WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN
SERMON TITLE: SEVEN THINGS ABOUT THE SPIRIT
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18
1 CORINTHIANS 2:9-12 “BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM. BUT GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO US BY HIS SPIRIT: FOR THE SPIRIT SEARCHETH ALL THINGS, YEA, THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD. FOR WHAT MAN KNOWETH THE THINGS OF A MAN, SAVE THE SPIRIT OF MAN WHICH IS IN HIM? EVEN SO THE THINGS OF GOD KNOWETH NO MAN, BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD. NOW WE HAVE RECEIVED, NOT THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD, BUT THE SPIRIT WHICH IS OF GOD; THAT WE MIGHT KNOW THE THINGS THAT ARE FREELY GIVEN TO US OF GOD.”
I DON’T KNOW IF YOU CAUGHT THAT OR NOT BUT IT SAYS THAT NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEARTS OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM. THAT TELLS ME THERE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DON’T KNOW THE LORD. BUT WHETHER YOU LOVE HIM OR NOT, HE STILL LOVES YOU. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. THE BIBLE SAYS GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN WOULD LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE HIS FRIEND AND GOD LOVES YOU AND HE SENT YOU HIS SON TO DIE ON A CROSS FOR YOU.
NOT ANYONE OF US CAN GET ANYTHING FROM GOD, WE CAN’T SEE THE THINGS OF GOD, WE CAN’T HEAR THE THINGS OF GOD AND WE CAN’T ACCEPT THE THINGS OF GOD WITHOUT THEIR BEING ONE FACTOR AND THAT’S THE SPIRIT OF GOD. IF YOU DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT GOD THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD IS A SPIRIT. GOD IS NOT NATURAL LIKE YOU AND I ARE. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS IS FROM ABOVE BUT WE ARE FROM BENEATH. HE SAID I AM NOT OF THIS WORLD BUT YOU ARE OF THIS WORLD. THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY THAT GOD CAN ALLOW US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO GOD AND THAT’S WHEN GOD REVEALS IT TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT. I REMEMBER THE DAY THE LORD SAVED ME AND IT WAS NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT THE PREACHER SAID OR DID, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT SONG WAS SUNG. I WAS SAVED SIMPLY BECAUSE GOD REVEALED HIS SELF TO ME THROUGH HIS SPIRIT AND LET ME KNOW I WAS LOST AND ON MY WAY TO HELL. AND BECAUSE GOD REVEALED HIMSELF TO ME, I GAVE MYSELF TO HIM. GOD IS STILL REVEALING THINGS TODAY WITH HIS SPIRIT BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS THE SPIRIT SEARCHETH ALL THINGS. YOU CANNOT GET IT WITH YOUR EYES OR YOUR EARS, NEITHER CAN IT ENTER INTO YOUR HEART BUT BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD TODAY.
I WANT TO SHARE A FEW THINGS WITH YOU ABOUT THE SPIRIT THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW.
NUMBER ONE: BORN OF THE SPIRIT. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. I’LL TELL YOU WHAT JESUS SAID IN JOHN 3:6 “THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH; AND THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT. MARVEL NOT THAT I SAID UNTO THEE, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.”
THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TODAY BECAUSE THEY’VE NEVER TAKEN PART IN BEING BORN AGAIN. JESUS SAID THAT NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME. IF YOU WANT TO GET SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THE FIRST THING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS GOD HAS TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE A MEMBER OF WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE SITTING ON THE PEW IN GODS HOUSE, IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN. YOU’VE GOT TO BE BORN AGAIN. NICODEMUS SAID, HOW CAN A MAN BE BORN AGAIN WHEN HE IS OLD? HOW CAN ENTER THE SECOND TIME INTO HIS MOTHERS WOMB AND BE BORN? GOD SAID THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH AND THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT. I’M GLAD I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BORN OF THE SPIRIT. I THOUGHT ABOUT SOMETHING SITTING AT THE PIANO. NONE OF US CAN REMEMBER THE DAY WE WERE BIRTHED INTO THIS WORLD. OUR MIND WAS TOO SMALL. MY PARENTS REMEMBER WHEN I WAS BORN AND I REMEMBER WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE BORN. IT WAS THE GREATEST THING I EVER SAW. IT WAS PRECIOUS AND IT’S PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD WHEN WE’RE BIRTHED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD. WE MAY NOT REMEMBER THE DAY WHEN WE WERE BIRTHED INTO THIS WORLD BUT YOU BETTER REMEMBER THE DAY WHEN YOU WERE BIRTHED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD. I BELIEVE IF YOU WERE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD, YOU’LL KNOW IT.
