1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,880 So imagine for a moment it's morning, it's morning time, 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:06,720 and if you're like me, you have your phone 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:08,760 charging by your bedside. 4 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,040 You wake up and you grab your phone only to realize 5 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:16,000 that your phone only has 1% battery. 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:17,880 Like what happened, 1% battery? 7 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:19,260 You panic sets in, right? 8 00:00:19,260 --> 00:00:21,920 Because our life is on our phone. 9 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,160 I thought I plugged it in last night. 10 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:27,560 I'm almost certain, it's right there. 11 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:29,160 It's the charger's plugged into the back. 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,320 What happens if you grab that charging cable 13 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,200 and you begin to follow it back, right? 14 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,520 Well, my wife has like a 15 foot long charging cable, 15 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,960 so that's what I'm doing here, right? 16 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,120 You follow it back and you get all the way to the plug 17 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:44,800 and what do you find? 18 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,600 Well, for me, the plug is behind the bed. 19 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:49,140 So there's a little journey that you have to go on 20 00:00:49,140 --> 00:00:50,400 to get there and when you get there, 21 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:52,160 you find that that plug got knocked out 22 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:56,040 probably because one of my very large sons jumped on the bed 23 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,340 or something like that and knocked it out. 24 00:00:59,340 --> 00:01:03,240 So then you're like, okay, I gotta plug this thing back in. 25 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:04,480 I gotta get this phone charged 26 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,320 because I got a big day today 27 00:01:06,320 --> 00:01:08,800 and I need to get some percentage on this thing. 28 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:12,440 So you begin to fiddle around and try to find, whoa, 29 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:17,120 try to find that widget into the plug, right? 30 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:18,400 Well, there's this meme that goes, 31 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:19,800 it's going around on the internet 32 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,600 that every time I come across it, I just laugh 33 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,080 because it is the experience that I've had. 34 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:26,880 Anytime you're trying to plug something in 35 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:28,320 that you can't see. 36 00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:29,720 So look at the screen here. 37 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:53,360 Isn't it like there's an invisible, 38 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:54,860 there's a hand back there knocking it out. 39 00:01:54,860 --> 00:01:59,220 You line it up, you aim, you go, reach and it's gone, right? 40 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:01,960 So eventually you get it plugged in, 41 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:03,400 you get that charger plugged in 42 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,840 for a quick power nap for your phone, right? 43 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:07,920 Ha ha, sorry. 44 00:02:08,920 --> 00:02:09,960 But you're in such a rush, 45 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,240 you gotta grab that phone off only a few seconds later 46 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,520 and you leave and what's gonna happen that day? 47 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:17,280 You're going to be anxious, you're gonna be worried, 48 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:18,600 you're gonna be conserving power, 49 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:20,400 you're gonna be lowering the brightness 50 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,820 and turning your battery to saver mode, 51 00:02:22,820 --> 00:02:25,320 closing as many apps as you can 52 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,840 but eventually the worst is going to happen. 53 00:02:28,740 --> 00:02:32,080 Your battery's gonna die, your phone is going to die. 54 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,360 And maybe you're lost and you need directions 55 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,500 or maybe you needed to call someone important 56 00:02:36,500 --> 00:02:40,100 or order some food but you are out of luck, 57 00:02:40,100 --> 00:02:42,360 your phone is dead. 58 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,620 All that technology and all that potential is lost. 59 00:02:47,620 --> 00:02:51,460 It's gone, it's useless. 60 00:02:51,460 --> 00:02:53,840 The great preacher D.L. Moody once said, 61 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:57,120 you might as well try to see without eyes, 62 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:02,280 hear without ears and breathe without lungs 63 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,360 for that is what it is like to live the Christian life 64 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:08,000 without the Holy Spirit. 65 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,460 In Ephesians chapter five, if you have your Bibles, 66 00:03:12,460 --> 00:03:14,340 you're welcome to turn there. 67 00:03:14,340 --> 00:03:18,800 Paul tells us to be filled up by the Spirit, 68 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:20,960 to be filled up by the Spirit 69 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,680 and so if there's one big idea today for us, 70 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:28,240 it's filled up, powered up and living fully for Christ. 71 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,080 We need to be filled up, powered up 72 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,320 and living fully for Christ. 73 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:38,320 Ephesians chapter five says, beginning in verse 15, 74 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,680 pay careful attention then to how you walk. 75 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,160 Not as unwise people but as wise, 76 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:50,720 making the most of the time because the days are evil. 77 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:55,200 So don't be foolish but understand what the Lord's will is 78 00:03:55,200 --> 00:04:00,200 and don't get drunk with wine which leads to reckless living 79 00:04:00,220 --> 00:04:02,640 but be filled by the Spirit, 80 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:07,640 speaking to one another in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, 81 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:12,080 singing and making music with your heart to the Lord. 82 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,040 Give thanks always for everything to God the Father 83 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,600 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 84 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:22,320 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ. 85 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:25,600 This is God's word. 86 00:04:27,340 --> 00:04:28,960 So what do you have here in this scripture 87 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,320 and we're gonna really focus in on verse 18. 88 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,560 As you have a contrast that Paul lays out, 89 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,520 he says don't get drunk with wine 90 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,860 but instead be filled with the Holy Spirit. 91 00:04:40,860 --> 00:04:43,100 Don't get drunk with wine because it leads 92 00:04:43,100 --> 00:04:47,280 to reckless living but be filled with the Holy Spirit. 93 00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:49,280 Why does Paul draw this contrast 94 00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:51,400 between getting drunk with wine 95 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,400 and the filling of the Spirit? 96 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,520 Because both of them are doing something to you 97 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:59,320 and he wants you to see that 98 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,800 and it's not so much that his main emphasis 99 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,720 is about the getting drunk although the Bible does say 100 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:06,220 that drunkenness is one of the things 101 00:05:06,220 --> 00:05:08,400 that is prohibited for the believer, 102 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:09,920 that we are not to get drunk. 