WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.100
 There are many consequences, as you're fully aware, that flow out of this pandemic.

00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:12.339
 Normal patterns of behaviour are operating, changing dramatically for us as a church,

00:00:12.380 --> 00:00:13.839
 but in broader society.

00:00:14.419 --> 00:00:20.100
 One of the consequences is that we were meant to have our regional bishop, Chris Edwards,

00:00:20.100 --> 00:00:24.460
 here with us this morning, preaching at a confirmation service.

00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:32.539
 A confirmation service is where we welcome individuals into the membership of the worldwide Anglican Church,

00:00:32.679 --> 00:00:38.000
 and we pray for God to empower and strengthen them by his Holy Spirit.

00:00:38.160 --> 00:00:45.019
 And so part of that service requires the bishop to lay hands on each of the individual candidates

00:00:45.019 --> 00:00:52.000
 and say, strengthen Lord your servant with your Holy Spirit, enable and sustain them for your service.

00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:56.340
 And given that we're not all meeting in the building today,

00:00:56.340 --> 00:00:59.179
 and it's really hard to lay hands on someone digitally,

00:00:59.640 --> 00:01:04.739
 then we've had to cancel or postpone our confirmation service to a little bit later.

00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:09.560
 The consequence of that decision is that I have given the bishop a free pass,

00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:13.680
 and I'm now up and preaching instead, which I'm very pleased to do.

00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:19.219
 So if you've just logged into St. Paul's for the first time,

00:01:19.219 --> 00:01:25.459
 we have been over the course of months now working our way through an ancient statement called the Apostles' Creed.

00:01:26.179 --> 00:01:35.280
 This short statement captures the way that Christians view the world and life and eternal life and the future in Jesus.

00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:38.280
 And today I'm picking up the next part of that,

00:01:38.420 --> 00:01:43.700
 and that is the statement that I believe, that we believe in the Holy Spirit.

00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:45.379
 So you can follow along.

00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:49.159
 If you've got the St. Paul's app, if you haven't, get onto the App Store, download it.

00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:54.980
 The St. Paul's app, and we've got outlines for this message and a bunch of other ways to communicate with you,

00:01:55.019 --> 00:01:56.579
 so I'd encourage you to do that now.

00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:01.719
 We're picking up that point, and I've got two points, really two broad ideas.

00:02:01.900 --> 00:02:04.519
 Firstly, I want to ask the question, who is the Holy Spirit?

00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:08.379
 And secondly, what does it mean for us to live with the Holy Spirit?

00:02:09.319 --> 00:02:10.960
 So firstly, who is the Holy Spirit?

00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:20.219
 There are many things in the Bible's teaching on God which are difficult for us to understand,

00:02:20.340 --> 00:02:24.000
 a bit beyond our brain capacity to deal with.

00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:28.800
 It shouldn't surprise us on one level, since God is eternal and infinite,

00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:34.300
 then he is so much bigger and grander than anyone could possibly imagine.

00:02:34.300 --> 00:02:42.160
 But one of the challenging ideas is what James preached on a number of weeks ago now,

00:02:42.620 --> 00:02:47.900
 and that is the biblical truth of the Trinity, the triunity of God.

00:02:47.900 --> 00:02:55.780
 The Trinity calls us to believe that there is one and only one God,

00:02:56.480 --> 00:03:00.620
 but who dwells in three persons, who exists in three persons.

00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:04.900
 I'm going to go over the whole thing of the Trinity, but to give you a little bit of a summary,

00:03:05.580 --> 00:03:09.879
 it really is an unfathomable doctrine of the Christian church.

00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:17.680
 No Christian can, in the end, exhaust the meaning of what it is for God to be three in one.

00:03:17.859 --> 00:03:22.919
 And yet, at the same time, no Christian can, in fact, deny its meaning.

00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:30.800
 To know the one true God is to know him as Father, to know him as Son, and to know him as the Holy Spirit.

00:03:31.259 --> 00:03:37.519
 The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each one of them is fully and completely God.

00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:40.580
 Always and forever.

00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:49.820
 And yet, as difficult it is to comprehend that, it is also a beautiful doctrine.

00:03:51.379 --> 00:03:54.080
 The Trinity, if you like, functions like an orchestra.

