WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:18.559 I have to tell you that as I stand here this morning, at the very start, there's a passage that 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:28.320 ! That would not be strange for a pastor when he stands at a pulpit, right? In fact, I would hope 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:29.440 ! You'd be a little disappointed. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.039 If that wasn't what was going through my mind. But I want to tell you the passage. Ephesians chapter 3, 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:48.000 verse 21. Now unto him who knows it. Here's what it says, unto him be glory in the church. 00:00:51.760 --> 00:00:59.280 By the way, that's a good verse. And I can think of several others that are good verses. But unto him 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:07.439 be glory in the church. And as we look at this passage this morning, we are looking at one 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:15.200 particular text in Ephesians chapter 4. And I want you to put your finger on it for a moment as we 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:22.319 read the text together. You follow, and then we will take some time in prayer together. And I trust that 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:28.439 as I pray, what you'll do sitting right there is that you will pray. And I want to coach you a little 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:35.039 bit on what I want you to pray about. Two things. I want you to pray according to the instruction 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:44.000 that we find in Psalm 119 where it says, open thou mine eyes that I might behold wonderful truths of 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:53.840 thy law. I want you to open my eyes that I can see what God has. Second thing that you would do is that 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:59.480 you'd pray for me. Because it says in 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, it says, pray that the word of God 00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:07.100 would have free course, that it would not be hindered. And that God would enable me to speak 00:02:07.100 --> 00:02:19.520 by his power, through his spirit, and that God would be honored by you hearing the word and changing 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:26.160 accordingly. Our Father God this morning, 00:02:26.880 --> 00:02:36.020 for us the matter of prayer is not a habit, but it is the absolute life breath of the believer. 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:44.700 We recognize what it says in John chapter 15, that without me you can do nothing. And so, 00:02:44.699 --> 00:02:54.979 in keeping with that profound truth, we who are your children acknowledge that we have the right 00:02:54.979 --> 00:03:03.560 and the privilege to call upon your name and rely upon you to do great and wonderful things that are 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:13.199 beyond our imagination for the glory of the cross. We want to hear and understand and be changed by the 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:22.639 word of God. And we ask this because of Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.139 Let me read the passage to you there in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 30. It says, 00:03:28.579 --> 00:03:35.639 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 00:03:37.219 --> 00:03:41.759 I want to take just a second to review with you some of the things that we have done in the last 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:46.919 several weeks. And I remind you that several weeks ago, I had three little children come up here 00:03:46.919 --> 00:03:51.299 on stage. Does anybody remember what that question was that I asked them? 00:03:53.099 --> 00:03:59.299 I asked them a little question about what man is all about, right? What is the chief end of man? 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:05.659 Does anybody remember the answer or do you know the answer? Wave at me if you know the answer to the 00:04:05.659 --> 00:04:14.099 first question of the catechism. What is it? The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him 00:04:14.099 --> 00:04:22.079 forever. And I can't help but think when you're thinking about it, in Psalm 16, verse 11, it says 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:29.560 what? In Thy presence is the fullness of joy, and at Thy right hand are pleasures evermore. When we get 00:04:29.560 --> 00:04:34.860 there, it won't be any better than that, right? It's going to be great because we're going to see 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:40.100 Him face to face and we will be like Him. And it says in 1 John, and I already recited that, 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:45.460 it says that those who have this thought, this idea, it purifies us. 00:04:47.420 --> 00:04:53.620 Well, last week, another one of our little children came to me. I actually was out there 00:04:53.620 --> 00:05:00.199 in the lobby doing that obligatory business of hi, hi, hi. You know how people go by and it's a time 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:04.719 when people tell me the most important things of their life and expect me to remember them. You 00:05:04.719 --> 00:05:09.819 know, it's like, oh, by the way, I'll be dying tomorrow. Don't do that to me. You know, it's like, 00:05:10.259 --> 00:05:16.680 at least send me a note, okay? But I had this little girl come up to me, and she's right down there, 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:28.340 you know, and she says, Pastor, when we get to heaven, will we sin anymore? I tell you, 00:05:28.840 --> 00:05:34.259 I just got cold chills. You know, I get those occasionally. And I just, I looked at her, 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:38.780 I looked in her eye and I said, you know what? When we get to heaven, we won't sin anymore. 00:05:38.779 --> 00:05:48.899 But not only that, we won't be able to sin anymore. I like that. And I appreciate that little 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:56.659 girl's sensitivity to the ongoing struggle of sin. Do you struggle with it? Do you struggle with it? 00:05:57.379 --> 00:06:01.899 Go ahead and nod your head because your neighbor already knows you got the problem, so give in. 00:06:01.899 --> 00:06:09.539 You know, it's like, yeah, you're struggling with it. And here's the truth. I really want you to 00:06:09.539 --> 00:06:17.560 listen carefully. What we're going to be looking at this morning is profoundly significant in the 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:25.879 believer's ongoing struggle and battle with sin. I'm not suggesting that if you get this, it's all over 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:35.800 and you're home free. But I am telling you this, that to be well-informed scripturally and to understand 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:42.680 what the Scriptures tell us about the ministry of the Spirit of God in the life of the believer 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:52.199 is significant in our battle in dealing with sin. I'm reminded of what it says in Galatians chapter 5, 00:06:52.199 --> 00:07:13.259 verse 16, walk by the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. The unhappiest state 00:07:13.259 --> 00:07:27.539 of the believer is not in the battles that he has with his health or with other individuals or problems at work. 00:07:28.980 --> 00:07:36.539 The battles that are most significant are always battles with the indwelling sin that we deal with. 00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:45.680 And this morning, I want you to understand that the Spirit of God is significant and critical 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:59.220 in that ongoing struggle. Now, we are looking at a passage here that for some may seem to be a little disjointed. 00:07:59.840 --> 00:08:04.700 Now, what I mean by that is that if you have been following the book of Ephesians, you know that 00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:12.560 the first three chapters are profoundly theological and lay out the issues of the work of God in salvation 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:19.360 and in placing the believer into a body for the sake of the glory of Christ. 00:08:21.039 --> 00:08:29.219 And then in chapter 4 and on through to the end of the book, we have the exposition of, 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:37.360 okay, since the believer is saved by the grace of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, how is it that we are to act? 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:44.960 And we find one thing after another given to us clearly, explicitly. Those who are the children of God are to live, 00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:48.660 endeavoring to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:55.639 We are to remember that there is one God, there is one baptism, one Savior, one Lord, one faith, 00:08:55.639 --> 00:09:02.379 and we are together. And then we find out that we're a body of believers that are organically under the headship of Christ, 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:05.980 working together for His glory. It's an amazing passage. 00:09:06.500 --> 00:09:12.220 And then following that, we pick up there later in the part of chapter 4, and it talks to us about, 00:09:12.539 --> 00:09:14.960 and don't act like the unbelieving world. 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:20.580 And Paul then goes on and explains, here's what the unbelieving world acts like. 00:09:20.580 --> 00:09:25.340 You, believers, are to be different. 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:28.120 You're to speak the truth with one another. 