THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT   <br><br>   

PROGRAM AIR DATE: 3-25-18   <br><br>   

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LESSON TITLE: “PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”   <br><br>   

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WELCOME   <br><br>   

      TODAY WE ARE BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL GIFT FROM GOD, THE BIBLE. THIS BOOK IS GOD'S LIVING WORD. IN ITS PAGES, WE ARE TOLD “FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD.” IT IS IN THIS BOOK OF BOOKS THAT WE FIND THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF MAN'S QUESTIONS AND NEEDS. THIS MORNING YOUR AREA CHURCHES OF CHRIST WELCOME YOU TO A PROGRAM COMMITTED TO THAT PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY AS WE PRESENT THE LIVING WORD. NOW HERE IS YOUR HOST, RAY SULLINS.   <br><br>   

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      WELCOME TO THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM ON THIS WONDROUS LORD’S DAY MORNING. IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU WITH US. WE ARE THANKFUL YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BE WITH US AS WE COMMIT THIS TIME TO THE THINGS OF GOD. IT IS OUR HOPE AND PRAYER THIS MORNING THAT WE MAY EACH PARTICIPATE AND DO OUR PART TO MAKE THIS TIME ACCEPTABLE BEFORE HIM AND ACCORDING TO HIS WORD. NOW LET’S BEGIN BY TALKING TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER!    <br><br>   

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY OF LIFE AND THE GREAT PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO BE SERVANTS IN YOUR KINGDOM. HELP US THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY TO LET OUR LIGHT SHINE IN THIS WORLD THAT OTHERS MIGHT KNOW YOU THROUGH US. AND FATHER, WE ASK THAT THIS DAY WE MIGHT ALSO WORSHIP YOU IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH ALWAYS GIVING YOU THE GLORY KNOWING THAT IN THE END WE'LL RECEIVE GREAT PROMISES AND REWARDS FROM SUCH. WE THANK YOU FOR JESUS AND ALL THAT HE HAS DONE TO MAKE THESE THINGS POSSIBLE. IN HIS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.    <br><br>   

      THIS MORNING WE WANT TO BEGIN OUR SONGS OF PRAISE BY SINGING A SONG WHICH REMINDS US OF WHAT WE HAVE AWAITING US AS THE FAITHFUL, WHEN THIS LIFE’S TRIALS ARE OVER! SO, AT THIS TIME, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AS WE SING TOGETHER, “THE LAST MILE OF THE WAY.”    <br><br>   

      DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS   <br><br>   

      I’D LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT AND WELCOME YOU TODAY TO THE TELEVISION TAPING OF SONG FOR THIS PROGRAM WHICH WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT THE KANSAS EXPRESSWAY CHURCH OF CHRIST CHURCH BUILDING THERE AT 2540 NORTH KANSAS EXPRESSWAY. IT WILL BE AT 2 TO 4 AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE TO BE A PART OF HELPING US TO TAPE THESE SONGS WHICH WE PRE-RECORD THAT WE MIGHT USE THEM ON A WEEKLY BASIS ON OUR PROGRAM. AND SO WE HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER JOINING US AND BEING WITH US AS WE ALL LIFT UP OUR VOICES AND PRAISE GOD TOGETHER. AGAIN, THAT IS TODAY AT THE KANSAS EXPRESSWAY CHURCH OF CHRIST BUILDING IN SPRINGFIELD.    <br><br>   

      SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING TIMES IN LIFE ARE WHEN WE ARE REWARDED FOR SOMETHING WE HAVE DONE WELL OR ACCOMPLISHED. OFTEN WE ARE GIVEN TROPHIES, MEDALS OR EVEN CERTIFICATES, WHICH ALL ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ACHIEVEMENTS, AND HONOR US FOR A JOB WELL DONE. I THINK THIS IS THE SAME IDEA WE ARE REMINDED OF IN JUDE 1:20-21, WHERE WE READ, “BUT YOU, BELOVED, BUILDING YOURSELVES UP ON YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH, PRAYING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, LOOKING FOR THE MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST UNTO ETERNAL LIFE.” HERE WE SEE THAT WE ARE DOING CERTAIN THINGS, “UNTO ETERNAL LIFE.” YOU SEE WE HAVE A REWARD COMING FOR A JOB WELL DONE. WE HAVE THE ULTIMATE GIFT AWAITING US OF ETERNAL EXISTENCE WITH GOD, FOREVER AND EVER!     <br><br>    