00:03:54.520 --> 00:04:00.379
 A multitude of different instruments are coming together at the right time in rich harmony.

00:04:00.379 --> 00:04:07.979
 The diversity is more beautiful of a sound than if the whole orchestra was just made up with a bunch of cymbals.

00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:14.919
 Each person of the Trinity does his own distinctive work.

00:04:15.079 --> 00:04:17.339
 Each contributes their own part.

00:04:17.540 --> 00:04:23.719
 And together, they produce what is best and perfectly wise and most beautiful.

00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:35.900
 They work in harmony with each other as each person fulfills that part of the work, the overall work that is right and good for them to do so.

00:04:35.900 --> 00:04:47.440
 And yet, all three persons are committed to the one work of God and to contribute to the one work of God.

00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:56.560
 The Father stands on top of all the work as the one who designs and plans what the work will be.

00:04:57.339 --> 00:05:06.300
 As a result, the Father is the one who is most highly praised in the end, as you can see in, for instance, Philippians chapter 2.

00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:11.319
 The Son, for His part, is completely committed to doing the will of the Father.

00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:16.800
 The Son has always and will always live under the authority of the Father.

00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:32.259
 And so the Creed, up to this point, where we now declare that we also believe in the Holy Spirit, declares the glorious work of a triune God.

00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:40.899
 It also reveals a deep mystery of God while reminding us of our dependency upon the Holy Spirit.

00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:45.599
 So let's talk about the Holy Spirit.

00:05:47.219 --> 00:05:54.639
 Many Christians fall short on their understanding of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity.

00:05:55.259 --> 00:06:06.259
 The Holy Spirit is either faded into the background as unimportant or, in some cases, brought right to the forefront as being supremely important, the most important.

00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:10.180
 Both ends of the spectrum are deficient.

00:06:10.180 --> 00:06:19.379
 As we pick up the phrase today, we believe in the Holy Spirit, there are two truths that we need to understand about who the Holy Spirit is.

00:06:19.459 --> 00:06:21.860
 First of all, the Holy Spirit is a person.

00:06:22.420 --> 00:06:31.500
 The Holy Spirit is not a force or like wind or electricity or something out of Star Wars.

00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:35.920
 First, the second truth is that the Holy Spirit is divine.

00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:37.759
 So firstly, a person.

00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:42.699
 For instance, John 14, which was just read out to us, John 14, verse 16.

00:06:43.339 --> 00:06:46.579
 Jesus calls him another advocate.

00:06:46.779 --> 00:06:55.160
 And I will ask the Father and he will give you another advocate to be with you forever, the Spirit of Truth.

00:06:55.160 --> 00:07:07.080
 So when Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as another advocate or comforter, he treats the Holy Spirit as a person, not a force.

00:07:07.880 --> 00:07:13.640
 When he calls him another advocate, he means in the same way that I am an advocate.

00:07:14.180 --> 00:07:17.160
 The Holy Spirit is an advocate like Jesus is.

00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:19.160
 He is a person.

00:07:19.860 --> 00:07:26.340
 We also know the Holy Spirit is a person because he shows the qualities of a true and genuine person.

00:07:26.460 --> 00:07:27.960
 He shows the qualities of personhood.

00:07:28.340 --> 00:07:32.960
 For example, the Holy Spirit can be lied to, according to Acts chapter 5.

00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:36.120
 And insulted, according to Hebrews 10.

00:07:36.840 --> 00:07:41.820
 Those are two things that you can't do to your refrigerator or the electricity that's running your refrigerator.

00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:44.060
 You can't lie to it and you can't insult it.

00:07:44.060 --> 00:07:48.300
 But the Holy Spirit is a person, not a force or a power.

00:07:48.939 --> 00:07:53.920
 The Holy Spirit has also got personal qualities like a mind, according to 1 Corinthians 2.

00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:57.199
 Emotions, according to Ephesians 4.

00:07:57.819 --> 00:08:00.680
 And a will, according to 1 Corinthians 12.

00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:11.680
 But possibly the most important aspect of the personhood of the Holy Spirit is that 94 times in the New Testament,

00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:14.280
 he is called holy.

00:08:15.459 --> 00:08:24.259
 He has the character of holiness, which along with having a mind, emotions and a will, is true only of a person.

