WEBVTT

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 But everything and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him.

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! And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears, we may have confidence

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! and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous,

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 you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father God, this morning, as we who are your people take your word in hand, we recognize

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 that it is your word expressly delivered by your grace and the work of the Spirit that

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 we, your children, might be strengthened, encouraged, instructed, conformed into the image of Christ.

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 And we recognize that we have every reason to trust you to use your word and to work

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 through the Spirit who dwells in us to mold and shape us to be more like the Lord Jesus.

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 And that is our prayer this morning, that your word would have free course, that it would leave an indelible impression upon our hearts,

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 that our behavior in the week to come would be reflective of the truth that you have for us.

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 We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 If I were to take just a moment at the outset and explain that preaching is the discipline, the work,

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 of taking the word that God has given to us and making it clear and plain

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 through the enabling of the Holy Spirit so that people would be transformed by the grace of God

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 and convicted those who do not know Christ and drawn to the cross.

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 And so I want you to keep that in mind this morning as we are working our way through this passage

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 that the purpose of preaching is to help you understand in plain and clear fashion what God has said.

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 And that word, having understood it, should play out then in the way you live and act.

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 Does that make sense?

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 You're here to be encouraged and strengthened with the teaching of the word of God

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 that you as believers may grow in grace, display his glory, and serve his purposes.

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 And that you who are here and don't know Christ would be drawn to the cross

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 and discover the sweetness of blessing that comes in salvation.

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 Now with that said, as kind of a what is he doing up there kind of explanation,

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 let me preach.

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 Starting there in verse 25 or 26, we find that the apostle is writing to the church

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 and he says, listen, let's start out by reminding you that I am writing these things to you

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 about those who are trying to deceive you.

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 Evidently in the early church, there were individuals that were trying to mislead believers.

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 They were trying to draw them away from their faith and trying to discourage them and break them down.

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 And I want to tell you that it's not something that has stopped happening

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 just after the early church kind of faded off the scene.

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 We as well live in a day and age where there is incessant attack upon our faith

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 and our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And some of you actually are sitting here this morning struggling with some of those attacks.

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 Let me give you an illustration.

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 There are some of you that are sitting here this morning thinking to yourself,

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 well, really, if I had a better paying job, if I had $5 million in the bank.

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 By the way, if you had $5 million in the bank, I don't want you to figure this out exactly,

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 but can you imagine what kind of income you'd get a month?

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 I know there's some computationalists out here, math people are thinking,

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 yeah, $5 million in the month, break that down into blah, blah, blah.

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 You'd be in pretty good shape, wouldn't you?

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 Would you be able to drive a different car?

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 Would you be able to take different kinds of vacations?

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 And some of you are actually doing the computation and thinking, yeah, if I had that.

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 There are some of you here that are being misled in thinking that if you had more, it'd be better.

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 There are some of you thinking here that, I tell you what, if I were a little smarter,

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 I had a little better education, I had a little better job,

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 all these things would make a significant difference.

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 I would be a happier and more productive, and my life would be better.

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 John writes, and he says, hey, listen, I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

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 Now, with that as an introduction,

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 John now gets into the details about what really is valuable in the believer's life.

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 But the anointing that you receive from him abides in you.

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 So the starting point that I want you to hold on to this morning and have it etched into your mind is this.

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 If you are here this morning and you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior,

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 here is the incredibly sweet truth that John has for us.

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 We have the indwelling Holy Spirit.

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 You remember John writing with his affection to the church that he cared so much for,

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 was writing to encourage them under the struggles that they had in their day.

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 They were being overwhelmed by people that were coming in and saying,

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 listen, you're really not all that significant.

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 You've not had someone teach you the secret things of God,

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 and you're less than you really should be.

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 And so here is John stepping into the situation and saying,

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 hold it, you better stop listening to that lie.

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 Let me bring you back around to the incredible blessing that you actually have.

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 Now, we have to admit that John's literary style is a little more complex

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 than the simple clarity with which Paul wrote,

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 particularly the book of Romans or Ephesians, et cetera.

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 But nevertheless, when John writes to us,

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 his intention is to bring blessing by helping us understand

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 some fundamental and underlying blessings that we have as believers.

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 Now, there in the verse, he says,

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 the anointing that you received.

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 And when we hear the words anointing or his anointing in the passage

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 and abide in him and the words that are used together here,

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 he is not speaking about some kind of abstract issue

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 that we're not really sure how it connects.

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 He is helping us understand that we in Christ Jesus

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 have an incredibly powerful blessing within us

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 that we ought to rely on,

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 and it ought to be supremely significant.

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 Going back to the issue of those who think that

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 their life really would be better if they had $5 million.

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 I want you to imagine that you actually do.

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 And yet, you have a tendency,

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 by virtue of kind of allowing life to crowd in,

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 to forget just all that you have

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 and how readily it is accessible and to your benefit.

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 And here is John saying,

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 you need to understand that you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

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 Now, when he says this,

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 abiding, there in verse 27, the anointing,

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 he is actually talking about the anointing

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 that refers to the blessing of the enabling Holy Spirit.

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 We, as God's children, those who are saved,

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 have the Holy Spirit abiding in us.

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 And in our specific text,

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 what we're looking at here in verse 27,

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 is that John wants us to understand

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 that this enabling is connected to the spiritual understanding

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 that comes with the Scriptures and things of God.

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 And so here it is, verse 27,

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 you, you have the anointing that you've received him in,

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 and it's inside of you.

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 And so in reality,

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 because of what we have received in Christ Jesus,

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 it is important for us to live in the shadow

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 or in the effect of that which we've been blessed with.

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 Our spiritual lives should be evident,

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 should evidence the things that we've received from Christ.

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 The indwelling of the Holy Spirit

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 should be evident in the way we handle the challenges of life.

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 The ministry of the Holy Spirit

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 strengthening and supporting us in the challenges

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 that we have from moment by moment

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 should come into play

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 and be there fresh in our thinking.

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 I appreciate Pastor's prayer

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 in relationship to the working of the Holy Spirit

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 and the preaching of the Word.

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 And I would pray that the Spirit is active

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 in helping you as you listen this morning.

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 Because in our flesh,

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 we can't pull it off.

