WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.100 A couple of questions that I think we can wrestle with a bit quickly. 00:00:03.620 --> 00:00:08.660 First one is, do we still call Jesus now that he's been exalted 00:00:08.660 --> 00:00:12.839 or does he go back to being a kind of pre-incarnation deity? 00:00:13.040 --> 00:00:18.740 Because you'll remember we talked about how that's the point where God arrives or shows up. 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:19.839 It's not the beginning of him. 00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:22.859 So the answer I have is yes and yes. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:26.199 So yes, we still call Jesus now. 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:30.019 He still referred to Jesus post-resurrection by New Testament writers. 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:33.219 So I think that is perfectly acceptable. 00:00:34.039 --> 00:00:38.000 And yes, he does return to his pre-incarnation deity 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:41.640 because in John 17 he prays that he'll return to the glory that he had 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:44.579 before the creation of the world with the Father. 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:49.179 So that's correct, but I don't think it's wrong to refer to him as Jesus. 00:00:49.420 --> 00:00:52.299 He's referred to as multiple things in the New Testament. 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:55.439 So in Revelation he's referred to as the Lamb quite regularly, 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:59.339 but that doesn't negate the title Jesus or the title Christ particularly 00:00:59.339 --> 00:01:02.339 because his death and resurrection proves him to be the Christ 00:01:02.339 --> 00:01:07.420 and then he sits on the throne as Christ, as Lord and King. 00:01:08.359 --> 00:01:10.319 So hopefully that's a short, sharp one. 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:17.719 Will Jesus be in human form, a glorified human form, in heaven 00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:20.579 or will he be physically different from us? 00:01:20.579 --> 00:01:23.000 That's a great question. 00:01:24.039 --> 00:01:29.140 And there's a bunch of scriptures that I want to point to really, really quickly. 00:01:30.140 --> 00:01:32.579 Philippians 3 is one that comes to mind 00:01:32.579 --> 00:01:38.200 which talks about our desire to eventually be with God. 00:01:38.299 --> 00:01:39.920 It's Paul straining towards heaven. 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:44.280 And he says this, verse 20 of chapter 3, 00:01:44.280 --> 00:02:03.680 So there is some likeness between what Jesus now has 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:07.439 and what we will have in our new bodies when we get to heaven. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:13.859 1 Corinthians 15 is another passage that talks about how the new bodies we get are going to be better 00:02:13.859 --> 00:02:17.139 and that all the sickness and stuff is taken out 00:02:17.139 --> 00:02:20.300 and it talks about how it used to be perishable and it would be imperishable. 00:02:23.259 --> 00:02:25.460 Yeah, so I think that's my answer. 00:02:25.939 --> 00:02:27.520 Yes, I think it will be in human form 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:31.460 because the risen Jesus who appears to the disciples 00:02:31.460 --> 00:02:34.120 is the same risen Jesus now. 00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:36.919 There's no communication in scripture that he changes. 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:39.419 I think the vision of the Lamb in Revelation is a vision 00:02:39.419 --> 00:02:42.119 reminding us that he was the one who was slain. 00:02:42.899 --> 00:02:45.939 But my read, and I'm open to Chris pushing on this, 00:02:46.019 --> 00:02:50.239 is that he will have a human form that is glorified. 00:02:51.659 --> 00:02:52.419 Do you want to...? 00:02:52.419 --> 00:02:55.599 I think it's really significant that he's taken humanity into heaven. 00:02:56.139 --> 00:02:58.919 But I think it's humanity, not all of humanity. 00:03:00.619 --> 00:03:01.219 Thank you. 00:03:01.219 --> 00:03:06.419 It's just really significant that Jesus has taken humanity, 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:07.939 but perfect humanity into heaven. 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:11.379 And he is the perfect person that we're not. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:15.740 But he opens the door for us being there with him through what he's done. 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:17.860 Yep. 00:03:17.860 --> 00:03:24.020 Another one which hopefully I can do pseudo-quickly. 00:03:24.420 --> 00:03:27.980 Question, in terms of salvation, when do we receive the Holy Spirit? 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:32.180 This is a good question and a controversial one as well. 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:37.860 What happens is, so when Jesus talks to Nicodemus in John 3, 00:03:37.980 --> 00:03:42.560 he says that to have eternal life we need to be born again. 00:03:42.819 --> 00:03:46.219 We need to be born of the Spirit, and that's what we call being regenerated. 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:49.580 So we're told in scripture that we're dead in sin, 00:03:49.980 --> 00:03:54.760 and we need to be made alive to then begin our relationship with God. 00:03:54.759 --> 00:04:02.519 That is the work of the Holy Spirit, that regeneration which enables us to see Jesus as Christ 00:04:02.519 --> 00:04:06.939 and to repent of our sins and place our trust in him. 00:04:07.519 --> 00:04:10.419 It does also say in Ephesians 1, for example, 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:15.120 that having believed, you were marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. 00:04:15.979 --> 00:04:19.980 And so I think it's important to understand that it's the Spirit that works. 00:04:20.339 --> 00:04:23.959 God uses the Spirit to bring the benefits of Christ to us. 