This week we began looking at several scriptures in reference to the work of the Holy Spirit and the emphasis that we're attempting to try to understand is that there is one God and there's three persons. And the beauty of God's Trinity allows us to understand how the three are one, how they work together and they cooperate to accomplish one purpose. And as you and I continue to grow in our faith and understanding of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we find the one who is one, enables us to become one, allows us to work in unity and oneness. And so that you and I recognize the beauty when Christ is in us, His Spirit empowers us.
As our relationship is established within the relationship with our Heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit is free to lead us and direct us in the way that the Father has already taught us, that the Son has given to us, that His words indeed become the foundation of how the Spirit manifests Himself in and through our lives. Let's begin by looking at the Gospel of John chapter 3 and verses 16 and 17. John chapter 3, again this is going to be one of those messages that you really need a Bible to follow along and I encourage you to look in the Bible you have and allow certain concepts or thoughts to be highlighted so that we can begin to put the pieces together. Otherwise, the Trinity will ultimately become something that we sort of say, but we have no clue how those pieces fit together.
John chapter 3 verses 16 and 17. Let me dig in my glasses. John chapter 3 verse 16 and 17, for God still loved the world that He gave, He is one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him.
Let's pray. Father, we recognize that you sent your Son Jesus to not only be the Savior of the world but to accomplish the work that would in fact save us. We praise You, O God, for Your work in our lives which not only brings us effectively to a place of salvation, but then You give us those words. You empower us to go so that others might in fact be saved.
We thank You for Your great purpose and plan in saving the world and we pray that we might recognize that ultimately our task, our responsibility, our calling is in fact to be used by You in that particular way. We praise You for Your truth in Jesus' name. Amen. As we think in terms of the Father God actively at work in the salvation of the world, we see that it was the Father's love.
Quite often when we find ourselves conversing with people, many people might have said to you or you've heard a comment like the God of the Old Testament is a grumpy old grandpa and the New Testament is a loving, compassionate Savior. We recognize in John 3 verse 16, it's very clear that the Father is not so grumpy and the Father is not so harsh. He is indeed extremely loving and He sent His Son to prove it. He sent His Son to demonstrate it.
In other words, the person of Jesus Christ comes as an expression of this tremendous love of the Father. And yet we know in order for salvation to take place, in order for hearts to be changed, in order for you and I to believe the gospel, identify with the gospel, the Holy Spirit must be actively at work and cooperated with for that life to take place. We constantly see the work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have one primary agenda and that's to bring people to face and empower them to take that same faith and to give it away. That's the plan and the purpose of the Father's love has been communicated to us.
And John chapter 5 and verse 24, we're going to jump through subscriptions rather quickly. I'm just assuming that you'll just kind of catch on. Hopefully your fingers work fast and your mind is quick and you've memorized your multiplication tables. John chapter 5 verse 24, I tell you the truth to ever, here's my word and believes Him, notice again, who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned.
He has crossed over from death to life. It's the words of the Father coming through the life of Jesus Christ that bring us eternal life. John chapter 6 and verse 40, for my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life and I will raise Him up at the last day. It is my Father's will that everyone who looks to the Son has eternal life.
John chapter 10. And we look at verses 14 through 18. I am the good shepherd, Jesus said. I know my sheep, my sheep know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.
I lay down my life with a sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice and they shall be one flock and one shepherd.
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life only to take it up again. No one takes it from me for I lay it down on my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I recede from my Father.
The plan of salvation is the Father's plan. It has been from the beginning of time and has continued throughout all the way to the finish line. It is the Father's love that is set in motion in the person of Jesus Christ. And what causes it to do what it's designed to do is the role of the Holy Spirit in communicating the same purpose, the same plan, the same message and that is something that's important to recognize.
Verse 27 through 30 of the same chapter, John 10 verse 27, my sheep, they listen to my voice. That's the Holy Spirit. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.
No one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.
