In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of reviewing objectives for the Sabbath service. The three objectives mentioned are to honor God, bring members together, and provide a training opportunity for new members. The speaker also highlights the need for the Holy Spirit's guidance and power in carrying out God's work. The sermon emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in every discourse and the promised outpouring of God's life-giving spirit as the hope of God's people. The speaker passionately calls for a new demonstration of God's reality, presence, and power in the church, stating that the church will be ablaze for God when individuals are ablaze for Him.

Well, we ought to get started. Is everyone here? There are three things we're going to look at. Number one, the need of the Holy Spirit and who the Holy Spirit is. We did that a little bit up at the Launceston. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and then the last part is going to be what grieves the Holy Spirit. I actually didn't do that in Launceston at all. Father in heaven, everything that we do, everything that we say, needs to be inspired and enabled by you, especially when we are considering the way that you work. I thank you, Father, for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I confess, Father, that much of my life I've not really appreciated or honored the Holy Spirit in the way that I should, but I thank you that you have been merciful and you've begun to open my mind to it and what I've seen has truly been awesome in the most appropriate use of the word. I pray, Father, that you'll bless us now as we consider this subject today. May the Holy Spirit himself teach us, make it clear, and I thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. And feel free to ask questions and we'll do some dialoguing as well. The first quotation comes in D.O. Moody. D.O. Moody was busy preaching in 1871. He'd been anxious to have a large Sunday school and a large congregation, but there were a few conversions taking place. He had been accustomed to taking pride in having a very large congregation, but at the particular point nothing was going forward. And two godly women would come in and listen to him preach. And one of them came to him, he writes, after he had preached what he felt was very satisfactory, and they assured him that they were praying for him. And he was a little bit miffed by it, because he said, I thought to myself, I know the Lord, I'm converted. They were praying for him, and the next time he preached they were there again, and once again they came and told him, we've been praying for you, and he got upset with him. You know, it's like, well, pray for them, don't pray for me. But he couldn't understand it. Finally he talked to them, and they said, you're not all right, even though you feel you are. You have not, you don't have the power. There's something lacking, but God can provide the power. I didn't like it at first, but I got to thinking it over, and after a little time he says, I began to feel a desire to have what it was they were praying for. They continued to pray for me, and the result was that at the end of three months, God suddenly sent a blessing, which is referred to in this quotation. He was in New York City at the time. He says, right there in the street the power of God seemed to come upon me so wonderfully that I had to ask God to stay his hand. I was filled with a sense of God's goodness, and felt as though I could take the whole world into my heart. I took the old sermon I'd preached before without any power. It was the same old truth, but there was a new power. Many were impressed and converted. This happened years after I was converted myself. He said, I took the same sermons, and suddenly because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, people were being converted. Now, I have to say that for myself, the book that most caught my attention on this subject was a little book called The Way to Pentecost by Samuel Chadwick. I don't know if anyone's read any of his books. They're wonderful books, and I think I have them as PDFs on my website, or you can find them on the web as PDFs. Anyway, this is what he wrote in the subject. He said, I owe everything to the gift of Pentecost. It came to me when I was not seeking it. I was about my Heavenly Father's business, seeking means whereby I could do the work to which he'd called and sent me, and in my search I came across a prophet, heard a testimony, and set out to seek. I knew not what. I knew that it was a bigger thing than I'd ever known. It came along the line of duty in a crisis of obedience. When it came, I could not explain what had happened, but I was aware of things unspeakable and full of glory. Some results were immediate. There came into my soul a deep peace, a thrilling joy, a new sense of power. My mind was quickened. I felt that I'd received a new faculty of understanding. Every power was vitalized. My bodily powers were quickened. There was a new sense of spring and vitality, a new power of endurance, a strong men's exhilaration in big things. Things began to happen. He said, just something came upon me that was completely different than before. And you know, the reason I ever read him was I read about this man who'd experienced the Holy Spirit. As a result of what he read, he threw out all of his old sermons. He said none of them worked. He said none of them, they're all based on false premises. He threw them out and his ministry really began then. And when you read his book, it's just incredible. I mean, you know that there's a greater power working through the man. And based on that, that book that I read actually, one day that I had free in London, I found the PDF and I just read it all the way through the same day. I said, this day I'm just going to closet myself and read this book. And I came out of that closet experience saying, I have to have the Holy Spirit. And so I began reading and studying. And so this talk, it comes out of that experience. I don't know if you've ever noticed, this is something that I've noticed that I had noticed before, that even when Jesus was there, you know, Matthew 4 speaks of the power that he had with people. And I list some of those things there on the screen. Sick people were coming who were afflicted with diseases and torment in various ways. Luke 4.14 says when he returned, he returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee. And I believe it was actually the Spirit working in the life of Jesus that made him so effective after the wilderness experience. Now, Jesus promised that power to us. John 14.12, most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in me the works that I do, he will do also in greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father. Now, have you ever thought about that promise? Is that being realized in your own ministry? It's not what's happening with other people. Is that happening in your personal ministry? Should this, what Jesus said, there be the exception or the norm? I believe it's something we should all be seeking after. You know, it's time to get honest before God and say, God, if that's true, you know, there's something lacking. You know, we should measure how we're doing based on his promises and not just on our circumstances. I don't believe things could have been any worse than when Jesus was there. You know, when literally, you know, when he first comes out and he speaks in Nazareth, do you remember how one of the first things they did, they tried to throw him off the edge of a cliff? Remember that? They walked through the midst. He didn't have an easy time. Acts 1 verse 8, he's told the early church, he said, you will receive power. Okay? You will. You shall. It was an imperative. You shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you. And ye shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria and into the uttermost parts of the earth. Okay? They were converted. They knew Jesus. They knew the truth. But the power that would change their ministry would only come after the Holy Spirit had come upon them. Okay? And they were told to go and wait, to tarry, to make sure they had that before they did ministry. Now, how many of you, to me too, can say that I take time to consciously seek after the Holy Spirit in my ministry? You know? Or do we just assume that it's there? You know, to what degree? If you look at great Christians, Charles