1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,860 Welcome to Walk in the Truth podcast. How do we know where to find answers to the toughest 2 00:00:15,860 --> 00:00:21,080 questions in life? While the simplest answer is the Bible, where do we start this search 3 00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:27,300 and how do we discover this truth? Today, in this teaching podcast, John Meador, lead 4 00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:32,440 pastor of Cross City Church, takes a specific text of the Bible and helps us find truth 5 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:40,280 for the life we're searching for. We're so glad that you're with us this morning 6 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:45,640 as always. Please take your Bibles and turn to John chapter 15 today as we continue our 7 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:51,560 series on the Holy Spirit. Today's title, The Mission, The Mission of the Holy Spirit. 8 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:57,280 And our mission, you'll find that they're the same and one mission that God has created 9 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:03,440 for us and has for the Holy Spirit in us. John chapter 15 verse 12 through 27, by the 10 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:08,320 way, we have Bibles that are available for people at the doorways as you come in these 11 00:01:08,320 --> 00:01:12,800 three major exits that are at the table. And they're labeled as Bibles that you can take 12 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,520 and use or you can take and keep. Whatever it is, if you need to keep it, you go right 13 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:21,640 ahead. But we are putting page numbers on the screen that will help you know what page 14 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,240 to get to. If you're not familiar with the Bible, then you'll be able to find the page 15 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:31,400 number and this one is on page 1079. And I want to caution you that not all of your Bibles 16 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:36,680 have that same verse and passage, that's that same page number. Just to make sure you know 17 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:41,720 about those hardback Bibles that we have at the back, page 1079. Let's stand together 18 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:47,840 as we read God's word. This is a long passage of scripture. So I want you to sit tight for 19 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,760 a moment as we read verses 12 all the way through the end of the chapter of John chapter 20 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:58,760 15. Now John 15, the first part of this chapter is known for the abide passage where Jesus 21 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:04,800 said abide in me and I in you and if you abide in me and I in you, you bear much fruit and 22 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:10,200 so prove to be my disciples. Last week we spent some time on abide, what it means to 23 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:15,480 remain in Christ. And I'll just familiarize you with this. Number one, we abide in Him 24 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:21,420 personally, we abide in His word, we abide in His love and that's a big deal for us. 25 00:02:21,420 --> 00:02:26,360 So Jesus says all that and then He gets into verse 12 where He's preparing His disciples 26 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:32,120 to go out into a hostile world. How many of you know the world is sometimes hostile towards 27 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:36,840 believers in Jesus Christ? Some of you know that, most of you do and the reality is the 28 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:41,960 disciples were about to go that way. Let's look at the beginning in verse 12 of John 29 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:48,000 15. Jesus said, this is my commandment that you love one another just as I have loved 30 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:53,520 you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lays down his life for his friends. You're 31 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:58,400 my friend if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves for the slave 32 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:03,040 does not know what his master is doing but I have called you friends for all things that 33 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:09,080 I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. That's an amazing statement. Verse 34 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:14,320 16, you did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you that you would go and bear 35 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:19,120 fruit and that your fruit would remain so that whatever you ask of the Father in my 36 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:24,640 name He may give you. This I command you that you love one another. You're kind of getting 37 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:30,880 the idea that Jesus is focusing a lot on love at this point aren't you? Verse 18, if the 38 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:36,160 world hates you you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the 39 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:41,320 world the world would love its own but because you're not of the world but I chose you out 40 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:46,280 of the world because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you 41 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:51,480 a slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me they will also persecute 42 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:56,920 you. If they kept my word they would keep yours also. But all these things they would 43 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:02,240 do to you for my name's sake because they do not know the one who sent me. If I had 44 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:07,000 not come and spoken to them they would not have sinned but now they have no excuse for 45 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:13,480 their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works 46 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:18,720 which no one else did they would not have sinned but now they have both seen and hated 47 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:23,480 me and my Father as well. But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in 48 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:28,800 their law. They hated me without a cause. Now Jesus says all that to get to this place 49 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:34,360 in the last two verses. When the helper comes whom I will send to you from the Father that 50 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:40,840 is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father he will testify about me and you will 51 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:47,720 testify also because you have been with me from the beginning. Lots of passages. Big 52 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:52,840 messages for us today. Let's bow together. Father we ask you in Jesus' name speak to 53 00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:58,320 us from your word. Father I pray that your Holy Spirit would shine light not only on 54 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:04,000 the word that we're reading about but the whole of scripture and also on our hearts. 