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Sunday 10/30/22

Message – The Spirit – The 1st Installment of our Great Inheritance

The Spirit – The 1st Installment of our Great Inheritance

As we’ve been going through Galatians, the question has been “how did you receive the Spirit?”

If you remember I admitted that this question challenged me, because like we’ve continued to find true over and over – this points to a person – to relationship and not to events, conditions, privileges or promises.

It does not even capitalize on heaven or forgiveness of sins, on prayers being answered or even being heard though it has implications on all of these. No, the question focuses our attention like a laser right where it needs to be – entirely upon a relationship with a person – that of the Holy Spirit.

In this letter to the Galatians Paul speaks of the Spirit as THE promise and asks if He was received into their hearts and lives by “By flesh efforts or by trusting in the truth of the message heard?”

Even THAT is personal and relational and intimate, because the answer is clearly that we received the Spirit of God because we believed the message of the testimony regarding Jesus – given to us by a person who was testifying to Christ BY THE SPIRIT.

The Spirit was indeed prophesied as the promise to be given at the coming of the New Covenant.

Gal. 3:13-14, “(13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) (14) in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.”

As I was teaching some of the men at Loving Hands this past week it occurred to me that in fact, the Spirit was where THE spotlight was at the inception of the church.

In fact, the salvation experience of the Apostles was specifically referred to as receiving the Spirit.

John 20:18-22, “(18) Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what Jesus had said to her.

(19) On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together and locked the doors of the place because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

(20) When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

(21) So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” (22) And after He said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”

That is the same as it was later with the Gentiles…
Acts 15:7-9,

“(7) After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. (8) And God, Who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, (9) and He made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith.”

The Spirit of God is also a manifestation of the peace of God.

In John 14 as Jesus was encouraging His disciples regarding the necessity of His departure, said to them regarding the Spirit He was going to send to them,

“(26) But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you. (27) “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.” – John 14:26-27

This word Peace in these verses means – Peace, meaning health, welfare, prosperity, every kind of good.

Then Jesus remained with them for 40 days teaching them regarding the Kingdom of God, then His parting words were, “(4) While he was with them, he declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me. (5) For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”– Acts 1:4-5

Jesus, when being accused of casting out a demon by the prince of demons replied, “(25) Now when Jesus realized what they were thinking, He said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. (26) So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? (27) And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. (28) But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you.” – Matt. 12:25-28

Listen to that. Jesus is essentially saying, “If I set captives free from the bondage of satan BY THE SPIRIT of God, then God’s Kingdom is here NOW!”

What does that mean or imply?

Mark 8:36-9:1, “(36) For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life?
(37) What can a person give in exchange for his life?

(38) For if anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

“(1) And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”

Acts 1:6-9,

“(6) So when they had gathered together, they began to ask Him, “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

(7) He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by His Own authority. (8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” (9) After He had said this, while they were watching, He was lifted up and a cloud hid Him from their sight.”

We are told by Paul,

“For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.”

He said this while encouraging the arrogant among the church in Corinth to repent lest he have to come to them with a rod of disciple instead of with love and a spirit of gentleness.

So part of the power of the Spirit is for maintaining discipline in the church.

What does this empowering look like?

Well with Jesus we are told in Luke 4:18&19, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
…and Jesus told those who followed Him that even as He had been sent, He was sending them.

The Holy Spirit is SUCH an integral part of our lives in Christ, and His work in us and empowering of us is so pervasive that we can become overly used to Him – so much so that we fail to acknowledge Him and that is a terrible failing on our part.

The Holy Spirit…

Leads us
Empowers us
Speaks to us
Speaks through us
Guides us
Teaches us
Reveals truth to us
Reminds us
Fills us (will control us through our trust and surrender to Him)
Gives life to us
He is the Helper
The advocate – parakletos – It is properly a verbal adj. referring to an aid of any kind.
In the Greek writers, used of a legal advisor, pleader, proxy, or advocate, one who comes forward in behalf of and as the representative of another.
He gives spiritual gifts
He enables us to pray God’s will, sing to God and give thanks
Comforts us
Floods our hearts with the love of God
Enables us to put to death the deeds of the body
He the Spirit of Adoption by Whom we cry out “Father, my Father”
He provides an inward witness that we belong to God
He provides and inward witness in our conscience
He aids us in our weaknesses
He makes intercessions for us
He makes us abound in hope
He sanctifies us
He causes us to know God the Father through Christ Jesus
He searches the deep things of God and reveals them to us
He informs us of all God freely gives us
He dwells in us – our bodies are His temple
He empowers us to execute judgment in the body
He is God’s seals on us – a seal of authenticity and token of our status of being approved before the Father
He is our guarantee – the first installment of our great inheritance!
He authors our lives as living letters to be read by all men – as living testimonies of Jesus!
He transforms us into Christ’s image
He causes us to stand firm
The One in the Godhead we commune with
He gives us access to the Father
He strengthens us with might in the inner man
He generates joy within our hearts
He yearns over us jealously – He craves control of us

Rom. 14:17, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!