It's very clear that the Father in heaven is the one at work through the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And so everything that Jesus said and everything Jesus did is new and to fulfill the Father's will. And he said it in fulfillment to the Scriptures. The Scriptures are the words of God.
The Scriptures are the things revealed to us. The Scriptures are the work of the Holy Spirit in taking the Father's will and putting the words of Jesus and bringing together with the current and movement and direction and purpose of the Holy Spirit. So the world in fact would in fact be saved. There's not three different languages going on.
There's not three different agendas going on. There's not three different goals in mind. The purpose is the Father's love communicated in the lives of each and everyone who responds and face the purpose of Jesus coming to earth was to save that world of and by means of all who would believe in Him. And this believing is not so much as we looked at the evidence of His miracles.
It is believing in the laying down of His life for His sheep. The fulfillment of all Scripture. These are the evidence marks that Jesus is the real one. We mentioned last week we talked about some of the unique things that take place as the Antichrist manifests himself.
The Antichrist is all about himself with another agenda, another plan. He's all about showing how powerful he is and we have discovered the beauty of the Holy Spirit is not that he is a power or force. He's a person. He is the Spirit of God living in us.
He is the Spirit of Christ manifesting himself in us. He is the Spirit who gives and affirms the words in which Jesus gave to us. Notice again now in Gospel of John chapter 12 we look at verses 46 through 50. John chapter 12, 46 through 50.
Jesus said I have come into the world as a light so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words.
That very word which I spoke will condemn him in the last day. For I do not speak on my own accord but the Father who sent me, commanded me what to say and how to say it. Jesus says I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.
Jesus emphasized this over and over and over and over again and one of the key evidences that he is the right Savior is he does not come up with his own words. He does not come with his own agenda. He comes as a servant, screen his Father. How do we know that the Holy Spirit is true and credible and genuine?
We now turn to John chapter 16. The Gospel of John chapter 16 and we pick up where we were looking at last week in verse 12, John chapter 16 and verse 12. I have much more Jesus says to say to you more than you can out bear but when he the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truths. Notice again he will not speak on his own.
He will speak only what he hears and we will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me Jesus says by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
I trust that we might humbly consider the precious beauty of God's Holy Spirit that he is affirming and confirming that Jesus is the real deal. And the way he does that is he works deep within your heart and mind to verify and validate that you can trust Jesus Christ and you can trust the words of Jesus Christ. And when the words fit and agree you can know it is called true. It is interesting that it wasn't that long ago that there was the big question that seemed to bombard the Christian church maybe in America more than other places and you are familiar with the concept of the Da Vinci Code.
And the big question was how do you know that these other gospels they have found did not fit in the Bible shouldn't they be there shouldn't they be added on attacked on should they be beside how do you know and then the questions came out. How do you know that the Bible you have is any better than any other religious book of any other religious movement. It's very clear that the Father when he speaks Jesus says the same exacting and the Holy Spirit who has given those words in written form inspired them and breathed them in says exactly the same thing that Jesus would say. Turn with me to Revelation.
Revelation and we're going to look at chapter 19 verses 9 and 10. Revelation chapter 19 verses 9 and 10. And then I'll jump back to that comment about the Da Vinci Code. Revelation chapter 19 verses 9 and 10.
