The Holy Spirit Brings Christ's Presence — Zac Poonen

In Hebrews chapter 8, we read. And verse 7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would be no need for a second. So why did God make two covenants? It was very important that first man should see his need and Then as he responds to God to that need God shows him the way out of it.

So God gave the law. We can say it was like an x-ray or permission man's condition.

Permission. Man's condition is like an x-ray.

In the book of James We are told that Looking into the law is like looking at a mirror. James 1 verse 23 He is looking at his face in a mirror. So the law was like a mirror that shows me the dirt in my face.

And if James were writing it today He would say it's like an x-ray that shows what's inside. Or like a scan of our body. But the x-ray cannot heal you. The scan cannot heal you. That will only give you a picture of your inside.

So the old covenant law was like that. It could not deliver anybody from sin. But it showed man his condition. So just like a doctor does it in two stages. First you take a scan. I show you what's wrong with you.

And then he says now do you want me to do a surgery and remove that problem? It's going to be painful. But it can cure you of your sickness. So that's why there are two covenants. The first is the law.

And the Lord shows us our need. Do you want to be free? Somebody says no, I don't want this surgery. It's very painful. Okay, then you live with your cancer and die. But those who want to be free. The doctor says I can guarantee you 100 cure.

So that is what the new covenant does. So even today when God's Word is preached There are these two stages. First you see your need. That's like a scan. And like the doctor says do you want to go now for surgery?

It's going to be expensive. You don't have to do it. If you want to do it you come.

The Lord also says if you see your sin.

And you acknowledge there is a sin there. You know you can look at a scan and say no no no I don't agree with this. Something wrong with the scanning machine, I'm okay. There are people like that who listen to a message God speaks to them directly, but they say no no no I'm all right.

There are people like that who listen to a message God speaks to them directly, but they say no no no I'm all right.

The doctor says I'm not going to force you to come to the surgery. But it's no use arguing with the scan or the scanning machine. It's better to face up to the truth about yourself. And say Lord I want to be free from this.

And the Lord says it's going to be expensive. Not in terms of money. There's no money required it's free. It's going to be expensive in terms of your self-life. That you must allow your self-life to die.

There are many people who as I said understand the foundation, but not the superstructure. Their sins are forgiven, but they never enter into this new covenant life. Where they can overcome. Let me turn you to Revelation 3 and verse 21.

If you read in the book of Revelation to the message to the seven churches.

If you read in the book of Revelation to the message to the seven churches.

All two churches were very good and five were quite bad. But to all seven the Lord gives a promise to the overcomer. If you overcome This is your reward. So I want you to look at the last church. This is the worst.

Because if you read the letters to the seven churches. The two good ones. Five bad ones. But even among the five bad ones four of them have got some good qualities. But the fifth one is so bad it doesn't have any good quality.

The Lord says to the church in Laodicea. Verse 14. The last part of verse 17. You're wretched miserable poor blind naked. Last part of verse 17. Wretched miserable poor blind naked. I want to ask you.

Let's be honest Do you believe that Jesus can say to you.

You are wretched miserable poor blind naked. There are some Christians who believe Jesus can never speak like that.

You can say I'm okay. That's what the Pharisees said. Did Jesus speak these words.

These are the words of Jesus not to unbelievers to believers. You think everything is okay with you.

But you're wretched miserable poor blind naked.

Now if he said that to unbelievers we can understand. But he says say this to the church. Verse 22 if you have a year Hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. How many people are there today who believe that the Holy Spirit says such words to any church.

How many people are there who believe that the Holy Spirit can say such words to the churches.

To believers in a church you're wretched miserable poor blind naked. But in the midst of such a bad situation The Lord says in verse 20 If in the midst of you if there is one person who hears my voice Here's my voice means you acknowledge.

Yes, Lord. I'm wretched miserable poor blind naked. I presented a good front before people. But you see my heart. I want you to come in and change my life. If you hear my voice and you open the door I will come in and fellowship with you.

And your life will be changed. You will not remain wretched miserable poor blind naked. Listen to this verse 21. Even you can be an overcomer. Even you can be an overcomer. That's what I want you to hear.