55 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:08,680 Father show us what we need to see today. What we need to grab hold of. What we need 56 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:14,440 to apply to our lives. Father help us to see what your work in us looks like. We ask this 57 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:22,000 in Jesus' name and everybody said amen. Please be seated. Well this is a really really long 58 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:27,120 passage of scripture and tackling this you have to summarize some of this and we will. 59 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:32,040 I'm going to summarize the first six or eight verses that we read in the text with one point 60 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:36,920 and then we're going to zero in on the last two verses about the helper the Holy Spirit 61 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:45,320 but everything in scripture is in its proper context. John 14 is all about Jesus introducing 62 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:50,480 the power of the Holy Spirit which he calls the helper another one like myself. John 16 63 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:56,000 he's also doing the same thing focusing on the encouraging helping ministry of the Holy 64 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:03,680 Spirit. That's why we know John 15 the abide passage is also talking about the Holy Spirit. 65 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:08,780 He's abiding in us and we're in him. We're supposed to abide in him personally abide 66 00:06:08,780 --> 00:06:14,600 in his commandments or his word abide in his love. We looked at all that last week. This 67 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:22,840 text is also about abiding. It's about the Holy Spirit reminding us about things we need 68 00:06:22,840 --> 00:06:29,000 to remember before we go to war. I don't know if you've ever been a fan of war movies. 69 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,400 Sometimes I get into war movies and I go through a season of time when I watch several of them 70 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:39,640 and almost every kind of historical war narrative will also have some famous speech by a general 71 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:45,440 or a president or the leader of that army getting the troops ready for battle. And maybe 72 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:51,480 you remember some of these movies where you see these unfold. Usually the message is here's 73 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:58,800 who we are. Here's what the enemy is. Here's what the mission is. Go and take the territory 74 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:05,160 or go lay your life down for the cause. Now I use that illustration because Jesus is preparing 75 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:11,840 to depart from the disciples in his death, burial and resurrection. But he's also preparing 76 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:16,680 the Holy Spirit for them or preparing them rather I should say for the Holy Spirit in 77 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,640 their lives. And he's saying you're going to see more things happen. You're going to 78 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:26,400 do more after I leave than you did before I left because the Holy Spirit is living inside 79 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:32,000 of your life. That's what he says in John chapter 14 verse 12. Greater things than these 80 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:36,640 you shall see because I go to the Father and I leave the helper with you. So he's getting 81 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:41,840 them ready to go out and do battle. He's reminding them of things they need to be reminded of 82 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:48,040 before they go to war. He's prepping them before they go out into a hostile world. Now 83 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:54,240 we live in that hostile world right now. Sometimes in our world where we are right now geographically, 84 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:59,640 specifically here, we don't feel the hostility of the world the way many feel that hostility 85 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:04,640 in other places in the world. But we still feel the opposition of those who do not love 86 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:10,520 Christ, who do not love God, who do not know or love the Word of God. We really are in 87 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:15,120 battle whether we know it or not. Now Jesus is preparing the disciples for battle in the 88 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:21,320 same way he will prepare us for living for him in a hostile world. There are some things 89 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:26,000 we need to remember about ourselves. There are some things we need to remember about 90 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:30,960 Jesus himself. There are things we need to remember about our mission. That's what we'll 91 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:37,480 talk about today. First of all this text reminds us of who we are. It reminds us of who we 92 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:45,080 are. If you go through verses 12 through 19 you'll see the reminders of who we are based 93 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:50,920 on what Jesus says to us. Did you know the Holy Spirit always is at work reminding us 94 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:56,280 of who we are? Reminding us of what we've been called to, reminding us of who Jesus 95 00:08:56,280 --> 00:09:00,920 is. Let's just look at a few of these passages here. Look at verse 12. Put your finger on 96 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:05,360 verse 12 if you have it up in your Bible. There's a phrase there that says, just as 97 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:13,360 I have loved you. Jesus is reminding the disciples before he departs, I want you to remember 98 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:21,240 I love you. Twelve times in John 14 and 15 the word love is used. This is the really 99 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:26,480 weighty word love here. This is the word agape. This is unconditional love, not friendship 100 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:31,880 love. That's not what Jesus is alluding to. He's alluding to that unconditional commitment 101 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:37,760 to them. I love you with an everlasting love. I love you with unconditional love. You are 102 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:43,840 loved, he says to his disciples, before they go out into that hostile world. I want you 103 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:48,880 to remember that Jesus says that about all of his disciples, including you. It's not 104 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:55,520 just John 3.16, God so loved the world. It's also Jesus in John chapter 15 that says, I 105 00:09:55,520 --> 00:10:00,040 love you. I think it would be important for you to remember that today and I want to ask 106 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:05,520 you to repeat these words with me for just a moment if you would. I am loved. Those three 107 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:09,480 words. You want to say that with me? That's what Jesus' perspective is for his disciples 108 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:16,400 right now. I am loved. Let's say it together. I am loved. I want you to remember those words 109 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:23,800 when you face opposition in a world that doesn't love you. In a world that doesn't love Christ. 110 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:28,520 Doesn't love the truths that we embrace because of Christ. I want you to remember that you 111 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:33,600 are loved when people reject you, when friends reject you, when family rejects you, when 112 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:39,320 the world rejects you. That's what Jesus is preparing his disciples for. You are loved. 