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Acts 14 - Part 1 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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We are back in the book of Acts after a six week break for the Advent season and New Year's.
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We're back at our verse by verse exposition. I'm excited for that. I hope that you are as well.
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Get to Acts chapter 14. Take something, your finger, your ribbon marker.
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Maybe there's a way to save it on your device if that's the way you're doing it.
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Mark Acts chapter 14. There's a bit of a typo on your bulletin, which was not Andy's fault.
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It's my fault because I decided late yesterday afternoon that we're going to look at Acts chapter 14 all together.
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Not all today, but we're going to look at it in its entirety across the coming weeks.
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And so it's going to be the text for today is Acts chapter 14 and we're going to address some points and move on.
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But before we do that, I want us to look at Acts chapter 1.
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Mark Acts chapter 14. I want you to go back to Acts chapter 1 with me.
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There's some other places I want you to turn as well.
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Because it's important for us to remember, right, it's been some time since the first start of our study in Acts, right?
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When we started in Acts chapter 1, it's been some time.
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So time has passed.
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And I want to remind you that the book of Acts is Luke's second volume.
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First, he wrote the Gospel of Luke, which is his account of Jesus' earthly ministry.
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The book of Acts is Luke's account of Jesus' heavenly ministry.
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So the Gospel of Luke, Luke's earthly ministry.
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The book of Acts, Luke's account of Jesus' heavenly ministry.
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It's most commonly known as the Acts of the Apostles.
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I think it would more aptly be called the Acts of the Risen Jesus Christ.
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Jesus acts as our risen Savior by the agency of the Holy Spirit in the lives of his followers.
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And that's what Luke is recording for us here.
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In the book of Acts, we see the repetition of the phrases full of the Holy Spirit
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and filled with the Holy Spirit throughout Luke's record.
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Let me give you some examples if you're taking notes.
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It's chapter 2, verse 4.
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Chapter 4, verse 8, and verse 31.
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Chapter 5, verse 3.
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Chapter 6, verse 3, and verse 5.
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Chapter 7, verse 55.
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Chapter 9, verse 17.
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Chapter 11, verse 24.
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Chapter 13, verse 9 is bringing us up to where we are.
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And there are some more places beyond our text today.
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But then at the very end of chapter 13, in verse 52, Luke writes this.
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And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
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I suggest to you this morning that we carry that knowledge,
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that Luke intends for us to carry that as he's pinning this record,
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that they were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit into this next account.
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So fix that in your mind, right?
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The disciples filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit
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as we are progressing into chapter 14.
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But before we get there, before we get into chapter 14 this morning,
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I would like to ask and answer two questions concerning
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being filled or being full of the Holy Spirit
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by way of reminder for those of you who were with us
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when we began our study of Acts
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and to catch up those of you who were not.
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Okay, so you're in Acts chapter 1.
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The very first question,
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what is the baptism of the Holy Spirit
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that Jesus promises in chapter 1, verse 5?
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Beginning in verse 4, we can read,
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and while staying with them, he, this is Jesus,
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ordered them, the disciples,
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not to depart from Jerusalem,
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but to wait for the promise of the Father,
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which he said, you heard from me,
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for John baptized with water,
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but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit
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not many days from now.
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So what is this baptism of the Holy Spirit
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that Jesus promises in chapter 1, verse 5?
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To answer that question,
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let's look at how this phrase is used in the New Testament.
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In its entirety, it's only used seven times
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in the New Testament.
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It occurs four times as the prediction
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of John the Baptist concerning Jesus, the Christ.
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So four of those seven times,
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one example, Matthew 3, verse 11.
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John the baptizer said,
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I baptize you with water for repentance,
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but he who is coming after me
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is mightier than I,
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whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.
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He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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You can find similar predictions made by John the Baptist,
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Mark 1, 8, Luke 3, 16, John 1, 33.
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So in each of the gospel accounts,
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John says something to this effect,
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four of the seven times.
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The next two passages refer directly
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to the day of Pentecost.
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So speaking in both forward tense, Acts 1, 5, right?
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Jesus says, this is going to happen.
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You will be baptized.
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And then Acts 11, verse 16,
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Peter refers back to this promise that Christ made,
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Acts 1, verse 5.
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I hope you're tracking me right now.
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Peter says this,
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and I remembered the word of the Lord,
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how he said,
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John baptized with water,
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but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
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The only other reference,
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so we've taken care of six of the seven,
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the only other reference,
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and it is a variation of this statement.
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It's found in the New Testament,
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1 Corinthians 12, verses 12 and 13.
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After Paul has spoken about various spiritual gifts,
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he says,
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For just as the body is one and has many members,
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and all the members of the body,
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though many,
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are one body,
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so it is with Christ.
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For in one Spirit,
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we were all baptized into one body.
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Jews or Greeks,
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slaves or free,
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and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
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The Spirit, right?
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1 Corinthians 12, 12 and 13.
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The Spirit was the element
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in which the Corinthian believers,
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Paul's saying believers everywhere,
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have been baptized in the Spirit
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as the element they were baptized into, right?
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Which moved them positionally into the church.
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I encourage you to look at 1 Corinthians 12, 12 and 13
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with that in mind later on, right?
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The Spirit was the element
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in which they were baptized,
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and that baptism moved them positionally
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into the church.
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They were baptized in the Spirit
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and found themselves in the church.
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This is confirmed in other places.
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Paul says in Romans 8 and 9,
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anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ
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does not belong to Him.
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So, to be baptized in the Holy Spirit
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is to be regenerate.
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To be baptized in the Holy Spirit
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is to be regenerate.
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If you have believed in Christ,
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you've been made a new creation.
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And this is baptism in the Holy Spirit.
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With that said,
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I do not believe that disciples were converted
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at this point in Acts chapter 2, right?
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We come to the beginning of Acts chapter 2
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in the day of Pentecost.
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Because they'd already given many evidences
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of repentance and faith.
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We find ourselves in this interesting
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in-between time
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with the way in which God is working
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in the world by His Spirit.
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I think it's important to remember
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that we are observing the transition,
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Acts chapter 1 and Acts chapter 2,
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between two economies of the Holy Spirit.
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It's moving from one way of functioning
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to another way of functioning.
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So, I do not think that the promise
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in 1.5
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that the disciples will be baptized
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with the Holy Spirit
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not many days from now,
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and the fact
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that they were all filled
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with the Holy Spirit
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in chapter 2, verse 4.
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So, if you look at chapter 2, verse 4,
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are synonymous.
