The Holy Spirit and You, Part 2 | Non-Christians

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Learn more@harvest.org and while you're there, browse our library of free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith the Holy Spirit is your sinful Jesus coming up to the glory of the Holy Spirit shows where they can find forgiveness go to Jesus and Jesus, the righteousness will be placed in your account Jesus in your questions will be answered shows you the Savior that work holdings in our natural many things inside he was alive.

We've never seen bodies want to engage in intestinal flora.

What was now spiritually speak. There are invisible forces at work that want to help us and save other forces want to destroy today on a new beginning.

Glory points out the work of God is with our sin is important. Know what I television these days. There's just so much bad stuff is just strive to be layered on tragedy, yet I see so much sin on this. What you see. So you see Violet you see murder you. You hero all these horrible things happening. And I'm just talking about the cartoons on Saturday morning so seriously though, it's just it's sort of like sin is on display every day. Every night for us all to see. So what is the worst sin. A person could possibly commit that feeling is a murder is that adultery those are bad since for sure, let me re-ask the question what sin offends God more than any other I think you might be surprised by my answer here in John chapter 16 were looking together at the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the non-believer in our last message.

We focus primarily on the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian now were looking at the work that he wants to do in the life of the person who was not yet a Christian were John wherein John 16 starting number seven.

Jesus says nevertheless I tell you the truth it is to your advantage.

I go away for IPA do not go away the helper will not come to you, but if I depart, I will send him to you.

And when he is come, he will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment of sin, because they do not believe in me of righteousness, because I go to my father and you see me no more, and of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. There the Holy Spirit of God.

Clearly the most misunderstood and misrepresented member of the Trinity.

It seems whenever there is something weird going on always gets blamed on the Holy Spirit right you flip the channels you come to some Christian TV station. I put that in quotes. In some cases, and you see people coming of the power of the spirit there falling on the floor nurse streaking there laughing uncontrollably there barking like dogs and the preacher says this is the Holy Spirit and even make it sound more holy.

So when you hear Holy Spirit telling her know if I want to know. I wanted to say all that crazy stuff that is not the Holy Spirit that's just crazy stuff because the Bible tells us what the work of the Holy Spirit is in Jesus makes an amazing statement to begin with. Here in John 16. He says it's to your advantage. I go away for up I do not go away, the helper will not come to you, but if I depart, I'll send them to you. Remember in our last message on the Holy Spirit. We talked about the word that the word helper comes from its Paraclete toasts in Greek, one who was called alongside to help with the definition of it that speaks of an advocate in a court of law.

Among other things.

So Jesus is actually saying it's better for you that I go away, it's to your benefit or to your advantage that I go away.

Otherwise, the Holy Spirit would not come to in this way, and amazes me because it seems to me oh no, the best thing would be to have Jesus with us physically. I mean, how amazing would that be imaginative. Jesus was sitting in church with you this next Jesus.

I mean you can stop looking out of these he is God. What's what's God doing now and you would find yourself just staring at him that wanting to hear whatever he had to say anything he would do. But Jesus is saying it's actually better for you that I go away, because in the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete tells the helper that advocate.

The counselor will come to you notice he says in verse eight, when he is come member. We pointed out at the Holy Spirit, is it not a force is a personality because sometimes people think he's just some power out there like something out of Star Wars or something. No, the Holy Spirit has a distinct personality, though he is likening Scripture to Byron a Dobbin, and other things in reality is always referred to as a he. And that is a D because he's part of the Trinity. So here's a quick review of what we already saw the Holy Spirit has come to convict us of our sin. 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 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 at least 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 and you will go to hell. Listen you/there are good people that are going to go to hell and there are bad people that are going to go to heaven so I makes no sense along with biblical limit exporting being a good person will not get you a 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 in the habit because habit is not for good people is for forgiven people.

Okay so I raise the question earlier. What is the worst sin. So what is it said adultery is that stealing is it taking the Lord's name in vain or recent survey was done among British Christians and they were asked to identify the most and least important of the 10 Commandments in right away that's it's a bad premise where I'm at a rate the 10 Commandments Houston we have a problem or should I say instead of London. We have a problem right okay so back to the Brits 93% of them still felt thou shall not commit murder was valid. Good to know. So my next trip to England. I guess I will get killed. Hopefully, a 93% still felt thou shall not steal, was a valid commandment then starts to drop after that 87%… Not bear false witness was still good, but only 23% felt also not take the name of the Lord in vain was still valid today 68% of British Christians.

II feel the point that out that I see that earlier.