The word of the Lord is never a message of condemnation. He doesn't say you're wretched miserable poor blind naked. Full stop go home.

He doesn't say you're wretched. Miserable poor blind naked full stop go home.

No, no, you are like this, but please listen to my voice and open the door.

Yes, you are such a person, but you listen to me and open your door.

Do you hear me saying that you are not the type of person I want you to be?

Yes, listen to what I want to say. You are not what I want you to be. You know there are people who say well.

I'm not on fire for the Lord, but I'm not cold. What is the word of the Lord for such people. It's possible many of you are sitting here like that. Yeah, brother Zach, I'm not on fire for God. I acknowledge that.

I acknowledge that I'm not on fire for God But I'm not cold. Something is better than nothing. See what the word of the Lord is. What does the word of the Lord say in verse 16.

Because you're not hot or cold. You're lukewarm. What will I do? I will spit you out of my mouth. Now there are some people who say Jesus can never speak like that. Is that Jesus or is it the devil who's saying that.

You know many people have a false picture of Jesus. That he only says okay, I'll comfort you. Don't worry, I don't condemn you. Come I'll give you rest. And never will say you're wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked.

And will never say I'll spit you out of my mouth. That is another Jesus. The Bible says the glory of God was seen in Jesus full of grace and full of truth. No, the glory of God is seen in grace and truth.

So it's not just one side. He does speak words of comfort saying I don't condemn you. He also speaks words of truth. Like if you go to a doctor for a scan he'll show you the scan. There's something wrong here.

If it's a very serious condition he tells you this is very serious. So what do we learn from verse 16? It's very clear that God wants you to be wholehearted on fire for him. He says I don't want you to be lukewarm.

In the Christian life something is not better than nothing.

In the Christian life something is not better than nothing.

We can read verse 15 like this. 16 rather. Either everything or nothing. But not just something. Not lukewarm. Either hot or cold. See it's like. You know the relationship with Jesus and a man is with us is like a husband and wife.

Supposing your wife tells you Listen. Let's have half and half. Half the year I'll be with you and half the year I'll be with another man, okay. You say no. Okay, we have a deal then 11 months with you and one month with another man.

What about that?

Yeah, I mean it to my result or a man. I kiss your kiss. Husband says no.

Okay 364 days with you and only one day with another man.

300 days with you and only one day with another man.

How many husbands will accept it? Tell me. The wife says you mean one day also you won't let me go to be with another man. No husband will want that. How do you believe that Jesus will want that? This is the meaning of lukewarm.

Whether it's six months away from Jesus or one day away from Jesus God says If you want to go like that go 365 days with another man. Either all the year with me or all the year with somebody else. But not half and half.

That is the meaning of Not hot nor cold. I would rather you be cold rather than half and half lukewarm. We can understand that in a man getting married. The Bible says we are only engaged to Jesus the marriage has not yet taken place.

When we accept Christ we are engaged the marriage is going to be in Revelation 19 after he comes back. So when we are deciding about marriage. If the wife says listen. Agreement is that I'll stay six months with you and six months away.

The man says no you got to be with me the whole year. And if the girl says no I can't be with you the whole year. The man says I don't want to get married to you. Go with that man the whole time. I don't want you to be lukewarm half here and half there.

We can understand that in marriage. How many of you men would marry a woman like that? Are you surprised that Jesus says I don't want one who is half and half? But there are many Christians like that.

There are people who say I'm not a very serious Christian. It's like a girl saying I'm not really seriously committed to you. I like to go around with other people too. Then go with that man forever don't come back to me.

That's exactly what Jesus is saying. You don't come to me go with the world and go with them forever. Don't come back here. We understand that in marriage it is like that, but we don't think that Jesus can be like that.

I want to tell you that the devil is always trying to Give you a wrong picture so that you'll finally be with him forever. Yeah, the devil wants you to be with him forever. And that's why he tells you it's okay.

It doesn't matter if you're part of the time with Jesus or at least 70 with Jesus and 30 with the world.