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 Would you agree with that?

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 Let me say it slowly

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 because I don't think some of you believe that.

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 In our flesh,

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 we can't pull it off.

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 John writes,

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 let's start out by understanding

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 that you have the indwelling Holy Spirit

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 and He is there to help you

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 with the challenge of life.

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 There in verse 27,

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 the anointing that you've received from Him

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 abides in you.

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 You have Him in you

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 and you have Him at work in your life.

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 The second part of verse 27,

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 it says this,

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 His anointing teaches you everything

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 and is true and is no lie.

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 Now what John is saying here

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 is that he expected the struggling believers

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 to hold on to the reality

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 of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

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 He wanted them to kind of grasp on

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 and hold on and trust in that.

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 Now how do you know

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 that you have the Holy Spirit in you

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 and is actively working in your life?

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 Stop and think with me just for a moment.

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 Of some of the things

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 that make the indwelling Spirit evident to us.

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 How many of you on occasion

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 have been reading the scriptures

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 and they just don't make any sense?

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 Ever had that happen?

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 It's like, uh, I'm not getting this.

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 You've stopped and you've prayed

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 and you've sought the Holy Spirit

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 and what has happened?

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 You may have had to read it again.

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 You may have had to read it again.

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 You may have had to read it again.

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 You may have had to read it again.

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 But it has become clear.

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 And you've ended up with that kind of aha moment.

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 It's like, wow, that is beautiful.

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 That is wonderful.

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 And that has been the work of the Holy Spirit.

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 Here is John.

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 And he points out,

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 you have the Holy Spirit in you

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 and it is the Holy Spirit

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 who is at work in your life

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 teaching you those things

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 that are of the Lord.

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 Let me make this point by comparison.

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 The unbeliever does not have the indwelling spirit

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 and the unbeliever cannot grasp spiritual truth.

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 Have you ever tried to explain to an unbeliever

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 what you understand and appreciate and enjoy

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 and kind of had the person just not connect?

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 It's like, you can talk your heart out.

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 You can plead with them.

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 You can cry for them.

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 But at the end of the day, they don't get it.

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 Why?

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 Because the Spirit of God is not at work at that time

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 helping them come to grips with the reality

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 of what the Scriptures teach.

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 And so here is John.

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 He says,

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 His anointing teaches you about everything

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 and is true and is no lie.

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 Over the years on those occasions

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 where I've ended up in conversations

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 with people who are uncertain about their salvation.

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 And I think it's appropriate for us to periodically,

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 particularly when we're growing in grace

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 or when we are really hitting a hard spot in our life.

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 I've seen people drift away from the Lord

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 and behave in a most ungodly fashion.

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 And it's appropriate.

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 Are you saved?

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 Well, here are some of the things

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 that you can kind of put your finger on and say,

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 well, those are indications of salvation.

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 When the Spirit of God gives to us understanding of the Scripture,

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 it is a mark of the indwelling Spirit

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 and it shows us that we are His child.

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 John is saying,

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 hey, listen,

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 you can remind yourself that you have the indwelling Spirit

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 and His anointing is teaching you all things.

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 Now let me take you just for a moment back

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 to a passage to help you put this together,

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 taking 1 John with John chapter 16.

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 Turn back in your Bible for a moment

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 to John chapter 16.

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 We're going to look at verses 7 through 14

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 where the issue of the ministry of the Spirit of God

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 and the believer is described for us.

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 John chapter 16,

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 verse 7 through 14.

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 Nevertheless,

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 John chapter 16, verse 7,

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 nevertheless, I tell you the truth,

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 it is to your advantage that I go away.

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 For if I do not go away,

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 the Helper will not come to you,

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 but if I go,

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 I will send Him to you.

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 I want you to imagine just for a moment

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 that you're one of those disciples

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 and here's Jesus say,

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 listen,

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 it is going to be to your advantage

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 that I go away

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 because after I go,

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 you're going to get the Helper

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 and you are going to be incredibly blessed

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 by having the Helper in you.

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 I'm just curious,

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 how many of you in the last week

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 have found yourself consciously choosing

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 to ask the Helper to deal with

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 an issue in your life

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 that you have not been able to have victory over

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 and are struggling with?

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 Let me ask the question again.

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 Have you in this last week

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 found yourself dealing with an issue

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 that you've recognized you can't handle

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 and you've asked the Holy Spirit to help you

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 and He's given you victory?

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 You done that?

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 I'll give you a little illustration of that sadly.

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 I am 69 years old.

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 I know better,

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 but I am moody without practice.

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 I don't have to warm up in the morning to be moody.

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 There are some days I wake up

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 and my wife says,

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 did you get up on the wrong side of the bed?

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 There's only one choice for me.

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 But what happened to you?

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 And I remember the other day

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 I was having one of those little moody moments

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 and I was spinning out of moody control.

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 I remember stopping and just saying,

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 you know what?

00:15:13.540 --> 00:15:14.560
 Jesus does not,

00:15:14.660 --> 00:15:17.080
 and this is conscious Tim Kenoyer talking to himself,

00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:19.540
 Jesus does not want you to act this way, Tim.

00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:22.220
 And you have the Holy Spirit in you

00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:24.100
 and there's no reason for this

00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:26.380
 and I ask the Holy Spirit to help you.

00:15:26.420 --> 00:15:26.880
 And guess what?

00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:29.320
 He helped me.

00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.860
 Do you have one of those moments?

00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:33.260
 Have you had one?

00:15:33.780 --> 00:15:36.620
 Where you see things beginning to spin out

00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:37.540
 and hold it, hold it.

00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:39.520
 I have the indwelling Holy Spirit

00:15:39.520 --> 00:15:42.540
 and I can rely upon him to help him.

00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:45.720
 Understand as we look here at this passage

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.880
 in John chapter 16,

00:15:47.280 --> 00:15:48.760
 we're blessed at salvation

00:15:48.760 --> 00:15:51.580
 with the indwelling Holy Spirit.

00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:52.380
 And that's one of the things

00:15:52.380 --> 00:15:54.380
 that Jesus was teaching his disciples here.

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:58.420
 You can count on the Holy Spirit to help you

00:15:58.420 --> 00:16:01.820
 in your daily walk if you are a believer.

