Power to Live the Christian Life

Galatians 5, 16-26, before we hear the preaching of God's word. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

! For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious. Sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, and witchcraft.

Hatred, discord, jealousies, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy. Drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Against such things, there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Well, it's springtime, and springtime is that time of the year where we're reminded why it is that we endure the harsh winters to live in northern Indiana.

It's a beautiful time. It's a time when no one's grass is greener than anyone else's. And a time when April showers are bringing May flowers, and the whole of creation is exploding in color and blossom.

Now, it's not like that in the desert. I was flying into Phoenix for an association meeting one evening, and I looked out the window of the airplane, and I saw what seemed to be streams of fire.

What I was looking at was the red evening sun reflecting off of streams of water. And I later learned that what I saw was part of the Salt River Project, a whole series of concrete irrigation canals stretching hundreds of miles, bringing fresh water down from the White Mountains into the barren Phoenix Mesa area.

In that desert climate, there would be no green grass covering the yards. Most yards are stones, I learned.

But here and there, there are little green grass yards, and there are golf courses, and they're lush, green. But it's only because of the water that's brought in to irrigate it.

So wherever you see life, you know that water is there. And wherever you see genuine spiritual life, you know that the Holy Spirit is there.

The Holy Spirit. He's the streams of living water that Jesus spoke of that would flow from within a man in John chapter 7. The Holy Spirit is the one who brings the life of God down into the soul of man.

Now, apart from the Holy Spirit, our lives would be as spiritually barren as a desert. The Holy Spirit is like streams in the desert.

Making the desert to blossom like a rose. Now, we're coming this morning to another message, another basic truth of the Christian life.

And it's simply this, that the Christian life is impossible without the Holy Spirit. Absolutely impossible. In listening to testimonies of folks as they come to be baptized or join the church, something that I've noticed with some reoccurring familiarity is that one of the things that has been a discouragement and has kept people from coming to Christ to save them is that they have heard or they have read about the Christian life and they've observed and they've seen what it requires.

And they see that and maybe they've made some attempts at it and they say, I could never live the Christian life. Well, of course you couldn't.

That's why God sends his Holy Spirit into the hearts of his people. Because he knows we cannot live the Christian life apart from his own Holy Spirit.

It takes the Holy Spirit to live a holy life. A godly life is only found where God lives by his Spirit.

Indeed, the perfect man, Jesus, the only one to have ever lived a perfectly godly life, lived it by dependence upon the same Spirit of God that is given to you and me who are in Christ.

And the Christian life is sold short when we say it's something easy. Oh, it's really nothing much. Isn't that what is often being preached today? The easy gospel of Christianity.

Oh, it's easy. That's false advertising. It's not so. The Christian life in all of its parts is a supernatural life.

It can only be lived if you have supernatural resources to do so. It's that hard. For instance, try denying yourself, taking up your cross daily and following Jesus wherever he leads you.

Praying. Witnessing. Loving God and obeying his commandments. Profiting from scripture reading.

Worship. Killing sin. Living at peace with all men. Loving your wife. Submitting to your husband.

Obeying your parents. Bringing up your children. In the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Working your job as to the Lord.

Winning the spiritual battle against the devil. Loving your neighbor as you love yourself. Loving your enemy. Controlling your tongue.

Controlling your anger. Controlling every other emotion. In your life. Rejoicing in trials. Persevering. Faithful.

To the end. We could go on and on. If you're finding these things to be difficult, the Bible says you're wrong. They're not only difficult, they're impossible. Apart from the power of the Holy Spirit.

In your life. It's not by your might. Nor by your power. But by my spirit. Says the Lord. And even we Christians can drift from this truth.

And come to forget it. And talk like. And act like. It isn't so. No. The Christian life is impossible. Without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not given to make the Christian life easier.

He's given to make the Christian life even possible. To make it a reality. Which otherwise it would never be. With you.

