Participants:
Series Code: TMC
Program Code: TMC000024A
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00:14 Have you enjoyed the Trio Celeste?
00:17 Very, very much. 00:21 They're going to sing a hymn entitled, 00:24 "Fairest Lord Jesus." 00:34 Fairest Lord Jesus 00:39 Ruler of all nature 00:44 O thou of God 00:47 And man the Son 00:53 Thee will I cherish 00:58 Thee will I honor 01:03 Thou want my glory Joy 01:07 And crown 01:13 Fair is the sunshine 01:17 Fairer still the moonlight 01:22 And all the twinkling 01:26 Starry host 01:32 Jesus shines brighter 01:37 Jesus shines purer 01:42 Than all the angels heaven 01:46 Can boast 01:52 Beautiful Savior! 01:58 Lord of all the nations 02:03 Son of God 02:06 And Son of Man 02:13 Glory and honor Praise 02:19 Adoration 02:24 Now and forevermore 02:29 Be thine 02:52 Father, we come to You this evening, 02:56 asking that each of us 03:00 may see Jesus. 03:03 May our hearts be open. 03:06 Lord, as we consider 03:09 what the Word has to say about the Holy Spirit, 03:13 we pray that we may be receptive. 03:16 The Holy Spirit may impart to us, 03:21 the fruits and the gifts that He wants to give us, 03:25 that we might live for You in all that we do. 03:30 For this we ask in Christ's name, 03:32 amen. 03:40 Matthew, the 24th Chapter. 03:43 In that chapter, 03:45 Jesus gave one sign after another of His coming. 03:49 In fact, He gave 17 signs of His coming, 03:54 in 24th Chapter. 03:56 Of those 17 signs, 03:59 16 of them had been fulfilled, 04:02 only one left to be fulfilled. 04:06 So when you move into the 25th Chapter of Matthew, 04:11 Jesus is talking about things that are taking place 04:14 in the last days. 04:15 And He tells us a parable. 04:18 Tells a parable of 10 virgins, 04:22 and He has this to say about them 04:24 very important instructions to you and I, 04:27 who are living down here at the close of time, 04:30 when these things that He's talked about 04:32 are all beginning to take place. 04:35 This is instructions that He's given to you, 04:37 and to me. 04:38 And he says this about the 10 virgins, 04:40 Matthew 25:6, 04:42 "And at midnight, a cry was heard: 04:44 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming, 04:46 go out to meet him!'" 04:48 Now when the scripture says midnight, 04:50 that's really talking about 04:51 the darkest hour of earth's history. 04:54 It's talking about the time in which you and I are living. 04:57 And it says that the cry went out, 05:00 behold, the bridegroom is coming. 05:04 So it's you and I need to be ready 05:06 to meet the bridegroom. 05:09 "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 05:15 And the foolish said to the wise, 05:17 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'" 05:22 Cry went out, they all rallied to the cry. 05:26 But the foolish said, "Well, we're running out of oil, 05:31 give us some of your oil." 05:34 "But the wise answered, saying, 'No lest, 05:36 there should not be enough for us and you...'" 05:39 They said, "We don't have any to spare. 05:41 If we give you oil, there won't be enough for us." 05:46 "But go rather to those who sell, 05:48 and buy for yourselves. 05:51 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, 05:55 and those who were ready 05:59 went in with him to the wedding; 06:01 and the door was shut." 06:03 So it says that while these five were out, 06:06 buying the oil that they needed, 06:09 the bridegroom came, the five that had oil went in, 06:14 and the door was shut. 06:17 "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, 06:20 open to us!' 06:25 But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, 06:28 I do not know you.' 06:30 " Now listen very carefully. 06:33 "Watch therefore, 06:35 for you know neither the day nor the hour 06:38 in which the Son of Man is coming." 06:42 Now when it says that these virgins all arose, 06:46 and they were ready to go out to meet the bridegroom, 06:49 but five of them didn't have enough oil. 06:54 Do you understand what the oil represents? 06:59 The oil represents the Holy Spirit. 07:02 Amen. 07:03 And it says they didn't have enough of the Holy Spirit. 07:07 And so it says, when the bridegroom came, 07:09 those five wise went in, 07:12 the five foolish were off trying to find oil. 07:16 Now what I'm trying to tell you tonight, dear friends, 07:18 is you and I are living 07:20 down here at the close of time. 07:23 It is essential that we have 07:26 the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives 07:29 to prepare us for the coming of Jesus Christ. 07:33 Going to church, 07:37 filling the pew, 07:39 saying I'm a Christian is not enough. 07:44 Listen to these words. 07:47 Ezekiel 33:31, 07:50 "So they come to you as people do, 07:53 they sit before you as My people, 07:56 they hear your words... 08:02 But they do not do them, 08:06 for with their mouth they show much love, 08:10 but their hearts pursue their own gain." 08:13 God said, no. 08:16 He said, but I'm not interested in his mouth service. 08:20 I'm not interested in them just talking. 08:22 I'm interested in their lives 08:25 being filled with the Holy Spirit. 08:28 And if you and I are going to enter 08:30 into the kingdom of God, 08:31 that is necessary that ur lives to be filled 08:34 with the Holy Spirit. 08:36 The Bible says right down at the end of time, 08:39 there will be a loud cry 08:42 that will go out across the earth, 08:45 calling people to prepare for the coming of the Lord. 08:49 Listen to that loud cry that's going to be given, 08:51 we talked about a little bit last night. 08:54 Revelation 18:1, 08:56 "After these things 08:57 I saw another angel coming down from heaven, 09:00 having great authority..." 09:03 So this angel has great authority. 09:06 "And the earth was illuminated with his glory." 