00:08:25.280 --> 00:08:30.199
 Now the second essential truth that we need to have clear is that the Holy Spirit is not just a person,

00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:32.680
 but he's also a divine person.

00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:34.580
 That is, the Holy Spirit is God.

00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:36.100
 Fully God.

00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:37.980
 For example, Acts chapter 5.

00:08:38.440 --> 00:08:39.680
 You might know the scene.

00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:45.940
 Peter rebukes Ananias for lying to the Holy Spirit about the land that he had sold.

00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:48.100
 And then Peter says this to Ananias,

00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:52.899
 You have not lied to men, but to God.

00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:58.440
 And so when Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he was lying to God.

00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:04.320
 We also note that the Holy Spirit has certain qualities that are only true of God,

00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:08.520
 such as living forever and eternally, according to Hebrews 9,

00:09:09.160 --> 00:09:12.340
 as being everywhere, Psalm 139,

00:09:13.060 --> 00:09:16.140
 and having all knowledge, 1 Corinthians 2.

00:09:17.420 --> 00:09:24.180
 He's also declared to be equal with the Father and the Son in Matthew 28 and in 2 Corinthians 13.

00:09:24.179 --> 00:09:33.879
 And so the Holy Spirit is both a person, personable, and also divine God.

00:09:35.319 --> 00:09:41.719
 So when you combine that second truth with that first truth about the Holy Spirit,

00:09:42.079 --> 00:09:45.159
 all of a sudden he becomes somewhat more precious.

00:09:46.719 --> 00:09:49.959
 It makes a great deal of difference in your life.

00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:57.940
 If you believe that you are being led, purified, changed,

00:09:58.280 --> 00:10:06.620
 by a person who is, in essence, the personal God of sacrificial love,

00:10:07.660 --> 00:10:09.920
 and not by some impersonal force.

00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:14.920
 The person who leads and purifies and transforms

00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:19.319
 is no one less than God the Holy Spirit.

00:10:20.419 --> 00:10:24.319
 This is a personal relationship of God of love.

00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:26.000
 It's not a force.

00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:28.919
 So what does that mean for us?

00:10:30.599 --> 00:10:33.979
 What does it mean for us, therefore, to be living with the Holy Spirit?

00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:36.059
 Now there's something else that's really important for us

00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:37.699
 to see about the Holy Spirit.

00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.120
 And this is really helpful in our context that we're in right now.

00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:47.500
 Those passages that were just read out to us come in the context of John 14 to 17,

00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:50.200
 which is known as the farewell discourse.

00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:54.279
 This is Jesus talking about his departure.

00:10:55.019 --> 00:11:00.460
 He's about to leave his disciples and go back to his father via the cross.

00:11:00.560 --> 00:11:03.060
 He's talking about he's going to die and he's going to leave them.

00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:06.940
 And so the disciples are distraught.

00:11:07.560 --> 00:11:08.720
 They are confused.

00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:09.539
 They're bewildered.

00:11:09.539 --> 00:11:10.899
 They have put their hope in him.

00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:14.399
 And so what's happening to their lives is falling apart right now.

00:11:15.099 --> 00:11:16.980
 It is uncertain times.

00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:19.379
 Their whole worldview is shifting here.

00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:28.519
 And in these chapters, right before Jesus is about to go to the cross and suffer,

00:11:30.099 --> 00:11:32.899
 he's comforting his disciples rather than them comforting him.

00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:41.659
 He tells them that he's going away to prepare an eternal place for them in the father's house.

00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:44.399
 But he's still leaving.

00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:46.279
 He's still leaving.

00:11:46.279 --> 00:11:50.199
 It's great that there's going to be a bunch of rooms ready for them.

00:11:50.199 --> 00:11:58.039
 It's great that they've got a home to go to forever with God and with others where there'll be no self-isolation whatsoever.

00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:01.419
 And it's a great hope for them.

00:12:01.419 --> 00:12:05.120
 But the disciples are like, what about now?

00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:07.579
 What happens now?

00:12:07.580 --> 00:12:18.360
 And then in chapter 14, verse 16, Jesus makes this promise.

00:12:18.560 --> 00:12:24.720
 I will ask the father and he will give you another advocate to be with you forever.

00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.899
 The spirit of truth.