103 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,260 But it's not so much specifically about getting drunk 104 00:05:14,260 --> 00:05:17,220 as much as it is about the contrast between the two. 105 00:05:18,300 --> 00:05:20,200 Drunkenness leads to reckless living. 106 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,080 If you have an older translation or the NIV, 107 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,040 it might say something like debauchery. 108 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,720 It's not a word that we throw around a whole lot. 109 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:28,300 Debauchery. 110 00:05:28,300 --> 00:05:32,140 Debauchery means uncontrolled living. 111 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,840 Uncontrolled living, reckless living, debauchery. 112 00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:39,940 It also has a connotation within the word 113 00:05:39,940 --> 00:05:43,200 in the Greek of wastefulness. 114 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,560 So it's uncontrolled wasteful living. 115 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:48,000 Wasteful living. 116 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:54,040 And you can imagine a life spent intoxicated 117 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,860 is a life wasting away. 118 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,600 So what are some of the reasons 119 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,880 that folks might choose to get drunk? 120 00:06:04,980 --> 00:06:08,820 Well, our society calls it a social lubricant. 121 00:06:08,820 --> 00:06:10,740 You know what that means? 122 00:06:10,740 --> 00:06:13,760 It makes it easier for you to talk to people 123 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:15,540 or get along with people. 124 00:06:15,540 --> 00:06:17,760 Takes the edge off. 125 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:21,860 And folks will use it as a social lubricant 126 00:06:21,860 --> 00:06:25,560 to help them with their insecurities 127 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:30,340 and their shortcomings in their social abilities. 128 00:06:30,340 --> 00:06:33,260 Some folks might use it for stress relief. 129 00:06:33,260 --> 00:06:35,320 Things are really stressful where I'm at 130 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:38,400 or what I'm doing or I'm in relationships or at work. 131 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,900 And so I go to drink and I keep drinking 132 00:06:41,900 --> 00:06:44,000 and I become drunk. 133 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,080 In the end, escapism is probably 134 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,400 somewhere at the root though. 135 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,480 To leave what is reality. 136 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,960 To make reality become less real. 137 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,620 Getting drunk or alcohol is a depressant of sorts. 138 00:07:00,620 --> 00:07:05,620 It depresses reality and in its place sedates truth 139 00:07:05,620 --> 00:07:09,820 so that you can live a not truth or a less reality 140 00:07:09,820 --> 00:07:11,900 for a short time or a long time 141 00:07:11,900 --> 00:07:15,800 depending upon how often you get drunk. 142 00:07:17,300 --> 00:07:19,480 And so this is what it means to get drunk. 143 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,160 And he says don't get drunk on wine 144 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,020 but instead be filled with the Holy Spirit. 145 00:07:24,900 --> 00:07:28,060 To be filled by the Spirit is not about escaping reality 146 00:07:28,060 --> 00:07:30,260 but embracing truth. 147 00:07:30,260 --> 00:07:32,040 A greater truth, a bigger truth. 148 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,500 It's replacing our joys and our pleasures 149 00:07:35,500 --> 00:07:39,340 with higher joys and higher pleasures. 150 00:07:39,340 --> 00:07:41,140 This is something about our joys and pleasures 151 00:07:41,140 --> 00:07:43,260 that you guys have probably all experienced 152 00:07:43,260 --> 00:07:45,260 and if you're young you're going to experience. 153 00:07:45,260 --> 00:07:47,820 And that is our joys and our pleasures 154 00:07:47,820 --> 00:07:51,760 that we can create or find on our own are always temporary. 155 00:07:52,740 --> 00:07:54,740 They always run out. 156 00:07:54,740 --> 00:07:57,020 They always come up short. 157 00:07:57,020 --> 00:08:02,020 They always last for a time and then we need them again. 158 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,700 Some people even think of their wine 159 00:08:04,700 --> 00:08:09,700 or their alcohol as a joy in their life, a pleasure. 160 00:08:09,700 --> 00:08:13,000 And yet it requires to consistently be consumed 161 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,020 in order for it to have its effect. 162 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,420 Being filled by the Spirit is not about escaping reality 163 00:08:19,420 --> 00:08:21,080 but embracing the truth. 164 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,960 Tim Keller says that being filled by the Spirit 165 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,600 makes the truth of who you are in Christ shine. 166 00:08:29,100 --> 00:08:31,040 It takes the reality of who you are, 167 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,060 your position in Christ as a believer 168 00:08:33,060 --> 00:08:34,940 and it actually makes it more brilliant 169 00:08:34,940 --> 00:08:38,380 and shine even brighter so that you notice it 170 00:08:38,380 --> 00:08:41,620 and you are moved by it and you live according to it 171 00:08:41,620 --> 00:08:43,780 more vibrantly than not. 172 00:08:44,780 --> 00:08:48,260 Without the Spirit, the truth of who you are in Christ 173 00:08:48,260 --> 00:08:50,900 would just be information, would just be knowledge. 174 00:08:50,900 --> 00:08:54,780 But the Spirit can bring it to life and make it shine. 175 00:08:54,780 --> 00:08:59,780 John 16, 13 says that the Spirit leads us into all truth. 176 00:09:03,340 --> 00:09:06,340 That whereas drunkenness is a depressant, 177 00:09:06,340 --> 00:09:09,780 it sedates the truth, the Spirit is a stimulant. 178 00:09:09,780 --> 00:09:12,660 It enhances or makes the truth brighter 179 00:09:12,660 --> 00:09:15,280 and more glorious in our lives. 180 00:09:16,380 --> 00:09:20,400 There's a story out of 2 Kings, chapter six 181 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:21,660 of the prophet Elijah. 182 00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:23,580 He's the prophet to Israel 183 00:09:23,580 --> 00:09:25,420 and he's a pretty cool guy. 184 00:09:25,420 --> 00:09:28,900 He's got a servant and his servant 185 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:31,780 walks with him and goes everywhere with him, 186 00:09:31,780 --> 00:09:33,140 does everything that he does. 187 00:09:33,140 --> 00:09:36,060 And at this one part in time in 2 Kings, 188 00:09:36,060 --> 00:09:39,160 if you have your Bibles, turn to 2 Kings, chapter six. 189 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:42,260 2 Kings, chapter six, the people of Israel 190 00:09:42,260 --> 00:09:47,260 are being tormented and affected by the king of Aram. 191 00:09:48,780 --> 00:09:52,020 And the king of Aram wants to wage war against Israel 192 00:09:52,020 --> 00:09:54,660 and so he talks to his servants and tries to figure out 193 00:09:54,660 --> 00:09:56,140 how he can do that, right? 194 00:09:57,420 --> 00:09:59,780 But it seems that every time he makes a plan, 195 00:09:59,780 --> 00:10:03,620 Elijah knows the plan and informs the king of Israel 196 00:10:03,620 --> 00:10:05,220 of the plan beforehand. 197 00:10:06,220 --> 00:10:11,220 And his servants say, the king goes to his servants 198 00:10:11,460 --> 00:10:13,820 in verse 11 of chapter six and says basically, 199 00:10:13,820 --> 00:10:15,980 hey, who ratted on the plan? 200 00:10:15,980 --> 00:10:18,260 Who's the snitch here? 201 00:10:18,260 --> 00:10:21,100 Who told the Israelites what I'm doing? 202 00:10:21,100 --> 00:10:25,420 And his servants come back and say, hey, no one, my Lord. 203 00:10:25,420 --> 00:10:28,820 Elisha, the prophet in Israel, he tells the king of Israel, 204 00:10:28,820 --> 00:10:31,020 even the words you speak in your bedroom. 205 00:10:31,860 --> 00:10:33,940 He knows what you're saying in secret, 206 00:10:33,940 --> 00:10:35,340 all the way over there. 207 00:10:36,500 --> 00:10:40,340 And so the king wants to go and capture Elisha 208 00:10:42,060 --> 00:10:44,360 and he goes out and he sends his army. 209 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:48,020 It says he sent horses, chariots, and a massive army there 210 00:10:48,020 --> 00:10:50,460 and they went by night and surrounded the city 211 00:10:50,460 --> 00:10:52,900 where Elisha is, Elisha and his servant. 