The Holy Spirit and You, Part 2 | Receiving Him

You're listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org. The Holy Spirit is because of our soon coming up today on a new beginning. Greg Morey points out, the Holy Spirit points us to the Savior which are need, we can appreciate the solution we are to see the real problem, so we need to be by the spirit because there's no conversion without conviction. God has sent his Holy Spirit to convince us of our products to so problems with don't have viably called don't have a pet, but there are many people who have a problem they're not yet aware of their afflicted with good enough to convince that they're good enough to get to heaven today on a new beginning pastor Greg Laurie points out that the Holy Spirit shows us our sin shows as penalty if lifesaving information war back in the golf John again so turn there in your Bible. If you would John 16. The title of my message is the Holy Spirit you part two, or if your friends part do second part we already did a little message on this earlier. So here's a quick review of what we already saw them a look at what were going to see here in John 16, number one, we already discover together. The Holy Spirit is comfortable and well the believer and to see Elias is come doing to all of us and seal us. Ephesians 113 says, in whom you trusted up.

You heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom, having believed, you were sealed with the holy spirit, a promise who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those were God's possession, to the praise of his glory. So these things happen north when we believe. Finally, we realized all the incredible things that transpired when we became a Christian because you didn't feel it necessarily but I'm telling you it was such a dramatic shift chart even wrap your mind around for starters you pass from darkness to light up.

For starters, you became a citizen of heaven instead of a citizen effectively of how, for starters, all of your sin was forgiven and if that's not enough, you were justified, which means God took all of your sins and he forgave them and he put the righteousness of Christ into your account and then you were sealed with the Holy Spirit you are signed, sealed, delivered by God himself and the word COB that we have God's ID tag on us, don't I travel I have ID tags in my bags and I mentioned a while ago that I picked up one of my bags at an airport, I was willing it away and some lady came chasing me and she said that's my suitcase and I looked on it and it was my suitcase will sure enough it was hers. We had suitcases that were identical in the way we determine who suitcase was shows by checking the ID tag and I walked up with their suitcase.

God is put his ID tag on you. You belong to God are destroyed.

An older guy was known for his godly life and someone asked him wants old man. What you do when you get tempted. The old codger several I just looked up to heaven and I say Lord, your property is in danger. Tonka is I belong to God, I'm sealed by the Holy Spirit. I'm his child. Time is one of the sheep and I'm one of his possessions.

The Bible says your body is not your own. Affect your know your own. You belong to God, who brought you with the price in your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus bought me out of the slave auction and I now belong to him what we can say things like that all day long and God says I want you to know I mean business. So I'm in a drop. I have a down payment.

That's what it means when it says that there was a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance what it means is, God is saying to let you know I mean business to reassure you that you will go to heaven one day so you can be assured that everything I promise is true.

I'm placing my Holy Spirit in your life is that down payment or that deposit.

I'm not going to back down. I'm not going to change my mind I'm not going to abandon you or forsake you. I'm never gonna stop loving you and when you become a Christian you and that inner testimony of the holy spirit is in Romans eight says in verse 15. You've not received the spirit of the Dobson like verbal slaves and said he received God's spirit was adopted.

You maybe one of his own children. Now we say Abba father and his spirit joins with our spirit to affirm the word God's children doing talking about right now, that inner conviction for Greg, how do you know your Christian I just know I know, because God's Holy Spirit lives inside of me and he confirms it to me and then hopefully there's fruit a result of my life that would demonstrate that to others as well.

Of course this is based on the promise of the word of God. But there is that inner conviction of the spirit and if you don't know right now. Please do not leave this service tonight without knowing that you know and I'll tell you how that can happen for you. What else is the Holy Spirit doing the life of the believer. He teaches us, because Jesus said in John 14 the help of the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I've said to you.

You can read the Bible is a historical document. It is historical, but you can also read it is God's living book. You know the Bible says of itself that it's alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. I love what Martin Luther said about the Bible. He said the Bible has hands it takes hold of me.

