Religionists

The Gospel of Grace for the Jews

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Gospel of Grace for the Jews

Book of Romans Chapter 2

If we as Christians have noticed anything since our salvation, we have noticed that it is easier to judge than it is to forgive, but God did not call us to “Judge”.

We must examine ourselves and see that we are just as desperately in need of God’s “Grace” as anyone else.

In fact, if there is a difference between a Christian and those who are lost it is only the fact of God’s “Grace”!

We must be keenly aware that we cannot hold anyone to standards we refuse to keep ourselves!

We become hypocrites and the Lord has said that there will be no hypocrites in Heaven!

We as Christians have no authority over those who are lost!

We are bound to tell them the story of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for us, He can do for them!

There is nothing worse than to see, so-called Christians acting like the world!

Isa 52:5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

It is only by the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ that we can be saved, and this salvation is made available to every man, woman, and child, until they reject it individually.

It is the “Gospel Message” that can change our hearts, but only by receiving the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, which is being “Born Again”!

Everyone that will make to Heaven must go through this process!

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

It is the Jews who were given the Laws of God yet, they themselves could not keep those laws.

So how do we describe religionists?

*Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Rom 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
Rom 2:18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
Rom 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
Rom 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

In the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we continuously see the Pharisee, the Sadducees, the Scribes, and a few others and without a doubt the majority of these men were religionists!

These are those who profess religion enough to believe in the eternal security of that religion.

Whether he be Jew, Moslem, or Buddhist, he believes it will lead him to eternal salvation.

Yes, there are also the Christian religionists!

Verse seventeen describes to us the religionists.

They have the Word of their God with them.
They sometimes read it.
They carry it to their places of worship.
They honor it as the confirmed Word of God to all people.

Every so-called religion does this!

It is these things that lead them to believe they are at peace with God, but God requires something they do not possess.

They profess with their mouths, but they are not obedient to the Word of God.

They are not ashamed of their beliefs nor their religious affiliation.

They boast and brag about their god, but God does not accept them just because they boast of the Word of God!

The mistake they make is, that God is not interested in just these things.

Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

We must never forget what our Lord Jesus has said!

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

As far as the Jews are concerned, they will never get to Heaven if all they believe is being obedient to those old Laws of Moses, that is called the Law in the New Testament!

The only profession that our Holy God wants to hear is that profession of “Faith” in the work that the Lord Jesus Christ has done to provide that eternal salvation!

Without this “faith” our profession is meaningless to God!

Remember, it is the Holy Ghost who provided this knowledge to the Apostle Paul and all the other Apostles, which became known as the Apostles Doctrine, which is the doctrine of the true Church, the “Good news” of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You see, just knowing God’s will is not enough, we must be in God’s will.

God’s will began with our salvation and if we cannot take this first step of “faith” in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, then we will never get close to our Heavenly Father!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God said we just become blind guides leading the world to further blindness and instructors of the foolish!

God had already warned the Jews!

Eze 33:31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Eze 33:32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
Eze 33:33 And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.

The Jews killed most all the prophets including God’s only Begotten Son and still reject Him today as does all religionists!

There is only one truth!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Religion does not answer all the questions of the truth, only “faith” has those answers!

It takes more than a profession, it requires true “faith”!
It takes more than “Baptism”. Baptism is meaningless unless it is done in resemblance of the work of Jesus Christ.
It takes more than being a Church member. You can be a Church member without being in the family of God which requires the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit!

*Rom 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Rom 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

We can read and study the Word of God every day of our lives, but if we refuse to apply it to our own lives, what good has it done?

In a sense, we are all teachers because no matter who you are there is someone looking at you!

We all claim to know how to live in a righteous way and we are proud parents who teach our own children how we feel, but when we refuse to listen to the truth of God and teach the truth of God, we have led them down a path of destruction.

What right do we have to tell others how to live, if we reject the truth of God on how we are all to live?

Its best we tell them nothing at all, if we are insuring their death without the truth.

God remembers all these things and we will be “Judged” for what we have done, but also for what we have not done!

Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

This kind of changes our perspective when we think about!

Do we steal?
Did we steal as a toddler?
Did we steal in school?
Did we steal on our job?
Did we steal while shopping even by accident?

Most all of us would have to say yes to most of these things.

So we cannot teach how we feel, we must teach the Word of God and then become doers of the Word of God! It is called obedience.

Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

What does the Lord say about adultery?

Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

You see if we have not been “Born Again”, regenerated by the Holy Ghost, then how should we ever believe we could teach anyone, even our own children?

Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Last week we saw that word “reprobate” and here it is again.

Reprobates then reject the truth of God for themselves but still willing to “judge” others.

We dishonor God when we do these things while still insisting, we are in a good relationship with Him. We fool our own selves!

*Rom 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Sacrilege is when we violate our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ!

This is the same as robbing from God!

This means we are treating many things as more important than our relationship with the Lord!

Every time we say some truth about the Word of God and then not do that truth ourselves, we are blaspheming Jehovah God!

We are dishonoring God before men!

When we claim to be Christian, yet violate the Word of God openly or in secret, we cause the Lord’s name to be blasphemed!

Many people doom themselves because they mock God and make light of the Lord!

All these things we are reading about were taking place by these religionists during the time of our Savior.

They are still taking place today and even taking place in the House of God, the Church.

All these things are written in the Old Testament as our examples to learn from and not to ignore!

*Rom 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Rom 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
Rom 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

Moses established circumcision as a national ordinance for the Children of Israel.

Circumcision was another of those physical signs that have a Spiritual meaning!

Rom 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Rom 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

The complete truth is, that there is no ritual that can get us one step closer to salvation.

Rituals cannot bring God’s praise!
Rituals cannot bring God’s approval!

You can take that word circumcision and substitute any ritual that is said to bring salvation and we can see the falsehood of all rituals!

Circumcision cannot save you!
Baptism cannot save you!
Church membership cannot save you!
Communion cannot save you!
Living in a so-called Christian nation cannot save you!
You cannot be saved by any ritual nor is any ritual to be included in any way toward our salvation!

Speaking in tongues is not a sign of your salvation!

We are acceptable to God by being obedient to His Word as it deals with the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jn 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

When you make yourself all about keeping those old laws or even new laws that are added in many of today’s Church, we have become “a Judge” who determines another person’s salvation when the Lord has taught us that all we need is our “faith” in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God!

Not one ritual or group of rituals can save any man, any woman, or any child!

The key to a close relationship with our Heavenly Father is obedience!

Rom 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

The disobedience of Adam made us all sinners!

The obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ will make every believer righteous!

The keeping of rituals cannot save us.
The lack of keeping of those rituals cannot cause us to be lost.

It is obedience or disobedience to the Word of God that is the answer to these things!

In the New Testament we see the title Jew given to those who are not Gentiles.

The title Hebrews is used to distinguish them in regard to language and education versus the Hellenists who were Jews who spoke the Greek language.

The title Israelite is used as respects to their sacred privileges as the chosen people of God.

It is these people who preserved the Word of God that we have today!

What did Jesus say to the Samaritan woman?

Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Here in this passage the Apostle Paul uses the title Jew meaning the chosen people of God while speaking to these Christian Jews.

This is the way the Apostle is using the title Jew here.

Not as the Jews of Judah, but the Jew as the chosen people of God!

Now who are the true Chosen People of God?

Listen to Paul.

A true Christian is righteous inwardly because of the Holy Spirit who abides with the believer!

We have no righteousness within ourselves!

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

With all that this great people have done by preserving the Word of God, they have chosen to abide by rituals and laws which are meaningless when it comes to salvation and eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

*Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

There has been no one except the Lord Jesus Christ who has been able to keep all 613 of those Jewish Laws.

So, as of today the Jews who stick to the laws and rituals of Moses, are not acceptable to a Holy God!

Being acceptable to Jehovah comes from the heart of those who are “Born Again” into the family of God.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a works doctrine, it is a “Grace” Doctrine!

You see, salvation is not what man can do, but salvation is what God has done through His Son and it is God who is to be praised and not man!