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Baptized in the Spirit
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and filled with the Spirit
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are not synonymous,
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but rather that they both happened.
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Right?
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Chapter 2, verse 4,
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they were baptized
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and filled.
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Baptized into the church,
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unified by the gift of the Spirit,
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and they were filled
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with the Holy Spirit.
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And then we see the results of that
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as they speak on the day of Pentecost
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in many tongues.
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Okay?
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So, I hope you're with me.
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What does it mean?
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What is meant by the promise of Jesus
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that they will be baptized
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with the Spirit?
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This thing happens to them.
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They're unified.
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They're drawn into the church together.
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But this is not
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the same as being filled with the Spirit.
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Right?
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We're not like so many these days.
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Right?
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Not recognizing that we're saved
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unless we do some
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externally miraculous thing.
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Right?
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If we have believed in Christ,
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that is the miracle
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that finds us in the church.
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Right?
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That is the baptism of the Spirit.
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We have been changed.
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Therefore, we believe.
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Right?
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This is the baptism of the Spirit.
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Right?
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Second question.
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What is meant by
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they were all filled
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with the Holy Spirit?
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In chapter 2, verse 4.
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Okay?
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So, not synonymous with baptized.
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Baptism of the Spirit
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is to be regenerate.
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Right?
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To be called gods in Christ.
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So, what is meant by
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they were filled
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with the Holy Spirit?
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In chapter 2, verse 4.
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The primary role
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of the Spirit of God
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is the exaltation
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of Jesus Christ
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in the salvation
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and perfection
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of His church.
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This is the primary role.
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He does this in many ways.
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But the primary role
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of the Spirit of God
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is the exaltation
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of Jesus Christ
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in the salvation
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and perfection
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of His church.
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Let me give you
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one textual proof.
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If you'd like to go there
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with me,
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you're welcome to.
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Ephesians chapter 3,
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beginning in verse 14.
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Paul writes
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to the Ephesian believers,
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For this reason
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I bow my knees
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before the Father,
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from whom every family
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in heaven
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and on earth is named,
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that according
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to the riches
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of His glory
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He may grant you
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to be strengthened
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with power
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through His Spirit
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in your inner being.
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Why?
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Verse 17.
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Why?
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Why is Paul praying
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that they would be strengthened
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by the power of the Spirit?
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Verse 17.
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So that Christ
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may dwell in your hearts
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through faith,
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that you being rooted
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and grounded in love
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may have strength
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to comprehend
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with all the saints
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what is the breadth
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and length
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and height and depth,
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and to know
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the love of Christ
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that surpasses knowledge,
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that you may be filled
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with all the fullness
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of God.
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So Paul's prayer,
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my summary,
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Paul's prayer
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is that they would be
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strengthened with power
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through the Spirit of God
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so that Christ
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would be exalted
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in their hearts,
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that they would comprehend
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the sacrifice
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that He made
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on their behalf.
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The Spirit of God
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is often called
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the shy spirit.
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His job is not
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to exalt Himself.
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His job is to exalt
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the risen Christ.
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Martin Lloyd-Jones,
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one of the
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old dead guys
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that we love,
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wrote this,
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of this text,
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the Spirit does not
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glorify Himself,
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He glorifies the Son.
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This is,
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to me,
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one of the most amazing
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and remarkable things
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about the biblical doctrine
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of the Holy Spirit.
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The Holy Spirit
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seems to hide Himself
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and to conceal Himself.
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He is always,
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as it were,
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putting the focus
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on the Son.
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And that is why
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I believe,
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and I believe profoundly,
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that the best test
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of all
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as to whether we have
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received the Spirit
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is to ask ourselves,
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what do we think of?
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And what do we know
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about the Son?
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Is the Son real to us?
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That is the work
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of the Spirit.
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He is glorified
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indirectly.
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He is always
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pointing us
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to the Son.
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And so,
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you see how easily
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we go astray
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and become heretical
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if we concentrate
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over much
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and in an unscriptural manner
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upon the Spirit Himself.
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Yes,
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we must realize
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that He dwells within us,
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but His work
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in dwelling within us
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is to glorify the Son
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and to bring to us
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that blessed knowledge
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of the Son
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and His wondrous love
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to us.
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It is He
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who strengthens us
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with the might
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in the inner man
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that we may know
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this love,
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this love
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of Christ.
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So,
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the primary role
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of the Spirit of God
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is the exaltation
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of Jesus Christ
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in the salvation
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and perfection
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of His church.
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And,
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the primary means
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that He uses
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to accomplish this
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is the Word of God
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believed and spoken
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by the people of God.
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The primary way
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that the Spirit of God
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does this work
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of the salvation
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and perfection
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of the church
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of Jesus Christ
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is the Word of God
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believed and spoken
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by the people
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of God.
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So,
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now,
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we are one time
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baptized
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in the Holy Spirit,
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but it is possible
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as a follower
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of Jesus
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to be full
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of the Spirit
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or to not
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be full
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of the Spirit.
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This can be
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an ongoing
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fluctuation
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in the life
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of a believer.
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We have the Spirit,
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but it is possible
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to be filled
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or full
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of the Spirit
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or to not be filled
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or full
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of the Spirit.
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This is why
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Paul exhorts
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the Ephesian believers
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to be filled
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with the Spirit
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in Ephesians chapter 5.
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So,
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please do turn there
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with me.
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Ephesians chapter 5.
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You're going to need
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another bookmark
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or another finger.
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Some fancy Bibles
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have multiple
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ribbon markers.
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Hebrews.
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So,
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Paul is giving
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exhortation,
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a strong command
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to the Ephesian
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believers here.
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Ephesians chapter 5,
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beginning in verse 18.
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He says,
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and do not
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get drunk
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with wine,
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for that is
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debauchery,
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but be filled
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with the Spirit.
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There's a command
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given here.
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Be filled
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with the Spirit.
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And I would suggest
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to you
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that therefore
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there's some activity
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on our part
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in the work
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of sanctification
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that Paul says
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to us,
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be filled.
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We should be
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able to be filled
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with the Spirit.
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And there's going
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to be some things
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that are going
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to result from this,
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right?
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Verse 19
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through 25.
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I'm going to fly
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through it really quickly.
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Addressing one another.
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Being filled
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with the Spirit
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means we will
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address one another
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in psalms and hymns
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and spiritual songs,
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singing and making
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melody to the Lord
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with your heart,
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giving thanks
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always and for
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everything to God
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the Father
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in the name
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of our Lord
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Jesus Christ.