It is feet it chases after me and have you ever had a time when you open up the word of God and ask for direction and asked for insight and it just came alive to you.

That's the Holy Spirit, teaching you, and then there were times when you are in a conversation with someone in a whole passage opened up the you started quoting that you don't even remember consciously memorizing, but there it was.

That's the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Number three. The Holy Spirit helps us in our prayers and obedience to God. He helps me in my prayers and my obedience to God, Jesus, and over there in John 14. If you love me and obey my commandments. Alexa father and he will give you another advocate who will never leave you these referring to the Holy Spirit.

You may say will Greg I don't feel like I have the power to live the Christian life, you're wrong.

If you vest Christ to come of your life.

You have all the power that you need. You just need to learn how to step on the accelerator and put the pedal to the metal because I'm telling you the horsepower is there the spirit power is there. So we need to unleash it in our lives.

And I'm not suggesting were waiting for an emotional experience. I don't know where we come up with this idea that whatever we ask God to fill us with the spirit we have to feel something. Okay, let's pray for God to fulfill the spirit turn the lights down, why Holy Spirit afraid of lights or something you can deal with the lights on when you get up in the morning before you put your feet on the ground say Lord Philly with a Holy Spirit.

You have an emotional experience.

When you put gas in your car. If you have an electric car. Do you have an emotional experience. When you plug it in the wall if you're sending the water you might have an experience know you just put gas in your car. You plug in your car or whatever it is, and so the same thing is true of asking God if those you might feel something, you might feel nothing.

It doesn't matter because Jesus says the father will give the Holy Spirit to those that dimmed the lights and wait for an emotional experience know he said the father will give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him. So what you need to do. Ask him and then receive it and he'll give you the power you need. Romans 813 says into the power of the spirit you can put to death the deeds of your sinful nature. For those that are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God, the power is there number for the Holy Spirit empowers me for service I Jesus said in John 1417 the spirit of truth in the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.

But you know him, for he dwells with you and will be in no you see these disciples when he was sharing these things didn't have the spirit in them yet because Jesus was still there, but after Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead.

He appeared to them in the upper room.

Remember, Eddie said he's meeting you and the reason he would say that is people always freaked out when they saw him risen from the dead. So you had to start with APs guys at school chill. It's all right okay don't have a heart attack. He's meeting you and then he said receive the Holy Spirit and he breathed on them and the Holy Spirit came in them within them the day of Pentecost in acts 18 we read that the Holy Spirit of God came upon them because the Bible says you will receive power Of the Holy Spirit is come upon you, so when you believe he comes in. You then he will come upon you to give you the boldness you need to share the gospel is about the spirit does in the life master Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment we send these daily studies via radio satellite inner podcasts we don't always know how these messages are touching lives when we hear the stories of her listeners, heartaches and regrets were encouraged to know the impact on people's lives and why I write regarding I think the one on that and more and long journey yelling and I I only my great love my banking or marrying in will be not only my baby to be united in our story's forgiveness story to tell of how Pastor Greg studies.

If so, why not call the insurer's just call 1-866-871-1144 again, 866-871-1144 Pastor Greg is been pointing out today would God spirit does in the life of the believer. He continues now with his message the Holy Spirit and you part two. What does he want to do in the life of the nonbeliever that brings us to John 16, number one, the Holy Spirit has come to convict us of our sense. You could also just interchange the word convince with convict is come to convince us of our sin. Verse eight John 16 when he has come, he will convict or convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. You see one's ignorance of sin, righteousness, and judgment can bring their destruction. So God has sent his Holy Spirit to make the nonbeliever aware of this before we can appreciate the solution we have to see the real problem, so we need to be convicted by the spirit because there's no conversion without conviction being a Christian is not just living a better life. Jesus is not just helpful, he's our only hope he is not come to improve our life becomes to save our life and so we need to realize that only the Holy Spirit can show us our real need. You know it's interesting that the word convict means to cross-examine to cross-examine have ever been cross-examine you been arrested and interrogated by an officer. Maybe you have a mother which is similar to an officer if you're out late, were few bit what if you been doing empty your pockets, to give you a polygraph testimony of a polygraph bill yes I do really try the Holy Spirit has come to cross-examine us with the purpose of convicting or refuting an opponent.

