Ministry of the Holy Spirit Part 2

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>> Alex McFarland: Welcome to Exploring the Word God's commands. They are real and they are important. Listen to this one. In Ephesians chapter 5, verse 18. Do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. This is Alex McFarlane and Burt Harper and it's good to be with you today on this Thursday and we've been going through the book of Malachi but yesterday we took a turn to talk about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We are continuing that today because we could spend all next week on it as well. We'll see how far we get. But Alex, the Bible talks about it. Jesus says I need to go away because it's to your advantage that I go and the comforter come. What a true statement, brother.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Amen. Allie glad we're devoting some time to this, Bert. It's great to be with you, great to have everybody listening because you know we, we do get a fair amount of questions about God's Holy Spirit. And as we were talking about yesterday, the, the Spirit of God which has been burnt, I believe working on the heart of every human being from toddlerhood up. But the Spirit of God, the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead. And when we talk about the Godhead this is referenced in Romans says that the eternal power and Godhead are revealed to the human race. I mean that's an amazing statement there, isn't it Bert? That says that which may be known of God is manifested. And Romans 1:20 for the invisible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made. Even his eternal power and Godhead so that humans are without excuse. And part of that triune one eternal God is the third member of the Trinity, God, the Holy Spirit. And so I'm glad we're talking about the Holy Spirit because it is a vitally important part of not only God's word but Each and every person's life and salvation.

>> Alex McFarland: No. No, it will not be possible. No, it will not. Apart from the Holy Spirit of God. You know, we talked a little bit and we're going to jump in further about yesterday. Conscience. Conscience only takes you so far, you know, and then you can harden. I think there's a biblical term, seared conscience over. But the Holy Spirit of God, he takes your conscience and he continues on it. But he brings it in, I would say, into focus concerning why and how and how you can come to Christ. So we're going to talk about that today. But we got to the baptism of yesterday and we talked about what God has said there. It happens at the. At the point of salvation, the indwelling, the Holy Spirit of God coming in. We where you are a part of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. But then it says be filled. Now, I read that again in Ephesians 5, 18, when it says be filled. It really honestly a better translation than just be filled. If you get the present tense is keep on being filled. In other words, keep on. No excuse for not being filled. So you keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit of God as he fills your life. Now, let me say this. This word filling, it has. You can use it, the Green word. I checked it out to make sure. Yes, it's used in filling a cup, filling a glass or whatever. But it's also used in a nautical term. And in my. In my thoughts here, and I know a lot of folks agree, in Ephesians 5:18, it's used more in a nautical way, a naval way, where you feel the sails and it empowers, it directs. And let me say one more thing and I'll throw it back to you quickly, Alex. I think it has some things concerning Pentecost and John, chapter three. At Pentecost, let me see, the Holy Spirit fell like a mighty rushing wind. I don't think that's just Constans That wind is mentioned also In John chapter 3, when Jesus talks to Nicodemus, he uses the wind as an example. So, Alex, I don't. I think, in other words, I am. I am convinced that being filled with the Holy Spirit has more idea of God's Holy Spirit, more moving in our lives, directing our lives, empowering our lives, so we will do the work that God's called us to do. Have I made that? Am I off base with that?

>> Bert Harper: You're right on the money. You know, in a way, four things. And there are so many ways God's Holy Spirit speaks to us. First of all, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. We mentioned it yesterday, John 16, verse 8. Where when the Spirit of God has come, he will convict, some translations say, convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. You know, bert, that's John 16, 8, conviction of sin. We're aware of our guilt, but we're also aware, at least on some degree, we're aware of God's righteousness, and God is holy and we have done things that are unholy. But. And it says of judgment. You know, I don't know that we talk about it that much, but let me say, at a very young age, I was cognizant of my sin many times. I had known the right and done the wrong. I knew God, whoever God was, he must be holy and of judgment. I knew I deserved some, you know, amen. And, but the Bible talks about that the, the, the, the remorse over sin leads us to repentance. I mean, to repent is like to do a U turn in a car. You turn the vehicle around and you change direction. And so the Bible tells us that to be saved, we have to repent. Bert, let me ask you this, because I really think that repentance is a great ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of a sinner who needs to get saved. What all are there several aspects that are part of repentance?