With me. Desert like. Sinners. That we are. Without him. Forget it. It's like trying to drive a car without fuel.

Without a source of power. It's only with the Holy Spirit. That the Christian life can be lived. So this morning. We're going to consider. How it is that the Holy Spirit.

Helps us live the Christian life. That's the first. Major section. Now there's so much. About the Holy Spirit. That we're just going to have to pass over. Without even speaking about. We'll just look at three points.

Of how the Holy Spirit. Helps us to live the Christian life. Then we'll look at some of our own. Responsibilities. To him. And just to remind us. As we begin. The Holy Spirit is God.

God. He's the third person of the Trinity. That means he is. Infinite. Eternal. And unchangeable. He didn't have his beginning.

At the day of Pentecost. He is called the eternal spirit. In Hebrews 9. 14. He is God. He is a person.

He's not just an impersonal force. Or power. A thing. An influence. Influence. No. He's as much a person. As. Jesus Christ.

He doesn't have a body. But he has emotions. He can be grieved. And so we ought to speak. Of him. Not as it.

But as him. And he. So the Holy Spirit. Is our subject. Our basic.

Truth. That we're looking at this morning. Number one. The Holy Spirit. Indwells every believer. At conversion. Well you see. If the Christian life. From beginning to end.

Is lived by the power. Of the Holy Spirit. And if we can't do. The first thing. Much less. The hundredth thing. In the Christian life.

Then we understand. Why it is. That. The Holy Spirit. Is given. Right up front. To every believer. At conversion. The new birth itself.

Is called what? In John 3. It's called being born. Of. The Spirit. Born by the Spirit. So. The. The Christian life. Begins.

With the Holy Spirit. Giving birth to you. It's his work. To make spiritually. Dead men. Alive. In Christ. Christ. It's the Holy Spirit. Who made us alive.

With Christ. When we were dead. In trespasses. And sins. Jesus says. The Spirit. Gives life. And he does that. Initially. And continually.

The Christian life. Begins. When a sinner. Is born of the Spirit. And the Christian life. Continues. By that same. Holy Spirit. Working in him. To the very end. Of his life.

And since. Christ. Has been raised. And glorified. And his Spirit. Has been given. To the church. In the book of Acts. There is no such thing. As a Christian.

Who doesn't have. The Holy Spirit. Romans. Chapter 8. And verse 9. You however. Are controlled. Not by the sinful nature.

But by the Spirit. If the Spirit. Of God. Lives in you. And. If anyone. Does not have. The Spirit. Of Christ. He does not belong.

To Christ. If you belong. To Jesus Christ. This morning. Then the Spirit. Of God. And the Spirit. Of Christ.

Live. In you. Everyone. Who believes. Receives. The Holy Spirit. In receiving. Christ. By faith. You receive.

The Holy Spirit. We've all. Been. Given. The Spirit. To drink. At conversion. Now the Holy Spirit.

Does. Does not do his work. From a distance. Does he? Some of you. Work in one place. I mean. That's. That's where your work is done.

And yet you stay at home. And you work from home. And you work from a distance. The Holy Spirit. Doesn't do his work. In that way. He. He comes. And lives. In us. He takes up.

His residence. Right within. Our. Very. Hearts. He comes. To make your heart. His home. He's God's. On-site. Agent.

For help. Now if. The Holy Spirit. Lives within. Then that means. That there's nothing. That happens. In your life. And heart. That he's not involved with.

Well that's meant. To encourage you. He's not off somewhere else. He's. He's right there. In the thick of it. With you. He's that ever present.

Help. In trouble. In distress. Not near. Not far off. But near. Living. In you. You're not on your own.

As you stand before the trials of life. Or as you stand before the commandments of God. He's there to help. He's there to strengthen. You have the third person of the Trinity.

As your indwelling helper. That advocate. That paraclete. That another counselor. Another helper. That Jesus promised. That he would send.