00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:04.879
 So what are some signals

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:08.180
 that I am depending upon the Holy Spirit

00:16:08.180 --> 00:16:13.780
 and that I am enjoying his help on a daily basis?

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:15.240
 Let me give you a couple things to hold on to.

00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:15.820
 For one,

00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:19.940
 if you are depending upon the Holy Spirit,

00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:23.400
 there is a ongoing sensitivity

00:16:23.400 --> 00:16:25.480
 to your own inability

00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:28.500
 and to the necessity of leaning on him.

00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:30.940
 I think about the passage in John chapter 15

00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:32.379
 where Jesus said this.

00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:32.659
 He said,

00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:35.820
 Without me you can do nothing.

00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:40.420
 How many of you have ever been driving your car

00:16:40.420 --> 00:16:43.600
 and the little light comes on to say what?

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:45.480
 Empty.

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:49.039
 How many of you begin to get a little anxious

00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.220
 when the light comes on?

00:16:50.420 --> 00:16:51.840
 John's never had that happen.

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.860
 There are some of you that fill the tank up

00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:55.980
 when it gets to be half.

00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:59.180
 But others of us run right down to the very line

00:16:59.180 --> 00:17:00.840
 and tempt God.

00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:06.279
 I know when my light comes on,

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:08.940
 I have, at least according to the operators,

00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:10.299
 the owner's manual,

00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:11.879
 I have two gallons.

00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:16.279
 And I reach over through this steering wheel

00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:19.240
 and I punch the button on my odometer

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.379
 and I say,

00:17:20.899 --> 00:17:25.899
 I have two gallons times however my fuel consumption is.

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.059
 Anybody else like that?

00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:30.559
 Because I know when I'm out of fuel,

00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:33.460
 I am dead on the highway.

00:17:33.659 --> 00:17:34.059
 It's like,

00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:38.639
 here's the thing.

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:43.100
 When we recognize the blessing

00:17:43.100 --> 00:17:45.280
 of the indwelling Holy Spirit,

00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:48.900
 we show our dependence

00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:51.460
 and we rely upon Him

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:54.020
 to be the one who fuels and supports

00:17:54.020 --> 00:17:55.940
 and strengthens us.

00:17:57.020 --> 00:17:57.860
 And I'm curious,

00:17:58.100 --> 00:17:59.580
 how often have you done that?

00:17:59.660 --> 00:17:59.920
 You've said,

00:18:00.020 --> 00:18:00.160
 listen,

00:18:00.300 --> 00:18:03.620
 I am a person who has the indwelling Holy Spirit

00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:07.120
 and I cannot pull it off myself.

00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:07.619
 Second,

00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:13.679
 when we are dependent upon the indwelling Spirit,

00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:16.259
 it shows up in our prayer life.

00:18:17.179 --> 00:18:19.279
 It shows up in our prayer life.

00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:23.779
 We ask for things that are according to His will

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:26.719
 and reflective of His Word

00:18:26.719 --> 00:18:30.719
 and lean in towards the things that bring glory to His name.

00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:33.119
 So when you think about your prayer life,

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:34.739
 ask yourself the question,

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:40.819
 how often are the things that I'm praying for reflective of the things that bring glory to Christ

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:42.880
 and honor to the Father?

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.099
 Or,

00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:48.700
 am I just about grocery list praying?

00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:50.700
 Do you know what I mean by grocery list praying?

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.480
 Those prayers that,

00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.299
 you know,

00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:55.299
 oh Lord,

00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.299
 help the missionaries,

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.660
 help them.

00:18:57.660 --> 00:18:58.259
 And,

00:18:58.340 --> 00:18:58.800
 you know,

00:18:58.860 --> 00:18:59.960
 I've got some friends that are sick,

00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:00.100
 you know,

00:19:00.100 --> 00:19:00.759
 take care of them.

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.380
 And,

00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:01.900
 you know,

00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:02.400
 and it's,

00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.080
 I mean,

00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:03.640
 this morning,

00:19:04.040 --> 00:19:04.920
 sitting on the porch,

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.220
 having devotions,

00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:08.060
 and God sent along a hummingbird.

00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:09.560
 How many of you ever watched a hummingbird?

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:14.440
 The most spectacular demonstration of the infinite wisdom of God,

00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:16.120
 just in a flash.

00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.380
 I mean,

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:19.800
 stuck that little beak in about three or four flowers

00:19:19.800 --> 00:19:22.000
 and then decided didn't like my company and left.

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:22.880
 I'm sitting here,

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.259
 ha,

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.860
 God did that.

00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:25.180
 You know,

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:25.460
 it's like,

00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.140
 wow.

00:19:27.060 --> 00:19:28.980
 And sometimes we get caught up in,

00:19:29.060 --> 00:19:34.160
 in not recognizing the goodness and the glory of our God.

00:19:34.280 --> 00:19:34.340
 And,

00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:35.020
 and he's there.

00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:36.420
 And,

00:19:36.520 --> 00:19:38.380
 and so in our prayer life,

00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:41.200
 instead of being just kind of self-focused on your grocery list,

00:19:41.340 --> 00:19:44.340
 how often do you spend time thanking him for what he's done,

00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:45.100
 what he's made,

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:45.620
 and,

00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:47.140
 and all the evidence of his glory?

00:19:48.340 --> 00:19:50.540
 A further indication would be this.

00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:56.120
 When we are being led by the spirit and dependent upon the spirit,

00:19:56.119 --> 00:20:05.579
 we are very quick to rely upon the word of God for making judgments and determining what is right and wrong.

00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:08.159
 Give you an illustration.

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:11.340
 I was driving yesterday,

00:20:11.340 --> 00:20:16.560
 and God populated the highway in front of me with very irresponsible drivers.

00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:18.200
 Now,

00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.100
 I have to admit,

00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:22.779
 my wife would probably say that I am one of them when she's not driving.

00:20:23.560 --> 00:20:23.779
 But,

00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:26.060
 I was driving by myself,

00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:27.000
 and there were,

00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:31.600
 do you know what it is to come up to a stoplight and expect that the person in front of you,

00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:33.360
 when the light turns green,

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.899
 is not on their phone?