He doesn't come to just convict the world in general but to specifically show them they're lacking in the righteousness they need to get to heaven is a very important distinction is not just since in general the Holy Spirit is come to show you the biggest sin of all the sin of self righteousness, and in its place. God wants to give you his righteousness. I bring this up because every time you turn around people are thinking that they get to heaven by good works and oh I guess I don't expect nonbelievers to know much about this when I hear Christians or these professed believers still subscribing to an idea like this.

It just seems insane to me but people do still think that said, well, you know, if you live a good life. You get to heaven, and if you live a bad life, then you will go to hell. Listen you splash. There are good people that are going to go to hell and there are bad people that I get to go to heaven so I makes no sense about with biblical. Let me explain.

Being a good person will not get you haven't, you can be a good person, but if you think you're so good you don't know Jesus, you can end up in hell and you can be a bad person of very bad person but if you repent of your sin, even if it's on your deathbed. Christ will forgive you and let you and they have because heaven is not for good people is for forgiven people say Lord you get that call the thief on the cross member.

That guy by the way, the word probably isn't even accurate. That's the word we use, but the word that is used the original language implies a criminal guilty of a capital offense. He rips probably are murderer and insurrectionist trying to bring about the overthrow of Rome so this is a bad dude and Jesus says to him today you will be with me in paradise because the man said, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

So the Holy Spirit number two now has come to bring us to Jesus. He says in verse nine.

I've come to convince them of sin, because they do not believe in me. Interesting sin that since sometimes we think in the church are major on minors. By that I mean we sort of get the cart before the horse will kind of focus on lifestyle choices that are sinful and will harp on those things. Here is my objective, I want to establish a dialogue with the person, regardless of what sinful choices they've made. So out there living with their boyfriend or girlfriend out of wedlock or if they're gay or if they're a liar or a thief or all the above, you know. Hey I want to first talk to them about their need for Jesus because this is the way I see it don't come to Jesus.

Everything else will get sorted out. But if I focus on those things and never get around to telling them about Jesus. I can, in effect, drive them away. And I think a lot of times people think of the church as being against everything and working to speak on what the Bible says and say what it says on whatever topic it is for addressing but our message is the gospel, and we want people to believe and then their life will change as a result so the Holy Spirit has come to show us that to bring us to Jesus to be like going to a doctor and seen Dr. I have headaches I had hurts all the time. Will he can obviously signify some Advil and that'll help.

But then your headache will come back so good Dr. isn't it just you with the symptom. He's going to deal with the cause right that you know maybe you you're dehydrated or maybe there's another medical issue and after a series of tests that will be determined but better to get to the root of it than just barely treating the symptoms and so that is what the Holy Spirit is come to do to show us our need for him.

Listen. Having said that the Holy Spirit will not force us to believe in Jesus.

I do not believe in irresistible grace that is taught by Calvinists. I rejected why because the idea of irresistible grace says you're predestined to believe if you really want to are not in the grace of God is irresistible so you're going to come to Jesus if you want to or not, I beg to differ.

I think you can resist the Holy Spirit of God. Say what you think it will because the Bible says so member when Stephen was standing before the Sanhedrin, he said, you stubborn people knew.

He then at heart you're deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the holy spirit. It's interesting because he was addressing a group of spiritual leaders that knew the word of God and the implication in the verse.

There is that they knew it was true and were rejecting it. Regardless of that fact is this your resisting this word you know what I'm saying is true, but your choosing to not believe it.

So it is resistible.