When he ascended. On high. So that's the first thing. Every believer. The Holy Spirit indwells. Every believer. At conversion. The second thing. Is that the Holy Spirit. Is given to empower.

And equip us. For living a holy life. The Holy Spirit enables you. To do what left to yourself. You never would do. Or could do.

He enables you to do. What you should do. So the Lord Jesus. You remember. Gave his disciples. A commandment. To take the gospel. The message of salvation.

Into all the world. To say to everyone. That Jesus Christ. Came and.

And lived. And died. And rose again. And descended. On high. And he commands. Every one of you. To repent. Of your sins. And to believe. On him. For eternal life.

And you will be forgiven. You will be saved. Now. That was a daunting task. It was a thing. To make them. Fearful. Because. That message.

Is offensive. To the human heart. It says. You don't have. What it takes. To get into heaven. You're too sinful. You could never make it. Jesus is the only way.

Well. We're to take that message. To a proud. Self-reliant. People. Of all nations. And so. What did. Jesus tell.

His disciples. When he gave them that command. Well. I'm going to send you. What my father has promised. But stay in the city. Until you've been clothed. With power. From on high.

Clothed. With power. From on high. And you will receive power. When the Holy Spirit. Comes on you. And you will be my witnesses. In Jerusalem. In all Judea.

And Samaria. And to the ends of the earth. So on the day of Pentecost. The Lord Jesus. Gave to his church. The Holy Spirit. To empower them. To empower them. For witness.

Exalted. To the right hand of God. Jesus has received. From the Father. The promised Holy Spirit. And has poured out. What we read of. In Acts chapter 2.

He's poured out. His Holy Spirit. Upon his church. And boy. Did. That empower Peter. See how. Peter. Who just. A few weeks earlier.

Had denied. That he even knew Jesus. See how he's preaching. Christ now. Right in the face of. Guilty. Jerusalem sinners. That crucified Jesus. And.

And listen to the other. Hundred and twenty. As they testify. Boldly. As to the great works of God. In all the different languages. Of the world. And see it in the rest.

Of the book of Acts. And throughout church history. The gospel. Preached. Boldly. Empowered. By the Holy Spirit. Now. That's just one area. Of Christian living. That the Holy Spirit.

Is given. To equip. And empower us for. We stand in need. Of divine power. Not only for witnessing. But for every other. Aspect. Of living the Christian life.

And it's the Holy Spirit. Who empowers. The supernatural life. To which we're called. Now that's what was promised. In the new covenant. Back in Ezekiel. Chapter 36.

God. Throughout the prophets. Was announcing. That he was going to. Send his son. He was going to send. A messiah. And he's going to make. A new covenant.

And in Ezekiel 36. 26. And 27. Notice how the Holy Spirit. Figures into the new covenant. That he would make. This new arrangement. With his people. I will give you a new heart.

Verse 26. And I'll put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you. Your heart of stone. And give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit in you.

And move you to follow my decrees. And be careful to keep my laws. You know by nature. I don't want to keep God's laws. That's the dirty rotten secret.

About John Heaney. By nature. I don't want to keep God's laws. And it's true of every one of you here. So how is it that we live the Christian life? God says.

Well I'll put my spirit in you. And he will work such a moral transformation. That it's like a heart transplant. I take out your old heart. That's hard as stone. And I put in a fleshy soft.

Pliable heart. And my spirit living in you. Will move you. To keep my decrees. And my spirit living in you. Will so work on you.

That you will be careful to obey my commands. You see. God's answer to my.

Allergic reaction to his law. I don't want to keep. Is not to change his laws. And to give me laws that I like keeping. No his answer is to change me. By the power of the spirit.

So that I'll want to keep them. And will be very careful to keep them. Now that's the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In all God's people. In the new covenant.

Every one of them will have this heart transplant. So Paul. Why are you preaching Christ. When before you tried to kill anyone. Who named his name. Well he sent his.

Spirit into my heart. And I'm a different man. Now I. I love Jesus Christ. And I want to proclaim his gospel. And there's a whole lot of.