212 00:10:52,900 --> 00:10:54,860 When the servant of the man of God, 213 00:10:54,860 --> 00:10:58,020 so Elisha's servant, got word of this, 214 00:11:00,260 --> 00:11:03,640 he said, I'm sorry, I lost my place here. 215 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:05,540 When the servant got up early and went out, 216 00:11:05,540 --> 00:11:08,260 he discovered the army of horses and chariots 217 00:11:08,260 --> 00:11:11,220 surrounding the city and so he asked Elisha, 218 00:11:11,220 --> 00:11:14,460 oh, my master, what are we to do? 219 00:11:14,460 --> 00:11:17,660 And Elisha said to him, don't be afraid, 220 00:11:17,660 --> 00:11:20,160 for those who are with us, outnumber those 221 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:21,340 who are with them. 222 00:11:22,340 --> 00:11:24,260 Now his servant at this point in time is probably thinking, 223 00:11:24,260 --> 00:11:27,540 you're nuts though, you're crazy, it's just me and you. 224 00:11:27,540 --> 00:11:29,620 And we're in the city and there's a massive army 225 00:11:29,620 --> 00:11:32,340 with chariots and the army's coming down on us. 226 00:11:32,340 --> 00:11:34,060 And what does Elisha do next? 227 00:11:34,060 --> 00:11:36,580 He prays to God and he says, Lord, 228 00:11:36,580 --> 00:11:41,580 please open the eyes of my servant and let him see. 229 00:11:43,380 --> 00:11:45,980 He already saw the massive army and the chariots 230 00:11:45,980 --> 00:11:48,460 and the king of Aaron coming down to attack 231 00:11:48,460 --> 00:11:50,260 and surround and capture them. 232 00:11:50,260 --> 00:11:52,820 He already went to Elisha and said, what do we do? 233 00:11:52,820 --> 00:11:54,940 And Elisha says, those who are for us, 234 00:11:54,940 --> 00:11:59,340 far outnumber the king's army, the king of Aaron's army. 235 00:11:59,340 --> 00:12:00,660 And I think the servant's probably going, 236 00:12:00,660 --> 00:12:02,460 I don't see it, I don't understand. 237 00:12:02,460 --> 00:12:06,460 And Elisha says, Lord, help him to see something 238 00:12:06,460 --> 00:12:09,960 of a greater reality than it actually is. 239 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,700 Something that is more true than what his eyes 240 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:14,500 are telling him. 241 00:12:14,500 --> 00:12:17,820 And so he prays, Lord, open his eyes and let him see. 242 00:12:17,820 --> 00:12:20,780 And so the Lord opened the servant's eyes 243 00:12:20,780 --> 00:12:21,860 and what did he see? 244 00:12:21,860 --> 00:12:24,980 He saw that the mountain was covered with horses 245 00:12:24,980 --> 00:12:29,180 and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 246 00:12:31,380 --> 00:12:36,380 He prayed that the servant's eyes could see 247 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:41,140 what was true spiritually, even though it contradicted 248 00:12:41,140 --> 00:12:43,140 what his eyes were telling him physically. 249 00:12:43,140 --> 00:12:48,140 Elisha and his servant were filled with the spirit 250 00:12:49,140 --> 00:12:53,500 and could see what only the spirit could lead them into. 251 00:12:53,500 --> 00:12:55,380 When you are filled by the spirit, 252 00:12:55,380 --> 00:12:57,100 you get the things of the spirit 253 00:12:57,100 --> 00:12:59,260 and you get only the things of the spirit. 254 00:13:00,380 --> 00:13:04,020 Don't be drunk on wine, which leads to reckless living, 255 00:13:04,020 --> 00:13:07,340 but instead be filled by the spirit. 256 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:10,060 So let's look a little bit more at what it means 257 00:13:10,060 --> 00:13:12,660 to command to be filled by the spirit. 258 00:13:12,660 --> 00:13:15,340 And that's what's interesting about that word. 259 00:13:15,340 --> 00:13:18,700 The word be filled by the spirit in the Greek 260 00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:21,700 is a present passive imperative. 261 00:13:21,700 --> 00:13:23,300 A present passive imperative. 262 00:13:23,300 --> 00:13:27,220 And what that means is it's present now. 263 00:13:27,220 --> 00:13:30,180 So whatever you're being told to do, it's an imperative, 264 00:13:30,180 --> 00:13:31,580 so that's a command. 265 00:13:31,580 --> 00:13:34,000 You're commanded to do this now. 266 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,340 But it's interesting because it's in the passive. 267 00:13:37,620 --> 00:13:39,860 Passive, not active. 268 00:13:39,860 --> 00:13:43,060 In the passive, what that means is you're commanded 269 00:13:43,060 --> 00:13:44,540 to do this now. 270 00:13:44,540 --> 00:13:45,620 And what's the command? 271 00:13:45,620 --> 00:13:48,860 The command is to allow an outside source, 272 00:13:48,860 --> 00:13:51,340 something outside of you, that's the passive voice, 273 00:13:51,340 --> 00:13:53,820 something to act upon you. 274 00:13:53,820 --> 00:13:58,820 Allow the Holy Spirit to act upon you, to fill you. 275 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:02,020 So it's both a command for you to do something, 276 00:14:02,020 --> 00:14:05,480 but at the same time, you're not the one doing the thing. 277 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:07,540 The thing is being done to you. 278 00:14:07,540 --> 00:14:10,260 But you're commanded to allow it to happen to you now. 279 00:14:11,140 --> 00:14:14,620 And now, and now, so present ongoing. 280 00:14:14,620 --> 00:14:17,960 Be filled with the Spirit. 281 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:22,960 Allow the Spirit to continually fill you, act upon you. 282 00:14:23,980 --> 00:14:27,540 It's a continuous ongoing command for all believers. 283 00:14:27,540 --> 00:14:30,640 This is not something that we can force. 284 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:32,800 It's not something that you can buy. 285 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:36,800 But it is a divine person that you can invite 286 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:38,680 into your life. 287 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,040 The Holy Spirit, as we talked about in the first week, 288 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:45,680 is not just a force, some ambiguous, invisible force, 289 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:47,520 like from Star Wars. 290 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:51,800 The Holy Spirit is a person, a divine person, 291 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:53,880 a part of the triune God. 292 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,400 And so you invite the person into your life. 293 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,440 There's a story in Acts 8. 294 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,280 For those of you who have studied Acts, 295 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:07,280 Acts chapter 8, Philip goes down to Samaria. 296 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,280 And in Samaria, he ministers to the people there, 297 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:11,920 and he tells them the gospel of Jesus, 298 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:14,280 tells them what Jesus has done for them. 299 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,000 And while he's ministering to them, 300 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,360 many people believe and are baptized. 301 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,880 One of the guys who is baptized and believes there 302 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:22,840 is a guy named Simon. 303 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:24,960 Now Simon has a nickname in the Bible, 304 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:26,120 a lot of the Bible headings. 305 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,040 He's Simon the sorcerer, right? 306 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:31,640 He's Simon from Harry Potter or whatever. 307 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,840 Simon the sorcerer is down in, 308 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:38,040 and Philip is in Samaria. 309 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,880 He receives Christ and he begins to follow the way of Jesus 310 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:43,560 and listen to the teaching. 311 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:48,840 Well pretty soon, some of the apostles here catch wind 312 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:52,000 that the gospel is advancing down in Samaria. 313 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,600 And so they go to Samaria, and they find out, 314 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,000 while the gospel has been preached, 315 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:57,360 and people have believed in it, 316 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,560 and been baptized, the Holy Spirit hasn't yet been recognized 317 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,680 or been poured out on the people in Samaria. 318 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,880 And so they begin to go and pray for folks 319 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:07,640 to receive the Holy Spirit, 320 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:11,040 and this begins to happen down in Samaria. 321 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,160 Well Simon, who's a new convert, 322 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,720 he begins to see the apostles laying their hands on people 323 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,280 and them receiving the Spirit of God. 324 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:21,240 And you know what he does? 325 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:26,240 He says, hey, can I pay my debt to the people 326 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:28,280 and can I pay you some money 327 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,360 and you give me the power to do that? 328 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:35,360 Can I buy the power to kind of spray 329 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:37,520 the Spirit of God around, right? 330 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,400 That I can blow it on you or shoot it your way 331 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:41,960 and I can shoot the power of God 332 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,560 and I can give the Holy Spirit to anyone that I want. 333 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,280 Is this something that I can pay for and buy? 334 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:49,920 And the disciples say no. 335 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,800 Let your money perish with you, 336 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:58,800 for you thought you could buy the person of the Holy Spirit. 