00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:36.960
 Jesus says to his grieving disciples, I am going to the father and he will send another advocate.

00:12:38.180 --> 00:12:42.000
 Another, meaning another of the same kind.

00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:46.139
 According to verse 16, he's going to be with them forever.

00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:49.879
 He will not depart as Jesus must depart.

00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:59.039
 Now that is what these disciples need in their moment of abandonment.

00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:03.379
 But is it?

00:13:04.679 --> 00:13:06.879
 I mean, is it really a word of comfort?

00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:19.159
 Not that I actually can at this moment, but imagine if my wife Natalie and I were to go on a long trip right now.

00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:23.379
 And where we didn't know, it was a one-way ticket.

00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:26.179
 We didn't know when we were coming back.

00:13:27.839 --> 00:13:37.919
 How do you think our children would respond if we said to them, it's okay, girls, not a problem at all.

00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:41.279
 We're actually going to send another relative who you've never met.

00:13:41.419 --> 00:13:46.059
 They're going to come and hang out with you and look after you until we get back, which we don't know when that'll be.

00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:53.419
 I'm not sure that's an entire comfort for them in that moment.

00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:57.039
 Hardly a comfort when you're feeling abandoned.

00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:07.740
 But I think verse 23 reveals the staggering implications of what Jesus just said in verse 16.

00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:29.580
 Notice the word home there in verse 23.

00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:32.100
 It's a rare word in the New Testament.

00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:42.820
 In fact, it's only used in one other place in the New Testament, and that is in chapter 14, verse 2, just a bunch of verses before, where it is translated rooms.

00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:46.680
 In verse 2, Jesus says,

00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:54.300
 I'm going to the cross, and when I go to the cross, I'm preparing an eternal home for you to dwell with God forever.

00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:57.220
 A dwelling place with the Father.

00:14:57.220 --> 00:15:17.540
 But in verse 23, Jesus says that by going to the cross, he is also going to prepare in us a home, a dwelling place, a room for God.

00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:25.480
 The departure of Jesus to his Father by the cross is going to prepare two things.

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:32.279
 A room for us with the Father, with God the Son in heaven forever.

00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:40.519
 And a room for the Father and Jesus with us here on earth now in the meantime.

00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:42.519
 What a promise.

00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:50.460
 Not just a place with God at some point in the future, but a place for God with us right now.

00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:55.759
 The coming of the Spirit doesn't replace the presence of Jesus.

00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:58.460
 It guarantees.

00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:05.439
 He guarantees the presence of Jesus with us right now, forever.

00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:10.640
 The Holy Spirit unites us with Christ and the Father.

00:16:11.140 --> 00:16:17.720
 Jesus, in this season, right here, and in every other season, through all the ups and the downs, is not distant.

00:16:19.780 --> 00:16:22.020
 He's not abandoned his disciples.

00:16:24.900 --> 00:16:31.180
 If you're a Christian, there is no real social isolation.

00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:38.219
 I think Jesus is actually saying to his bewildered disciples,

00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:42.879
 it will be better for you when I depart.

00:16:44.339 --> 00:16:48.799
 My presence amongst you will, in fact, be stronger.

00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:56.799
 It won't be as good as it will be forever when everything's perfect in heaven and there's joy forever.

00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:01.620
 But through the Spirit, he's saying to his first disciples,

00:17:01.819 --> 00:17:07.139
 when the Spirit comes, it will be better for you than it's even been for the last three years

00:17:07.139 --> 00:17:12.180
 when we've stood side by side and eaten together and walked together and talked together.

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:21.180
 So, friends, how do we get this experience of the presence of the Holy Spirit right now?

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:26.200
 Especially for you, maybe, in this season where you're not feeling like it's there.

00:17:28.060 --> 00:17:33.080
 In John chapter 16, verse 13, we get a key part of the Holy Spirit's work.

00:17:33.820 --> 00:17:34.720
 It says this,

00:17:34.720 --> 00:18:03.319
 So, in chapter 14, Jesus promises the Spirit of truth will remind the disciples of everything that Jesus has taught them.

00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:07.299
 And now he promises a little bit more.

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:17.119
 The 11 disciples will be led into a true understanding of the saving events

00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:21.019
 which are about to take place with the death and the resurrection of Jesus.