Commands that every believer. Is doing. For the same reason that. God the spirit. Now lives in them. And is moving them. And making them.

Want to keep. God's commands. There are things that you never would do. That you're doing. Some of you would never be in church. Others be religious.

Fine. But you would never come to church. But God. Came and. Took up his residence in you. And you're here. Some of you would. Would go. Gone online. Forever. But the Holy Spirit.

Lives in you. And. He's taught you to. Reverence. The truth. And. So you now speak the truth. All because the spirit has come.

And taken up residence. What Jeremiah promised. Has happened. In Jeremiah 31. 33. That new covenant promise. I will put my law. In their mind. And write it on their hearts.

That's part of this. This process. That the Holy Spirit does. He takes the law of God. And he writes it on our hearts. And our minds. So instead of just being written on. Tablets of stone.

It's now written on the fleshy tablets. Of human hearts. Hearts. That now. Are made wanting. Written on our desires. Our affections. So that we. Not only have the command of God.

Coming to us. Saying you shall not. There's something in our hearts now. That says. I don't want to do that anymore. And God's commands that say. You shall. I never wanted to do that.

But now there's something on my fleshy tablet. Of the heart. That says. I want to do. What he commands me to do. It's the spirit of God. Living. Within. Moving us.

To do what he commands. Paul. Tells us the problem we all have. In Romans 8. 7 and 8. He says. The sinful mind is hostile to God.

It does not submit to God's law. That's the secret I told you about. Paul tells it to us. In Romans 8. 7. That's the sinful mind.

That we were born with. That's the heart. The human condition. We do not submit to God's law. We'll not put ourselves under it. We've all gone our own way. Not God's way. And we do not submit to God's law.

Neither indeed can we. We don't have the ability to submit to it. Those controlled by the sinful nature.

Cannot please God. You however. Are controlled. Not by the sinful nature. But by the spirit. And under the control of the almighty spirit of God.

We now want to submit ourselves to God's law. And we put ourselves under. And we say. What would you have me to do Lord? Lord. It's the work of the spirit.

For if you live according to the sinful nature. You will die. But if by the spirit. You put to death the misdeeds of the body. You will live. Because those. Who are led by the spirit of God.

Are sons of God. And where does the spirit of God lead them? He leads them into sin killing paths. Paths of righteousness. That's what Paul is saying in Romans 8. The spirit. Leading.

Controlling. Teaching us to do things that we have never. Otherwise would have done. He writes to the Philippians in chapter 2 and verse 13.

And he says it's the spirit's work to make us willing. And able to do. What he commands. For it's God who works in you. To will. And to act.

According to his good pleasure. So the Holy Spirit's doing two things. And thankfully so. He's working in me both to will. And to act. I have a two-fold need.

I need first of all. To want. To do what God wants me to do. Because by nature I don't have that desire. But the spirit of God works in us by his spirit.

So that we want to do. We are willing to do. But as you know. Willing is not doing. That's not enough. Just to be willing to do something.

It's another thing altogether. To carry through. And to actually do it. And so the spirit of God is at work. Both to will. And to act. According to God's good pleasure.

This is the work of the spirit in us. He's equipping us with everything good for doing his will. He the mighty God indwells us. His to strengthen. Help.

In power. The very same spirit of God. That hovered over the creation in the beginning. That formless mass. And he worked order and beauty into it.

That spirit lives in you believer. To take the chaotic disordered mess of your life. And to work it. And to bring it into order. Into beauty.

And into the likeness of Jesus Christ. The spirit. Empowering. Equipping us. To live. The Christian life. You see.

Your heart is like the desert. And there's nothing. Beautiful. Blossoming there. But then the Holy Spirit. Is like the water. Irrigation. Bringing life.

Right into your desert. With his grace. And power. Enabling you to bring forth what? The fruit of the spirit. It. So instead of all those ugly things.