00:20:35.939 --> 00:20:36.119
 I mean,

00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:36.719
 do you follow that?

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:39.919
 It just happened to me about three times in a row,

00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:40.939
 and I am,

00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.740
 I'm a pastor,

00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:42.599
 almost retired,

00:20:42.719 --> 00:20:42.819
 but,

00:20:42.879 --> 00:20:42.959
 you know,

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.439
 I was thinking,

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:47.199
 it wouldn't be appropriate for a Baptist pastor to honk at somebody because they're on their phone,

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:47.439
 you know,

00:20:47.479 --> 00:20:47.679
 it's like,

00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:53.039
 and,

00:20:53.139 --> 00:20:54.699
 here I am,

00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:55.339
 I'm saying,

00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:55.699
 hold it,

00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:55.939
 Lord,

00:20:55.940 --> 00:21:02.500
 I think you are the one who's sovereignly ordained for the person who's actually in front of me.

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:03.799
 Okay,

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.779
 so this is about you and not about me?

00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:07.580
 When we are,

00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:11.700
 when we are living and walking in the power of the Spirit,

00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:12.279
 when we're,

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:14.000
 when we're where we need to be,

00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:19.259
 we end up trusting in His sovereign control of things rather than caught up in our own agenda.

00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:22.059
 Furthermore,

00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:26.119
 when we are walking in the Spirit,

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:27.419
 abiding in the Spirit,

00:21:27.919 --> 00:21:33.240
 we have a desire to not offend Him with unconfessed sin.

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:39.159
 We have a desire to not offend Him with unconfessed sin.

00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:45.099
 I think we're far too careless with sin,

00:21:46.139 --> 00:21:48.700
 with unforgiveness,

00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:54.460
 with ill-spirited thinking of other believers,

00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:58.120
 with covetousness.

00:21:59.319 --> 00:21:59.960
 And by the way,

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:03.940
 we live in a day where covetousness is probably the most endorsed sin you can imagine.

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:07.960
 All you have to do is go to Amazon,

00:22:08.340 --> 00:22:12.180
 and it is there to entertain your covetousness.

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:12.920
 Do you realize that?

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.080
 In fact,

00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:14.740
 you can,

00:22:14.840 --> 00:22:18.640
 you can go almost anywhere on the internet and find everything that you never knew you did,

00:22:18.800 --> 00:22:19.400
 actually needed.

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.060
 There it is.

00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.039
 And so,

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:25.160
 when we are abiding in Him,

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:27.840
 and we are sensitive to the Spirit that indwells us,

00:22:28.060 --> 00:22:29.660
 we end up with a sensitivity to,

00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:30.460
 whether am I,

00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:32.480
 am I offending the Spirit of God or not?

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.200
 So,

00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:37.240
 the first thing that we see there in that passage in 1 John 2,

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:40.500
 is that the Holy Spirit abides in the believer.

00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:41.380
 That's significant.

00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:43.720
 That's supremely important.

00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:49.900
 The second thing that we find is that we have to make a choice to walk by His power.

00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:51.740
 Now,

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:54.319
 put your finger on that word that appears several different times,

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.440
 abide in Him.

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.680
 It's the very end of 27.

00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.299
 It says,

00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:59.360
 abide in Him.

00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:00.380
 What does that mean?

00:23:01.040 --> 00:23:01.260
 Now,

00:23:01.300 --> 00:23:02.340
 the truth of the matter is,

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:09.120
 is that most of us probably don't use the word abide very often in our daily vocabulary.

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:09.720
 In fact,

00:23:09.760 --> 00:23:15.380
 it's not one of those words that I have heard used apart from here in the church.

00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:16.980
 This morning,

00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:18.920
 as I was driving to church,

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:21.800
 I was singing that song about abiding,

00:23:22.020 --> 00:23:23.980
 constantly abiding Jesus' mind.

00:23:24.060 --> 00:23:26.680
 There are other songs that I remember learning as a young boy,

00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:28.640
 and singing them this morning,

00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:32.180
 just to remind myself of the blessing I have of being in Him.

00:23:32.540 --> 00:23:33.560
 And here is Paul saying,

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:34.420
 there's something,

00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:35.259
 or John,

00:23:35.520 --> 00:23:39.180
 there's something for you to do in relationship to the Holy Spirit.

00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:44.100
 The word abide that is used here means to stay or remain.

00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:49.080
 And it's really talking about being in a place or a relationship

00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:52.160
 where that relationship is having an effect.

00:23:52.160 --> 00:24:00.000
 It's interesting that Jesus was in this abiding relationship with the Father.

00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:04.080
 I want you to turn over just for a moment to John chapter 14, verse 10.

00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:05.100
 You're in 1 John,

00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:06.620
 but go back to John 14.

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:10.720
 Because when we think about what it means for us to abide,

00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:16.160
 it helps us to understand how Jesus abided in the Father.

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:18.340
 John 14, verse 10.

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:26.319
 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

00:24:26.399 --> 00:24:29.439
 The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority,

00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:34.819
 but the Father who dwells in me does His work.

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:37.639
 That little statement there, dwells in me,

00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:43.240
 is the same Greek word that is being used by John over in 1 John.

00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:48.140
 So here we see that Jesus was abiding in the Father,

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:50.339
 and the Father was abiding in Him.

00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:56.140
 And what it's telling us is that Jesus had unbroken communication

00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:58.279
 or communion with the Father,

00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:05.440
 and the Father's closeness led to a complete

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:09.359
 and constant influence in His life.

00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.799
 Let me say that again so you can follow it.

00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:14.539
 Jesus was abiding in the Father,

00:25:15.159 --> 00:25:20.259
 and the Father's closeness led to a complete

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:22.940
 and constant influence.

00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:26.119
 And so what we understand is this,

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:31.899
 is Jesus did what Jesus did because of His relationship.

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:34.399
 His relationship with the Father

00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:38.700
 meant that He acted according to the Father's will.

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:44.940
 His relationship to the Father meant that He spoke according to the Father's will.

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:48.600
 And because He was abiding in the Father

00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:50.700
 and choosing to abide in the Father,

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:55.240
 you end up with the life being affected by that relationship.

00:25:56.279 --> 00:26:03.620
 Now, neither Jesus nor John used the word abide to talk about spiritual passivity.