      HOWEVER, IF YOU ALSO NOTICE IN THESE VERSES, THERE ARE THINGS TO DO IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE REWARD OF ETERNAL LIFE! LET’S FACE IT, IS ANYTHING IN LIFE REALLY FREE? DON’T WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING FOR ANYTHING THAT WE GET? ANYTHING IN LIFE THAT IS WORTHWHILE, THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE OR IMPROVES US TAKES A LOT OF TIME, EFFORT, AND USUALLY MONEY! SO, WHY WOULD IT BE ANY DIFFERENT IN CHRISTIANITY?     <br><br>   

      NOTICE BACK IN OUR TEXT WHERE JUDE CLARIFIES FOR US SOME OF THE THINGS NECESSARY FOR ETERNAL LIFE! FIRST HE MENTIONS THE NEED TO “BUILD OURSELVES UP IN THE MOST HOLY FAITH!” FAITH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ONE WHO IS FOLLOWING GOD.  IN FACT, IN HEBREWS 11:6, WE FIND THAT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD. JAMES FURTHER HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND FAITH BY STATING THAT “FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD,” JAMES 2:26.  FAITH IS NECESSARY TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE!    <br><br>   

      THE SECOND THING MENTIONED IN VERSE 20, IS PRAYER. PRAYER IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CHRISTIAN’S LIFE, BECAUSE IT IS THE AVENUE BY WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO TALK TO OUR GOD! IN PRAYER, WE CAN PRAISE GOD, THANK HIM AND ASK HIM FOR WHAT WE HAVE NEED OF. GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH GOD IS NECESSARY TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE! LOVE IS THE NEXT THING BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR REWARD. HOW IMPORTANT IS LOVE? WELL, AS WE SEE HERE IT IS NECESSARY TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE. ISN’T THAT WHY JESUS SAID THAT THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT IS TO “LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND,” MATTHEW 22:37-38?  FURTHERMORE, PAUL SAID, “AND NOW ABIDE FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE,” 1 CORINTHIANS 13:13. SO, YOU TELL ME, IS LOVE NECESSARY?   <br><br>   

      FINALLY, WE SEE THAT WE ARE TO “LOOK FOR MERCY.” HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO KNOW THAT GOD IS MERCIFUL AND FORGIVING. IN FACT, MERCY IS ONE OF THE VERY REASONS THAT GOD HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR REWARD. WITHOUT GOD’S MERCY, WE WOULD NOT RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE! ARE YOU LIVING FOR GOD IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU KNOW THE REWARD IS WAITING, PREPARED FOR YOU? ISN’T ETERNAL LIFE WORTH THE EFFORT?   <br><br>   

      THIS MORNING, WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR SERIES CALLED, “WE HAVE BECOME PARTAKERS OF…!” OUR SPECIFIC TOPIC TODAY IS, “PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!” SO, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US THIS MORNING, AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, I WILL RETURN WITH THIS STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD. THE NAME OF OUR NEXT HYMN IS, “THERE IS SUNSHINE IN MY SOUL!”   <br><br>   