The true people of God are all those who are obedient to all the Word of God as it deals with the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is the Holy Spirit who converts each sinner!

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

By our own works we can never reach the throne room of God!

What does God see today?

Jer 6:10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

Some things just do not ever change!

We already know that all those who reject the Word of God, God has allowed to remain in that position, giving them over to a reprobate mind!

God’s true people are those who have been circumcised in the heart.

God’s true people are all those who have had that flesh disease cut out of their heart.

God’s true people are all those who have been converted by the Holy Spirit!

These who call themselves Jews must take that ultimate step:

Lev 26:41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
Lev 26:42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

Amen

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Jesus Christ Guaranteed Guidance

Book of John 16:1-15

When Jesus says guaranteed guidance what does He mean?

We need to take another look at a verse in last week’s lesson:

Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Every “Born Again” child of God upon accepting Jesus as their Savior will receive the Holy Spirit to live within them. This is the guaranteed guidance we will receive as another free gift from our Heavenly Father.

We should know that the Holy Spirit will never lead us away from Jesus, but it is also true that the Holy Spirit has free will to change us and to provide gifts as He sees fit.

The one gift we will all receive is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and notice it is fruit single and not fruits plural.

Gal 5:22 But the “fruit” of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Eph 5:9 (For the “fruit” of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Notice again that “fruit” is single and not fruits plural.

Every child of God will receive this fruit.

Any other gift of the Holy Spirit comes as Holy Spirit decides!

We should also know a physical talent is not a gift of the Holy Spirit even though He may enhance that talent for God’s use!

The Holy Spirit will be our Guide throughout everything we face in our Christian life, even when we go home to be with the Lord because once inside us, He will never leave us!

*****Joh 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

We live in a dark, dreary, and evil world full of lies and immorality and this world hates everything about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord will test our “faith” but most things that we confront will be because the world hates Jesus Christ, so it will be to anyone who represents Jesus Christ,

We will go through many personal sorrows with our love ones and with dear friends, but we must rest assured we will never be alone again because everywhere we go, we carry with us God the Holy Spirit.

He is certainly a Comforter, but He is also truly God, with all the power of God!

Jesus will explain these things in our lesson today, so we will know to expect them, so we can be prepared when they come to us!

Jesus is explaining these things to His 11 remaining disciples, who are Jews, but these things will also apply to every disciple from that point even into our future and beyond.

*****Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
Joh 16:3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

We know the Lord is addressing these 11 men concerning false religion, using the Jewish system as an example to us all. We need only remember Stephen and Saul before he became a Christian to realize this truth.

Act 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Act 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Act 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
Act 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
Act 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Act 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Act 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Act 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

It is the same for a Hindu who converts to Christianity.
It is the same for a Muslim who converts to Christianity.
It is the same for most all false religionist who convert to Christianity
Even the Atheist, the Agnostic, and the Non-believer, who persecute Christians today.

As God does, He will take something bad and make use of it!

Act 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

These hardline Jews felt like they were cleansing the Synagogue by cleansing it of, what they called, evil Christians.

Religionists do not see how there can only be one way to God so then Christ Jesus must be a liar, when He is about the truth of God.

Religionists believe goodness must be a trait recognized by God, but it is not.

Religionists believe that Church membership accounts for something, but it does not.

Religionists believe that Jesus was just a good man who was called to be prophet, but Jesus was God in the flesh (Immanuel).

Jesus said they would do these things, because they did not know God the Father in Heaven. nor God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now if Jesus states that Religionists have no idea of the truth of God, then it must be true because Jesus cannot lie!

Religionists reject anyone who makes demands on their lifestyle and a right to seek freedom and their own desires instead of any God who makes demands of them. They reject that any god should make demands on them period.

Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Jesus told these disciples before He was crucified, so that they could prepare themselves after Pentecost.

We should not be surprised when persecution comes to us!

*****Joh 16:4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Because Jesus is God the Son, He did not allow persecution to be a problem while He was teaching these men.

Mat_23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

When Jesus returns, He will eliminate all those who have persecuted the Church!

