WEBVTT 00:00:09.929 --> 00:00:13.570 Psalm 51, we're going to be reading verses 10 00:00:13.570 --> 00:00:17.989 through 12. Create in me a clean heart, O God, 00:00:18.170 --> 00:00:22.829 and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not 00:00:22.829 --> 00:00:25.710 cast me away from your presence, and do not take 00:00:25.710 --> 00:00:30.890 your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy 00:00:30.890 --> 00:00:35.770 of your salvation, and sustain me with a willing 00:00:35.770 --> 00:00:41.979 spirit. As we continue through Psalm 51, I think 00:00:41.979 --> 00:00:47.740 it's important to remind it why we sit under 00:00:47.740 --> 00:00:52.420 the preaching of God's Word week in and week 00:00:52.420 --> 00:00:59.100 out, over and over and over. God has given us 00:00:59.100 --> 00:01:04.000 His church, and He has ordained that we meet 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:09.909 weekly. To worship him. So when we gather here 00:01:09.909 --> 00:01:17.250 at this time, we gather to worship God. Everything 00:01:17.250 --> 00:01:20.390 we do from the moment it opens to the moment 00:01:20.390 --> 00:01:26.629 it closes is a very act of worship. Everything. 00:01:29.010 --> 00:01:34.069 Our reception and hearing of the word of God. 00:01:34.859 --> 00:01:40.640 is an act of worship. God has given His people 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:43.760 this time, and Christ is raised from the dead, 00:01:43.819 --> 00:01:48.439 and He is being worshipped. Brothers and sisters, 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:52.980 don't waste the time God has given to you to 00:01:52.980 --> 00:01:57.620 hear the preaching of the Word of God. Don't 00:01:57.620 --> 00:02:01.959 listen vainly. Don't listen in a manner that's 00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:05.590 half -hearted. God has appointed it that you 00:02:05.590 --> 00:02:09.409 are here this day at this time to hear the word 00:02:09.409 --> 00:02:11.509 of God, to sit under the preaching of the word 00:02:11.509 --> 00:02:16.710 of God. Don't waste the opportunity. Listen to 00:02:16.710 --> 00:02:21.030 what God has to say to his people and to all 00:02:21.030 --> 00:02:25.610 those present from his word. Maybe you're here 00:02:25.610 --> 00:02:28.110 today. You say, I'm not a Christian. I'm not 00:02:28.110 --> 00:02:32.810 a believer. What do I do? Well, brothers and 00:02:32.810 --> 00:02:35.960 sisters, Friends, if you're here today and you 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:37.860 don't know Christ, but you're under conviction, 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:41.479 you have sorrow for sin, you don't know what 00:02:41.479 --> 00:02:45.599 to do or where to go, God has given you natural 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:49.780 faculties and natural abilities. Now, give yourself 00:02:49.780 --> 00:02:53.259 through your own natural powers and put yourself 00:02:53.259 --> 00:02:56.740 in the place where you know that God saves people. 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:03.599 That means use your mind. Use your body, use 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:07.259 your will to listen to the preaching of the word 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:16.500 of God. To hear what God's word says. Use your 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:20.620 natural ability to put yourself in a path where 00:03:20.620 --> 00:03:24.280 you know God saves people, which is under the 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:26.879 preaching of God's word and in the midst of his 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:34.729 people. Don't waste. Don't be here in vain. You're 00:03:34.729 --> 00:03:39.050 here for a purpose. You're here by the providential 00:03:39.050 --> 00:03:44.849 hand of a sovereign and a good God. That's believer 00:03:44.849 --> 00:03:48.830 and unbeliever. If you're sitting here, it's 00:03:48.830 --> 00:03:55.150 not accidental. It's by the providence of God 00:03:55.150 --> 00:04:01.280 that you are meant to hear the word of God. Don't 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:06.860 waste that time. As we look in Psalm 51, the 00:04:06.860 --> 00:04:09.180 focus of our exposition is going to be in verse 00:04:09.180 --> 00:04:15.240 11. Do not cast me away from your presence, and 00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:21.319 do not take your Holy Spirit from me. David has 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:24.639 transitioned to this work which is subjective 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:29.910 in nature. He's transitioned from... the forgiveness 00:04:29.910 --> 00:04:35.550 of sins and gracious pardon to this work of sanctification. 00:04:36.850 --> 00:04:39.629 Now, we'll be looking at verses 10 through 12 00:04:39.629 --> 00:04:43.689 as a whole in this exposition, but it's going 00:04:43.689 --> 00:04:47.990 to be built around verse 11, which is David's 00:04:47.990 --> 00:04:53.410 cry, his plea for the Spirit of God. There's 00:04:53.410 --> 00:04:56.189 four things that have to occupy our hearts and 00:04:56.189 --> 00:04:59.750 our minds. Today as we look at this text. Four 00:04:59.750 --> 00:05:03.230 things. Which you need to set your minds upon. 00:05:03.410 --> 00:05:05.350 Four things which you need to give yourselves. 00:05:05.449 --> 00:05:11.069 To receiving from the word of God today. The 00:05:11.069 --> 00:05:15.949 spirit grieved. By David. The spirit's importance 00:05:15.949 --> 00:05:21.949 to David. The spirit's work. That David is seeking. 00:05:22.610 --> 00:05:28.259 And the spirit's work. to be experienced by David. 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:32.220 Beginning with the first, the spirit grieved 00:05:32.220 --> 00:05:37.060 by David. When we look at verse 11, when we hear 00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:41.560 David say, do not cast me away from your presence 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:47.439 and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. There 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:52.660 is severity in that verse, isn't there? There 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:58.279 is suspense contained in that verse. You can 00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:06.220 feel the fear in David that he may lose the influence 00:06:06.220 --> 00:06:10.600 of God's Spirit. You can feel the sorrow in his 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:14.839 voice as he cries this because he's fearful and 00:06:14.839 --> 00:06:17.480 he's dreading the reality that he may have lost 00:06:17.480 --> 00:06:21.819 the influence of God's Spirit in his life. Why 00:06:21.819 --> 00:06:27.680 is that? Because David has lost the gracious 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:31.240 influence of God's Spirit in his life to such 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:35.120 a degree that he can't find it within himself. 