00:09:28.920 --> 00:09:31.700 You're not to let anger fester in your life. 00:09:32.680 --> 00:09:33.900 You're not to steal. 00:09:35.040 --> 00:09:39.600 You're not to use your lips as a means of causing heartache and grief. 00:09:39.920 --> 00:09:42.860 Your lips are to be a resource of blessing. 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:50.120 And then suddenly, out of seeming nowhere, comes this little statement, 00:09:50.560 --> 00:09:53.960 and don't grieve the Holy Spirit. 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:59.919 If you're tracking on the logic of it, you probably say, what's that there for? 00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:04.440 In fact, in doing some studies earlier last week, 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:07.120 I was struck by the fact that there are some commentators that say, 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:11.659 this verse seems to be just a little disjointed and doesn't fit. 00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:14.819 I think that's far from the truth. 00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:17.439 I think the verse fits perfectly. 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:24.240 However, it does kind of rattle our cage and make us think a little bit about the subject of sin 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:27.679 in a different way than we sometimes do. 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:32.620 We're all dealing with sin on a regular basis, sadly. 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:36.659 And often when we're thinking about sin, 00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:42.539 we are thinking about it from a very personal and humanistic perspective. 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:45.860 In other words, what I mean by that is we're thinking about sin about, 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:49.840 oh, well, if I do that, then this is going to happen to what? 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:51.299 To me. 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:53.500 That's bad news. 00:10:53.779 --> 00:10:54.480 Sin's bad. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:55.200 Sin hurts. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:56.600 Sin causes problems. 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:57.340 Sin causes problems. 00:10:57.340 --> 00:11:03.300 And our thoughts about sin are centered most of the time upon ourself. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:08.659 And there, seemingly out of nowhere, 00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:12.940 the Scriptures say this, 00:11:13.560 --> 00:11:18.080 and grieve not the Holy Spirit. 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:22.020 Listen to me. 00:11:24.540 --> 00:11:26.180 The purpose of preaching 00:11:26.180 --> 00:11:32.520 is to change the way you think. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.320 Do you understand that? 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:41.300 Now, that does not mean that Tim Knoyer has the right 00:11:41.300 --> 00:11:46.520 or the responsibility of changing the way you think. 00:11:48.280 --> 00:11:52.060 My thoughts are no more noteworthy than yours are. 00:11:53.420 --> 00:12:00.800 But preaching is speaking explicitly and clearly what God has to say, 00:12:00.800 --> 00:12:04.720 and that ought to change the way you think. 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:11.600 And if the preaching of the Word of God this morning, 00:12:11.900 --> 00:12:14.020 through the power of the Spirit of God, 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:17.420 does its job in the future next week, 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:20.060 when you start thinking about sinning, 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:21.500 you will say to yourself, 00:12:21.800 --> 00:12:24.020 I don't want to grieve the Spirit. 00:12:24.020 --> 00:12:24.220 Amen. 00:12:28.860 --> 00:12:30.000 That's the test. 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:34.480 I don't want to grieve the Spirit. 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:42.940 In this flow of the passage, 00:12:43.160 --> 00:12:45.960 we find Paul addressing issues 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:48.780 that could be justifiably identified as sin. 00:12:50.540 --> 00:12:51.840 It's wrong to be angry. 00:12:53.640 --> 00:12:54.879 It's wrong to lie. 00:12:56.180 --> 00:12:57.379 It's wrong to steal. 00:12:57.379 --> 00:13:00.899 It's wrong to say things that are harmful. 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:06.379 But then Paul steps it up and he says, 00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:11.379 and do not grieve the Spirit of God. 00:13:13.379 --> 00:13:14.860 With this passage in mind, 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:18.240 I want to address three things that we find in the text. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:20.259 First of all, 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.279 when we sin, 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:25.799 it is against the person of the Holy Spirit. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:28.159 When we sin, 00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:32.299 it is against the person of the Holy Spirit. 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:37.240 I do want to recognize that our text speaks in the imperative, 00:13:37.699 --> 00:13:39.059 and Paul commands us. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:39.979 It's not kind of like, 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:40.899 oh, by the way, 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:43.079 I think you probably ought to work at this a little bit. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:44.139 It's a statement. 00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:45.199 It's an obligation. 00:13:45.439 --> 00:13:49.659 It's something that the Spirit of God speaks explicitly to a believer and says, 00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:53.219 this is what you are not to do. 00:13:53.620 --> 00:13:56.759 You are not to grieve the Spirit of God. 00:13:57.740 --> 00:14:04.480 And behind the idea of grieving the Spirit of God is a recognition that sin has some significant consequences, 00:14:04.899 --> 00:14:06.500 not only in the life of the believer, 00:14:06.839 --> 00:14:08.399 but to the Spirit himself. 00:14:11.079 --> 00:14:18.620 There's more at stake when we sin than just our personal comfort or dignity. 00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:21.059 Or honor. 00:14:22.839 --> 00:14:24.259 And the truth of the matter is, 00:14:24.299 --> 00:14:30.919 is that every sin has an effect on the Holy Spirit who indwells each believer. 00:14:32.439 --> 00:14:40.719 And the sin's impact on the Spirit of God is not something that is easily managed in our own thinking, 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:42.219 apart from humility. 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.879 I'm going to use a word that, 00:14:45.939 --> 00:14:48.480 and not for the sake of showing a vocabulary, 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:51.639 but I can't think of another way to say it succinctly, 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:55.300 but there are a number of antinomies in Scripture. 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:56.940 Ante means what? 00:14:58.340 --> 00:15:01.340 Against, nomos, law. 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:05.399 There are seemingly opposing principles in Scripture. 00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:07.759 Namely, I'll give you a couple of illustrations of it. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:11.319 Probably the classic one would be the absolute sovereignty of God 00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:13.620 and the absolute responsibility of man. 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:15.159 That's an antinomy. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:17.139 They're hard to fit together. 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:20.799 The deity of Christ and the humanity of Christ would be another illustration. 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.259 And here's another one. 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:25.500 How can the Spirit of God be inside me? 00:15:27.419 --> 00:15:32.799 How can the Spirit of God, who has the nature of God, 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:38.159 also be affected by me? 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:43.019 The fact that sin has an effect on the Holy Spirit 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:46.399 is really a challenge to our understanding, 00:15:46.579 --> 00:15:49.279 our theological understanding of the nature of God. 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:52.079 What does it say in Malachi 3, verse 6? 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:53.199 I'm going to recite it for you. 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:53.899 It says, 00:15:54.059 --> 00:15:54.679 I am the Lord. 00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:57.459 I do not change. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:58.719 Let me go over that slowly. 00:15:59.159 --> 00:15:59.980 I am the Lord. 00:16:00.199 --> 00:16:00.899 I, what? 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.659 I do not change. 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:04.259 Aren't you glad He doesn't change? 00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:07.700 He doesn't change. 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:10.000 He never changes. 00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:15.559 And it is because, as He was reciting there in Malachi, 00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.039 it says, 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:16.899 I am the Lord. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.819 I do not change. 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:19.840 And it's because I do not change that you, 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:22.220 O nation of Israel, are not consumed. 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:24.740 It is because of His unchangeableness 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:29.939 that my salvation is secure in His person 00:16:29.939 --> 00:16:31.379 and in His promises, 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:33.100 and it is completed work. 00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:34.379 God doesn't change. 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:36.980 And yet, and yet, 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:42.560 we read here that our sin grieves the Holy Spirit. 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:49.139 Now, the idea here is that it really affects Him deeply. 00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:53.320 And so here we have that kind of conundrum, 00:16:53.420 --> 00:16:54.440 that difficulty of saying, 00:16:54.920 --> 00:16:57.279 okay, an unchangeable God, however, 00:16:57.660 --> 00:17:00.120 is affected deeply by the things we do. 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:02.340 It changes His feelings. 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:07.360 And the statement reflects the sobering thought 00:17:07.360 --> 00:17:08.599 that when we sin, 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:12.960 and in the context of the passage in Ephesians chapter 4, 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:16.559 when we honestly are not endeavoring to maintain the unity of the Spirit, 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.900 when we're not loving the brethren, 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:21.759 when we are less than edifying or honest in our words, 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:23.579 we are grieving the Spirit. 00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:28.720 We also grieve Him when we indulge in secret lusts, 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.399 when we covet, 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:30.839 when we're embittered towards others. 00:17:31.919 --> 00:17:34.779 And beloved, I think that the Scripture wants us to recognize 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:38.519 that grieving the Spirit is a profoundly significant thing. 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:45.500 The fact that we're told this here is instructive, 00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:49.740 for it points to the principle that every sin we commit, 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.539 let me put it this way, 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:56.359 the principle crime of every sin is its offense against God. 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.660 Do you follow that? 00:17:58.660 --> 00:18:02.240 When we sin, 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:06.460 the most significant thing about the sin that we commit 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:08.800 is what it does to God. 00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.519 While it's true, 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:18.860 and it is a sub-point that is worth remembering, 00:18:20.300 --> 00:18:23.259 His commandments are for our blessing, 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.759 and when we sin, 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:26.299 we harm ourself. 00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:30.920 The larger and more significant truth 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:34.319 is not what sin does to us, 00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:36.779 but what sin does to the character, 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:39.279 the name of God. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:45.240 And for a believer to be dominated 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.619 by his thinking exclusively 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:50.779 about how sin affects himself 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:54.480 is to have a low view of God 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:58.379 and a high view of himself. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:01.399 And here is the unintended consequence 00:19:01.399 --> 00:19:05.059 of not having a God-word focus 00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:07.559 when we're dealing with the subject of sin. 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:11.920 It is that we are often overwhelmed 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:14.980 in the battle with sin, 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:17.619 and we don't know what the solution is 00:19:17.619 --> 00:19:20.680 because as it says in the Scripture, 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:24.940 you have given up the streams of living water. 00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:31.660 Let me bring two classic texts to your mind 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.779 to help you understand 00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:34.460 that sin really is against God. 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:39.539 I think about the one in Genesis chapter 39, verse 9, 00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:42.119 where Joseph was tempted by Potiphar's wife. 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:44.480 Very familiar passage. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:48.559 I think the thing that is most significant in that text 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:52.680 is that Joseph, as he is reasoning 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:54.579 with this perverted, wicked woman 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:56.559 who is tempting him sexually, 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.779 he says, listen, 00:19:58.200 --> 00:20:00.180 your husband has given me 00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:02.599 these tremendous responsibilities and respect, 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:04.319 but then he concludes by saying, 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:08.480 and how can I do this great sin against God? 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:15.900 When was the last time you concluded your argument 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.779 in your own thinking? 00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:20.640 How many of you realized that sin in most cases 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:22.799 is not something that just kind of creeps up on us 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.279 and kind of strikes us, 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.480 and boom, we do it? 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.759 I've had people say to me, 00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:28.860 I didn't mean to say that, 00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:29.500 and I would agree, 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:32.099 you probably didn't think carefully enough, 00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:34.000 but you did mean to say it. 00:20:35.699 --> 00:20:38.219 We've all had those little arguments in our mind 00:20:38.219 --> 00:20:39.279 after a conversation, 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:41.000 well, I should have said this. 00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.539 How many of you done that? 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:45.799 Yeah, well, the next time they say that, 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:46.879 I'm going to say this. 00:20:46.959 --> 00:20:48.879 You know, it's like, God forbid, stop me. 00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:52.359 We think, we think, we think, we think, 00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:53.740 we think we've got the math figured out, 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.859 we know how it's going to work out, 00:20:54.959 --> 00:20:56.579 and then lo and behold, 00:20:56.579 --> 00:21:02.559 when was the last time when you were kind of weighing 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:05.799 whether or not you would commit that offense against God, 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:07.279 when was the last time you said, 00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:08.679 you know, and if I do this, 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.000 this is supremely, 00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:13.259 this is supremely offensive to God. 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:20.179 Psalm 51, verse 4, 00:21:21.139 --> 00:21:21.659 David, 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:25.220 when he walks out in public 00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:29.380 and hands a brief song to John Kroll 00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:30.240 and says, 00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:31.819 would you sing this Sunday? 