The fruit of the sinful nature. That Pastor Jason read. We now have those beautiful fruits. In our lives. Like love. And joy. And peace.

Those flowers don't grow. In the desert sand of sin. If you have anything of true love. Joy. And peace. It's because the spirit of God. Is irrigating your life.

And these are the fruits. That come from him. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. You don't have any of that. Except by the spirit.

Making you patient. Kind. And good. Gentleness. Faithfulness. Self-control. Fruit. Of the spirit.

Who lives within you. In order to enable you. To live the Christian life. Every inkling of such fruit. Is evidence. Of the spirit's presence.

And work. In your life. So be encouraged. The Holy Spirit is given. As power. And equipper. For living the holy life.

He's the great sanctifier. Of his people. He's holy. He makes his people holy. If you're having any trouble.

With certain aspects. Of holiness. Christ likeness. The fruit of the spirit. Well. Here's your answer. The Holy Spirit. Comes alongside. To be your helper. To make you holy.

Those are the two. First two points. Of how the Holy Spirit. Helps us. He indwells us. At conversion. He's a quipper. And empowers us. For living a holy life.

And thirdly. The Holy Spirit. Is given to glorify Christ. He's given to glorify Christ. And this is the way. He goes about. This transforming business. In our lives. Day by day.

He does it. By glorifying Christ. Jesus said. To his apostles. On the night. Of his betrayal. In John chapter. Verse 16.

Verses 12 to 14. I have much more. To say to you. More than you can now bear. But when he. The spirit. Of truth. Comes. He will guide you. Into all truth. He will not speak.

On his own. He will speak. Only what he hears. And he will tell you. What is yet to come. He will bring glory. To me. By taking. From what is mine.

And making it known. To you. He will bring glory. To me. By taking what's mine. And making it known. To you. Making it. Manifest. To you.

Now those words. Were spoken. First of all. To the apostles. And that was a promise. That he was saying. I will remind you. Of the things. That I've said. The Holy Spirit. When he comes. He will remind you. Of things that I've said.

And he'll teach you. Other things as well. But he will glorify me. By taking. Things about me. And making it known. To you. Notice his aim. In his work.

The Holy Spirit's work. In guiding them. Into all truth. Is taking aim. At this one thing. That he will bring glory. To me. He will bring glory. To me.

That means the Holy Spirit. Is out to bring. Glory to Christ. He's out to make much. Of Jesus. To illumine.

Jesus beauty. And excellencies. To you. The believer. To make the living. Reigning Christ. Real to you. So he's not just a word.

On the page. But. But you are gripped. With the reality. That I have a friend. In heaven. Who reigns over all. His name is Jesus. You know that. And it changes the way.

You think. And emote. And live. And. The Spirit. Will glorify Christ. Making him known. To you.

Now he does it. Through the scriptures. He's the spirit. Of truth. And he does it. Through his word. You know what it is.

To read the word. Without profit. You know what it is. To read the word. And to have that word. Come to you. With power. To grip you. To change you.

You just experienced. What the Holy Spirit. Has been sent in your heart. To do. To manifest. The truth to you. To reveal Christ to you. On the pages.

Of scripture. To give you a reverence. For the book. To know that whatever. This book says. Jesus says to me. And I am no more.

Following Jesus. Unless I'm following. The words of this book. There's that reverence. For what he says. The spirit works that in.

Every believer. Forever. And. As he's. Reading with us. The holy scriptures. He's. Revealing.

Our risen Lord. He's. He's. Pointing out to us. The glories. And excellencies. Of Christ. He's. He has. What J. I. Packer. Has called. A floodlight. Ministry. And he explains.

When floodlighting is done. Correctly. The floodlights are placed. So that you do not see them. They're hidden. So you're outside. And there's a building.

And. And they're hidden behind a bush. Or a rock. Or a tree. You don't see the. The light itself. But rather. The light. Splashes.