00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:07.239
 We get the idea sometimes because the word means to stay

00:26:07.239 --> 00:26:09.859
 or it means to kind of remain.

00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:13.159
 It's just kind of passively, well, I'm abiding.

00:26:14.739 --> 00:26:15.299
 No.

00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:18.359
 Abiding is about communion.

00:26:19.239 --> 00:26:20.500
 It's about closeness.

00:26:21.219 --> 00:26:23.619
 And it's about choices that display relationship.

00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.679
 Let me say that again because it's important.

00:26:26.159 --> 00:26:27.899
 Abiding is about communion.

00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:29.000
 It's about closeness.

00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:31.619
 And it's choices that display relationship.

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:34.200
 Saying that you're abiding

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:38.259
 and then being incessantly anxious

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:40.740
 or unwilling to forgive

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:43.940
 or being easily offended,

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:47.079
 quick to remember past hurts,

00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:51.900
 is not what the Scripture calls us

00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:53.859
 to understand as abiding.

00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:56.199
 And while it's true,

00:26:56.719 --> 00:26:59.879
 and we do see this in 1 John 2, verse 27,

00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:02.599
 that the Holy Spirit abides in every believer,

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:05.659
 it's also true that we as believers

00:27:05.659 --> 00:27:08.240
 have to choose to stay close,

00:27:08.659 --> 00:27:09.799
 to stay in communion,

00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:11.119
 and not drift away.

00:27:11.979 --> 00:27:15.179
 We have a command that is given to us here in verse 28

00:27:15.179 --> 00:27:17.000
 that we're to abide in Him.

00:27:17.219 --> 00:27:18.579
 It's a choice we make.

00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:21.259
 Let me give you some other passages

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:25.599
 that Paul brings the same concept into light,

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.559
 and they may help us.

00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:28.259
 Turn over, if you will,

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:31.480
 to Ephesians chapter 4, verse 21 through 24.

00:27:34.140 --> 00:27:37.799
 Ephesians chapter 4, verse 21 through 24.

00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:37.940
 Ephesians chapter 4, verse 21 through 24.

00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:59.940
 Actually, it's in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 22.

00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:02.240
 Put off your old self,

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:04.279
 which belongs to your former manner of life

00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:06.640
 and is corrupt according to deceitful desires,

00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:09.720
 to be renewed in the spirit of your mind

00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:11.420
 and to put on the new self

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:13.299
 created after the likeness of God

00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:16.079
 in true righteousness and holiness.

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:22.939
 Paul joins the apostle John in saying,

00:28:23.179 --> 00:28:25.759
 listen, you've got some conscious decisions to make.

00:28:26.199 --> 00:28:27.679
 There are things that you need to do.

00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:30.000
 In Paul's case here, he says,

00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:32.279
 you need to put off the old pattern of living.

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:35.579
 You need to put off those old ways of thinking.

00:28:35.899 --> 00:28:39.159
 You need to put off the old value structure that you had,

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:41.039
 and you need to put on the new man.

00:28:41.439 --> 00:28:43.299
 It's a conscious choice that you make.

00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:45.980
 Another passage in relationship to that

00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:50.099
 is over in Philippians chapter 2, verse 12 and 13.

00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:55.399
 Therefore, my beloved, as you've always obeyed,

00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:57.799
 so now not only as in my presence,

00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:59.919
 but much more in my absence,

00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:03.940
 work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:07.779
 For it is God who works in you both to will

00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:09.480
 and to work for his good pleasure.

00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:12.220
 Now to bring that back into John's context,

00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:15.600
 remember the starting point of John's argument here

00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:19.180
 in chapter 2 is, you have the Holy Spirit in you.

00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:23.779
 Then he says, use the Holy Spirit that is in you.

00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:28.160
 In the passage in Philippians, Paul says it this way,

00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:33.120
 you're to work to bring about the fruitfulness

00:29:33.120 --> 00:29:34.059
 of your salvation.

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:37.839
 Then in verse 13, for it is God who is working in you

00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:40.539
 both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:43.339
 One other passage that I would hold on to

00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:44.480
 and encourage you to remember

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:47.420
 is over in Colossians chapter 1, verse 29.

00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:54.480
 How do I know that the Holy Spirit is working in me?

00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:58.200
 Colossians chapter 1, verse 29.

00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:03.799
 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy,

00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:06.859
 that he powerfully works in me.

00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:13.299
 Can I say that the Holy Spirit is actively working in me

00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:16.819
 if I don't see the evidence of him at work?

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.479
 Do you follow that?

00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:23.819
 Can I say that the Holy Spirit is working in me

00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:28.019
 if I cannot see the Holy Spirit at work?

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:35.200
 When I see myself overly anxious, easily irritated,

00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:38.599
 committed to being an unforgiving person,

00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:42.779
 embittered by things that keep on coming up from the past,

00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:46.279
 can I say that the Holy Spirit is at work in my life?

00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:47.279
 And the answer is what?

00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:51.139
 No, no, no.

00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:56.240
 And here is Paul saying,

00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:59.900
 here's how I know that the Holy Spirit is at work in my life

00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:04.620
 because I see evidence of the Spirit working through me.

00:31:05.860 --> 00:31:09.000
 Now, why would it be important for us as believers today?

00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:12.380
 I mean, after all, you're saved and you're going to heaven, right?

00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:14.980
 Everything else is chump change.

00:31:16.020 --> 00:31:17.160
 Well, let me tell you something.

00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:23.120
 He intends for us to be demonstrations of his power

00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:25.440
 and his ability to transform lives.

00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.240
 Would you agree with that?

00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:32.380
 We who are his children should be less moody than we used to be,

00:31:32.820 --> 00:31:35.320
 more forgiving than we used to be,

00:31:35.800 --> 00:31:38.100
 more generous than we used to be,

00:31:38.840 --> 00:31:43.160
 kinder, gentler, happier people than we once were.

00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:44.720
 And why should we be that way?

00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:47.579
 For one, because we were saved.

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:52.000
 Number two, because we have the Holy Spirit at work in us

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:56.600
 and we are to be evidence of his glory and his power.

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:59.019
 And so here we are.