>> Alex McFarlane: Alex, let me just put it as simply as I can. As I was thinking about it, you know, you used the example of changing directions in a car. You've got to change your mind before you change direction. I'll use this example. My wife and I traveling and, you know, this is before gps, and I am convinced I'm going in the right direction. And she starts talking and saying, bert, look what we've just passed. We haven't gone by there. That's not what we saw the last time. And finally, my mind. I've changed my mind. You're right, Jan. I'm going in the wrong direction. So my mind. And then guess what follows that, Alex? The actions. I do do a U turn. I do go in a different direction. And that brings on leaving something behind and looking forward to something before just changing your mind about something without the action is incomplete. That's not repentance. That could be sorrowful, couldn't it? You know, but repentance leads to, leads to faith. And it's, it's not just turning away, isn't it going toward. Toward him? Towards.

>> Burt Harper: Yeah. And listen, I've driven and I've used the GPS And I guess I'm stubborn enough I like to try to find my way without using the gps. But most men will know what I'm talking about. There comes a moment, if you've driven an hour the wrong way, and you have to admit, you know what, I'm going the wrong direction. And I really. I have to admit that I need to turn this car around. And you're right. There's some admissions and some decisions that precede a change of course here. But in repentance, we have to admit that we're guilty. We need God's forgiveness, and we're willing to turn from sin to Christ. Now, we still have to use our free will. We still have to open our heart. And humbly. You know, it's like in Luke 18. God be merciful to me, a sinner. But it's the Holy Spirit that does those things in our flesh. Our fallenness, our sin, willful disobedience. We wouldn't turn to Jesus. But that's why this is so vitally important, folks. If you're even thinking about. You need to get Stuart with the Lord. That's the Holy Spirit calling you. And when the Holy Spirit beckons, calls, we must, must respond.

>> Alex McFarlane: You know, you can have guilt without confession. Yeah. Oh, I feel so guilty. Well, you know, man, yes, that's real. That's conscience. That's looking and seeing. But there's more to it than that. And that's what you're just saying, Alex. It's the Holy Spirit of God bearing down on us. Being heavy, okay? Being heavy on us. He brings us to the point of, oh, man, this is how serious this is. This is how wrong this is. It's taken me in the wrong direction. It's carrying me to destruction. I. It Brice down on me. And then he leads us. He not only convicts, but he brings about the possibility of turning and leading us in the right direction. So just being guilty for something is not repentance. Turning away from that direction, as you said, that sin, that addiction, turning to Christ, and He makes a difference in all the world. And because of that, Alex, we have the potential within ourselves to know God apart from the Holy Spirit. We may know about God, okay, I can read the Bible and know about God. I can. Even according to Romans, I look at creation and say, oh, man, God is. I believe there's a God. I believe he's creator. I know about Him. But we're talking about repentance, confession. That leads to a reality of a relationship of knowing Him. Aren't we. We're not just about him, but knowing him.

>> Burt Harper: You know, one of the words that I just love to study on is the word sanctification. And sanctification means to be set apart. And it's, it's a position and a process. You know, when, when you trust Christ and get saved. Lord, save my soul. I believe in you. I believe you died for me. You are sanctified. You're now in Christ. So there is the positional sanctification when you trust Christ and are born again. But then for the whole life and the journey of a Christian, there is processional or progressive sanctification as we're more and more conformed to the image of Jesus. And I want to read this verse because this is one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. First Peter, chapter one, verse two says that according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, that's very key, the foreknowledge of God in the sanctification of the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ. Bert the. The sanctification of the Spirit, the way the Spirit works in us draws us to the obedience of Jesus. 1st Peter 1, 2 speak if you would, Bert, to that sanctification of the Spirit. That's a beautiful reality in the life of a believer, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarlane: Really is. It is progressive as he, as he sets us apart by salvation and then guess what, Alex, by our decisions, we set ourselves apart. We turn from and turn to. But if you don't do that, then that sanctification will not be taking place. You'll be yet living opposite of what you should in following Christ. We're going to talk more about that when we come back and we'll look at some more scripture concerning the ministry of the Stier holy spirit.

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>> Speaker E: Me.

>> Burt Harper: Welcome back to Exploring the Word. The song you're hearing is the church clap. And Brent remembered we were doing vacation Bible school this week and last night, well, Angie called in my wife Angie, and she said, would I do the church clap with all the kids at church and I did last night.

>> Alex McFarlane: Way to go. Did they video it? Were you on time? And all the stuff?