Its. Lumination. And its. Brightness. Upon the building. It directs attention. Away from itself. Onto the object. That it's shining on. So that you see. What you other.

What otherwise. Would have remained. In the dark. As you walk by the building. At night. And it leaves you. In the end. Admiring the building. Not the lights. That are shining. Upon it.

And Packer says. This is the Holy Spirit's role. As the hidden floodlight. Shining. Upon. The Savior. He says. As we read the scriptures.

It's as if. The spirit. Stands behind us. Throwing his light. Over our shoulder. Onto Jesus. We see Jesus. And.

And we see his glory. And we see how wonderful he is. In the pages of scripture. And the spirit's message. Is. Not to us.

Look at me. But his message is. Look at him. Look at him.

Do you see him? Do you see what he is for you John? He's almighty. For you John. He's all faithful. For you John. Look at him.

Look at him. Worship him. Trust him. Obey him. Follow him. Imitate him. Become more like him. That's the word. The message of the Holy Spirit. The light that he's casting.

Upon Christ. In the scriptures. He will glorify me. By taking what is mine. And making it known. To you. To you. He reads with us.

Know about the love of Christ. Christ. Well you owe that to. The Holy Spirit. Who sheds it abroad in your heart. Who gives you power. Together with all the saints.

To be able to grasp. Just how wide and long. And high and deep. Is the love of Christ. You don't have that on your own. It's the Holy Spirit. Who enables you to grasp that. He's there to do that.

To show. Us the glories of Christ. To lead us into fellowship. With the Savior. Every bit of. Enjoyed fellowship. With Jesus. Is mediated through.

And by the Holy Spirit. Who makes us aware. Of Christ's presence. And so any movement. Any church movement. Any parachurch movement.

That professes to be a movement. Of the Holy Spirit. That draws attention away from Christ. And makes men. Preoccupied with the Holy Spirit. Is not.

A genuine movement of the Spirit. Because the Spirit's. Message. Is look at Jesus. He comes into our hearts. To shine light upon the Savior.

So much. Does he draw attention. Away from himself. And onto. The Savior. That some theologians. Have called him. The shy member. Of the Trinity. He's not drawing attention. To himself.

But to Christ. Now these are some of the ways. Then that the Holy Spirit. Helps us to live the Christian life. We conclude. With some of our responsibilities.

To him. The Holy Spirit. First of all. Live by the Spirit. Galatians 5.16. So I say. Live by the Spirit. And you'll not gratify. The desires of the sinful nature.

In other words. Inside of you Christian. There is both sin. Flesh. And spirit. That's what. Flesh is the word there. For sinful nature. And the flesh. And the Holy Spirit.

Have contrary desires. Inside of you. You've probably felt that before. Probably every day. Of your life. And so what it means. To live by the Spirit.

Is to say no. To whatever the flesh. Wants you to do. And to say yes. To whatever the Spirit of God. Wants you to do. That's what it means. To live by the Spirit. And you don't need to guess.

Well what does the Spirit. Want me to do. I need to look for a sign. I need to look for this. For that. You don't need that. He's given you a whole book. That he. The Holy Spirit. Inspired. To tell you.

What it is. He wants you to do. And so to walk. And to live by the Spirit. Is to do what the Spirit wants. Not what your flesh wants. Live.

By the Spirit. There are other ways. That the scriptures speak. Of what this means. To live by the Spirit. Romans 8. 5 says. Those who live according. To the sinful nature. Of the flesh.

Have their minds. On what that flesh desires. But those who live. In accordance with the Spirit. Have their minds. On what the Spirit desires. Oh. So to live by the Spirit.

Means I've got. To get my mind set. On what the Spirit desires. In another place. Galatians 6. It says. To live is to sow seed.

And so we are to sow. To please the Spirit. What pleases the Spirit. That's where I'm to be. Sowing my seed. Another phrase. Is found. At the end of. Galatians 5.