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Verse 21.
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Submitting to one another
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out of reverence
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for Christ.
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Wives,
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submit to your own
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husbands as to the Lord.
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For the husband
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is the head of the wife,
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even as Christ
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is the head of the church,
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his body,
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and is himself
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its Savior.
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Verse 24.
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Now as the church
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submits to Christ,
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so also wives
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should submit in everything
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to their husbands.
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Husbands,
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love your wives
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as Christ loved the church
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and gave himself
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up for her.
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And it goes on.
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So there's these outflows,
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these results
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of being filled
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with the Spirit.
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Christian living.
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We do the things.
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We're obedient
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to the high calling
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of God
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in Christ
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that's laid out
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for us in the Scripture.
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We're able to do
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these things
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because we are,
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in fact,
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filled with the Spirit.
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But it's still
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a little abstract
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at that point,
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is it not?
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Like,
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so what does it mean?
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How is it that
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I'm filled
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with the Spirit?
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Keep your finger
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in Ephesians chapter 5.
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It's going to get
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challenging now,
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I know.
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And turn to Colossians
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chapter 3.
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There's a parallel text
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in Colossians chapter 3
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to Ephesians 5,
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18 through 25.
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Beginning in verse 16.
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This is shorter.
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Beginning in verse 16.
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And I'm going to pick up
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halfway through it.
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You may track my logic
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if you're paying
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careful attention.
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But halfway through,
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Paul says,
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teaching
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and admonishing
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one another
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in all wisdom,
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singing,
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this should sound familiar,
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psalms and hymns
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and spiritual songs,
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with thankfulness
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in your hearts
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to God.
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And whatever you do
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in word or deed,
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do everything
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in the name
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of the Lord Jesus,
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giving thanks
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to God the Father
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through Him.
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Wives submit
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to your husbands
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as is fitting
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in the Lord.
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Husbands,
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love your wives
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and do not be harsh
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with them.
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So parallel thing,
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he's walking through
16:56
the same things,
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the same results
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of what it means
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in Ephesians chapter 5
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to be filled
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with the Spirit.
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Right?
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Are you tracking me?
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You can flip back and forth.
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I'm okay with that
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if I hear flipping.
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Right?
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Notice the parallels
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between the two.
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But there's a difference.
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In Colossians chapter 3,
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the beginning of verse 16,
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he says something different
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than be filled
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with the Spirit.
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What does he say?
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Let the Word of Christ
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dwell in you richly.
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So,
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take from this,
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from these two texts,
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that to be filled
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with the Spirit
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is to let the Word of Christ
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dwell in us
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richly.
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And there's a lot
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of meditation
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that could happen
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on that.
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What does it mean
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for the Word of God
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to dwell in me richly?
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Certainly,
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it starts with
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reading the Word of God.
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Okay?
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We're not going to go
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too much beyond that today.
17:44
Right?
17:45
But reading it,
17:46
picking it up regularly,
17:47
knowing the Word of God
17:48
is a starting point
17:50
for letting the Word of God
17:50
dwell in you
17:52
richly.
17:54
Now,
17:55
if that's just far
17:55
too abstract for you,
17:56
right?
17:57
If you go,
17:57
oh,
17:57
come on,
17:57
Nathan.
17:58
You're drawing
17:59
some major connections
18:01
between the two.
18:03
I defend
18:03
they're good connections.
18:05
But it helps,
18:06
I think,
18:06
to go to another text.
18:07
So,
18:08
Romans chapter 8.
18:09
You'll want to go there too.
18:09
Romans chapter 8.
18:10
verses 5 through 9.
18:17
And I'll apologize to you
18:18
if I'm moving too fast for you,
18:20
but I know how long my notes are.
18:23
So,
18:23
you don't know that,
18:24
I know that,
18:25
but I'm trying to push,
18:26
push back to Acts chapter 14
18:27
and to the text itself today.
18:32
I think this is so important,
18:33
though,
18:34
as we walk into Acts 14,
18:35
right?
18:35
They're filled with the Spirit.
18:36
What happens,
18:38
right?
18:38
Acts chapter 14.
18:39
Paul and Barnabas go
18:40
and they're filled with the Spirit.
18:41
What happens?
18:42
What's the result of them
18:43
being filled with the Spirit?
18:45
Okay,
18:45
so Romans chapter 8,
18:46
verses 5 through 9.
18:47
So,
18:48
right at the outset here,
19:00
Paul is drawing this dichotomy,
19:02
right?
19:02
You're in one of these two categories,
19:04
right?
19:04
If you live according to the flesh,
19:05
you set your mind on things of the flesh.
19:07
If you live according to the Spirit,
19:08
you set your mind
19:09
on the things of the Spirit.
19:11
Verse 6.
19:11
For to set the mind on the flesh is death,
19:14
but to set the mind on the Spirit
19:15
is life and peace.
19:18
For the mind that is set on the flesh
19:20
is hostile toward God,
19:22
for it does not submit to God's law.
19:24
Indeed,
19:25
it cannot.
19:27
Those who are in the flesh
19:29
cannot please God.
19:30
So,
19:31
stated rather strongly in the negative,
19:33
right?
19:33
The person who is not a follower of Jesus Christ,
19:35
does not have the Spirit of God,
19:37
cannot set their mind on the things of God,
19:39
right?
19:39
And the result of that
19:40
is that they cannot keep the law.
19:42
They're incapable of doing that,
19:44
and they cannot please God.
19:45
So,
19:46
what is the adverse,
19:47
right?
19:47
If you took this
19:48
and stated in the positive,
19:49
then,
19:50
those who are in Christ,
19:51
who have the Spirit of God,
19:53
who set their minds
19:54
on the things of the Spirit,
19:56
can keep the law,
19:58
can be obedient,
20:00
and therefore please God.
20:03
So,
20:04
are you catching the connection here?
20:05
The Christian life
20:06
is a very mindful life.
20:10
Our minds are constantly active,
20:12
set on the things of the Spirit.
20:14
But what are the things of the Spirit?
20:20
The book that he inspired,
20:23
the closed canon,
20:25
that he gave us this text.
20:28
He set on mine.
20:29
So,
20:29
are you with me now?
20:31
Does Romans 8,
20:32
5 and 9 cap that off for you?
20:33
I hope it does.
20:34
I hope it does.
20:35
I don't have time to convince you further.
