The Holy Spirit, Sanctification & You (part 2)

Bethlehem Bible Church

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June 30, 2013

Assurance Of Salvation (part 3)

00:00: This morning we're gonna continue in our just a second part that we started last week on the
00:07: Holy Spirit Sanctification and you I Want to wet your appetite before I do a little review for those who weren't here last week and before we get into the second
00:19: Part today. I want to wet your spiritual appetite a little bit this morning and Stimulate your thinking 2nd
00:28: Corinthians if you would turn there for a moment 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 the last verse of the chapter
00:48: Of course a brief overview of the context the Apostle Paul is Contrasting in a very sharp and stark way that the
00:56: New Covenant which he'll talk about in Chapter 4 a little bit more but in chapter 3 into chapter 4 that the
01:03: New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant And he mentions about the Old Covenant Beginning actually if you look in chapter 3 verse 13
01:14: Not like Moses who would put a veil I'm mentioning this in context because verse 18 talks about the veil
01:21: Moses would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end and verse 15 if you jump there, yes to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts but When one turns to the
01:40: Lord the veil is removed That's regeneration the work of the
01:45: Spirit Giving us life to be able to turn to the Lord so the veil is removed, but his work continues in sanctification verse 18 and we all and here's the
01:57: Reference again to the veil with unveiled face not like he's contrasting with Moses, right?
02:04: Moses used to have to put a veil but we with an unveiled face Beholding the glory of the
02:09: Lord what is happening to us in our progressive sanctification? We are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another
02:19: For this comes from the Lord who is? the Spirit So we're being transformed from one glory to another.
02:28: It's our sanctification is progressive. I Either We are still a work in progress and that's part of the joy of the spiritual work in our lives in Sanctification and we had defined sanctification.
02:46: It says here. We are being transformed into the same image the image of Christ So sanctification is the ongoing progressive work of the
02:55: Spirit whereby he Conforms us to the likeness of Jesus Christ Turn with me also if you would to Colossians 1 you're familiar with this verse as it is in our bulletin
03:09: Colossians chapter 1 Paul gives us a very very strong and clear statement as to his ministerial purpose
03:21: Why does he do ministry? What's his ministry all about? Colossians 1 28
03:35: Him we proclaim warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom
03:42: Why that we may present everyone mature in Christ That's Paul's ministerial purpose statement
03:50: Why is Paul in ministry to proclaim Jesus Christ? So that he might teach everyone to present everyone mature in Christ, but notice verse 29 with me
04:01: For this the this is reference to his purpose in ministry For this the fact that I proclaim
04:09: Christ the fact that I warn everyone the fact that I teach everyone in order to present everyone mature in Christ for this purpose
04:15: Notice what he says I toil Greek word there is the idea to exhaustion.
04:24: He works at it He toils Struggling Greek word.
04:30: There's where we get the English term agonize Where we talk about the Olympic Games The athletic games and the preparation it takes for somebody to prepare for something of that nature
04:41: So Paul is toiling to the point of exhaustion and struggling agonizing But watch this with all his energy that he powerfully works within me
04:55: Is it God's energy that powerfully works within me? Of course it is But did Paul nonetheless toil and struggle he surely did and notice the exhortation if you will flip back a couple of books to the book of Philippians Philippians chapter 2 verses 12 and 13
05:23: Paul says they're therefore my beloved as you have always obeyed
05:28: So now not only as in my presence, but much more in my absence Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
05:39: For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure send imperative in verse 12
05:51: Paul tells the Philippian church to work not for their salvation.