Verse 25. Since we live by the Spirit. Let us keep in step. With the Spirit. And so you've got a whole. Regimen of men. And they're marching. And everyone's keeping in step.

And that's the picture. We're to keep in line. With the Spirit. The Spirit. Is setting out certain steps. And we're to keep in step. With him. He sets the pace.

You follow where he's going. And only put your feet down. Where he leads you. Don't get out of line. Where's he leading you? He's leading you down. These paths of righteousness.

He's leading you down. The paths of Christ likeness. He's leading you down. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. And so on. Keep in step. With the Spirit. Another phrase.

That's used. To show us. Something of what this means. Is found in Ephesians 5. 18. Be filled with the Spirit. Be filled with the Spirit. Do not get drunk on wine.

Which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled. With the Spirit. What does it mean. To be filled with the Spirit? Well I think we have the clue. In not getting drunk on wine.

I recently saw a man. Completely drunk. Well what was he? He was completely under the control. And influence of alcohol. It influenced.

Everything about him. His mind. His mouth. Even his feet. The poor man couldn't walk.

Without two of his friends. Helping him back to his hotel room. Drunkenness leads to debauchery. But he's under the control.

And influence of alcohol. Don't be under the control. And influence of alcohol. Instead. Be under the control. And influence of the Spirit. This is what it looks like.

To be filled with wine. Don't you do that. You be filled with the Spirit. Controlled. And influenced. Under his influence. And where does a man.

Under the influence. And under the control. Of the Spirit. Go? How does he live? Well. The rest of Ephesians. Goes on to tell you. Well. He sings praises.

From the heart. To the Lord. He's always giving thanks. To God the Father. For everything. In the name of Jesus. And the Spirit filled wife. Is submitting. To her husband. And the Spirit filled husband.

Is loving his wife. And sacrificing for it. And the Spirit filled child. Is obeying their parents. And the Spirit filled parent. Is bringing up their children. Without exasperating them. And the Spirit filled slave. Is submitting.

To his employer. And the master. And on and on. You have it spelled out in Scripture. That's what it means. To be filled. Controlled by the Spirit. And so we're to give ourselves over.

To the Spirit's influence. And control. By keeping in step. With where he's going. Secondly.

Don't grieve. Or quench him. Ephesians 4.30. Do not grieve. The Holy Spirit of God. With whom you were sealed. For the day of redemption.

If. If these things are true. That we've seen this morning. I believe they are. That the same Spirit. That hovered over creation. And brought out such beauty. And form.

Is the Spirit that dwells in me. And the same Spirit. That raised Christ from the dead. Dwells in you. Is working at you. That same power. Is at work in you. Well then.

Why do we have such a hard time. Living the Christian life. Does that thought ever. Come to you. In a message like this. Well. Could it be that we've grieved.

The Holy Spirit. Could it. Could it be that. By the way. That we have not kept in line. With the Spirit. But we've ignored. The Spirit. And what he wants.

And we've chosen instead. What we want. And. We've grieved him. We've quenched him. So. We're not experiencing.

His controlling. Powerful. Influence. Like we would. And could. If so. Then. We need.

To be quick. To repent. Of any sin. Grieving. Holy Spirit. Grieving. Grieving. Attitudes. And actions. Anything.

That might be quenching. The Spirit. Remember. He lives in you. And that means. That any sin you do.

Is done. As close as it can be. To him. Do you not know. That your body. Is a temple. Of the Holy Spirit. Who is in you. Whom you've received.

From God. Therefore honor God. In your body. That means. That anything you do. In your body. You do with him. Your body. Is his temple. It's his home. It's where he lives. So wherever you go.

You take him with you. And whatever you do. You do with him. So the music you listen to. He listens to. And the movies you watch. He watches. And the thoughts you think.

He sees. And everything done. In the body. Is done in his temple. Where he lives. Now in the Old Testament. The temple was kept very.

Holy. Holy. Nothing sinful. Was to be allowed in there. All sorts of sacrifices. Blood had to be shed. In order to purify the temple.