>> Burt Harper: I try now, there's a lot of actions and I did my best, but I think that the kids maybe were a little better at it than me. But it's a great song and we had a really good Bible school and had children and teenagers pray to accept Christ and appreciate everybody praying. But before the break, we were talking about the ministries of the Holy Spirit. And Bert, here's a great verse. Acts 2, verse 38. Peter was preaching. Peter says, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And what a gift it is that God's Holy Spirit lives within the believer. I was talking about some of the ministries. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. The Holy Spirit gives us new life. You know, Ephesians 2 says, we're dead in our sins, but the Spirit of God regenerates us, makes us alive. Then the Holy Spirit lives in us and indwells us. And First Corinthians 3 says that we are the temple or the dwelling place of God's Holy Spirit and the Spirit of God. Hey, do you remember from memory? Acts 1, verse 8.

>> Alex McFarlane: Let me see. You shall be witnesses. Is that it?

>> Burt Harper: That's right.

>> Alex McFarlane: After the Holy Ghost has come upon you.

>> Burt Harper: And you will receive power when the Holy Spirit. Now, R.C. sproul. I was a young believer, and I was listening to R.C. sproul. He's in heaven now, teaching, though, on the Holy Spirit. And he said, look, God only has to say something once for it to be true. But 200 times, said Sproul, the Bible talks about the power we get from the Holy Spirit. We receive power. So the Holy Spirit of God is vitally important because we don't operate in our own strength or our own skill, but by the empowerment of God's indwelling Holy Spirit.

>> Alex McFarlane: Amen. Now, he is the Holy Spirit. I hear people say it. No Holy Spirit. You could leave off the D and say Holy Spirit. And sometimes we sing Stier Holy Spirit, you know, come into this place. He is a person, a personality. Not with flesh and blood, but person mean comes from personality. Yes, he is. You grieve and quench the Holy Spirit. He's. He is not it or an influence. He is a person that comes and indwells in us as a spirit. Yes, he can. He is deity. He's not less than. He's equal to. He is God and one of the reasons Jesus said, I got to go away so the Holy Spirit can come. He can be with you. Jesus, when he took upon flesh, he could only be in one place at one time. Now, honestly, you remember after the crucifixion, he was with the two on the road to Emmaus, but that's where he was. The next time we find out, he's come to Jerusalem and goes through the door and talking to the apostles. Yes, he's there, but he says, I got to go away. Holy Spirit is. He's everywhere at once. Right now. On the opposite side of the world in Australia, there's believers in Shaun and North Korea and those corrupt governments. We have brothers and sisters in Christ filled with the Holy Spirit, just as he is in our lives. That is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Alex, when you talk about ministry, it. It's not limited to a location. It is in us. It's in every believer. But it doesn't matter which location the believer's in, does it?

>> Burt Harper: That's true. That's true. And I want to ask you this. Can Christians and the church at large seek more of the Holy Spirit?

>> Alex McFarlane: Yes.

>> Burt Harper: Can we ask for more of the presence of the Holy Spirit, the work of the Holy Spirit?

>> Alex McFarlane: Well, here's what I think. He's in us, and it's a little play on words. Okay? He needs more of us. He's there, and we. D.L. moody is one of our great heroes of the past. I agree. One of the first biographies I ever read after I surrendered to preach was D.L. moody's biography. And he was asked a lady asking, is every room in your heart occupied with the presence of the Holy Spirit? Now, Alex, again, most homes if you go visit, they may have a closet or room or attic. They say, now, you can have. You can look in any place you want to, but don't go in there. Don't pull this drawer out. Why? Because it's unorganized, not quite what it should be. You don't want to show it off. Is there any area in our life that we say, God, I want you. I want you here in this area. I want you in this area of my life. But, Lord, I want to keep this to myself. Listen, when you keep rooms, areas of your life, and saying, I want to control it, God, I don't want you involved in that. You're limited the power of the Holy Spirit. But when we release that, Alex, with all my heart, I believe the power of the Holy Spirit comes through and it floods over into good works. And they'll see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Does that answer that question?

>> Speaker F: A little bit.