05:57: That would be a works based salvation a self -righteous salvation Our salvation is not by works
06:03: It's working out your own salvation and we know that because earlier Paul told the Philippian believers the church there
06:10: That God had began a good work in them and he would complete it Philippians 1 6
06:15: So he's saying work out your own salvation with fear and trembling out of a reverential awe and worship of the
06:24: Lord and then verse 13 For it is God who works in you
06:30: God works in you Both to will and to work for whose good pleasure
06:36: It's his good pleasure That's his pleasure his pleasure in sending
06:42: Christ to save those who would look to Christ alone by faith Is also to continue to work in them sanctification
06:52: Calvin said that God will not justify anyone whom he does not sanctify
06:59: Martin Lloyd -jones said you cannot receive Jesus as your justification and then reject him as your sanctification
07:10: God is at work, but we also to like Paul toil and struggle and work out our own salvation
07:16: There's a two extremes, of course I'm her I'm sure you've heard him all God helps those who what
07:25: Helps themselves I see smiles you they've heard it or you've tried it yourself or the other extreme let go and Let God so through osmosis
07:38: It's just gonna happen So let's review quickly.
07:44: That was just a little primer on the overview of sanctification last week We talked about we're looking at four
07:51: Imperatives for directives and again at any time if you want to I'm not doing the mic thing this week
07:57: It was good for our purpose here, but on the recording it didn't really pick up so but if at any time you want to Jump in with a comment or have a question feel free to do so by way of review
08:06: We talked about the two and positive imperatives of our a walk with the Holy Spirit the third member of the
08:13: Trinity Galatians 516 The imperative was to walk by the
08:19: Spirit to walk by the Spirit And we said that would be shown as we walk by the
08:25: Spirit In a life that is characterized as we looked at the context
08:31: Verse 15, but if you bite and devour one another watch out that you are not consumed by one another
08:37: So walking by the Spirit Means that we would not be biting one another we would not be devouring one another
08:43: We would not be consuming one another and I highlighted last week that all of these injunctions with the
08:49: Holy Spirit are all surrounded by one the one another's in Scripture and It's to no surprise
08:55: I mean if you recall pastor Steve had done a series not too long ago on why we love the church
09:02: Well, it's the Holy Spirit who places a believer into the body of Christ 1st
09:07: Corinthians 12 13 through the baptism of the Spirit So the Holy Spirit if we walk by the
09:14: Spirit We will not be bouting biting and devouring one another verse 17 there verse 16 says
09:19: But I say walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh So walking by the
09:25: Spirit there will not be a gratification of the desires of the flesh But rather instead the fruit of the
09:31: Spirit will be evidence in the person's life Verse 26 the end of the chapter it
09:37: Paul says let us not become conceited Provoking one another envying one another another translation says backbiting
09:46: When we walk by the Spirit we don't do that to one another we don't provoke one another we don't backbite one another we don't
09:52: Envy one another those are the things that manifest walking by the Spirit And then we quickly looked at Ephesians chapter 5
10:01: Verse 18 the second positive command in terms of the Spirit of God but be filled with the
10:10: Spirit is Verse 18 do not get drunk with wine for that is debauchery but be filled with the
10:20: Spirit It's a question of control when one is drunk He is control under the influence if you will of the wine of the drink
10:29: But to be controlled by the Spirit to be filled with the Spirit is to be under his influence And I mentioned to you that verse 18 in the original text to verse 21 is one sentence and we address there
10:40: What are some of the things that show in a person's life when we are filled with the Holy Spirit one of them verse 19?
10:46: Was addressing one another in Psalms and hymns. There's the one another again It also talked about making melody to the
10:55: Lord with your heart the sense of joy When we sing the hymns here do we just do it as I did growing up as a kid in church just by rote
11:03: I? Could tell you the page number and everything of where the hymns are or do we do it because we want to make melody in?
11:09: our heart to the Lord Giving thanks it says in verse 20 always That's a manifestation of being filled with the
11:16: Spirit and finally in a humble spirit of submission out of what? reverence for Jesus Christ This morning though.
11:24: I want us to look as we complete this study in terms of sanctification and the injunctions as terms of the
11:30: Holy Spirit Is the there are two more injunctions that they are from the negative vantage point?