00:06:36.180 --> 00:06:42.259 His heart is dull. His spirit is weak and fickle, 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:44.759 being blown around to the left and to the right. 00:06:45.259 --> 00:06:47.879 There's impurity and there's corruption which 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:51.259 seems to have... and to be prevailing in his 00:06:51.259 --> 00:06:57.560 heart and in his mind. He has no joy in his life 00:06:57.560 --> 00:07:00.120 that he can tell, that he can find, that he can 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:06.639 sense. He's not even willing, according to verse 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:12.920 12, that he would persevere in this state. So 00:07:12.920 --> 00:07:15.899 David has lost the gracious influence. It's diminished 00:07:15.899 --> 00:07:19.870 to such a degree in his life That he thinks that 00:07:19.870 --> 00:07:22.709 it may not be restored, that it may not be given 00:07:22.709 --> 00:07:25.850 back to him. That he thinks that it will be taken 00:07:25.850 --> 00:07:28.750 from him permanently and indefinitely in his 00:07:28.750 --> 00:07:32.610 life. What a frightful thing. To be in union 00:07:32.610 --> 00:07:35.790 with the living God, to be in union with Christ 00:07:35.790 --> 00:07:38.949 by his spirit and to have the spirit of God residing 00:07:38.949 --> 00:07:42.029 within us and not to have his gracious influence 00:07:42.029 --> 00:07:46.610 at work in our life. What a fearful thing. That's 00:07:46.610 --> 00:07:49.779 what David's afraid of. Now, what was the cause 00:07:49.779 --> 00:07:53.800 of this? Why did this occur? Why did this come 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:56.860 about in the life of David? It was because of 00:07:56.860 --> 00:08:00.819 his sin, wasn't it? The cause of the spirit being 00:08:00.819 --> 00:08:06.240 grieved in David's life is the ongoing presence 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:13.779 of sin and the absence of repentance. Meaning 00:08:13.779 --> 00:08:22.959 sin persevered. Sin continued. Sin remained, 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:29.399 but repentance was absent in his life. The Spirit 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:35.179 of God was grieved within him. He willingly and 00:08:35.179 --> 00:08:40.600 continually went on in sin in spite of the truth. 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:46.720 He willingly pressed on and persevered in his 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:54.960 sin. in his life, knowing that it was sin. And 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:58.639 what was the result? The Spirit of God was grieved. 00:08:59.899 --> 00:09:04.240 The Spirit withdrew his gracious influence within 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:06.340 his heart and within his mind and within his 00:09:06.340 --> 00:09:08.820 soul. Yes, the Spirit of God remained with him, 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:14.879 but his influence was so diminished that it could 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:19.269 not be found. In David's life. There are several 00:09:19.269 --> 00:09:23.289 verses. That address this issue of the spirit. 00:09:23.429 --> 00:09:28.110 Being grieved in the life. Of a believer. We 00:09:28.110 --> 00:09:33.309 read in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 30. Do not 00:09:33.309 --> 00:09:39.750 grieve. The Holy Spirit. Of God. By whom you 00:09:39.750 --> 00:09:44.570 were sealed. For the day of redemption. Now consider 00:09:44.570 --> 00:09:48.980 that verse. Brothers and sisters, a person is 00:09:48.980 --> 00:09:52.720 sealed unto the day of redemption by the Holy 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:56.559 Spirit of God, yet the spirit can be grieved. 00:09:58.500 --> 00:10:03.100 The spirit can become indignant, sorrowful in 00:10:03.100 --> 00:10:08.220 the life of the believer, even though that believer 00:10:08.220 --> 00:10:12.419 is sealed permanently unto the day of redemption. 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:15.620 What does that do to the work of the Spirit within 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:22.039 that person? What are the implications of behavior 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:24.340 and actions and thoughts and words and deeds 00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:30.419 that grieve and bring sorrow to God's Spirit 00:10:30.419 --> 00:10:36.100 who has sealed a person? Particularly in Ephesians 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:43.789 4, this is in the context of the church. It carries 00:10:43.789 --> 00:10:47.190 this idea that if you act in a way that is grieving 00:10:47.190 --> 00:10:50.129 to your brothers and sisters in Christ whom Christ 00:10:50.129 --> 00:10:53.909 died for, it is grieving to the Spirit of God 00:10:53.909 --> 00:11:01.529 who dwells within you. We have to remember that 00:11:01.529 --> 00:11:05.490 we are sealed and in union with Christ through 00:11:05.490 --> 00:11:11.610 His Spirit. And that our actions are either pleasing 00:11:13.549 --> 00:11:19.289 Or they are grieving to him. And his spirit is 00:11:19.289 --> 00:11:26.850 with us at all times. We also read in 1 Thessalonians 00:11:26.850 --> 00:11:32.210 chapter 4. We read in verse 8. So he who rejects 00:11:32.210 --> 00:11:39.750 this is not rejecting man. But the God who gives 00:11:39.750 --> 00:11:46.440 his Holy Spirit to... Again, speaking of Christians, 00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:51.759 believers, rejecting God's will of sanctification 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:56.419 and purity and holiness for their lives, specifically 00:11:56.419 --> 00:12:00.799 in the context of sanctification and immorality. 00:12:03.059 --> 00:12:07.659 This is a strong word. It almost carries the 00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:14.409 idea of annulling or making void. the Spirit's 00:12:14.409 --> 00:12:18.029 work in our life because of our rejection of 00:12:18.029 --> 00:12:23.649 God's commands and God's law and God's word. 00:12:29.210 --> 00:12:34.289 The person who rejects the will of God, which 00:12:34.289 --> 00:12:38.309 is to be sanctified, is not rejecting any man 00:12:38.309 --> 00:12:42.090 or manly wisdom. They're rejecting the God who 00:12:42.090 --> 00:12:46.769 gives. his spirit, and his influence in their 00:12:46.769 --> 00:12:53.309 very life. We read in 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 00:12:53.309 --> 00:12:58.210 19, with maybe the most visual language of all 00:12:58.210 --> 00:13:04.129 that helps us the most. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 00:13:04.129 --> 00:13:12.539 5, 19, do not quench the spirit. Do not extinguish 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:18.460 the Holy Spirit. Don't put out. It carries this 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:21.740 idea of a fire, of a flame, of a burning fire. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:25.500 And there's various ways to put that fire out. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:29.960 A person could throw water on it. A person could 00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:33.500 shove dirt on it. A person could stomp on it. 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:35.779 Or a person could just leave it be and it would 00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:42.299 go out on its own. But Paul says, do not extinguish 00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:47.340 the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God dwells in 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:50.919 union with the people of God. But we must distinguish 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:55.419 between His union with those people and His gracious 00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:59.100 influence in their life, at least in their conscious 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:03.039 life, and in great increase in their sanctification. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:07.740 The Spirit of God will never leave a person. 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:12.559 He remains. He seals the Christian. But that 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:14.799 does not mean that we can't act and think and 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:18.299 act and think and talk in such a way and live 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:22.700 in such a way that we bring sorrow and we reject 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:28.440 and we quench or extinguish the work and influence 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:32.710 of the Spirit of God in us. our souls, which 00:14:32.710 --> 00:14:35.909 brings increase in our sanctification, our growth 00:14:35.909 --> 00:14:38.730 in the grace and the knowledge of Christ, our 00:14:38.730 --> 00:14:40.870 maturity and our development in the Christian 00:14:40.870 --> 00:14:49.190 life. It can greatly hinder our progress in sanctification. 00:14:49.850 --> 00:14:55.950 It can greatly stumble the work of the Spirit 00:14:55.950 --> 00:15:02.700 in our life. It's a frightening thing. To have 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:09.220 the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within us, but 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:11.659 to act and think and live and behave in such 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:14.360 a way as those who are indwelt with death spirit, 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:21.159 that it grieves and makes him sorrowful. It makes 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:28.580 him sad and upset with the person in whom he 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:34.860 dwells. This should affect how we live, shouldn't 00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:40.960 it, brothers and sisters? Knowing that we are 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:43.200 in union with the Spirit of God and He dwells 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:45.820 within us, should that not affect how we talk? 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:53.179 Should that not affect how you think? You are 00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:59.220 not alone. You are not by yourself. You are not 00:15:59.220 --> 00:16:03.809 separate from Christ. His spirit dwells within 00:16:03.809 --> 00:16:08.149 you. His spirit is present within you. Should 00:16:08.149 --> 00:16:11.110 that not affect how we live and act and behave 00:16:11.110 --> 00:16:15.950 and think and live in this life? It should affect 00:16:15.950 --> 00:16:19.690 us a great deal. So David grieves the spirit. 00:16:20.470 --> 00:16:24.509 But this also shows us why the spirit is so vitally 00:16:24.509 --> 00:16:26.490 important to David. This is the second thing. 00:16:27.470 --> 00:16:30.610 We must occupy our minds. The spirit's importance 00:16:30.610 --> 00:16:37.080 to David. In verse 11 of Psalm 51, David uses 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:41.059 two negative statements to say something very 00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:46.259 emphatically. He says, do not cast me away from 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:49.299 your presence, meaning don't throw me away from 00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:55.259 you. But then he says, and do not take your Holy 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:59.600 Spirit from me. Says two negative and strong 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:04.890 and severe things. Why? To show how emphatically 00:17:04.890 --> 00:17:08.869 significant and important the work of the Spirit 00:17:08.869 --> 00:17:14.769 is in his life. He values, he longs for the work 00:17:14.769 --> 00:17:17.230 of the Spirit in his life. He knows that without 00:17:17.230 --> 00:17:19.609 the divine Spirit of God at work in his soul, 00:17:19.789 --> 00:17:23.170 he has no hope for restoration. He has no hope 00:17:23.170 --> 00:17:26.950 for renewal. He has no hope for a work of creation 00:17:26.950 --> 00:17:31.539 in his heart. He has no hope of joy if he doesn't 00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:34.019 have the divine spirit of God at work in his 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:38.519 life. David shows us this importance in two ways 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:43.680 in this psalm. Notice that David is crying out. 