That's why the devil tells you that 70 with Jesus and 30 with the world is okay.

But Jesus says no, you either be hot or cold. Be an overcomer. And here is the promise now. See the Lord gives us warnings and promises. Some people just like to listen to the promises.

Some people just like to listen to the promises. No, there's truth as well.

You know Jesus looked at Peter and said blessed are you Simon because my father gave you this revelation. Turn to Matthew chapter 16 When Jesus came To a certain place. He asked the people. Who do you say that I am?

Verse 15 he asked his disciples. Simon said Simon Peter you are the Christ the son of the Living God. See what Jesus says in verse 17. Blessed are you. You're a blessed man Simon. Because my father revealed this to you.

Okay, one minute later He says to Peter. Verse 23. He said to Peter get behind me Satan. You're a stumbling block to me. Is this the same Jesus who one minute ago said blessed are you Simon. This is the true Jesus Who will say blessed are you.

And when you're a stumbling block will say to you get behind me Satan you're a stumbling block to me. If you want to see the real Jesus. Scripture. The devil portrays a false picture of Jesus. Either that he's always condemning you that you're good for nothing.

You're good for nothing.

You're good for nothing. Yeah, the fear as a tissue. But I got Joe Hamish at the sheet. I read a dose like a ticket on kissy.

Beach or a new. Or who always says I don't condemn you. I don't condemn you.

I don't condemn you need to fear a cassette as we decide I.

Don't like that. There's grace and truth. So he says I want you to be caught or cold. Don't be lukewarm. Be faithful to me 365 days of the year or get out and go somewhere else.

Since opacity may be made pretty Amanda or father or need to muster door. Hoja. I.

Don't want a wife who's going to be half with me and half with somebody else. I'm a sip of knee knee chatter. Joe added in Marissa or added in kissy or kissa and so he tells us in Revelation 3 verse 21 or.

We teach you have permission. I may be but other teen cake. Yes.

Maybe if you overcome you will sit with me on my throne. I get it. I'm Jay pie. So Tom I've been a sad Up in a sassy Hassan. But I'm just like I overcame and sat with my father on his time.

Maybe Jay Parker up in a pitaka sat with kissy Hassan per bed. Yeah, so I want you to see one simple thing here.

May I have a sadhana. See Bob Chatham. Kitum. Look they can you overcome just as I overcame.

Jesse to look be Jay Paul Jesse man a Jaya Paya. So Jesus was also tempted like us. So probably she must see be Joe. I was keeping Parisha. How many terrible over came? Likin wo Jaya Paya. And he overcame by the power of the Holy Spirit or us in a pavitra atma case.

I'm a kid. What a Jaya Paya.

That is why in the new covenant.

Is Lenny watch a man. The first thing that God did the hell. I come Joe permission a kia.

Fill people with the Holy Spirit. Pavitra atma kedwara logon kubana. This is very very important. Yeah, but how do you promote it? It's not enough just to have our sins forgiven.

Or table. It's very needy. I'm up in a Papa's a mafia.

We must be filled with God's Holy Spirit. I'm a pavitra atma. Say we were not and many people are confused about this. Okay, look, it's we shake you up. I'm gonna I want to make it very simple to you so that you can understand.

Maybe it was hard on torsos. I'm gonna chat on you.

Don't have to go to a very emotional meeting. Pray and pray and pray and scream to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

As a queen Joe, hey, I said, wait, let's see. I'm a joke. Nijam. How it's tough how it's a very way. Javi. I'm a shop. Rathna Rathna or Amish a chill on our we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Regularly all the time.

I mean I'm a shop of it right now.

I'm a burrito, but I remember when God met with me and filled me with the Holy Spirit the first time or may I.

Got the whole japan mission simulacra. Kelly bar or a penny. I told you barra. It was not in a meeting. We'll place a bomb in it. It was in my home.

When God with my met with my wife and filled her with the Holy Spirit or Mary.

But nice Emily or uncle be pavitra atmasa barra. She was in a room. I wasn't there.

Well, I think I'm a myth or my opinion. God meets with us one one-on-one.

