:41.180 He sends 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:42.019 the other 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:42.980 counsellor. 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:45.059 He does that 00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:46.279 and in our church year 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:47.180 as you know 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:47.779 we have 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:49.960 Good Friday 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:51.860 Easter Day 00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:53.460 and then 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.180 Ascension 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:56.180 and then 00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.000 Pentecost 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.860 or Whitsunday 00:18:58.860 --> 00:18:59.640 in the old form. 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:00.880 So that 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:01.940 movement 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.560 is that 00:19:02.560 --> 00:19:03.500 Jesus sins 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.779 and why does he do that 00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.279 from heaven? 00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:06.860 Why couldn't God 00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:07.700 have done that beforehand? 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:08.920 Because without 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:09.660 the death 00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:10.220 and resurrection 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:10.920 of Jesus 00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:12.220 we're still 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:13.380 dead in our sins. 00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:15.520 the promise 00:19:15.520 --> 00:19:16.820 of deliverance 00:19:16.820 --> 00:19:17.340 is there 00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:18.780 and now 00:19:18.780 --> 00:19:19.700 the reality 00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.840 of deliverance 00:19:20.840 --> 00:19:21.260 is there. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.420 So the 00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:23.460 ascended Christ 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.760 sends the spirit 00:19:24.760 --> 00:19:25.360 of Christ 00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:26.320 in order that 00:19:26.320 --> 00:19:27.320 we as Christians 00:19:27.320 --> 00:19:28.980 can appropriate 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:30.660 salvation 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:31.340 won, 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.520 salvation 00:19:32.520 --> 00:19:33.340 accomplished. 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:35.100 The Old Testament 00:19:35.100 --> 00:19:36.040 were always looking 00:19:36.040 --> 00:19:36.560 forward 00:19:36.560 --> 00:19:37.880 to the future. 00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:39.440 Always looking 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:40.420 forward to the future 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:41.340 of God's deliverance. 00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.199 they walked 00:19:42.199 --> 00:19:43.000 by faith. 00:19:43.679 --> 00:19:44.699 Things into which 00:19:44.699 --> 00:19:45.599 angels 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.679 longed to look 00:19:46.679 --> 00:19:48.039 was a salvation 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:48.959 that God was going 00:19:48.959 --> 00:19:49.539 to bring about 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.419 through the Lord Jesus. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:51.959 But we 00:19:51.959 --> 00:19:53.759 have seen that. 00:19:55.379 --> 00:19:55.759 Abraham 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.579 rejoiced 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:58.419 in Jesus' 00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:58.759 day. 00:19:58.879 --> 00:19:59.379 He saw it 00:19:59.379 --> 00:19:59.959 and was glad. 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.439 He didn't fully 00:20:01.439 --> 00:20:02.099 comprehend 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:03.039 all that God had 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:03.539 but he knew 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.199 that God 00:20:04.199 --> 00:20:05.099 had a plan 00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:05.939 and that God 00:20:05.939 --> 00:20:06.959 would execute 00:20:06.959 --> 00:20:07.759 that plan. 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:08.699 Abraham 00:20:08.699 --> 00:20:09.939 walked by faith. 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.199 But we 00:20:12.199 --> 00:20:13.039 walk on the 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:13.559 other side 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.139 of the cross 00:20:14.139 --> 00:20:15.799 and the spirit 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.619 of the 00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:17.619 accomplishment 00:20:17.619 --> 00:20:18.240 of redemption, 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.480 the spirit 00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.159 of the ascended 00:20:20.159 --> 00:20:20.720 Christ 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.819 has now come. 00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:22.799 And what's 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.139 the spirit 00:20:23.139 --> 00:20:23.579 going to do 00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:23.919 among the 00:20:23.919 --> 00:20:24.240 apostles? 00:20:25.419 --> 00:20:26.199 With the 00:20:26.199 --> 00:20:26.639 apostles 00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:27.259 he's going 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:27.579 to be 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.059 another 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.919 counsellor. 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:29.779 But don't 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.399 go away, 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.379 the counsellor 00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:31.659 will not 00:20:31.659 --> 00:20:32.319 come to you. 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:33.259 But if I 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.799 do go, 00:20:33.939 --> 00:20:34.279 I will 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:34.740 send him 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.139 to you. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.220 Jesus 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:36.740 was the 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.459 first counsellor 00:20:37.459 --> 00:20:37.899 if you like. 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:39.100 And when 00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:39.720 the spirit 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.240 comes, 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:40.920 it's another 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.580 counsellor 00:20:41.580 --> 00:20:42.560 but in actual 00:20:42.560 --> 00:20:43.140 fact Jesus 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:44.220 says it's 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:44.500 him. 