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:48.960 And David is demonstrating why it's important 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:53.859 in this text. He shows us that he desires for 00:17:53.859 --> 00:18:00.970 fellowship with God through... The Spirit. Why 00:18:00.970 --> 00:18:04.910 does he cry out for the Spirit? Because he wants 00:18:04.910 --> 00:18:08.509 the Spirit in his life. Because he wants God's 00:18:08.509 --> 00:18:12.049 presence that is conveyed and communicated to 00:18:12.049 --> 00:18:14.630 his soul, to his heart, to his life, through 00:18:14.630 --> 00:18:18.049 the indwelling presence of the Spirit and his 00:18:18.049 --> 00:18:21.769 effectual work in his heart. David longs for 00:18:21.769 --> 00:18:26.069 fellowship with God through the Spirit. He longs 00:18:26.069 --> 00:18:31.589 for God himself in this cry, doesn't he? This 00:18:31.589 --> 00:18:37.430 here gives us the supreme motive for dealing 00:18:37.430 --> 00:18:42.430 with sin in our life. This text tells us the 00:18:42.430 --> 00:18:46.170 supreme reason you ought to repent of sin in 00:18:46.170 --> 00:18:48.910 your life and run to Christ. What is that supreme 00:18:48.910 --> 00:18:51.509 motive? It is that you might have God himself 00:18:51.509 --> 00:18:57.920 again. It's that he may be restored to you and 00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:00.640 you may be restored to him. That he might be 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:05.799 with you and you might be with him. It's not 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:15.299 to get from God. It's to have God himself. If 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:22.079 you refuse to deal with sin in your life, you 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:26.359 are rejecting and denying God himself and his 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:31.019 presence in your life. Brothers and sisters, 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:36.839 don't just repent to get rid of a burden. Don't 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:39.940 just repent to ease your mind and your conscience. 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:44.619 Don't just deal with sin in your life to make 00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:51.220 it better for you. Deal with sin in your life 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:53.980 that you might get back in God's presence and 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:59.079 you might enjoy him again. That he might be with 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:01.960 you through the Spirit's effectual work in your 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:06.579 heart and your soul. Do you want that? Do you 00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:09.640 long to be in fellowship and communion with God? 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:16.160 Give up your sin. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:22.630 Don't do it. with selfish motives to get, but 00:20:22.630 --> 00:20:28.730 do it to be with God himself. That's the supreme 00:20:28.730 --> 00:20:31.829 motive for repentance in our life, that we might 00:20:31.829 --> 00:20:37.210 fellowship and commune with the living God himself. 00:20:38.130 --> 00:20:41.690 David desires fellowship with God through the 00:20:41.690 --> 00:20:46.130 Spirit, but David knows how essential the Spirit's 00:20:46.130 --> 00:20:49.700 work is in his life. He knows that if he doesn't 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:52.200 have the Spirit of God working in his life, he 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:56.619 doesn't have any hope of true restoration with 00:20:56.619 --> 00:21:01.019 that God. He knows that he has no power and no 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:04.420 ability of his own heart and his own flesh and 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:10.579 his own nature to restore himself with God. He 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:13.440 knows the importance of it. And he shows us the 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:17.200 importance of this in a couple ways. In verse 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:21.079 11, when he makes his plea for the Spirit of 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:24.319 God, notice that it is surrounded, it's walled 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:30.839 in by this subjective work. In verse 10, create 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:34.039 in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:37.660 spirit within me. Verse 12, restore to me the 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:41.460 joy of your salvation and sustain me with a willing 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:44.940 spirit. This distinct work which we saw last 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:49.069 week. This work of sanctification and purification, 00:21:49.369 --> 00:21:55.789 it's surrounding the plea for the work of the 00:21:55.789 --> 00:21:57.849 Spirit and the presence of the Spirit in his 00:21:57.849 --> 00:22:01.970 life. Why? Because the Spirit is central and 00:22:01.970 --> 00:22:06.589 essential to the work of sanctification in David's 00:22:06.589 --> 00:22:10.329 life and your life, brothers and sisters. He 00:22:10.329 --> 00:22:16.960 does it also in showing us the reality. That 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:20.640 the Spirit of God is the one who performs the 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:27.880 work in verse 10 and in verse 12. How is it that 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:33.160 a clean heart is created in David? How is it 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:37.000 that a steadfast spirit is renewed in David? 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:41.240 How is it that David is restored to the joy of 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:43.380 the Lord's salvation? How is it that David's 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:49.119 spirit... is sustained in a willing state. It's 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:52.859 through the divine and effective work of God's 00:22:52.859 --> 00:22:57.339 Spirit that dwells within us. So who is the effective 00:22:57.339 --> 00:23:01.400 worker in sanctification? The Spirit of God. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:05.420 And David knows this. He knows that if the Spirit 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:09.380 of God is not at work in him, He'll never experience 00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:11.799 the purity and the steadfastness and the joy 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:15.019 and the willing spirit that he so desires and 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:19.380 he so longs for in his heart. He knows that he'll 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:22.160 never have true restoration, true fellowship, 00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:25.160 and true communion with God unless the Spirit 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:28.640 of God is involved in it. Unless the Spirit of 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:34.000 God is working it. Unless the Spirit of God is 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:38.920 accomplishing it. The Spirit does not create 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:42.240 a clean heart in David. A clean heart will not 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:47.940 be created. If the Spirit does not renew a steadfast 00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:50.559 spirit in him, brothers and sisters, he will 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:55.720 not have a steadfast spirit within him. If the 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:58.140 Spirit himself does not restore joy in his life, 00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:02.220 he will not have joy in his life. If the Spirit 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:06.980 of God does not sustain his spirit in a willing 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:11.579 state, he will not be willing. He will not walk 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:14.880 in freedom from corruption and freedom from sin 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:19.400 and its bondage. The work of the divine spirit 00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:25.160 of God is essential to our growth in sanctification. 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:29.559 He is the ground and the basis for all of it. 00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:34.039 If he does not work, we do not experience growth. 00:24:34.829 --> 00:24:38.410 We do not become sanctified. But praise God that 00:24:38.410 --> 00:24:45.529 he is always working. Even when his effectual 00:24:45.529 --> 00:24:50.269 and gracious influence is withdrawn, we must 00:24:50.269 --> 00:24:54.690 remind ourselves that the Spirit of God is ultimately 00:24:54.690 --> 00:24:59.130 even working as he's in union with God's people. 00:25:00.329 --> 00:25:03.289 Those graces and that influence will never fully 00:25:03.289 --> 00:25:08.950 be extinguished or taken away. Because ultimately, 00:25:08.990 --> 00:25:11.690 the Spirit of God will be the one who preserves 00:25:11.690 --> 00:25:17.890 and causes the people of God to persevere unto 00:25:17.890 --> 00:25:24.690 the end. But we must also remember that we have 00:25:24.690 --> 00:25:27.849 a role to play in sanctification as well. We 00:25:27.849 --> 00:25:33.490 do something. We have to do something in this 00:25:33.490 --> 00:25:37.769 work as a response and as a result of the Spirit's 00:25:37.769 --> 00:25:43.589 work in our hearts, in our minds. We have to 00:25:43.589 --> 00:25:47.549 make several conclusions about this. Last week 00:25:47.549 --> 00:25:49.869 we spoke that Christ has made provision for the 00:25:49.869 --> 00:25:52.490 forgiveness of sins, but he's also made provision 00:25:52.490 --> 00:25:55.930 for the purification or sanctification from sins. 00:25:56.910 --> 00:26:01.609 So who is the one? who applies the provision 00:26:01.609 --> 00:26:04.710 of purification in the life of God's people, 00:26:04.890 --> 00:26:11.670 the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit plays 00:26:11.670 --> 00:26:15.509 a vital, significant, and important role in the 00:26:15.509 --> 00:26:19.789 economy of redemption. The Holy Spirit, in accordance 00:26:19.789 --> 00:26:23.630 with Christ and His will, is the one who actually 00:26:23.630 --> 00:26:28.230 makes Christ's people holy and godly in this 00:26:28.230 --> 00:26:33.529 life. He's the one who changes them from one 00:26:33.529 --> 00:26:37.670 degree of glory into the next as a part of his 00:26:37.670 --> 00:26:40.869 new covenant ministry where he works in our hearts 00:26:40.869 --> 00:26:44.750 to show us the light and knowledge of the glory 00:26:44.750 --> 00:26:49.309 of the face of Christ Jesus. So the Spirit of 00:26:49.309 --> 00:26:53.150 God is essential in the provision that God has 00:26:53.150 --> 00:26:55.990 made in redemption as a result of the work of 00:26:55.990 --> 00:26:59.920 Jesus Christ on the cross. and bringing his people 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:07.299 through the work of sanctification. But it's 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:10.920 also important because it shows us that Christ 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:16.059 has not left us to ourselves. We are in union 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:21.220 with Christ through the Spirit of God. Historically, 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:24.259 this has been referred to as the mysterious union. 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:29.380 Meaning, We are in union with the risen Lord 00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:33.839 Jesus Christ and all his work. And everything 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:37.500 he's accomplished with his person and his work. 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:42.039 And we're in union with him through the indwelling 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:46.700 presence of the Holy Spirit. Throughout scripture, 00:27:46.900 --> 00:27:48.579 there are several statements and there are several 00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:51.259 metaphors that are used to display this union 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:54.089 between Christ. and his people. In Ephesians, 00:27:54.109 --> 00:27:56.630 it's referred to as a building and a cornerstone. 00:27:56.650 --> 00:27:59.529 It's referred to as marriage. In 1 Corinthians, 00:27:59.670 --> 00:28:05.150 it's referred to as a head and a body. And in 00:28:05.150 --> 00:28:08.470 John chapter 15, it's referred to as a vine and 00:28:08.470 --> 00:28:13.529 branches. So it's representative and expressive 00:28:13.529 --> 00:28:16.970 of the reality that Christ's people are in union 00:28:16.970 --> 00:28:22.440 with Christ himself. But how is that union actualized 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:26.019 in real life, in this life, in history, in time 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:30.980 and in space, in your life and in my life? It's 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:35.640 by the indwelling presence and power of the Spirit 00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:40.859 of God. Christ is in heaven. His Spirit is on 00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:45.539 earth with His people, with the church, brothers 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:48.859 and sisters. He has not left us to ourselves. 