09:10 And I told you that when angels are pictured in Bible prophecy, 09:13 they represent a message, 09:15 that's to go to the whole world, 09:17 and it says that this earth is illuminated 09:20 by the glory of this angel. 09:22 What is His message? 09:23 What message is this angel proclaiming? 09:26 "And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, 09:29 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen..." 09:34 So he said, "Babylon has fallen." 09:37 We talked about that last night. 09:40 Dear friend, it is essential, it is absolutely vital 09:44 that you and I build our faith on this book. 09:48 Amen. I cannot, I'm sorry. 09:53 I'm sorry, dear friend. 09:55 But you and I cannot build our faith on church. 10:01 You've got to build your faith on the Word of God. 10:05 Then once you build your faith on the Word of God, 10:08 that will never change. 10:10 You're on a solid foundation. 10:14 So you got to be like the 10:18 fella that came to church that was deaf. 10:22 He couldn't hear anything. 10:25 When guy went out the church, the pastor stopped him, 10:28 wrote on a piece of paper, 10:31 "We appreciate you being here. 10:32 But since you can't hear, 'Why do you come?' 10:37 " And the fella took the piece of paper 10:38 and wrote back on the sheet. 10:40 "'Cause I want the devil to know whose side I'm on." 10:44 And that's what needs to happen with you and I. 10:46 We need to be very clear, 10:47 where I stand on the Word of God. 10:50 This is what I believe, this is where I stand, okay? 10:54 So you can't build it on church, 10:56 you got to build it on the Word of God. 10:57 And it says, "And he cried mightily with a loud voice, 11:00 saying, 'Babylon the great is fallen, 11:02 is fallen.' 11:04 " This is the loud cry that's being proclaimed. 11:06 "And has become a dwelling place of demons, 11:10 a prison for every foul spirit, 11:12 and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!" 11:16 In other words, it says that they have departed from God, 11:20 they're going the other way. 11:23 "For all the nations have drunk of the wine 11:25 of the wrath of her 11:27 fornication..." 11:28 So, dear friend, tonight, 11:31 if you value your relationship with Jesus Christ, 11:38 if you value the gift of eternal life, 11:43 if that's important to you, 11:46 then, dear friend, I'm pleading with you tonight, 11:49 build your faith on the Word of God, 11:54 don't build it any other place. 11:59 "The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, 12:04 and the merchants of the earth have become rich 12:06 through the abundance of her luxury. 12:10 "And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 12:12 'Come out of her, my people...' 12:15 " That's the cry that's going out across the world today. 12:18 God is calling people. 12:21 He's calling them. 12:22 Dear friend, let me tell you something, 12:23 He has people in all the churches, 12:26 good, sincere, honest people in all the churches. 12:30 It says in John 10. 12:33 "Other sheep I have that are not of this fold." 12:39 Don't stop there because it says, 12:42 "Them I must bring, 12:44 and there will be one fold 12:47 and one shepherd." 12:49 It doesn't say there will be 15 folds, 12:52 it doesn't say there will be 300 folds, 12:55 it says there will be one fold, 12:58 and that's what He's saying here when He's saying, 13:00 "Come out of her, come out of her, My people." 13:03 Saying, "You know, I stand amazed 13:08 because I've run on the people 13:10 that there's nothing wrong with their minds. 13:13 You know, God has given you 13:15 a good mind, 13:17 and you can read God's Word." 13:19 Therefore, dear friend, as you read it, 13:21 and you understand what it says, follow it. 13:25 That's all God's asking you to do. 13:28 As you read it, and you understand it, 13:31 follow it. 13:33 You're perfectly capable. Let me tell you something. 13:36 God would not put in this book... 13:39 God would not put in this book, 13:41 something that was impossible to understand 13:44 and expect you to be saved. 13:48 If God wants you to be saved, you better believe 13:50 He's going to put something there 13:51 that you can understand. 13:54 And as you understand it, follow it. 13:56 "Come out of her, My people, 13:59 lest you share in her sins, 14:01 and lest you receive of her plagues." 14:03 That's the call 14:04 that's going out to the whole world today. 14:07 It will not take place 14:10 by the might of men. 14:15 You see, in my experience, 14:18 I'm finding that God 14:22 will only really use a person 14:26 if they're humble. 14:29 God says, "I dwell with him 14:31 who is of a contrite heart. 14:36 Only as you and I humble ourselves, 14:39 then the Holy Spirit can use us. 14:41 "So then to go forth, 14:43 it's not by might, 14:44 it's not by power, 14:46 but it's by My spirit," 14:50 says the Lord. 14:51 That's the way that that loud cry will go forth 14:55 to all the world. 14:57 God promises to you tonight, 15:00 to every one of you here tonight, 15:02 God promises the Holy Spirit. 15:05 That's something He wants to give you. 15:08 It's not something He's trying to withhold from you, 15:11 He wants to give it to you. 15:13 "And when He had said this, 15:15 He breathed on them, and said to them, 15:17 'Receive the Holy Spirit.' 15:21 " You see, Jesus wants you to receive the Holy Spirit. 15:24 He's not trying to hold it back, 15:26 He wants you to receive it. 15:28 Something He's willing to give you. 15:31 "If you then, being evil, 15:33 know how to give good gifts to your children, 15:37 how much more will your heavenly Father 15:39 give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" 15:42 So He says, He's more willing 15:45 to give you the Holy Spirit 15:47 than you are to give good gifts to your children. 15:51 Do you have any trouble with that? 15:54 No, more than willing to give it to you. 15:57 So He says that you and I must come to Him, 16:00 and we must ask for the Holy Spirit. 