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.240 It's the 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:48.080 spirit of 00:20:48.080 --> 00:20:48.580 Christ. 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:50.480 So to have 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.220 the spirit 00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:52.140 in us as 00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:52.600 Christians 00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:53.900 is to have 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:55.060 Christ in 00:20:55.060 --> 00:20:55.440 us. 00:20:56.100 --> 00:20:57.280 You can't 00:20:57.280 --> 00:20:58.200 separate their 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:58.759 activity. 00:20:59.780 --> 00:21:00.240 Although they 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:00.660 are two 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.340 persons in 00:21:01.340 --> 00:21:02.040 the Godhead, 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.640 it's the 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.240 spirit of 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.019 Christ who 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.460 comes to 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:05.780 us. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:06.980 It's not an 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.759 alien spirit. 00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:08.660 It's the 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.160 spirit of 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:10.120 the resurrected 00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:10.740 Christ. 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.380 It's the 00:21:11.380 --> 00:21:11.720 one who 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.259 brings to 00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:12.880 us the 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:13.860 assurance of 00:21:13.860 --> 00:21:14.660 our salvation, 00:21:15.560 --> 00:21:16.140 the assurance 00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:16.480 of our 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.140 forgiveness of 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:17.780 sins, 00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:18.960 the assurance 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.720 of we are 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.360 heirs of 00:21:20.360 --> 00:21:21.320 heaven and 00:21:21.320 --> 00:21:21.700 the hope 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.100 of eternal 00:21:22.100 --> 00:21:22.620 life, 00:21:23.360 --> 00:21:24.140 the assurance 00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:25.320 of victory 00:21:25.320 --> 00:21:26.080 won. 00:21:27.300 --> 00:21:28.360 That's the 00:21:28.360 --> 00:21:29.700 spirit's task 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.220 in us. 00:21:30.540 --> 00:21:31.000 He comes 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.200 as counsellor. 00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:33.540 He comes 00:21:33.540 --> 00:21:34.259 to defend us 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:34.540 from the 00:21:34.540 --> 00:21:35.300 accusations of 00:21:35.300 --> 00:21:35.740 the evil 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.000 one. 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:37.120 He comes 00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:37.740 to support 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.079 us and 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:38.720 strengthen us 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:38.980 in our 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.720 daily life. 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:40.640 He is 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.380 there because 00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:41.960 he brings 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.500 to us 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.640 all the 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.700 benefits of 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.059 Jesus. 00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.279 And that's 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:47.599 why the 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:48.180 Holy Spirit 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:48.819 is described 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.640 as the 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:50.120 spirit of 00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:50.579 Christ. 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.140 But the 00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:55.900 spirit comes, 00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:57.079 he guides 00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:57.660 the apostles 00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.380 into all 00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:58.799 truth. 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.120 And he 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:00.599 doesn't speak 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:00.940 in his own 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.380 authority, 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.380 but whatever 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:02.880 he learns 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.339 from me, 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:03.640 he will 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:04.019 declare. 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.660 the spirit 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.900 is dependent 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:07.460 in that 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.180 sense upon 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.339 Jesus as 00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:10.139 Jesus is 00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:10.799 dependent upon 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.299 the father. 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:12.819 As you've 00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.139 looked at the 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:14.299 trinity over 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:14.940 these last 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.779 three weeks, 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:16.660 you'll have 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.039 seen that there 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:17.680 is an ordered 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.740 relationship in 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.119 the trinity. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.400 For example, 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.039 it's not the 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:22.660 twin brothers 00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:23.019 and the 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.579 Holy Spirit. 