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:25.819
 And they, through that, will get glimpses of the future that is to come.

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:35.519
 The final climax of world history will partly, at least partly, be unveiled to them

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:42.899
 so that they will be able to get a glimpse of the sweep of God's enormous plan of salvation

00:18:42.899 --> 00:18:48.379
 and the central part that Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, played in that.

00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:56.100
 But in leading them into truth, the Holy Spirit will not speak on his own.

00:18:56.500 --> 00:19:00.020
 Jesus insists he will speak only what he hears.

00:19:00.780 --> 00:19:03.240
 John 16, again, if you've got your Bibles in front of you.

00:19:03.520 --> 00:19:04.340
 Verse 13,

00:19:04.780 --> 00:19:09.040
 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.

00:19:09.260 --> 00:19:11.360
 He will not speak on his own.

00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:13.920
 He will speak only what he hears.

00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:16.480
 He will tell you what is yet to come.

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:27.080
 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

00:19:28.140 --> 00:19:31.420
 All that belongs to the Father is mine.

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:37.940
 That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:45.860
 So what Jesus is saying there in John 16 is that the subject matter of the Holy Spirit is restricted.

00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:51.880
 And it is a glorious restriction.

00:19:53.720 --> 00:20:02.000
 The Spirit will take that which is Jesus's and make it known to Jesus' disciples.

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:07.700
 And the focus here is entirely on Jesus.

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:12.000
 The role of the Holy Spirit is to bring glory to Jesus.

00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:17.000
 It was necessary for Jesus to be glorified by returning to the Father via the cross.

00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:25.500
 But when he leaves, he receives more glory through the work and the ministry of the Spirit to his disciples.

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:33.579
 As Jesus took that which belonged to the Father and made it known to the disciples,

00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:40.500
 so the Spirit takes that which belongs to Jesus and makes it known to us.

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:51.500
 Nothing brings more glory to the Lord Jesus than for his followers to become steeped,

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:57.579
 steeped in the truth concerning Jesus Christ.

00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:05.619
 Of course, the acquisition of this truth is not an intellectual exercise,

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:09.119
 even though it is intellectual in its nature.

00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.919
 It's not merely intellectual.

00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:16.639
 As this truth is truly absorbed by the followers of the Lord Jesus,

00:21:17.219 --> 00:21:20.359
 it transforms us by the work of the Spirit.

00:21:20.459 --> 00:21:21.539
 It makes it powerful.

00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:24.739
 It enables us to reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus

00:21:24.739 --> 00:21:27.699
 and therefore bring glory and praise to his name.

00:21:28.899 --> 00:21:31.579
 Glory comes to Jesus Christ

00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:35.519
 when the truths of the gospel and the word of God

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:39.859
 are established in our lives by the work of the Holy Spirit.

00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.399
 And now, so up to this point,

00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.919
 the disciples have been confused,

00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:46.339
 quite confused,

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:49.960
 characterized by misunderstanding about the person of Jesus,

00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:50.879
 who he is.

00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:54.139
 And all of this is going to change

00:21:54.139 --> 00:21:57.000
 when the Holy Spirit comes.

00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:00.579
 The Spirit would ensure

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:03.519
 that these original disciples of Jesus

00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:05.460
 are not going to forget about Jesus.

00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:08.799
 He would ensure that they accurately remember

00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:11.259
 the life and the commandments and the teaching of Jesus.

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:16.359
 How then does that happen?

00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:23.700
 I think the one main answer comes from Ephesians 5, verse 18,

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:26.640
 where Paul teaches the believers

00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:29.200
 to be filled with the Spirit

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.900
 so that their thoughts,

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.059
 their attitudes,

00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.299
 their words,

00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:34.400
 their actions

00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:36.299
 would be directed by the Spirit.

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:38.460
 And Paul wrote a similar thing

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:41.600
 in Colossians 3, verses 16 and 17,

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.400
 where he says,

00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:45.720
 let the word of God dwell

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:48.600
 in you richly.

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:52.160
 Teaching and admonishing

00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:53.700
 one another in all wisdom,

00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:55.380
 sing psalms and hymns

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.420
 and spiritual songs

00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:58.180
 with thankfulness in your heart to God.