11:36: The first one is again in our book Ephesians if you're not already there turn to Ephesians if you will and it's in chapter 4
11:43: Ephesians chapter 4 Now it's important to note that When we talk about the
11:50: Holy Spirit because we've had me we may have some wrong ideas or we have had some wrong ideas and especially in our culture with the
11:57: Charismatic movement we think that it's some mystical ethereal thing, but I want you to notice it in Ephesians The reference to the
12:05: Holy Spirit is made 11 times 11 times the first half of the book is the doctrinal section chapters 1 through 3
12:14: The second half of the book is the practical section chapters 4 with 6 So that's why in chapter 4 verse 1
12:20: Paul begins I therefore as a prisoner of the Lord urge you to walk in a manner worthy
12:26: Based upon what God has done the fact that he chose you before the foundation of the world the fact that Jesus came for your redemption and the fact that the
12:35: Holy Spirit had a work in your salvation I want you to walk in a manner worthy 11 times the mention of the
12:41: Holy Spirit 5 of those 11 times the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the practical section of the book chapters 4 to 6.
12:49: Isn't that interesting? the mystical Idea of the Holy Spirit.
12:54: He's in the practical section of the book of Ephesians as is this injunction Look with me at Ephesians chapter 4 the command is found in verse 30 and Again Ephesians 5 18, which we looked at last week again is in the practical section of the book and We'll see the manifestation of these injunctions in our lives are very very practical in our progressive sanctification
13:19: Ephesians chapter 4 verse 30 Paul writes and do not Grieve the
13:25: Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption
13:34: In order to understand the impact the weight of that verse there are two words that are key there
13:40: The word grieve because that is the imperative do not grieve and the word seal
13:46: So I want us to look a little bit To understand those words and then we'll go into how it's shown in our progressive sanctification when we do not grieve the
13:56: Holy Spirit So I need some people to look up some verses if you will We're going to look a little bit at Grieving what it means to grieve the
14:05: Holy Spirit and I want us to do that by looking at how the Bible uses it elsewhere Matthew 17 is one reference verse 22 to 23
14:14: Who would like to read that? Bruce I see your hand there. Thank you Another one.
14:20: I've got a couple of more Matthew 19 a couple of chapters after that Matthew 19 verses 21 to 22
14:29: Mark thank you and Well since I saw your hand if you don't mind doing Matthew 26
14:36: Matthew 26 verses 20 to 22 and Last verse
14:44: I have on this term of grieving is in Matthew 26
14:50: Thank you, Mark Let me see the verses 36 to 38
14:56: Matthew 26 36 to 38. So I'll have each of you read it and then
15:01: I'll make some comments on it So we'll go through each of these verses to help us understand when
15:07: Paul says do not grieve the Holy Spirit What does that term grieve mean? So let's start with Matthew 17.
15:28: Thank you. The term distress is the same Greek term as do not Grieve the
15:33: Holy Spirit the disciples were grieved this is one of the first times where Jesus mentions that he is going to the cross to his the 12th and They were greatly distressed greatly grieved as Jesus is forecasting his upcoming crucifixion
15:48: How about Matthew? 19. Thank you.
16:06: The young man went away sorrowful. He went away grieved Leapythia this deep grief
16:13: Remember that the context is the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and asked him the ideal evangelistic question
16:18: I was thinking that last week as pastor Mike was walking us through Matthew 28 Imagine somebody just coming up to you and saying what must
16:26: I do to inherit eternal life? What an evangelistic opportunity? Jesus was not properly trained
16:34: I guess but that's another study. He didn't lead him to himself He went away sorrowful grieved for he had great possessions
16:44: How about Matthew 26? Well, thank you.