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:28.879 But in terms of receiving it, I think you receive it at the point of salvation, 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:31.979 although I think that's a blurry line. 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:35.079 So is the point of salvation when you pray a prayer to say, 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:39.379 I want to be a Christian, or is the point of salvation when God begins to change your heart 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:42.099 so that you can get to a point where you want to pray a prayer like that? 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:45.199 I think that's all the point of salvation. 00:04:46.819 --> 00:04:50.099 I agree with you, but I think for some of us, 00:04:50.179 --> 00:04:53.379 we haven't got a clear point where we know we were in Christ. 00:04:53.379 --> 00:04:55.459 Some of us have been raised in Christian families. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:59.120 Others of us have come to Christ maybe over a period of time. 00:04:59.339 --> 00:05:03.019 And clearly it's the Spirit's work in both drawing us to Christ, 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:05.980 convicting us of sin, and then keeping us in Christ. 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:10.000 And so God's Spirit's at work at every point in one way. 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:15.180 I probably think against the idea of a special reception of him. 00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:21.160 If you're a believer, he's at work in you, and his power is fully at work in you. 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:26.400 But we might quench him, or what's the other word? 00:05:26.900 --> 00:05:29.500 Well, there's a question in that direction, so let's continue in that direction, 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:30.780 and you can continue answering it. 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:31.980 No, no, you can go. You're doing well. 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:35.639 The question was, is the Spirit working within us 24-7, 00:05:35.840 --> 00:05:38.759 or does the percentage of his involvement in our lives fluctuate? 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:43.039 So you're on a good direction, I think. 00:05:43.779 --> 00:05:49.319 My head feels a bit dead, but I think I answered this one online the other day, 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:53.659 and I think the Spirit is always there. 00:05:53.719 --> 00:05:54.920 He doesn't come and go. 00:05:54.920 --> 00:06:00.819 I think our sensitivity to his voice and our obedience to his voice and to his leading, 00:06:00.939 --> 00:06:01.800 that's what fluctuates. 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:03.160 So there's fluctuation in us. 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:06.259 Like sometimes we just downright say no to God. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:11.200 And when we say no to God, we're actually rejecting the work of his Spirit in us in that moment. 00:06:12.020 --> 00:06:14.139 Now, I'm not talking about being cast out of the kingdom, 00:06:14.340 --> 00:06:19.060 but that's what a disobedient walk looks like at that point. 00:06:19.060 --> 00:06:26.199 I make a decision sometimes day by day not to do something that I really know I should do. 00:06:26.379 --> 00:06:29.780 When I do that, I'm actually sort of saying I'll take control right here, 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:31.680 and you can sit in the passenger seat for a while, 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:35.079 and then you wear the consequences. 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:37.759 Yeah, I think it's helpful. 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:41.379 So I'm guessing that this might come out of a passage like Ephesians 5, 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:44.600 which says do not get drunk on wine, but be filled with the Spirit. 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:48.699 I think it's important to remember as we've worked through this series 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:49.879 that the Spirit is a person. 00:06:50.659 --> 00:06:53.539 It's not just a force or something like that. 00:06:53.659 --> 00:06:56.560 And so to think that we have more of a person or less of a person 00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:58.219 is maybe not a helpful way to think about it. 00:06:58.659 --> 00:07:00.899 The Spirit dwells in us according to the Scriptures, 00:07:01.099 --> 00:07:03.759 and I think it's more an issue of our submission to him 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:07.019 than how much of him we may or may not have. 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:12.699 Is there any from the floor before we keep going through? 00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:13.699 Anyone want to... 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:14.719 Yeah? 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:18.560 I'm going to throw the mark down in that direction. 00:07:18.699 --> 00:07:20.279 Oh, sorry. 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:26.500 So one of the most striking points that you made during this series, 00:07:26.860 --> 00:07:30.519 for me, was the fact that Jesus existed before he was born here, 00:07:30.579 --> 00:07:33.420 and you pointed out tonight that the three, 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:35.800 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, were eternal. 00:07:37.339 --> 00:07:40.599 So what was the role then of Jesus 00:07:40.599 --> 00:07:44.639 before he arrived on that Christmas day 2,000 years ago? 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:50.500 So the Bible, like, talks about him coming in the future, 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:54.579 but does that mean that Jesus didn't have any role for those people 00:07:54.579 --> 00:07:58.279 before he was born on earth? 00:07:58.439 --> 00:08:00.019 That is a sensational question. 