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:35.400 And John Kroll helps us with music here, 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:37.519 so, but if you looked at Psalm 51, 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:39.700 by the way, you know that the Psalms 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:41.620 were the songbook of the Old Testament, 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:44.700 and this is a song that David wrote, 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:46.480 and songs that were written 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:48.259 were used in public worship, 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:50.759 and so David hands it to the choir director 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.440 and says, listen, 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.700 next Sabbath, 00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:56.200 I want to get on record 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.880 with what God's been teaching me 00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:59.600 about my wicked, despicable heart, 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:01.259 and so I want you to sing this, 00:22:01.340 --> 00:22:03.400 and so here we go in verse 4, 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:05.180 King James, bear with me, 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:07.140 against thee and thee only have I done this, 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.519 all right? 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:08.580 Hey, 00:22:09.580 --> 00:22:10.680 what had David done? 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:14.180 He had murdered a man. 00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:17.240 He had been involved in adultery 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:17.880 with a woman. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.660 He had then, 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:21.320 for two years, 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:23.060 it is estimated by Bible scholars, 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.480 had been kind of carrying on 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.740 as if everything was okay. 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.180 He had played the game. 00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:29.779 And finally, 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:30.600 when he is convicted, 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.060 he says, 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:34.279 it's only against you that I've sinned. 00:22:36.100 --> 00:22:38.960 A practical use of this Bible truth 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:40.680 would be the next time that you find yourself 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:42.279 entertaining temptation 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:44.180 and weighing Satan's lies. 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.720 The next time 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:49.160 you 00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:51.500 find yourself 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:54.340 entertaining temptation 00:22:54.340 --> 00:22:57.720 and weighing Satan's lies, 00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:59.200 stop and think, 00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:00.900 if I yield to this temptation, 00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:04.259 I am going to grieve the Holy Spirit 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:06.259 that indwells me 00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:08.779 and is so incredibly 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:10.079 involved 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:11.819 in helping me 00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:13.720 with every part 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:16.079 of my spiritual life. 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:23.339 Second thing that I want us to see 00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:23.859 in the passage 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:24.980 is that when we sin, 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:26.339 it is against the work 00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.720 of the Holy Spirit. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.779 Look at the passage. 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:31.759 Because the logic 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:33.480 of the outline 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.980 does not come 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:36.299 from my thinking, 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.180 but from 00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:38.539 the word 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.359 itself. 00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.299 Don't grieve 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.119 the Holy Spirit. 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.599 It's against the person 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.579 of the Spirit of God. 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.819 But then secondly, 00:23:47.379 --> 00:23:48.599 by whom you were 00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:49.240 sealed. 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:52.579 The text tells us 00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:53.139 more, 00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:54.899 for it speaks of the Spirit's work 00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:56.139 in sealing 00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:57.019 the believer. 00:23:57.879 --> 00:23:59.319 I want you to keep your finger there 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:00.480 in Ephesians chapter 4 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.859 and turn back just for a moment 00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:03.399 to Ephesians chapter 1 00:24:03.399 --> 00:24:04.259 verse 13. 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.839 By the way, 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.519 the book of Ephesians 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:10.559 is one that is riddled. 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.439 It's shot through 00:24:13.439 --> 00:24:17.019 with recurring emphasis 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:19.119 upon the ministry 00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:20.720 and the significance 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:22.839 of the Spirit of God. 00:24:24.939 --> 00:24:25.919 This summer, 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:26.859 earlier on, 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:28.000 and I'm going to take a tangent 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.660 for a moment, 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:29.880 but this summer, 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:31.279 in the evenings, 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.920 we did a series, 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:34.259 a theological series, 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:36.680 and I preached 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:37.599 for two weeks 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.920 upon the ministry 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.680 of the Spirit 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:41.240 in the believer's life. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.759 And if you were to ask me, 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:46.039 what are some of the things 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:48.440 that in the last 30 years 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.920 God has been at work 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:51.980 changing in my thinking, 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:54.099 one of them, 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:54.819 I think, 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.539 I pray, 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:57.460 is evident to you, 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.860 and that is a growing affection 00:24:58.860 --> 00:25:00.680 for the Lord Jesus Christ 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:02.559 and a dominant thinking 00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:04.599 that He is supremely worthy 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:05.400 of my affection 00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:06.019 and my interest. 00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:06.539 But another 00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:08.940 is a greater dependence 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:10.579 upon the Spirit of God 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:12.200 actively engaged 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:13.259 in my life, 00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:14.920 and I have no hesitation 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:15.860 to admit 00:25:15.860 --> 00:25:17.819 I desperately need 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:19.500 His work every day. 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:24.039 The Spirit is significant 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:25.259 in the book of Ephesians, 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:27.980 and there in verse 113 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.039 it says this, 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:31.519 In Him you also, 00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.119 when you heard 00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:32.819 the word of truth, 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.160 the gospel of your salvation, 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:34.980 and believed in Him, 00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.980 were sealed 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:38.740 with the promised Holy Spirit. 