00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:25.799 It's the 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.139 father, 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.200 the son, 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.039 and the 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:28.599 Holy Spirit. 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:29.759 It's 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.000 interesting, 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:30.339 isn't it? 00:22:30.819 --> 00:22:31.159 It's not 00:22:31.159 --> 00:22:31.740 the triplets, 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:32.980 three brothers 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.480 as it were. 00:22:34.159 --> 00:22:34.459 No, 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.159 it's father, 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.000 son, 00:22:36.199 --> 00:22:36.599 and Holy 00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:36.819 Spirit. 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:37.559 There's an 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:37.939 ordered 00:22:37.939 --> 00:22:38.799 relationships. 00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.480 That's why 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:40.740 in the 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:41.000 creed, 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:41.199 as we 00:22:41.199 --> 00:22:41.480 said, 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.159 the Holy 00:22:42.159 --> 00:22:42.459 Spirit 00:22:42.459 --> 00:22:43.480 proceeds 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.299 from the 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.339 father and 00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:45.759 the son. 00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:47.419 The 00:22:47.419 --> 00:22:47.959 spirit, 00:22:48.199 --> 00:22:48.519 just as 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.240 the son 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:51.439 desires to 00:22:51.439 --> 00:22:51.839 do the 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.339 father's 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:52.639 bidding, 00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:54.720 so the 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.220 spirit 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:56.279 longs to 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:57.099 glorify the 00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:57.439 son, 00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.139 and in 00:22:58.139 --> 00:22:58.959 glorifying the 00:22:58.959 --> 00:22:59.199 son, 00:22:59.299 --> 00:22:59.939 he glorifies 00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.460 the father. 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.180 Jesus 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:02.840 speaks about 00:23:02.840 --> 00:23:03.120 the way, 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:03.519 if you 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.700 know me, 00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:05.720 you've seen 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.220 the father. 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.360 All that 00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:08.759 the father 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:09.600 has is 00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.039 mine. 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.160 There is 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:14.059 an equal 00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:14.940 authority 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.720 among the 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.340 three of 00:23:17.340 --> 00:23:17.500 them, 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.500 but there's 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:18.920 an ordered 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.880 relationship in 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.620 that devolving 00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:21.160 of authority 00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:21.779 to us. 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.080 So for 00:23:23.080 --> 00:23:23.380 us, 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.100 the spirit 00:23:24.100 --> 00:23:24.640 of God 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.279 comes and 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.779 dwells in 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.200 us. 00:23:27.080 --> 00:23:27.580 To have 00:23:27.580 --> 00:23:28.000 the spirit 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.360 of God 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:28.640 is to 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.059 have the 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:29.420 son, 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:30.559 to have 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.120 the son 00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:31.500 is to 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:31.860 have the 00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:32.240 father. 00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.519 So we 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.600 have God 00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:35.840 in us, 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.059 the hope 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.580 of glory. 00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:39.920 And the 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.700 spirit teaches 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.299 the apostles, 00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.259 and here this 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:42.920 is particular, 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.460 we sometimes 00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.000 take these 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.720 verses as 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.860 being generic 00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:46.600 to all of 00:23:46.600 --> 00:23:46.840 us, 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:47.680 the spirit 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.519 guides us 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:48.820 into all 00:23:48.820 --> 00:23:49.120 truth, 00:23:49.320 --> 00:23:49.700 and there's 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:49.960 a sense 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.160 in which 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.440 that is 00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:50.680 true. 00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:51.799 But the 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.420 apostles had 00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:53.080 a particular 00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:54.620 focus in 00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:55.100 terms of 00:23:55.100 --> 00:23:55.559 delivering 00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:56.259 revelation, 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:56.339 revelation. 