113 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:45,640 He reminds them of who they are. Loved individuals. But there's another line here that says, I 114 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:51,560 have called you friends. You see that in verse 15? No longer do I call you slaves, but I 115 00:10:51,560 --> 00:10:57,520 have called you friends. And there you know that Jesus is emphasizing the relational aspect 116 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:04,560 of how we interact with him. We are his friends. That kind of intimacy can't come out of religion 117 00:11:04,560 --> 00:11:08,800 and it can't come out of a system of do's and don'ts, a list of things that you have 118 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:14,280 to avoid or you have to run to. It's a relationship where we know that we are actually loved by 119 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:20,280 God and we are friends of God. Now that title, friends of God, is a tough one for some of 120 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:26,360 us to handle. I remember a few years ago, the song came out called, I am a friend of 121 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:30,280 God. And man, I love that song, but there are a lot of people that said, man, I do not 122 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:36,560 like to sing that song because somehow that song makes God seem smaller in some way. But 123 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:43,560 I say the other aspect of that is, it's not that the song makes God look small. It's that 124 00:11:43,560 --> 00:11:49,000 the song makes God's love look big for us. It's really big. I have loved you and I've 125 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:54,680 called you friends. Think about what that means to be called by Jesus a friend of God. 126 00:11:54,680 --> 00:11:59,720 I didn't say this. I didn't come up with this on my own. Jesus said this to his disciples, 127 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:05,600 no longer do I call you slave, you are in a relationship with me and I have called you 128 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:11,360 friends. If you jump down to verse 16, he says something else. He said, you didn't choose 129 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:17,760 me, I chose you. Now some people really take off on the predestination idea of this. You 130 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:24,320 didn't choose me, but I chose you. But Jesus is not in this context talking about predestination. 131 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:29,840 He's not talking about that kind of choosing. He's basically saying, it wasn't you that 132 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:38,280 woke up to who needed who. I knew you needed me and I chose you to be a part of my life. 133 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:44,960 Of all that he could have chosen, he chose us. Now that's an amazing thing to me. Have 134 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:50,600 you ever watched someone get chosen for something that they really wanted badly? Have you ever 135 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:54,480 seen the emotion that comes out of their lives when they realize they've just been chosen? 136 00:12:54,480 --> 00:13:01,040 Have you ever watched the NFL draft? I mean these guys play football for four years, wanting 137 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:05,400 to be on a certain team. And of course the draft is this big thing. Everybody wears the 138 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:10,600 bling and the expensive suits and family members are around and phone calls are waiting and 139 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:15,440 phones are in their hand waiting for some professional team to call a football player. 140 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:19,560 And as soon as their name is called by the NFL commissioner, they leap up and they go 141 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:23,280 and they hug the commissioner who they've never met before in their life out of sheer 142 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:26,880 joy because they're going to be millionaires and because they're going to play for this 143 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:32,800 football team and they feel pretty good at not being left out. They've been chosen. And 144 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:38,120 then have you ever been in a little league baseball? Diamond where there are 10 or 20 145 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:43,120 guys out there and they pick the captains and you're terrible at baseball so you just hope 146 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:48,360 they choose you to be on their team. And when they finally choose you then you're really 147 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:53,400 grateful that somebody cared enough or wanted you on their team. Or have you ever watched 148 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:59,760 a bride walk down an aisle and a groom at the front? And the bride is beautiful of course 149 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:04,520 in her wedding gown and the groom is trying to hold the tears back in some way. His eyeballs 150 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:08,200 are sweating. He's not really admitting to crying but his eyeballs are sweating. And 151 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:13,400 it's all about he chose her and she chose him and the emotion of those moments is really, 152 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:20,400 really big. I wonder what the disciples felt when God the Son looked at them and said, 153 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:28,600 I chose you. You're here because I chose you. And I don't have any problem applying this 154 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:35,960 passage to every believer because we know that God did choose us to be a disciple of 155 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:41,600 his to be a father of his. You are chosen. And those that were about to go out and live 156 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:45,680 in that hostile world needed to know we're loved, we're friends, we're chosen for this. 157 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:50,200 This is the life that God has called us to. And finally there's another line there and 158 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:57,200 that's in verse 19. You are not of this world. You're not of this world. You're going to 159 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:04,360 be going places, doing things where you're not going to feel at home. Where you're not 160 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:08,480 going to be welcomed as being home. You're not of this world. There's a greater world 161 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:14,160 to come. You're just here on this earth right now, this short period of time, serving me 162 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:19,720 whom I love, whom I've chosen, whom I've called friends. You're just serving me right now 163 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:26,240 at this time in your life. You're not of this world. These disciples didn't need to go to 164 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:32,680 war wondering who they were, where they were headed, if they died. They needed to know 165 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:37,360 the answers to those questions so that they could step out into battle after Jesus left 166 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:43,000 them and left them the Holy Spirit and they could go serve the