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Now, here's today's podcast, From Pathway to Victory. Today as we continue our series on the 10 core beliefs of historic Christianity, we're going to look at that fourth pillar, and that is what every Christian should know about the Holy Spirit of God. And understanding who the Holy Spirit is, is key to experiencing the kind of life that God wants us to experience every day. Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress. You know, in historic Christianity, the Holy Spirit is most often depicted in the form of a dove.
Now, while there certainly is biblical merit to that symbolism, we shouldn't confuse the Holy Spirit for a docile bird. Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress shows us how we can experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Now, here's our Bible teacher to introduce today's message. Dr. Jeffress? Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory.
Let me begin today with a question. Were you aware that Pathway to Victory publishes a magazine? Yes, we do, and it's become one of the favorite resources in our collection.
This isn't an online tool. Pathway magazine is a beautifully printed piece that comes directly to your home. It contains daily devotional readings I've written for you, along with fascinating articles about Christian living.
And you can sign up to receive your first free copy of Pathway magazine by going to ptv.org and clicking on the tab at the top of the page. Plus, I've written a best-selling book that complements our current teaching series on Pathway to Victory. My book, like the series, is titled What Every Christian Should Know, 10 Core Beliefs for Standing Strong in a Shifting World. This is the perfect choice for your Bible study group or your Sunday school class because my book provides crystal clear teachings on the essential doctrines of our Christian faith. In my book, I'll help you grasp critical truths on the doctrines of sin, salvation, future things, and the end times, just to mention a few. You can request your copy of my book, What Every Christian Should Know, right now. A hardbound copy will be sent to your home when you give a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory.
We're deeply grateful for your financial support because Pathway to Victory relies on the voluntary gifts from friends like you. I'm going to say more about my book and other resources later in today's program. But right now, let's turn in our Bibles to the Gospel of John. I titled today's message, What Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit. Well, what is it that the Holy Spirit does for us? First of all, the Holy Spirit indwells every believer permanently. He indwells every believer permanently. We never have to worry that the Holy Spirit will depart from us one day.
Why? Because he permanently indwells us. Secondly, the Holy Spirit makes us aware of sin. He makes us aware of sin.
Jesus prophesying about the Holy Spirit said, he, when he comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. The Holy Spirit acts as a conscience. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit amplifies our prayer. He fills in our prayers. Fourth, the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to every believer. When God extends his grace to you in salvation, he gives you a unique gift. Next, what does the Holy Spirit do? He fosters unity in the church. You know, when you think about it, the church is a miraculous organization. Here you have people from all nationalities, people of different political affiliations all coming together to love one another.
How is such a thing possible? The only thing comparable to that unity in the midst of diversity is the human body. Paul writes about that in 1 Corinthians 12, 12. He says, for even as the body is one and yet has many members and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. He goes on to say, we're not all arms or noses or ears.
We have different parts in our human body and yet they function together. So should it be in the body of Christ. How do you add that unity in the midst of diversity? Well, verse 13 of 1 Corinthians 12 answers that. For with one spirit, we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews, Greeks, slaves, or free, we were all made to drink of one spirit. The only explanation for the unity we have, our common denominator is we all have the same Holy Spirit of God who joins us together with one another.
Unity in diversity. You know, back in the 1960s, there was a popular chorus. It was in a minor key. Some of you may remember it.
It was at a time in our nation's history when the country was being torn apart by Vietnam and assassinations and different views on civil rights. And remember how that song went. We are one in the spirit. We are one in the Lord.
We are one in the spirit and we are one in the Lord. And we pray that our unity may one day be restored and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, and they'll know we are Christians by our love. You know, it always struck me that line, and we pray that our unity will one day be restored. It seemed in the 1960s, it would be impossible to ever experience unity this side of heaven, but that's not what the Bible says. We're not to pray that one day when we die, unity would be restored. We are to be unified right now. Ephesians 4, 3 says, be diligent to preserve the unity of spirit in the bond of peace. It's the greatest proof that we are Christians is by the love we have for one another.