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:55.359 to ourselves. He has given us His Spirit. This 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:57.779 work that the Spirit carries out in our lives 00:28:57.779 --> 00:29:03.140 is no ordinary work, is it? When we think about 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:06.759 sanctification and the work the Spirit of God 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:10.619 accomplishes in the life of His people, we must 00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:14.180 say it's a supernatural and divine work of God. 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:18.019 Did you know that's the work that's at work in 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:22.720 your heart and your life? That sovereign and 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:28.039 divine power are at work to change you, to transform 00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:35.220 you, to sanctify you. Supernatural and divine 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:40.599 power are at work to change your heart and to 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:44.549 free you from corruption. And they cause you 00:29:44.549 --> 00:29:46.849 to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ himself. 00:29:47.450 --> 00:29:52.309 So we say, well, why don't we see that more? 00:29:54.730 --> 00:29:57.250 If it's a divine and supernatural work where 00:29:57.250 --> 00:29:59.849 the power of Christ has extended the soul of 00:29:59.849 --> 00:30:04.789 man through the divine spirit, then why don't 00:30:04.789 --> 00:30:07.470 we see this reality that it's supernatural and 00:30:07.470 --> 00:30:11.190 it's a divine work of God? Why isn't there more 00:30:11.190 --> 00:30:14.849 spiritual vitality? Why isn't there more spiritual 00:30:14.849 --> 00:30:18.430 life? Why aren't people more consumed with their 00:30:18.430 --> 00:30:20.309 soul? Why aren't people more consumed with Christ 00:30:20.309 --> 00:30:23.009 and his kingdom? Why aren't more people faithful 00:30:23.009 --> 00:30:25.470 and more committed to the Lord Jesus Christ? 00:30:26.250 --> 00:30:28.490 Why aren't people talking about the glory of 00:30:28.490 --> 00:30:33.990 God? Why aren't people consumed with eternal 00:30:33.990 --> 00:30:40.369 things? Remember, the Spirit of God can be quenched. 00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:45.339 The Spirit of God can be grieved. The Spirit 00:30:45.339 --> 00:30:49.940 of God can be rejected and resisted. The Spirit 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:54.980 of God withdraws His influence. He pulls back 00:30:54.980 --> 00:31:00.019 from those who live and walk and think and act 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:04.059 in such a way that grieves Him. His effective 00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:08.220 power and gracious influence can be diminished 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:12.599 in the life of a person. You say, well, I don't 00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:17.220 believe that lots of people have done that. I've 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:22.000 never done that in my life. Have you gone extended 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:24.039 periods of time where you've continued in sin 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:33.500 and you failed to repent? Have you gone a long, 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:40.710 long time persevering in sin in your life? And 00:31:40.710 --> 00:31:46.470 you have not repented of that before God. Brothers 00:31:46.470 --> 00:31:50.269 and sisters, I'm not going to say you did. But 00:31:50.269 --> 00:31:52.609 you very well may have grieved the Spirit of 00:31:52.609 --> 00:31:59.509 God. I don't know. This is my opinion. But I 00:31:59.509 --> 00:32:01.670 don't think that we grieve the Spirit of God 00:32:01.670 --> 00:32:05.849 for these massively immoral sins in our lives 00:32:05.849 --> 00:32:10.240 today that much. In that we don't do those. Because 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:12.900 we live in Edwards County. We were raised in 00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:17.619 church. We know what right and what wrong is. 00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:21.380 We know we shouldn't do those things. We know 00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:25.000 we shouldn't act those ways. I shouldn't commit 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:27.640 infidelity. I know that. I was raised. I was 00:32:27.640 --> 00:32:31.099 taught that. I shouldn't have adultery like David 00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:32.859 did. I know that. I was taught that since I was 00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:34.640 a little boy, a little girl. That's wrong. I 00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:36.619 shouldn't do that. We don't do those things, 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:42.740 do we? Then how in the world do we grieve the 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:44.799 Spirit of God in our lives if we don't commit 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:47.779 these big, grievous, outlandish, open sins that 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:51.259 are public like David? We're chasing around, 00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:54.619 pouring gasoline on every other fire, but not 00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:59.519 the one that matters the most. We're consumed 00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:03.240 with everything but our souls, but eternity. 00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:07.480 We're consumed with our lives. We're consumed 00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:10.119 with our businesses. We're consumed with politics. 00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:12.119 We're consumed with this world. We're consumed 00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:14.220 with the culture. We're consumed with anything 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:17.079 and everything in our lives, but that which matters 00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:22.119 most. We're consumed with this world, and we're 00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:24.880 consumed with our jobs. We're consumed with ourselves, 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:27.440 but we're not consumed with the divine spirit 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:29.839 of God working in our souls, brothers and sisters. 