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LESSON   <br><br>   

RAY SULLINS   <br><br>   

      WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'VE CONTINUED WITH US THIS DAY AS WE RETURN NOW TO OUR MAIN STUDY OF THE DAY. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING, BEGINNING LAST WEEK, AT A SERIES ENTITLED “PARTAKERS OF” AND REALLY WE BEGAN BY LOOKING AT THE IDEA OF PARTAKERS OF CHRIST AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IS TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS WHICH THE NEW TESTAMENT IDENTIFIES AS THOSE THINGS THAT CHRISTIANS PARTAKE OF. AND TODAY WHERE WE'LL BEGIN IS IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 6 WITHIN THE DISCUSSION OF THE HEBREW WRITER OF THOSE WHO WERE ONCE CHRISTIANS BUT NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE REJECTED OR TURNED AWAY FROM GOD IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO AGAIN REPENT OR FIND REPENTANCE BECAUSE THEY'VE HARDENED THEIR HEARTS. THERE IN VERSE FOUR OF THAT TEXT NOTICE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS, “FOR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO WERE ONCE ENLIGHTENED, AND HAVE TASTED THE HEAVENLY GIFT, AND HAVE BECOME PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” WE'LL COME BACK HERE LATER AND LOOK A LITTLE BIT MORE AT THE TEXT BUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS HE SAYING HERE? WE ARE PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AS WE SAW LAST WEEK, PARTAKERS OF CHRIST, OBVIOUSLY PARTAKERS OF THE FATHER, OBVIOUSLY PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE ARE PARTAKERS OF GOD. AND THEREFORE, DO WE UNDERSTAND REALLY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO THE FOLLOWER TO THE CHILD OF GOD? TO THE ONE OF EVERY AGE WHO HAS FOLLOWED GOD? YOU THINK DAVID KNEW WHAT IT MEANT THAT HE WAS A PARTAKER OF HIS GOD? THAT GOD DWELT IN HIM AND THAT EVEN GOD'S SPIRIT DWELT IN HIM? CERTAINLY HE UNDERSTOOD THAT! AND GOD'S PROPHETS AND HIS SERVANTS OF OLD AND EVEN THOSE OF NEW TESTAMENT TIMES AND THEREAFTER UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A PARTAKER OF GOD AND TO SHARE IN, NOT ONLY THE FATHER AND THE SON BUT ALSO THE HOLY SPIRIT, AS GOD HAD PROMISED TO DWELL IN THEM.    <br><br>   

      NOTICE WITH ME SEVERAL VERSES THAT MIGHT HELP US WITH THESE THOUGHTS. FIRST OF ALL TO LOOK IN GENERAL THE IDEA OF GOD WE MIGHT GO THERE TO JOHN CHAPTER 14. AND EVEN JOHN RECORDS THE WORDS OF JESUS IN HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS THAT CHRIST NOW WAS SAYING TO HIS DISCIPLES, NOT ONLY IN RELATIONSHIP TO RETURNING TO HEAVEN, BUT WHAT WAS REQUIRED OF THEM IN FAITHFULNESS. BUT THEN AFTER HE HAS IDENTIFIED SOME OF THESE THINGS TO THEM, NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 23 TO HIS FOLLOWERS. HE SAYS, “‘IF ANYONE LOVES ME,’” KIND OF BROAD ISNT IT? “‘ANYONE LOVES ME, HE WILL KEEP MY WORD; AND MY FATHER WILL LOVE HIM.’” OBVIOUSLY, EARLIER IN THIS TEXT, THERE IN JOHN 14:15 IT SAYS, “‘IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.’” SO WHAT IS HE SAYING NOW? IF ANYONE LOVES ME, HE KEEPS MY WORD! HE KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS! WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO THAT INDIVIDUAL? WELL, WHEN YOU LOVE THE FATHER, IT SAYS WE WILL COME TO MAKE OUR HOME IN HIM. GOD MAKES A HOME IN THE FAITHFUL. AND DOESN'T THAT JUST MAKE SENSE? IF I WERE TO ASK YOU IN TIMES OF OLD, IN THE PATRIARCH PERIOD OR EVEN ESPECIALLY IN THE MOSAIC PERIOD, WHERE DID GOD DWELL? DID GOD DWELL AMONG HIS PEOPLE? DID GOD DWELL IN THE FAITHFUL? DID GOD DWELL IN HIS HOUSE? I THINK ALL OF US WOULD AGREE THAT IN THE TABERNACLE AND THE TEMPLE THE BIBLE AMPLY AND CLEARLY GIVES US IN A SATISFACTORY WAY THAT GOD DWELT IN HIS TEMPLE. HE WOULD FILL THE TEMPLE. HIS GLORY WOULD FILL THE TEMPLE AND EVEN IT SAYS THAT AT TIMES MOSES WAS UNABLE TO ENTER AND OTHERS COULD NOT ENTER BECAUSE THE GLORY OF GOD WAS THERE IN THE TEMPLE. PEOPLE WENT TO THE TEMPLE BECAUSE IT WAS WHERE GOD DWELT. WHERE THE THRONE OF GOD, EVEN THE MERCY SEAT WAS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE LEARN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT? WE LEARN THAT WE ARE GOD'S DWELLING PLACE. WELL, WE MAY NOT BE A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE. WE MAY NOT BE A TABERNACLE OR A TEMPLE IN A LITERAL SENSE BUT WHAT IS IT THAT THE WRITER TO THE EPHESIANS PAUL SAYS THERE IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2 AND VERSE 22? THE BIBLE SAYS, “IN WHOM YOU ARE BEING BUILT TOGETHER FOR A DWELLING PLACE OF GOD.” WHAT? YOU MEAN WE AS THE CHURCH, YES THE CORNERSTONE THAT WHICH WAS BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE WHAT? WE ARE BUILT TOGETHER AS A WHAT? A DWELLING PLACE OF GOD. AND THEN HE ENDS BY SAYING THIS, “IN THE SPIRIT.” HOW DOES GOD DWELL IN US? EVIDENTLY IN AND THROUGH THE SPIRIT. IT IS THAT SPIRIT OF GOD THAT IS EVERYWHERE IN RELATIONSHIP TO BEING ALL PLACES AT ALL TIMES AND THEREFORE, EVEN DWELLING WITHIN THE FAITHFUL. NOW CERTAINLY, THIS WOULD NOT BE APART FROM THE WORD OR THE TRUTH OF GOD OR THE TEACHINGS THAT CHRIST GAVE. IT WOULD'NT BE THAT THE SPIRIT WOULD DO THE CONTRARY OF WHAT THE SPIRIT ITSELF DECLARES OR CONFIRMS SO IT'S IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WORD. BUT HE SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT GOD WOULD MAKE HIS HOME IN IN US. THAT'S WHAT JESUS SAID, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND HERE THE VERSE SAYS THAT IS THROUGH THE SPIRIT THAT GOD DWELLS IN HIS HOUSE.    <br><br>   