00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:41.539 The genuine convert 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.619 is sealed 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:45.140 with the promised Holy Spirit. 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.180 I'm going to have to take the time, 00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.559 I will not take the time 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.019 this morning 00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.720 to take you back 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.700 to the book of Romans 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:51.339 and chapter 8 in particular 00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:52.240 where it argues, 00:25:52.419 --> 00:25:54.039 I think very persuasively, 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.519 that every believer 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.359 is indwelt 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:57.379 with the Spirit of God. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.859 If you're a child of God, 00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:00.500 you have the Spirit of God 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.159 in you. 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:04.200 A companion passage 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:05.240 would be over 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:07.099 in 1 Corinthians chapter 6 00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:08.700 where Paul is arguing 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.859 that the believer 00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:11.299 should not be involved 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:11.559 in immorality 00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:13.519 because when the believer 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.779 involves himself 00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.599 in immorality, 00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:18.279 he drags the Spirit along. 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:22.079 That's offensive. 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:25.539 Hey, Holy Spirit, 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:27.279 come with me. 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.439 I want to look 00:26:28.439 --> 00:26:29.539 at some pornography. 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:32.279 That's offensive. 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:34.679 Not right. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:36.839 And so, 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:39.359 in Ephesians, 00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:40.819 Paul says, 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.779 you need to understand 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.579 that you were sealed 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.980 with the Holy Spirit. 00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:47.299 I want you to understand 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:49.500 that as this passage 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.980 is played out, 00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:54.419 the thing that we need 00:26:54.419 --> 00:26:55.079 to recognize 00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:57.519 is that one of the blessings 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.659 of our salvation 00:26:58.659 --> 00:27:01.799 is not just that we have 00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:04.279 a promise of where we will 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:06.199 eventually spend eternity, 00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:07.519 and that's good news. 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:09.940 we also have 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.940 the promise 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:12.180 that we don't have 00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:13.139 to stay the way 00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:14.119 we used to be, 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:15.259 and the reason 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:17.079 we can be certain 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:18.019 of that, 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.660 now listen, 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:20.039 if you're here today 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:21.539 and you know Christ, 00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:24.039 you won't stay 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.799 the way you are. 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:28.539 And one of the reasons 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.940 I can guarantee that 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:31.079 is not because of me, 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:32.279 it's because the Spirit 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:33.279 of God is in you, 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.500 and the Spirit of God 00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.519 will not let it 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.420 keep on going. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:45.980 Recognizing that 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:47.440 the ongoing battle 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:47.980 with sin 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.920 is pretty difficult, 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.480 however, 00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:52.019 you can understand 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:53.619 why we would be 00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.579 concerned about 00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:55.539 having assurance 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.440 of where we will 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.460 end up someday. 00:27:57.460 --> 00:28:00.460 and one of the things 00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:01.319 that we receive 00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:02.200 early on 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:04.900 in our spiritual life 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.700 is assurance 00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:07.380 of our eternity, 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.860 and that assurance 00:28:08.860 --> 00:28:09.980 does not come 00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:11.960 through our own 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:12.880 accomplishment, 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.620 but it comes through 00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:15.799 the ministry 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:17.160 of the Spirit of God, 00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:18.420 namely this business 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:20.259 of sealing us. 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:22.779 and we find it 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.400 over and over again 00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:24.000 that you're sealed, 00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:24.480 you're sealed, 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:24.940 you're sealed, 00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:26.220 and what that is 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:27.019 talking about 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:28.879 is that guarantee 00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:30.200 that you have, 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:31.200 how do I know 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:32.400 I am saved? 00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.640 How do I know 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:34.740 that I will spend 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.740 eternity in heaven? 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.059 How do I know 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:38.839 that God has done 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:40.559 a miraculous work 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.599 in my life? 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:43.939 I have received 00:28:43.939 --> 00:28:45.099 the Spirit 00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:47.199 of the living God. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.959 That's proof. 00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:53.959 And yet we live 00:28:53.959 --> 00:28:55.259 with our daily frailties, 00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:55.779 do we not? 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.339 We struggle. 