17:07: They were very sorrowful. They were grieved over the fact that Jesus told them clearly somebody is going to betray me here and that brought them grief and Finally in the garden of Gethsemane Matthew 26
17:45: Thank you a couple of times Christ mentions there that he was sorrowful two times the
17:50: Matthew records that he was grieved Gethsemane where he says not my will but yours be done
17:57: Same word that's used here in Ephesians 4 that we are told not to grieve the
18:02: Holy Spirit not that God bring him Sorrow not to bring him trouble The Holy Spirit which should imply clearly that the
18:10: Holy Spirit is a person He's not just something As I had a discussion with a customer of mine recently
18:19: Who I don't believe he believed in the Trinity. So that was a fun discussion I think I mentioned part of it last week
18:25: And so I questioned him about the Holy Spirit and of course, this is a clear reference is the
18:32: Holy Spirit a person You can't grieve somebody a something when you grieve somebody in that emotional way
18:39: It has to be a person the third member of the Trinity Paul says clearly do not grieve the
18:45: Holy Spirit as part of our sanctification. Don't bring him trouble Don't bring him sorrow as we saw in the cases with the disciples and Jesus But notice what else he adds after he gives us the direct imperative
18:59: Almost like a parenthetical note by whom? You were sealed
19:06: What's a seal in the olden days a seal was
19:13: Many people used a signet ring used hot wax and they would seal a letter the envelope to it and close it there
19:21: And it would be embossed That was a seal and that's a terminology that Paul uses here to remind us that by the way
19:31: The one who I'm asking you not to grieve or to bring sorrow and trouble is the one who has sealed you actually
19:37: He mentioned that if you turn briefly to the first chapter of the doctrinal section Ephesians 1 which we know classically talking about election and Redemption and of course chapter 2 our total depravity and God's divine intervention
19:52: But a lot of times we may miss the role of the triune God father in election The Son in Redemption and the
19:59: Holy Spirit chapter 1 verse 13 in Him you also when you heard the word of the truth the gospel of your salvation and believed in him
20:09: You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory?
20:21: so part of our salvation is That God the Holy Spirit Seals us and we're going to look at that and that's what
20:28: Paul says because you were sealed with the Holy Spirit I do not want you to grieve him What is this seal the seal represents three things?
20:36: Let me give them to you The spirits ministry of sealing is first and foremost to authenticate to authenticate the genuineness of one's faith
20:49: To seal is to authenticate the genuineness of something and in this case our faith if it's real or not
20:55: Let me give you an example. You recall the story from the Old Testament in first Kings 21 with Jezebel Ahab While her husband wanted to buy a plot a vineyard from Naboth and Naboth said no way
21:10: Jose That's the diligent Edith's version So he was saddened
21:17: His wife saw that he was saddened. So she said asked him what was going on. So she did
21:24: What she did Jezebel she went and wrote a letter and Unbeknownst to her husband. She put his signet ring on it
21:32: It says in first Kings 21 verse 8 she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed it with his seal with her husband's seal and She sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city.
21:47: And what did the letter say? She said to them That I want you to bring a charge against Naboth before everybody and stone him to death and The leaders actually did what she said to do
22:00: But to them it wasn't her saying it it was her husband because it was authenticated with his seal
22:08: That's the purpose of us of a seal to authenticate That's why
22:13: Paul says in Romans chapter 4 in reference to Abraham He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith
22:25: While he was still uncircumcised So the seal of the Holy Spirit is to authenticate our faith
22:33: Paul is saying don't grieve the Holy Spirit Why because it was him who sealed you to authenticate that your faith is real secondly
22:44: The Spirits ministry of sealing is to mark us as God's possession is to mark us as God's possession.
22:51: That's what a seal did Jeremiah 32 It said and I bought the field that and anathos from Hannah male my cousin and weighed out the money to him 17 shekels of silver
23:05: I signed the deed sealed it got witnesses and weighed the money on scales Then I took the sealed deed of purchase
23:14: Containing the terms and conditions in the open copy He signed the deed.