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:01.459 I'm happy to have a crack, 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:04.539 and then I'll defer to the wiser member of the panel. 00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:09.420 I think that one of the things that we've done in this series 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:12.620 is looked at the relationships between Father, Son, and Spirit, 00:08:12.860 --> 00:08:15.760 and it's helpful to remember that those relationships are eternal. 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:19.060 So the Son existed in submission to the Father's will, 00:08:19.660 --> 00:08:22.980 which ultimately was that he would come, die, and rise again. 00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:26.580 But the Father had a will before that as well. 00:08:27.080 --> 00:08:30.439 Jesus is pointed to as an agent of creation quite a few times in Scripture. 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:32.360 So through him all things were created. 00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:37.379 To nail down specific things that he was doing 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:41.820 in the period between creation and him coming in human form, 00:08:42.220 --> 00:08:45.600 I'm not sure that Scripture is really explicit on that, 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:51.759 but I think he was actively loving the Father 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:54.620 and submitting to the Father for all of that period. 00:08:55.060 --> 00:08:58.659 The content of what that looked like I've struggled to nail down. 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:06.480 When Jacob wrestles with God, is that Jesus or is that an angel or something else? 00:09:07.940 --> 00:09:09.040 Great question. 00:09:11.040 --> 00:09:12.160 Do you want to... 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:19.079 Yeah, you're a couple of weeks in. 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:19.959 You've got this covered. 00:09:22.719 --> 00:09:28.620 Yeah, so the question was when Jacob wrestles with God in Genesis, 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:34.159 that is that Jesus or is that an angel or is that... 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:38.059 Well, I guess you've got to answer from the text, 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:40.839 and the text doesn't tell us, but it's tantalising, isn't it, 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:42.800 when you read it, because you really wonder 00:09:42.800 --> 00:09:45.320 if he's wrestled with God in human form and is that Jesus. 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:48.940 But Jesus is not revealed as Jesus until you get to the New Testament. 00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:51.420 But it doesn't mean that Jesus wasn't in operation 00:09:51.420 --> 00:09:53.420 through the Old Testament even before that. 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:56.300 And Sam's question, answer before I agree with, 00:09:56.460 --> 00:09:58.300 there's two purple passages for Jeff, 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:01.080 John chapter 1 and Colossians chapter 1, 00:10:01.139 --> 00:10:03.540 in terms of Jesus existing before he was born. 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:05.879 And Sam quoted it and he said, 00:10:06.599 --> 00:10:09.219 he's the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over... 00:10:09.219 --> 00:10:11.079 This is Colossians 1, 15. 00:10:11.319 --> 00:10:13.279 The firstborn over all creation. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:16.059 For by him all things were created, 00:10:16.199 --> 00:10:18.839 things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, 00:10:19.059 --> 00:10:21.539 whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities. 00:10:22.059 --> 00:10:24.099 All things were created by him and for him. 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:25.899 So it's not just him creating everything. 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:28.899 It's making this grand statement 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:32.519 that the whole creation's been brought into being for him. 00:10:32.939 --> 00:10:34.720 Not quite sure exactly what that means, 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:36.220 but it's a big picture statement 00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:38.480 about the importance of Jesus, 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:40.340 his role in creation and what it's for. 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:44.220 In the end, Philippians 2, 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:47.480 every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth. 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:52.039 So every single created knee will bow to the Lord Jesus. 00:10:52.199 --> 00:10:54.319 That's the summing up at the end to his lordship. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:56.760 And then, 1 Corinthians 15, 00:10:56.920 --> 00:10:58.840 he will hand over the kingdom to his father. 00:11:01.160 --> 00:11:01.600 Yep. 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:05.060 If I was going to throw in a thought 00:11:05.060 --> 00:11:07.100 based on the rest of what scripture says, 00:11:07.180 --> 00:11:09.820 I think your whispered answer down here is, 00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:13.120 I think that it's probably not Jesus in human form 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:14.140 for the reason that Chris said, 00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:17.140 because he's revealed in human form at his incarnation 00:11:17.140 --> 00:11:18.780 when he is born to Mary. 00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:21.220 So in terms of exactly what it is, 00:11:21.260 --> 00:11:22.120 I'd be more nervous, 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:24.220 but an angel is probably not a bad suggestion. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:25.120 Yeah. 00:11:26.640 --> 00:11:28.700 As a representative of God in the Old Testament. 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:31.280 Any other questions? 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:32.580 There is more on here. 00:11:32.920 --> 00:11:33.100 Yep. 00:11:33.760 --> 00:11:40.360 Can you talk about how the spirit glorifies the son 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:41.740 and the son glorifies the father, 00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:46.700 and then how the father goes back in glorifying the son. 00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:52.240 Does the spirit ever end up with any glory or recognition? 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:55.560 I know, I don't want to just like side with like the underdog spirit, 00:11:55.900 --> 00:11:58.720 but like I just feel like it's a chain that goes up, 00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:03.879 but I don't feel like the spirit gets any glory as like an end in itself. 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:10.620 I think understanding what we mean when we talk about glory will probably help us a little bit in that. 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:14.360 So glory is ultimately the revealing of who God is. 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:16.799 And so even in John 17, the prayer, 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:19.679 Father, glorify your son, that your son may glorify you. 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:21.139 What Jesus is praying is, 00:12:21.319 --> 00:12:26.659 show me to be God the son so that I can show people you as God the father. 00:12:27.359 --> 00:12:32.199 And the spirit's primary role is to reveal Jesus as God, 00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:34.199 remembering that he is God himself. 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:37.720 In terms of direct towards the spirit, 00:12:38.040 --> 00:12:43.200 I'm not sure that he does get focused on in the way that the father and the son do, 00:12:43.300 --> 00:12:45.060 but that doesn't reduce the fact that he is God. 00:12:45.280 --> 00:12:45.879 He is eternal. 00:12:46.040 --> 00:12:46.759 He is all-knowing. 00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:49.080 He is completely God and fully God. 00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:52.040 And like we keep saying, he's equal with father and son, 00:12:52.780 --> 00:12:54.700 even though he's not the focus of what's happening. 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:57.320 But I think there's, like I said tonight, 00:12:57.400 --> 00:13:02.420 there's no even whisper in scripture that that's in any way negative for the spirit. 00:13:02.419 --> 00:13:07.799 The spirit is very satisfied and content in his work 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:12.860 and feels full of the love of the father and the son. 00:13:14.079 --> 00:13:14.899 So, I don't know. 00:13:20.179 --> 00:13:24.779 I think Jesus is the most tangible expression of God that he has given us 00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:26.240 in that he is God in the flesh. 00:13:27.099 --> 00:13:28.939 Spirit is hidden to some extent, 00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:33.380 except we see his impact in our lives and in the lives of people around us 00:13:33.380 --> 00:13:34.080 and in the world. 00:13:35.020 --> 00:13:36.900 The father in heaven is hidden 00:13:36.900 --> 00:13:40.980 and Jesus himself is the one who really helps us to see 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:43.320 what the hidden God of the universe is like. 00:13:43.420 --> 00:13:44.060 And I think for me, 00:13:44.420 --> 00:13:46.220 that's been the most special thing 00:13:46.220 --> 00:13:48.560 that's come through in the whole series. 00:13:48.640 --> 00:13:49.480 I've been preaching in the morning, 00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:50.680 Sam's been preaching at night, 00:13:50.800 --> 00:13:53.540 but the whole notion that lots of people say they believe in God 00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:54.599 and they have a sense of God. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:58.079 And so, when I spoke to one of my friends the other week, 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:58.539 who's a doctor, 00:13:58.599 --> 00:13:58.819 he said, 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:00.659 I've had the privilege of cutting people open 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:03.179 and I could never conceive that there's not a God. 00:14:04.219 --> 00:14:04.860 But I said, 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:07.699 that's just like a Muslim who says he can't conceive there's not a God. 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:09.980 So, how do you get to the character of the real God? 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.839 Well, the way you find out about the character 00:14:11.839 --> 00:14:13.620 and the nature and the person of the real God 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:15.679 is through Jesus who reveals him. 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.719 So, what do I want to say to my friends? 00:14:16.959 --> 00:14:18.659 Come to Jesus and find out about what... 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:20.759 You're perceiving something which is really true, 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:23.240 but come and find out what he's really like 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:24.299 and you find out through Jesus. 00:14:25.459 --> 00:14:26.659 Can I say something controversial? 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:27.360 Please do. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:29.500 Controversial one on the spirit is, 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:34.559 I challenge you to go and see anywhere in the Bible 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:36.899 where the spirit is prayed to as a person. 