16:04 Disciples, 16:06 they talked about it in Acts 11:16, it says, 16:09 "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, 16:11 how He said, 'John indeed baptized 16:14 with water, 16:16 but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 16:20 " So tonight, all I'm trying to get across to you 16:23 is God wants you to have the Holy Spirit. 16:28 Let me tell you something, 16:30 to receive the Holy Spirit, 16:32 it's not something that you've got to 16:35 crawl on your knees, 16:38 it's not something that you have to beat your back. 16:42 The Bible makes it very clear 16:43 that all you and I must do 16:45 is come to Him and ask, 16:48 and come with our hearts open, 16:51 surrendered, humble, 16:53 and God will pour out His Spirit upon us. 16:55 He'll give us the Holy Spirit. 16:57 Now the Bible talks about the Holy Spirit 17:01 being given in a special way in the last days. 17:04 And it talks about what is called the former 17:07 and the latter rain. 17:09 It talks about the Holy Spirit being poured out as rain. 17:12 Listen to what it says here in Joel. 17:14 Joel 2:23, 17:16 "Be glad then, you children of Zion, 17:19 and rejoice in the Lord your God, 17:21 for He has given you 17:22 the former rain faithfully, 17:26 all right, 17:28 and He will cause the rain to come down to you, 17:32 the former rain, 17:33 and the latter rain in the first month." 17:37 The former rain, folks, 17:39 was when the Holy Spirit was poured out 17:41 on the day of Pentecost. 17:43 Holy Spirit was poured out in great measure 17:46 in the day of Pentecost. 17:48 It says the Holy Spirit will be poured out again 17:52 in great measure in the last days. 17:55 That will be the latter rain, okay? 17:58 Listen, 17:59 'cause this is still Joel Chapter 2, 18:01 what we just read, 18:02 it tells you what He's talking about. 18:04 "And it shall come to pass 18:05 afterwards that I will pour out 18:07 My Spirit on all flesh." 18:11 Gonna pour out His Holy Spirit on all flesh. 18:14 "Your sons and your daughters shall," what? 18:18 "Prophesy, 18:19 your old men shall dream dreams, 18:22 your young men shall see visions. 18:25 Also on My menservants and on My maidservants, 18:28 I will pour out My Spirit in those days." 18:31 That's the latter rain 18:33 when God pours out His Holy Spirit 18:35 in great measure. 18:37 And, dear friends, let me tell you something tonight, 18:39 God is simply waiting on you and on me 18:43 to humble our hearts 18:45 and to come and seek the Lord, 18:47 and He is more than willing 18:49 to pour out the Holy Spirit upon us. 18:52 Wanting just to give us the Holy Spirit. 18:56 Great measure, 18:58 marvelous things will happen. 19:00 Ask the Lord for the rain in the time of the... 19:06 Oh, Lord, we're living in the time of the latter rain. 19:09 Yeah, we're living right down at the end, 19:11 so God says what you're supposed to do. 19:15 Ask, ask for it. 19:18 "Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. 19:21 His going forth is established as the morning. 19:25 He will come to us like the rain, 19:27 like the latter and the former rain to the earth." 19:31 It says that He'll come, 19:32 and He'll pour out His Spirit upon us in great measure. 19:35 So how? 19:37 How do I? 19:38 How do you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit? 19:43 What do I need to do to receive it? 19:46 There's some very simple things 19:48 to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 19:51 One. 19:52 You see, 19:53 the scripture says that this book 19:58 is the lamp, okay? 20:00 The lamp is God's Word, that's here. 20:05 This is what brings enlightenment. 20:08 But, dear friend, 20:09 the lamp will not burn without oil. 20:14 Are you with me? Amen. 20:16 I know lots of people that study the Word of God, 20:19 it doesn't do them any good. 20:22 They read it and it doesn't do any good 20:24 because they're lacking the Holy Spirit. 20:27 The Holy Spirit's what has to illuminate my mind. 20:30 It has to... 20:31 It's what has to help me understand God's Word. 20:36 Haven't you ever had that experience? 20:38 Huh? 20:39 Haven't you ever been reading the Bible 20:41 when you came across a text and you read it, 20:44 and you didn't understand it? 20:46 And some while later you read it again, 20:49 you still didn't understand it. 20:51 And then several times you read it, 20:54 just didn't understand. 20:55 One day, you picked it up and you read it, 20:57 and all of a sudden you understood it? 20:59 You ever had that happen? 21:00 That isn't 'cause you got smart all of a sudden, 21:04 that's because of the Holy Spirit. 21:06 See, the Holy Spirit enlightens us, 21:08 helps us understand God's Word. 21:11 That's what it's for. 21:13 That's what it does to us. 21:16 "In Him you also trusted, 21:20 after you heard the word of truth, 21:21 the gospel of your salvation. 21:24 In whom also, having believed, you were sealed 21:28 with the Holy Spirit of promise." 21:31 So you see, as I read the Word of God, 21:34 then the Holy Spirit must come into my life 21:37 and work in my life. 21:39 In fact, it says that I will not understand 21:42 the Word of God without it. 21:43 Ephesians 4:5, 21:45 "For what man knows the things of a man 21:48 except the spirit of the man 21:49 which is in him? 21:51 Even so no one knows the things of God 21:54 except the Spirit of God." 21:58 You see, you can't understand without the Holy Spirit. 22:03 So if you want the Holy Spirit, 22:07 and you want to really understand God's Word, 22:10 you have to spend time in the Word of God. 22:14 Essential. 22:17 You've got to take time, 22:20 every day, every day 22:23 to read the Word of God. 22:26 Open up your heart 22:29 and just read the Word of God 22:32 and take it into your life, friend. 22:34 You don't have to read it fast, 22:37 just open up your heart and read it, 22:40 and listen, 22:42 and listen to the Holy Spirit 22:44 as He speaks to your heart. 