Oh permission. Hamse joy a kicker camel. I got what happens in a lot of emotional meetings.

Boutas. A very way somewhere people are screaming and yelling Jampa, look, it's Larry. I think it's some type of emotional Excitement.

I got filled with the Holy Spirit or both. A hanky map of it. Rathmas a burger.

But then there should be a tremendous change in your life. So fair up in the bottom like but lava not she is like putting on the light in a dark room.

Yes, I hanky joy a dumb Roshni. Joy a light on Kanna and the car separate. We come in this is being filled with the Holy Spirit or us equal. Pavitra atmasa.

But now get a go to a dark room and you put on the light or a dumb and the car.

Sabara one day room a joy a jockey light vigil each other. Kanna. There's a tremendous change.

And that light gets as we walk with the Lord gets brighter and brighter and brighter and brighter.

I say I'm permission case. I'm telling you to avoid your Roshni a page. What are you got but?

You don't have to get that in a meeting with others or dosa Roshan milita a dosa Sabah majority was a man or not. I can meet with you there permission. I know a number of people whom God met with them just in there in their room or my.

Sebo sari Loco. Jantar on Javit. Permission a unique a marion's a mulaka kia.

But the most important requirement for it is thirst.

Or sub-separamukh bath a Akinda. We'll pass on a chaiyya see John chapter 7. You're not sad. I.

Believe your life will be tremendously changed if you have this thirst and God really fills you with the Holy Spirit.

Or a good job can vary a Piazza regata permission. I'll give you one more Punta Tosca, but a legal John 737.

Saath, Oskar, Satish medicated. If anyone is thirsty let him come to me.

Do you think we Piazza hotel Mary Pazza carpe a?

Some people say everybody can come to Jesus. What's wrong with a kiss up?

How do you take a provision sick a pass up? I say no, like a Mac. I don't know. Jesus said only those who are thirsty can come. Likin provision sick at the job. Piazza home a riposte. A what does it mean to be thirsty Piazza Kamalakya?

Now there can be different degrees of thirst.

Kaka Piazza a right now.

You may say yeah, I don't mind having a glass of water right now. I'm a little thirsty.

I'm also thinking how much a Piazza laga or my Burani Manu a glass panipuri, but supposing.

I tell you yeah, you can have a glass of water, but it costs a Hundred lakhs.

Rupees or a glass a job a a clock chemo test a.

The cost of one glass of water is a hundred lakh of rupees. Are you thirsty?

Ha a clock. I do have a glass of water. I can't put Piazza laga.

It's one crore the value one crore rupees for this glass of water.

I is glass key much to have a corrode repair. Can you say no? Thank you. I'm not that thirsty. So I bring a kidney name a it not Piazza, Nehemiah. I mean it's free or cheap.

I can take it but one crore is too much.

How do you move at Medina? Yes?

I think I will tell you what a corrode can open a Piazza laga, but supposing you had been wandering in a desert for one week.

Miley's you got a cup. Take a lever joy. I have my own media.

I guess I'm a goomer. A and you're dying of thirst now or a. Piazza kimare Murray's are. A and I offer you a glass of water or may I put a glass panidu and I say you have to give me All your life savings if you want this glass of water.

Or make a town get to me to ask the buchet. Karaka was some widget or is glass panik a laser. Please give it to me because I'm dying to a boolean. A kidney prepared a mojito. Kukui.

I'm around. You will be willing at that time To save your life even to give your entire life savings so. Oh some a are joy.

I've made a given kipa cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha.

Lord, I'm willing to pay any price to be filled with your Holy Spirit. I'll tell you, I've found very few Christians like that. Many Christians, you ask them, do you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

It's like asking them, would you like a piece of cake? Would you like a piece of cake? It's like asking. Yeah, I'd like a piece of cake. All those who want a piece of cake, come forward. All those who want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, come forward.

They come forward, they get nothing. So many meetings, people go forward, somebody lays hands on them. What does he get? Some man puts his empty hand on somebody's head. What does he get? Nothing. Don't be deceived.