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:01.500 And Paul encourages us 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.480 over and over again 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.019 through the book 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:03.619 of Ephesians 00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:04.339 to understand 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:06.719 that the Spirit 00:29:06.719 --> 00:29:07.779 is at work, 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.879 He is at work, 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:09.939 He is at work, 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:11.399 He Himself 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:12.300 as the guarantee 00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:13.360 of our salvation 00:29:13.360 --> 00:29:14.680 and here's how we see 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.820 that He is at work. 00:29:15.900 --> 00:29:16.259 For one, 00:29:16.560 --> 00:29:17.560 He is reminding us 00:29:17.560 --> 00:29:18.259 of the promises 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:18.920 of Scripture. 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:22.140 And just as our salvation 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:23.100 was a work of grace, 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:24.280 so our eternal destiny 00:29:24.280 --> 00:29:25.980 rests on His power 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.540 to save 00:29:26.540 --> 00:29:27.380 and the Scriptures 00:29:27.380 --> 00:29:28.460 stand clearly 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.800 to make that evident. 00:29:30.100 --> 00:29:30.340 Second, 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.420 we find stirring 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:31.920 in our hearts 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.460 with a desire 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.180 for godliness 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.880 and growth 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:34.980 over in Philippians 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.800 chapter 2 00:29:35.800 --> 00:29:37.019 verse 12 and 13, 00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:38.860 a passage that I would hope 00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:39.780 every believer knows. 00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:40.420 It says what? 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.180 It says, 00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:42.240 that you are to work 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.120 out your salvation, 00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:44.540 what, what, help me, 00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:46.259 with fear and trembling 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:48.519 because it's God. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.440 Now listen to this. 00:29:49.560 --> 00:29:50.120 I don't think 00:29:50.120 --> 00:29:51.220 we appreciate this enough 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:53.000 because it's God 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:54.240 who is working in you, 00:29:54.300 --> 00:29:55.500 now track this, 00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:57.480 both to will 00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:59.800 and to do 00:29:59.800 --> 00:30:01.100 His good pleasure. 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:02.920 Now what does it mean 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:03.380 to will? 00:30:04.560 --> 00:30:06.000 It means to want to. 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:07.940 Lord, 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.000 Lord, 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:09.960 how many of you 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:12.079 would like it 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:13.200 for the Spirit of God 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:14.380 to help you 00:30:14.380 --> 00:30:15.700 be diligent 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.740 and persistent 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.680 in exercise? 00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:20.519 You know? 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.099 I mean, 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.759 five days a week, 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.200 minimum of 30 minutes 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:24.839 at a time, 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:26.200 and you don't need 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:26.619 to look like 00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:27.440 Arnold Schwarzenegger, 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:27.920 but you need 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:28.619 improved health. 00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:29.559 Right? 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.700 We could all do, 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:31.640 well, maybe not, 00:30:31.640 --> 00:30:33.300 but most of us 00:30:33.300 --> 00:30:33.920 could do 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:35.380 if the Spirit of God 00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:36.000 would give us 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.680 the will, 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.580 right, 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.759 to exercise. 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:39.900 I'd take that. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:43.800 Spiritually speaking, 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.480 it says that 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.280 the Spirit of God 00:30:45.280 --> 00:30:46.160 is in the believer 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:47.860 working to make you 00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:48.660 want to do 00:30:48.660 --> 00:30:49.500 the right thing. 00:30:49.580 --> 00:30:49.960 Do you see 00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.880 the evidence of that? 00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:52.240 Oh, I am blessed! 00:30:52.540 --> 00:30:53.460 Now I wish he'd gotten 00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:54.220 it done sooner 00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:55.100 and he would keep 00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:55.759 at it harder. 00:30:57.580 --> 00:30:58.220 Now you're thinking, 00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.600 that's a theological 00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:00.180 conundrum. 00:31:00.280 --> 00:31:01.040 Bear with it, okay? 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:01.700 I just, 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:02.899 I wish 00:31:02.899 --> 00:31:04.700 that I'd been 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.740 smarter younger. 00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.519 How many would join 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.279 me in saying that? 00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:10.799 Everything I've learned, 00:31:10.879 --> 00:31:11.339 I've learned 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:13.799 through heartache 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.619 and challenge 00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:15.319 because of my 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:16.799 insufferable stubbornness 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:17.859 and my disobedient 00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:18.339 spirit 00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:19.279 and my arrogance. 00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:20.980 And I'm thankful, 00:31:21.619 --> 00:31:23.240 I'm really thankful 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:24.940 that he never quits. 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.599 He enables 00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:29.339 every step 00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.019 of our growth. 00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.379 Colossians chapter 1 00:31:31.379 --> 00:31:31.980 verse 29. 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.559 Let me come to 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.259 one other point. 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.859 Ephesians chapter 4 00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:37.539 verse 30, 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.559 it says this, 00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:39.980 when we sin, 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.240 let me read the passage, 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:42.379 you were sealed 00:31:42.379 --> 00:31:43.359 for the day 00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:44.359 of redemption. 00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:46.680 When we sin, 00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:48.940 it disregards 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.720 the completion 00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:51.299 of his work. 