00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:57.839 So that 00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.339 again, 00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:58.559 you'll 00:23:58.559 --> 00:23:59.000 notice that 00:23:59.000 --> 00:23:59.579 we believe 00:23:59.579 --> 00:23:59.799 in the 00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:00.200 church which 00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:00.759 is Catholic 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:02.079 and apostolic. 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:03.740 What does it 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.160 mean to be an 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:05.240 apostolic church? 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:06.579 Well, 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:07.180 an apostolic 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.700 church is a 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.059 church which 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:08.740 was founded 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.319 upon the 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:09.660 apostles. 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.059 In 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.980 Ephesians 2.20, 00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:12.660 Paul says, 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.839 the church of 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.879 God is founded 00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:15.420 upon the 00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:16.299 apostles and 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:16.660 prophets, 00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:17.799 with Christ 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.460 Jesus being 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.619 the cornerstone. 00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.519 Here is the 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.299 foundation of 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:22.799 the church, 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.799 apostolic and 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.099 prophetic. 00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:24.219 prophetic. 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:25.559 That's your 00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:26.119 New Testament, 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:26.579 you see. 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:27.799 Along with the 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.259 Old Testament 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.659 prophets, 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.779 the New Testament 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:30.639 apostles and 00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:31.679 prophets bring 00:24:31.679 --> 00:24:32.899 to us the 00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:33.740 revelation of 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.839 God, the 00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:35.779 word of God 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.599 in written 00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.740 form, the 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.679 covenant document 00:24:38.679 --> 00:24:39.339 that God has 00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:40.240 given us to 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.339 show us how 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:41.799 to live our 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.819 lives, to 00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:43.519 enable us to 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.059 live in a way 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.699 which pleases 00:24:44.699 --> 00:24:45.059 him. 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:46.599 Now that 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.759 apostolic word 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.599 is brought 00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.359 about by the 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.419 spirit of God 00:24:50.419 --> 00:24:51.339 bringing to 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:52.259 remembrance all 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:52.779 that Jesus 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.279 has said. 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.959 I mean, 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:56.319 Gen X and 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.000 Gen Y can't 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.480 imagine how 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:57.899 the apostles 00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:58.199 could have 00:24:58.199 --> 00:24:58.559 worked without 00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:00.500 an iPad and 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:00.919 to remember 00:25:00.919 --> 00:25:01.419 everything that 00:25:01.419 --> 00:25:01.879 Jesus had 00:25:01.879 --> 00:25:02.139 said. 00:25:02.679 --> 00:25:03.339 But it's the 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:04.099 spirit of God 00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.719 who's actually 00:25:04.719 --> 00:25:06.719 enabled them to 00:25:06.719 --> 00:25:07.500 remember those 00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.679 things so they 00:25:08.679 --> 00:25:09.559 can deliver them 00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:11.079 to us. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:13.619 To us. 00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:15.500 If you 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.039 remember in 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.359 Jesus, 00:25:16.959 --> 00:25:17.679 sometimes called 00:25:17.679 --> 00:25:18.119 the high 00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:18.879 priestly prayer 00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:19.679 of John 17, 00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:22.480 he prays for 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.599 himself firstly. 00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:26.019 He prays for 00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.939 the apostles 00:25:26.939 --> 00:25:29.259 and then he 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.699 prays for 00:25:30.699 --> 00:25:30.980 you. 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.639 In the third 00:25:33.639 --> 00:25:34.259 section, you'll 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:34.579 notice it 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.000 begins, 00:25:35.419 --> 00:25:35.919 Father, I 00:25:35.919 --> 00:25:36.599 don't pray for 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:37.179 these only, 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:37.779 the apostles, 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:38.559 who have a 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.319 special place 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.439 in the divine 00:25:40.439 --> 00:25:41.619 economy, but I 00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:42.699 pray for everyone 00:25:42.699 --> 00:25:44.359 who believes in 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:45.500 me through 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.419 their word. 00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.779 That's you. 