When you're desperate, when you say, Lord, I'm willing to pay any price to be filled.

With the Holy Spirit, I'm willing to give every area of my life to you.

I tell you, you'll be filled with the Holy Spirit within 24 hours. I can guarantee that. So you read there that if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. We read that. So when we pray, Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit.

Think of your heart as a house with, say, 10 rooms. One room we can call the guilt room, where I feel guilty of all the sins I committed in my life. And that's the first room we all want the Lord to come in.

Please, I open the door, please remove all the guilt of my past life.

And the Lord comes in, and he's cleansed you.

He has come in, but you're not filled because the other nine rooms are still dark. So you look at this house, it's got 10 rooms. One room the light has come. So you ask a question, is there light in that house?

Yeah, there's light. Is it filled with light? No. Has the Spirit of Christ come into that person? Yes, his sins are forgiven. Is he filled with the Holy Spirit? No. Why? Because the other rooms have not been opened.

So the Lord comes and knocks at another door. Can I come into your television room? Can I sit down and see all the programs that you watch on television? And you say, no, Lord, please don't come. Because there are some programs I like to watch, you may not like to watch.

So we keep that door room locked, and the Lord says, no, no, I won't come into it. If you don't open the door, I won't come. Can I come into your library, the Lord says, to see what all books you read?

What all magazines you look at? What all pictures you see? And you say, Lord, don't come there because I like to read some stories you may not like.

Okay, the Lord says, I won't come.

There's another door, can I come into your finance room? To see how you're earning your money, is it all in righteous ways? And how you're spending it? Are you a miser holding on to everything? Are you generous and rich towards God?

And you say, no, no, Lord, you may discover certain things about the way I earn my money and spend my money, which I don't want. So that door is also shut. So there are areas like this. Maybe an unforgiveness.

The Lord says, I want you to forgive that person. You shut that door. No, I cannot. Don't ask me to do that, Lord. I'll never forgive that. He has done so much harm to me. He has spoken so much evil about my children.

I will never forgive him. Okay, the Lord says, I will not enter that room. And like that, there can be rooms, you know, that you keep locked up. The Lord says, don't you know you hurt that person? Don't you think you should go and ask forgiveness from him?

No, no, no, you have 101 justifications for why you should not ask forgiveness. Okay. And if the Lord sees the slightest hesitation on your part, he will not come in. Supposing you knock at somebody's door.

And he says, it's not very convenient for me to meet you now. I think all of us will go away. That's how the Lord leaves us. And then so many rooms remain dark. You can go to a hundred meetings and pray, Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit.

And you can get emotionally excited with the songs and all that. And you think you're filled with the Spirit. You are not. There's darkness in 90 of your heart. Because you don't want to pay the price of opening those rooms.

It's expensive. Not in terms of money. But you have to give up something that you love so much. You remember once Jesus called somebody to follow him. And said, you got to give up your money. He said, no, that's too much.

I can't give up all my money. What did Jesus say? Did he say, okay, give 10 now, 20 next year. Jesus said, goodbye. You can go. He never went after him. I've often thought of that rich young ruler.

He got the same call that Peter got. Or that Matthew got. Come, follow me. Give up that which you're holding on to. Peter dropped everything and came. Matthew dropped everything and came. You go to Peter and Matthew today and say, what did you lose by giving up all that?

They're in heaven today. They're in heaven today and you go and ask them. What did you give up? Nothing compared to what I got. You ask them, Peter, Matthew, do you regret giving up your fishing and your tax collection?

I'm so glad I responded to Jesus immediately. Then you go to that rich young ruler. Who the Lord told him, give up your money. He said, no. I don't know where he is today. Maybe he's gone to hell. You go and ask him.

Do you regret the decision you made that day?

Do you regret the decision you made that day?

You could have been an apostle. But you clung on to something thinking that will last forever. What do you think his answer will be today? That day he thought he was a smart guy that he could keep all his money.

I want to ask all of you, my brothers and sisters. Do you find that sometimes the Lord tells you to give up something? To give up a friendship which is not in his will. To go and ask forgiveness from someone.