IN 2 CORINTHIANS 3:6 “WHO ALSO HATH MADE US ABLE MINISTERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT; NOT OF THE LETTER, BUT OF THE SPIRIT: FOR THE LETTER KILLETH, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVETH LIFE.”
YOU KNOW WHY A LOT OF CHRISTIANS DON’T A GOOD LIFE? THEY DON’T HAVE ANY SPIRIT ABOUT THEM. JAMES SAID THAT THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD. YOU’VE GOT TO BE BIRTHED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD, THAT’S WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A CHRISTIAN TODAY. THE CHRISTIAN YOU TURN OUT TO BE AFTER YOU GET SAVED IS UP TO YOU AND THE LORD. YOU’VE GOT TO SUBMIT AND SURRENDER YOURSELVES TO GOD. BEING BIRTHED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD TAKES ONE THING AND THAT’S BELIEVING THAT JESUS CHRIST IS REAL AND THAT HE GAVE HIS LIFE ON CALVARY AND THAT HE ROSE ON THE THIRD DAY AND ASCENDED UP INTO HEAVEN AND THAT’S HE’S COMING BACK ONE DAY TO CALL HIS CHURCH HOME. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT AND GOD REVEALS HIS SPIRIT TO YOU AND YOU ASK GOD INTO YOUR HEART....HE’LL SAVE YOU RIGHT NOW. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE PREACHER FINISHES THE SERMON. IF GOD STARTS DEALING WITH YOUR HEART, YOU GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT THEN. BEING BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS ONLY REVEALED TO THOSE BY GOD. YOU CANNOT BE A PART OF GODS FAMILY, YOU CANNOT STEP INTO GODS FAMILY, YOUR CHURCH CANNOT GET YOU INTO HEAVEN....YOU MUST BE BORN OF THE SPIRIT.
NUMBER TWO: SOWING TO YOUR SPIRIT. IN GALATIANS 6:8 “FOR HE THAT SOWETH TO HIS FLESH SHALL OF THE FLESH REAP CORRUPTION; BUT HE THAT SOWETH TO THE SPIRIT SHALL OF THE SPIRIT REAP LIFE EVERLASTING.” IF YOU’RE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO SOW TO YOUR SPIRIT. YOU SAY YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO SOW TO YOUR SPIRIT? YOU SATURATE YOUR LIFE WITH GOD. WHETHER IT BE WITH SUNDAY SCHOOL, SUNDAY MORNING AND EVENING WORSHIP, WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRAYER MEETINGS. YOU’VE GOT TO SOW TO YOUR SPIRIT BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T YOUR FLESH WILL TAKE OVER AND YOU’LL LOSE. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKING ON THINGS IN THE FLESH BUT THEIR NOT TAKING ON THINGS IN THE SPIRIT. THE SPIRIT IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN LEAD YOU DO THIS. NOW THAT I’M SAVED I WANT TO SOW TO MY SPIRIT. I DON’T WANT MY NATURAL MAN TO GROW. I WANT MY SPIRITUAL MAN TO GROW. I WANT THE OUTWARD MAN TO GO DOWN AND THE INWARD MAN TO COME UP. I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS. WE COULD QUIT GOING TO CHURCH RIGHT NOW AND BE OUT OF CHURCH FOR 6 MONTHS BUT WE WOULDN’T BE THE SAME CHRISTIAN WHEN WE CAME BACK TO CHURCH. YOU’D STILL BE SAVED BUT YOU WOULD BE MORE FLESH THAN SPIRIT. YOU CAN’T LEAD OTHERS TO CHRIST BY BEING IN THE FLESH. YOUR LIFE HAS TO REFLECT CHRIST.