00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:35.509 That's why we grieve the spirit. Because we never 00:33:35.509 --> 00:33:41.230 go back to nourish the fire. We're too busy scrolling. 00:33:43.490 --> 00:33:46.069 We're too busy reading that which is insignificant 00:33:46.069 --> 00:33:48.170 and that which doesn't matter to our souls and 00:33:48.170 --> 00:33:55.849 our lives. Brothers and sisters, nourish the 00:33:55.849 --> 00:34:00.690 fire that God has put within you. Care for the 00:34:00.690 --> 00:34:03.759 spirit of God that's within you. Nourish sanctification 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:07.539 and holiness in your life. That's what matters. 00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:11.639 Be consumed with your soul and eternity. Things 00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:15.219 that are meaningful. Things that matter. Give 00:34:15.219 --> 00:34:18.079 yourselves to Christ in this life because it's 00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:21.699 the only life that you have. You only have so 00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:24.199 much time. You only have so many days. It's about 00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:30.320 Christ. It's not about you and your world. Live 00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:32.619 for the Lord Jesus Christ and His goodness and 00:34:32.619 --> 00:34:38.940 His glory. Consider your priorities. Consider 00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:41.440 your life. Consider what's most important. Consider 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:43.940 your legacy. Consider what you want most out 00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:50.280 of this life. Is it to expand the kingdom of 00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:54.199 God and to bring glory to His name? Or is it 00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:57.639 to make it through this life? We may not do these 00:34:57.639 --> 00:35:02.829 big open... grandiose sins, but we certainly 00:35:02.829 --> 00:35:07.969 neglect the Spirit of God and the sanctification 00:35:07.969 --> 00:35:11.510 that the Spirit of God intends to work into our 00:35:11.510 --> 00:35:18.530 lives. We know what is right and wrong, but do 00:35:18.530 --> 00:35:20.550 we give our time to the Word of God as we ought 00:35:20.550 --> 00:35:26.150 to? We may not have adultery, but Do you read 00:35:26.150 --> 00:35:28.949 the Bible and pray about the Bible and pray about 00:35:28.949 --> 00:35:40.610 your life? Is your heart right? So we see the 00:35:40.610 --> 00:35:45.050 Spirit's importance to David. He's vitally important 00:35:45.050 --> 00:35:47.610 to this work of sanctification. Without him, 00:35:47.630 --> 00:35:53.110 we have no hope. We cannot be restored. We see 00:35:53.110 --> 00:35:57.570 this work that David is seeking. Thirdly, this 00:35:57.570 --> 00:36:00.130 work that David is seeking is a work in his inner 00:36:00.130 --> 00:36:04.170 moral man. Remember last week we talked about 00:36:04.170 --> 00:36:07.989 the heart and what that means? It's the inner 00:36:07.989 --> 00:36:12.889 moral man. It's our moral ability, our moral 00:36:12.889 --> 00:36:15.570 capacity. It's our moral epicenter. It's where 00:36:15.570 --> 00:36:19.909 we make all the decisions. It's that place where 00:36:19.909 --> 00:36:27.000 our will and our mind flow out of, operate. This 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:31.880 is the place that the Holy Spirit works. That's 00:36:31.880 --> 00:36:36.980 why he says, create in me a clean heart. That's 00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:39.920 why he says, renew a steadfast spirit within 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:45.860 me. The Spirit of God works internally and directly 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:52.039 in this text and in this case upon the faculties. 00:36:52.460 --> 00:36:56.119 When I say faculties, I simply mean his mind 00:36:56.119 --> 00:37:00.340 and his will and his nature. The Spirit of God 00:37:00.340 --> 00:37:05.099 works directly on his heart, directly on his 00:37:05.099 --> 00:37:09.980 spirit, without the use of means. And this is 00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:14.300 important. This work of sanctification is a work 00:37:14.300 --> 00:37:17.519 in which the Spirit of God works either directly 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:23.699 upon us or indirectly. Through other means. And 00:37:23.699 --> 00:37:28.940 those means are the Word of God, through prayer, 00:37:29.139 --> 00:37:36.380 the Lord's table, fellowship in the church, and 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:40.199 others. Here, the Spirit of God is working directly 00:37:40.199 --> 00:37:46.059 upon David's faculties. He's doing a deep internal 00:37:46.059 --> 00:37:50.889 work inside of David. So that David's whole outlook 00:37:50.889 --> 00:37:56.630 and decision -making process is affected by the 00:37:56.630 --> 00:38:01.150 work of the Spirit. But this is important. The 00:38:01.150 --> 00:38:05.449 Spirit of God does not exercise and utilize those 00:38:05.449 --> 00:38:10.590 faculties for David. And remember earlier when 00:38:10.590 --> 00:38:13.630 I said that we have a role to play in this thing 00:38:13.630 --> 00:38:16.110 called sanctification? The Spirit does what He 00:38:16.110 --> 00:38:19.869 does, and we have to do what we have to do. The 00:38:19.869 --> 00:38:24.869 Spirit works in us, exerting His power, His effective 00:38:24.869 --> 00:38:29.070 influence in our mind, in our will, in our faculties, 00:38:29.070 --> 00:38:34.809 creating, renewing, upholding, and restoring. 