      THE CORINTHIANS ALSO UNDERSTOOD THIS WHEN PAUL WROTE THE CHURCH THERE AT CORINTH YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WITH ME THE VERY FAMILIAR VERSES THERE OF FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6. BEGINNING IN VERSE 19 HE SAYS THIS, “OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE,” **** NOTICE **** “OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU, WHOM YOU HAVE FROM GOD, AND THAT YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN?” PRETTY CLEAR ISN'T IT? OUR BODIES, WE ARE THE HOUSE OF GOD. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT IN THE TEMPLE GOD DWELLS. HOW? THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT! THAT'S WHAT THIS SAYS AGAIN. IT IS THAT ESSENCE OF GOD, THAT SPIRITUAL ESSENCE THAT DWELT THERE AND DWELLS IN US AS IT IS OUR PROMISE TO BE GIVEN. AND THE IN VERSE 20 IT SAYS WE WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, THE BLOOD OF JESUS. THEREFORE, GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD'S. DOES GOD OWN HIS HOUSE? YES, WE ARE THE HOUSE OF GOD. WHERE DOES GOD DWELL IN EVERY AGE? IN HIS HOUSE AND HIS TEMPLE. HOW DOES GOD DWELL IN HIS TEMPLE ACCORDING TO THIS VERSE? AND EVEN THE EPHESIAN WRITER, THE HOLY SPIRIT, TELLS US THAT HE DWELLS IN THE HOUSE OF GOD AND IT'S THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT GOD DWELLS IN HIS HOUSE.    <br><br>   