23:19: He sealed it. The seal was a deed of purchase It was his and when the
23:25: Holy Spirit seals us. He's saying you are no longer yours. You belong to God That's the purpose of a seal the third purpose of the ministry of the
23:37: Spirit in sealing us Number three is to render our salvation secure is to render our salvation secure
23:45: That's why Paul said in Ephesians 1 earlier where I read Who were sealed with a promised
23:50: Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of what of our inheritance? People struggle with assurance of salvation
23:58: This is where you turn to of course You turn to the triune God the Father choosing from eternity past The finished work of Jesus Christ right the
24:07: Son and the sealing work of the Holy Spirit to secure our salvation think of how seals were used back in those days and Daniel was put in the lion's den and the scripture says in Daniel 6 a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den and The king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his
24:27: Lords that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel It was to secure the den. Is That not what they did with our
24:34: Lord Matthew records in Matthew 27 Sure, we remember how that imposter said while he was still alive after three days
24:44: I will rise therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day Lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people he has risen from the dead and the last fraud will be worse
24:55: Than the first pilot said to them you have a guard of soldiers go make it as secure as you can
25:00: So they went and made the tomb secure how? By sealing the stone and setting a guard our
25:09: Lord's tomb Daniel in the lion's den this was to secure in the same manner the
25:15: Holy Spirit secures our salvation When he seals us That's the purpose of a seal
25:22: So let's look at the context of Ephesians 430 We're not to grieve the
25:27: Holy Spirit Because he is the one who sealed us. He is the one who has Authenticated our faith.
25:34: He is the one who has made us God's own possession He is the one who secures our salvation with the seal.
25:42: Let me have somebody read verse 29 And we'll have a few people read in the context here who would read verse 29, please mark.
25:49: Thank you. Thank you a couple of weeks ago
26:06: Eric Johanson preached that night on the tongue James chapter 3 and this is a reference to the tongue here in Ephesians 429
26:13: This is how we do not grieve the Spirit when we let no corrupting talk come out of our mouths when we only say that which is for building up others and Gives grace to those who hear
26:25: So by our mouths by what we say to others, here's the one another again It's not done in isolation because it was a spirit who has made us members of the body of Christ By how we speak to one another we can grieve the
26:38: Holy Spirit The one who has sealed us So when there's corrupting talk coming out of your mouth when you don't say things that build others up or it gives them grace
26:48: So to speak then you're grieving the Holy Spirit the one who has sealed you for the day of redemption
26:54: Usually I like to do when I when I want to say something to somebody when I sit down with somebody
27:00: I'll ask myself based on these this verse a couple of questions Which are very helpful verse 29.
27:06: Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth. Well what I say be corrupt as This person hears it second question
27:14: But only such as is good for building up. Well, this what I say to this person will it build them up? Or will it tear them down?
27:23: Third question as fits the occasion Is this appropriate for the occasion to say what I'm going to say and how
27:28: I'm going to say it and fourthly that it may give grace To those who hear well what
27:34: I say give grace to the person who's listening That's one way we cannot grieve the
27:39: Holy Spirit Another way verse 31 who would like to read verse 31 Brian, thank you.
27:58: Thank you number of things here direct imperatives Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice
28:08: So any one of those things if those are Happening we are grieving the Holy Spirit when there is bitterness
28:18: Remember somebody one time said when I was a a new believer in Christ said I will never
28:25: Allow anyone to destroy by all my life by allowing me to make be bitter at them bitterness grieves the
28:35: Holy Spirit Bitterness is aimed at somebody else. It's not an isolation It's not an isolation
28:46: Slander let's just pray together for this person, right?
28:54: Slander we have to be careful slandering others grieves the Holy Spirit and Finally verse 32 somebody else had their hand up earlier mark.
29:04: Thanks the one another's again.
29:12: You can't get away from it This is the one another in Scripture of the body of Christ by the
29:18: Spirit who has placed us into his body Be kind to one another tender -hearted
29:26: Forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you This is a common theme throughout
29:33: Paul's epistles as God did this to you. So you do this to one another
29:41: Christ himself said to the disciples right as I have loved you So you must love one another
29:46: Romans 15 7 accept one another as God has accepted you in Christ and here it is again
29:52: Forgive one another as God in Christ forgave you So here it is when you withhold forgiveness from somebody
30:02: You're grieving the Holy Spirit The one who has secured your salvation offer forgiveness freely
30:13: Of course, all you need to do is go back to the parable of the unmerciful servant I love that story that parable of forgiveness where the one master forgives a slave who owed him more than a lifetime
30:26: He canceled his debt, but that same slave who was a master to another who just sold him a few
30:32: Denary would not was not willing to forgive him. So when we would hold forgiveness from Others when we forget as God in Christ forgave us then that grieves that troubles that brings sorrow to the
30:46: Holy Spirit Any questions or comments on this particular one on grieving the
30:53: Spirit? It's important to remember the work of salvation affects my motive in sanctification
31:16: Sanctification is progressive God the Holy Spirit is working on me to conform me to the likeness of Christ But if I remember what he has done for me in saving me what he has done for me and forgiven me that'll motivate me
31:26: Not to grieve the Spirit of God. Okay, the last one. What did we say? What was the last one?