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:53.940 there's one more jewel 00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:56.319 in Paul's statement 00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:56.599 here, 00:31:56.599 --> 00:31:57.639 and it draws our attention 00:31:57.639 --> 00:31:58.359 to the future, 00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.579 and it speaks 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:00.059 of the day 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:01.159 of our redemption, 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.559 and it's talking 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:03.680 about that wonderful 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:04.259 day of the 00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:05.379 consummation of all 00:32:05.379 --> 00:32:05.740 things, 00:32:05.899 --> 00:32:07.480 when this present 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.319 life and the 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.119 difficulties and 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:09.579 heartache, 00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:12.019 the troubling rain 00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:12.779 that we see 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.539 in the world 00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:14.940 that faces us, 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.799 that is pervasive 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:17.079 in its wickedness, 00:32:17.159 --> 00:32:17.960 is going to be 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:18.899 wiped away, 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:20.080 and the king 00:32:20.080 --> 00:32:20.759 of kings 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:22.000 will reign forever. 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:23.580 I find myself, 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.940 I struggle 00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:25.680 with listening 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.759 to too much 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.440 news. 00:32:28.820 --> 00:32:30.120 I stopped 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:31.380 a number of years 00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:32.560 ago receiving 00:32:32.560 --> 00:32:33.340 the newspaper, 00:32:33.780 --> 00:32:35.560 because I would 00:32:35.560 --> 00:32:36.540 read the newspaper 00:32:36.540 --> 00:32:37.280 and somewhere 00:32:37.280 --> 00:32:38.140 in the process 00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:38.800 of getting from 00:32:38.800 --> 00:32:39.400 the front to the 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:39.660 back, 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.800 I would find 00:32:40.800 --> 00:32:41.980 my sanctification 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.620 reaching a boiling 00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.080 point. 00:32:44.320 --> 00:32:44.780 How many of you 00:32:44.780 --> 00:32:45.360 understand that? 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.759 I know of a 00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:49.339 dear brother 00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:49.779 in the Lord 00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.220 that calls 00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:50.839 himself a 00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:51.819 news junkie. 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:53.819 Well, I am 00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.920 not a news junkie, 00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:55.460 and I'll tell you 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.619 why, because I 00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:57.240 just can take 00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:58.240 about so much 00:32:58.240 --> 00:32:58.920 of what's going 00:32:58.920 --> 00:32:59.599 on in the world 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:00.339 before I find 00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:01.079 myself saying, 00:33:01.559 --> 00:33:02.279 even so, 00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:03.559 come Lord Jesus. 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:03.940 Right? 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:04.420 It's like, 00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:06.779 Jesus, you need 00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:07.700 to be a stomping 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.500 on down here, 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:09.140 and you need 00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:09.640 to put the 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:10.379 smack down 00:33:10.379 --> 00:33:11.119 on those people. 00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:17.459 And then I 00:33:17.459 --> 00:33:18.319 think to myself, 00:33:18.679 --> 00:33:20.379 okay, and 00:33:20.379 --> 00:33:20.799 you're part of 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:21.259 the problem, 00:33:21.399 --> 00:33:21.599 Tim. 00:33:26.239 --> 00:33:27.179 Paul, in 00:33:27.179 --> 00:33:28.039 this last 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:28.719 little part, 00:33:28.939 --> 00:33:30.000 lifts up our 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.019 heart and 00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:32.159 lets us know 00:33:32.159 --> 00:33:33.519 that the end 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.419 is good. 00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:37.199 When we 00:33:37.199 --> 00:33:38.799 sin against 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.219 the Holy 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:40.799 Spirit, we 00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:41.519 sin against 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.120 the one who 00:33:42.120 --> 00:33:42.759 has sealed 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:43.779 us for the 00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.660 day of 00:33:44.660 --> 00:33:45.380 redemption. 00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:49.259 Sin is 00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:49.779 such a 00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.620 short-sighted 00:33:50.620 --> 00:33:51.000 thing. 00:33:52.860 --> 00:33:53.819 It tempts us 00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.279 to live with 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:54.720 an eye on 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:55.220 the moment. 00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.440 We steal, 00:33:58.460 --> 00:33:59.039 thinking only 00:33:59.039 --> 00:33:59.600 of the moment. 00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:01.579 We lie 00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:02.920 under the 00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:03.380 pressure of 00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:03.799 the moment. 00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:06.400 Every act 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:06.759 of sin 00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:07.079 that we 00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:07.559 commit, 00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:09.460 whether it 00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:11.199 is drunkenness 00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:11.659 or anger 00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:12.320 or violence 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:12.900 or sex 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:13.299 or whatever 00:34:13.299 --> 00:34:13.719 it is, 00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:15.039 it's all 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.619 the promise 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:15.980 of the 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.340 moment, 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.079 and Satan 00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:17.579 is a 00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:17.900 liar. 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.519 There's no 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.719 lasting benefit 00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.599 or consequence. 00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:23.860 Scripture 00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.559 wants us to 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:25.820 think way 00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:26.880 into the 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.880 future of 00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:28.460 where things 00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:28.759 will be 00:34:28.759 --> 00:34:29.279 perfect, 00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.179 and things 00:34:30.179 --> 00:34:30.559 will be 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.059 blessed, 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.019 and we 00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:32.860 shall see 00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:33.719 him as 00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:34.420 he is, 00:34:34.759 --> 00:34:35.340 and we 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:36.299 will be, 00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:36.679 what? 00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:36.960 Do you 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.179 know the 00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:37.480 passage? 00:34:37.799 --> 00:34:38.199 And we 00:34:38.199 --> 00:34:38.460 will be 00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:39.039 like him. 00:34:42.299 --> 00:34:42.699 And so 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:43.359 Paul says 00:34:43.359 --> 00:34:43.619 this, 00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:43.940 he says, 00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:44.239 listen, 00:34:44.359 --> 00:34:45.239 don't grieve 00:34:45.239 --> 00:34:45.619 the Holy 00:34:45.619 --> 00:34:46.059 Spirit. 