337 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:01,880 You see how ludicrous that is 338 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,880 when you have a right understanding of God and the Spirit? 339 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:06,040 You thought you could buy 340 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,760 the person of the Holy Spirit from me. 341 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:12,320 No, the Spirit is God. 342 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:15,360 You can't buy it, you can't barter for it, 343 00:17:15,360 --> 00:17:16,960 you can't force it. 344 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:18,920 To be filled with the Holy Spirit 345 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:22,960 is very much so like a relationship. 346 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,920 In a relationship, you can't force someone to do something. 347 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:28,880 You can try to, you can even try physically. 348 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:30,720 They can still resist and say no. 349 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:37,320 In a relationship, you can't force, you can't buy. 350 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,120 A true relationship, but just like the divine person 351 00:17:40,120 --> 00:17:41,320 who is the Holy Spirit, 352 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,160 Simon thought he could buy it, the apostles say nope. 353 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:50,120 But in the scripture too, in Ephesians chapter five, 354 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:51,000 talks about drinking, 355 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,440 but I want us to think a little bit beyond that. 356 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,920 He said don't get drunk with wine. 357 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:57,800 And maybe you go, that's a good command, 358 00:17:57,800 --> 00:17:59,320 I don't have that problem. 359 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,480 I don't like wine particularly myself. 360 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:06,240 But I don't have the problem of drunkenness, 361 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:07,120 that's not my issue, 362 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:09,920 but I want you to think a little bit deeper about the issue 363 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,880 because what he is saying is what are those things 364 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:17,040 that cause uncontrolled wastefulness in your life? 365 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,760 What are the things that pull you away 366 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,280 from being actively in the position 367 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:24,480 to receive the Spirit of God? 368 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,840 Remember, that's a command, a present, passive, imperative 369 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:30,760 to be filled with the Spirit. 370 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,520 What is anything that pulls me away from that? 371 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:36,480 What is something that takes me away 372 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:40,240 that I can end up spending time and time 373 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,200 and time of wastefulness? 374 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,400 Maybe that's some relationships that fill the role 375 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:47,080 of drunkenness in your life. 376 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,080 Relationships that don't feed your spirit, 377 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:52,280 but instead they're your escape. 378 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:58,000 Maybe that's some other activity that you engage in. 379 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:03,000 You might call it I'm checking out for a while. 380 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:07,240 And your checkout is really a time of wastefulness, 381 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:11,480 a time where you are unplugged both from reality 382 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,520 and from the awareness of the commanded, 383 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:19,520 present, passive, imperative to be filled with the Spirit. 384 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:20,640 It's me time. 385 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:22,680 It's me time. 386 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,640 Maybe that's some habits that you have formed. 387 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,520 The command is to be filled by the Spirit. 388 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:36,560 So what does the Holy Spirit fill us with? 389 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:38,800 What does the Holy Spirit fill us with? 390 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:40,240 Well, the first thing that I have you write down 391 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:43,800 is the Holy Spirit fills us with sin restraining 392 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:48,800 self control, sin restraining self control. 393 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:56,120 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 394 00:19:56,120 --> 00:20:00,040 patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 395 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,040 gentleness, and self control. 396 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:09,720 Does drunkenness fill us with more joy? 397 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:13,360 Does drunkenness fill us with more love? 398 00:20:13,360 --> 00:20:17,360 Does drunkenness fill us with more self control? 399 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,760 Are most drunks known for their patience 400 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:25,160 and their kindness and their goodness? 401 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,040 No, right? 402 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:29,440 They're not known for that. 403 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,680 You might find a weird drunk who gets really happy, right? 404 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,160 But is not very patient and certainly not self controlled. 405 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,920 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 406 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:42,160 patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 407 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:43,920 gentleness, and self control. 408 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,640 The Spirit fills us with sin restraining 409 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:48,520 self control in our lives. 410 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,640 You can chase down all your sins 411 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,000 and try your best to correct them, 412 00:20:55,000 --> 00:21:00,000 but in the end, the spiritual fruit of the Holy Spirit 413 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:06,000 ought to fill us up and edge out all other things. 414 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:10,160 We should be full of joy and love and peace and patience 415 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:12,280 so that we no longer sin. 416 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:14,720 Not go around and no longer sin 417 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:16,800 and then hope we can be filled with something, 418 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:20,920 be filled with something so that there's no room left 419 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:24,520 for sin, no room left for the flesh. 420 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:29,760 The Spirit is very different though 421 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,240 than we think of eating spiritual fruit, right? 422 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,200 We think it's something that I need to find, 423 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:39,240 I need to harvest it, and then I need to eat it, 424 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,200 but the Holy Spirit is different in that 425 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:46,400 whereas we fill our stomachs the outside in, 426 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:49,960 the Holy Spirit fills us the inside out. 427 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,040 And that is why oftentimes as believers, 428 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,360 when you see a new believer who is struggling 429 00:21:55,360 --> 00:21:58,320 to leave the patterns of sin in their life, 430 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,240 they can have a vibrant spiritual health, 431 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:05,520 they love Jesus, yet they struggle deeply with sin. 432 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:07,480 There's a deep struggle with sin 433 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:09,680 because the Holy Spirit is beginning to change them 434 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:13,120 from the inside out, not the outside in. 435 00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:14,760 He's doing his work on the inside 436 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:17,480 and he's beginning to provide for them 437 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:19,560 the strength and power, the self restraining, 438 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:22,000 self control to overcome sin. 439 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:25,800 Jesus said in John that if anyone is thirsty, 440 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:27,720 let him come to me and drink. 