22:46 What a difference it'll make. 22:49 "If you abide in Me, 22:52 and My," what? 22:54 "Words abide in you, 22:56 you will ask what you desire, 22:59 and it shall be done for you." 23:02 Marvelous promise. 23:04 Marvelous promise. 23:06 I talk to you tonight about these promises. 23:08 I told you that all the promises 23:10 in God's Word were 23:12 conditional. 23:14 There's the condition, and there's the promise, both, 23:18 okay? 23:19 So if you have the Word of God abide in you, 23:22 you shall ask what you desire, it will be done to you. 23:26 2 Timothy 2:15, 23:28 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, 23:32 a workman that does not need to be ashamed..." 23:37 You see, that's your responsibility. 23:39 That's mine. 23:41 So the first thing I'm gonna tell you, 23:42 if you want the Holy Spirit in your life, 23:45 you spend time in the Word of God. 23:47 Absolutely necessary 23:50 if we're going to grow in grace. 23:52 "Rightly dividing, 23:53 rightly dividing the word of truth." 23:55 But you can't rightly divide it 23:58 unless the Holy Spirit's there to lead you. 24:01 That's what it takes 24:02 to rightly divide the Word of God. 24:04 Second, it's prayer. 24:09 Absolutely required 24:12 to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit is prayer. 24:16 Now, folks, please, 24:19 there are no prescribed things about prayer. 24:25 God's more interested in you talking to Him 24:29 than the position you're in when you talk to Him. 24:33 Now true, 24:34 I believe that when you come before God, 24:36 you need to kneel. 24:37 That's the reason I do each night. 24:40 But, dear friend, let me tell you something, 24:42 God's more interested in you, talking to Him 24:45 as you're driving down the road 24:48 than not talking to Him, 24:50 you know? 24:53 That's one thing I found that you can do 24:54 when you're driving is pray. 24:56 And way some of these people drive out here, 24:58 you need to pray, you know? 25:00 But talk to the Lord, 25:02 spend time in prayer, 25:04 you know? 25:06 If you want the Holy Spirit, that is necessary 25:09 that you have a prayer life. 25:12 This is what the scripture tells us, 25:15 speaking of the disciples after Jesus left. 25:19 Acts 1:4, 25:21 "And being assembled together with them, 25:23 He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, 25:27 but to wait for the Promise of the Father..." 25:31 What was the promise of the Father? 25:34 Promise was He would send them the Holy Spirit. 25:36 That was the promise of the Father, okay? 25:38 "'Which,' He said, 25:40 'you have heard from Me.' 25:41 " So He said, 25:42 "Don't leave Jerusalem, tarry there, 25:44 and this is what the scripture says 25:46 that they did. 25:49 "These all continued with one accord in prayer 25:54 and supplication, with the women 25:57 and Mary, 25:58 the mother of Jesus, and His brothers." 26:00 They were there, 26:02 they did not leave that upper room, 26:03 they stayed together, they were of one accord, 26:06 and they've sought the Lord in prayer 26:08 until on the day of Pentecost, 26:11 the Holy Spirit was poured out in great measure upon them. 26:16 What would happen? 26:19 What would happen 26:22 if each one of us here tonight 26:27 humbled ourselves? 26:31 Laid aside all of our presuppositions, 26:37 laid aside all of our feelings, 26:42 laid aside all the things that separate us 26:47 and just opened up our hearts 26:51 and prayed and invited the Holy Spirit in? 26:55 Oh, what a difference. 26:57 Oh, what a difference would take place. 27:00 The Holy Spirit would be poured out in great measure. 27:05 And, dear friends, we would see things 27:07 like we have never seen before. 27:10 Amen. 27:12 That happened because it tells us 27:14 that the latter rain would be poured out. 27:17 What happens when this takes place? 27:19 "And the prayer of faith will save the sick, 27:24 and the Lord will raise him up. 27:25 And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." 27:28 So if you're going to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, 27:32 you got to have faith. 27:35 It's given by faith, 27:38 not given any other way. 27:41 You know, I run on these people 27:42 that always want to be so intellectual. 27:45 You know, they got to give a human reason for everything. 27:50 If they can't give some kind of a scientific reason 27:54 for everything, well, they can't accept it. 27:57 All I can say is, dear friend, 27:59 you're missing, 28:01 you're missing some of the greatest joys of life 28:04 because it's given by faith, 28:07 Holy Spirit's given by faith. 28:11 "That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles 28:14 in Christ Jesus, 28:17 that we might receive the promise of the Spirit," 28:21 how? "Through faith." 28:24 Amen. 28:25 So, dear friend, 28:28 have faith in God. 28:31 Believe in Him. 28:34 Build your faith 28:37 on the Word of God 28:38 and simply take God for what He says. 28:41 I know some of you are struggling 28:44 because you've learned some things in God's Word 28:47 and those present some obstacles to you. 28:50 And you're saying, "What am I going to do 28:53 if I do this?" 28:54 Dear friend, trust Him, 28:56 He will not fail. 28:58 I'm sure, He won't fail you 29:01 if you'll trust Him. 29:02 Take Him in His word. 29:04 You'll find that He will be there, 29:07 He'll meet every need. 29:09 And I can tell you right now, 29:11 He's gonna put a joy in your heart like you've never known 29:14 if you just simply trust Him. 29:16 If your faith is not very strong, 29:19 let me tell you how to get it stronger 29:21 because it says in Romans 10:17, 29:24 "Faith cometh by hearing, 29:27 and hearing by the Word of God." 29:30 Get in the scripture. 29:31 That's what builds your faith. 29:33 Read it. 29:35 And as your faith grows, 29:37 so you will receive more of the Holy Spirit. 