>> Burt Harper: You don't want any part of your life that you withhold from God's Holy Spirit, really. I mean, and I've said this, and I don't mean to be repetitious, but I really think in life the right thing to do is rarely a mystery. That's why when you feel the Holy Spirit dealing with you about something in your life, you need to respond and react. And, you know, I've seen holding a grudge or something, it can metastasize into something big and really terrible or an infatuation or a temptation that we, we nurse and maybe we tell ourselves, well, this is all right, you know, I'm. I'm doing so much for the Lord. There's this one part of who I am that I can sort of keep it. One of the. One of the great biblical stories is Achan, who. He had a wedge of gold in the back of his tent and some goodly apparel. He took some things that weren't his and he held on to some things that God had said they had to destroy. And people died. And you know the illustration I've heard preachers preach on a wedge of gold in, in the tent of our heart or our life. And I think, Bert, if we're willing and we Allie the Holy Spirit to thoroughly open our eyes and deal with these things, God will work. I used to hear preachers say this, that we need to call sin by its right name. Now, it's not that we have habits or personality quirks or, oh, that's just the way I am. No, sin is sin, isn't it, Bert? And we've got to be honest about our sin, that we might confess it and turn from it.

>> Alex McFarlane: Amen. If you're going to be filled with the Holy Spirit, I, I wrote down, how can you be filled with the Holy Spirit? One is confession of sin, agreeing with God about every area. Don't hold out areas. If you're holding out areas of your life, that means there's areas of your life that cannot be filled. So confess your sin. Get right with God. You yield to God in obedience to him. You remember that scripture you read in 1st Peter 1:2? It talks about the Spirit in obedience. I mean, you know, obedience. Now you can say, you can check off the check marks. And I do this, I do this and not be filled, but obedience. Lord, I want to follow you. I'm obedient to you. And because of that, Alex, I think there's two areas, your mind and your body. I think one of the places where you find the gifts of the spirit, and I'm not saying we need to go there yet, is Romans 12. But the two verses one and two of Romans 12, I believe. Really, you don't see the Holy Spirit name and him referred, but you see, he is really involved. Listen, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice Allie acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. This is this action that we're talking about. Every area of my life, my thought life, my actions, every area, I want to present them to you, Lord, as a living sacrifice. I want the Holy Spirit of God to do this work in my life. Now, Forrest, it goes to the mind. Listen. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed.

>> Speaker F: How?

>> Alex McFarlane: By the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is the good and acceptable perfect will of God. That's the Holy Spirit of God. You're yielding to him. Your body, your mind. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. And guess what follows that? The actions of the body. So, Alex, this, the Holy Spirit being filled in our lives, starts with repentance, turning around, agreeing with God, confessing all known sin and saying, lord, I agree with you, obeying what he says. And then with your mind and your body, you follow him. It's not like it's a magical thing. No, it's God going back to Ephesians 5:18, continually being filled. He comes in. And the wind of the power of the Holy Spirit just. It moves you, directs you. The Holy Spirit, he empowers you. But we've got to be sanctified, as you said. That's part of the whole ministry of the Holy Spirit, by obedience to him and him moving in our lives, isn't it?

>> Burt Harper: Amen. Amen. Bert, you know, you mentioned the renewing of the mind. That's Romans 12, verse 2. Paul writes this. And by the way, Romans is probably my favorite book of the Bible. And, and what's interesting is different ones have said. The book of Romans is the declaration and constitution of the Christian faith. And it is. It's a lot of doctrine in that book. It's a very doctrinal book. But there is much, much, much in Romans about the work of the Holy Spirit, right?

>> Speaker F: Yes.

>> Burt Harper: And Romans 12:2 says, do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

>> Speaker G: Right?

>> Burt Harper: Well, the word Rhona there, I looked it up, and it. It really Means the, the restoration of something. But it also means like the, the process of building something brand new. I've got the lexicon here and it says a new development and restoration through the completing of a process. Well, I gotta tell you Bert, when I was a college student and I became a Christian, I had a lot of stuff in my head that was wrong, one of which was Darwinian evolution. I mean I wasn't dogmatic about it, but I just kind of assumed evolution was true. I came up through K 12 public school, went to a public university. I had in science class had evolution, you know, taught to me. And I just believe the professors. But I began to read God's Word and I remember I could, I could take it to the very place I was like, wait a minute, there's no evolution in the Bible. We didn't evolve and dinosaurs and humans must have coexisted at the same time. Well, it's God's word. And later I would read a lot of wonderful scholars like Dr. Henry Morris and Dr. John Morris and John Whitcomb and Dannah Gish and Ken Ham. Some people will know some of those names. But here's my point. The restoration of something that needed a whole lot of refurbishing. That was my mind. And there may even be everybody listening. Maybe there's things you've believed or you've wanted to be so and you get into God's word and you realize that let God be true and every man a liar. One of the great ministries of the Holy Spirit. And this will Hoppen in you as you read the Bible and you take God at his word. God will correct a lot of false thinking going on in your mind. And our mind truly is restored, renewed. And something new is brought into that needy area. Namely God's truth. Bert, I want to believe what's true and the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Help, help us get there.