I LIKE THE STORY A PREACHER TOLD ME ABOUT TWO DOGS. ONE WAS WHITE AND THE OTHER WAS BLACK. THEY WERE ALWAYS FIGHTING. THAT BLACK DOG WOULD BEAT THAT WHITE DOG EVERY TIME. HE WOULDN’T EVEN LET THE WHITE DOG EAT. BUT ONE DAY HE TOOK THE BLACK DOG AND CHAINED HIM UP BUT HE LET THE WHITE DOG GO FREE. HE’D SET THE FOOD OUT RIGHT WHERE THE BLACK DOG WOULD COME UP ON THE CHAIN AND GET AS CLOSE AS HE COULD GET. HE COULD SEE THE FOOD, HE COULD SMELL THE FOOD BUT HE COULDN’T QUITE REACH THE FOOD. THAT OLD WHITE DOG WAS STILL AFRAID TO GO EAT BECAUSE HE COULD SEE THE BLACK DOG. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE WHITE DOG WOULD GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THAT FOOD UNTIL ONE DAY HE MADE IT THERE AND ATE THE FOOD. THE BLACK DOG COULD JUST STAND THERE AND WATCH HIM BECAUSE HE WAS CHAINED UP. THAT’S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE HAVE TO CHAIN UP OUR FLESH SO OUR SPIRITUAL SELF CAN BE FED BY THE WORD AND THE LOVE OF GOD. THERE’S TOO MANY RIDICULOUS CHRISTIANS LIVING IN THE WORLD TODAY LIVING LIKE THE DEVIL. WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD BUT IF WE KNOW TO DO GOOD AND DO IT NOT THE BIBLE SAYS TO HIM IT IS SIN. WE’RE SUPPOSED TO LIVE THE BEST THAT WE CAN. WE CAN DO THAT BY SOWING TO THE SPIRIT. YOU KNOW WHAT THE DEVIL TOLD THE LORD JESUS? HE TEMPTED JESUS AND TOOK HIM UP ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP AND SHOWED JESUS ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD. HE SAID ALL THESE THINGS WILL I GIVE YOU, IF YOU’LL FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME. JESUS REPLIED, THOU SHALT NOT TEMPT THE LORD THY GOD. CAN YOU BELIEVE THE DEVIL WAS TRYING TO TEMPT THE LORD? HE CAN TEMPT US BUT HE CANNOT TEMPT THE SPIRITUAL MAN. THE MORE WE’RE LIKE GOD, THE MORE WE LOVE GOD. THE MORE WE LIVE LIKE GOD THE LESS SATAN CAN HAVE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. I READ THIS IN TIMOTHY , MANY HAVE ALREADY TURNED ASIDE AFTER SATAN. ONE THING THAT HELPS ME SOW TO MY SPIRIT IS PRAYING.
NUMBER THREE: WE MUST BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. EPHESIANS 5:17-18 “WHEREFORE BE YE NOT UNWISE, BUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS. AND BE NOT DRUNK WITH WINE, WHEREIN IS EXCESS: BUT BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.”
WHEN YOU’RE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT IT WILL ROLL OVER FROM YOU INTO SOMEBODY ELSE. SOMEBODY ASKED A WRITER WHAT THEY THOUGHT THE WORD MINISTER MEANT AND HE SAID: AN OVERFLOWING OF THE GOSPEL FROM YOU TO SOMEONE ELSE. THAT’S WHAT BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT IS. THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS OUT THERE THAT ACT LIKE THEIR NOT EVEN IN THE SPIRIT. THEIR MAKING UP THEIR OWN MINDS ABOUT THINGS. HOW THEY WANT THE CHURCH RUN OR DON’T WANT IT RUN. GET YOUR MIND RIGHT WITH GOD AND GOD WILL RUN THE CHURCH. WE SPEND SO MUCH OF OUR TIME TRYING TO FIGURE GOD OUT. WE’LL NEVER FIGURE GOD OUT. BUT HE’S GOT US FIGURED OUT. WE NEED TO BE FILLED SO MUCH WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT WHEN WE’RE AROUND OTHER PEOPLE, THEY’LL KNOW THEIRS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT US. BEING A MEMBER OF WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH WILL NOT MAKE YOU LIKE THAT. BEING FILLED WITH SPIRIT OF GOD WILL. I THANK GOD FOR YOU CHRISTIANS HERE THAT NOT ONLY LIVE YOUR LIFE LIKE A CHRISTIAN ON SUNDAY BUT EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. I GO TO ONE MEMBERS HOUSE PER WEEK AND I CAN SEE HOW YOU LIVE, I CALL YOU ON THE PHONE AND HAVE LUNCH WITH YOU. SOME OF YOU ARE THE SAME CHRISTIAN TODAY AS YOU WERE YESTERDAY. YOU’LL WITNESS TO PEOPLE ON THE JOB, THEY PRAY WITH PEOPLE. THAT’S THE KIND OF CHRISTIANS I LIKE TO BE AROUND. IF I’M NOT SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH YOU IT’S BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAVE YOUR HEART RIGHT WITH GOD. I LIKE TO BE AROUND CHRISTIANS THAT WILL LIFT ME UP SPIRITUALLY AND NOT BRING ME DOWN. WE NEED TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM.