King. You know I find that 167 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:46,960 I need those kinds of things too. I don't know if you've ever been in a place in your 168 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:51,880 life where people are just rejecting you and they're not loving you much and you need to 169 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:57,080 hear from the Lord, you're loved by me. And it really doesn't matter what anybody else 170 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:01,240 says, you're loved by me. And there are times when you don't know if you really have any 171 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:06,520 real friends or not. We have this phrase, you know who your real friends are when you're 172 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:10,520 going through hardship and difficult times. I tell you the only real friend you'll have 173 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:15,640 is Jesus crying. There'll be some that get close but nobody that gets that level of loving 174 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:20,720 you like He will love you. You're friends of God. Sometimes you need to know when no 175 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:24,960 one else is choosing you and no one else is selecting you for anything and no one else 176 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:29,280 seems to want you for any purpose in life, you need to remember you've been chosen by 177 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:35,800 God. Chosen by God. Sometimes you just need to remember you're not of this world. This 178 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:39,120 world is not where you're going to feel comfortable. It's not where you're going to live your best 179 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:43,240 life. It's not where you're going to have everything go your way. You are not of this 180 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:47,660 world. God's called you out of this world for a greater world. Aren't you glad there 181 00:16:47,660 --> 00:16:55,600 is a greater world than this one? I am. Remember who you are. Remember who you are. Secondly, 182 00:16:55,600 --> 00:17:03,640 Jesus says basically when the helper comes in verse 26, whom I will send to you from 183 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:09,120 the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will testify 184 00:17:09,120 --> 00:17:18,440 about me. In other words, He reminds us of who we know. He reminds us of who we know. 185 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:23,400 The Holy Spirit is going to consistently testify about the Lord Jesus. You're saying, well 186 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:28,220 wait a minute, now I've already read the scriptures that tell me about Jesus, so how is the Holy 187 00:17:28,220 --> 00:17:34,280 Spirit going to tell me about Jesus? And the answer is He's going to tell you more about 188 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:40,000 Jesus than you can possibly imagine. He's going to tell you more about Jesus than you 189 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:46,480 could learn from reading a book or hearing the word of someone else. The word testifies 190 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:52,000 an important word. It means to witness, to tell the truth of what one has seen or heard. 191 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:59,480 Have you ever had a friend that knew someone famous and you wanted to know what's that 192 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,640 person like, that famous person? What's that celebrity like? What's that pro football player 193 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:08,600 like? That professional musician like? What are they like? I want to know what they're 194 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:13,040 like. And since you know them, you tell me what they're like. And we're curious about 195 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,880 it. We want to know what are they really like? Because you know you can ask the Holy Spirit 196 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:25,280 the same question about Jesus. He will testify to us about Jesus. When you want to know more 197 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:31,160 about Jesus, who do you ask? The Holy Spirit. And the mission of the Holy Spirit is to tell 198 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:36,320 us more and more about Jesus Christ. He'll remind you of all that I said. He'll teach 199 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:41,640 you all things that I said. That's what Jesus said in John 14 about the Holy Spirit. And 200 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:48,880 here he uses the word testify to tell the truth about what one has seen or heard. Now 201 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:53,960 because of the Holy Spirit in my life, and because of the Holy Spirit in your life, you 202 00:18:53,960 --> 00:19:00,760 can know Jesus personally more than any other historical person on the planet. I mean I 203 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:05,680 know about George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, but I don't know them. I know about them because 204 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:14,320 I've read about them. I know about Michael Jordan. Not because I have walked with him 205 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:20,680 or because I have interacted or conversed with him. I just know about him. I might know about 206 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:26,960 Nelson Mandela, but I don't know him. I just know about him. I don't know Elon Musk. I 207 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:32,560 just know about them. But I know Jesus not just because I've read a book called the Bible. 208 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:37,560 I know Jesus not just because I am aware of what others have said about him. I know Jesus 209 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:42,360 personally because Jesus lives inside of my life in the power of the Holy Spirit. I know 210 00:19:42,360 --> 00:19:49,760 him personally. I know Jesus. That's something to get excited about. It's something to get 211 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:55,080 excited about that the Holy Spirit is always testifying about Jesus Christ and is part of 212 00:19:55,080 --> 00:20:02,320 the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit in your life. What do you think the Holy Spirit 213 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:08,760 has seen and heard and knows about Jesus over all time and all eternity? And the answer 214 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:16,280 to that is everything. Remember God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. One God, 215 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:23,160 three persons. They're co-eternal. They're co-equal. They're coexistent. That means the 216 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:28,840 Holy Spirit knows everything about God the Father and God the Son. And the Bible says 217 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:34,840 that the ministry of the Holy Spirit here, Jesus said, he will testify to you about me. 218 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:43,840 He'll tell you the truth about Jesus Christ. Now how does he do that? Well in one sense 219 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:49,480 he does a great deal of that through scripture. Remember scripture is inspired by God. It 220 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:54,680 is Holy Spirit given. We looked at that a few weeks ago. I want you to go to 1 John 221 00:20:54,680 --> 00:21:00,400 for just a moment. 