Finney, those people, as I probably shared yesterday, you know, when he did not feel a connection with God, he would take the afternoon off to pray and seek the Holy Spirit. And he would keep praying until he knew he had the connection again. And then when he came, he had power with God. Okay? He would have power with God as a result of what happened. And I talked to you about John Smith. He talks about the wonder that occurs when we come and we really connect with God and have the Holy Spirit, and then it's out of the fullness of the Holy Spirit that we speak to our people. Our people know, they will know, if there's a connection between us and with God. Anyway, so in the early church, they were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. It brought an inward Jesus who would be constantly with them. It brought about a complete transformation. It shed the love of God in their hearts. It brought a fearless, holy boldness for Christ. It brought a new understanding of the Scriptures and brought a new power to bless others. Everything that they could have wanted came on the day of Pentecost. Everything we could possibly need, we would receive if we had another day of Pentecost in our day, would we not? Of the right kind. But it's not a given. Look at Acts chapter 19. It's on the screen. I kind of feel guilty having us look at the screen. We can cover a lot more on the screen. Do you have a problem with just reading off the screen? No problems with that? Okay. We'll have to do some Bible reading later, but if it's on the screen, we can read there. You know, in Acts 19, Paul came to some people in Ephesus and they had received a baptism, but he asked the question, did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? So they said to him, we have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit, let alone received it. And I think we've gone a little bit further in our day, but it would be a different question. Some of them would say, we're not sure what is the Holy Spirit. Would you agree? Some people would ask that question. We're not quite sure. And there is a lot of question marks these days. I've had the same questions, but I tell you what, as I've actually studied, in my own mind, the ambiguities have disappeared. I don't have any question about that subject. Anyway, what's the great need today? Spirit-filled people are the greatest need of the church today. Spirit-filled people. And I think it's a real advantage when we seek after the Holy Spirit in a genuine way. It gives us common ground with people of some churches. Nothing but the baptism of the Holy Spirit can bring the church to its right position and prepare the people of God for the fast-approaching conflict. If that's the case, we need to be educating and preaching on the need for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This promised blessing, if claimed by faith, would bring all other blessings in its train and is to be given liberally to the people of God. Okay? This promised blessing brings everything else. Let me put it another way. The lack of this blessing keeps everything else away as well. I don't believe that understanding and preaching the Holy Spirit is an option to a church that makes a difference today. Notice the next paragraph there. We should pray as earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit as the disciples prayed on the day of Pentecost. If they needed it at that time, we need it more today. Without the Spirit and the power of God, it will be in vain that we labor to present the truth. We must have the Holy Spirit to sustain us in the conflict, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. We need to be praying earnestly, earnestly for the Holy Spirit. Here's another one. The Holy Spirit must be the living agency to convince of sin. The divine agent presents to the speaker the benefits of the sacrifice made upon the cross. And as the truth is brought in contact with a soul's present, Christ wins them to himself and works to transform their nature. But the Holy Spirit must be the living agency, the power that convinces. Many who are explaining the Scriptures to others have not conscientiously and entirely surrendered mind and heart and life to the control of the Holy Spirit. That's a significant factor when it comes to knowing the power of the Spirit. Now we must pray as never before for the Holy Spirit to be more abundantly bestowed upon us. And we must look for its sanctifying influence to come upon the workers, that the people for whom they labor may know that they have been with Jesus and learned of Him. We must pray for the Holy Spirit. And some of these documents I'd be happy to send you by way of email. I have them on my hard drive. Here's another one. The Holy Spirit is to be presented in every discourse. What wonderful statements Christ has made concerning his representative to the world. This is the theme of encouragement, to be kept before the people. In comprehending the office of the Holy Spirit, we shall bring all blessings to ourselves. He will make us complete in Christ. How about that? Every discourse. The next one, the promised outpouring of God's life-giving Spirit has been and is still the great hope of God's people. It's a hope in the glory of Zion. In this time of spiritual declension, God's ministry is to stand in dignity, efficiency, and in power. And then the next one. The more we discover our real need, our real poverty, the more we desire the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is because we do not see our need, do not realize our poverty, that we do not pour forth earnest entreaties, looking to Jesus, the author, the finisher of our faith, for the bestowal of the blessing. And here's a famous quotation. The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation. It speaks of the death of Christ Himself in sin and new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit, the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil and to impress His own character upon the church. Did you notice? It's about His Spirit, His Spirit, His Spirit. Is it any wonder, is it any wonder that the devil is so busy doing his best to either counterfeit it or do something so we will not seek after the Holy Spirit? It's almost like there was an advertising campaign set up by the Green Party or something to say that if you put gas in your car you're going to get cancer. That's what the devil has done. He's done what he could by subterfuge and by counterfeit to keep people from seeking after the Holy Spirit and we've fallen for it. We have fallen for it. Am I passionate about this? Absolutely. Please forgive me. No apologies. Our great need. This comes from Wesley Duell. More God, More Power is the book. Our generation will come to God only when it sees a new demonstration of God's reality, presence, and power in His people individually and as a church. Although the church can be found in more places than ever before, it is largely asleep, lukewarm, lifeless, and powerless. The church will be ablaze for God only when you and I are ablaze for Him. The church will be mighty for God as you and I are mighty for Him. It's what the Spirit does that makes that possible. Now I tell people when I hold meetings I like to overwhelm with the evidence. It's interesting that members of our church are convinced, but sometimes they're more convinced if I can show it from people from other religions too. It's weird. Like if I talk about forgiveness, there's sometimes a bit of a jaundice sense to, you know, certain books, but if I say, well, Moody said the same thing, and the unknown Christian said that, and they said, wow, if those people believed it too, maybe it's real serious. So I will give you quotations from many people today. From Andrew Murray, the supreme need of the Christian life is to receive the Holy Spirit, and when we have it, to be conscious of the fact and live in harmony with it. Only when believers are prepared to acknowledge the defective and sinful character of their spiritual condition that their preaching of the full blessing of Pentecost will find an entrance into their hearts. Only when the discovery is made that they're not standing in the right attitude towards the Holy Spirit, that they have only his preparatory operations, but do not yet know and honor him in his indwelling, that the way to something higher will ever be open or even be desired. And one more from Andrew Murray. The grand result