John 13, 35, Jesus said, by this, all men, all people shall know you are my disciples by your love for one another. Ladies and gentlemen, we have never had a period since the Civil War when our nation was as divided as it is right now. You know, speaking of Civil War, you may remember a couple of years ago, I spoke on a program about the possibility of a Civil War-like fracture. The media went crazy. I got banned from some TV shows because I dared talk about a Civil War.
That was just two years ago. Today, the headline in the Washington Post, I think it said three out of 10 Americans believe there'll be a Civil War in their lifetime. Our country is divided, but we've got to make sure that division never infects the church of Jesus Christ. We are the proof that Christianity is true by our ability to love one another.
That's the most powerful witness we have to an unbelieving world. And only through the Holy Spirit of God is such unity possible in the midst of diversity. The Holy Spirit fosters unity in the church. Next, the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to trust in Christ.
He gives us the ability to trust in Christ. You know, Revelation 22, 17 makes it clear that everyone is free. Everyone is invited to trust in Christ.
The Spirit and the bride say, come, and let the one who hears say, come, and let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who wishes to take the water of life do so without cost. Who is it that is free to receive Christ as Savior? Is it just a little select few?
No. Everybody is welcome to come and to take the water of life without cost. It is the Holy Spirit of God who invites every person to come. Now, here's the thing. Everybody's invited to come, but only a few will come. Everybody's invited, only a few will come. Only those who are motivated and enlightened by the Holy Spirit of God can come to a saving faith in Christ. Let me illustrate that for you.
Dr. James Montgomery Boyce used a great illustration. He said, you can set a bale of hay in front of a lion, and that lion is absolutely free to eat as much of that hay as he wants to, but he will never eat that hay. Why? Because it's not in his nature. He's a carnivore, and a carnivore will never eat hay. He's free to, but he'll never choose to. It's the same way with humanity. Everybody is free to come to faith in Christ, but nobody will choose on his own to do so because it's not a part of his nature. In Romans 3 10 and 11, Paul said, there's not one righteous among us, not even one.
There's no one who understands. There is no one who seeks for God. On our own, nobody is seeking for the true God.
They're just not doing it. They may be searching for a God of their own imagination, a God of their own creation, but no man on his own seeks for God. Well, then how can somebody be saved only by the Holy Spirit of God convicting them of sin and drawing them to Christ? Paul explained it this way in Ephesians 2 one. He said, you were dead in your trespasses and sin. Dead people don't feel anything. An unsafe person is spiritually dead and capable of making any decision, but God, verse four, being rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, he has made us alive together with Christ.
For by grace you have been saved. No man comes to God the Father except the Spirit draws him. So whom does the Spirit draw?
Does he draw just a select portion of people or is he drawing every person? Would you like to know the answer to that? Come back in about five weeks when we talk about what every Christian should know about salvation.
We'll answer that question then. But make it clear, nobody can come to God without the Holy Spirit's work in their life. Next, the Holy Spirit secures our future. Once you trust in Christ as your savior, how do you know you're eternally secure? How do you know God will actually do what he's promised and save your soul and redeem your body? How do you know God won't change the terms of the deal he made with you? The answer, the Holy Spirit.
Listen to Ephesians 1, 13 and 14. In him, Christ, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having also been believed, you were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who has given us a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory. Paul uses two images here to show you what the Holy Spirit does to secure our salvation.
First of all, he's a seal. He has sealed us. You know, in Paul's day, if you wanted to seal a document, show it was authentic, you would put a piece of wax on it and a notary, so to speak, would press his ring with an insignia of the king or governor on that wax, and that impression of the emperor on that wax was proof that it was a legitimate document. He uses that imagery in saying when you were saved, God sealed you. He put his stamp on you, and that stamp is the Holy Spirit of God. He is the guarantor of God's promise.
But not only is he a seal, he is the pledge of our inheritance. That word pledge could mean earnest or down payment. You understand that concept of a down payment. If you seek to buy a house, you enter into a contract, you're required to put down some earnest money to show that you're serious about completing the transaction. Let's say the requirement is you put 1% down as the purchase price, as the earnest money that you're going to finish and close out that transaction in 30 days, 1%. Now, that's not an insignificant amount of money, but is there any circumstance which you might walk away from the deal and forfeit your 1%?