20:36
So,
20:37
the primary role
20:37
of the Spirit of God
20:39
is the exaltation of Jesus Christ
20:40
and the salvation
20:41
and perfection of his church.
20:42
And the primary means
20:44
that he uses to accomplish this
20:45
is the Word of God
20:46
believed and spoken
20:47
by the people of God.
20:50
I'll email that to you
20:51
if you want it later.
20:52
There's a wonderful quote.
20:55
I've used it multiple times
20:56
since we started studying Acts,
20:58
but I'm going to read it to you
20:58
one more time.
20:59
Dan Phillips,
21:00
who is a contemporary pastor,
21:01
said this,
21:02
Show me a person
21:03
obsessed with the Holy Spirit
21:04
and his gifts,
21:05
real or imagined,
21:06
and I will show you
21:07
a person not filled
21:08
with the Holy Spirit.
21:10
Show me a person
21:11
focused on the person
21:12
and work of Jesus Christ,
21:13
never tiring of learning about him,
21:15
thinking about him,
21:16
boasting of him,
21:18
speaking about and for and to him,
21:20
thrilled and entranced
21:21
with his perfections and beauty,
21:23
finding ways to serve
21:24
and exalt him,
21:25
tirelessly exploring ways
21:26
to spend and be spent for him,
21:28
growing in character
21:29
to be more and more like him,
21:31
and I will show you
21:32
a person who is filled
21:33
with the Holy Spirit.
21:36
Recall Acts chapter 13,
21:39
verse 52,
21:41
and the disciples were filled
21:43
with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
21:46
And yes, you can take your fingers
21:47
out of all those spots,
21:48
and let's observe an episode
21:50
in Jesus' heavenly ministry
21:51
by the agency of the Holy Spirit
21:54
in the lives of his followers.
21:57
Beginning in verse 1
21:59
of Acts chapter 14.
22:01
Now at Iconium,
22:06
they entered together
22:07
into the Jewish synagogue
22:09
and spoke in such a way
22:11
that a great number
22:12
of both Jews and Greeks believed.
22:15
But the unbelieving Jews
22:16
stirred up the Gentiles
22:17
and poisoned their minds
22:19
against the brothers.
22:20
So they remained for a long time,
22:23
speaking boldly for the Lord,
22:25
who bore witness
22:25
to the word of his grace,
22:28
granting signs and wonders
22:29
to be done by their hands.
22:31
But the people of the city
22:32
were divided.
22:33
Some sided with the Jews
22:34
and some with the apostles.
22:36
When an attempt was made
22:37
by both Gentiles and Jews
22:39
with their rulers
22:39
to mistreat them
22:40
and to stone them,
22:42
they learned of it
22:43
and fled to Lystra
22:44
and Derbe,
22:45
cities of Lycaania
22:47
and to the surrounding country.
22:49
And there they continued
22:50
to preach the gospel.
22:52
Now at Lystra,
22:53
there was a man sitting
22:54
who could not use his feet.
22:56
He was crippled from birth
22:57
and had never walked.
22:59
He listened to Paul speaking
23:00
and Paul,
23:02
looking intently at him
23:03
and seeing that he had faith
23:04
to be met well,
23:05
said in a loud voice,
23:07
stand upright on your feet.
23:09
And he sprang up
23:11
and began walking.
23:12
When the crowd saw
23:13
what Paul had done,
23:14
they lifted up their voices,
23:16
saying in Lycauanian,
23:18
the gods have come down to us
23:20
in the likeness of men.
23:23
Barnabas they called Zeus
23:24
and Paul Hermes
23:26
because he was the chief speaker.
23:28
And the priest of Zeus,
23:29
whose temple was at the entrance
23:31
to the city,
23:32
brought oxen and garlands
23:33
to the gates
23:33
and wanted to offer sacrifice
23:35
with the crowds.
23:36
But when the apostles Barnabas
23:38
and Paul heard of it,
23:43
they tore their garments
23:44
and rushed out into the crowd,
23:45
crying out,
23:46
Men, why are you doing these things?
23:49
We also are men
23:51
of like nature with you.
23:52
And we bring you good news
23:54
that you should turn
23:55
from these vain things
23:56
to a living God
23:57
who made the heaven
23:58
and the earth
23:59
and the sea
24:00
and all that is in them.
24:02
In past generations,
24:03
he allowed all the nations
24:04
to walk in their own ways.
24:06
Yet he did not leave himself
24:08
without witness,
24:09
for he did good
24:10
by giving you rains from heaven
24:12
and fruitful seasons,
24:14
satisfying your hearts
24:15
with food and gladness.
24:18
Even with these words,
24:19
they scarcely restrain the people
24:21
from offering sacrifice to them.
24:23
But Jews came from Antioch
24:25
and Iconium
24:26
and having persuaded the crowds,
24:28
they stoned Paul
24:29
and dragged him out of the city,
24:31
supposing that he was dead.
24:33
But when the disciples
24:34
gathered about him,
24:35
he rose up
24:36
and entered the city
24:37
and on the next day
24:38
he went on with Barnabas
24:40
to Derbe.
24:41
When they had preached
24:41
the gospel to that city
24:43
and had made many disciples,
24:44
they returned to Lystra
24:45
and to Iconium
24:46
and to Antioch,
24:47
strengthening the souls
24:48
of the disciples,
24:49
encouraging them
24:50
to continue in the faith
24:51
and saying that
24:52
through many tribulations
24:53
we must enter
24:54
the kingdom of God.
24:55
When they had appointed elders
24:56
for them in every church
24:57
with prayer and fasting,
24:59
they committed them
25:00
to the Lord
25:00
in whom they had believed.
25:02
Then they passed through Pisidia
25:04
and came to Pamphylia.
25:06
When they had spoken the word
25:07
in Perga,
25:08
they went down to Italia
25:09
and from there
25:11
they sailed to Antioch
25:12
where they had been commended
25:13
to the grace of God
25:14
for the work
25:14
that they had fulfilled.
25:16
And when they arrived
25:17
and gathered the church together,
25:18
they declared all that God
25:20
had done with them
25:20
and how he had opened
25:21
a door of faith
25:22
to the Gentiles
25:23
and they remained
25:24
no little time
25:25
with the disciples.
25:28
Beloved,
25:28
this is God's word to us
25:30
written for his glory
25:32
and our good.
25:33
We would all do well
25:34
to listen to it
25:35
in order to believe
25:36
its promises
25:36
and obey its commands.
25:39
Our study in this chapter
25:41
is going to be structured
25:43
along the following
25:44
seven points.