Now the angel or the messenger of God said to me right blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb and he added these are the true words of God at this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me do not do it I am your fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy. It's about Jesus the Holy Spirit has come to exalt Jesus the Holy Spirit speaks to exalt Jesus and the Da Vinci Code question was we've got some gospels that say Jesus had an affair with Mary Magdalene that's not the same Jesus those gospels went on to say all kinds of things that is not the same Jesus God has called us to be a people where you test the spirits you weigh the messages you listen to them they're either the same spirits or they're different and you and I are constantly exposed to voices and you and I must discern is it the voice of the shepherd is it the voice that I become familiar with is it the truth that Jesus would say is it what God said even Jesus himself clearly said all the Old Testament scriptures the law and we look at the Psalms and we look at all the prophets they all speak about me that's what Jesus said so what should the rest of the New Testament speak about Jesus one points towards him the other one looks back to him it's important to understand there's one God there's three persons but they're not talking a different game they don't have a different agenda they don't have different motives they don't speak a different language they give us the word of God they affirm the truth they speak about the messages that you and I hold to it's about Jesus or it's about somebody else it might be about another thing it might be about another whatever it is it's about Jesus Christ the Bible is extremely clear on that acts chapter one verse eight because now we we introduced the beginning teachings of the work of the Holy Spirit Jesus made it clear to his disciples after he was crucified buried and rose again he said that you got to wait in the city because he's going to send another he's going to send the comforter he's going to send the counselor he's going to allow his spirit to be entrusted to people like you and I acts chapter one and verse eight but when you receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the world the purpose the primary emphasis was that Jesus would be a witness to the Father and John the Baptist would be a witness to Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ was a witness to the truth of the Father and he sent his disciples in the world and said you are my witnesses and when the Holy Spirit comes he says I'm giving you power to be my witnesses it's important that you and I understand that as God begins to express himself and manifest himself we need to understand there's a purpose and that so that you and I might be witnesses so that people don't see me they don't see you they see Jesus all through us our lives are witnesses that is not simply just power to talk it is power to live it's not simply just what you say it's who we are he's enabled us to be witnesses the way we know that we are walking in the spirit the way that the Spirit of God is using us and manifest himself is it bringing us to a place where there's one primary purpose and that's reaching out with the gospel of Jesus Christ it's the witness that has come note here in actually after four in verse 33 we want to just follow along a few elements pertaining to the theme here so that we might understand that some of the concerns that we might hold to is is about this message of consistency that works all through the scriptures and works all through our lives acts chapter four and verse thirty three now with great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord of Jesus and much grace was upon them all persecution was coming and they were praying not that the persecution would be lifted their prayer was they would have courage to keep going it's about the witness the testimony that they continued to go on chapter five of acts twenty seven and we looked down to thirty uh... two having brought the apostles they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest he gave you strict orders not to teach in this name he said yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and he turned into makes guilty of this man's blood Peter and the other apostles replied we must obey God rather than men that the God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead whom you have killed by hanging on a tree God exalted him to his own right hand as prince and savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel we are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him we could go on and on and on the whole conversion the apostle Paul is you're going to be a witness you're going to be a testimony to the world of pertaining to a man that you claim to be dead and risen again and that was what all of his trials and testimonies were about we think in terms of the gospel we think about the importance that that's what Jesus came to provide for us and it's important to understand that the gospel we cherish is not simply a love story but it's a truth throughout God's word that is intended to create a love story the power of the gospel is not so much of its spiritual influence in the sense that it is simply a force irresistible it is a person who works gracefully in cooperation with you and I and as you and I experience not only to the impartation of God spirit we are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit on an ongoing regular basis so that we might be his witnesses when we think in terms of this faith we begin to find the heartbeat of the person of Jesus Christ and we find that what he has called us to as followers of him and he has equipped us to be his witnesses we are in fact in tune with the spirit of God and his purpose now let's look at this because some of us might cringe and say do you mean to tell me pastor Terry that my mouth that doesn't work very well on on six days out of the week that