      NOW WITH THAT IN MIND I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WITH ME MORE SPECIFICALLY SOME SCRIPTURES THAT TALK ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLING IN US. AND I MIGHT ASK YOU AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE BOOK OF TIMOTHY IN JUST A MOMENT IF YOU WANT TO BEGIN TO TURN THERE TO FIRST TIMOTHY OR SECOND TIMOTHY RATHER, BUT IF YOU BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT THAT WITH ME AND THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYING THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WE HAVE THE FATHER AND SON. IS THAT NOT WHAT JESUS SAID? JESUS SAID IF YOU SEE ME YOU'VE SEEN THE FATHER. IF YOU'VE KNOWN THE FATHER YOU'VE KNOWN ME. YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE OF GOD WITHOUT ALL OF GOD. AND SO IS THAT NOT THE CASE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS IN US THAT GOD DWELLS IN US? IS THAT NOT THE TEACHINGS THAT WE READ HERE? LOOK WITH ME THEN SPECIFICALLY AT SECOND TIMOTHY. WHAT WAS IT THAT PAUL TOLD THIS EVANGELIST THERE IN CHAPTER 1 IN RELATIONSHIP TO HIS FAITH AND PROCLAIMING THE TRUTH. THERE IN VERSE 13 HE BEGINS BY SAYING THIS, “HOLD FAST THE PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS. YOU TIMOTHY HOLDFAST WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ME, IN FAITH AND LOVE WHICH ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.” BUT NOW LOOK AT VERSE 14, THAT GOOD THING WHICH WAS COMMITTED TO YOU, KEEP BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN US.” TIMOTHY HAD A MIRACULOUS GIFT. PAUL HAD A MIRACULOUS GIFT. ONLY GOD DWELLS IN HIS TEMPLE THROUGH THE MIRACULOUS GIFTS. IS THAT NOT WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES? IS THAT REALLY WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS? NOT AT ALL. WHAT THE BIBLE SHOWS IN THE OLD COVENANT AND THE NEW COVENANT IS THAT ONE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT. THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELT IN SOMEONE. DO YOU REMEMBER EVEN ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS IN ACTS CHAPTER 2? DO YOU REMEMBER THERE AFTER THEY WERE ASKING WHAT IS IT THAT WE SHOULD DO? MEN AND BRETHREN, WHAT SHALL WE DO? WE'VE JUST MURDERED THE SON JESUS CHRIST. AND DO YOU REMEMBER THEIR RESPONSE THAT PETER GAVE THEM THERE IN VERSE 38? IN THAT TEXT WE READ THIS, “AND PETER SAID TO THEM, ‘REPENT, AND LET EVERYONE OF YOU BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR REMISSION OF SINS.’” NOW, NOTICE A CONJUNCTION, AND BE BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF SIN. AND! THIS IS THE WORD. WHO WILL RECEIVE IT? ANYONE WHO REPENTS AND IS BAPTIZED. AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. DID EVERYONE RECEIVE THE MIRACULOUS GIFTS? EVIDENTLY NOT! SIMON THE SORCERER WAS ALREADY BAPTIZED AND HE SAW THAT BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS, THERE IN ACTS CHAPTER 8, THAT THEY WERE TRANSFERRING THE POWER OF THE GIFTS AND HE SAYS, ‘I WANT THOSE GIFTS.’ HE HAD ALREADY BEEN BAPTIZED! WELL, DOESN'T THIS VERSE SAY THAT WHEN SOMEONE REPENTS AND IS BAPTIZED THEY RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? IF SIMON HAD BEEN BAPTIZED, HAD HE NOT RECEIVED THE GIFT? IS THIS VERSE WRONG? WAS IT LYING TO US? CERTAINLY NOT! HE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE MIRACULOUS GIFTS BUT HE HAD RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT THAT DWELLS IN THE BELIEVER. THAT DWELLS IN THE BELIEVER? YES, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WORD, NOT ADDING TO OR TAKING AWAY, NOT ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE CONTRARY TO WHAT GOD HAS ESTABLISHED IN HIS TRUTH. BUT THAT DOESN'T ANYMORE THE LESS STATE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD NOT DWELL IN US. IS THAT NOT WHY THEN THAT PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY WHAT WE JUST READ? THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN YOU.    <br><br>   