29:40 Okay, what does the Holy Spirit give us? 29:43 It gives gifts to us. Did you know that? 29:46 Yes, it gives gifts to you. 29:50 And here you're running around 29:52 without the Holy Spirit, 29:53 and you don't have any of the wonderful gifts 29:55 that the Holy Spirit gives you. 29:57 Listen, this is the promises of God about the gifts 30:01 that He'd like to give you. 30:02 "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, 30:04 and let every one of you be baptized 30:06 in the name of Jesus Christ 30:10 for the remission of sins, 30:11 and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' 30:15 " So it says, 30:16 "Those of you that have been coming, 30:18 you've given your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ." 30:21 He said, "Repent and be," what? 30:23 "Baptized." 30:25 We're being having a baptism here. 30:27 Next Saturday morning, 30:29 we're having a baptism, right here. 30:31 You need to if you've accepted Christ, 30:33 you need to be baptized, 30:35 that's part of the step 30:37 of receiving the Holy Spirit into your life. 30:40 Repent and be baptized, 30:42 and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 30:46 They were back to open up your heart 30:49 and following what the scripture says. 30:51 It's what God wants to do for you. 30:56 What's going to happen if you receive the Holy Spirit? 31:01 If you ever looked the scripture, 31:03 seen what has happened? 31:05 Listen. 31:07 "And these signs will follow those who believe in My name, 31:12 and they will," 31:14 what? 31:15 "Cast out demons." 31:18 It's what it says. 31:21 "They speak with new tongues, 31:26 they take up serpents. 31:29 And if they drink anything deadly, 31:32 it will by no means hurt them." 31:35 Now don't miss understand that scripture. 31:40 That scripture is not telling you 31:41 for you to go home and drink something poison. 31:45 That's not what it's saying. 31:47 You have to understand the circumstances there. 31:50 Back in the days of the disciples, 31:52 the favorite way of getting rid of people was to poison them. 31:57 And that was prevalent. 32:00 It's just simply poison them and get rid of them. 32:03 And God said, "If you will serve Me, 32:05 if you will walk with Me, if you will be My disciple, 32:09 if you receive the Holy Spirit, 32:11 if they try to poison you, it won't work." 32:14 That's what He's saying. 32:16 Let's not be presumptuous 32:19 and think that that gives you a right to go out here 32:21 and have snakes 32:22 or to drink poison, does not. 32:26 But I can tell you right now, 32:29 and if you've committed your life to Jesus Christ, 32:33 you've given your heart to Him, 32:35 and you're witnessing for the Lord Jesus Christ, 32:39 and if somebody decides to try to get rid of you, 32:45 that is totally in the Lord's hands. 32:48 And I can guarantee you, He can stop it. 32:51 I've seen it happen. 32:54 He can stop it. 32:56 So that's what He's trying to tell you. 32:58 But it says this is what will happen. 33:01 "They will lay hands on the sick, 33:03 and they will recover." 33:07 Now when I'm trying to get across tonight 33:09 is why are you living such inefficient Christian lives? 33:14 Why are you going through life like this 33:17 when the promise of the Holy Spirit 33:18 is there for you? 33:22 You know? Why? 33:26 What does the Holy Spirit do for us? 33:31 What does He want to do for us? 33:33 But let me tell you what He'd like to do for you. 33:37 You see, it's the fruit of the Spirit 33:41 that changes character. 33:44 Now listen to me, 33:46 it's the fruits of the Spirit 33:48 that changes character." 33:50 Women? 33:52 Women? 33:54 Say I run onto these women all the time that 33:57 fall in love with this fella, 33:58 and they say, "Well, I'll change him." 34:01 No, you won't. 34:03 No, you won't. 34:05 It's the Holy Spirit that will change him. 34:10 And, dear friend, you need to commit your life 34:13 to letting the Holy Spirit come into your life 34:15 and change you. 34:18 That's painful at times. 34:21 But it's marvelous what He can do. 34:26 "But the fruit of the Spirit is," what? 34:31 Love if you're not very loving. 34:34 Oh, the Holy Spirit can make you loving. 34:37 "He'll give you love, give you joy, 34:40 peace, longsuffering, 34:42 kindness, goodness, 34:45 faithfulness, gentleness, 34:47 self-control, against such there's no law." 34:50 If those things are lacking in your experience tonight, 34:53 dear friend, any of those things, 34:55 they come by the Holy Spirit, 34:59 okay? 35:00 That's the way they happen. 35:01 That's how it takes place. 35:05 So if I don't produce fruit, 35:08 then what do I have to do to produce fruit? 35:14 What do you do? 35:16 Well, let me ask you a simple question. 35:18 Why does the apple tree bear apples? 35:22 Huh? 35:23 'Cause it's an apple tree. 35:25 All right, listen, this is what it's saying. 35:26 John 15:4, "Abide in Me, 35:31 and I in you. 35:33 As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, 35:38 " you can't fruit of yourself, impossible, 35:41 "unless it abides in the vine, 35:45 neither can you, unless you abide in Me." 35:49 Amen. 35:50 You want the fruits of the Spirit, 35:52 then abide in Jesus Christ. 35:55 Spend time with Him. 35:57 Do you know Him? 35:59 Do you know Him? 36:00 Do you spend any time with Him? 36:03 Do you talk to Him? 36:07 Do you read His word? 36:08 Do you fellowship with Him? 36:11 That's the way it happens. 36:13 That's the way it takes place, friend. 36:15 Abide in Him. 36:18 I am the vine, 36:20 you are the branches. 36:22 "He who abides in Me, 36:24 and I in him, bears," how much? 36:27 "Much fruit," 36:30 much love, 36:31 much joy, much peace, 36:34 much longsuffering. 36:36 All those will be given to you if you abide in Him. 36:40 For without me, 36:42 you can do nothing. 36:46 Very, very clear. 