I'm supposed to be this great witness into all the world we need to understand that witnessing is not simply your words are your mouth we need to recognize that as Jesus came we not only have the work of the Holy Spirit in equipping us and empower us to be witnesses but we also must consider the power of God's Holy Spirit inside the church turn with me to 1 Corinthians 12 1 Corinthians chapter 12 we want to read verses 4 down through 11 because as we think in terms of the leading the direction the blessing of God's spirit upon individuals that it might be misleading to think that Jesus has come to call each of us out individually and then send us in what 55 60 different directions so you go off and witness to one and somebody else goes off and witness to the other somebody else goes off and witness the other and then even in Sunday school we have testimonies about the fact that many people came to faith in China and there wasn't enough people to disciple at the same time there were evangelists that wasn't God's plan Jesus said the workers are few and you and I must understand the way they got accomplishes this movement of witnesses is he has not only equipped the Holy Spirit to empower you to go but he's equipped us as people to be empowered to disciple there is a constant correlation between the work of the Holy Spirit is calling us or equipping us to go and be a testimony but he's equipped in some to be among the believers to equip others so we keep going and when we lose sight of the purpose of Jesus Christ to the calling in which God has intended to save the world that we get all kinds of weird and bizarre teachings that get us out of balance 1 Corinthians 12 verse 4 there are different kinds of gifts but the same spirit let me read that again there are different kinds of gifts but the same spirit there are different kinds of service but the same Lord there are different kinds of working but the same God works all of them in all men I trust that we've caught right away the role of the Holy Spirit the role of the person of Christ and the role of God is all the same they're all working together to equip us to have a relationship with the Father learning of his great love we have the teachings of Jesus Christ and we have the Holy Spirit who brings it together we sense that we're on the same page when we walk in the same oneness with the same purpose and the same plan and the same agenda that God would create a community of people who put faith and relationship in Jesus Christ within a local body but our purpose is tomorrow morning the strategy God uses is to equip us for tomorrow it's to prepare us and encourage us and build us up so that we can go our separate ways and minister in the name of Jesus Christ it is a sad reality if we somehow believe that God is an old grumpy grandpa and Jesus is this loving kind compassionate purpose and the Holy Spirit but he's just busy trying to keep people empowered to go and do a powerful things you and I need to recognize the beauty of the Trinity the oneness one God in three persons all accomplishing the same purpose they're not trying to create all kinds of different things there's one movement one purpose one agenda and one Lord who's coming back for his one church it's one purpose so when we look at the role of the Holy Spirit often we get confused now is because we say well this guy has this gift and this guy is that gift and this guy is that gift one way you know whether the Spirit of God is at work is we have begun to see those gifts all fit together if they simply create division if they create disharmony if they cause us to be scattered and that's a clear indication that's not the Spirit of Jesus Christ Jesus said it this way the evidence the proof of God's presence among us is our local one that's how he validates in a firm so the love that he had now lives in us and manifests itself in us and that becomes your badge approved that's the that's the thing that is most recognizable is that love truly for lost people is that love truly for one another is that love truly that which unites us together it brings us to a commonness and so when God begins to speak through the shepherd he is speaking through his Holy Spirit into our hearts so that what's personal matches what's public so that what is inside a record reflects on what comes out of us it is this oneness and purpose and plan as we think in terms of this we got to read on here I stop somewhere between it first Corinthians 12 we saw in verses 4 5 and 6 verse 7 now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good the work of the Holy Spirit is not simply for me it's not simply for you it's for the common purpose and the common purpose is that Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives and he's also Lord of the church when we think in terms of that commonness that's working together 4 to 1 there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit to another faith by the same Spirit to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit to another miraculous powers to another prophecy to another distinguishing between Spirit to another speaking in different kinds of tongues and to still another the interpretation of tongues all these are the work of one and the same Spirit and he gives them to each one just as he has determined we think about gifts as we we're going to have to look this a lot closer in the next couple weeks is to attempt to understand that some teachings would teach you simply just look at yourself and stand in the mirror and say you know what I'm really good in certain areas the other one teaches Jesus is really good and he has laid upon your heart a burner a ministry a place and so the focus is not whether you are good the focus is can you trust Jesus that he can take you if you're not so good and accomplish his purpose we need to humbly understand the Holy Spirit is the one who we now belong to he does not necessarily belong to us he is not the one that works and operates on what you and I think