00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:00.080
 And whatever you do,

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.060
 whether word or deed,

00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:03.200
 do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:05.600
 giving thanks to God the Father through him.

00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.180
 In both of those passages,

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:09.700
 the results are the same.

00:23:10.320 --> 00:23:11.800
 Words and deeds together,

00:23:12.040 --> 00:23:13.420
 honoring Christ.

00:23:14.540 --> 00:23:16.640
 But what brings about the results

00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:19.259
 are stated differently in both passages.

00:23:19.820 --> 00:23:20.840
 In Ephesians 5,

00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:21.459
 Paul says,

00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:22.639
 be filled with the Spirit.

00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:24.059
 In Colossians 3,

00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:24.720
 he says,

00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:27.399
 be filled with the word of Christ.

00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.659
 What that means

00:23:29.659 --> 00:23:30.699
 is that the Spirit

00:23:30.699 --> 00:23:32.259
 will have greater influence.

00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:34.299
 He will provide more direction

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:35.139
 in your life.

00:23:35.659 --> 00:23:37.179
 He will give you greater comfort

00:23:37.179 --> 00:23:39.959
 in times of uncertainty and anxiety.

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:45.519
 as God's word dwells in us

00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.920
 more and more.

00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:49.660
 Word and Spirit

00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:51.000
 go together.

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:54.299
 That is what John 16,

00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.759
 13 to 15 says,

00:23:55.840 --> 00:23:57.160
 the Spirit takes that

00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.380
 which is from Christ

00:23:58.380 --> 00:24:00.500
 and makes it known to us.

00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:02.559
 The comforting words of Christ

00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.420
 to his disciples

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.500
 are ours.

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:07.720
 Our reading of his word,

00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:09.440
 our time spent memorizing

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.799
 and meditating on scripture

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:12.799
 is the main tool

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.960
 that the Spirit uses

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.400
 to help us

00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.299
 to think,

00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.299
 to feel,

00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.400
 to speak,

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.839
 to act in ways

00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:22.000
 that are more and more

00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:23.400
 pleasing and glorifying

00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.680
 to the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:28.680
 You see,

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.820
 the goal of all

00:24:29.820 --> 00:24:30.820
 biblical learning

00:24:30.820 --> 00:24:32.160
 is knowing God

00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:34.279
 and the Holy Spirit

00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:35.799
 is crucial to this process.

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:36.940
 The Holy Spirit

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:38.480
 helps us to see

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:40.380
 the facts about Jesus Christ

00:24:40.380 --> 00:24:42.420
 but even more than that,

00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.940
 he helps us to see

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:45.019
 the glory

00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:46.440
 and the beauty

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:48.160
 and the worth

00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:49.680
 of what is written

00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.840
 about Jesus Christ.

00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:52.420
 He convicts us

00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:54.320
 of our necessary submission

00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:55.359
 and transformation,

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.619
 repentance of sin

00:24:56.619 --> 00:24:58.039
 and obedience to Christ

00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:59.319
 that follows.

00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:01.159
 The word

00:25:01.159 --> 00:25:02.039
 and Spirit

00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:02.679
 go together.

00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:07.000
 And so the context

00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.720
 of these verses

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.519
 is really crucial

00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.819
 for us right now.

00:25:10.639 --> 00:25:11.639
 They promise us

00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.639
 that we're never alone.

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.599
 The Lord Jesus

00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:17.259
 has not left us

00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:18.399
 as orphans

00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:19.379
 to do our best

00:25:19.379 --> 00:25:20.439
 and to try and survive

00:25:20.439 --> 00:25:21.759
 in seasons like this

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.779
 until he comes back.

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:24.940
 He is not

00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:27.180
 practicing social isolation

00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:27.920
 from us.

00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.460
 The promise

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.960
 to his first disciples

00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:32.279
 extends to us.

00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.259
 He uttered

00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:35.160
 eternal words

00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:35.779
 of comfort

00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.759
 in saying

00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.819
 the Spirit

00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:38.960
 will come

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:41.460
 not only come

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:43.720
 to us,

00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:44.960
 beside us,

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.960
 but in us.

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:51.019
 not just dwell

00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:51.759
 with us,

00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:53.319
 but dwell in us,

00:25:53.860 --> 00:25:54.420
 the disciples

00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:55.140
 of Jesus.