We must understand, that accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior means we will see some persecution, some much more than others.

It has been a special blessing to be born in a Christian nation where persecution has been minor compared to heathen nations though persecution is making its way into our lives by false religion and crooked politicians, who open the door to falsehood.

These 11 men needed to know that the truth of the Scriptures, as was told by Daniel and some others, would certainly take place.

Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Dan 9:26 “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off”, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Jesus had to return to Heaven, so the Holy Spirit could begin His new job of putting together the Church, that has the foundation of Jesus Christ!

*****Joh 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
Joh 16:6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

What was another reason Jesus had to go back to Heaven, in terms we can understand?

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Not only was the Comforter sent by the Lord, but now the Lord at the right hand of God, will plead our cause to God the Father.

Christ Jesus exhorts, defends, comforts, and prays for us now, from the throne room of God!

What is our job besides being a witness for the Lord?

1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

God the Holy Spirit becomes our comforter and sheds His gifts upon us to be able to do the work of the Lord.

God the Son becomes our “Advocate” in the throne room of God.

When we get to Heaven and meet God the Father, He will already know more about us than we know ourselves!

What is the truth? If persecution causes our death, we gain, we do not lose. We go to the Father in Heaven and begin our life in eternity.

We must not allow persecution to cause us to lose our joy of knowing just how wonderful Heaven will be!

As long as we are alive, we will have God the Holy Spirit living within us to guide us through all these things!

*****Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Another reason we can trust the Lord Jesus, He has never misled us in any way. He has told us the truth of this thing called salvation!

In fact this is the main message that Jesus has had to us all.

Yes Jesus loves us.
Yes Jesus died for us.

If Jesus had not given us His words of truth, that would be all we would have known about salvation.

Even Caiaphas understood salvation but loved his job of High Priests too much to accept the Lord Jesus.

Joh 11:49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
Joh 11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

It amazes me sometime what people will say and then refuse to believe what they said.

We need to understand that we live in a body of flesh that is going to die, but this is not the end of life because our life is not in the flesh!

Our life is in our “Soul” that is like a precious stone to our Heavenly Father!

Our Heavenly Father can give us a new body of flesh at any time, but we can have only one “Soul”!

The Holy Spirit could not do His new work until the Lord Jesus Christ ascended back to Heaven, not like He came but in a “Glorified Body” that He promises to us all!

You see we have no reason to worry because the Holy Spirit is creating a glorified body with every believer!

The Holy Spirit will remain with us all the way to Heaven!

The Holy Spirit also had another work to perform, while He is within us!

*****Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

The fact remains that even after we accept the gift of salvation by God’s “Grace”, we are still sinners. In fact the only difference between a “Born Again children of God and those who do not have a personal relationship with the Lord, is the “Grace of God”!

If we were not endowed by the Holy Spirit, we would slip back into the misery of a sinner!

The Greek word “parakletos” is translated “comforter” in this verse and “advocate” in another verse, which means One who will plead our cause when we commit sin, which He will also convict us of that sin.

This same “Comforter” will also be with us through the miseries of this world!

The Apostle Paul may have never used the word Comforter nor Advocate but he understood the work of God the Holy Spirit.

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

It is our job to stand up for the Word of God, and God the Holy Spirit is our strength to do so!

Why is our world growing darker in sin? Because the Church has gotten lazy and just wants to wait on the return of Christ when it is within our power, because of the Holy Spirit, to make things better.

We should all be ashamed of taking the Holy Spirit to places that grieves Him!

We hinder the power of God!

Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Since Jesus went back to Heaven, we have an Intercessor in the throne room of God!
Since Jesus departed, we have the presence of the Holy Spirit with us at all times. He will never leave us.
Since Jesus departed, we now have the “Gospel”, the “Good News” sent down from Heaven from God the Father!

We should understand, all the sin of man can be forgiven but one:

*****Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

By now we know that sin is the one thing that separates us from God and places our soul in the jeopardy of Hell.

The Cross of Jesus Christ was God’s method of reconciliation.