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:02.460
 John is saying, don't let people fool you.

00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:07.220
 It's not all about this super spirituality.

00:32:08.360 --> 00:32:11.640
 Number one, you have the believer, the indwelling Holy Spirit.

00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:14.640
 Number two, you are to take advantage of that

00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:19.259
 and to rely upon him to produce the peaceful fruit of righteousness in your life.

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:25.360
 So let's take a minute to identify some of what takes place

00:32:25.360 --> 00:32:29.480
 when we are choosing and nurturing close communion with the Father

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:31.480
 and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

00:32:31.580 --> 00:32:33.520
 What does it mean when we're abiding in him?

00:32:34.140 --> 00:32:40.040
 For one, we live with a sense of assurance of our relationship with him.

00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:44.740
 We live with a sense of assurance of our relationship with him.

00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:48.039
 How often do you find yourself just kind of reveling

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:52.019
 at the fact that you're the child of God and you're incredibly blessed?

00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:55.240
 Man, I'm his child.

00:32:55.859 --> 00:32:57.420
 Romans 8, verse 35.

00:32:59.139 --> 00:33:01.339
 Another thing is this, is we're quick to remember

00:33:01.339 --> 00:33:03.099
 that we can do nothing apart from him.

00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:06.440
 If we're abiding in him, if we're in this communion with him,

00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:09.779
 we're very, very quick to remember that we can't pull it off without him.

00:33:10.840 --> 00:33:13.160
 And incidentally, that shows up in your prayer life.

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:15.680
 I remember at one point in my life,

00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:19.880
 I'd been convicted that my prayer life was not very robust,

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:22.920
 and so I thought the way to do it was have a longer prayer list.

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.420
 Nothing wrong with prayer lists.

00:33:25.360 --> 00:33:27.940
 But as I have continued to grow in the Lord slowly,

00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:30.920
 I find that I pray about all kinds of things.

00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:33.279
 And by the way, the things that I don't pray about,

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:35.720
 they're just an accident waiting to happen.

00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:39.059
 I remember reading the passage, you know,

00:33:39.399 --> 00:33:41.859
 praying always with all prayer and supplication.

00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:43.319
 I thought, how can you do that?

00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:46.200
 I mean, the rest of the day rolls by and you're not doing anything.

00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:46.980
 No, no, no.

00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:49.759
 When you are praying always,

00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:53.000
 you're praying about every part of your day, right?

00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:56.039
 You're praying when you get in the car and saying,

00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:58.680
 all right, Lord, I know that you've populated the highway

00:33:58.680 --> 00:34:00.500
 with people that are going to test my humility

00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:02.759
 and help me handle the test properly.

00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:05.099
 When you get a phone call, you say,

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:07.379
 Lord, this is you on the other end.

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:09.400
 You've got somebody that you want me to minister to.

00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:12.460
 When you end up with a little bit of frustration in Sunday school

00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:14.920
 or putting things together with VBS,

00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:18.039
 Lord, hey, I need to lean on you.

00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:19.219
 You rely on him.

00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:25.019
 Third, our prayer life is marked by a sweet communion

00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:27.559
 rather than a spiritual wish list.

00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:32.519
 Fourth, we see the evidence of fruitfulness

00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:37.719
 that froze from our relationship rather than a forced effect.

00:34:38.759 --> 00:34:43.799
 When we are in communion with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

00:34:43.799 --> 00:34:46.159
 and we are abiding with him,

00:34:46.759 --> 00:34:49.619
 fruitfulness is not something that is forced,

00:34:49.759 --> 00:34:51.460
 but it's something that happens.

00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:59.220
 Out of the good treasure, a good man brings forth what?

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.780
 Good things.

00:35:02.780 --> 00:35:06.420
 Furthermore, obedience to his word is our delight

00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:08.639
 and not our obligation

00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:13.320
 or a means of avoiding chastisement or penalty.

00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:17.760
 Obedience to his word is our delight,

00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:20.400
 not an obligation

00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:23.860
 or a means of avoiding chastisement or penalty.

00:35:24.700 --> 00:35:27.360
 So let's close with the final little part of this chapter

00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:29.180
 in 1 John 2.

00:35:29.680 --> 00:35:31.360
 Go back there and we'll just touch

00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:33.380
 on the last little portion of the text.

00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:37.400
 I could use some fancy words here

00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:40.380
 and I probably will just because I'm going to do it.

00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:46.700
 There's orthodoxy and there's orthopraxis.

00:35:47.720 --> 00:35:50.599
 One is the teaching and the other is the practice.

00:35:51.140 --> 00:35:54.300
 And here at the end of his little Bible lesson saying,

00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:58.720
 you've got the Holy Spirit, use the Holy Spirit,

00:35:59.380 --> 00:36:03.200
 he now says, and here's how you know where you're at.

00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:06.440
 It's when profession and practice come together.

00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:09.880
 I like the closing logic that John uses here.

00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:11.619
 He starts out with a theological truth.

00:36:11.740 --> 00:36:12.300
 Look at it in verse,

00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:16.500
 I turned the page wrong here, verse 29.

00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:19.300
 If you know that he is righteous,

00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:20.800
 and so what's the answer to that?

00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:23.160
 Is Jesus righteous?

00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:23.880
 What's the answer?

00:36:24.340 --> 00:36:25.920
 Oh yes, yeah, I got that.

00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:28.500
 If you know that he is righteous,

00:36:29.619 --> 00:36:31.220
 and he is,

00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:35.660
 then you may be sure that everyone who leans in

00:36:35.660 --> 00:36:38.300
 and practices righteousness is born of him.

00:36:38.300 --> 00:36:43.840
 The logic that John relies on here is inescapable.

00:36:44.060 --> 00:36:45.039
 Jesus is righteous.

00:36:46.080 --> 00:36:50.019
 It's reasonable to expect that those who are born of his grace

00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:55.440
 are in the process of producing the peaceable fruit of righteousness as well.

00:36:55.440 --> 00:37:00.519
 Righteousness and fruitfulness go together

00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:03.679
 and are indicators of genuine relationship.

00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:04.300
 Isn't that right?

00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:08.119
 Those who are the children of God

00:37:08.119 --> 00:37:14.700
 should be displaying the fruit of godliness.