was achieved simply and only because the first Christian Church was filled with the Spirit. The members gave themselves wholly to the Lord. They allowed themselves to be filled and consecrated, governed and used only by him. They yielded themselves to him as instruments of his power. He dwelt in them and wrought in them all his wondrous deeds. It has been rightly pointed out that the Book of Acts is more the Acts of the Holy Spirit than the Acts of the Apostles. Okay? The Book is far more the Acts of the Spirit than the Acts of the Apostles. The Apostles were moved by the Holy Spirit, and you'll notice that before the end of this presentation, we're going to talk about the work of the Holy Spirit in directing the Church, something that I think that we don't take seriously enough. Okay? This comes from Samuel Chadwick. The measure of our power is the energy of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us. All fullness of life, all resources of vitality, all certainty of assurance, all victory over sin and the flesh, all prevailing power is in prayer. All searcher to glory, all and everything is in the indwelling presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. It's possible that none of you here have read Samuel Chadwick, but many of you know of Andrew Murray, right? How many have read books of Andrew Murray? You haven't? Okay. His books are amazing. The book Abiding Christ with Christ's School of Prayer, Absolute Surrender. There was a power that attended the man, and I believe it's because of his commitment and pursuit of the Holy Spirit in his life. The fruit was there. Absolutely. Now, we should pray for the power of the Holy Spirit. Seasons of prayer should be held for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Seasons should be held. Could there be a convocation of all the churches on earth, the object of the united cry should be what? For the Holy Spirit. When we have that, Christ our sufficiency is ever present. We shall have everyone supplied. We shall have the mind of Christ. If there could be a convocation of everyone together, what should we be praying for? It would be the Holy Spirit. Why? Because it's the Holy Spirit that brings everything else that we're wanting. You know, I think that sometimes when we're facing struggles, that we would just get down on our knees and gather others to and say, we need to start praying for the Holy Spirit. You might see churches that right now, don't take this the wrong way, for me too, seem to have more dead bones than life. And you might see those dead bones begin to come to life, so to speak. And we might have a problem with the dead bone syndrome ourselves, okay? From Acts 1, 13 and 14, and when they'd enter, they went up into the upper room where they were staying. These all continued in one accord in prayer and supplication. The first baptism of the Holy Spirit came as a result of prayer and supplication. The first disciples obtained the baptism on their knees. On their knees they obtained it for others. It will be on our knees also that the full blessing will be won today. And that takes time. That takes time. So, here's a bit of an assignment, just to take a little bit of a break. I would like this just to take maybe just a few minutes, five, six, seven minutes, to actually spend some time praying together as a group about our need of the Holy Spirit. It would be a pity to not spend some time actually praying that God would begin the work today and then in our churches as well. Is that okay? I know that that's not my talking, but I really believe that we need to spend the time praying and interacting at that level as well, okay? So, find someone else. I'll set my clock and I'll call you back. We'll take about five minutes. That's a travesty, I know, but I want us to take some time at least. Well, there's four questions there. What is or who is the personality of the Holy Spirit? What are the attributes of the Spirit? What is the work of the Holy Spirit? And finally, what is the role of the Holy Spirit in the church? These are all really important questions. And if you go to the internet, you'll find that there are many, many, many books that have been written on the subject, very helpful books. Do many of you use Google Books? Have you discovered Google Books? Google Books opens kind of a window to literally, perhaps, millions of books on the internet. And you can put in stuff, keywords, Google search, and you can find the books of John Wesley and just heaps and heaps of people. And if you go there, you'll discover there's many books on these subjects and some of them are exceedingly helpful. And I've actually spent time reading those and so some of what you're learning about here is based on my study. Anyway, in the Old Testament, there are 90 references to the Holy Spirit. There are 254 references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. And there's a bit of an outline in here. You're going to have to take notes and we will look up some things in the Bible because it's... Hello there. Welcome. We want to look at what is the personality, what are the attributes, etc. Let's first look at the personality. First of all, the Holy Spirit has a mind. Look at Romans chapter 8, verse 27. 254. Okay, first look up Romans chapter 8, verse 27. It says, Now he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Okay. It says that intercession is made according to the will of God that the Spirit apparently has an ability to know. Romans 15, verse 30. We're looking at the personalization of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. Romans 15, verse 30. It says, Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus and through the love of the Spirit that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me through the love of the Spirit that the Spirit apparently can love. 1st Corinthians chapter 12, verse 1. It says, Now, verse 11 actually, speaking of the gifts of the Spirit, actually starts in about verse 17, but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith. And going down to verse 11, but one and the same Spirit works in all these things distributing to each one individually as, underlining the word, He wills. 1st Corinthians chapter 12, verse 11. Okay. As you probably know, the Holy Spirit is referred to often using personal pronouns. So, for example, in Acts 13, verse 2. It says there, As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. The Holy Spirit asked for people to be separated to Him to do the work that He was personally calling them to. Then Acts chapter 8, verse 29. It says, Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and overtake this chariot. So Philip ran to him and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah and said, Do you understand what you are reading? The Spirit said to Philip, Go near. The Spirit personally communicated with Philip. Then in Acts chapter 16, verses 6 and 7. So now when they'd gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they'd come to Mysia or Mesia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So the Spirit forbids them to do certain things. That is Acts chapter 16, verses 6 and 7. Then in Acts chapter 15, verse 26. Actually, it's not 1526, it's John 1526. John 1526. It says, But when the Helper comes whom I shall send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He, using the personal pronoun, He will testify of me. He will testify of me. Jesus also speaks of the Spirit as an independent person. John 14, verse 16. John 14, verse 16. And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever. Then the next verse. The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be with you. Once again, the word Him and He is used through all of that. Then John 14, verse 26. John 14, verse 26. But this Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all the things that I said you. The Spirit, He will help you. In John 16, verse 7. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you. Jesus refers to the Spirit as a person, as a Him, as a He. Now, the Bible also speaks of the Spirit relating to us personally. John 14, verse 7. It speaks of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. John 14, verse 7. No, verse 17. I misspoke. Sorry about that. The Spirit of truth whom 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 you. Now, it's interesting. Jesus said, I'm going to heaven, but the Spirit that I'm sending, He's going to be living right inside of you. Okay? He'll be with you. In fact, He will dwell within you. And then, of course, there's 1 Corinthians 6, verse 19. It says there, speaking of our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit, or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? Our bodies are considered the temples of a person, of the Holy Spirit. Okay? It also speaks of the fact that we can grieve the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4, verse 30. It says, and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit can be grieved away from our lives. Matthew 12, 31 and 32 speaks of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12, 31 and 32. It says there, therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Okay? So Jesus said, you know, you can sin and blaspheme against me, but there's a sin against the Holy Spirit that cannot be forgiven. Speaking of the special relationship that the Holy Spirit was to have to us. It also speaks in the Bible that the Holy Spirit can be lied to. Acts chapter 5, verse 3. It says, but Peter said to Ananias, you know, the man who had brought all the possessions in with his wife, but they came in separately. Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but you have lied to God. Okay? The Holy Spirit was seen as a person, but equal with God in that case. He's also an active agent. Notice Acts chapter 14, verse 26. 14, verse 26. It's not that one. It's where it speaks of the Spirit bringing to remembrance the things that Jesus, uh, oh, I'm in John. It's John 14, 26. No wonder I'm not finding it. Okay. Here we have it. But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I've said to you. He will both teach and help us to remember. And I can't speak for you, but I can tell you that I need someone even in my youth. I say that tongue in cheek to help me remember. Uh, John 15, 26, the Spirit will, will witness of Christ. But when the helper comes whom I shall send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth proceeds from me. He will testify of me. Okay. This entity would be the agent of testi, of testifying. Uh, Psalms 104, verse 30. It says there, you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. The Spirit was involved in the creation of the world. And we already read the verses in 1 Corinthians 12 about how the, that the Spirit would be actively involved in dispensing the gifts of the Spirit. Now then, someone has pointed out that if we, uh, substitute the word influence for all the word he's, those sentences make no sense. In other words, where it says, and he will bring to your remembrance and his influence will bring to your remembrance. Does that make any sense? Why didn't Jesus said, and I will bring to your remembrance? He said, no, and he, the Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance all things. Or it says, and when the helper comes, when the influence comes whom I shall send to you, it, it, it, the, the sentences don't make sense. They, they, they, they, they just kind of fall apart, uh, when you say that. Uh, or he says, and I, I, in my speech, in my preaching, Paul says, we're not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of this, of the influence and of power. That's almost saying the same thing, though, in the, in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. If you, if you begin making substitutions, it just doesn't work. Uh, uh, so those are some, some verses that speak to the, to the, uh, personality of the Holy Spirit. Would you agree based on what we've said, that the Holy Spirit, in the words of Jesus and the way that Paul refers to them, seems to suggest that it's a he more than an it or just a, a vague influence that emanates from God. You know, you have to do really, uh, theological acrobatics to remove this idea of he. I, I truly find it's, it's, it's hard to, to, to, to, to not have serious problems. Now, now let's look at some of the attributes of the Spirit as we're, we continue to make our case. First of all, uh, among the attributes is the fact that, that the Holy Spirit is referred to as God. We just read about it. Remember in Acts 5 where, where Peter is saying to Ananias, Acts 5 verses 3 and 4, he's saying, you know, how did you, how could you lie to the Spirit? Because in lying to the Spirit, you were lying to, to God. The Holy Spirit and God are spoken in the same way. Um, we also find that the Spirit has the right to make choices. And we find that in, in reference to the giving of the, uh, of, of, of the gifts of the Spirit. He has divine prerogatives. In other words, he can make independent decisions. 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 11. Now here are some new verses. Uh, the Holy Spirit initiates and promotes spiritual life and growth. Look at Hebrews chapter 9, verse 14. Hebrews chapter 9, verse 14. It says, how much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit, uh, offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. In other words, the Spirit has a work of cleaning our consciences or Jesus, actually through the Spirit, uh, does a work of cleansing our consciences before God, bringing about greater spirituality. Look at Romans chapter 8, verse 2. It says there, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and of death. Okay, the Spirit works and brings about a change. Or John chapter 6, verse 63. John chapter 6, verse 63. John 6, verse 63. It says there, it is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are Spirit and they are life. Okay. It is the Spirit, Jesus says, the word Spirit is capitalized, who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. Now, in addition to, to the Spirit having divine prerogatives, it has divine, uh, characteristics. Psalms 139, verses 7 to 9. Psalms 139. It speaks of our ability to separate ourselves from the presence of God. It says, where can I go from your Spirit or where can I flee your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me. It is impossible to escape the Spirit because the, the Spirit is omnipresent. Genesis chapter 1, verse 2. The story of creation. It says there, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void. The darkness was on the face of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. The Spirit was involved in creation. The Spirit is also not only omnipresent but omnipotent. Then, it's, uh, look at 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 10 and 11. The Holy Spirit is not only omnipresent, omnipotent, but also omniscient. 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verses 10 and 11. It says, but God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things. Yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him. Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. The Spirit knows things that we do not know. It's omniscient. It's all-knowing. And we already mentioned the creative power of the Spirit in Psalms 104, verse 30. Now, here's another important point about the Spirit. The Spirit is referred to as a distinct member of the Godhead. Look at Matthew chapter 1, verse 30. This is one of those that I find hard to believe there's a good answer for unless you believe in the Holy Spirit being a person. Matthew chapter 1, verse 20. I said 30, but I meant 20. Chapter 1, verse 20. Uh, but while Joseph was thinking about these things, it's speaking of the birth of Jesus to Joseph and Mary, and Joseph is having a dream. He's just learned that she's actually pregnant, and he's thinking of putting her away secretly. It says, but while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Would you not agree that it would be very hard for Jesus to be conceived by Himself, if it was only an influence? It says that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Matthew chapter 3, verses 16 and 17. It says there, and when he had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon him, and suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Jesus was, in effect, received a special indwelling of the Spirit at the time of his baptism, as a result of his baptism, and it's interesting, in the book of Luke, it says, well, in 4, it says, the Spirit then drove him to the wilderness, and later it would be the Spirit that would bring him back out of the wilderness, okay? How could Jesus receive the Spirit if it was only something of His own influence? It would not work. Luke chapter 4, verse 14. Actually, I just referred to it. It says, then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of