And only those. Who had been purified. Could go in there. Especially the most holy place. Where God's presence. Dwelt in Israel. Well.

Jesus. Has won for you. The Holy Spirit. And he's made your body. Now the temple. Of the Holy Spirit. You're a walking. Holy of holiness. Holy's. And the Holy Spirit.

Is just that close to you. So be careful. That you don't grieve. The Spirit. And when we knowingly.

Defile the temple. We must confess. And act faith again. On the Lord Jesus. In his once for all blood. That cleanses us. From every sin. That we know. That we know.

Not. Cause grief. And quenching of the spirit. We must come and say. Create in me a clean heart. Oh God. And renew a right spirit in me. A home that the spirit of God. Will delight. To live in.

And to demonstrate. His glory from. When everything. In our Christian. Life. Depends upon. The Holy Spirit. Spirit's. Power.

And equipping. We simply. Cannot afford. To grieve him. Rather you be grieved.

Than he grieved. Rather you. Not get what you want. Than him not get what he wants. We must be very jealous. And not grieve.

The spirit. And thirdly. And lastly. We must ask for him. We must ask for him. For more and more of his ministry. In our life.

Luke chapter 11. Jesus is teaching on prayer. And he says. Ask. Seek. Knock. And six times.

He promises us. If we will pray. He'll answer. And then he tells this. This illustration. If you. Your children. Which of you fathers.

If your son. Asks for a fish. Will give him a snake. Instead. Or if he asks for an egg. Will he give him a scorpion. If you then. Though you are evil. Know how to give good gifts. To your children. How much more.

Will your father in heaven. Give the Holy Spirit. To those who ask him. Amen. His question is this.

Do you earthly fathers. Think for a moment. That you can out give. Your heavenly father. Because whoever you are. And however long you've. You've lived. You still got. In Christ.

You still have evil in you. And if you being evil. Know how to give good gifts. To your children. How much more. Will the father in heaven. Your father. In heaven. Who's intimately.

Attached to you. As father to son. Who has no sin. And evil in him at all. How much more. Will he give. Good gifts. To you. Know.

How much more. Will he give. The best gift. The Holy Spirit. To you. Who is himself. The agent. Who brings. All of God's gifts.

To you. And he gives him. To those who ask. And I say. John. Why are you not asking. For more. You read in Philippians.

That Paul. Says that there's a connection. Between. The help of the spirit. Being given. In answer. To the prayers. Of God's people.

And what do you see. In the book of Acts. Prayers of God's people. The outpouring. Of fresh. Measures. Of the Holy Spirit's work. And influence. In conversion. In transformation.

Of life. In equipping. The saints. For service. And witness. And life together. If you ask. He will give.

The Holy Spirit. To those who ask. Let's ask him. Just now. Shall we? Our Father in heaven. I'll kind of you. To. Have seen our.

Desert like. Sinful hearts. And to have sent. Your. Streams of water. The Holy Spirit. Into our heart. To make us. New creatures. And.

To move us. And to change us. And to fill us. With life. And power. Forgive us. For the way. We so often. Lean upon the arm. Of the flesh. And try to live.

The Christian life. Ourselves. As if it were. Nothing much. And make a mess of it. Wash us. And cleanse us. And oh.

Thank you. For your goodness. In giving us. The Holy Spirit. Thank you. Lord Jesus. That by your perfect life. And atoning death. You've won for us. This precious gift. That we never again.

Throughout the whole. Of our lives. Walk alone. But that. Your spirit. Lives within us. Teach us then. To keep in step. With the spirit. Make us very tender.

Toward his presence. With us. That we not do anything. To grieve or quench him. And oh. Pour him out upon us. In abundant measure. Whereby. He would take fresh delight.

In changing us. More and more. Into the likeness. Of our savior. We ask that you glorify. Christ. In us. Through him. We ask it. In Jesus name.

Amen. Amen. Amen.