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:22.679
 And here is John dealing with people who are being challenged by false teaching,

00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:27.500
 who are being seduced and led away by lies.

00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:29.739
 John says,

00:37:29.839 --> 00:37:33.719
 Hey listen, start out by remembering that you as a child of God

00:37:33.719 --> 00:37:35.699
 have the indwelling Holy Spirit.

00:37:36.439 --> 00:37:38.099
 Tremendously important.

00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:43.599
 Number two, remember that you are to rely upon the Holy Spirit

00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:48.339
 for every moment of your spiritual and living existence.

00:37:48.579 --> 00:37:50.079
 The Holy Spirit is there to help you.

00:37:50.819 --> 00:37:51.440
 He is your helper.

00:37:51.759 --> 00:37:52.400
 Rely on him.

00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.119
 Third,

00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:58.839
 you can see the evidence of being a child of God

00:37:58.839 --> 00:38:03.179
 by seeing the evidence of fruitfulness and righteousness in your life.

00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:06.619
 Last week,

00:38:07.139 --> 00:38:10.699
 got around to weeding a portion of my flower bed.

00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:13.159
 I had somebody helping me.

00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:16.960
 And we had planted zinnias last year.

00:38:17.019 --> 00:38:17.799
 I like zinnias.

00:38:17.919 --> 00:38:19.859
 They're a wonderful little flower that do well.

00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:27.299
 And they had decided that they would seed the area of their own accord.

00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:32.059
 And we had zinnia sprouts coming up all over the place.

00:38:32.059 --> 00:38:34.719
 Now, at the early stage of zinnia sprouts,

00:38:34.840 --> 00:38:40.279
 I couldn't really discern whether or not they were just garden variety weeds.

00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:42.779
 And I have always managed to grow a great crop of them.

00:38:43.440 --> 00:38:47.079
 And so I want to save the zinnias, but I don't want to save the weeds.

00:38:47.179 --> 00:38:49.860
 But how do I determine the difference between the two?

00:38:50.099 --> 00:38:50.539
 Guess what?

00:38:51.500 --> 00:38:52.239
 Here's the plan.

00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:56.619
 Give them another couple days and zinnias begin to do what?

00:38:56.619 --> 00:39:00.299
 Zinnias pop out a little head that says,

00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:02.639
 I am thinking about being a flower,

00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:05.699
 and here's the signal that I'm going to have one.

00:39:07.719 --> 00:39:09.759
 It's the same way with a believer's life.

00:39:11.699 --> 00:39:13.900
 By virtue of being his child,

00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:19.519
 there should be evidence of his working in you.

00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:26.000
 I'm curious whether or not you see this fruit in your life.

00:39:27.800 --> 00:39:39.480
 Do I show my joyful, happy confidence in my God?

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:45.079
 Is my life marked by trust,

00:39:45.639 --> 00:39:47.460
 by forgiveness,

00:39:48.199 --> 00:39:49.539
 by humility,

00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:52.320
 by spiritual fruitfulness,

00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:57.800
 or am I a person who has been deceived by the enemy

00:39:57.800 --> 00:40:04.699
 in thinking that because I've gathered a certain amount of spiritual head knowledge

00:40:04.699 --> 00:40:06.579
 that I'm okay?

00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:07.079
 No.

00:40:09.819 --> 00:40:13.659
 The way in which you can have confidence in your salvation

00:40:13.659 --> 00:40:18.059
 is by seeing the fruit of the work of God

00:40:18.059 --> 00:40:25.420
 that has no explanation apart from grace and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

00:40:26.619 --> 00:40:31.139
 Now, I would encourage you this morning as we finish up looking at this passage this morning

00:40:31.139 --> 00:40:32.639
 to ask the practical question,

00:40:33.279 --> 00:40:34.119
 am I a believer?

00:40:34.119 --> 00:40:39.500
 Am I a believer who is not appropriating the power of the Holy Spirit?

00:40:41.619 --> 00:40:42.920
 And this morning,

00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:45.880
 am I committed to allow the Spirit of God

00:40:45.880 --> 00:40:47.980
 to produce the fruit of righteousness in my life

00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:49.599
 that brings glory to Christ

00:40:49.599 --> 00:40:51.539
 and honor to our King?

00:40:52.239 --> 00:40:53.319
 Let's close in prayer.

00:40:56.579 --> 00:40:57.960
 Our Father God, this morning,

00:40:58.079 --> 00:41:00.440
 as we take the word in hand,

00:41:00.440 --> 00:41:03.720
 we who know the Lord Jesus Christ

00:41:03.720 --> 00:41:06.579
 confess that we are blessed beyond imagination,

00:41:07.139 --> 00:41:07.860
 first of all,

00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:09.539
 in the fact that our sins have been forgiven,

00:41:10.360 --> 00:41:13.200
 and then also in the ministry of the indwelling Spirit

00:41:13.200 --> 00:41:14.700
 who is actively at work

00:41:14.700 --> 00:41:18.039
 helping us grow to be more like our Lord Jesus.

00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:21.420
 I pray that we who know Christ

00:41:21.420 --> 00:41:25.599
 would this morning have hearts that desire to please Him

00:41:25.599 --> 00:41:26.800
 and display His glory.

00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:31.300
 I pray also for those that are here that do not know the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:41:31.659 --> 00:41:33.699
 Perhaps some that are here this morning

00:41:33.699 --> 00:41:35.739
 completely deceived by the enemy,

00:41:35.900 --> 00:41:37.960
 thinking that having grown up in a church

00:41:37.960 --> 00:41:41.579
 or having learned all the hymns and songs and verses,

00:41:42.039 --> 00:41:44.159
 that that in and of itself is salvation.

00:41:44.159 --> 00:41:47.739
 And I would pray that those who are here that do not know Christ

00:41:47.739 --> 00:41:48.960
 would be drawn to the cross,

00:41:49.279 --> 00:41:51.079
 even this morning by Your power.

00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:53.039
 We ask in Jesus' name.

00:41:53.299 --> 00:41:53.579
 Amen.

00:41:54.719 --> 00:41:56.659
 John is going to lead us in our closing song,

00:41:56.739 --> 00:41:57.559
 Let's Stand Together.