00:38:35.409 --> 00:38:40.730 But the Spirit does not exercise our mind and 00:38:40.730 --> 00:38:48.260 our will on our behalf. must do that. So the 00:38:48.260 --> 00:38:51.139 Spirit works, the Spirit's work that David is 00:38:51.139 --> 00:38:54.239 seeking, this work is a divine, supernatural, 00:38:54.480 --> 00:39:01.119 direct, and effective work in his life. Now lastly, 00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:05.360 we see, fourthly, the Spirit's work to be experienced 00:39:05.360 --> 00:39:12.300 by David. How is it, not how is it, but I want 00:39:12.300 --> 00:39:16.269 to reframe this question after I state it. David 00:39:16.269 --> 00:39:20.710 is conscious of the reality that he has lost 00:39:20.710 --> 00:39:24.369 a great deal of the Spirit's influence in his 00:39:24.369 --> 00:39:30.329 life. Is he not? He is. He knows that it's gone. 00:39:31.150 --> 00:39:33.829 He knows that it's not working in his life as 00:39:33.829 --> 00:39:36.469 y 'all do. He knows the condition and the layout 00:39:36.469 --> 00:39:38.750 and the geography of his own heart and his own 00:39:38.750 --> 00:39:44.079 soul. He's conscious of that reality. So if David 00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:46.880 is to experience this work from the Spirit of 00:39:46.880 --> 00:39:49.920 God, and he is to be restored to fellowship and 00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:54.760 communion with God, then how will he become conscious 00:39:54.760 --> 00:40:00.699 that the Spirit is effectively influencing him 00:40:00.699 --> 00:40:04.559 in his life? How will he know that the Spirit 00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:09.739 is working in his life? Now there's two things 00:40:09.739 --> 00:40:12.960 I need to add by way of nuance to this. We are 00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:16.039 not talking about the indwelling presence of 00:40:16.039 --> 00:40:19.280 the Spirit. We are talking about his gracious 00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:25.219 influence as a result of that indwelling. But 00:40:25.219 --> 00:40:27.119 we also have to distinguish between the conscious 00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:30.500 and the unconscious life of a believer. David 00:40:30.500 --> 00:40:33.579 is conscious that he has lost certain things 00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:37.199 in his fellowship, in his communion, in his relation 00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:40.469 to God, is he not? But that does not mean that 00:40:40.469 --> 00:40:43.849 the Spirit of God is not still working subconsciously 00:40:43.849 --> 00:40:46.130 in the life of David. He may not be aware of 00:40:46.130 --> 00:40:49.309 it. And we must be confident and we must walk 00:40:49.309 --> 00:40:54.050 in the reality that he is always at work subconsciously 00:40:54.050 --> 00:40:56.809 in the life of God's people. For instance, an 00:40:56.809 --> 00:41:02.449 example of this would be regeneration. Regeneration 00:41:02.449 --> 00:41:05.329 can be applied to the Word of God by the Spirit 00:41:05.329 --> 00:41:10.309 of God at any time he wishes. That sinner may 00:41:10.309 --> 00:41:13.409 or may not be conscious in their mind, aware 00:41:13.409 --> 00:41:16.630 and sensible of the reality that they have been 00:41:16.630 --> 00:41:22.650 regenerated by the Spirit of God. However, it 00:41:22.650 --> 00:41:27.510 will become conscious to that individual. How? 00:41:28.530 --> 00:41:35.150 Through repentance. Repentance is always a conscious 00:41:35.150 --> 00:41:41.860 act of the will. and the mind, deciding for Christ 00:41:41.860 --> 00:41:48.639 and deciding against sin. The Spirit of God's 00:41:48.639 --> 00:41:52.420 work, I think we'd be safe to say, nearly always 00:41:52.420 --> 00:41:54.880 begins in the subconscious life of the believer. 00:41:55.599 --> 00:41:58.699 But it always makes its way to the conscious 00:41:58.699 --> 00:42:03.679 life of the believer. So to answer the question 00:42:03.679 --> 00:42:06.059 of how will David go on to become conscious of 00:42:06.059 --> 00:42:10.730 this, We must say that he will experience and 00:42:10.730 --> 00:42:14.650 he will be conscious of it when he consciously 00:42:14.650 --> 00:42:18.230 exercises his mind and his will in accordance 00:42:18.230 --> 00:42:20.469 with the internal work of the divine spirit of 00:42:20.469 --> 00:42:28.570 God. So when David chooses obedience, we know 00:42:28.570 --> 00:42:33.030 he's acting in accordance with the spirit of 00:42:33.030 --> 00:42:37.809 God. When David chooses... and holiness in his 00:42:37.809 --> 00:42:40.949 life, we know he's acting in accordance with 00:42:40.949 --> 00:42:43.949 the internal work of the Spirit of God in his 00:42:43.949 --> 00:42:50.150 life. The Spirit influences and works and changes 00:42:50.150 --> 00:42:56.210 and creates in the believer. But the believer 00:42:56.210 --> 00:43:01.969 is still responsible for exercising their mind 00:43:01.969 --> 00:43:05.820 and their will in this life. as a result and 00:43:05.820 --> 00:43:09.880 as a response to the work of the Spirit within 00:43:09.880 --> 00:43:15.300 them. So brothers and sisters, how do you know 00:43:15.300 --> 00:43:17.619 if the Spirit of God is actively at work in you? 00:43:17.679 --> 00:43:19.679 How do you have fellowship and communion with 00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:26.659 God? When you actively and regularly, in a settled 00:43:26.659 --> 00:43:33.530 manner, choose Christ over corruption. when you're 00:43:33.530 --> 00:43:39.130 choosing holiness, when you actively repent of 00:43:39.130 --> 00:43:46.250 sin. That means that the application for this 00:43:46.250 --> 00:43:53.969 is simple. You and I have to use our will and 00:43:53.969 --> 00:43:58.449 use our mind for what? To set them on things 00:43:58.449 --> 00:44:03.570 of Christ. We have to use our will to obey Christ 00:44:03.570 --> 00:44:06.949 and his commands, to walk in accordance with 00:44:06.949 --> 00:44:11.329 his law. We have to use our mind to study and 00:44:11.329 --> 00:44:15.570 read and meditate on the word of God. We have 00:44:15.570 --> 00:44:19.530 to use our will to walk in obedience to the Lord 00:44:19.530 --> 00:44:23.570 Jesus Christ. Because that way we'll be working 00:44:23.570 --> 00:44:27.510 out that which he is working and willing in us. 00:44:29.639 --> 00:44:32.619 We'll be working and willing. We'll be working 00:44:32.619 --> 00:44:38.860 out our salvation that he's working in us through 00:44:38.860 --> 00:44:42.940 his divine spirit. So use your mind, brothers 00:44:42.940 --> 00:44:50.039 and sisters. Use your will. Choose to read the 00:44:50.039 --> 00:44:54.119 word of God and renew your mind. Choose to repent 00:44:54.119 --> 00:44:58.679 of sin. Use your mind and use your will to serve. 00:44:59.340 --> 00:45:04.059 the people of God, to love your neighbor as yourself, 00:45:04.340 --> 00:45:08.579 to love your children, to teach the word of God 00:45:08.579 --> 00:45:11.559 to those around you, to call others to repentance 00:45:11.559 --> 00:45:16.619 and faith. Use your mind and use your will to 00:45:16.619 --> 00:45:20.900 seek God out through prayer. We respond to his 00:45:20.900 --> 00:45:26.019 work by exercising the faculties which he influences. 00:45:26.989 --> 00:45:30.650 inside of us through his divine spirit. So we've 00:45:30.650 --> 00:45:33.510 seen the spirit grieved, the spirit's importance, 00:45:33.570 --> 00:45:36.650 and the spirit's work in David. We've seen the 00:45:36.650 --> 00:45:40.090 spirit's work to be experienced by David. May 00:45:40.090 --> 00:45:45.289 God, through Christ, be gracious to us and help 00:45:45.289 --> 00:45:47.349 us in sanctification.