The Wonderful Work Of God's Holy Spirit Series

*Dr. John R. Rice was a great Baptist pastor and preacher. And after being saved for many years he was asked if he had gotten to the place where he no longer sinned. Dr. Rice replied, 'No, but I've gotten to the place where I can't enjoy it!'" (4)

*True Christians will not be content with known sin in our lives, because God's Spirit brings us under conviction.

2. AND WHEN LOST PEOPLE RESPOND TO HIS CONVICTION, THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

*When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior God's Spirit makes us part of the family of God. Think about how you become part of a family. Basically, there are only 3 ways: Marriage, birth and adoption. God uses a spiritual version of all three to make us a part of His family.

[1] FIRST: MARRIAGE.

*Most of us know that the Bible calls Jesus the Bridegroom, and God's Church is the Bride of Christ. There are at least 7 or 8 key passages that talk about this truth.

*For example, in John 3:25-31:

25. . . There arose a dispute between some of John (the Baptist's) disciples and the Jews about purification.

26. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!''

27. John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

28. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.'

29. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

30. He must increase, but I must decrease."

*Then in Ephesians 5:22-33, God gives us His wonderful plan for marriage, and it is based on God's plan for Jesus and His Church. Listen to part of what Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:

25. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it,

26. that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27. that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

29. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

30. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

31. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.''

32. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

*Also, in Revelation 19:5-9, the Apostle John wrote:

5. Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!''

6. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!