Reading of the article that initiated thoughts towards this series:
“If you want to declare your beliefs to the world, you probably won’t find a more effective public forum than YouTube.
Is everyone familiar with YouTube?
Describe – a global media outlet for the common man
“If you want to declare your beliefs to the world, you probably won’t find a more effective public forum than YouTube. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the NY Times reports in “Taking the Debate About God Online,” and “Battling It Out With Videos” that there’s a website called Blasphemy Challenge that is encouraging people to post videos that deny God’s existence on YouTube. As a counterpoint, there’s also a group called Challenge Blasphemy that’s asking people to put videos on YouTube that declare their faith in God.”
Well, that kind of caught my attention. But people have denied God’s existence for quite some time, so I wasn’t completely shocked by that paragraph. Certainly wasn’t going to throw away a half written sermon, and six week series that I was working on just based on that little nugget. But I ventured in my trusty web browser to this blasphemy
challenge.com, and came across the following:
The Rational Response Squad is giving away 1001 DVDs of “The God Who Wasn’t There”, the hit documentary that the Los Angeles Times calls "provocative -- to put it mildly." There’s only one catch: We want your soul.
It’s simple. You record a short message damning yourself to Hell, you upload it to YouTube, and then the Rational Response Squad will send you a free “The God Who Wasn’t There” DVD. It’s that easy.
You may damn yourself to Hell however you would like, but somewhere in your video you must say this phrase: "I deny the Holy Spirit."
Why? Because, according to Mark 3:29 in the Holy Bible, "Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." Jesus will forgive you for just about anything, but he won’t forgive you for denying the existence of the Holy Spirit. Ever. This is a one-way road you’re taking here.
Once you have shot your blasphemous video, just follow these two easy steps:
1. Go to this link on YouTube to upload your video as a "Video Response" to the Blasphemy Challenge.
2. When the video appears on YouTube, send the URL to this email address: waronchristmas@hotmail.com. (surprising email address, huh?) Also include a complete United States mailing address so we can send your free copy of “The God Who Wasn’t There.“
That’s it. We’re only giving away 1001 DVDs, so blaspheme now.
First, purge an issue from your mind – the unpardonable sin. That is not what this series is about.
Second, place on the backburner of your mind –
what does it mean to deny the Holy Spirit? Is it an all or nothing kind of thing. For example, what if you deny I’m a father, a husband, or a preacher. Have you denied me.
I believe that we will have to wrestle with who
the Holy Spirit is. . .all of Him.
Back to the Blaspheme Challenge.
Traditionally, the Church is behind movements in our world -
i.e. Music Charts (Top praise album on the worship charts 277 weeks versus top pop album on the charts 85)
i.e. Contemporary redefined - What we call contemporary is 10 to 30 years old.
i.e. Muslim prayer in Lexington, KY - They are already engaged, while the church waits for a crisis.
i.e. The Blaspheme Challenge - Has been around more than a year, and is now called a grassroots teenage movement to renounce theistic indoctrination
i.e. Generation X, Mellinialists, the Post-Modern
movement - We respond as a church when the next generation is already upon us.
My Contention: If we don’t wake-up we will again be behind the movement, the movement from relativism (any truth will do) to your (the church’s) truth is false.
John 8:31-32 (read) – Freedom is not found simply in truth, but in knowing the truth.
So what is the truth? John 14:1-6 (read)
What is the truth? (Jesus)
John 14:15-17 (read). If Jesus is the truth,
then the spirit of truth is what? (the Spirit of Jesus)
Jesus said presently – it dwelt with them
In the future – it dwells in them
John 14:25-26 (read)
Jesus is truth. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of Jesus. Jesus promises the sending of the Holy Spirit for continued teaching and bringing of remembrance of what He has taught.
Back to my wake-up call regarding this movement from relativism to your truth is false:
- If the Holy Spirit is denied. . .it doesn’t just stop there.
- Denial of the Holy Spirit is calling Jesus a liar.
- Calling Jesus a liar is making Jesus a sinner.
- Making Jesus a sinner is eliminating the spotless sacrifice.
- And on, and on, and on, the dominoes fall.
The world’s movement from tolerance to denial of one truth is the beginning of the toppling of the truth. . .Jesus Christ.
Application to the Easter season –
The cross and tomb are not the whole story. John 16:4b-14 (read)
This is the rest of Easter – the lost truth of Easter
Emmanuel – God With Us (As a baby 2000 years ago, as the Holy Spirit today)
Easter is to our advantage” not just because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, but because the Helper came
Example: People who feel it would have been easier to live when you could see, and hear, and walk with Christ – Not according to Jesus.
Stirred up in me – Need for the church to reclaim lost truths about the Holy Spirit.
Think about the balance of study in the church: Christ is seated in the heavenlies with the Father, the Holy Spirit dwells in us. . .but who do you know more about? Who do you hear more about?
Now, this is partly because – there is a need to break stigmas, verbiage and stereotypes, and reclaim some lost truths about the Holy Spirit.
For example: Did you know that I am a Pentecostal pastor? A middle-aged Pentecostal pastor no less. (Acts 2)
“Pentecostal”: carries a stigma, a word that the body of Christ needs to reclaim based on the truths about the Holy Spirit.
Another example: In America, the moving of the Holy Spirit often equals less preaching and teaching.
Jesus says, “He will teach you.” “He will bring into Remembrance.” “He will convict.” “He will guide.”
“He will declare.” “He will speak.”
What follows the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2? A whole bunch of preaching and teaching!
We need to replace some stereotypes and rediscover the lost truth about the moving and working of the Holy Spirit.
What Jesus says about the Holy Spirit –
- Helper (advocate, counselor)
- Spirit of Truth
- My Spirit which dwells with and will dwell in you
- Sent of the Father
- Teaches
- Brings to Remembrance
- Bears Witness to Christ
- He is to our advantage
- He convicts concerning sin, righteousness and judgment
- He guides into all truth, all understanding of Jesus
- He speaks upon the authority of God
- He glorifies Christ
- He declares things to come
Other places about the Holy Spirit –
- Provides adoption to the Father
- Speaks on our behalf to the world and to the Father
- Is a conduit for a life of peace
Pretty good stuff. . .don’t you think?
Holiness & Sanctification are just the tip of the Holy Spirit iceberg.
I want you to have the opportunity to truly receive and embrace the Holy Spirit in your life, but you need to know what you are getting. Even if you think you have already got it, you need to make sure you know what you have (example of Jamie’s iPod Nano - learning that it was more than just music, but synched with Outlook.).
Future Weeks:
- The Person of the Holy Spirit
- The Work of the Holy Spirit
- The Work of the Holy Spirit specifically in
Bringing Restoration
- The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
- The Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Possible disappointment of not getting traditional Easter preaching, but –
This is a lost truth of Easter
Jesus himself declared this a major part of the reason
for His leaving
This is to our advantage to know and understand
Let’s not be behind the world on this one
Let’s reclaim the truths of the Holy Spirit