These are Christians." They think it's okay to take the Lord's name in vain.

60% no and then this one the most amazing of all, only 20% thought having other gods before him was wrong. Sex 68% thought it was just fine to have other gods before the Lord. Really, how interesting. God doesn't see it that way because when he gives the 10 Commandments he doesn't start with. Thou shall not murder. He doesn't start with. You shall not take the Lord's name in vain. He starts I think I am the Lord your God have no other gods before me. Big deal to God. Dennis, I can command you shall love no graven images, which is really an extension of what the First Amendment says you know where you can and I'll worship something in the place of God because it comes down to this. If I have another God perform, it's all downhill from there and then those other Commandments will be broken as well.

Let me turn it around. If I put him first in my life. The other Commandments will fall in the place. Jesus sums it up this way. He says if you love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul and all of your mind and love your neighbor as yourself, you'll fulfill the commitments because our qualify love God with all of my heart, soul, mind, I'm not can have another God before them. I'm not gonna worship a graven image, I'm not going to take his name in vain. I love my neighbor as myself. I'm not going to kill him because that's not very neighborly is it. I'm not going to steal from him. I'm not going to lie to her. I'm not going to covet what belongs to them.

You see, so these crazy so-called Christians can't just go to the Commandments and decide what's valid. What is invalid God's word does not change according to the mores or culture of our times. The reality is we should be conforming culture to God rather than expecting God to conform to our culture.

Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of this important message just a moment. We really enjoy hearing with Pastor Greg's teaching and preaching are impacting lives. Pastor Greg, I grew up with a Christian father told me about God's love for me when I was 16 my dad died at that moment I said how could God of love do this to me so I walked away from God. Over the next 11 years, God sent people and I like to nudge me back to that about a year ago I was listening to you on the radio in my car at 4:30 AM one morning and finally I prayed with you leading me to ask Jesus into my life started listening to your podcast every day and reading the new living translation Bible for me as well. Thank you for doing God's work last year were encouraged to hear stories like that because it helps us know how these messages are impacting people. Pastor Greg studies God's word touched your life. If so, would you let them know drop an email to great@harvest.org that's great@harvest.org will Pastor Greg returns to his message now it's a study called the Holy Spirit and you are to okay so what is the worst sin that we can commit against the Lord, and so that next week. Not all hats are properly know the answer. It taking out the worst sin and the woman.

The most far-reaching consequences. You can commit is not believing in Jesus Christ to know Greg you're wrong.

Murder's works well no, actually, those are outgrowths of the sin inside of the person who does not know God, but say no to Christ as a complete rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit. The root of all of our problems. The worst thing you can commit is not believing in you will be judged for that. So the Holy Spirit number two now is 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 I 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's 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 if they'll 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 will get 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 of the Holy Spirit is come to show us that to bring us to Jesus. 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 they'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 this witness in himself, he that does not believe has 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 or call him a liar know you put words my milk then asked them not because of your rejecting the work that 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.

Number three. The Holy Spirit is come to show us our need for righteousness.

Look in verse 10 he says of righteousness, because I go to my father and you see me no more. Now here's the funny thing most people believe in heaven. Today, 72%, but as I said earlier they think living a good life will get them there.

But yet the Bible says all of us in the fallen short of the glory of God. It says there is not good.

No, not one in the Bible also says in James 210. If you have been in one point of the law, you're guilty of all of know the Bible is not saying that there are not good people there are good people. Let me take it a step further.

I met people who are not Christians that are good people and in some cases better. People then some Christians I know that make sense when I say good I mean they're friendly. There trustworthy. There are considerate to other good people in that regard. This is not about if you're a good guy or a good girl this is about. If you're good enough to get to heaven and no one that good so I'm pretty good actually got you're not as good as you think you are in your much worse than you think you are that the truth, because one sin is enough to keep you out of heaven. And trust me, you've given it a lot more than one sin and solve so the Holy Spirit is come to show me this about myself. Listen to this. Even on my best day, my righteousness, my goodness, that benevolent, kind, considerate things that I do are pretty much throw away because Isaiah 64 six says my righteousness is as filthy rags, but then what about the bad days and those are not so think about all of that even your best day you don't even get close in on your bad days.

Your soul so far away. So the Holy Spirit comes to show me that I need Jesus. He shows me I'm not righteous enough I'm not good enough.so why would will be driven away and despair but so I will run to the cross gently does he says you're bad you are sinful.