00:14:37.719 --> 00:14:39.079 I don't think you'll find it, 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:42.120 but I'm happy for you to come and shove it under my nose 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:43.159 and say, here it is here. 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:45.279 I think you see prayers like, 00:14:45.459 --> 00:14:47.899 we pray to Jesus asking him to send his spirit on us 00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:49.600 and to work in us and through the church. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.100 We pray to the Father, 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:52.959 send the spirit and work in us through the church. 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:56.500 But I don't think you see prayers saying, 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:58.220 dear Holy Spirit, work amongst us. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:01.919 And if you pray a prayer like that, 00:15:01.939 --> 00:15:03.579 I don't think you're thrown out of the Christian family, 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:06.120 but I think it's worth pondering in terms of how God operates 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:07.860 and how God is revealed to us in the scripture. 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:10.579 I think that's helpful. 00:15:11.939 --> 00:15:12.779 I know if you've got one, 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.360 I was going to say others will keep wandering down that track. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:17.000 Sorry, just in regards to that comment, 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:20.519 does that mean that the spirit doesn't have a will 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:24.980 or does the spirit also have a will like Jesus and the Father do? 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:27.139 I would say, again, 00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:29.200 scripture doesn't go into heaps of detail 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:31.019 on the person of the spirit and the way it does, 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:31.720 Father and Son. 00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:33.919 But I think because he is God, 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:36.519 he has all the attributes of God, 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.480 including a will. 00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:40.740 Father and Son have wills, 00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:42.120 but it's also a shared will 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.200 in that they're so unified 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:46.320 and I think the spirit is the same. 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:47.860 But again, 00:15:47.940 --> 00:15:49.799 I would struggle to find a place in scripture 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:50.960 that kind of unpacks that 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:52.919 because the spirit really does 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:55.860 work backstage for want of a better term. 00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:57.039 It's probably not a great word, 00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:59.720 but the idea is he kind of stays out of the mainframe 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:00.820 as much as possible 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:03.600 because he's just trying to point to Jesus. 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:05.860 Would that then apply to praying to the Son? 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:08.080 Would we not pray to the Son either because of that? 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:10.980 I think, 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:12.420 so I actually think, 00:16:12.560 --> 00:16:13.180 like Chris said, 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:14.940 I don't think it's going to get you kicked out 00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.759 praying to the spirit 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:17.400 and I think praying to Jesus is the same. 00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:18.620 But the instruction, 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.420 the only time we're ever instructed 00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:22.220 on how to pray by Jesus is 00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:23.500 our Father in heaven. 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:25.500 And I think given the stuff we've looked at, 00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:26.700 that the spirit and Son come 00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:28.600 to draw us in to that relationship 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:30.200 so we can call him our Father. 00:16:31.280 --> 00:16:32.879 It's a privileged position 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:34.000 to be able to pray to our Father 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:37.540 and it's one to make the most of. 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:39.500 So I don't think it's wrong to pray to Jesus 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:40.860 or to pray to the spirit, 00:16:41.079 --> 00:16:43.439 but seeing a scripture encourages me 00:16:43.439 --> 00:16:44.459 towards praying to the Father. 00:16:44.719 --> 00:16:45.699 That's where I think. 00:16:47.939 --> 00:16:49.179 Chris may have a passage. 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:51.699 Oh, look out. 00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:53.759 Acts chapter 7, 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:55.019 as Stephen's dying, 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:55.899 he's been stoned to death. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.439 Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:00.279 And I'm not sure there's some other places as well, 00:17:00.319 --> 00:17:01.360 but that's a clear example. 