NUMBER FOUR: WE NEED TO LIVE IN THE SPIRIT. 1 PETER 4:6 “FOR THIS CAUSE WAS THE GOSPEL PREACHED ALSO TO THEM THAT ARE DEAD, THAT THEY MIGHT BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO MEN IN THE FLESH, BUT LIVE ACCORDING TO GOD IN THE SPIRIT.”
THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE DECISIONS EVERYDAY AND THEY NEVER CHECK WITH GOD TO SEE WHAT GOD WANTS. IF YOU’RE LIVING A CHRISTIAN LIFE, IT’S NOT JUST ON SUNDAYS. TOO MANY CHRISTIANS GO HOME FROM CHURCH ON SUNDAYS AND TAKE OFF THESE CHURCH CLOTHES. A LOT OF YOU NOT ONLY TAKE OFF YOUR CHURCH CLOTHES, YOU TAKE OFF YOUR SPIRITUAL CLOTHES AND THEY DON’T PUT THEM BACK ON TILL THE NEXT SUNDAY. IF YOU’RE A CHILD OF GOD YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO LIVE IN THE SPIRIT. SOME PEOPLE NEVER PICK UP THEIR BIBLE DURING THE WEEK; YOU EVEN LEAVE YOUR BIBLES ON THE PEWS WHEN YOU LEAVE CHURCH, THEY NEVER PRAY, THEY NEVER WITNESS, THEY NEVER COME TO CHURCH FUNCTIONS THAT INVOLVE WORK, THEY NEVER WITNESS SOMEBODY ELSE, THEY NEVER CALL THE SICK. YOU’RE NOT SERVING A PART TIME GOD BUT A FULL TIME GOD. IF GODS FULL TIME, WE OUGHT TO BE. I’M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO PERFORM SOME SPIRITUAL ACROBAT. I’M JUST SAYING YOU HAVE TO LIVE FOR CHRIST. YOU CAN LIVE FOR CHRIST BY LIVING IN THE SPIRIT. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT AREN’T AND I’M CONCERNED ABOUT THEM. IF YOU’RE NOT LIVING IN THE SPIRIT, HOW’S GOD GOING TO LEAD YOU.
NUMBER FIVE: WE NEED TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT. ROMANS 8:14 “FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD.” IF WE’RE GOING TO LIVE IN THE SPIRIT WE MUST ALSO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT. THE SPIRIT LEADS US INTO WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO AND NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO. THE BIBLE SAYS BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO IS LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. IS THE SPIRIT LEADING YOU TODAY OR DO YOU JUST MAKE UP YOUR MIND WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO? YOU KNOW WHY GOD CALLS US SHEEP? BECAUSE SHEEP HAVE TO BE LED. THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE SHEPHERD. YOU KNOW WHO OUR SHEPHERD IS? IT’S NOT TERRY VAUGHAN, IT’S THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE SAID I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. HE SAID MY SHEEP KNOW MY VOICE AND THEY FOLLOW ME. WE FOLLOW HIM BY BEING LED OF THE SPIRIT.