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:51.519 did you realise 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:51.960 that Jesus 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:53.440 prayed for 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:53.720 you? 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:56.119 He had you 00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.859 in mind 00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:58.480 when he spoke 00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.200 those words. 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:02.039 He had your 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:03.700 name in his 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.619 heart and mind 00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:05.859 before the 00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:06.619 foundation of the 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:06.960 world. 00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:08.740 Your name's 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.639 engrafted in the 00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:10.279 palms of his 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:11.819 hand, for he 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.720 loved you from 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.379 eternity. 00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:13.520 him. 00:26:15.520 --> 00:26:16.380 And when 00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:16.940 God the 00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:17.600 Father sent 00:26:17.600 --> 00:26:19.920 Jesus to 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.580 live the life 00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:21.120 we could not 00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:21.820 live and to 00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:22.620 die the death 00:26:22.620 --> 00:26:22.920 that we 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:24.000 deserve, he 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.800 did not leave 00:26:24.800 --> 00:26:26.140 us alone, but 00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:27.240 sent his Holy 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:29.280 Spirit to 00:26:29.280 --> 00:26:30.860 empower us, to 00:26:30.860 --> 00:26:32.840 enable us, to 00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:33.800 live for him. 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:36.359 the wonderful 00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:37.599 aspect of the 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.200 Holy Spirit, as 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:38.639 I said to you 00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.339 before, is that 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:40.799 he never glorifies 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.240 himself. 00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.159 His chief end 00:26:43.159 --> 00:26:44.440 is to glorify 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:44.819 Jesus. 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:47.480 One of the, not 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.200 only the benefits, 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.000 but one of the 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.960 evidences of having 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:50.980 the Spirit of God 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:52.500 is where is 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.839 Jesus in your 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:55.559 consciousness, in 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:57.279 your purpose, in 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:57.879 your life? 00:26:58.899 --> 00:26:59.919 Is Jesus the one 00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.539 whom you want to 00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:01.059 glorify? 00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.319 Is he the one 00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:02.919 whose name you 00:27:02.919 --> 00:27:03.740 want to lift high? 00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.779 Is he the one 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.139 that's going to 00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:06.000 challenge you by 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:08.200 his Spirit to 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:08.940 eschew sin? 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.539 To defeat 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.099 temptation? 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:13.119 To love one 00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:14.399 another as Christ 00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:15.240 has loved us? 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.839 To have the 00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:17.379 fruit of the 00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:17.960 Spirit, and you 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:18.839 can see this 00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:19.659 sermon could go 00:27:19.659 --> 00:27:20.419 on and on, the 00:27:20.419 --> 00:27:21.039 fruit of the 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.500 Spirit with all 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.440 its beauty and 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:24.759 glory of love, 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:26.500 peace, patience, 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:27.659 faithfulness, 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:29.700 self-control, all 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.659 those aspects of 00:27:30.659 --> 00:27:31.839 the fruit of a 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:32.720 relationship with 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.779 God that God 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:35.339 brings about by 00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:36.579 indwelling us. 00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:38.379 Later in the 00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:39.099 Apostle Paul's 00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:40.160 teaching, he 00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:41.220 talks about our 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.220 bodies as being 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:43.819 temples of the 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.519 Holy Spirit. 