25:46
I'm going to do my very best
25:47
to get through
25:48
the first three this morning,
25:49
although that's looking
25:50
dismal already.
25:52
If I'm unable
25:53
in a very MacArthurian way,
25:58
MacArthurian, yep,
25:58
that works.
26:00
I'm going to roll
26:01
the points I can't make
26:02
into next week
26:03
and maybe the week
26:04
after that.
26:05
But this will be
26:06
the structure
26:06
for our study
26:08
of Acts chapter 14.
26:11
The person who is filled
26:12
with the Spirit,
26:14
number one,
26:15
is fruitful.
26:17
Number two,
26:18
is opposed.
26:21
Number three,
26:22
speaks boldly.
26:25
Number four,
26:26
acts humbly.
26:27
Number five,
26:30
develops disciples.
26:33
Number six,
26:34
is committed.
26:36
And number seven,
26:38
loves fellowship.
26:41
So seven points.
26:44
Let's start with the first one.
26:46
The person who is filled
26:47
with the Spirit
26:47
is fruitful.
26:50
On your bulletin this morning,
26:52
it was included
26:52
a Charles Spurgeon quote.
26:53
Spurgeon once said,
26:55
there will never be
26:55
any mighty work
26:56
come from us
26:57
unless there is first
26:58
a mighty work
26:59
in us.
27:01
No man truly labors
27:02
for souls
27:03
unless the Holy Spirit
27:04
has first worked
27:05
mightily in him.
27:06
Now as soon as I say,
27:09
the person who is filled
27:10
with the Spirit
27:11
is fruitful,
27:12
if you're a good student
27:13
of the Bible,
27:14
you may think
27:15
that I am preaching
27:16
from the wrong text.
27:17
You may think,
27:18
wait a minute,
27:18
this is not Galatians chapter 5
27:20
verses 22 through 24
27:23
which says,
27:23
the fruit of the Spirit
27:24
is love,
27:25
joy,
27:25
peace,
27:25
patience,
27:26
kindness,
27:26
goodness,
27:27
faithfulness,
27:28
gentleness,
27:29
self-control.
27:30
Against such things,
27:31
there is no law.
27:33
I'm essentially saying
27:35
the fruit is different
27:37
than these fruits.
27:39
Why am I able to do that?
27:42
In Galatians chapter 5,
27:43
Paul talks about fruits
27:44
that are motivational fruits.
27:47
Fruits that generate activity.
27:51
He goes on in verse 24
27:52
of Galatians 5,
27:53
and those who belong
27:54
to Christ Jesus
27:55
have crucified the flesh
27:58
with its passions
28:00
and desires.
28:01
desires.
28:02
So the fruit of the Spirit
28:03
are these replacement
28:05
passions and desires.
28:07
And those passions
28:08
and desires
28:08
generate work.
28:11
Things that we do
28:13
as a result
28:14
of these passions
28:15
and desires.
28:16
So when I say
28:17
the person
28:17
who is filled with the Spirit
28:19
is fruitful,
28:20
I mean in the Mark
28:21
chapter 4,
28:22
verse 20 sense,
28:23
parable of the sower.
28:25
But those that were sown
28:27
on the good soil
28:28
are the ones
28:29
who hear the Word
28:29
and accept it
28:30
and bear fruit
28:31
thirtyfold
28:32
and sixtyfold
28:34
and a hundredfold.
28:36
God intends to save
28:38
His people
28:38
and He uses the proclamation
28:40
of His Word
28:41
to accomplish this.
28:44
Due to being filled
28:46
with the Spirit,
28:47
Paul and Barnabas
28:49
are fruitful
28:50
in their ministry.
28:51
They see conversions.
28:54
Right?
28:54
Verse 1.
28:56
We see the very evidence
28:57
of this right
28:58
in the first verse
28:59
that they speak
29:01
in such a way
29:02
that a great number
29:03
of both Jews
29:05
and Greeks
29:06
believed.
29:09
And the temptation
29:09
at this point
29:10
is to quickly say
29:11
what is this way
29:12
that they spoke in?
29:13
Right?
29:13
What is this such a way
29:15
that they spoke in?
29:16
And to falsely think
29:18
that it was some methodology
29:19
on their part
29:21
to see people
29:21
converted to Christ.
29:23
There are a lot of people
29:24
these days
29:24
that teach lots of methods
29:26
to share the gospel
29:27
of Jesus Christ.
29:28
But beloved,
29:29
the gospel of Jesus Christ
29:30
is the power
29:32
of salvation.
29:34
We preach the gospel.
29:35
The Spirit of God
29:36
uses the gospel
29:37
to bring about those
29:38
He intends
29:39
to believe.
29:41
We can be sure
29:42
that Paul
29:43
didn't do
29:43
some fancy thing.
29:45
There were no
29:45
parlor tricks.
29:47
Even as he pleaded
29:48
with them
29:49
to place their faith
29:50
in Christ
29:51
and he writes a bit of this
29:52
to the Corinthian church
29:53
in 1 Corinthians 2
29:54
verses 1-5.
29:56
He says,
29:56
And when I came to you,
29:57
brothers,
29:58
did not come proclaiming
29:59
to you the testimony
29:59
of God with lofty speech
30:01
or wisdom,
30:02
for I decided to do
30:03
nothing among you
30:04
except Jesus Christ
30:05
and Him crucified.
30:06
And I was with you
30:07
in weakness
30:07
and in fear
30:08
and much trembling
30:09
and my speech
30:10
and my message
30:11
were not in plausible
30:12
words of wisdom
30:13
but in demonstration
30:15
of the Spirit
30:16
and of power.
30:19
So the way
30:20
that he came
30:20
and can we not
30:21
come alongside Paul
30:24
and say,
30:24
yes,
30:25
I feel the same
30:26
weakness
30:26
and fear
30:28
and trembling
30:29
in the mission
30:30
of God
30:30
in my life.
30:33
Paul didn't try
30:34
to dress that up.
30:36
He just spoke
30:38
the Gospel
30:39
in demonstration
30:40
of the Spirit
30:41
and of power.
30:42
And then he says
30:43
in verse 5
30:43
of 1 Corinthians 2,
30:44
so that your faith
30:46
might not rest
30:47
in the wisdom
30:48
of men
30:48
but in the power
30:50
of God.
30:53
There are many
30:54
preachers today
30:56
who think
30:57
that if they craft
30:58
the perfect sermon
31:00
it will generate
31:00
results.