31:33: Do not quench the spirit, correct? First Thessalonians if you would turn their first Thess chapter 5 in verse 19 is the imperative so we have two positive commands walk by the
31:51: Spirit be filled with the Spirit and Two negative do not grieve the Spirit and we saw how that can happen and now do not
32:00: Quench the spirit very simple. That'd be a good memory verse, huh? Five words
32:08: Do not quench the spirit or as others say put out the spirits fire. That's a good rendering
32:13: Do not quench the Holy Spirit or put out his fire Now this section really begins from chapter 5
32:22: Beginning in verse 12 up until where he gives the command. So I want us to look at it in context
32:27: How do we know that we are putting out the spirits fire when we're quenching the spirit?
32:32: So let's look at some of the context here. So we know how we see that manifest in our lives in our sanctification
32:38: So let's begin in verse if somebody could read verses 12 to 13 of that chapter chapter 5
32:47: Bruce Thank you.
33:07: Just to reference that with this is Paul writing of course to the church in Thessaloniki and when he spoke to the elders in Ephesus classic
33:18: Address by the Apostle Paul to the elders at Ephesus in Acts chapter 20 He says the following listen carefully how this relates to the
33:26: Holy Spirit and what Bruce has read in verses 12 to 13 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the
33:36: Holy Spirit Has made you overseers Hmm the
33:42: Holy Spirit did do that Paul says to the elders in Ephesus pay careful attention first to yourselves and to the flock of which the
33:51: Holy Spirit has made you overseers and So here we read in verses 12 to 13 to respect those who are overseers amongst us to esteem them highly because of their work because it's the
34:03: Spirit of God who has made them overseers and Thus we don't put out the spirits fire
34:08: We don't quench the Holy Spirit when we do that as outlined in verses 12 to 13 But that's one group that he addresses
34:16: But he also addresses another group somebody else could read somebody else had their hand up earlier verse 14 mark.
34:22: Was that you? Yeah, go ahead. Thank you
34:33: Notice the 12 and 13 addresses the overseers the leaders whom the Holy Spirit acts 2028 has made them
34:41: Overseers over the flock and that's how we are to respect them So we don't quench out the spirit who has made them overseers
34:47: But here he's addressing the body in general and notice he mentioned four different type of people
34:53: The first one is the the rough one What does he say to do with the idol admonish them?
35:01: Admonish the idol idol in the Greek is simply a term that means unruly or disorderly
35:08: Adductors actually the way we use it nowadays It means somebody who is not in order the original Greek means it was a soldier's term.
35:16: Everyone's at a standstill in order saluting So somebody who's not in order somebody who is unruly who is idle.
35:23: They need to be what admonished Admonish them so you don't quench the spirit.
35:29: How about people who are faint -hearted? People who are faint -hearted, what do they need admonishment?
35:35: No, what do they need? encouragement And we all need encouragement and as we encourage one another
35:44: Hebrews 10 24 Let us not give up assembling together as is the manner of some but let us encourage one another to love and good deeds as You see the day approaching we need to encourage the faint -hearted.
35:56: What's the third group the weak? What are we supposed to do with a week? We're supposed to help them come alongside them in the system
36:06: And Finally make it really overall Be patient with them with who all
36:16: Be patient with all hmm fruit of the
36:21: Spirit love joy peace Patience so as we
36:29: Are with one another towards those who are overseas and towards one another whether we are idle or faint -hearted or weak and with everybody
36:37: Patience by doing these things in our sanctification with one another we are not quenching the
36:42: Spirit's fire Thirdly somebody if you would read verse 15 the very next verse
37:02: Don't repay evil for evil Seek to do good to there's one another to everyone
37:09: Seek to do good to everyone. I love how Paul says in Galatians.