00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:03.699 But I'd say it's happening, 00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:05.680 but it's not instructed in the way that Matthew... 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:06.400 Oh, no, no, no. 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.420 It's not instruction, 00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:08.880 but it's there in the scriptures happening 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:10.799 and you see it and it's real. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:13.299 Can I have a go to another question, 00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:14.279 which I know is on the list? 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:14.820 Please do. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.240 Somebody asked the question about 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:19.820 where you see the spirit at work in Revelation 00:17:19.820 --> 00:17:21.080 because it seems pretty quiet. 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:23.660 And in the book of Revelation, 00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:24.840 you do see the spirit 00:17:24.840 --> 00:17:28.060 working with the three churches 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:30.440 in Revelation chapter 1 to 3, 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.619 2 and 3 in particular, 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:34.039 what the spirit says to the churches. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:37.059 And then there's some really... 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:39.879 The pictures of God in Revelation, 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:41.740 a couple of the key pictures of God 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.679 for me in Revelation 00:17:42.679 --> 00:17:44.179 are in Revelation 5, 00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:45.899 when worthy is the Lamb who was slain. 00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:49.179 The Lamb is worshipped 00:17:49.179 --> 00:17:50.579 and the last song is, 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:52.500 to him who is seated on the throne 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:53.779 and to the Lamb, 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:55.779 be praise and glory and honour. 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:57.480 So it's like father and son 00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:59.079 worshipped together as one, 00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:03.099 not the two persons in the one place 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:04.079 worshipped as one. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:06.899 And then in Revelation 21, 22, 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:08.440 I think 21, 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.980 there's no need for a temple in heaven 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:13.440 because him who is on the throne 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:15.599 and the Lamb are its temple. 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:17.839 The presence of God is with his people 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:19.420 and it's expressed as the two there. 00:18:20.299 --> 00:18:22.399 And I can't go further than that 00:18:22.399 --> 00:18:24.399 other than we clearly presume 00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.359 the spirit's at work 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:27.439 and so when things emanate from the throne, 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.279 it's the power of God, 00:18:28.419 --> 00:18:29.579 it's the person of God, 00:18:29.639 --> 00:18:30.439 it's the spirit of God 00:18:30.439 --> 00:18:32.559 that is still at work. 00:18:32.679 --> 00:18:34.579 But again, there's a hiddenness to him 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:35.319 in Revelation. 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:37.599 But in saying there's a hiddenness, 00:18:37.699 --> 00:18:38.839 that's not to presume at all 00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:40.019 that he's not there and at work. 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:43.339 I think we're getting tight on time. 00:18:43.439 --> 00:18:43.959 Would that be correct? 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:46.519 All right, just to wrap up, 00:18:46.879 --> 00:18:48.439 I just want to affirm again 00:18:48.439 --> 00:18:50.500 that as we've kept saying 00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.379 throughout this series, 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:52.939 this isn't the final word. 00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:54.220 This isn't exhaustive 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:55.799 on the character of God 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.500 and that's something 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:58.200 that we can be thankful for, 00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.080 that God is bigger 00:18:59.080 --> 00:18:59.840 and more wonderful 00:18:59.840 --> 00:19:00.799 and there's more for us 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.559 to keep discovering 00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:02.640 and rejoicing in 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:03.559 and being thankful for 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:05.360 until he comes again 00:19:05.360 --> 00:19:06.279 and shows us everything. 00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:08.180 So I encourage you to keep digging. 00:19:08.320 --> 00:19:08.980 If you had questions 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.100 that we didn't get to tonight, 00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:11.899 I'm happy to hang around.