31:02
And it will
31:03
of a certain kind.
31:05
I am deeply aware
31:07
and I don't always
31:08
function out of this
31:09
reality
31:09
but I am deeply aware
31:10
that if I preach
31:12
the Gospel
31:13
of Jesus Christ,
31:14
God will change
31:15
people's hearts.
31:18
I with Paul
31:19
say of Romans
31:20
1.16,
31:22
for I am not ashamed
31:22
of the Gospel
31:23
for it is the power
31:23
of God for salvation
31:24
to everyone
31:25
who believes.
31:28
So the,
31:29
such a way
31:30
that Paul
31:31
and Barnabas
31:32
are speaking
31:33
is that they are
31:34
filled
31:35
with the Spirit
31:36
and they are fruitful.
31:38
They are fruitful
31:39
at Iconium.
31:41
We can see
31:42
that the,
31:43
first that these
31:45
great number
31:46
of Jews
31:46
and Greeks
31:47
believe
31:48
and then when
31:49
an attempt
31:49
was made
31:50
by both Gentiles
31:51
and Jews
31:51
is verse 5
31:52
to mistreat them
31:54
and to stone them.
31:55
They learn of it.
31:56
This is not
31:57
a matter of cowardice.
31:58
This is a matter
31:59
of prudence.
32:00
And they flee
32:01
to a region,
32:02
Lystra,
32:02
Derbe,
32:03
cities of Lycaonia.
32:05
Verse 7 says,
32:06
and there
32:07
they continued
32:08
to preach
32:09
the Gospel.
32:10
They continue
32:11
to preach
32:12
and they continue
32:13
to be fruitful.
32:15
In Lystra,
32:16
after Paul
32:16
is stoned
32:17
and presumed
32:17
dead,
32:19
which Luke
32:19
mentions in
32:20
such passing
32:20
way,
32:22
verse 20,
32:24
but when the
32:24
disciples gathered
32:25
around him.
32:28
This is new
32:28
territory.
32:29
Remember,
32:29
beloved,
32:30
Paul and Barnabas
32:31
go to Lystra.
32:32
There they are
32:33
proclaiming the
32:34
Gospel of Jesus
32:35
Christ.
32:36
We get no
32:36
record of converts.
32:38
converts.
32:39
The story about
32:40
them being praised
32:41
as Zeus
32:42
and Hermes.
32:43
But when
32:44
he's stoned
32:45
and drug out
32:46
of the city,
32:47
there's a group
32:47
of disciples
32:48
that gather
32:48
around him.
32:49
Followers of
32:50
Jesus are there
32:51
gathered around
32:52
him when he
32:52
stands back up.
32:54
So there's
32:54
fruit in Lystra.
32:55
There's also
32:55
fruit in Derbe.
32:57
When they had
32:57
preached the Gospel
32:58
to that city,
32:59
this is verse 21,
33:00
and had made
33:01
many disciples.
33:05
So the person
33:05
who was filled
33:06
with the Spirit
33:07
is fruitful.
33:11
But you may
33:11
not be fruitful
33:13
in exactly
33:13
the same
33:14
measure.
33:16
I am not
33:17
this morning
33:17
suggesting
33:18
that if your
33:19
life doesn't
33:20
look like the
33:21
life of Paul
33:21
and Barnabas
33:22
on their first
33:23
missionary journey,
33:25
that you were
33:25
not Spirit-filled.
33:26
It's not what
33:27
I'm suggesting
33:27
this morning.
33:30
But what I am
33:30
suggesting is that
33:31
the person who
33:32
is filled with
33:33
the Spirit
33:33
will be used
33:34
by God
33:35
for the exaltation
33:36
of Jesus Christ.
33:38
And that,
33:38
in some measure,
33:40
this means you
33:41
will make
33:42
disciples of
33:43
Jesus Christ.
33:45
This means there
33:46
needs to be
33:47
the evidencing
33:48
of the Spirit
33:49
of God
33:50
filling your life.
33:51
You need to be
33:51
seeing people
33:52
come to faith
33:54
in some measure.
33:57
Remember Mark
33:58
4.20.
33:58
I read it to you
33:59
a bit ago.
34:00
Those that were
34:01
sown on the good
34:02
soil.
34:03
Beloved,
34:04
are you good soil?
34:04
are the ones
34:05
who hear the Word
34:06
and accept it
34:08
and bear fruit.
34:10
We're given
34:10
some categories.
34:11
I don't think
34:12
they're meant
34:12
to be strict
34:12
categories.
34:13
30-fold
34:14
and 60-fold
34:15
and 100-fold.
34:17
Paul and Barnabas
34:18
certainly are
34:18
our 100-fold
34:19
category.
34:20
We need,
34:21
as followers
34:22
of Jesus Christ,
34:22
to fall
34:23
somewhere
34:24
in there.
34:26
People who are
34:27
filled with the Spirit
34:27
will be fruitful.
34:29
Now,
34:30
let's talk
34:31
in the bit of time
34:32
I have left
34:32
about the external
34:35
miracles found
34:36
in our text.
34:39
There's a couple
34:40
things that happen
34:40
that are rather
34:41
amazing things
34:42
that happen.
34:43
Verse 3,
34:44
we see that signs
34:45
and wonders
34:46
are done by the
34:47
hands of Paul
34:48
and Barnabas.
34:50
Beginning in
34:51
verse 8,
34:51
there's a man
34:52
who's been crippled
34:52
since birth.
34:53
That's significant
34:54
and he's never
34:55
been able to walk.
34:56
It's not just
34:56
that he has a sprain
34:57
and they give him
34:58
a little word
34:59
and he has enough
35:00
gumption to get up
35:01
and walk on the sprain.
35:02
His feet are messed up.
35:04
He's never been able
35:04
to walk
35:05
and because of
35:06
what Paul says
35:07
to him,
35:08
God works in his life,
35:10
he's able to spring up.
35:12
Verse 10,
35:13
and begin walking.
35:15
So these rather
35:16
externally miraculous
35:17
things happen.
35:20
There are a wide
35:21
variety of views
35:22
out there
35:23
these days
35:24
about how
35:25
that functions
35:26
now.
35:27
If we're now
35:28
filled with the Spirit,
35:29
do we have the power
35:30
as God's people
35:31
to do this?
35:32
The question at hand.
35:33
Do I have the power
35:34
to say to somebody
35:35
with a lifelong ailment,
35:37
it's healed?
35:39
And there's a spectrum.