36:49 You see? 36:50 That's the way it happens, 36:52 that's the way it takes place. 36:53 So the fruit of the Spirit 36:57 is what changes character. 37:00 Where my character is unloving, 37:03 Holy Spirit makes it loving. 37:06 Where I don't have any joy, 37:09 it gives me joy. 37:11 Where there's no peace, 37:14 oh, it puts peace in my heart. 37:17 That's what the fruits of the Spirit does for you. 37:20 For it is God who works... 37:23 Just a minute now. It's who? 37:25 God who, what? 37:27 Works. Yeah. 37:29 It's God who works in you. 37:30 He's the one that gets in there 37:32 and changes the character. 37:34 He's the one that makes it different. 37:36 "It's God who works in you 37:37 both to will and do His good pleasure." 37:42 God's the one that does that. 37:44 Those are the fruits of the Spirit, nine of them. 37:46 That's what we just looked at, nine of them. 37:48 Did you know He also wants to give you some gifts? 37:51 You know, how many gifts there are? 37:54 Nine of them. 37:56 Do you know what the gifts are for? 37:58 Huh? 38:00 Do you know what the gifts are for? 38:02 Now the fruits is what changes your character, 38:05 but the gifts are given to you 38:07 to make you an effective witness. 38:10 That's what the gifts are given for. 38:15 The purposes of the gifts of the Spirit. 38:19 "But you shall receive," 38:22 what? 38:24 "Power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, 38:27 and you shall be witnesses..." 38:32 See when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, 38:34 and it gives you those gifts, 38:36 that is what makes you a witness. 38:40 And I run on the people 38:41 that tried to witness 38:43 without the Holy Spirit. 38:46 How are you going to witness to somebody 38:48 if you're unloving? 38:52 If there's no joy in your heart, 38:55 how are you going to witness to them? 38:58 You can't. 39:00 You see, it takes the Holy Spirit 39:02 to put that into your life and to change you 39:05 and pour out the Spirit upon you 39:07 so that old carnal nature is changed, 39:09 and you're made loving, and kind, and gentle, 39:12 and all those elements are there 39:14 so that your witness 39:16 will be what it should be. 39:19 "In Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 39:23 "It is the oil of the Holy Spirit 39:25 that produces," what? 39:28 "Light in the Christian." 39:32 You see? 39:34 Children seeing this little light of Mine, 39:37 I'm going to let it shine. 39:40 Bible says, "Let your light so shine." 39:43 Sorry, folks, it does not say make your light shine. 39:49 It says, "Let your light shine, 39:51 only shines if the Holy Spirit, 39:55 the oil is there to work in your life." 39:58 That's what it takes to make it shine in your life. 40:01 "Arise, shine, for your light has come! 40:06 And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you." 40:09 That is what God is asking you. 40:12 "Let your light so shine before men, 40:16 that they may see your," 40:18 what? 40:20 "Good works and glorify your Father in heaven." 40:22 Dear friend, good works are what? 40:26 See if you understand the scripture. 40:29 Good works are what? 40:33 Dear friends, good works are fruit. 40:37 Good works are fruit. 40:41 They are the result 40:42 of what the Holy Spirit does in you. 40:45 And because those good works are there, 40:47 the fruit, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, 40:51 all those are there, 40:53 men will glorify God in heaven because of you. 40:58 That's the good works. 41:01 "But to each one of us grace was given 41:05 according to the measure of Christ's gifts." 41:09 All right. 41:10 "Therefore He says, 41:13 'When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, 41:17 and He gave," what? 41:20 "Gifts to men.' 41:22 " So He gave certain gifts 41:24 to you, to me, 41:26 to make us effective witnesses for Him. 41:28 Now let's take a look and see 41:29 what those gifts are that He gave. 41:32 "But the manifestation of the Spirit 41:34 is given to each one for the profit of all..." 41:37 This is the work of the Holy Spirit, friends. 41:39 Get it clear. 41:42 "For to one is given the word of wisdom," 41:45 that's a gift, 41:46 "to another the word of knowledge, 41:50 to another the same Spirit, 41:54 to another faith by the same Spirit, 41:56 to another the gifts of healings 41:58 by the same Spirit, 42:00 to another the working of miracles, 42:01 and to another prophecy, 42:03 and to another discerning of spirits, 42:06 and to another different kinds of tongues, 42:08 and to another the interpretation of tongues." 42:11 All those nine gifts are given 42:14 that you and I might be an effective witness 42:16 for the Lord Jesus Christ. 42:20 So if your witness is not very good tonight, 42:25 then what do you need? 42:29 You need the Holy Spirit. Amen. 42:31 That's what you need. 42:33 You need the Holy Spirit in your life. 42:35 "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, 42:40 distributing to each one individually as He wills." 42:46 So it says the Holy Spirit will give you 42:48 what gift He wants you to have. 42:52 Look what happened, 42:53 when the Holy Spirit was poured out 42:55 upon those disciples, 42:57 it says, 42:58 "And with great power the apostles gave witness 43:02 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 43:04 And great grace was upon them," okay? 43:09 'Cause they went forth and they witnessed. 43:12 I'm going to share with you tonight... 43:17 My favorite statement 43:19 of all the hundreds and hundreds of books 43:22 that I've read. 43:25 This one statement is my favorite 43:29 concerning the Holy Spirit. 43:31 It's taken from a book called "Desire of Ages" by EG White. 43:37 And listen carefully 43:38 because what it says is wonderful. 43:41 "Christ has promised 43:43 the gift of the Holy Spirit to His church, 43:47 and the promise belongs to us 43:50 as much as to the first disciples." 