00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:58.559
 So Jesus promised

00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.840
 a unity

00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:01.819
 and an inexplicable

00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.480
 bond

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.480
 that will exist

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.319
 between the people

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:04.700
 of God

00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.620
 and the Holy Spirit.

00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.100
 The intimacy

00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:08.319
 of the disciple

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:08.920
 of Jesus

00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:10.299
 and the Holy Spirit

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:10.940
 is captured

00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:12.200
 in the word

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.160
 abiding.

00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:15.360
 the Holy Spirit,

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.019
 the third member

00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.560
 of the Trinity

00:26:16.560 --> 00:26:17.700
 abides

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:19.279
 right now

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:21.160
 with you,

00:26:21.320 --> 00:26:21.840
 with me.

00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.720
 And this is a

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:25.140
 clear word for you

00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:26.160
 if you are currently

00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:26.920
 isolated.

00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:28.560
 You are not.

00:26:29.840 --> 00:26:30.640
 The God

00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.880
 who made all things,

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.440
 who has control

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.360
 of all things,

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:35.500
 if you are in Christ,

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.740
 he's abiding

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.660
 with you right now.

00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:42.360
 The Holy Spirit's

00:26:42.360 --> 00:26:42.779
 ministry

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.660
 of abiding

00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.800
 restores

00:26:44.800 --> 00:26:45.759
 all hope

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:47.180
 in the

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:47.440
 monk

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:47.980
 midst

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:49.420
 of hopelessness.

00:26:50.340 --> 00:26:51.140
 It secures

00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:51.800
 us on a

00:26:51.800 --> 00:26:52.620
 sure foundation

00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:53.160
 of faith

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.700
 in uncertain

00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.320
 times.

00:26:55.540 --> 00:26:56.740
 The Holy Spirit

00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.840
 therefore explains

00:26:57.840 --> 00:26:59.100
 how the church

00:26:59.100 --> 00:27:00.120
 not just

00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:01.120
 survives,

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:03.000
 but how the

00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.400
 church

00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.680
 thrives

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.740
 and grows

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.500
 in seasons

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.200
 like this.

00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:08.460
 how the church

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.080
 can look

00:27:09.080 --> 00:27:09.960
 beyond itself

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.440
 and look

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.180
 outside of

00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:11.640
 itself

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:13.440
 to the needs

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.019
 of others

00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.840
 and how the

00:27:14.840 --> 00:27:15.960
 gospel continues

00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.640
 to spread

00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:17.600
 to the ends

00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:18.200
 of the earth

00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:18.960
 even

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:21.299
 in lockdown

00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.920
 moments

00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:25.580
 because nothing

00:27:25.580 --> 00:27:27.559
 can bind

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:29.080
 the work

00:27:29.080 --> 00:27:30.019
 of God

00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:30.600
 in this world.

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.160
 The Holy Spirit's

00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:34.039
 abiding in us

00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.840
 explains how

00:27:34.840 --> 00:27:35.420
 the disciple

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:35.779
 of the Lord

00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.539
 Jesus can hear

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.059
 the words

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.379
 of this

00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:37.779
 Bible

00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:41.379
 not as

00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:42.119
 the words

00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:42.399
 of just

00:27:42.399 --> 00:27:43.039
 another human

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.519
 being

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.779
 but as

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.180
 God

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.720
 revealing

00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.339
 truth

00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:47.019
 and reality

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.579
 to us

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.220
 right now.

00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:50.000
 The Holy Spirit's

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.720
 abiding is the

00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.359
 reason why

00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:51.899
 the disciples

00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:52.480
 of Jesus

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:54.000
 have life

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.019
 in the face

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.700
 of death,

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.200
 have joy

00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:58.079
 in the face

00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:58.799
 of anxiety.

00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.299
 Jesus promised

00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:00.879
 the Spirit

00:28:00.879 --> 00:28:02.019
 will abide

00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.619
 with us

00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:03.059
 forever.

00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:04.139
 the Spirit

00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:04.720
 does not

00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.200
 come

00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:06.059
 only in

00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.399
 seasons

00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:07.119
 of difficulty.

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.359
 The Spirit

00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:08.819
 does not

00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.339
 flee

00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.179
 when you

00:28:10.179 --> 00:28:10.859
 are struggling

00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:11.639
 with sin.

