God's Spirit - Part 1 - In Us

Our Great Commission
God’s Spirit
Part 1: With Us / In Us
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org www.TruthDigest.org


ANNOUNCEMENTS

6:00PM Evening Service at the church –
“Seminary Students will be preaching”

CNET, CBS NEWS, Make Magazine article…

Cook out after church

Sign supplies this week (we made nearly $200 at bake sale!!)

Monday Bible Study back at the Shields’ 5:00PM

Tuesday Women’s at Lori’s 5:00PM

Men’s on Friday at the church 8:00PM

WHERE WE ARE AT

† Maturing in Christ
† Understanding in Christ
† Love of God


This Series: God’s Spirit

Previously:




TODAY’S SERMON: Our Great Commission
God’s Spirit
Part 1: With Us / In Us

OPEN IN PRAYER

SCRIPTURE READING

Acts 5:31-32
31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

To those who obey God, His Spirit is given to them.

This first took place after Jesus was placed at the right hand as Prince and Savior at the day of Pentecost.

And continues today with those who obey the Lord.



I. HOW WE RECEIVE GOD’S SPIRIT
a. We must belong (be citizens of) God’s Kingdom

1. We can not claim what is not ours

2. There are only 2 kingdoms; you already belong to one of them. Satan’s and God’s


b. Salvation through Jesus Christ is the only way to achieve this

Isaiah 43:10-12
10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God.


1. We are commanded to confess & repent to be forgiven

Romans 10:8-10
8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
That confession MUST be followed by repentance to receive forgiveness.

God will not be mocked…

The scriptures say to those who merely hear the word and do not do it, they are deceiving themselves if they think anything of God is taking place within them.

Do not deceive yourself, and do not take God’s grace for granitite.


2. Once forgiven, we are commanded to follow Jesus

Following His way, His life, His example…


c. Walking in obedience is the only way to keep our citizen status

1. (Walking in the Spirit) Obeying what Jesus commands

John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will obey my command.”

2. Narrow is the way of obedience and discipline
One must have commitment to the Lord

3. Jesus says, “stay in me, and I will stay in you…”

I John 2:4-6
4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love[a] is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

I John 2:15-17
15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.


4. Jesus NEVER leaves us nor forsakes us…but we leave and forsake Him all the time, then ask “Where is the Lord?”

1. When we disobey, we have walked away from Him

2. When we put anything above Him we forsake Him


II. WHY HAVING GOD’S SPIRIT IS IMPORTANT
a. Apart from God, we can do nothing

Psalm 16:2
"You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."


b. to obey, we must have God’s Spirit

1. Obedience without the Lord is impossible


c. With God’s Spirit, all things are possible

2. Through Jesus Christ, all things can be accomplished



III. WHAT GOD’S SPIRIT BRINGS WITH HIM
a. Brings Salvation and Forgiveness of Sins

b. Blessings, protection and benefits of the Kingdom

c. Gifts of the Spirit for serving the Lord

d. Fruits of the Spirit for showing God’s Character to others



CLOSING

Knowing “of” Christ and knowing Christ are two different things.

Have you confessed your sin to Him?

And just as importantly, have you repented of that sin?

If so, the Lord HAS forgiven you.

If you call on the name of the Lord, you will be saved, and this Salvation entitles you to all the benefits, blessings and protection of the Kingdom of God.

If you have not confessed, nor repented, then you are at odds with the Lord, and need forgiveness.

Come forward now, and let us pray with you…