441 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,760 The one who believes in me, as the scripture says, 442 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:35,560 will have streams of living water from deep within him. 443 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:39,720 And then John says, he said this about the Spirit. 444 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,880 The Spirit is the living waters that are within the believer 445 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,840 that boil up from within and begin to change us 446 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:50,400 from within, inside out, not outside in. 447 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:54,080 Titus two, chapter two, verse 11 says, 448 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:56,160 for the grace of God has appeared, 449 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,320 bringing salvation for all people. 450 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:00,880 And the grace of God that has appeared, 451 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:02,640 bringing salvation for all people, 452 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:07,640 instructs us to deny godlessness and worldly lust 453 00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:11,320 and to live in a sensible, righteous, 454 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,880 godly way in the present age. 455 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:18,240 The grace of God is the Spirit alive within us. 456 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:21,240 The grace of God is the counselor who is near 457 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:24,800 and the teacher who is near to teach us from the inside out 458 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:27,040 what it means to say no to sin, 459 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:30,600 what it means to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions 460 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,840 and how to live self-controlled. 461 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,280 We have a teacher and a counselor on the inside 462 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:39,280 who does that, and we're filled by the Holy Spirit. 463 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:42,280 We've learned what it is to restrain, 464 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,720 sin restraint and self-control. 465 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:48,000 What else does the Holy Spirit fill us with? 466 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:51,600 He fills us with wisdom, knowledge, and joy. 467 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:56,200 Wisdom, knowledge, and joy. 468 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:59,200 Colossians chapter one says, for this reason, 469 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:02,120 this is Paul praying for the folks in Colossae, 470 00:24:02,120 --> 00:24:05,520 and he says, for this reason, since the day we heard of this, 471 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:07,280 the day they heard of their salvation 472 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:09,280 and their common love for Christ, 473 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:10,840 we haven't stopped praying for you. 474 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:12,120 And what did they pray? 475 00:24:12,120 --> 00:24:14,360 What did they pray God would do for them? 476 00:24:14,360 --> 00:24:16,440 We are asking that you may be filled 477 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:19,800 with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom 478 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:21,840 and spiritual understanding, 479 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:24,800 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, 480 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:28,880 fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work 481 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,360 and growing in the knowledge of God, 482 00:24:31,360 --> 00:24:33,480 being strengthened with all power 483 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:35,360 according to his glorious might, 484 00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:38,400 so that you may have great endurance and patience, 485 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,000 joyfully giving thanks to the Father 486 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,120 who has enabled you to share 487 00:24:43,120 --> 00:24:46,480 in the saints' inheritance in the light. 488 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,640 The Spirit, the Spirit of grace is at work within us 489 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,080 to give us wisdom and knowledge of Christ, 490 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:54,480 to teach us and instruct us. 491 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,800 Remember, in John 16, it said that he will testify 492 00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:59,920 about Christ and he will exist 493 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:03,040 to glorify Christ in our lives. 494 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:06,480 The Holy Spirit moves within us to glorify Christ 495 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,720 and so he bestows upon us wisdom and knowledge, 496 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:14,720 spiritual understanding that produces joy in our hearts 497 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:18,000 for the glory of God in Christ. 498 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:20,720 He produces wisdom and knowledge. 499 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:22,840 Ephesians 5, which we're in right now, 500 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:24,360 says don't get drunk with wine, 501 00:25:24,360 --> 00:25:25,640 but be filled with the Holy Spirit. 502 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,240 And then what does it say? 503 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:29,840 What does it say after that? 504 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:31,440 Something about singing, right? 505 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:34,600 Singing songs. 506 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,160 Speak to one another in psalms and hymns 507 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,200 and spiritual songs, singing and making music. 508 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,920 This is the activity of joy. 509 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:46,520 This is the activity of joy within our hearts 510 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:47,800 that we sing. 511 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:49,120 We sing the glories of God. 512 00:25:49,120 --> 00:25:50,800 We sing the old time hymns. 513 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,240 We sing the new songs that speak of God's glory. 514 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:56,120 We sing them to one another to instruct one another 515 00:25:56,120 --> 00:25:58,520 so that we might grow in wisdom and knowledge, 516 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:03,240 so that we might have more joy, deeper joy in Christ. 517 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:06,720 The Holy Spirit is filling us with the truth, 518 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:09,440 with wisdom, with knowledge and joy. 519 00:26:11,360 --> 00:26:15,920 And finally, the Holy Spirit fills us with assurance 520 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:18,080 and boldness for the gospel. 521 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,360 Assurance and boldness for the gospel. 522 00:26:22,360 --> 00:26:24,640 At the beginning of the book of Ephesians, 523 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:27,160 Paul said that we are in Christ, 524 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:29,960 we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 525 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:32,000 When you heard the word of truth, 526 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:34,360 the gospel of your salvation, and you believed, 527 00:26:34,360 --> 00:26:35,480 you were sealed. 528 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:37,960 This is a status change where the Holy Spirit says 529 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:40,360 that one belongs to God. 530 00:26:40,360 --> 00:26:43,680 That is a child of God, sealed with the Spirit. 531 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,480 But that's not something that we necessarily experience 532 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:47,320 all the time, right? 