35:41
There's from one end
35:42
something called
35:42
cessationism,
35:43
which would be to say
35:44
that all gifts
35:46
of healing
35:47
and tongues
35:47
have completely ceased.
35:50
The other end
35:51
of that spectrum
35:51
is called continuationism.
35:53
Active.
35:54
Those gifts
35:54
are still active.
35:55
And there's a lot
35:56
of people that fall
35:57
somewhere in between
35:58
those two.
35:58
I'm going to tell you
36:01
that I'm a little more
36:01
towards this
36:02
cessationist spot.
36:03
I don't know
36:04
that I'm quite
36:04
planting my feet
36:06
in that camp
36:07
because I don't think
36:08
we have really clear
36:08
biblical evidence
36:09
that those gifts
36:10
have in fact stopped.
36:12
I don't think
36:12
there's any like
36:13
clear explicit
36:14
biblical evidence
36:16
that just says
36:16
no more.
36:17
God never works
36:18
in that way
36:19
any longer
36:20
through the lives
36:21
of his people.
36:24
I do have a problem
36:25
with the far
36:26
other end of it.
36:27
And I've kind of
36:28
hinted at that
36:28
along the way.
36:30
People and denominations
36:31
that exalt the Spirit
36:32
above Christ
36:34
is troubling to me.
36:36
It's very troubling
36:37
to me.
36:39
We also need to note
36:40
going on here
36:41
and for our day
36:43
that there are
36:44
external miracles
36:45
happening in our text.
36:48
People,
36:49
signs and wonders,
36:49
they're able to see
36:50
these things happen.
36:52
There's a man
36:52
who's now able
36:53
to walk.
36:55
But more than that,
36:56
more importantly
36:57
than that,
36:57
there are internal
36:58
miracles happening.
37:00
The many people,
37:01
not counted specifically
37:02
in this text,
37:03
that have believed.
37:04
They've become regenerate.
37:05
They've received
37:06
the baptism
37:06
of the Holy Spirit.
37:07
They were once
37:08
enemies of God.
37:09
They now have become
37:09
his friends.
37:11
This is an incredibly
37:12
miraculous thing
37:13
and it still happens
37:14
in our day.
37:17
I hope that you
37:18
have your heart
37:18
warmed on a regular basis
37:20
by seeing people
37:21
come to faith
37:21
in Christ.
37:22
It's miraculous.
37:23
People so set
37:25
against the God
37:26
of heaven and earth
37:27
suddenly turned
37:29
toward him.
37:30
It's extremely
37:30
heartwarming.
37:32
So,
37:33
miracles do still
37:34
happen,
37:35
undoubtedly.
37:37
Internal miracles,
37:38
which I would say
37:38
we should rejoice for
37:39
because they have
37:40
eternal significance
37:41
primarily.
37:44
So,
37:44
let me say a few
37:44
things about miracles.
37:45
Okay?
37:46
So,
37:46
wherever you fall
37:47
on this spectrum,
37:48
I want to give you
37:49
some tools to help
37:50
you filter through
37:51
supposed or possibly
37:54
real miracles
37:55
in our day.
37:56
Okay?
37:58
Miracles
37:58
are always used,
38:01
always used,
38:02
to confirm
38:04
the message
38:05
of Jesus Christ.
38:06
There is never
38:07
a time in the
38:08
scripture that a
38:09
miracle happens
38:10
and the gospel is
38:11
not also being
38:11
preached.
38:12
Right?
38:13
Or the miracle
38:13
happens to set the
38:14
stage for the gospel
38:15
to be preached.
38:17
Never a time.
38:18
And in fact,
38:21
they're very,
38:22
very careful
38:23
to note that
38:24
for us.
38:26
So,
38:26
if you watch
38:26
some YouTube video
38:27
of a bunch of
38:28
high school kids
38:29
praying for someone
38:30
who suddenly just
38:30
feels a little better,
38:31
that pain in my knee
38:32
is gone,
38:33
and the video cuts,
38:35
they never talk
38:36
about Christ.
38:37
They might pray
38:38
in His name,
38:39
but they never share
38:39
the gospel of Jesus Christ
38:41
with people.
38:42
Be wary
38:42
of things
38:43
like that.
38:44
Miracles are
38:45
always used
38:46
to confirm
38:47
the message
38:47
of Jesus Christ.
38:49
This is why
38:50
Jesus performed
38:50
miracles Himself
38:51
by His hands.
38:52
John 10,
38:53
37,
38:53
38.
38:55
Jesus says,
38:56
I am not doing,
38:57
if I am not doing
38:58
the works of my
38:59
Father,
39:00
then do not
39:01
believe Me.
39:02
But if I do them,
39:03
even though you
39:03
do not believe Me,
39:04
believe the works.
39:06
Works are meant
39:07
to draw your attention
39:08
that you may know
39:09
and understand
39:10
that the Father
39:10
is in Me
39:11
and I am in
39:12
the Father.
39:13
The fact that
39:14
Jesus was performing
39:15
miracles was to
39:15
draw attention
39:16
that He was from
39:17
the Father
39:18
and the message
39:18
He was speaking
39:19
was true.
39:21
This is why
39:21
Jesus continued
39:22
to perform miracles
39:23
by the agency
39:23
of the Holy Spirit
39:24
in the lives
39:25
of His followers.
39:27
Again,
39:28
look at verse 3,
39:29
chapter 14.
39:31
So they remained
39:32
for a long time.
39:33
What does it say next?
39:35
Speaking boldly
39:37
for the Lord.
39:38
And what does God do?
39:40
Christ,
39:40
working in them
39:41
by the agency
39:41
of the Spirit
39:42
who bore witness
39:43
to the word
39:44
of His grace
39:45
granting signs
39:47
and wonders
39:47
to be done
39:48
by their hands.
39:50
Confirms the message
39:51
of Jesus Christ
39:52
that they're proclaiming.
39:54
Before the man
39:55
in Lystra
39:56
is healed,
39:57
Luke records
39:57
in verse 7,
39:59
and there they
40:00
continue to
40:01
preach the gospel.
40:03
It's in the midst
40:04
of them preaching
40:05
the gospel
40:06
and this man
40:07
hears the gospel
40:08
that Paul sees him,
40:10
sees that he has
40:10
faith to be healed
40:11
and heals him.
40:15
Be wary
40:16
of any ministry
40:19
who makes it
40:19
their aim
40:20
to perform
40:21
external miracles,
40:22
that that is
40:23
their ministry.