There's the answer and he likes the way it Jesus go to Jesus and your sins will be forgiven. Go to Jesus and the righteousness will be placed in your account, go to Jesus in your questions will be answered at a very important distinction he shows you the sin that he brings you to the Savior. That said, the work of the holy spirit, Esther, Greg Lord great insight today on how the spirit points to sin and then points to the Savior.

Such an important role a lifesaving role in the lives of believers.

You're listening to a new beginning, and there's more to come. In a study called the Holy Spirit and you part two never so happy to be making available a book that has some wonderful insights well researched insights into heaven and the afterlife at Hazor.

Greg is speaking to his friend Lee Strobel, the best-selling author of this new book, so Lee Strobel you are 70 years old.

Yes I am. I'm an old man. Well, I'm right behind I am when I'm 69 but to you've just written a book about have an effect is called the case for heaven. You know we all leave a legacy are all remembered for something. How would you like people to remember you while well that's a great question Greg. I think of us, and I what what what I want to my tombstone you know and I think I'd wanted something along the lines of he dragged his many people to heaven with them as he could let you know I mean God can't Redeem me he changed me transform. He gave me a mission you give me purpose in life and I just want people experience that I will people have what IFAD which is the joy in the adventure and the wonder of knowing God personally. Through Jesus Christ and experiencing than a daily basis of being enriched by Scripture and ended that the wisdom and the, the stories in the that the insights that we get from Scripture. I just want people experience a and I think of my father-in-law was an atheist and he had a stroke and the doctors told us he was going to die soon and so we had them at our house and lazy boy chair and I said I said to my wife, and his wife who was a Christian I said, you know, give me one more shot and they went out to do something in and I was just me and Al and I looked on. I said Al you realize you die you. I want to be in heaven without you while your daughter, your grandchildren, your wife, we want to be in heaven without your help please and height for 45 minutes. I could shoulder. My reason with them. I explained the gospel again and again and and then I began to seek tears in his eyes. And should you want to receive Jesus right now don't you and he nodded and at the age of 87, 87 years old. Atheist is whole life. Unbelievable. He prayed he received Christ and then my wife came back and his wife and and wished we had a celebration we're going to cook a dinner and have a party to celebrate Ayla coming home to God.

But then we notice him was wrong, it is left side was sagging.

He was having another stroke we call an ambulance.

Leslie, my wife got in the ambulance with them went to the hospital.

I got in the car she got to the hospital and they put him on a gurney and they were wheeling them into the emergency room and he looked up at Leslie and he said tell Lee thanks well and he went in and that stroke ended up destroying his mind and he lingered for a while and then he dies you got in under the wire under the hive. The last cogent conversation of his life and he received Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and I will spend eternity in heaven with him and that's the the wonder of God's grace. That's Lee Strobel you're hearing from everyone in his brand-new book out called the case, for heaven, subtitled a journalist investigates evidence for life after death. There were sending it to you for your gift of any size to help us continue to teach God's word and proclaim the gospel because we likely want to drag as many people they have this weekend and is it in fact our mission statement is knowing him and making him known.

That's the heart and soul of what we do and we love hearing when others taken the time we heard from a listener who talked about recently sharing Christ with a family member which can be a little challenging. He said I shared the gospel and it truly felt amazing Pastor Greg, you've helped give me the confidence I needed to talk with her tonight so thank you so encouraging to hear and good confirmation that people are being helped and encouraged and confirmation that your investments in this ministry are making a real difference. And when you invest right now will be glad to thank you by sending you a copy of this brand-new book, the case for heaven so call us at 1-800-821-3300. You can reach us any time.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org and then we want to pass along a prayer request Pastor Greg and the team are headed to Boise Idaho soon for the Boise harvest is coming April 23 and 24's to be a huge outreach at the extra mile arena where Pastor Greg will share important gospel messages and he welcomes Jeremy Camp, Chris Tomlin, Andy mimeo and Jordan for lease. So keep Pastor Greg in prayer and also keep this event in your prayers as well. And if you know someone who lives in Idaho. Let them know about this event. Get details at boy.

C.harvest.org header know if you know about this, but we have a weekend service called Harvest at Home exclusively for people that are tuning in literally from around the world listen to this.

We even have harvest groups where you can get in was small group with folks from all around this planet of ours, studying the word of God to join us this weekend Saturday and Sunday for Harvest at Home@harvest.org when next I Pastor Greg comes back with more insight on the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives, convicting us of our sin and pointing us to our Savior join us here on a new beginning.

Pastors and Bible Greg Laurie will buy harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God learn how to become harvest partner sign up for daily devotions and find resources to help you grow in your faith harvest.org