him went out through all the surrounding region. Jesus operated in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus operated in the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke chapter 4, verse 14. And something that I've taken to doing, because of my interest in the Holy Spirit, I actually marked my Bible, but anywhere that my Bible is marked in purple, it actually refers to the Spirit working. And I just find it really interesting that you see the Spirit popping up in the life of Jesus in ways that I hadn't really fully appreciated previously. Now, there are also many commands in the Bible regarding three different people. Matthew chapter 28, verse 19. Matthew chapter 28, verse 19. It says, that go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Okay? It says to baptize in all three. We just read from Matthew in chapter 3, Matthew chapter 3, 16, 17, where Jesus is baptized, the Spirit is seen descending, and the Father's voice is heard from heaven. So we have all three members of the Godhead mentioned at the same time. And then you have in Hebrews chapter 9, verse 14. Hebrews chapter 9, verse 14. It says, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offer himself without spot to God. So Jesus offers himself through the Spirit to God. So you have all three members of the Godhead being mentioned again. Okay? So all three are mentioned. Now notice these quotations. And I found one more last evening. We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds. We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds. Another one. The Holy Spirit is the comforter in Christ's name. He personifies Christ, yet is a distinct personality. We may have the Holy Spirit if we ask for it and make it a habit to turn to and trust in God, rather than in any finite human agent who may make mistakes. Okay? It personifies Christ, yet is a distinct personality. Here's another one. Keep yourself where the three great powers of heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit can be your efficiency. These powers work with the one who gives himself unreservedly to God. The strength of heaven is at the command of God's believing ones. The man who makes his God his trust is barricaded by an impregnable wall. But keep yourselves where the three great powers of heaven, and enlist them, can work. It mentions three great powers of heaven. Here's another one. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio. In the name of these three great powers, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will cooperate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ. Once again, very specific delineation of three living persons. And I know I'm going quickly, but I will give you the references on all of this stuff. But if you keep notes, you'll stay awake. You'll follow me better. You'll stay alert better. We need to realize that the Holy Spirit is as much a person as God is a person. The Holy Spirit has a personality, else he could not bear witness to our spirits, and with our spirits that we are children of God. He must also be a divine person, else he could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. Could anything be clearer than those statements? I don't know what you do. Those are very, very clear statements about the Holy Spirit having a personality, being as much a person as God is a person, etc. Exactly. But at that point, then you have to ask how many quotes were added, and it all goes to custard at that point. It's either all there or not there. It's all there or not there, in my opinion. And I have to tell you that I was somewhere where actually I was taken aside by someone, and I had no idea what I was getting into. And luckily that day I brought my computer along, and I found enough things to feel like that there was some counter-arguments, but it's only since then that I've done so much study. I have no doubt today at all about the Holy Spirit, not even the tiniest doubt about it being a complete third person of the Godhead. Some of our people, though, are in confusion. You know that, don't you? Some of our people are in confusion, but I'm not sure they're being given all the information. I think that many of them have only been given partial information, because when you pull out all these quotations it caused them to say, hold on, what about this? I believe it really helps to have the information. Anyway, now let's look at the work of the Holy Spirit. Let's look at the work of the Spirit. First of all, the Holy Spirit regenerates the believer. John 3 verse 6. We're not going to repeat verses that we've already used, but we're just going to continue building up the evidence, the work of the Spirit. And here we're not so much looking at the personality of the Spirit or the attributes of the Spirit, to know if it's, you know, what the Spirit is like, but now what kind of work would we expect the Spirit to be doing in our lives and in our churches. John 3 verse 6 is from the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus, and it says there, Jesus answered to Nicodemus, who was asking, you know, how can a person be born again? Jesus said, most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Okay? Unless we're born of the Spirit, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. For that which is born of the flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. And I've asked myself questions since studying this. Is it possible in my own life, is it possible for some of our members who don't really understand the Spirit at all, that they're actually more born of the flesh than they are of the Spirit? Now, I understand, I understand and fully agree that a person could not be converted without the presence of the Spirit. But I think many people have such a limited understanding of the Spirit that they actually try to do what really the Holy Spirit can only do. That's my opinion, personally. Look at Romans 8 verse 2. Actually, Acts 15 verse 9. We already did Romans 8 verse 2. Romans 8 verse 2 speaks of the law of the Spirit of life, making us free from the law of sin and death. Speaks of liberation. Acts 15 verse 9 though says, starting in verse 8, so God who knows the heart acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. It is the Holy Spirit that brings about the work of purification. And when we began this session, we read some quotations where people spoke to the fact that it was the Holy Spirit that actually changed their lives. I spend a lot of time speaking on victory and practical Christianity in addition to prayer. I haven't spoken on that at all here in Tasmania. But I am convinced that you can know all about dying to self, you can know all about receiving Jesus as an indwelling Savior, but you must also know about the Holy Spirit because it's the Holy Spirit that makes all of that happen. Okay? Exactly. Just to repeat what Julie was saying, that you know that Satan has attacked it because he knows that that's, I'm going to add a word, it's the cornerstone of victory and power as pastors and churches. And as long as we don't even believe that it exists, so much the better. So much the better. So the first point I tried to make is the Holy Spirit plays a vital role in regenerating and liberating from sin. Another one that the Spirit is spoken of is Acts 15 verse 9. Purifying their hearts by faith. Okay, also Romans 15 verse 16. Speaking of the Spirit that sanctifies, Romans 15, Acts, Romans 15 verse 16. It says there, that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Okay, the Holy Spirit played a sanctifying work. Second Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 13. Second Thessalonians 2 13. But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. God chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. The Spirit and sanctification are associated. First Peter verses 1 and 2. First Peter 1 and 2. It says, elect according to the foreknowledge of God. First Peter verses 1, chapter 1 verse 2. First Peter 1 verse 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in sanctification of the Spirit for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Once again, the Spirit and sanctification are associated. Okay. There are statements made where references made to how we need to pray for the healing of our sin-sick souls. And when we pray for the healing of the sin-sick souls, we're actually praying for God to bring healing through the Spirit into our lives. I haven't always