1 John chapter 1 verses 1 through 4. That's on page 1218 by the way. 222 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:05,440 It's always helpful when you read the Gospel of John to also have the first epistle of 223 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:10,160 John open because John comments so much on what he says in the Gospel of John and the 224 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:16,240 epistle of John. And here he says something about how we know Jesus in great detail. Verses 225 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:22,720 1 through 4 of chapter 1. He says what was from the beginning and what we have heard 226 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:27,240 and what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked at and touched with our hands concerning 227 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:33,280 the word of life. And the life was manifested and we have seen and testified and proclaimed 228 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:38,880 to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us. What we have 229 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:45,320 seen and hear we proclaim to you also so that you too may have fellowship with us and indeed 230 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:52,200 our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ. John is saying you have 231 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:59,280 the clearest, most intimate, most documented history of a person in the whole planet and 232 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:05,080 it's Jesus Christ. No other person in history has had more words written about him such 233 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:11,000 detail as we have about this person Jesus Christ. And it's all designed for us to have 234 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:15,960 a personal knowledge of Jesus and the Holy Spirit wants us to read the Scriptures and 235 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:20,680 to know him personally and it's part of his mission. Now who gave us this book that we 236 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:26,240 hold in our hands? It's Holy Spirit inspired. For you to close the Bible and just wander 237 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:30,920 around wondering about Jesus is to ignore what the Holy Spirit is saying to you every 238 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:36,060 day about the person of Jesus Christ. Why would I look somewhere else when the Bible 239 00:22:36,060 --> 00:22:42,160 says I'm going to tell you what you need to know about the Lord Jesus Christ? Now Jesus 240 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:47,960 says about the ministry of the Holy Spirit something else. The Holy Spirit, the helper 241 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:54,960 will carry on the role of helping you know Jesus in a greater and more full way. A greater 242 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:03,880 and a more full way. He won't tell you about a different Jesus. He'll tell you about Jesus 243 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:10,040 in a deeper way. And I do this through all the ways we've already talked about. He prompts 244 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:15,840 us, he leads us, he convicts us, he inspires us, he encourages us. The Holy Spirit inside 245 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:20,880 of us will continue to help us know more and more about Jesus. It'll always be deeper, 246 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:27,880 it'll always be more personal, always be more intimate. There's an old song that many of 247 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:35,040 us have heard before and it's about Jesus and me in a garden. And he walks with me and 248 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:43,040 he talks with me and he tells me I am his own. Those are just three phrases to that 249 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:49,560 of Jesus. Those three phrases represent what the Holy Spirit does inside of our lives. 250 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:54,360 Because every single day that we walk in a relationship with Jesus Christ, it's the Holy 251 00:23:54,360 --> 00:23:58,960 Spirit that helps us know here's what Jesus wants you to do. Here's what Jesus wants you 252 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:05,640 to say. Here's how he wants you to live. It's really not about knowing something factually, 253 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:11,480 it's about knowing someone intimately and personally. The greatest thing that you can 254 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:16,200 realize from the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit is that you can walk with Jesus and 255 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:21,200 you can talk with Jesus and you can hear him say what you need to hear him say about your 256 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:26,560 life. Can we just take a moment and just be grateful for the indwelling work of the Holy 257 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:33,560 Spirit in our lives. Can you just take a moment and say thank you for living inside of me. 258 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:40,560 Because we can in our own minds get really far away from that intimate walk. We can become 259 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:48,440 kind of desensitized to it. We can become kind of dead in our spirit without the indwelling 260 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:52,800 power of the Holy Spirit reminding us you're walking with him, you're talking with him, 261 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:58,840 listen to him. Jesus also says in the very last line of this text that the Holy Spirit 262 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:05,840 will remind us of who we talk about. He'll remind us of who our conversation needs to 263 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:13,600 be about. More specifically he'll remind us that we are to testify ourselves about Jesus. 264 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:19,680 Notice what it says in the very last line of that text. And you will testify also. Remember 265 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:26,680 the previous verse says the Holy Spirit will testify to you about me. And now he says that 266 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:33,680 you will testify also about Jesus because you have been with me from the beginning. 267 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:38,520 Now Jesus is not talking about the beginning of beginnings. He's not talking about Genesis 268 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:43,800 1. The Holy Spirit has been there in the beginning of all beginnings. But you have been, Jesus 269 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:47,640 says, you have been in the beginning of my ministry. You have seen me from the day I 270 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:52,400 called you. You've seen everything I said and did in that three year ministry. Now you 271 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:59,400 will talk about me to others. Now I want to make sure that you understand today that our 272 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:08,680 mission in life, in following Jesus, is also to help other people follow Jesus. And the 273 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:15,240 ministry of the Holy Spirit is also to help people come to know about Jesus. When I say 274 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,320 that the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the ministry that we're called to are one and 275 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:25,320 the same, I mean they're one and the same. We are to testify about Jesus Christ. Testify 276 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:30,480 about him. Tell other people about what you know about him and tell other