00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.839
 His presence

00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:13.579
 does not

00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:14.299
 hinge upon

00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:15.079
 your obedience

00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.899
 and your effort.

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.740
 His abiding

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.440
 in the

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:18.859
 Christian

00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:19.899
 rests upon

00:28:19.899 --> 00:28:20.659
 the infinite

00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:21.399
 grace

00:28:21.399 --> 00:28:22.519
 and love

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.019
 of an

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.879
 eternal God

00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.839
 who is

00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:25.359
 sovereign over

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:26.119
 all things.

00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:28.739
 when

00:28:28.739 --> 00:28:29.399
 as the

00:28:29.399 --> 00:28:29.779
 people

00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.419
 of God

00:28:30.419 --> 00:28:31.039
 we declare

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:31.519
 together

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.719
 we believe

00:28:32.719 --> 00:28:33.099
 in the

00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:33.859
 Holy Spirit

00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:36.299
 as we

00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:36.799
 have this

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:37.219
 morning

00:28:37.219 --> 00:28:37.699
 if you've

00:28:37.699 --> 00:28:38.239
 joined us

00:28:38.239 --> 00:28:38.799
 and sung

00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.559
 with us

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.919
 we are

00:28:40.919 --> 00:28:41.579
 confessing

00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:42.019
 something

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.319
 so magnificent

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:45.279
 so glorious

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.079
 so powerful

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:48.599
 so beautiful

00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:50.099
 and also

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:50.819
 so humbling.

00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:53.079
 You need

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.459
 to know

00:28:53.459 --> 00:28:53.899
 that in

00:28:53.899 --> 00:28:54.579
 this season

00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:56.599
 He is

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.099
 with you.

00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:58.899
 So friends

00:28:58.899 --> 00:28:59.399
 can I just

00:28:59.399 --> 00:29:00.099
 encourage you

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:01.139
 do not

00:29:01.139 --> 00:29:01.899
 waste

00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:03.299
 this crisis.

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.159
 Don't waste

00:29:05.159 --> 00:29:05.779
 this crisis.

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.000
 Don't turn it

00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.019
 into another

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.779
 opportunity

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.679
 of

00:29:09.679 --> 00:29:12.240
 self-centeredness.

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.819
 Don't turn

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.059
 into an

00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:15.319
 opportunity

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.039
 of self-centeredness.

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.539
 Don't turn

00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:16.899
 into a

00:29:16.899 --> 00:29:17.299
 wonderful

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:18.139
 opportunity

00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:18.480
 to have

00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.460
 rest.

00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:20.659
 But as

00:29:20.659 --> 00:29:21.240
 things are

00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:21.779
 forced upon

00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.139
 us to

00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:23.059
 slow down

00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:24.759
 take

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.279
 opportunity

00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.019
 to abide

00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.960
 with Christ

00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:27.619
 in His

00:29:27.619 --> 00:29:28.099
 Word.

00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:30.179
 Individually

00:29:30.179 --> 00:29:32.200
 as families

00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:32.799
 worshipping

00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:33.279
 together

00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:34.279
 as small

00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:34.679
 groups.

00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.839
 We believe

00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.139
 in the

00:29:37.139 --> 00:29:37.879
 Holy Spirit.

00:29:38.679 --> 00:29:39.019
 May the

00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.740
 truth of

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.519
 this statement

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.519
 found in

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.099
 God's Word

00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:42.359
 and the

00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:42.819
 Apostles

00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:43.279
 Creed

00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.720
 call us

00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.379
 to repentance

00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:46.579
 and to a

00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:47.759
 new and a

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.779
 vibrant and a

00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:49.819
 fruitful relationship

00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.619
 with the Spirit

00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.179
 of God.

00:29:51.179 --> 00:29:52.399
 The Spirit

00:29:52.399 --> 00:29:54.079
 who dwells

00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:55.119
 in us

00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:56.199
 and who has

00:29:56.199 --> 00:29:57.339
 sealed us

00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:57.939
 forever

00:29:57.939 --> 00:29:59.159
 in the

00:29:59.159 --> 00:30:00.079
 eternal promises

00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:00.779
 of the

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.579
 triune God.

00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:02.979
 Amen.