LIVING A CHRISTIAN LIFE YOU’RE GOING TO FIND THIS OUT. IT’S RIGHT THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE WORLD WOULD EXPECT OF YOU. WHEN YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, YOU’RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BECAUSE THEIR DOING WORLDLY THINGS. THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD WILL NOT LAST. THE THINGS THEY ENJOY IN THIS LIFE WILL PASS AWAY BUT THE THINGS WE ENJOY WILL NOT. THERE’S ONE LIFE STYLE HERE AND IT’S IN THE NATURAL SPHERE OF THIS WORLD. BUT THERE’S A LIFE WE LIVE THAT’S IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. THAT’S BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. COMPARE YOUR LIFE TO GODS ETERNITY. A LOT OF TIMES WE COMPARE OUR LIVES TO THE FIFTY OR SEVENTY YEARS THAT WE ARE HERE. TO OUR FAMILY AND OUR WORLDLY GOODS, OUR FRIENDS. BUT WHEN WE START COMPARING OUR LIVES TO ETERNITY A LOT OF THE THINGS IN THIS LIFE LOOK PITIFUL. THANK GOD IF YOU’VE BEEN SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO ONE DAY AFTER AWHILE. THE ONLY REASON WHY WE’RE HERE IS TO PERFORM THINGS THAT JESUS HAS US TO DO. WE MUST BE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
JOYCE TALKED ABOUT IT ONE TIME: ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING UP SINGING THAT WERE’NT LED BY THE SPIRIT. A LOT OF PEOPLE DO THAT. YOU CAN TELL WHEN A SONG IS LED BY THE SPIRIT. IF GOD DON’T LEAD YOU TO DO SOMETHING, YOU BETTER NOT DO IT. YOU COULD BRING BAD RESULTS IN PEOPLES LIVES WITHOUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
NUMBER SIX: WE MUST SERVE GOD WITH THE SPIRIT. ROMANS 1:9 “FOR GOD IS MY WITNESS, WHOM I SERVE WITH MY SPIRIT IN THE GOSPEL OF HIS SON, THAT WITHOUT CEASING I MAKE MENTION OF YOU ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS.”
YOU CAN’T SERVE GOD IN YOUR FLESH. IF YOU’RE TRYING TO SERVE GOD IN YOUR FLESH, YOU’RE NOT SAVED ANYWAY. THE BIBLE SAYS YOU MUST SERVE GOD IN THE SPIRIT. SERVING GOD IN THE SPIRIT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLES LIVES AND IN OUR LIVES. TO SERVE GOD IN THE SPIRIT MEANS IT’S ALSO BEYOND THE DOORS OF WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH. I’VE MADE UP MY MIND THAT I’M NOT GOING TO WAIT ON ANYBODY TO DO SOMETHING. IF GOD TELLS ME TO DO SOMETHING AND YOU DON’T SHOW UP, I’M GOING ANYWAY. I’M NOT GOING TO MISS OUT ON A BLESSING BECAUSE YOU WANT TO. THE MORE YOU READ AND STUDY THE WORD OF GOD AND THE MORE YOU PRAY THE MORE GOD WILL REVEAL HIS SPIRIT TO YOU. THINK ABOUT THESE CHRISTIANS THAT NEVER PICK UP THEIR BIBLE DURING THE WEEK, THEY NEVER PRAY, THEY NEVER CALL ANYBODY OR WITNESS TO ANYBODY; WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIANS DO YOU THINK THEY ARE? THEIR CHRISTIANS IN BAD SHAPE, IF THEIR CHRISTIANS AT ALL. THE BIBLE SAYS BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED. I’VE GOT A HUNGER AND DESIRE FOR IT WHETHER YOU DO OR NOT.
NUMBER SEVEN: WE MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. JOHN 4:24 “GOD IS A SPIRIT: AND THEY THAT WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.”
