The Promise Of The Father

THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER

NBCOG 2/28/10 AM

TEXT

LUKE 3:16

INTRODUCTION

*THE GOSPEL OF JOHN RECORDS SOME CONVERSATIONS THAT JESUS HAD WITH THE DISCIPLES CONCERNING HIS LEAVING THE EARTH AND RETURNING TO HEAVEN.

*THEY DIDN’T UNDERSTAND IT

AND DIDN’T LIKE IT.

*BUT, JESUS LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ALONE.

*IN FACT, IT WAS TO THEIR BENEFIT

AND OURS THAT HE LEAVE.

*BECAUSE AS LONG AS HE WAS IN AN EARTHLY BODY,

REDEMPTION’S PLAN COULD NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED AND APPLIED.

*AND WHILE JESUS WAS IN A BODY,

HE WAS LIMITED TO WHERE HE COULD BE.

*BUT THE COMFORTER,

THE HOLY GHOST,

WHOM THE FATHER WOULD SEND WOULD NOT ONLY BE WITH THEM,

BUT ALSO BE IN THEM.

*JESUS, AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, LEAVES THEM THESE INSTRUCTIONS: ACTS 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me.

TEXT

LUKE 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

I. WHO IS THE HOLY GHOST?

1. WELL, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD HIM CALLED THE HOLY SPIRIT.

OR THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

OR THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND TRUTH.

OR THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD.

AND HE HAS MANY MORE NAMES THAN THAT.

2. BUT, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS INDEED VERY MUCH GOD.

3. JUST AS YOU ARE A TRI-PART BEING; BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT;

GOD IS A TRI-PART BEING;

BODY SOUL AND SPIRIT.

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT LESS THAN THE FATHER

OR THE SON.

5. IN FACT THEY ARE ALL CO-EQUAL;

CO-EXISTENT;

AND CO-ETERNAL.

6. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE POWER OF GOD AT WORK IN OUR LIVES

AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.

7. HE IS TO TEACH US;

TO EMPOWER US;

TO INDWELL US;

TO LEAD US;

TO SANCTIFY US;

TO CONVICT US.

8. HE IS OUR DOWN PAYMENT GUARANTEEING US HEAVEN.

9. HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL PRESENT US FAULTLESS BEFORE THE FATHER.

10. HE IS THE ONE WHO LIFTS UP JESUS

AND MAKES HIM KNOWN.

11. LET’S CLEAR UP ONE MISCONCEPTION: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT THE SERVANT TO THE BODY OF CHRIST.

12. HE IS THE LEADER.

13. HE IS THE DIRECTOR.

14. HE IS THE TEACHER AND PAUL MAKES IT QUITE CLEAR, HE IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF WHAT GOES ON IN THE BODY.

II. YET, HE IS OFTEN THE MOST IGNORED AND MISUNDERSTOOD PERSON OF THE TRINITY.

1. UNDERSTAND, HE IS NOT AN “IT”, OR A “THING”.

2. HE IS NOT A “POWER” OR “FORCE“.

3. HE IS GOD EMPOWERING AND DWELLING IN THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS.

4. AND IF WE TOOK THE TIME TO LOOK,

WE WOULD SEE WHERE THE HOLY GHOST IS WORKING EVERYDAY IN OUR LIVES.

5. THOSE THINGS THAT WE CALL COINCIDENCES THAT WORK OUT FOR OUR GOOD,

ARE ACTUALLY THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKING ON OUR BEHALF.

6. THE UNSETTLING FEELING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IS THE HOLY GHOST CALLING US TO PRAYER.

7. THAT PERSON WHO YOU CAN’T GET OFF OF YOUR MIND IS THE HOLY GHOST TELLING YOU TO PRAY FOR THEM,

CALL THEM,

STOP BY AND SEE THEM,

SEND THEM A CARD

AND ENCOURAGE THEM.

8. THAT FEELING OF CONVICTION WE GET WHEN WE SIN OR ARE ABOUT TO SIN,

IS THE HOLY GHOST CONVICTING US TO KEEP US SPOTLESS AND BLAMELESS.

9. HE IS PRECIOUS

AND HE IS VITAL TO OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.

10. AND INSTEAD OF IGNORING HIM,

INVITE HIM TO REVEAL JESUS TO YOU MORE AND MORE.

11. INVITE HIM INTO THE CAR WITH YOU.

12. INVITE HIM ON THE JOB TO BE WITH YOU.

13. HERE’S AN IDEA:

INVITE HIM INTO YOUR MARRIAGE.

14. HERE’S ANOTHER IDEA:

INVITE HIM INTO THE CHURCH SERVICE.

15. IT’S NOT THAT HE ISN’T ALREADY THERE.

16. BUT, THE HOLY GHOST IS A GENTLEMAN.

17. HE’S NOT JUST GOING TO BUST INTO EVERY SITUATION IN YOUR LIFE WITH A SHOUT AND A DANCE.

18. YOU NEED TO WELCOME HIM INTO YOUR LIFE.

19. YOU CAN ASK HIM TO HELP YOU

AND SHOW YOU WHAT TO DO.

20. YOU CAN PRAY TO HIM BECAUSE HE IS GOD.

21. YOU CAN PRAISE HIM

AND WORSHIP HIM BECAUSE HE IS GOD.

22. PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW.

PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW.

PRAISE HIM ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS.

PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN!

III. ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST,

THE HOLY GHOST WHO WAS ACTIVE IN OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS LIVES,

AND EVERYTHING ON THE EARTH,

WAS NOW INHABITING THE DISCIPLES AND THOSE GATHERED IN THE UPPER ROOM.