>> Alex McFarlane: He really does. And honestly, the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword. It is the word of God standing Alena but empowered by the Holy Spirit. The sword of the Spirit. When you put on the armor of God, that is the power of the Holy Spirit of God with the word of God putting it into your heart and your minds just like you said in Romans. I want to give another scripture before we go to our break. And that number, by the way, if you want to make a phone call, Richard is just sitting down getting ready for the phone call calls is 888-589-8840. We would love your question today, but listen to this. It's chapter three, verses one and two in the book of Colossians. And it reminds me a little bit of Romans 12:1 2. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. The power of the Holy Spirit. When you are seeking the Lord and with all that you do, you seek those things that God has for you. That's your ambitions and then your affections. Set your mind on things above. That's your affections. So your ambitions and your affections under the power of a Holy Spirit of God, Lexie above to God. Alex, that's powerful to me. When you combine Romans 12:1 and 2 and Colossians 3:1 2.

>> Burt Harper: Amen. Amen. We're talking about the Holy Spirit. And maybe you want to reread from yesterday and today. Hey, Bert. We would be remiss if we forgot to mention the Holy spirit Brice Romans 8:26. The Spirit of God helps us in our weakness and makes intercession for us.

>> Alex McFarlane: Hallelujah.

>> Burt Harper: In heaven. Isn't that great?

>> Alex McFarlane: That means we're going to have to continue this on Monday. I'm excited even Monday, because tomorrow is far away. Friday. But today the Questions are ready. 885-89-8840.

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>> Speaker E: If I get down, you pick me up from the ground. You give me love and don't give out give in all conditions you lift me up and up again. Now no matter who surrounds I let my hallelujah get by Like a great train sunshine open I lift you up again.

>> Alex McFarlane: Welcome back to Explore Word. It is time for your questions and hopefully Alex and I can give an answer that will help you and it will glorify the Lord. That's what we desire to do. We really do. And so, Alex, are you ready to go Stuart into the questions?

>> Burt Harper: I am. I gotta say thank you to everybody listening. I was on today's issues earlier today, and Tim Wildmon and Assell and others were on, and they mentioned that the Exploring the Word, the. The archived shows, they said the podcast because we're live. But, you know, on AmericanFamilyRadio.net, all the shows are archived. Apparently, we're way up there in terms of listens. And so to all the people that listen, or maybe you've shared a show with your friends or passed a link on, I just want to say thank you because even Tim Wildmon has taken note of the fact that we've got a pretty good listener base, don't we?

>> Alex McFarlane: Amen. And after doing this ministry on Ministry of the Holy Spirit, I believe it will go up even more because people know they can't do it on their own flesh. It's got to be through the power of the Holy Spirit. So keep, Keep Listening podcast and then tell others about it as well. They can listen to this. Alex, let's go to Missouri and talk to Steve. Steve, thank you for calling. Go right ahead, brother.

>> Speaker F: Well, thank you for answering my call. I am reading a book by a gentleman named Abraham Booth. It was written in 1768, and the title is about the Rhona of God's grace. And I thought I understood election real good until I got to the section of his book that talks about election. And the way I based my thoughts was from Jeremiah 1:5 and Malachi 1, 2, 1:2 and 3 in Romans 9:13, and then Exodus 33, 19. I believe that my God is a God of ardor and planning and doesn't really do anything without a plan, so to speak. But when I'm reading what Mr. Booth is saying, he says, no, that it's just a random kind of selection. Kind of like you just flip a coin and say, heads are tails, and heads you're elected and tails you're not. But that just doesn't seem reasonable with who I thought I understood God to be and how he operates. So I need help.

>> Alex McFarlane: Okay. Alex, have you heard of this book or know this author?