      I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND IT AMAZING THAT SOMEONE CAN SAY THAT GOD IS OMNIPRESENT AND YOU CAN ASK THAT INDIVIDUAL, YOU CAN SAY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN GOD IS EVERYWHERE? OKAY, SO GOD IS ALL AROUND ME AND IS ABOVE ME AND UNDER ME. HE'S EVERYWHERE AT ALL TIMES ALL OVER THE WORLD AND YET HE CANNOT BE IN ME. NOW, IF GOD IS EVERYWHERE AT ALL TIMES HOW IS HE NOT IN US? WOULDN'T IN US, WOULDN'T WE AND IN US INCLUDE EVERYWHERE? YOU SEE, IF GOD IS NOT IN US THEN HE'S NOT EVERYWHERE! HE'S NOT OMNIPRESENT! IF GOD IS OMNIPRESENT, HE HAS TO BE A DWELLER EVERYWHERE INCLUDING ALL OF HIS CREATIONS. IS THAT NOT THE FACT THAT GOD DWELLS WITH US THROUGH AGAIN HIS HOLY SPIRIT? PAUL ALSO DEALS WITH THIS TO THE EPHESIANS ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU'LL TURN THERE. I LOVE THIS PASSAGE SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT BEGINS TO GIVE US A CLEARER PICTURE OF THAT PURPOSE OF THE SPIRIT IN US AND ACTUALLY USES SOME TERMS THAT WE'VE NOT YET DEALT WITH. THERE IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1, I WANT YOU TO NOTICE WITH ME A FEW VERSES HERE. FIRST OF ALL VERSE 13. HE SAYS HERE AFTER HE HAS CLARIFIED THAT WE HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AND WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED WITH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, NOTICE WHAT HE BEGINS TO SAY THERE IN VERSE 13, “IN HIM,” THAT IS CHRIST, “YOU ALSO TRUSTED, AFTER YOU HAVE HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION; IN WHOM ALSO, HAVING BELIEVED,” HEAR IT, “YOU ARE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.” WHAT? YOU MEAN BELIEVERS RECEIVED A SEAL? WHAT WAS THE SEAL? IF I EVER ASK YOU WHAT A SEAL WAS, YOU WOULD TELL ME. MANY SCHOOLS HAVE SEALS, MANY TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR NAMES WILL HAVE SOME KIND OF A SEAL THAT SHOWS SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR HERITAGE. WE SOMETIMES HAVE SEALS OF A STATE OR WE HAVE SEALS OF THE PRESIDENT. WE KNOW WHAT A SEAL IS. WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? A SEAL. A SEAL IS SOMETHING THAT IDENTIFIES AND MARKS SOMETHING AS BEING SPECIFICALLY CONNECTED. AND WE ARE SEALED BY WHAT? GOD HIMSELF, THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF. IN FACT, VERSE 14 GOES ON TO SAY, WHO IS THE GUARANTEE OF OUR INHERITANCE.” I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I NOT ONLY WANT BUT I'M THANKFUL THAT I HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS MY SEAL AND MY GUARANTEE OF THE REWARD. IF I DON'T HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, DO I HAVE GOD? IF GOD DOES NOT DWELL IN ME THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT, DO I HAVE GOD? NOT ACCORDING TO THESE VERSES BECAUSE HE IS MY SEAL. HE IS MY GUARANTEE. HE IS WHAT WAS PROMISED IN ACTS 2:38, THAT I WOULD RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. NOW, DOES THAT MEAN THAT I CAN RAISE THE DEAD OR HEAL THE SICK? CERTAINLY NOT! IT WAS A MUCH DIFFERENT SITUATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, THE MIRACULOUS ABILITIES THAT WERE APPLIED TO INDIVIDUALS. BUT THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT GOD DWELLS IN HIS TEMPLE. GOD DWELLS IN HIS HOUSE.    <br><br>   