Verse 13 when he the spirit of truth is coming will guide you with all true. He will not speak in his own. He will speak only what he hears and he'll tell you what is the come to bring glory to me by taking what is mine and making it known to you. See if you refuse to believe in Jesus, you're effectively calling the Holy Spirit a liar because first John 510 says he that believes in the name of the son of God has us witnessing himself, he that does not believe this made him a liar because he is not believe the record that God is given of his son. That's called insulting the spirit so the Holy Spirit comes and shows you your center in any Jesus music. I do not. I'm a good person. I don't need Jesus OC you're calling him a lighter note, we put words in my milk then asked him not because of your rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit is come to do to show you you're not righteous enough to get to heaven and show you that Jesus is the answer you're effectively saying he's a liar to God to send his Holy Spirit bring us to Jesus Greg Lord important insight today on the role of the Holy Spirit not only the lives of believers, but also in the hearts of unbelievers and there's more to come.

In this study here on a new beginning. It's a message called the Holy Spirit and you part two yesterday.

We have a special guest you're in the studio. Maybe you can introduce them sure, but his new book is about the afterlife go. Let me ask you first of all why do you think we're so fascinated about heaven and the afterlife. Well, we should be because it's if you're Christian your future destination.

It is not the default destination for every person. Of course we decide in this life or we will spend the afterlife, but I think it's a really good thing to know is much as we possibly can about heaven. Paul in Colossians 3 said. Set your mind on things above. Another way to translate that is think about heaven or the simplified think Kevin but some will say oh they're so heavenly minded there no earthly good. But I bet people were so earthly minded.

There no heavenly good heavens are real places for real people, or we will do real things, and I can't think of a better person to help us understand more than the man sitting next to me right now unfortunately it's radio so you can see what he's wearing a very nice blue sweater and his name is Lee Strobel Nelly Strobel as written. A lot of books are probably the best known would be the case for Christ, which was also made into a feature film. His books have sold like 14 million right right and it is just a prolific author or speaker apologist extraordinaire and these are just the things he's asked me to say so I think I know at the scene of the laser good friend in these he's a voice of wisdom and so leave written a new book, the case for heaven subtitled a journalist investigates evidence for life after death why a book about heaven. Well, I think you're right and what you said that people ought to be interested in the afterlife. I will go spend a lot more time there than we will hear the end and I think in light of the pandemic. You know people are our conscious and aware of life and death issues more than perhaps at any other time in my lifetime. I was having lunch with my wife at a restaurant and this waitress was about 18 years old and that we were talking. She started to cry and so it's wrong. She said I'm sorry, almost in coming to work today. Might we just lost a family member to covert and I thought, here's a young person maybe 18 years old. I never thought about life and death, but I never thought about the afterlife, but now she's full of questions. Now she's this account.

Death is come knocking on her family door. So I think people are more and more interested these days in the question of what Hank what actually occurs when we close our eyes for the last time in this world and I think frankly Greg that extends to the question of hell as well. I mean, you're one of the few pastors I know who's not afraid to talk about it all and and so I have two chapters in the book that examine the issue of hell, and it's an important topic that we need. I think is a church pay more attention to it is worth noting that Jesus spoke more about hell than all the other preachers in the Bible. That's rather it's executive horse. He knows the reality of it yet and so this is something we need to understand more the afterlife. What happens what happens to the Christian what happens to the non-Christian. Here's some of the chapter titles near death experiences. Heaven, a guide on the edge of eternity. So if you want to clear up your confusion about heaven the afterlife you want to get a copy of this brand-new book from Lee Strobel.

It's called the case for heaven will send it to you for your gift of any size to us here at a new beginning and will use those resources to reach more people with the gospel in the teaching of the word of God and is our way of saying thanks will send you your own copy of the case, for heaven by apologist, prolific author, my friend Lee Strobel. Yeah, that's right. And we hope you will ask for your copy today. Your investment helps. These studies continue to come your way and they help us reach out with the gospel like will be doing April 23 and 24th in Boise Idaho Boise harvest is coming your partnership helps make outreaches like as possible to get in touch today with your donation. You can call us at 1-800-821-3300 call anytime 24 seven that's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.or well we were talking about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Next time, Pastor Greg points out that the spirit shows us our sin and then brings us to the Savior. Join us here on a new beginning. Pastors and Bible teachers Greg Lord and everybody thinks or listening to beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner. Just go to harvest.org