people of how 277 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:36,520 you know him. And often the best way to do that is not from a preacher preaching as much 278 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:41,400 as I love to preach, as much as other preachers love to preach, as easier as it would seem 279 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:46,440 for hundreds or thousands to hear someone preach about Jesus, the best way to communicate 280 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:53,040 Jesus is not just through preaching but through conversation. When you have a conversation 281 00:26:53,040 --> 00:27:00,040 with someone else about Jesus Christ. Keep in mind, it's not just preachers who are indwelt 282 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:08,320 by the Holy Spirit. Right? It's everybody who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Every single 283 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:12,880 believer is given the Spirit of God and that's where we understand the mission of the Holy 284 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:17,160 Spirit and the mission we have been given are one and the same and he compels us to 285 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:24,160 talk to people about Jesus. But more than that, he goes before us and works in their 286 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:30,320 hearts before we have a chance to talk to people about Jesus and amazing things begin 287 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:35,720 to happen. Let me just give you some thoughts to think about in this thing that we're to 288 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:42,600 do and to talk about Jesus. First of all, we talk about Jesus because it's our mission. 289 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:49,200 Basically John the Baptist preceded Jesus' ministry and if you read John chapter 1, Jesus 290 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:54,040 is being highlighted by John the Baptist. John the Baptist is pointing people to Jesus. 291 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:59,400 And in John chapter 1 verse 6 and 7 it says, there was a man sent from God whose name was 292 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:06,400 John. He came as a witness, that is someone who testified, to testify about the light 293 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:12,360 so that all might believe through him. Now John didn't just have a textbook, knowledge 294 00:28:12,360 --> 00:28:17,960 of Jesus, he was Jesus' cousin and incredible things happened between the two of them, many 295 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:22,920 conversations. He knew Jesus personally and John the Baptist's testimony was to shine 296 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:28,320 a spotlight on Jesus and the first disciples of Jesus came to him because John the Baptist 297 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:33,280 said, look that's the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Look, I'm not even 298 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:39,680 fit to untie his sandal. He who comes after me is greater than I am. And as John the Baptist 299 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:45,800 pointed to Jesus, testified about Jesus, those first disciples came to follow, put their 300 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:50,760 faith in, put their trust in Jesus Christ. Now they didn't do it just because of John 301 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:55,280 the Baptist, they did it because of who Jesus was and the power of the Holy Spirit was at 302 00:28:55,280 --> 00:29:01,160 work drawing them to Christ. Can you imagine Christianity without that testimony and without 303 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:06,520 those disciples coming to faith in Jesus? All kinds of powerful things were happening 304 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:12,520 in the power of the Holy Spirit when John testified about Jesus. Do you know that when 305 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:17,600 you testify about Jesus, the Holy Spirit is already at work in their life in some way 306 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:23,200 and someone else has probably already deposited some truth in their life and they probably 307 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:28,120 have wondered in other ways about who is this Jesus and why do I need to know about him? 308 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:33,280 And when you step up and tell them about Jesus, usually that work has already been ongoing, 309 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:38,400 you're not the only one responsible for that. He will use you no matter how gifted or un-gifted 310 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:46,440 you are and you can count on that. When I was in college during my sophomore year after 311 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:50,960 the school was out, I stayed in that city where I lived, the college tent I was going 312 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:56,640 to school in and I got a job with a house builder. And so they put me on the roof and 313 00:29:56,640 --> 00:30:01,000 I put roof decking up and then I put roofing up and they put me up on this house with a 314 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:04,760 guy named Willie. I've told you about Willie before, still one of the most unforgettable 315 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:12,440 characters in my life. Willie was, as I said, a roofer and he had long hair and a beard. 316 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:16,640 He was kind of a hippie kind of guy and I'm pretty sure he never ever bathed because I 317 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:20,720 could smell him on the other side of the roof. And I was really glad that the wind blows 318 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:24,720 pretty hard in Oklahoma because that was the only thing that made it bearable. And for 319 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:29,560 three days, one, during one housing project, for three days we were on that roof together 320 00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:36,720 and the Lord began to convict me to witness, to tell Willie about Jesus. And I didn't know 321 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:41,360 how to witness, I didn't know how to tell people about Jesus. I knew Jesus but I didn't 322 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:46,160 really know how to share the gospel of Jesus very well. I didn't have any organized fashion 323 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:50,600 in which I could do that. But I knew that I was compelled to do that. I knew it was the 324 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:54,560 Holy Spirit compelling me to do that because I would never want to have a conversation 325 00:30:54,560 --> 00:31:00,160 with Willie. So for those three days on the roof I began to talk to him just a little 326 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,800 bit about Jesus. And I remember when I got to what I thought was just about everything 327 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:10,900 I knew to share with him, I asked him a question. I said, Willie, you wouldn't want to ask Jesus 328 00:31:10,900 --> 00:31:16,280 to be in your heart, would you? And my head was going like that when I asked the question. 