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.339 So the Spirit of 00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:47.099 God takes up 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:48.940 temple residence in 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:51.660 us to sanctify us 00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:52.899 so that everything 00:27:52.899 --> 00:27:54.119 might be holy. 00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:56.019 because God is 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:57.000 doing a work in us 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.799 to change us from 00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.659 one degree of 00:27:58.659 --> 00:27:59.539 glory to another 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.819 so we might be 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.939 perfected that last 00:28:01.939 --> 00:28:03.659 day and then we 00:28:03.659 --> 00:28:05.000 shall be given at 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.779 the last day 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:07.339 spiritual bodies. 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.059 Notice that? 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:10.719 Bodies empowered by 00:28:10.719 --> 00:28:11.259 the Spirit. 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.319 A spiritual body 00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:14.579 isn't like Casper the 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.179 Ghost whispering 00:28:15.179 --> 00:28:15.559 around. 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.039 A spiritual body is 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.779 a bit like a steam 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.119 engine. 00:28:18.939 --> 00:28:20.059 A steam engine isn't 00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:21.099 composed of steam. 00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:23.059 It's powered by 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.480 steam. 00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:26.719 A spiritual body is 00:28:26.719 --> 00:28:28.119 empowered by the 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:28.839 Spirit of God. 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.059 And in that 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:31.039 resurrection state, 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:32.459 there we shall be in 00:28:32.459 --> 00:28:33.439 such harmony with 00:28:33.439 --> 00:28:34.659 Father, Son and Holy 00:28:34.659 --> 00:28:35.079 Spirit. 00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:36.559 For our spiritual bodies 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.359 will be in a state of 00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:38.139 such perfection. 00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:40.240 that death shall be 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:40.720 no more. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.520 Temptation shall be 00:28:42.520 --> 00:28:43.040 banished. 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:45.259 Disease and decay 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.680 will have gone. 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.520 And we shall enjoy 00:28:48.520 --> 00:28:49.460 the inheritance of the 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.160 saints in light 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:51.800 with God forever, 00:28:52.380 --> 00:28:53.540 Father, Son and Holy 00:28:53.540 --> 00:28:53.920 Spirit. 00:28:54.540 --> 00:28:55.540 And there we shall 00:28:55.540 --> 00:28:56.820 know in all our 00:28:56.820 --> 00:28:58.020 fullness what it 00:28:58.020 --> 00:28:59.960 means to know God 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:02.800 as Father, Son and 00:29:02.800 --> 00:29:03.460 Holy Spirit. 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:06.040 But above all, to 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:08.359 rejoice that God 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:10.180 knows us 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:13.039 and has given to 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:15.059 us the bounty of 00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:16.899 his grace, the 00:29:16.899 --> 00:29:17.519 glory of his 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:19.240 inheritance, the 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.339 forgiveness of sins 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:22.299 and the elevation and 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.740 adoption of sons and 00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:24.319 daughters of the 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:26.440 Most High, which 00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:28.659 he's done in the 00:29:28.659 --> 00:29:30.420 Lord Jesus to whom 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:31.059 all be glory. 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.960 But through his 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:34.799 Holy Spirit in our 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:36.659 lives, applying all 00:29:36.659 --> 00:29:37.740 that Jesus has won 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:39.740 for us, but 00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.799 ensuring the glory 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:43.240 goes to him and 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:43.859 to him alone. 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.539 Let's pray. 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:48.519 Heavenly Father, we 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:51.619 stand in awe at 00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:52.220 the wonder of your 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:54.299 grace, at the 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.480 beauty of your 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.680 three persons, 00:29:57.639 --> 00:29:58.680 Father, Son and 00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.339 Holy Spirit. 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:00.799 And as we've 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:01.559 reflected upon the 00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.480 work of your Holy 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.299 Spirit, we just 00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:05.099 rejoice that he 00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:06.140 dwells in us, 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:08.299 changing us more 00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:09.140 and more into the 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:09.940 likeness of Jesus. 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.980 Father, we pray 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:13.380 that you would so 00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:15.700 enable us to 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:17.240 glorify you and 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.980 your Son by your 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:20.599 Holy Spirit, that 00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:21.599 we might live lives 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:23.339 that please you and 00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:24.420 by your mercies 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:26.240 would be a witness 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.779 to the world that 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.640 they too might put 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:30.460 their faith in you. 00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:31.620 Amen. 00:30:31.620 --> 00:30:31.720 Amen.