fully appreciated that until I began studying the work of the Holy Spirit and the role that the Spirit wants to play in sanctifying. Okay. Then Ephesians chapter 518. Ephesians 518. It says there, and do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. The Spirit wants to fill our lives. Acts 2.14. Ephesians 5.18. Which one are you referring to? Oh, I said another one. Ephesians 1.13.14 Okay. Sure. Sure. Thank you. Thank you. I took a note of that. Sure. Sure. Okay. Okay. Acts 2.14 speaks of what happened on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the early church, filled the believers. And we still read about, you know, what happened on that amazing day. Acts 2.14. It says there, but Peter standing up with the eleven raised his voice and said to the men of Judea, all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and heed my words, for these are not drunk as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel, and it shall come to pass in the last day, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, etc. Okay. The Spirit was going to be poured out upon the believers. And as a result of that, they would have an understanding of the future, etc., that was predicted way back in the days of Joel. I also appreciate Ezekiel 36.27. Ezekiel 36.27. And in my mind, you know, this is a significant point, but we'll start in verse 25. It says, Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart, and I'll put a new Spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. God's saying, I'm going to change your heart, give you new desires. But then he says, I will put my Spirit, as referring to the member of the Godhead, I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will keep my judgments and do them. And I believe there's a very significant difference between saying, I'll just give you a new desire, or a person living in you, causing to will and do according to my will. Willing and doing according to Philippians 2. Very big difference. I tell people that victory is not so much a behavior as it is a person whose indwelling changes a person's behavior. Many people, when they struggle, they struggle with a sin, when I believe they should be struggling to make sure they have Jesus in his fullness. We put our focus in the wrong place, and Satan laughs. The book of Romans says, Sin, finding opportunity in the law, deceives us, and by the law kills us. Why? Because we're trying to obey in our own strength. And Satan says, I win you every time. I win every time. But God says there in Ezekiel, I'll actually have my Spirit living in you. He will dwell in you, okay? And he will cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will keep my judgments and do them. I want the Holy Spirit living in my heart for that reason. Big difference, whether we have a real person living in our hearts, or just an influence. In Exodus 31 3, in Exodus 31 3, it speaks of God having filled Bezalel, filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, and understanding, and knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. The Spirit gave an ability to a craftsman to wield his gifts on behalf of God. In Luke chapter 1, verse 15, speaking of John the Baptist, it says there, For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled, what? With the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was the key to the power in John the Baptist's life. Okay? The Spirit also guides into truth. You know that? John 14, verse 26, Jesus was speaking to the disciples in those conversations that are noted in those three chapters, 14, 15, and 16. John 14, 26 says, But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father was sent in my name, he will teach you. Okay? The Holy Spirit is the one who guides us into truth, and brings to remembrance the things that Jesus had said. Then John 16, verse 13, However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak in his own authority, but whatever he hears, he will speak, and he will tell you things to come. John chapter 16, verse 13. And here is what Samuel Chadwick said. He said, The Spirit filled, no, they have knowledge that does not depend upon intellectual capacity, scholarly training, or even an experience, and their certainty is the secret of their power. They have knowledge that comes not of flesh and blood, but from the Spirit, who knows the deep things of God, for he himself, he is himself God. And the Spirit not only reveals the deep things of God, but gives illumination for all the practical affairs of life. Okay? The Spirit gives wisdom. The Spirit gives wisdom. Okay? Significant point in terms of what the Spirit does. The Spirit also brings about successful praying. Look at Romans chapter 8, verses 26 and 27. Romans chapter 8, verses 26 and 27. We all know these verses, but this is almost like the cataloguing of all that the Holy Spirit does. It says there, Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Now, I have to tell you that, you know, when I'm spending time with the Lord, I talk to my father, and there are times when I say, Jesus, today I need you to pray for me. You know? Because that's what his work is, right? Today I'm doing this, would you please pray for me? And would you please pray for my children today? I have no problems doing that at all. When I study the Bible, you know, I say, Holy Spirit, I need your help today. I need to understand. And I believe that's totally appropriate, because the Holy Spirit has been sent to help us understand. Okay? If he's living my heart, I talk to him. I ask him to please help me in understanding. And here we're talking about prayer. Notice what it says on this matter of prayer. The Spirit instructs and inspires prayer, gives intelligence and intensity to an intercession, and brings reality and joy to communion with God. The Spirit filled love to pray, and prayer that is in the Spirit must prevail. Okay? Prayer that is in the Spirit must prevail. Oops. I'm sorry. I went the wrong way. Here we are. Okay? The Holy Spirit also will bring about conversions. John 16, verse 8. John 16, verse 8. It says, when he has come, he will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Okay? He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Acts 4, 32 to 35. It also enables relationships. Acts 4, 32 to 35. It says, now the multitude of those who believe were of one heart, and one soul. Neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet, etc. As a result of the presence of the Holy Spirit, they had relationships between themselves that were truly otherworldly. We still marvel at the early church, don't we? It was quite amazing. Those were unique circumstances. We do not find the early church continuing that way, but at that time of great need, every man considered the needs of others, right? And I believe that the day will come when it will be that way again. Someday. Someday. Maybe sooner than later, we don't know. The Holy Spirit also had a role in bringing believers to the church. 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verses 12 and 13. And I have to tell you, my brothers and my sister, that the more I study about the church and the body, you know, and that symbol, I really believe it's one of the most beautiful things that we can study in the Bible. You know, the wonder that God gave in making us all somehow a member of His body, the church. You know, He could have set us up in other ways, but He specifically said, no, I want to prove my power by bringing a miracle of unity that's just as mysterious to all of us as our human bodies are mysterious to us to understand. We don't understand our bodies, do we? But God says, I can make my church work as carefully and as correctly and as unitedly as the human body. And that just amazes me. We need to pray for that. We need to pray for that. And I believe it's the Holy Spirit that does it. Look at 1 Corinthians 12, verses 12 and 13. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. Right? The Spirit, it's for by one body that we were all baptized into one, or it's for by the Spirit that we were all baptized into one body. One body. It's the Spirit. And remember we read yesterday the quotation about the fact that the reason there's so much perplexities in the churches is what? Many were baptized, but they were baptized alive. Okay? They didn't realize that in being baptized, they were literally, they were choosing to die to self to be a part of the body that had one thought, and that is, head, what is it that you want me to do? And would be obeying to the head. We do not gain unity by listening to each other. We gain unity by listening to God. But God will always work, I believe, in the context of the body. Always work in the context of the body. Well, the Spirit also had another great work, and that was the work in terms of the direction of the Spirit in the early church. Remember, in the book of Acts, you find that statement, it seemed good to the Spirit, right? The Spirit was, was active. Here are some of the things that the Spirit was busy doing. The Spirit was very active selecting officers. The presence of the Spirit was the criteria when selecting officers. The Spirit enabled successful ministry in the church. It directed their worship. It brought forth godly worship and directed missionary activity. All of those things were initiated and furthered by the Spirit. And, and I want to ask the question, I'm talking fast and I'm not a good teacher. I go way too fast. To what degree do you think that truly you can say that your church, as you make decisions, is actually directed, controlled by the Spirit, as compared to people? We'll exempt you, Brad. You're new to the, to the church. But, to what degree? I think we follow the conference and the union model of just feeling called. Is that what you mean? Okay. We follow the model. Quite often. Okay. And I appreciate that statement. I appreciate that statement, and I'm not throwing stones in saying that I think that maybe the church needs to consider some of the models of how we make decisions. Some churches are getting to buy and patent after the Spirit gives, and then fading it is in the church. Okay. People are using various things. You know what I'm convinced of? That just as our bodies are complete, okay, that wherever you go, either the gift is there that is needed for the time, or God will bring the gift that is needed for the time. Okay? Nowhere, none of you are incomplete. I mean, there's the rare case, you know, where the body's incomplete. But I really believe that as you look in your churches, you can say confidently to God, thank you that you have equipped this body with what is needed for now. Obviously, the church is going to have to do some praying if it's not functioning that way. But usually, you know, what made the early church strong? Was it because they had, you know, Paul as an eloquent person to help, you know, on the day of Pentecost? It was rough fishermen who had actually come to the end of their ropes. They had spent ten days getting right with God. They did their part. And then the Holy Spirit came in power on their lives, and they did what they could have never accomplished had they studied all of their lives. You know? I thought Russell Barnes was talking about the resources are in the past. Exactly. They're not there already in the church. Exactly. Exactly. You know, we are looking to men and women too much. Now, that's not to diminish preparation and all of that. I'm not saying that, but I believe that God raises up people or will raise up people anywhere you might find yourself so that your church has what is needed. So when you go to your church and you don't have the positions, it's time to praise God that apparently He's going to bring someone to your church that can do the job. You know, I remember talking with Johnny over at Gateway and asking about how he did various things that I didn't know and how to find people. He said, Dan, pray and ask God to bring the people who have the gift because God will raise the people, as Julie said, from the harvest. God will bring people from the harvest who are appropriate for what is needed. It's almost like, please don't take this the wrong way. We're so busy working for God that we don't have really time to wait on God to call people and empower people. George Miller said, in knowing God's will, he said that there are three things to ask. Is this God's work? Is this God's time? And are you the one that's been chosen? Many of us believe the need is the call. He says, hold on. Is this really God's work? There's many good things that we could do that might be a complete waste of time. Number two, like they could have said about the prayer revival that I talked about in the devotion this morning, what a waste of time. Get out and start passing out brochures. But no, he felt convicted that he needed to be praying. And it was through his prayers that revival literally came to the United States. He had no idea what God had in mind. And you know why he did it? He said, I'm only one person. How can I possibly take the gospel to all the poor people in the lower wards of New York City? He was overwhelmed by the need and so he prayed. And God's solution was very different than what he expected. So we have every reason to look to God to raise up people and to equip people for what is needed. I tell people tongue in cheek that God was able to use a donkey and if he could use a donkey he could use me. God can use anyone if he's fully given. I'm sure you've heard it said that it's not our ability that matters, it is our availability. And if God calls us he will also equip us for what is needed. Does that mean we don't train? We train. We absolutely train. And something I have to say for what Johnny does at Gateway that really impressed me. I was brought in from the airport and he said, you have to sit in a meeting with us and they're discussing the service to close the Sabbath. And his first words were we must review our objectives for this service. That's always a part of their discussion. There were three objectives. We want to honor God, we want to bring our members together and we want to provide a training opportunity for a new member to get used to getting up in front of other people. Always train. Always prepare people for more service. Anyway, so the Holy Spirit is busy. The Holy Spirit is busy and I fear that we're so busy that we don't take time and therefore we're doing in our own steam what only God can do. Now Mueller said first, is it God's work? Number two, is it God's time? And then finally, are you the one? And when we rush ahead in our own steam, you know what we've done? We're actually doing a double service. We're doing something God hasn't called us to and number two, we're actually keeping someone else from doing the work that has been prepared. So it's a serious thing to think about how God has called us. You know, I really believe that when the word goes through the stubble and God is bringing people like the day of Pentecost, there was no such thing as organizing. Too many people were coming. The big key was you must pray and ask God for wisdom for what he wants you to do. You must pray and ask God for wisdom for where he wants you to go. And I pray that someday the Spirit will so take the churches that actually the people in the conference will be more cheerleaders than organizers, you know, because the Spirit will have just taken over. And you'll call Bruce and Bruce will say, man, my hands are full. I'm having a Bible study every single night. Praise the Lord, you know, and I'm training those people to give Bible studies to other people. That's the way it should be. That's the way it should be. Well, let's look a little bit at the selection of officers. And we'll read there Acts 20 verse 28. It says, Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood. Okay? The Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Then in Acts 15, 28, Acts 15, 28, it says there, For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. Okay? It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us. Okay? It seemed good to the Spirit. The Spirit was very involved in the decisions being made regarding the new believers. It would be nice if our own members would be more concerned to hear what the Spirit has to say about how to treat new members sometimes. Sometimes it can be a little hard on new members when older members decide to help them. Here's a quotation. But the manifestation actually comes from 2 Corinthians 12, 7 to 11. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. For to one is given the word of wisdom, et cetera. But one of the same Spirit, last few lines there, works all these things distributed to each one individually as he wills. To the early church they look to the Holy Spirit to be calling and equipping people with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You probably think I'm on a different planet in saying this, right? This does not match reality. Praise God. We continue. The Spirit enabled successful ministry in the church. Acts 1 verse 8. It would be wonderful if sometimes we would pause and literally ask our churches, is the Spirit working in our church? Do we have a manifestation or do we need to tarry? Do we need to spend some time praying until the Spirit is here the way it wants to be? I really believe we're so busy doing good things that sometimes God is saying, hold on, you're working without me. And everything I read suggests that the Spirit does not come unbidden. We need to take the time. We need to take the time. We need to whet our people's appetites for the Holy Spirit. Anyway, so Acts 1 verse 8 says, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. And I'm sure to the disciples, they had no idea how that was ever going to happen, but it did, didn't it? God was able to pull it off. Or Acts 4 verse 31. It says there, and when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with what? With boldness. As a result of the Spirit, there came a holy boldness for God. And that comes as a result of prayer. Comes as a result of prayer. Look at Acts 4.33, just a few verses later. It says, and with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them all. Great power attended the preaching of the apostles. I believe that those things should be a birthright to ministry, not as I put it, sometimes a birth defect. Now, the Spirit also directed worship. Look at Philippians chapter 3 verse 3. It says, for we are the circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Now there's another one where it mentions two parties of the Godhead. We worship in the Spirit. We rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh, etc. Then Acts 4.24. I mean John 4.24. You know the story. It's a favorite one of mine of the woman at the well. Jesus said to her what? Those who worship me will worship in Spirit and in truth. Those who worship me must worship in Spirit and in truth. The Spirit also is involved in bringing about godly worship. Ephesians chapter 5 verses 8 and 9. It says, and you were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and in truth. Ephesians 5. I read the wrong one. I'm reading verse 8 and 9. We'll start again. Do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and in hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. That verse in Ephesians 5.20 is given in the context of the Spirit directing your worship, singing in psalms and in hymns and spiritual songs, making melody in your heart to the Lord. It's the Spirit that gives you that joy. We do a lot of things to bring joy in our services but I believe that the Holy Spirit brings a holy joy that's better than the most wonderful programs and the most wonderful music. In fact, there are times when you pray with other people or you spend time with other people and you just know that something very unique is happening. You just know that the Holy Spirit is there. And I have to tell you, at that point, just about everything else is just like a gyrating noise that goes against what's going on. It also directed missionary activity. Acts chapter 13. Verse 2. It says, As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. The Spirit was actually calling people. The Spirit said, I want this person. I wonder how many nominating committees say that we really need to wait on God to hear what we should be doing. Sometimes, as has already been mentioned, there seems a lot of other stuff going on in some of those processes. It's true back where I live as well. And I've probably been guilty of the same at times in my life. I remember someone was saying that it's easy to, I don't like to use the word, but it's possible to manipulate the church. You know that, don't you? I know how to do that. All of you know how to do that. But we shouldn't do that, should we? It should be led by the Spirit. Acts 8.29. And I should share with you, I'm aware of a church, I won't mention the name, where they believe that when the Spirit works, the Spirit will come in unity. And they will not make decisions that are not unanimous decisions. Which is interesting. But they also say that they will not allow anyone to serve in a church office who's at odds with anyone else. To serve in an office, you have to say basically to others, I'm in good relationship with everyone in this church, or doing my best to be in good relationship. There are no grudges, no skeletons that I'm struggling with someone else. Because they feel that those things get in the way of the Spirit working. It's interesting. At some point then, you know, the idea of the real, you know, how big is that church, ten people or five? That church has about 17,000. It's a mega church. I think they're not being honest with themselves. Well, actually what they said is that in our church we have a smaller membership that's allowed to vote. And then a large membership that comes, that they can attend. But we do not allow them to affect the decision of the church. Because as far as we can tell, they're not really in a godly relationship. And they say to actually be in a board position. Truly they go through and they talk about, you know, are you more committed to serving than being served? Are you paying your tithe? Are you in good relationship with other people? And if those things aren't true, they say we love you, but we can't safely have you on any committees of the church. Which I think is really interesting. A very high standard. And it might not be a... I'd like to quote our reserve, my judgment. That's okay. That's okay. But it's true. It's true. It's true. I was intrigued by it. You know, I know I'm speaking much here, but just endure with me. Acts chapter 11, verse 12, it speaks of the Spirit speaking to Paul. Acts 12, 11, verse 12. Then the Spirit told me to go with him, doubting nothing. Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. The Spirit communicated and told Paul to go. And then I already read the verse from how they were told not to preach the word in Asia. Now, just a couple of last comments here. This comes from A.J. Gordon from a book called The Ministry of the Spirit. The definition, which we sometimes hear, that a church is a voluntary association of believers united together for the purpose of worship and edification, is most inadequate not to say incorrect. It's on the screen. It's no more true than that hands and feet and eyes and ears are voluntarily united in the human body for the purposes of locomotion and work. In other words, our body is not a voluntary association. Okay? All of them are there. They're all needed. The church is formed from within. Christ is present by the Holy Ghost, regenerating men by the sovereign action of the Spirit and organizing them into himself as the living center. When we are part of the body, it's not a voluntary thing. We go to submit to the head. We go to submit to the head. If our limbs all were independent, what chaos we would have, you know? We might be going to shake someone's hand. Instead of shaking, we might pop them in the face with our fist or something. It would be horrible, right? That's an extreme example. But we're meant to work as carefully as our bodies, right? And if our bodies begin to misfire, what do we do? We go to the doctor, right? We go for help. And I think in some cases we need to admit we need to go to the doctor to get some healing for our body and the church. Here's another one. The church is the creation of the Holy Spirit. It is a community of believers who owe their religious life from first to last to the Spirit. Apart from Him, there can be neither Christian nor church. The command to tear in the city until there came enduement of power from on high proves that the one essential equipment of the church is the gift of the Holy Ghost. The one essential gift of the Holy Spirit is the Holy Ghost. You've been listening to one part of a two-part series on the Holy Spirit shared by me, Dan Augsburger, in Hobart, Tasmania. One portion of that two-part talk considers the need of the Holy Spirit as well as the attributes and the work of the Spirit. The second portion considers how to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You can find more written resources on the subject of the Holy Spirit at www.PathToPrayer.com in the Revival and Holy Spirit section. Should you still have questions, you can write me at www.PathToPrayer.com