533 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:49,360 We can't see that status change. 534 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:50,680 That's like a legal document. 535 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:52,440 It's not very inspiring. 536 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:54,520 Great, we have a seal. 537 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:56,240 It's awesome, it's true. 538 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:57,360 It's a status change. 539 00:26:57,360 --> 00:27:00,040 And yet the Holy Spirit does more than just tell us 540 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:03,440 that we're different, or tell us that we belong to God. 541 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:06,200 But the Spirit, as in Romans 8, says that he bears witness 542 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,720 to our spirit that we're children of God. 543 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,320 So not just a status change out there in the ether, 544 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,840 but something in here, inside out, that says, 545 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:18,680 you are a child of God, that causes that love for God 546 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:23,680 to well up for you to be able to say, Abba, Father, God. 547 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:29,840 The Spirit fills us with a witness 548 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:33,160 that we are children of God, and that assurance 549 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:36,080 at work in our hearts brings us comfort 550 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,760 and emboldens us to preach the gospel. 551 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,760 In Acts chapter four, their great persecution, 552 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:47,000 and the apostles gather together after being released, 553 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,560 and they begin to pray, and they pray, God, 554 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,600 fill us with boldness to preach your word, 555 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,320 fill us with boldness to go and declare 556 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:58,800 the gospel of Jesus Christ, even in the face 557 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:01,440 of all of this persecution and trials. 558 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,400 And the Bible says that the Holy Spirit filled them. 559 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:06,120 They were filled with the Holy Spirit 560 00:28:06,120 --> 00:28:11,120 and began to proclaim the gospel with great boldness. 561 00:28:11,120 --> 00:28:14,120 Boldness. Tell us who we are. 562 00:28:14,120 --> 00:28:16,840 Remind us of who we are in Christ 563 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,280 and who we are in relation to the Father. 564 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:21,000 Help us to see who we are. 565 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:24,320 Give us assurance so that we can be bold 566 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:28,120 in the gospel proclamation, so that we can speak truth 567 00:28:28,120 --> 00:28:30,840 from the place of security and assurance, 568 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,080 not insecurity, right? 569 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:36,160 We're gonna need to learn this as a body, big time. 570 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:38,560 We're gonna need to learn this as village 571 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:42,160 because the territory we're moving into 572 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:43,760 is not like anything that we've been 573 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:46,200 for a long time, at least. 574 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:50,240 And that is we have folks outside of these doors 575 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:52,240 in this neighborhood and in this city 576 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:54,960 who don't know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, 577 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,200 who don't have the Holy Spirit walking with them 578 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:00,080 on a day-to-day basis, and who are perishing every day 579 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:01,200 and going to hell. 580 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:04,040 And we need boldness. 581 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,520 Sometimes our boldness isn't because we were persecuted 582 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:07,760 and thrown into jail. 583 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:10,560 The boldness we need is to get up out of our chair, 584 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:13,360 put down the potato chips, and go talk to our neighbor. 585 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:15,200 Right? 586 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:20,840 But we need it nonetheless because there is people out there 587 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:25,680 who are dying to hear the good news of Christ. 588 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:29,080 And this is something that I've been reflecting on 589 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:31,400 this week and contemplating. 590 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:35,360 After hearing a talk on a podcast recently, 591 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:40,360 like what is the essence, what is the foundation 592 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:44,680 of all genuine, effective evangelism? 593 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:49,680 What is the foundation of all genuine, effective evangelism? 594 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:51,160 Do you know what it is? 595 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:52,840 Because we all do it already. 596 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:55,840 It's called enjoyment. 597 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:57,960 Enjoyment. 598 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,760 Hey, did you try that new place that opened up 599 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:03,920 down the street? 600 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,160 We went there last night and it was amazing. 601 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:08,480 You've gotta try it. 602 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:11,600 Hey, have you watched that new series 603 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:13,160 that came out on Netflix? 604 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:14,840 We binge like 16 episodes. 605 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:16,360 We can't wait for the next season. 606 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:17,200 It's coming out. 607 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:18,760 You've got to watch it. 608 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:21,840 Enjoyment. 609 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:27,920 When you enjoy the thing, you can't help but talk about it. 610 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:31,960 And it's not some scary subject to broach. 611 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:34,760 It's something that has moved you, 612 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:38,200 something that you have enjoyed and found great delight in 613 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:40,640 and now you just want to share it. 614 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:44,480 And so our problem isn't that we don't know the gospel. 615 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:47,360 The problem is that we don't know the technical words. 616 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:48,920 Like we understand. 617 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:50,000 Most of us do. 618 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:52,640 I'll give a grant that some may not. 619 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:53,480 Most of us do. 620 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:56,760 It's that we have yet to find a place 621 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,480 of absolute enjoyment in God 622 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:02,760 so that our enjoyment of God begins to spill out, 623 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,280 flow out from the inside out of us 624 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:08,080 into effective evangelism. 625 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:10,320 To go to our neighbors, go across the street, 626 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,360 to go stand on the street anywhere and say, 627 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:17,360 hey, I encountered someone in my life who changed my life, 628 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,600 who brought peace when I had no peace, 629 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:24,400 who brought joy when I had no joy. 630 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:27,000 And he's not like alcohol. 631 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:29,600 He's not like Netflix. 