329 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:21,120 It wasn't exactly the most compelling witness. You wouldn't want to have Jesus in your life, 330 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:25,600 would you? To my surprise, Willie looked at me and said, yes, I do want to invite Jesus 331 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:31,880 into my life. I said, really? You really do. And he said, I really do. That was the way 332 00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:36,960 the conversation went. And I had to kind of think through that. I thought, okay, then 333 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:41,040 he's been talking to somebody else because I sure didn't help him that. And I actually 334 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:44,800 led him in a prayer and he invited Christ into his life. And the next day on the roof 335 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:49,440 he was singing a song. Willie was singing a song. He hadn't had a bath yet but he was 336 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:55,760 singing a song. And it was something like I've got a joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. 337 00:31:55,760 --> 00:32:01,560 I thought, where did he learn that song? And I didn't know Willie for long during that 338 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:08,280 season. We went on to other roofing places and he went somewhere else other than where 339 00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:11,880 I went. And I didn't have any conversations with him but I knew something happened on 340 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:18,680 that roof and I knew I was responsible for it in the sense of the results. About 35 years 341 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:23,920 later I'm preaching at that college, Oklahoma Baptist University. I've been invited to preach. 342 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:28,240 I told the story about Willie and a lady came up to me and she said, well is it this housing 343 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:31,400 development in this particular area? And I said, that's exactly where it was. She goes, 344 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:36,120 I know Willie. I said, how do you know Willie? She said, my father hired him. He was the 345 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:40,880 one that owned the housing development that you worked for. And I said, how is he? She 346 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:46,400 said, he's led a completely different life. He is completely a believer and he is an onfire 347 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:53,000 believer. I said, really, really he is. All these years later. Now who's responsible for 348 00:32:53,000 --> 00:33:00,960 that kind of thing? The Holy Spirit of God. You testify because it's your mission. But 349 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:06,040 the Holy Spirit's mission is the same, to energize people and prepare them for the gospel 350 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:11,800 that you share with them so that after you share with them, God will use that in a powerful 351 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:17,200 way. We talk about Jesus because it's our mission. We talk about Jesus also because 352 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:23,680 of our love for others. If you keep reading in John chapter one, it's very evident that 353 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:29,200 those who first saw Jesus introduced their loved ones to Jesus, their brothers and sisters. 354 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:33,560 The Bible says in John one verse 40, one of the two who heard John speak and followed 355 00:33:33,560 --> 00:33:38,560 him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said 356 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:44,560 to him, we found the Messiah. And you know the rest of that story. Peter's life was dramatically 357 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:49,400 transformed. Have you ever wondered where the New Testament church would be today if 358 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:53,620 the apostle Peter had never come to Christ in the first place? It was his brother that 359 00:33:53,620 --> 00:34:01,520 pointed out the Messiah is here. The Messiah is here. Now I have to tell you, sometimes 360 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:05,760 we have family members that are far from Christ and maybe a little reluctant to hear you talk 361 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:10,120 about Jesus anymore, but I want to ask you to be patient. At some point, you're going 362 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:16,040 to have the opportunity to testify about Jesus. And who knows all the work of the Holy Spirit 363 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:21,480 in their life prior to that. Just be faithful to do that. One of our great stories here 364 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:28,160 in Ulysses is a choir member whose husband was without Christ for 38 years. The first 365 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:32,580 38 years of their marriage, she did not know Jesus and she faithfully prayed for him and 366 00:34:32,580 --> 00:34:37,100 everybody else prayed for him. One day her husband came to faith in Jesus and as a believer 367 00:34:37,100 --> 00:34:41,800 in Jesus, I see them almost every Sunday. It's really an amazing story. Yeah, give it 368 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:49,380 up for the Lord. It's never too late to talk to people about Jesus. Sometimes we talk to 369 00:34:49,380 --> 00:34:56,480 people about Jesus when we're asked to talk to them about Jesus. In John chapter 12 verse 370 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:00,880 20, there were some Greeks in the region where the disciples were working and one of them 371 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:05,600 came up to Philip and began to ask him saying, and here's a great line, a famous line in 372 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:12,560 the scriptures. It says, sir, we wish to see Jesus. In other words, we heard that you know 373 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:20,000 Jesus. Can you help us find Jesus? Sometimes people actually ask you that question. And 374 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:25,280 you need to be prepared to say, I would love to introduce you to Jesus Christ. I was at 375 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:31,520 a funeral about six weeks ago and there's a guy that he and his wife came to Christ 376 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:36,960 back when I was pastoring in Irving, Texas. And I was overjoyed to see them and give them 377 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:41,300 a hug and realize they're still walking with Christ, still faithful to him. But their stories 378 00:35:41,300 --> 00:35:45,360 are great. When we were having home groups and I was actually leading a home group and 379 00:35:45,360 --> 00:35:49,760 one night this group said, we want to meet in another person's home next week. And I 380 00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:55,560 said, sure. Why do we want to do that? But that's okay. We'll do that. And they said, 381 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:58,920 well, it's a guy that's never been to our church before. He's a detective in the police 382 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:03,000 department. He's kind of big. He's kind of gruff, but he insists that they host it next 383 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:06,960 week. And so I said, okay, we'll host the Bible study there. And I showed up and this 384 00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:12,280 guy was at least as tall as I am. He weighed about 300 pounds and he was one of those police 385 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:17,560 guys that was real hard line, real straight shooter. I mean that in a number of ways. 386 00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:23,360 And he just really said what he thought. And his name was Mike. And I said, Mike, it's 387 00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:26,520 nice to meet you. And he said, great, you can sit right over there. And he kind of took 388 