Sure. Maybe you lose your job and you can't buy the house. Or maybe you find a better deal.
You say, it's worth giving up a few thousand dollars to get a better deal. 1%, you might or might not complete the transaction. But let's say your realtor said to you, you know, in this super hot real estate market, they're not going to accept 1% earnest money. They want 100% of the purchase price. What are the chances you would walk away from that deal after putting down 100%?
Is there anything that would cause you to walk away from it? Not on your life. The fact that you have put all of your money into that deal means you're going to fulfill the promise you made and complete the transaction.
Now, listen to me. When you trust in Christ as your savior, God doesn't give you 1% of himself or 10% of himself. He gives you all of himself, the Holy Spirit of God, God himself. And if he has poured all of himself into you, do you think he's going to renege on that deal?
Not on your life. He is the guarantee that God is going to fulfill his promise to redeem your body one day and take you to be with him forever. Isn't that exciting? That's how you know you're saved.
You have been sealed. You have as a pledge, the Holy Spirit of God. That's what the Holy Spirit does for us. Well, pastor, you've talked about all the things the Holy Spirit does for us. And if the Holy Spirit indwells every believer, then why do I maintain this struggle with saying no to sin?
Why do I find it difficult to pray? Why do I find it difficult to break this addiction in my life if I have the Holy Spirit? It's because we don't understand the difference between the baptism with the Spirit and the filling of the Holy Spirit of God. The fact is the baptism with the Holy Spirit is something we all receive.
It's something God does for us one time at the moment of our salvation. But the filling with the Spirit is something that happens continually in our life. Ephesians 5 18 says, don't get drunk with wine for that's dissipation, but be filled with the Holy Spirit. I want you to notice two truths about being filled with the Holy Spirit.
First of all, it's a command, not a promise. Nowhere in the Bible are we told to be baptized with the Spirit. There's not one command to be baptized with the Spirit.
That's something God does for us. But there are 15 commands in the Bible to be filled with the Holy Spirit. That word filled in Greek, pleiro, refers to the wind that fills up the sail of a ship and powers that ship and gives it direction. That's the filling of the Holy Spirit. And we are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Secondly, being filled with the Holy Spirit is a continual experience, not a one-time action like the baptism with the Spirit. When wind comes and fills up the sail of a ship, does that wind stay in there and powers the ship across the ocean?
No, the wind comes and goes. And in the same way, we have to continually work for the control of the Holy Spirit in our life. That's what being filled with the Spirit is. It's the same as being controlled with the Holy Spirit of God. You know, I was thinking all week about how to illustrate this for you. If we have the Holy Spirit of God, why don't we feel the power all the time?
What's God's responsibility and what is our responsibility? And I thought this week about a hydroelectric dam. You know, a dam creates an artificial reservoir of water behind it. And the way it works is, the water is released down these spillways. And as the water releases over the spillway and begins to drop, it's an artificial waterfall, as it increases in velocity, when it hits maximum velocity, it is channeled into a turbine, an electric generator. And the power of that falling water, the energy it creates, is powerful enough to move the blades in that electric turbine.
And when that generator begins to move, it generates electricity to thousands of households. Now, I thought that's a good illustration of what God does for us. The moment we're saved, God implants us with the spiritual generator, who is the Holy Spirit of God. But there are conduits of energy we allowed into our life that move the Holy Spirit into action to create that spiritual electricity, if you will. What are those conduits, those waterways, if you will, that come into our life and move the Holy Spirit to action? Conduit number one is the Word of God, the Bible.
God said in Jeremiah 23, 29, is not my word like fire and like a hammer which shatters a rock? The Word of God in our life moves the Holy Spirit into action. Conduit number two is prayer. That's conversation with God. We saw a great illustration of that in 1 Kings 18, the story of Elijah, when with a simple 64-word prayer, the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed that animal sacrifice.