I GET SICK AND TIRED OF CHRISTIANS TRYING TO WORSHIP GOD IN THE FLESH. HOW CAN YOU DO THAT WHEN YOU’RE NEVER GAINING GROUND? SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN CHRISTIANS FOR YEARS AND YOU REMEMBER YEARS AGO WHEN AN ALTAR CALL WAS GIVEN PEOPLE WOULD JUMP UP AND RUN TO THE ALTAR. THEY’D KNOCK PEOPLE DOWN TO GET THERE. THEY’D POUR THEIR HEARTS OUT. THEY DIDN’T CARE WHAT THEY WERE WEARING OR WHO HEARD THEM. IT WASN’T WHAT THEY WERE SAYING WITH THEIR MOUTHS BUT WHAT THEY WERE FEELING IN THEIR HEARTS THAT BLESSED ME. YOU CAN’T EVEN HARDLY GET CHRISTIANS TO GO TO AN ALTAR AND ASK GOD TO SAVE THEIR CHILDREN. TOO MANY CHRISTIANS ARE READY TO GO EAT LUNCH OR TAKE A NAP. THE DEVIL HAS YOU RIGHT WHERE HE WANTS YOU. HE’S CONTROLLING YOUR LIFE AND YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW IT. THE BIBLE SAYS THE DEVIL IS LIKE A ROARING LION WALKING ABOUT SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR. HE WALKING TO AND FRO AND HE’S CONTROLLING CHRISTIANS LIVES. YOU SPEND YOUR WEEK WATCHING FILTHY TELEVISION PROGRAMS, LISTENING TO NASTY RAP SONGS, AND READING TRASHY NOVELS INSTEAD OF FILLING YOUR LIFE WITH SPIRITUAL THINGS AND THE DEVIL HAS YOU RIGHT WHERE HE WANTS YOU AND YOU’RE TOO BLIND TO SEE IT. DRAW NIGH TO GOD AND HE’LL DRAW NIGH TO YOU.
I’M GOING TO SHARE A COUPLE OF MORE SCRIPTURES WITH YOU AND I’LL COME TO A CLOSE. THE PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF CHRISTIANS TODAY IS THEY DON’T NEED GOD. THEY ONLY WANT HIM WHEN THINGS GO WRONG IN THEIR LIVES. WHEN THINGS ARE GOING RIGHT THEY DON’T WANT ANY PART OF HIM. THEY STARTED ALL THIS TERRORIST STUFF ON SEPTEMBER 11 AND ATTENDANCE WENT UP IN EVERY CHURCH ACROSS AMERICA. IF YOU DEPEND ON GOD THROUGH THE BAD TIMES, YOU OUGHT TO DEPEND ON GOD THROUGH THE GOOD TIMES. IF YOU THINK THOSE TWO AIRPLANES THAT HIT THOSE BUILDINGS WERE SCAREY, WAIT TILL YOU FACE THE WRATH OF GOD. THEN YOU CAN BE SCARED. THE BIBLE SAYS THE FIRE WILL FALL FROM HEAVEN LIKE BRIMSTONE FOR THOSE THAT ARE LOST AND UNDONE WITHOUT GOD. IF YOU’RE HERE TODAY AND YOU’RE LOST, YOU’VE GOT SOMETHING TO BE SCARED ABOUT.
ROMANS 8:5 “FOR THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE FLESH DO MIND THE THINGS OF THE FLESH; BUT THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE SPIRIT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT.”
ROMANS 8:10 “AND IF CHRIST BE IN YOU, THE BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN; BUT THE SPIRIT IS LIFE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
ROMANS 8:8 “SO THEN THEY THAT ARE IN THE FLESH, CANNOT PLEASE GOD.”
LET US PRAY: THANK YOU LORD FOR TEACHING ME ABOUT THE SPIRIT. I PRAY LORD THAT BEING A CHRISTIAN YOU WILL LEAD, GUIDE AND DIRECT MY PATH AND SHOW ME LORD WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ME TO DO FOR YOU. I PRAY LORD THAT I WOULD SET THIS NATURAL FLESHLY MAN ASIDE AND FOLLOW AFTER YOU AND DO WHAT IS PLEASING IN YOUR EYES. I PRAY THAT MY LIFE WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE TO THOSE THAT ARE LOST THAT THEY WOULD SEE SOMETHING SPECIAL IN ME AND WOULD GIVE THEM THE DESIRE TO WANT TO HAVE WHAT I HAVE. HELP ME LORD TO RISE IN THE MORNING AND PRAY, HELP ME TO OPEN MY BIBLE AND READ YOUR WORD AND STUDY YOUR WORD AND WHEN I GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT LET ME ALSO NOT FORGET ABOUT YOU. LET MY DAYS BE FILLED AND BE LED OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY. AMEN.