43:54 Now listen, "But like every other promise, 43:59 it is given on..." 44:01 Conditions. What? I'll tell you. 44:04 All the promises are given on condition, 44:07 even the Holy Spirit. 44:08 Let's see what the conditions are. 44:10 "There are many who believe and profess 44:13 to claim the Lord's promise. 44:16 They talk about Christ and about the Holy Spirit, 44:21 yet receive no benefit." 44:23 Why don't they? 44:25 "They do not surrender the soul to be guided and controlled 44:30 by the divine agencies." 44:33 You want to receive the Holy Spirit? 44:36 You've got to surrender, 44:39 surrender your life to be guided, 44:43 to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. 44:49 You cannot say no, this is what I'm going to do. 44:53 Let me tell you something, folks, 44:55 as I mentioned other night, I'm cleric by nature. 44:57 Do you understand clerics? 45:00 Let me tell you what a cleric is. 45:02 A cleric is the type of person, 45:04 if you give them a job, they'll do it. 45:07 I mean, that's a cleric. 45:09 I mean, you give him a job, and he'll get it done. 45:12 Of course, he might run over 50 people getting it done, 45:15 but he'll do it. 45:16 That's a cleric. 45:18 Now very, very self-sufficient, 45:21 very able to take care of himself. 45:24 I don't need your help, I can do all this myself. 45:29 There are certain people in the Bible that were cleric. 45:36 You want to know who clerics are? 45:38 You want to look at them across general? 45:40 There are preachers, politicians, 45:44 there are clerics. 45:46 Most of your prisoners in the prisons are clerics. 45:50 Of all the different personality types, 45:54 the cleric is the hardest to save 45:59 because he's self-sufficient. 46:03 Doesn't need his help. 46:07 And that makes it very difficult, very difficult. 46:11 You see? 46:13 I've got to understand my need. 46:16 It's not until I understand 46:19 that it's not me, 46:22 and it's not my ability, 46:24 and it's not what I can do, it's what He can do 46:28 that makes all the difference in the world. 46:30 Amen. 46:31 Until you surrender, surrender your soul, 46:36 then the Holy Spirit can't use you 46:38 because when the Holy Spirit is given, powers given, 46:41 and God's not going to pour out that power 46:44 if the vessel is not clean. 46:47 So you got to surrender the whole soul. 46:50 Listen to what happens. 46:54 "We cannot use the Holy Spirit." 47:00 Forget it. 47:01 If you think you're going to use the Holy Spirit, 47:04 no way. 47:05 "You cannot use the Holy Spirit. 47:07 The Spirit is to use us. 47:11 But many will not submit to this." 47:17 You see, 47:18 when that still small voice is speaking to your heart, 47:22 and it's saying, this is the way walking in it. 47:26 You've got to listen. 47:28 You can't say, "Oh, I don't want to do that." 47:31 You've got to surrender 47:34 so the Holy Spirit can use you. 47:36 All right, 47:38 they want to manage themselves. 47:44 I want to manage myself, 47:46 do it myself. 47:49 "This is why they do not receive the heavenly gift." 47:56 I want to manage myself, I want to run it, 47:58 that's why they don't receive the heavenly gift. 48:01 Watch, folks, 48:02 what happens if you receive the heavenly gift? 48:07 "Only to those who wait humbly upon God, 48:13 who watch for His guidance and grace, 48:16 is the Spirit given. 48:19 The power of God awaits their demand and reception. 48:24 This promised," listen, folks, 48:26 "this promised blessing, claimed by faith, 48:30 brings all other blessings in its train." 48:35 Amen. 48:37 That's what the Holy Spirit does for you. 48:40 Claim it by faith, 48:41 it brings all other blessings in its train. 48:46 "And He said to them, 48:48 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit 48:50 when you believed?'" 48:53 Did you? 48:55 Have you received the Holy Spirit? 48:59 God wants to give you the Holy Spirit. 49:04 "After these things I saw another angel 49:06 coming down from heaven, having great authority, 49:11 and the earth was illuminated with his glory." 49:13 You see, when I first became a Christian, 49:17 I had trouble here. 49:19 My problem was that I gave my heart to the Lord, 49:22 but I wanted to run my own life. 49:26 You know? 49:27 I wanted to do what I wanted to do. 49:29 I wanted to call the shots. 49:32 And so I accepted Christ, gave my life to Him, 49:35 but things didn't go right. 49:39 I mean, I started down the highway of life. 49:42 You know? 49:43 But I was in charge, I was driving. 49:47 And I just wound up in the ditch all the time. 49:50 You ever had that experience? 49:51 You know? 49:53 Here, driving down the road and in the ditch I'd go, 49:56 and I'd get out of the ditch, and I'd say, 49:58 "Lord, I've got do better than this. 50:01 I've got to do better than this." 50:03 And I would start down the road again, 50:05 wouldn't go very far until in the ditch I went. 50:09 And I'd say, "What's wrong with me? 50:12 What's wrong with me? 50:14 I can't... 50:15 I can't stay out of the ditch." 50:18 And I can remember one time, 50:21 I'd gotten out of the ditch and I was really feeling bad, 50:25 and I got on my knees and I said, 50:26 "Lord, 50:29 I've got to stay out of the ditch. 50:31 Help me! 50:33 Help me to not go in the ditch all the time, Lord." 50:36 And I said, 50:37 "I'm just not going to go in the ditch anymore." 50:40 And so I started down life's road. 50:42 I mean, I was driving as carefully as I could. 50:47 I mean, I was making every effort to make sure 50:49 I wasn't going to go in the ditch. 50:52 And I thought I was doing pretty good, 50:55 until over the hill came that truck. 51:00 As we got down the road, 51:02 I noticed He was on my side of the road. 51:06 And I said well, "He'll get over." 51:09 But as we got closer, he didn't get over. 51:12 And I said, "What's wrong with him? 51:15 Why doesn't he get over?" 51:17 And he just, I mean, headed right at me. 51:20 And so at the last moment, I went in the ditch. 