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:31,320 over, you know? And so we had the Bible study. And after the Bible study, Mike, who didn't 389 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:35,600 say much during the Bible study, said this to the people. He said, thank you all for 390 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:40,240 coming. You're all dismissed. We want the pastor to stay behind. And I thought, am I 391 00:36:40,240 --> 00:36:45,640 being detained? I don't know what's happening here. And he said, no, no. Said, we have a 392 00:36:45,640 --> 00:36:49,360 question for you. And I said, okay. And we sat down together at the couch. He and his 393 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:55,720 wife and myself. And he said, all these other people know Jesus in a way that I don't know 394 00:36:55,720 --> 00:37:01,040 Jesus. He said, you're going to tell me how to know Jesus that way. I said, yes sir, I 395 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:05,920 will do that for you right now. And I shared the gospel with Mike and his wife. Her name 396 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:10,400 was Leslie. And we got down on our knees. That big dude got down on his knees next to 397 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:14,640 that coffee table and we prayed to receive Christ. It was one of those great moments 398 00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:19,720 where you know God has been at work in somebody's life and they have asked you to tell them 399 00:37:19,720 --> 00:37:24,760 about Jesus and what are you going to do? But say, yes, I'll tell you about Jesus. And 400 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:28,120 they're still serving Christ to this day. Isn't that great? Isn't that amazing what 401 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:35,480 God does in a person's life? We talk about Jesus when we're asking. We talk about Jesus 402 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:42,480 because He told us to. Acts 1-8, do you remember that passage? Acts 1-8, but you will receive 403 00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:47,960 power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem 404 00:37:47,960 --> 00:37:55,480 and in all Judea and Samaria, even to the remotest part of the earth. Jesus said, I'm 405 00:37:55,480 --> 00:38:00,080 going to give you the Holy Spirit and you're going to go everywhere you can to tell people 406 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:04,920 about Jesus. And Pentecost happened in Acts chapter 2. The Holy Spirit came, Peter stood 407 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:09,240 up and preached. Peter, who hadn't been to theological school, he'd been to fishing school 408 00:38:09,240 --> 00:38:13,400 but not theological school. He'd walked with Jesus for three years, but he stood up and 409 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:18,480 preached a powerful message under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And they said, what must 410 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:24,200 we do? What do we need to do? And he said, repent. Come to faith in Christ. He said, 411 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:28,720 be baptized. He said, all these things are so important for you and you too will receive 412 00:38:28,720 --> 00:38:35,080 the gift of the Holy Spirit. And 3,000 people were saved that day. And it began the modern 413 00:38:35,080 --> 00:38:40,520 day Christian movement that we had. Why? Because Peter was obedient to the mission he was called 414 00:38:40,520 --> 00:38:46,440 to and the Holy Spirit was faithful to open the doors in that way. You see what Jesus 415 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:53,600 is saying in these words that we find in John 15? As beloved friends, you're chosen out 416 00:38:53,600 --> 00:38:59,080 of this world to serve him and you're on a mission with the power of the Holy Spirit 417 00:38:59,080 --> 00:39:04,280 to tell other people about Jesus. And he leads you and he motivates you and he inspires you 418 00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:09,040 and he helps you step up when those open doors happen. But you need to remember you're in 419 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:16,720 a hostile world. Remember who you are. Remember who you know. And remember who you talk about, 420 00:39:16,720 --> 00:39:23,800 Jesus Christ. Be prepared today for the opportunity that He may give you today or tomorrow or 421 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:29,280 the next day. And you don't do it alone. The Holy Spirit inside of you will help you in 422 00:39:29,280 --> 00:39:34,760 every way and He'll be at work in their life as well. Let me give you a few invitations 423 00:39:34,760 --> 00:39:38,800 today. The same I always give you, number one. If you've never placed your faith and 424 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:44,200 trust in Jesus, you know about Jesus but you don't know Him. Not personally. And I would 425 00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:49,400 encourage you to stop by our decision stations and just ask the question, how do I know Jesus 426 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:55,200 personally? How do I put my faith and trust in Him for the forgiveness of sins and to 427 00:39:55,200 --> 00:39:59,360 have a relationship with Him? Help me answer those questions and that's what we love to 428 00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:03,960 do. So stop by the decision station on your way out. Second invitation is if you're a 429 00:40:03,960 --> 00:40:07,600 guest, I would love to have you visit our guest reception room. We're outside the center 430 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:12,040 exit doors across the hallway. I'll tell you a little bit about our church. I'll share 431 00:40:12,040 --> 00:40:17,040 a little bit of good news with you about what Jesus Christ does in our lives. And I'll 432 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:20,920 invite you to take next steps with us if that's what you want to do. Thirdly, I want you to 433 00:40:20,920 --> 00:40:27,280 invite someone to come with you. It's amazing how asking people to come with us when we 434 00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:32,040 worship the Lord sometimes turns into great opportunities for them to hear the gospel 435 00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:36,200 and for them to have a chance to make a decision for Christ. Some of you are really, really 436 00:40:36,200 --> 00:40:41,600 steady, strong invitors. I want to invite you to invite others and there are cards as 437 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:46,320 you leave today that you can use to invite other people. So glad that you joined us today. 438 00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:52,440 I want you to stand with me as we pray and as we close our service out. Father, thank 439 00:40:52,440 --> 00:40:56,680 you so much for the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Thank you so much that we know more about 440 00:40:56,680 --> 00:41:02,360 Jesus, the cause of your indwelling spirit. Lord, today help us to have the boldness and 441 00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:08,320 confidence to talk about Jesus where we go, wherever we go, with whomever we are with. 442 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:14,280 Lord, today I pray for those that are wondering if they've ever come to the place of knowing 443 00:41:14,280 --> 00:41:19,920 Jesus personally. Give them boldness and give them the confidence to talk to us today, to 444 00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:27,480 talk to someone at this decision station and to get that answer of knowing Jesus personally. 445 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:32,480 Bless us today as we go to serve you. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you. Have 446 00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:47,480 a great Lord's Day.