When we reject the truth of God, we are defying the love of our Supreme Creator!

It is sin that convinces us that we need a Savior, a Deliverer.

It is the Holy Spirit who first convicts us of sin and then convinces us that there is a Remedy!

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

We have no righteousness ourselves, so the Holy Spirit brings the righteousness of the Lord into our hearts and we will know the truth.

Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

After our salvation and the gifts of God the Holy Spirit, there is one more thing that has great importance:

The prince of this world is judged, and he has no more dominion on those who believe upon the works of Jesus.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

When Jesus took away all the sin of the past, all the sin of the present, and all the sin of the future by His death on the cross, Satan was eternally defeated.

The only work he can do now is to try to convince those who listen to him, that God is a liar!

What is the truth? My Savior can save anybody, anywhere, at any time and this drives Satan crazy!

We could say Satan is crazy now, but he can only do what God allows to the believer, but God still allows him full access to the unbeliever!

2Ti_2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

There were still many things that Jesus needed to teach these 11 disciples, but He could not at that time.

Many things we must experience under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

For the believer we now have the complete Word of God and Jesus will also talk to us through our prayers!

*****Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

We certainly cannot know everything that Jesus could not tell these 11 men, but what we do know that if Jesus had laid out every detail of His capture, and His beating, and His crucifixion these 11 men would have been too broken to heal.

A wise man once said, a bar of gold is a wonderful thing to have but if you are too weak to carry it, it will not do you much good.

It was the same for the Lord’s passion, these 11 men could not have bared that knowledge until it was all over.

Jesus taught them more about His resurrection, which they still did not understand, until it also happened, and 11 men became so bold that nothing could stop them from preaching the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ.

It would only be when they were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, that these men would understand all things.

Even today, the Bible is a great history book and a book of great knowledge but when the Holy Spirit moves in at salvation, the Bible then becomes the Word of God that the entire world needs, and we can know the great truths that are included in the Word of God!

What is the mark of Satan?

Joh_7:18a “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory”: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Joh_8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

What is the mark of the Lord?

Joh_7:18b He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: “but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him”.

Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Joh 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

We must understand that God the Father, God the Son (Christ Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit dwell in each and every believer as our next passage teaches us.

*****Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

It is impossible for the Holy Spirit to put bad thoughts in our head as some believe.

It is only possible for the Holy Spirit to lead us to the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is only possible for the Holy Spirit to teach us the things of Jesus which were given to Him by God the Father.

This is not hard to follow. This is a simple truth which we dare not try to avoid!

Not only does the Holy Spirit leads us the truth of salvation, He will also teach us of the things to come!

We must also remember we are taught by the same Spirit as these Apostles.
We are saved by the same God the Son, Jesus Christ, as these Apostles.
We are to worship the same God, Jehovah, as these Apostles.

The Holy Spirit will glorify the Son, as the Son glorifies the Father.

None of this is so hard that a child cannot understand!

Satan is the father of all lies.

The Holy Spirit is the guide to all truth!

The Holy Spirit(Holy Ghost) is not to be feared, He is to be believed!

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Another thing we must understand is that if someone comes along teaching anything but Jesus Christ our only Savior, then that person does not have the Holy Spirit living within them and they do not know the salvation of the Lord!

What did the Apostle Paul preach?

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

In truth if we feel like Jesus is not speaking to us, then we are deaf and are not listening, because the Holy Spirit is never silent unless we have cause Him grief!

Solomon was wise in the things of this world, remember, the half has not been told.

The words of Jesus Christ contain all the wisdom of eternal life, all the truth has been told!

Jesus Christ speaks the wisdom of God because He is God!

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Mat 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Today we live in a materialistic age, our world is the kingdom of who has the most and no one cares about another.

We know that the love of the world is enmity with God.

The world is unwilling to see its wrong!
The world is unwilling to be corrected!
The world is unwilling to be directed in the right manner.

The world says the teaching of a Savior is too spiritual.
The world says a Savior would demand too much from them.
The world says a Savior would interfere with their sensuous desires.

We live in a foolish world!

Amen

Let’s Pray!