632 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:31,480 He doesn't run out. 633 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:34,160 He keeps giving and giving and giving. 634 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,400 The joy that he gives, the peace that he gives, 635 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:38,000 never ending. 636 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:40,240 You gotta, you gotta meet him. 637 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:41,440 You gotta meet him. 638 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:47,440 When you enjoy something, it loosens the tongue. 639 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:51,080 It makes it easy to say, hey, I want you to share 640 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:57,080 because all joy is not fully fulfilled until it's shared. 641 00:31:57,880 --> 00:31:59,440 And so you guys know that too, right? 642 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:00,600 Hey, I had this great experience. 643 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:02,240 I got to go share it with someone. 644 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,600 It completes the joy. 645 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:06,040 The sharing completes the joy. 646 00:32:06,040 --> 00:32:07,800 And so when you really have experienced Christ 647 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:09,680 and you really have enjoyed his favor, 648 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:12,840 you really enjoyed his peace and joy in your life, 649 00:32:12,840 --> 00:32:14,440 the purpose that he's given you, 650 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:16,960 you complete the joy by going and sharing it. 651 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:19,080 It's a perfect circle. 652 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:22,080 And so we need the assurance of our salvation. 653 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:24,600 We need to know who we are in Christ 654 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,440 and we need to enjoy Christ 655 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:29,760 because that's the only way we'll be able to reach 656 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:30,600 our community. 657 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:32,840 That's the only way we'll be able to reach the lost 658 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:36,160 is if they come and see people who have a genuine enjoyment. 659 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:39,120 I've done the door-to-door surveys, right? 660 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:43,320 You know, well, what's your perspective on Christianity? 661 00:32:43,320 --> 00:32:45,080 You know, are you having any spiritual pursuits? 662 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:47,680 The spiritual evaluation door to door 663 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:49,240 evangelism, right? 664 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:52,520 And I won't knock it. 665 00:32:52,520 --> 00:32:56,520 It's just not biblical evangelism. 666 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:58,960 Enjoy Christ, find your hope in Christ, 667 00:32:58,960 --> 00:32:59,920 find your love in Christ, 668 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:02,640 and then complete that joy by going and sharing it. 669 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:05,240 Complete the joy and bring it around. 670 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:08,520 And so we need that to be able to reach the city. 671 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:11,520 We need that to be able to bring the gospel to life 672 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:13,200 because no one wants to come and just hear 673 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:15,000 a bunch of information from people 674 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:16,800 that they can clearly see. 675 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:18,760 They don't believe it and don't enjoy it. 676 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:22,720 Oh, you've gotta watch that PBS show, you know? 677 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:27,200 On paint drying, you know? 678 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:29,800 You're gonna love it. 679 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:33,920 I had nothing else to do, so I, you know, 680 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:35,360 binge-watched that. 681 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:38,560 Didn't enjoy it, but you should watch it too. 682 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:39,920 No, they can see the joy. 683 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:42,200 They can see the life flowing out of you 684 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:44,920 from that rivers, that streams of living water. 685 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:47,680 And that becomes something that they're attracted to. 686 00:33:47,680 --> 00:33:52,000 I want the life that's in you in me. 687 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:56,440 I want the joy that's in you in me. 688 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:00,360 Be filled with the Spirit. 689 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:04,240 The Spirit brings assurance and boldness for the gospel. 690 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:07,520 How does it happen? 691 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:08,800 Three ways. 692 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:11,440 Salvation. 693 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:14,440 In salvation, we are made to be saved. 694 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:17,440 In salvation, we are marked by the Holy Spirit. 695 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:19,160 There's nothing we do. 696 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:20,960 God gives us the Holy Spirit. 697 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:24,960 The Holy Spirit seals us as His child, 698 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:29,200 prepares us and marks us for the day of Christ. 699 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:31,640 But how else does it happen? 700 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:36,120 Well, I know people hate when preachers do this, 701 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:40,080 but it happens through very common means of grace. 702 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,520 When you read the Scripture, 703 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:45,160 the Holy Spirit fills you with the knowledge 704 00:34:45,160 --> 00:34:46,000 of the Scripture. 705 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:50,120 When you listen to the Scripture being taught, 706 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:53,400 the Holy Spirit brings it to life, 707 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:55,680 brightens it within your heart, 708 00:34:55,680 --> 00:34:59,320 and causes your heart to be filled with the Scripture. 709 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,360 When you talk about the things of God with other people, 710 00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:04,920 it changes what's going on on the inside. 711 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:09,920 The Holy Spirit uses very common means of grace. 712 00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:13,160 Do you know that when we were singing together, 713 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:15,960 when we were singing and raising a voice together, 714 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:18,280 singing common words that were on the screen 715 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:20,960 and the worship team was leading us, 716 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:25,960 the Holy Spirit was filling us with truth and knowledge. 717 00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:28,080 He was filling us with truth and knowledge 718 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:30,000 about who He is and who Christ is 719 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,600 and pointing us to Christ and His work, 720 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:34,440 testifying about Christ. 721 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:36,440 We were filled with the Spirit 722 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:40,080 through a very common means of grace. 723 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:43,040 Read the Scripture, hear the Scripture. 724 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:47,200 Michael Horton, Dr. Michael Horton said, 725 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:51,920 being filled with the Holy Spirit 726 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:53,520 is not a one-and-done thing. 