00:34:47.279 --> 00:34:47.980 When we 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.259 sin, 00:34:48.339 --> 00:34:48.819 we offend 00:34:48.819 --> 00:34:49.239 the Holy 00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:50.219 Spirit who 00:34:50.219 --> 00:34:51.059 has sealed 00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:52.019 us for 00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:52.699 the glory 00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:53.679 to come. 00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:58.739 We who 00:34:58.739 --> 00:34:59.159 are his 00:34:59.159 --> 00:34:59.679 children, 00:35:00.319 --> 00:35:01.940 we who 00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:02.339 are his 00:35:02.339 --> 00:35:02.799 children, 00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:05.720 are not 00:35:05.720 --> 00:35:06.400 going to 00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:07.660 spend all 00:35:07.660 --> 00:35:08.519 of eternity 00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:11.620 as 00:35:11.620 --> 00:35:12.660 subjects to 00:35:12.660 --> 00:35:13.420 the frailty 00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.460 and frustration 00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:15.420 of this 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:15.940 life. 00:35:16.260 --> 00:35:16.420 Do you 00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:16.700 understand 00:35:16.700 --> 00:35:16.940 that? 00:35:18.580 --> 00:35:19.500 And it 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.080 would do 00:35:20.080 --> 00:35:20.860 us well 00:35:20.860 --> 00:35:21.440 to think 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:22.560 more often 00:35:22.560 --> 00:35:23.680 of how 00:35:23.680 --> 00:35:24.140 things 00:35:24.140 --> 00:35:24.740 someday 00:35:24.740 --> 00:35:25.720 will be. 00:35:25.719 --> 00:35:31.439 and that 00:35:31.439 --> 00:35:32.619 is what 00:35:32.619 --> 00:35:32.899 this 00:35:32.899 --> 00:35:33.419 passage 00:35:33.419 --> 00:35:34.099 reminds 00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.619 us of. 00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:37.399 The day 00:35:37.399 --> 00:35:38.000 is coming 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:40.439 when every 00:35:40.439 --> 00:35:41.239 one of you 00:35:41.239 --> 00:35:41.659 who are 00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.579 here will 00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:43.939 enjoy the 00:35:43.939 --> 00:35:44.959 glory and 00:35:44.959 --> 00:35:45.659 the presence 00:35:45.659 --> 00:35:46.639 of Christ 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:47.519 forever. 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:51.800 And do 00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:51.940 you know 00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:52.199 what? 00:35:53.719 --> 00:35:54.619 When we 00:35:54.619 --> 00:35:55.079 sin, 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:57.639 we are 00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:58.380 saying to 00:35:58.380 --> 00:35:58.719 God, 00:35:58.940 --> 00:35:59.800 I don't 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:00.420 care about 00:36:00.420 --> 00:36:00.920 tomorrow. 00:36:03.780 --> 00:36:04.639 I don't 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:05.179 care about 00:36:05.179 --> 00:36:05.599 what you 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:06.139 have made 00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:06.659 for me. 00:36:07.860 --> 00:36:08.739 I don't 00:36:08.739 --> 00:36:09.340 care about 00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:10.019 my future 00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:10.559 blessings. 00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:12.559 I don't 00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:13.719 care about 00:36:13.719 --> 00:36:14.719 seeing 00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:15.380 Christ. 00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:19.019 And the 00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:19.599 Holy Spirit 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.259 pens these 00:36:20.259 --> 00:36:20.880 words for 00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:21.400 the believer. 00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:22.000 He says, 00:36:22.759 --> 00:36:23.579 don't 00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:24.920 grieve 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:25.759 me. 00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:28.599 Don't 00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:30.199 grieve 00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:31.380 me. 00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:33.719 So let 00:36:33.719 --> 00:36:34.139 me close. 00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:37.259 Preaching 00:36:37.259 --> 00:36:40.440 aims to 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:41.159 change the 00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:41.940 way you 00:36:41.940 --> 00:36:42.340 what? 00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:44.019 What? 00:36:45.219 --> 00:36:45.940 Think. 00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.519 God's 00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:49.079 love. 00:36:49.079 --> 00:36:50.340 And this 00:36:50.340 --> 00:36:51.199 passage 00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:53.199 intends to 00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:54.139 instruct the 00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:55.280 believer that 00:36:55.280 --> 00:36:56.500 when we find 00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:57.759 ourselves struggling 00:36:57.759 --> 00:36:59.019 with the battle 00:36:59.019 --> 00:36:59.559 of sin, 00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.599 the thought is, 00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:01.639 I don't want to 00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:02.579 grieve the 00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:03.519 Spirit of God 00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:04.440 who indwells 00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:04.679 me. 00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.960 And God's 00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:10.639 people cried 00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:11.179 out and said, 00:37:11.280 --> 00:37:12.179 Holy Spirit, 00:37:14.780 --> 00:37:16.480 convict us. 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:19.199 that we don't 00:37:19.199 --> 00:37:19.900 sin against 00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:20.300 you. 00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:24.300 Let's close 00:37:24.300 --> 00:37:24.679 in prayer. 00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:30.920 Oh, Holy 00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:31.599 Spirit, this 00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:32.260 morning we are 00:37:32.260 --> 00:37:32.960 so desperate 00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:33.480 for you. 00:37:37.159 --> 00:37:37.880 We are 00:37:37.880 --> 00:37:38.460 frail, 00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:41.940 easily 00:37:41.940 --> 00:37:42.940 distracted, 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:46.280 far too 00:37:46.280 --> 00:37:46.700 comfortable 00:37:46.700 --> 00:37:47.480 with sin, 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:50.599 and most 00:37:50.599 --> 00:37:51.780 often thoughtless 00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:52.159 of your 00:37:52.159 --> 00:37:53.920 presence and 00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:54.420 ministry. 00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:59.079 we ask that 00:37:59.079 --> 00:37:59.380 you do 00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:00.119 whatever is 00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:00.559 fitting 00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:04.740 to give 00:38:04.740 --> 00:38:05.340 to us a 00:38:05.340 --> 00:38:05.659 greater 00:38:05.659 --> 00:38:06.460 sensitivity 00:38:06.460 --> 00:38:08.139 to your 00:38:08.139 --> 00:38:08.780 presence, 00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:12.220 that we 00:38:12.220 --> 00:38:12.680 who are 00:38:12.680 --> 00:38:12.920 your 00:38:12.920 --> 00:38:13.400 children 00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:16.119 would know 00:38:16.119 --> 00:38:16.820 the sweetness 00:38:16.820 --> 00:38:18.019 of communion 00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:19.800 and relationship, 00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:23.860 that the 00:38:23.860 --> 00:38:24.400 sin that 00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:24.960 does so 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:25.500 easily 00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:26.640 beset us 00:38:26.640 --> 00:38:30.160 would grow 00:38:30.160 --> 00:38:31.000 to be less 00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:32.880 of a 00:38:32.880 --> 00:38:33.180 struggle 00:38:33.180 --> 00:38:33.500 and a 00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:33.800 battle, 00:38:34.360 --> 00:38:36.600 that Christ 00:38:36.600 --> 00:38:37.019 would be 00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:37.500 seen 00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:38.340 preeminent 00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:40.660 in every 00:38:40.660 --> 00:38:41.200 thought 00:38:41.200 --> 00:38:43.019 and every 00:38:43.019 --> 00:38:43.500 action. 00:38:44.580 --> 00:38:45.420 And we pray 00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:46.140 this in Jesus' 00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:46.680 name. 00:38:46.680 --> 00:38:47.960 Amen.