00:41:58.199 --> 00:41:59.379
 And let me encourage you,

00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:00.239
 if you're here today

00:42:00.239 --> 00:42:02.619
 and the Spirit of God is addressing a heart

00:42:02.619 --> 00:42:04.819
 that you need to care for in a public way,

00:42:05.259 --> 00:42:06.299
 it might be that you're here

00:42:06.299 --> 00:42:07.759
 and need some prayer and some counsel.

00:42:08.359 --> 00:42:09.639
 It might be that you're here

00:42:09.639 --> 00:42:11.399
 and you believe God is leading you

00:42:11.399 --> 00:42:12.440
 to be part of this fellowship

00:42:12.440 --> 00:42:14.579
 and you want to be on record with that.

00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:16.039
 It might be that you're here

00:42:16.039 --> 00:42:18.519
 and you need the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior

00:42:18.519 --> 00:42:20.300
 and this morning you're convicted of that.

00:42:20.579 --> 00:42:23.639
 I want you to know that you don't have to come down to the front to be saved.

00:42:24.420 --> 00:42:27.340
 But there's something to be said for humility that says,

00:42:27.800 --> 00:42:30.320
 I need Jesus and I'm ready to go on record

00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:31.320
 and let that be known.

00:42:31.320 --> 00:42:32.119
 You come forward,

00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:33.820
 someone share the gospel with you

00:42:33.820 --> 00:42:37.380
 and encourage you in what it means to trust in Jesus as your Savior.

00:42:37.820 --> 00:42:38.740
 Let's sing together.

00:42:42.440 --> 00:42:43.920
 Sing together.

00:42:43.920 --> 00:42:51.980
 Lord, I come, I confess,

00:42:52.760 --> 00:42:59.659
 bowing here I find my rest.

00:43:00.179 --> 00:43:06.200
 And without you I'd fall apart.

00:43:06.199 --> 00:43:18.019
 Lord, I need you.

00:43:18.719 --> 00:43:21.119
 Lord, I need you.

00:43:21.179 --> 00:43:22.139
 Next slide, please.

00:43:22.519 --> 00:43:26.639
 Oh, I need you.

00:43:26.639 --> 00:43:34.259
 Every hour I need you.

00:43:34.259 --> 00:43:41.139
 I want defense, my righteousness.

00:43:42.359 --> 00:43:48.679
 Oh, God, how I need you.

00:43:48.679 --> 00:43:55.940
 Where sin runs deep.

00:43:56.359 --> 00:43:59.159
 Your grace is born.

00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:06.679
 Where grace is found is where you are.

00:44:06.679 --> 00:44:10.739
 And where you are.

00:44:10.739 --> 00:44:13.440
 Lord, I am free.

00:44:15.219 --> 00:44:21.639
 Holiness is Christ in me.

00:44:21.639 --> 00:44:26.639
 Lord, I need you.

00:44:26.639 --> 00:44:28.639
 Lord, I need you.

00:44:28.639 --> 00:44:33.859
 Oh, I need you.

00:44:33.859 --> 00:44:40.639
 Every hour I need you.

00:44:40.639 --> 00:44:47.639
 My one defense, my righteousness.

00:44:48.400 --> 00:44:53.639
 Oh, God, how I need you.

00:44:55.639 --> 00:44:59.639
 So teach my song to rise to you.

00:44:59.639 --> 00:45:06.639
 When temptation comes my way.

00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:12.639
 When I cannot stand up on you.

00:45:14.639 --> 00:45:19.639
 Jesus, you're my hope and stay.

00:45:19.639 --> 00:45:20.639
 Lord, I need you.

00:45:20.639 --> 00:45:26.639
 Lord, I need you.

00:45:26.639 --> 00:45:31.639
 Oh, I need you.

00:45:31.639 --> 00:45:37.639
 Every hour I need you.

00:45:38.639 --> 00:45:44.639
 My one defense, my righteousness.

00:45:44.639 --> 00:45:50.639
 Oh, God, how I need you.

00:45:52.639 --> 00:45:59.639
 You're my one defense, my righteousness.

00:46:00.639 --> 00:46:06.639
 Oh, God, how I need you.

00:46:10.219 --> 00:46:13.500
 It's our privilege this morning to have Samantha Bernard come forward,

00:46:13.500 --> 00:46:15.059
 asking to be a member in our fellowship.

00:46:16.059 --> 00:46:18.019
 It's our privilege to have Melody.

00:46:19.340 --> 00:46:20.059
 Hang on.

00:46:21.400 --> 00:46:25.280
 Come forward to ask for membership.

00:46:25.639 --> 00:46:29.280
 It's our privilege to have Jeff Keller and Donna Keller,

00:46:29.280 --> 00:46:35.760
 that we had the wonderful privilege of doing the remarriage for on Wednesday night,

00:46:35.880 --> 00:46:39.000
 come forward for membership.

00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:46.840
 And it's our privilege to have Mrs. Bout, who is Pastor Bout's wife, Brenda, come forward.

00:46:47.980 --> 00:46:49.119
 I'll just bring this up.

00:46:49.380 --> 00:46:52.780
 In the future, we probably ought to figure out that when we vote on a pastor,

00:46:52.880 --> 00:46:55.159
 we don't have his wife come forward a separate time.

00:46:56.840 --> 00:46:59.519
 Pastor, would you work that out for us so that we don't have this?

00:46:59.519 --> 00:47:02.679
 In the future, we'll work that out.

00:47:02.739 --> 00:47:06.739
 But anyway, these dear people are up here this morning saying this is the place

00:47:06.739 --> 00:47:10.860
 that God is calling them to be part of a family of believers.

00:47:15.739 --> 00:47:17.639
 I want to close with a passage of Scripture.

00:47:17.639 --> 00:47:24.659
 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:47:26.159 --> 00:47:33.879
 who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

00:47:37.179 --> 00:47:41.239
 The membership deacon, you guys welcome these dear people.

00:47:41.239 --> 00:48:11.219
 Thank you.

00:48:11.239 --> 00:48:41.219
 Thank you.

00:48:41.239 --> 00:48:43.239
 Thank you.

00:49:11.239 --> 00:49:15.239
 Thank you.

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