      I'D LIKE YOU TO ALSO NOTICE WITH ME THERE IN SECOND CORINTHIANS, AND ALTHOUGH OUR TIME IS SHORT, I WANT US TO NOTICE WHAT IT SAYS THERE IN SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 1 VERSE 21 AND 22. HE AGAIN MAKES THIS STATEMENT, “NOW HE WHO ESTABLISHES US IN YOU IS IN CHRIST AND HAS ANOINTED US IS GOD, WHO ALSO HAS SEALED US AND GIVEN US THE SPIRIT THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS AS A GUARANTEE.” WHERE IS GOD? IN OUR HEARTS. WHERE ARE OUR HEARTS BY THE WAY? WHERE OUR HEARTS? OUR HEARTS, WHICH IS THE ESSENCE OF MAN AND OUR MIND, IS INSIDE OF US. WHERE IS GOD? WHERE IS THAT GUARANTEE? IN THE SPIRIT. IN HIS TEMPLE, THE HOUSE OF GOD. BUT HE DOESN'T STOP THERE BECAUSE AGAIN TO THE ROMAN CHURCH HE SAYS THE SAME. DID YOU NOTICE ALL THE CHURCHES THAT PAUL IDENTIFIES THESE EQUAL TRUTHS TO? AND I'LL ASK YOU TO LOOK LATER EVEN MORE OF THE CONTEXT OF ROMANS CHAPTER 8 BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL TRUTHS THAT ARE FOUND HERE. BUT IF YOU'LL BEGIN WITH ME THERE AROUND VERSE 22, NOTICE WHAT HE BEGINS TALKING ABOUT - THE HOLY SPIRIT.  AND HE SAYS THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, IS ABLE TO KNOW ALL THINGS ABOUT US AND KNOW THE GROANINGS THAT WE HAVE. EVEN THOSE THINGS THAT WE ARE NOT AWARE OF OR THAT WE'RE UNSURE OF, GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING. HE'S NOT ONLY OMNIPRESENT BUT HE IS OMNISCIENT. HE KNOWS ALL THINGS. AND SO ON THAT TEXT NOTICE WHAT IT SAYS IN VERSE 23. “NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE ALSO WHO HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, EVEN OURSELVES GROAN WITHIN OURSELVES, EAGERLY WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, THE REDEMPTION OF THE BODY.” IN OTHER WORDS, THAT ETERNAL REWARD WHEN WE'LL BE CHANGED AND WE'LL LIVE FOREVER WITH GOD. WE HAVE THOSE GROANINGS, WE HAVE THAT DESIRE. SO WHERE IS GOD IN ALL OF THIS? WELL, HE'S REDEEMED US. JESUS SHED HIS BLOOD, HE'S PURCHASED US - BUT NOW NOTICE WITH ME VERSE 26. LIKEWISE, AS WE WAIT, VERSE 25. LIKEWISE VERSE 26 SAYS, “THE SPIRIT ALSO HELPS IN OUR WEAKNESSES.” WHO? THE HOLY SPIRIT. SO WE DO NOT KNOW OFTEN WHAT WE OUGHT TO PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US WITH GROANINGS WHICH CANNOT BE UTTERED. WHAT DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT DO? MAKE INTERCESSION FOR US. WHAT DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT KNOW? THE INNER THINGS OF MAN. HOW? GOD KNOWS ALL THINGS. SO DOES HE ONLY KNOW ALL THINGS BECAUSE HE IS NOT IN US OR BECAUSE HE IS IN US? THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLING IN US, IN OUR HEARTS, KNOWS US, KNOWS OUR NEEDS, AND EVEN MAKES INTERCESSION. WE USUALLY SAY THAT JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT IS THE INTERCESSOR. WELL, HERE IT SAYS THE HOLY SPIRIT AS GOD IS ALSO MAKING INTERCESSION FOR US. FOR HE KNOWS AND SEARCHES THE HEARTS AND THE MIND WHERE HE DWELLS. IN VERSE 27 IT SAYS, “BECAUSE HE MAKES INTERCESSION FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.” WHOSE WILL IS IT THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US? THAT HE HEARS OUR INNER GROANINGS? THAT HE KNOWS BECAUSE HE KNOWS US FROM THE INSIDE OUT BECAUSE HE DWELLS IN HIS TEMPLE? IT'S THE FATHER'S WILL. IT'S THE WILL OF GOD THAT GOD DWELLS IN US. THAT GOD DWELLS IN HIS HOUSE. AND IF GOD DOESN'T DWELL IN HIS HOUSE, THEN HIS HOUSE IS NOT TRULY GOD'S BECAUSE GOD DWELLS IN HIS PLACE.    <br><br>   

      SO LET ME ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THIS DAY THAT YES, WE ARE PARTAKERS OF WONDROUS THINGS. BUT ONE OF THE MOST WONDROUS THINGS WE'RE A PARTAKER OF IS GOD HIMSELF KNOWING THAT NOT ONLY THE FATHER, THE SON, BUT ALSO THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS IN US THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF GOD. FOR GOD DWELLS IN HIS HOUSE. THEREFORE, THE HOUSE MUST BE FAITHFUL. THEREFORE, AS WE ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BEING IN US, MAY WE ALWAYS LIVE EACH AND EVERY DAY THEN TO EXEMPLIFY WHAT IT IS THAT WE SHOULD FOR CHRIST THAT THE WORLD MIGHT KNOW GOD IN US AND HAVE THE SAME DESIRE THAT GOD MIGHT DWELL IN THEM THROUGH OBEDIENCE.   <br><br>   

CLOSING COMMENTS   <br><br>   

      AGAIN, LET ME THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US THIS MORNING. I HOPE WE ALL HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED THROUGH OUR TIME SPENT TOGETHER. PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS SERVICE OF GOD.    <br><br>   

      NOW LET ME ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON? MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A FREE CASSETTE TAPE OF THIS PROGRAM? POSSIBLY, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR FREE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES? NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:     <br><br>   

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      MAY WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD AND THAT WE ARE PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE FAITHFUL OF GOD. HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO KNOW THAT GOD DWELLS IN US AND MAKES HIS HOME IN THE FAITHFUL. THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU THE TEMPLE OF GOD TODAY?   <br><br>