>> Burt Harper: Yes, the. The Rhona of Grace. R E I G N the Rhona of Grace. You know, in. In the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation, which was, you know, the. The mid to late 1500s. Booth, Abraham Booth, was in the 1700s. And let me just say, Calvinism was very big throughout Europe and even into the colonies. The Presbyterians were very strong. And there was the. The Westminster Confession that had been incredibly influential, although Baptists and Quakers even Contributed to the 1636 Westminster Confession of Faith. Bert, whenever we talk about grace,

>> Speaker F: it

>> Burt Harper: can Mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Obviously, we know grace is God's unmerited favor. We didn't deserve it. His love and free salvation offered to whosoever will may come. One of the beliefs of the Calvinist adherence was God's irresistible grace. That God's grace was extended to whoever God wanted, not to everybody. And Abraham Booth would have been in this, this camp that grace, the ability to repent and believe was not extended to everybody, but to those to whom saving grace was extended. It would in fact be irresistible. Could not turn away from it. And what this does, I mean, there's several things. You get really double election that by God's divine decree, through no participation of our own, some are elected to be saved, some are elected to be lost. Something else that is a natural, logical outflow of this is that humans couldn't possibly have free Wallnua, Bert, I think this is problematic. I'm not saying these people don't know Jesus. I'm not saying these people don't love Jesus. They certainly do. Abraham Booth was a definite follower of Christ. But if we take the Bible for what it says, yes, there is the sovereignty of God, but there is also the responsibility of man. I mean, if election is by decree, if grace is irresistible, if humans don't have free will, then invariably, you know, a lot of what it means to be a human being has to be tossed out the window. And so I say it humbly, hopefully respectfully. But I disagree with what many call, quote, the doctrines of grace.

>> Alex McFarlane: I do as well. I cannot get over scriptures that would do. Do that. The grace of God, you know, appeared to all men. And yes, you have to, you have to, I would say, explain that away. Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how many times I would have taken you under my wings. Mother hen with her little, little baby chickens.

>> Burt Harper: Yeah.

>> Alex McFarlane: And what did it say after that? You would not. I had it. You would not. Everything that Jesus said, there's accountability for men turning. And Steve, thank you for that call, brother. And it's good to read those old books, but they're human just like so many are. And I agree with Alex. Salvation, yes. Wrong doctrine without man's accountability and ability to say, yes, I'll follow you. It goes further on the sovereignty of God than the word of God does, in my estimation. That's a strong statement, Steve. Thank you. By the way, that number 888-589-8840. We've got lines open and we believe we can take more calls. Dennis, also in Missouri. Dennis, go right ahead. Brother.

>> Speaker G: Well, good afternoon, gentlemen. I like to show our listeners often as I can, I'm legally blind. So that's kind of an interesting thing. My question is on the Holy Spirit. I got. I got saved years ago. I was incarcerated for a while and I read my Bible every day while I was incarcerated. But my question is, how do I know? I Jon Wriley know about the Holy Spirit. I know it's part of the Trinity, you know, but how do I know that I'm filled with the Spirit?

>> Alex McFarlane: Okay. Thank you, Dennis. Brice the Lord. You receive Christ. That means salvation occurs and the Holy Spirit of God moves in baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now, Alex, can God come and dwell in a person and that person

>> Burt Harper: not

>> Alex McFarlane: know that things have changed? They may not understand it all, but the Holy Spirit's inside of every believer working, isn't he?

>> Burt Harper: Yeah. Do you remember in the Book of Acts when some of the believers said, we have not so much as heard of the Holy Spirit. If you're saved, you are filled with the Holy Spirit. Now, the Holy Spirit can have free Rhona to lead our lives, or we might restrict the Holy Spirit. But a person, the. The caller surely sounds like a very humble, yielded heart. And I would suspect that the Holy Spirit is absolutely in the driver's seat of his life. Maybe more than he even realizes. But yes, every believer is indwelt and filled with the Holy Spirit. And you know, the. The Bible says in it, like in Ephesians, that we are. We're not to quench the Spirit, but we're to be led by the Spirit that who seals us to the day of redemption. And so every, every believer is filled with the Holy Spirit.

>> Alex McFarlane: Dennis, the Holy. You received Christ, you had the Holy Spirit, he moved into your life. Yield to him. You know, driving one of the things I found out about a stop sign and.

>> Speaker A: Yield.

>> Alex McFarlane: I've got to stop on the yield. You better slow and you look to see who's coming. And those people that are coming the other way, they have the right of way. God, Holy Spirit has the right of way in our hearts where when he moves, we follow him. He gets in front and he follows us. So we want to do that. Well, let's go to Kansas and talk to Tony. Tony, go right ahead.