we can do he's the one that does what's impossible he's the one that may use your gifts and talents but it's an entirely different dynamic that you and I recognize it's the spirit of Christ at work in our lives and we're trusting that it's his power and his purpose and his plan the bottom line is when we come to a place where we say Lord take me though I have no gifts I have no talent I have no ability but I'm willing can we trust him it's important to know that Jesus really with some interesting characters to be his first disciples and if we're honest on a good day he's really interested has an interesting way of calling many of us that are pretty interesting characters the important thing is God's spirit is not limited by how good I am his spirit is actually hindered by how good I am but his spirit is more powerful in the fullest things in the world and the despised things and those things that are not he calls them into existence and beings when we look at the Holy Spirit we need to attempt to humbly understand that when God gets on the inside of us he is going to express his power and glory in ways that you and I have no idea how to measure it and weigh it but we must begin Jesus is a one the hand picks his followers he's a one that chooses people like you and I and so the gospel is entrusted to us and that's what we need to understand about the Holy Spirit is we're going to look at the call of God upon our lives and how that fits together with the gifts of God that God has laid upon our heart because we need to realize God wants to build his church he wants to reach his community but we must realize it's not because of how good I am it's because of how passionate he is to love the world around us and so we begin recognizing the beauty of that work among us allow me to introduce you once again to some scriptures I believe is the real evidence of a man of God or woman of God who is filled with the Holy Spirit John chapter 13 John chapter 13 and we want to read the Star of the Verse 1 John chapter 13 verse 1 it was just before the Passover Beast Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father having loved his own who were in the world he now showed them the full extent of his love he introduces the last summer and then we get to verse 6 he came to Simon Peter and he said to him Lord are you going to wash my feet Jesus replied you do not realize now what I am doing but later you will understand no said Peter you shall never wash my feet Jesus answer unless I wash you you have no parts with me then Lord Simon Peter replied not just my feet but my hands and my head as well Jesus and today person who has had a vast needs only to wash his feet his whole body is clean and you are clean though not every one of you for he knew who was going to betray him and that was why he said not everyone was clean when he had finished washing their feet he put on his clothes return to his do you understand what I have done for you he asked them you call me teacher and Lord and rightly so for that is what I am now that I your Lord and teacher have washed your feet you also said wash one another's feet I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you I tell you the truth no servant is greater than his master nor is a messenger greater than the one who is how that you know these things you'll be blessed if you do them the power of Jesus Christ the proof of his true identity was wrapped up in two sacred ordinances communion and washing someone's feet and that's what he's called you and I to Jesus did not come to show off his power he simply said that the power is in communion and the power is in humbling myself and washing someone's feet the ministry of the Holy Spirit we mentioned is not a powerful force that shakes this planet it's a person who lives in you and me and the next person and the next person and he sends us with his blessing and his effective work so that you and I turn this world upside down he does it by remembering what he did on that cross and never forget him remember him and then washing someone's feet taking the low position it's the position that only servants do it's the position that the low people get to do it's the position in life that simply people don't want to do the power of the gospel is hallow you stoop Jesus showed us that and he's called us the same way the way we know we have the spirit of Christ is the same voice that the Father gave it's the same voice that Jesus proclaimed it's the same work of the same spirit if it's about power if it's about you if it's about me if it's about what I'm gonna get if it's what you and I might be able to prove ourselves to be it's a different spirit we must trust the spirit of Christ is Jesus paid it all I can't earn it I can't force it I can't manipulate it I can't buy it I can't sell it I simply take it as a desperate broken man who is well aware of my state I look to Jesus and Jesus alone and then I stoop to say if that's true then by God's grace let his power be proven not in how great I am but in how low I'm willing to stoop every one of us has an opportunity to touch someone's heart to minister into someone's life that is hurting you may not ever get known you may never ever write a book but you can touch one person's life one out of time when Jesus brings us down rather than lifts us up Father we are humbled by the beauty of your work particularly as we approach this great and glorious passion week we pray that we recognize the greatness of being the least we recognize the beauty of being last we recognize the ways in which you call us to show your great love and then we wash someone else's feet lead us to a place Lord where we can minister to people wherever we are whatever job we have those broken hearts those tender lives the people that have never heard of Jesus Christ give us the courage to believe that the task is not so much some great ministry or great calling but rather to stoop down and wash someone's feet we praise you for this in Jesus name God bless