51:23 And when I went in the ditch, the truck squished by 51:26 and I saw him 51:28 waved to pitch for to get me 51:30 as he went down the road. 51:33 Well, I mean, I was really shaken. 51:35 That really shook me up. 51:37 I finally after a lot of effort, 51:40 finally pulled myself out of the ditch, 51:43 started down the road again, 51:45 but I wasn't in very good condition, 51:47 and I went in the ditch again. 51:50 And I was trying to get out of the ditch 51:51 when this fellow walked up and he said to me, he said, 51:54 "Would you like some help?" 51:55 And I said, "I sure would." 51:56 And he helped me get out of the ditch. 51:59 And when I got out of the ditch, 52:00 I said, "Would you like ride?" 52:02 He said, "Well, thank you." 52:04 And he got in, and we started down the road 52:08 and went a little while, 52:10 and I was trying to do my best and stay out of the ditch. 52:14 And I misjudged something and I went in the ditch. 52:19 So he helped me get out again. 52:21 He said, "Would you like for somebody to drive for you?" 52:24 And I said, "Yeah." 52:26 I said, "I could use someone to drive for me." 52:28 So he got behind the wheel. 52:30 We started going down the road. 52:32 I've never seen anybody drive like that, 52:35 never. 52:36 I mean, he went right down the road, 52:38 no bobbles, no ditch, nothing. 52:42 Now he was different. 52:44 He was dressed in white, 52:47 had scars on his hands, 52:50 but he could drive. 52:53 And we went, you know, for a while, and I said, 52:57 "I think I'd like to drive." 53:00 I said, "Yeah, I appreciate you driving, 53:03 but I'd like to drive." 53:05 So he scooted over and I got behind the wheel. 53:08 We started down the road a little bit. 53:11 For some reason, I couldn't drive like that, 53:13 I went in the ditch. 53:15 And we got out, and I said, "You better drive." 53:20 So he got behind the wheel and we started down the road, 53:23 and we were doing fine. 53:24 And I looked up ahead, 53:26 and over the top of that hill came that truck. 53:30 And as we approach that truck, 53:31 I said, "I guess you've noticed 53:34 that he's on our side of the road." 53:37 He said, "Yes." 53:39 And I said, "Well, you just might as well 53:40 pull off over here in the ditch 53:42 because he doesn't get on the other side." 53:45 I've been here before. 53:46 He just doesn't get on the other side of the road." 53:49 But he didn't listen to me, 53:51 instead of pulling off the side road, 53:53 he press down on the accelerator 53:55 and headed for the truck. 53:56 And I said, 53:57 "This is going to be the biggest collision 53:59 you've ever seen in your life. 54:00 This is going to be terrible." 54:02 But he just headed right for the truck. 54:05 I mean, there we were head on. 54:08 And I said, "I can't stand this." 54:09 And I shut my eyes, embraced for the collision. 54:13 And I heard a whooshing sound, and I open my eyes. 54:16 And we were going down the road and the truck was in the ditch. 54:21 And I looked at him, and I said, 54:23 "Will you drive for me all the time?" 54:26 Dear friends, that's the difference. 54:29 That's the difference. 54:31 Are you going to run your own life? 54:34 Or you going to turn it over to Him? 54:36 Let Him manage and guide your life. 54:39 He wants to do that for you today 54:41 if you're just willing to let Him. 54:50 Spirit of the living God 55:00 Fall afresh on me 55:09 Spirit of the living God 55:19 Fall afresh on me 55:32 Every day, 55:34 thousands risk their lives 55:35 to protect and serve their fellowman. 55:38 They have a deep commitment to excellence and teamwork. 55:42 And when others run from danger, 55:44 they run to it, 55:45 even if it means personal sacrifice, 55:48 even if it means 55:50 making the supreme sacrifice for another. 55:53 They're always on call, ready to serve, 55:55 no matter what. 55:57 Friends, you and I can learn a lot 55:59 from firefighters. 56:00 In the United States, 56:02 the majority of them are volunteers. 56:03 That's right, volunteers. 56:06 But even for those who are paid, 56:08 it's more than a job, 56:10 it's a calling. 56:12 Jesus said in John 15:12-13, 56:16 "This is My commandment, 56:17 that you love one another as I have loved you. 56:20 Greater love has no one than this, 56:23 than to lay down one's life for his friends." 56:26 Those who follow the words of Jesus are His friends. 56:29 But Romans 5:8 says that 56:31 "God demonstrated His own love toward us, 56:34 in that while we were still sinners, 56:36 Christ died for us." 56:38 What an amazing thought! 56:40 Christ laid down His life for us, 56:43 even though we were not His friends. 56:46 A firefighter is willing to do the same. 56:49 He's constantly preparing for his next mission 56:52 because his own life and the life of others 56:54 depends on his training and qualifications. 56:58 My friends, 56:59 that's what we're doing right now 57:01 with this series. 57:02 We are preparing you for what is to come. 57:05 Our goal is to make you skilled in the word 57:08 so that by the power of God you can bring others to safety, 57:12 the safety that can be found only 57:15 in the arms of a loving Savior. 57:17 Won't you help us to train and prepare others 57:19 to fulfill this mission? 57:21 Please consider what you can do 57:23 for those who still don't know about Jesus. 57:26 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 57:28 please send your tax deductible gifts 57:29 to Kenneth Cox Ministries. 57:32 P.O. Box 1027, 57:34 Loma Linda, California 92354, 57:38 or call us toll free at 888-747-1844. 57:43 Thank you for helping us. 57:44 Spread the light of God's Word through television. 57:47 Your gifts bring the blessed hope of salvation 57:49 to millions around the world. |
Revised 2019-06-20