>> Speaker F: Hey, good afternoon, guys. Hey. Just want to make a prayer request or revival. Just like Jesus raised up. God raised up Billy Sunday, Mel Trotter and even Billy Graham, but just another man like that. Okay.

>> Alex McFarlane: We're praying for. I want to tell you there's an article. Dannah excited about. Do you get the Stand magazine from AFA? If you don't get on, go to afa.net order it. The first six months are free. There's an article in this one that, that people will be getting in the next week about what God is doing in this alpha group. This is the one following Gen Z's. They're growing. Listen, we're seeing it. We're seeing God. I believe God is raising that person up right now. A lot of folks thought we had him, but he was assassinated. But God listen, it didn't catch. God didn't say oh, hadn't got anything now no God can raise them up. I think that's a legitimate request. I'd say this more than just one, Tony. How about a lot? Alex? Okay, thank you, Tony. We are, we're praying for that. Let's go to California and talk to Raymond. Raymond, thank you for calling in today.

>> Speaker H: Yeah, I just wanted to thank you guys mostly AFR I'm all the way out here in California but you do have satellites. I was raised, I was raised Lutheran and I've had a spiritual awakening the last couple years. I don't want to say spiritual but I'm baptized and everything and I have a six year old son and a two year old son and I'm working on a Catholic church down the street and going to baptism class and I want to get them baptized. That's the least I can do for them is give them the faith in the Holy Spirit. But the other kicker is my wife. She's not a believer and she's a wonderful person and whatnot but I'm just trying to, you know, repent and, and change my behavior and show her that that there is life beyond death.

>> Alex McFarlane: Amen.

>> Speaker H: And just I just wanted to do that for her and disciple my family and if you have any advice on that, I read the Word every day and I'm just trying to do those things really hard and I thank you guys very much for everything you do.

>> Alex McFarlane: Thank you Raymond. Amen. Alex let me one one thing and I'll let you respond to Raymond as well. One of the greatest sermons ever heard was by Chuck Swindoll. Man, he's. I think he turned 90 recently if I remember that right. And just a great man of God. If you can get any of his books, get them by my. My library is filled of Chuck Swindoll's books and Chuck Colson books. The two Chucks I love but he preached on a sermon about yet one of the most important words in all the Bible is yet. And so here's what I'd say, Raymond, your wife's not saved yet. Now, I know she still has free will. We talked about that. But live that life. Demonstrate. Let her see you loving Jesus and loving her and loving those boys. And I want to tell you I'd rather see a sermon is here one any day. And there's no better place to see one is up close and personal, is there, Alex?

>> Speaker G: Yeah.

>> Burt Harper: You know, very often we'll hear from Christian women who have a husband or maybe a, you know, fiance or something that isn't saved. But sometimes it is the husband that comes to faith first. And Bird, I'll tell you somebody that was just a wonderful friend to both you and I, and that was a man named Dan Celia. Yes, and Dan Celia, he's in heaven now, but an amazing man of God. And he became a Christian before his wife did. And, and they were a very, very successful couple. And she later came to faith. Now, I want to say this. First Peter, chapter three, talks about a Christian woman winning an unbelieving husband by her ways or manner of life. But then it goes on and it talks about the godly husband whose life and 1st Peter 3:7, that you know there to love their wife like Christ loved the church, that your prayers be not hindered. And so I'm going to encourage the caller, just keep on role modeling, showing Jesus, walking with Jesus. I will say this, and Bert, you can elaborate if you want to check out Billy Graham's website. He's got a little booklet called Peace with God. Peace with God. And then there's a larger it's free download, the Christian Workers Handbook. I think that might help you share the gospel all The Core effectively with your wife.

>> Alex McFarlane: Amen. Let me recommend another book. It's a marriage book, Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. Listen, that life and loving her the way she knows you love her and God being behind it. Listen those actions, those prayers, I believe they'll find I pray for that to Hoppen Raymond. Well, thank you for listening to Exploring the Word. Tomorrow is Fire Away Friday, where we'll take questions the whole hour. So if you've got a question that's burning on your heart, get ready to call us tomorrow and we do our best to answer it. Thank you for listening.

>> Burt Harper: The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.

Ministry of the Holy Spirit Part 2

Ministry of the Holy Spirit Part 2

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