727 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:56,680 In fact, throughout the day, 728 00:35:56,680 --> 00:35:58,120 there are some times throughout the day 729 00:35:58,120 --> 00:35:59,640 where I'm more full of the Holy Spirit 730 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:01,240 than other parts of the day, 731 00:36:01,240 --> 00:36:04,000 and most of it revolves around the Word of God. 732 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,640 Have I fallen away or distanced myself from the Word of God 733 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:08,120 or am I moving toward the Word of God, 734 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:11,000 into the Word of God, to hear the Word of God and receive it 735 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:12,600 because it is the Word of God, 736 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:16,520 the Spirit of truth who will testify to our spirit 737 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:18,640 about what is true and fill us with wisdom 738 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:19,960 and knowledge and joy. 739 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:22,840 We need the Word of God. 740 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:25,080 We need to read, we need to be around it. 741 00:36:25,080 --> 00:36:28,000 If you only come to church on Sunday 742 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:31,240 and that is the only time you hear Scripture, 743 00:36:31,240 --> 00:36:34,160 you read Scripture, you study Scripture, 744 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:38,600 then you are allowing many days to pass 745 00:36:39,720 --> 00:36:41,920 with low power, low battery. 746 00:36:43,240 --> 00:36:45,840 You are not hearing the command, 747 00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:49,880 the present passive imperative to be filled with the Spirit 748 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:52,560 because one of the primary ways the Spirit uses 749 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:53,560 is the Word of God. 750 00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:58,240 He uses worship, singing alone and singing together. 751 00:36:58,240 --> 00:37:01,320 He uses the gathering of the believers. 752 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:03,080 He uses our prayers. 753 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:06,480 The final thing I'll say today, 754 00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:09,520 if you want to be filled with the Spirit, 755 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:13,000 if you want rivers of living water to flow out of you, 756 00:37:13,680 --> 00:37:17,400 ask God, ask him. 757 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:21,080 You may go, yeah, yeah, again. 758 00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:23,640 That's the easy answer, preacher man. 759 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:26,040 Ask God, yeah, pray, yeah. 760 00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:28,960 Ask God, yeah, pray, yeah. 761 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:31,920 There's a reason we keep coming back to these things. 762 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:34,280 Ask God. 763 00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:35,960 There are Scriptures to back this up, 764 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:39,960 but Augustine, Augustine or Augustine said, 765 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:43,120 God is more anxious to bestow his blessings on us 766 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:44,640 than we are to receive them. 767 00:37:45,560 --> 00:37:48,200 But let that sink in for a while. 768 00:37:48,200 --> 00:37:52,600 God is more anxious to bestow his blessings on us 769 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:54,800 than we are to receive them. 770 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:58,320 I don't know if you get that, but that's a yay, God. 771 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,320 Well, what's up with us? 772 00:38:01,680 --> 00:38:04,480 Why aren't we more eager and anxious to receive 773 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:07,280 the blessing he's anxious to give us? 774 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:08,120 Ask. 775 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:11,200 Luke chapter 11 said, 776 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:14,720 so I say to you, this is Jesus talking, 777 00:38:14,720 --> 00:38:17,120 ask and it will be given to you. 778 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:20,520 And ask is keep on asking. 779 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:23,120 So every time we say keep on asking, 780 00:38:23,120 --> 00:38:26,880 a present, present imperative, keep on asking 781 00:38:26,880 --> 00:38:28,920 and it will be given to you. 782 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:31,640 Keep on seeking and you will find. 783 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:34,880 Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. 784 00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:36,920 For everyone who asks to receive 785 00:38:36,920 --> 00:38:39,360 and the one who seeks finds and the one who knocks, 786 00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:40,560 the door will be opened. 787 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:44,000 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, 788 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:46,160 will give him a snake instead of a fish? 789 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:49,280 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion. 790 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:53,000 If you then who are evil know how to give him a snake, 791 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:54,680 give good gifts to your children. 792 00:38:54,680 --> 00:38:57,680 How much more will the heavenly father give the Holy Spirit 793 00:38:57,680 --> 00:38:59,320 to those who ask him? 794 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:02,680 Ask. 795 00:39:02,680 --> 00:39:06,160 Did you ask this morning when you got up, Holy Spirit, 796 00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:10,000 Father, give me the Holy Spirit to guide me today. 797 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:13,800 Did you ask when you got in the car, Holy Spirit, lead me. 798 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:17,120 Did you ask when you pulled in the church, Spirit, 799 00:39:17,120 --> 00:39:19,640 lead me to the conversations that I should have. 800 00:39:19,640 --> 00:39:21,800 Holy Spirit, guide me in the truth 801 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:23,080 to the things that I need to say 802 00:39:23,080 --> 00:39:25,440 or the things that I don't need to say. 803 00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:27,520 That's probably even more important, right? 804 00:39:28,840 --> 00:39:30,880 Like shut my mouth when I'm about to say 805 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:32,560 something I shouldn't say. 806 00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:35,560 Holy Spirit, I need you. 807 00:39:35,560 --> 00:39:36,800 Do you remember the quote at the beginning 808 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:38,040 that D.L. Moody said? 809 00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:41,560 You might as well try to see without eyes 810 00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:44,640 and hear without ears and breathe without lungs, 811 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:46,560 which is to try to live the Christian life 812 00:39:46,560 --> 00:39:47,960 without the Holy Spirit. 813 00:39:49,240 --> 00:39:51,720 I think what I'm being impressed on through these messages 814 00:39:51,720 --> 00:39:55,640 and what I hope that you hear is that we have lived 815 00:39:55,640 --> 00:39:57,840 in a sort of spiritual anemia. 816 00:39:57,840 --> 00:40:00,280 We've lacked something that is essential to us. 817 00:40:00,280 --> 00:40:02,800 We've been unaware of it and unwilling to ask 818 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:04,880 for the very thing that God wants to give us 819 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:06,200 and is anxious to give us, 820 00:40:06,200 --> 00:40:09,920 which is the Holy Spirit to guide us day in and day out. 821 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:12,920 And you need that and I need that. 822 00:40:12,920 --> 00:40:14,720 And we're going to need that 823 00:40:14,720 --> 00:40:18,080 if the gospel is going to advance through your village. 824 00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:19,560 We need the Holy Spirit. 825 00:40:19,560 --> 00:40:21,480 And so hopefully we can demystify that 826 00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:23,480 and continue as we study the scripture 827 00:40:23,480 --> 00:40:26,240 and say, Spirit, lead me. 828 00:40:26,240 --> 00:40:27,760 You're not weird to me anymore. 829 00:40:28,680 --> 00:40:31,040 You know, Father, Son, and that weird thing. 830 00:40:32,240 --> 00:40:33,560 You're not weird to me anymore. 831 00:40:33,560 --> 00:40:35,120 You're my counselor. 832 00:40:35,120 --> 00:40:36,720 You're my teacher. 833 00:40:36,720 --> 00:40:39,040 You are the means by which I'm going to grow 834 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:40,800 in knowledge and wisdom in Christ. 835 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:43,200 I will not grow apart from you. 836 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:46,920 I need your wisdom and your guidance in my life. 837 00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:49,640 Holy Spirit, lead me. 838 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:55,840 I encourage you to ask, to seek, and to keep on knocking 839 00:40:55,840 --> 00:40:57,960 for the filling of the Holy Spirit. 840 00:40:57,960 --> 00:40:59,280 Not a one and done. 841 00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:03,640 But if we're not going to go through life, 842 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:07,320 you know, on 1%, we're going to need 843 00:41:07,320 --> 00:41:10,440 the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us. 844 00:41:10,440 --> 00:41:20,440 Amen.