Or to forgive someone. Or to stop watching some dirty program on television. Or something on the computer. Or on your phone. And you say no. Think of that rich young ruler who said no. For some years he kept his money.

But ask him today. After 2000 years. Do you think you made the right decision that day? He will have such sorrow. You remember Jesus told about a rich man who went to hell. And burning in hell he said He told Abraham, please send somebody to tell my five brothers who are still on earth.

They are living just like me. Tell them if they don't repent they will come here where I am. These are the stories that Jesus said. That was not a parable, that was a true story. Some people think it's a parable.

But in no parable did Jesus use the names of living people. Like Abraham and Lazarus. That is a true story. That the moment that man died he went to hell. So these are stories that Jesus said.

Not to scare us.

But to teach us the reality of a life after death. We can live a spirit filled life If we open every area of our life to the Lord. If that rich young ruler had said, yes Lord. Whatever you tell me to give up, I will give up.

He could have been an apostle. So today the Lord tells you to give up something. Give up that wrong habit. I want to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Go and ask forgiveness from that person. Forgive that person.

Don't be such a tight fisted miser. Be generous, open your heart. I will fill you with the Holy Spirit. I don't want your money. But I want to free you from loving yourself. So I want to say that Jesus If your sins are forgiven I want to say to everyone here whose sins are forgiven That Jesus wants to fill you with his Holy Spirit.

I can say that my whole life was changed When God filled me with the Holy Spirit.

I want to say that when God filled me with the Holy Spirit My whole life changed.

I would not be the person I am. Or have the ministry I have If God did not fill me with the Holy Spirit. Think of what the disciples were Before the day of Pentecost. They had seen Jesus. You think if I see the risen Jesus Boy, my life will be changed.

They had seen him after resurrection. Eight days later They again saw him after resurrection. But they were still sitting inside closed doors. Because you can't get rid of fear Just by looking at the risen Jesus.

Because he wasn't there all the time.

He would appear. And then go away. When he was there they would be happy. Then he would go away. Seven days later he would appear again.

They would be happy. But when they were filled with the Holy Spirit It was like having the risen Jesus with them all the time. You know how in the Gospels Whenever Jesus was there There was no problem.

There was never a problem That anybody brought to Jesus. Which he could not solve. I remember taking a Bible study series on all the miracles that Jesus did. And my title for the series was this There is no problem God cannot solve.

That is the message I get from all the miracles. There is no problem God cannot solve. Not enough food and drink at a wedding. Not enough food and drink at a wedding.

Not enough food and drink at a wedding. Jesus can solve it. Huge crowd of people. No place to buy food for them.

He can solve that. Man possessed with 2000 demons. Jesus can solve it. Which problem is there in the Gospels That Jesus could not solve. Storm in the lake. He can solve it. That's what I see in the Gospels.

That's what the Lord wanted to teach his disciples. Every problem you face I can solve it. But if Jesus was not there Then they were In doubt. Do you know what the Holy Spirit does when he fills us? It's not just speaking in tongues.

Speaking in tongues is to me A private language That I speak to the Lord. It is entirely in private. But more important than that Is the presence of Jesus with me. So that if I face a problem I can take it to him.

Just like those disciples. Lord there is a storm here. Lord there is a shortage of food. There is a big need 5000 people. How to meet the need of these people? Everything The Lord can solve. That is what the Holy Spirit's presence brings.

That to me anyway it has been like that. Most of my life is preaching the Gospel. Gospel means not just forgiveness But victory over sin, building the church, building the family, everything. And I say Lord who can do this?

Who can do this day after day after day after day? Year after year after year after year. I can't do it. But if you are with me And you tell me what to say Then I can go for a thousand years. And preach every single day.

And nothing that cannot be done if Jesus is with you. And that is the whole purpose of being filled with the Holy Spirit. When you think of all the provocations that you face in one single day. In one day.

Lord can I live one full day without ever getting angry? If you are with me, yes. Can I live one more day like that? And can I go a whole year like that without getting angry?

And then five years like that? Ten years? Yes, if he is with me. If he is not with me.