37:14: I believe it is Galatians chapter 6 and this again is in the context of not quenching the
37:26: Holy Spirit Galatians chapter 6 verse 10 he says so then as we have opportunity to let us do good to everyone and watch this and especially to those who are of the household of faith we are to seek to do good to those especially who are of the household of faith and Finally, how do we not quench the
37:47: Spirit's? Classic trifecta or verses I like the column verses 16 17 and 18 right rejoice sometimes pray ceasingly
38:04: And give thanks in some good circumstances. I Mean what
38:10: Paul is instructing us here to do rejoice always Really pray without ceasing give thanks in all circumstances
38:18: Why for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. That's hard to do.
38:24: No, it's not hard to do. It's impossible It's supernatural The Christian life is a supernatural life
38:31: That's why we have the Holy Spirit who indwells us the one who sanctifies us and makes us more like Jesus Christ By the power of the
38:39: Spirit. We're able to live out the Christian life and be faithful to obey these injunctions so as we have that respectful attitude towards those who oversee us as we're a patient with all do good to all at Monte Seattle incurs the fainthearted as we seek to give thanks in all circumstances to pray and rejoice always
38:58: By doing those things in the process of our sanctification. We do not quench the
39:03: Holy Spirit Bob big question go for it.
39:11: I like big questions Bob Imperatives.
39:17: Yeah machine gun Yeah, right.
39:30: It's just not a list of things to fill in the blanks. I would say because in the outline of the book The way he outlines is this section from verse 12 on which are his final instructions
39:40: I would say this is Connected to quenching the Holy Spirit Because this is one section there.
39:46: And so everything he gives in these injunctions whether it's being patient or Giving thanks or our attitude towards overseers because it's the
39:56: Holy Spirit who is involved in that I would say that it modifies all those injunctions. I know where you're going go for it
40:16: So question was our charismatic friends would say Was that a charismatic hand up there
40:21: Bruce? I don't know I had somebody do that at a at a wedding once put up their hand
40:29: And one of my friends who was sitting behind the person's thought they were Charismatic and they were praising God. Well, it turns out at the reception
40:35: They wanted they were very upset about what I was saying But so the question was I saw Bruce's hand go up there there quickly.
40:41: So But our charismatic friends would say Okay, there's verse 20 do not despise prophecies you guys do exactly that so how do we respond to that Bruce?
41:07: Yes Yep, that's what I would say So it's a matter of defining prophecies back then in the historical context the original
41:15: What he was writing to is as Bruce said, but today we have it in the written form So as he goes on to say verse 21, right but test that's contrasting to what he just said in verse 20
41:26: Do not despise prophecies but test everything so we're to test those who are Prophets those in the sense who not prophets like in those days
41:35: But who speak forth the Word of God who forth tell who foretell the Word of God?
41:41: And we have to test those and see if it's accurate based upon what we have the written canon of Scripture Yes, good question.
41:47: I love those big questions Bob Yes, John Yes Yes Yeah Hebrews, there's a good reference to the book of Hebrews that God has already spoken
42:04: Hebrews 1 right in the last days God has spoken through many prophets in the last days in many portions in many ways
42:11: But in these days he's spoken to us in his son excellent reference Yes, so it's a matter of understanding the original historical context to whom he's writing to and what was prophecies back then?
42:20: But yeah, that's a great question to address our charismatic friends. So good quick question any others
42:26: All right, let me close in a word of prayer father. Thank you for The Holy Spirit and for his ministry in our lives.
42:34: Thank you for The fact that he regenerated us because without him we would have no life.
42:40: We were completely dead in our trespasses Thank you father for his continuing work in our sanctification
42:46: And help us father to not only walk by the spirit and be filled with the spirit But help us to not grieve the spirit nor to quench the
42:54: Holy Spirit father and we have all these injunctions here and Commands and that we are to continue as we work and toil and struggle knowing that you're the one who works in us