40:25
If they gather
40:26
together and say,
40:26
let's go out
40:27
on the street
40:27
and perform miracles
40:28
today.
40:29
The apostles
40:30
never sought
40:32
to perform miracles.
40:34
There's never
40:35
this stated intention.
40:36
It's time, guys.
40:37
This part of our ministry
40:38
where we go
40:39
and perform miracles,
40:40
it just happens.
40:41
Along the way,
40:43
being filled with the Spirit,
40:44
they do these miraculous
40:45
things for the sake
40:47
of the proclamation
40:48
of the gospel.
40:50
The apostles were
40:51
always preaching
40:52
the gospel
40:53
when a miracle
40:53
was performed
40:54
or followed the miracles
40:55
with gospel proclamation
40:56
when one was
40:57
performed.
41:00
Suppose that
41:01
external miracles
41:02
performed by individuals
41:03
who do not
41:04
preach the gospel
41:04
of Jesus Christ.
41:07
You can name
41:07
some of those people.
41:08
Benny Hinn
41:09
does not preach
41:10
the gospel
41:11
of Jesus Christ
41:12
yet claims
41:13
to perform miracles.
41:16
In our backyard,
41:17
beloved,
41:18
Jensen Franklin
41:19
does not preach
41:21
the gospel
41:21
of Jesus Christ.
41:23
He preaches
41:23
a prosperity gospel
41:25
and yet
41:26
claims to perform
41:28
miracles.
41:30
It's damnable
41:31
to do such a thing.
41:33
It's misleading
41:34
to do such a thing
41:36
and it should
41:36
make us angry.
41:40
We ought to be offended
41:41
that God
41:42
is offended.
41:44
The third part
41:45
of the Trinity
41:45
that lives within us
41:47
is claimed,
41:48
he's paraded about
41:49
in a way
41:50
that is not
41:51
consistent
41:52
with what the Bible
41:53
says he does.
41:55
Primary work,
41:56
always about
41:57
the exaltation
41:58
of Jesus Christ.
42:00
So what those men do
42:02
may be spiritual
42:03
in nature,
42:05
but I can promise you
42:06
that it is not
42:07
the work
42:08
of the Holy Spirit.
42:10
Very, very cautious
42:12
and warn people
42:13
that you know
42:14
and love
42:16
of the same.
42:19
Well, I made it
42:20
through point one.
42:24
John MacArthur
42:25
would be so proud of me.
42:28
Okay, so I'm going to
42:29
conclude this morning.
42:33
with some questions
42:35
for your further
42:35
consideration.
42:38
Number one,
42:40
do you have
42:41
the Spirit of God?
42:44
If you recall
42:44
the terminology
42:45
Jesus and Paul used,
42:48
have you been
42:48
baptized
42:49
in the Spirit?
42:52
Do you have
42:53
the Spirit of God?
42:55
Martin Lloyd-Jones
42:56
talked about,
42:57
I read that long
42:58
quotation to you,
42:59
what do we think,
43:00
what do we know,
43:01
is Jesus real to us?
43:03
It's a great evidence
43:04
that the Spirit of God
43:05
is working in our life.
43:06
Don't wait
43:07
to speak
43:08
in some other language.
43:10
What do you know
43:11
to be true
43:12
of Christ?
43:14
And how is it
43:15
that the Spirit of God
43:17
is working in you?
43:20
Last week,
43:20
I read this quote
43:21
from Charles Spurgeon.
43:22
If you can sin
43:23
and not weep over it,
43:25
you are an heir of hell.
43:27
If you can go into sin
43:28
and afterwards
43:28
feel satisfied
43:29
to have done so,
43:31
you are on the road
43:32
to destruction.
43:34
If there are no
43:35
prickings of conscience,
43:36
no inward torments,
43:37
no bleeding wounds,
43:38
if you have no throbs
43:39
and heavings
43:40
of a bosom
43:41
that cannot rest,
43:42
if your soul
43:43
never feels filled
43:45
with wormwood
43:45
and gall,
43:46
when you know
43:47
that you have done evil,
43:48
you are no child
43:50
of God.
43:52
Do you have
43:52
the Spirit of God?
43:53
Are you being moved
43:54
toward holiness?
43:57
Second question,
43:59
if you have the Spirit,
44:01
and I hope that all of you
44:02
can with confidence
44:03
say, yes, I do.
44:06
Jesus is real to me
44:07
and he's working
44:08
obedience in me.
44:09
If you have the Spirit,
44:12
are you filled
44:13
with the Spirit?
44:15
Do you find in yourself
44:17
any failing
44:18
in this matter?
44:21
I wrote matters,
44:22
so I got to one,
44:23
in this matter
44:23
of fruitfulness.
44:25
repentance.
44:28
Repent
44:29
and believe.
44:31
Repent
44:32
and believe
44:33
that you are loved
44:34
by God
44:34
in Christ.
44:36
Confess
44:37
your failing,
44:38
confess
44:38
your sinfulness,
44:40
and believe
44:41
that the promises
44:42
of Scripture
44:42
are true.
44:43
There is therefore
44:44
now no condemnation
44:45
for those
44:46
who are
44:47
in Christ Jesus.
44:49
What a great motivation,
44:50
beloved,
44:51
to pick ourselves up
44:52
when we have failed
44:53
and to press on
44:54
into holiness.
44:56
Third question,
44:59
why are you not
45:00
filled with the Spirit?
45:02
Why are you not
45:03
filled with the Spirit?
45:05
Same question,
45:05
stated a different way,
45:07
a little more priming.
45:08
Does the Word of Christ
45:09
dwell in you richly?
45:11
Does the Word of Christ
45:12
dwell in you richly?
45:14
If not,
45:16
if you're not
45:17
picking up the Bible
45:18
in a way
45:19
that you're taking it up
45:20
inside yourself
45:21
and that it dwells
45:22
within you,
45:23
what do you value
45:25
over Jesus Christ
45:27
and the Word
45:28
that testifies
45:29
of Him?
45:31
What do you
45:32
treasure more
45:33
than Jesus
45:34
and this book
45:35
that tells us
45:36
about Him?
45:37
We see the face
45:38
of Christ
45:39
in the Scripture,
45:40
and there's a slew,
45:41
many, many things
45:43
that could fall
45:44
into this category
45:45
and you would do well
45:46
to search your heart
45:47
and ask God
45:48
to expose those things
45:49
that you place
45:50
in higher importance
45:52
than Jesus
45:53
and His Word.
45:55
Let's pray together.