That's the power of prayer. The third conduit, waterway, that channels energy and causes the Holy Spirit to act is the church, the people of God. In Acts 2 42, we find these words, and they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer, and the next verse is, and they kept experiencing a sense of awe and wonder as they marveled over what God was doing and God was adding to their number daily those who were being saved. Those disciples, when they met together as a church, they felt spiritual energy.
It created energy that caused the Spirit of God to work. The Word of God, conversation with God, the people of God, and finally, conduit number four that moves the Holy Spirit into action is obedience, submission to God. When the Holy Spirit begins working in our life and generating power, there's some things we can do to flip the circuit breakers, to cut off the power, or to use another imagery to quench the fire of the Holy Spirit. That's why 1 Thessalonians 5 19 says, do not quench the Spirit. When He begins to work, don't extinguish His power by sin. Things like immorality, worry, bitterness, these are all Spirit quenchers that stop the fire of the Holy Spirit. One writer summarizes Paul's command this way, if you're a follower of Christ, the Spirit is already at work in you.
He's bigger than you, stronger than you, more patient with your failures and your inadequacies than you are. The Holy Spirit is committed to helping you 24 7. Paul says, your only job is not getting in the way. As we go about life, either we do things to open ourselves up to the Spirit's influence, or we do things to shut ourselves off to the Spirit. Isn't that a great thought? We're either doing things to open up the Spirit to working in our life, or to close off the Spirit's working in our life. That's why Paul said in Galatians 5 25, if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. I read a great thought this week from writer Ann Lamont.
She said, the mighty gulf stream that blows from east to west, or west to east, that mighty gulf stream that blows from west to east and is powerful enough to propel jetliners weighing hundreds of thousands of pounds to move more quickly, that same powerful gulf stream can blow through a single straw if the straw is properly aligned with the gulf stream. I'll tell you an even more amazing thought. The same Holy Spirit of God who flung every galaxy in this universe into existence, the same powerful Holy Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead, that same power can flow through your life and my life if we are properly aligned with Him. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. That's what every Christian needs to know about the Holy Spirit of God. Friends, I long for you to know what it means to truly walk in the Spirit of God. This is the key to infusing light and life into your daily walk with God. Now, in a moment, David is going to explain how you can receive the audio recording of this teaching series.
It includes the DVD version as well. This will allow you to review what you're learning at your own pace, and you can share these messages with your friends and family as well. But that's not all. I'm also eager to send you the best-selling book that I've written for you. My book, titled What Every Christian Should Know, contains far more material than we have time to share on this program.
This is very important. You see, false teaching runs rampant in our day, and the purpose of my book is to help you get in touch with the non-negotiable essentials of your Christian faith. Issues such as what every Christian should know about sin, salvation, the Bible, the end times, and many others. So ask for my book What Every Christian Should Know when you give a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory. Thanks for giving generously to support this ministry. When you stand alongside of us, you're helping other Christians just like yourself establish a strong foundation. And what could be more important than helping others remain true to God's plan in a season when our culture is getting rocked by popular and destructive false teachings?
David? Thanks, Dr. Jeffress. Today, when you give a generous gift of Pathway to Victory, you're invited to request a copy of the best-selling book from Dr. Jeffress, What Every Christian Should Know. Here's our toll-free number to call, 866-999-2965. Or visit us online at ptv.org. And when your gift is $75 or more, you'll receive not only the book, but also the complete collection of audio and video discs for the What Every Christian Should Know teaching series. Plus, we'll include a study guide.
That's perfect for Sunday school class or small group Bible study. One more time, call 866-999-2965. Or find us online at ptv.org.
You could write to us if you'd like. Here's that mailing address, P.O. Box 223-609, Dallas, Texas, 75222.
Again, that's P.O. Box 223-609, Dallas, Texas, 75222. I'm David J. Mullins. Next time, Dr. Jeffress will talk about what every Christian should know about angels and demons. So join us Thursday for Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. Imagine waking up to the sight of Alaska's majestic coastline or spotting wildlife from the deck of a luxurious cruise ship. Experience these unforgettable moments on the Pathway to Victory Cruise to Alaska with Dr. Robert Jeffress, June 15th through the 22nd, 2024.
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