Hearing God's Voice Through His Holy Spirit - Part 2 (John [16]7-15)
Hearing God’s Voice
through His Holy Spirit (Part 2)
Text: John 16:7-15
Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)
Date Preached - (01/27/02)
Introduction:
How do I know God is speaking to me? How do I know the Holy Spirit is leading me?
Not all voices are of God, Not all spirits are of God. I John 4:1 commands us to “Try the spirits”.
There is another spirit, another doctrine, another Christ and another gospel.
REVIEW: Last week’s message (Holy Spirit 101)
Who is the Holy Spirit? – A Person, Divine, Holy
What is Indwelling? – Infilling?
What is the Spirit’s Call? – Salvation, Sanctification, Service.
Today we want to take a further step in our understanding of the Spirit’s voice. While it is not graduate school, we will go a little deeper.
VERSE 13 is Key …..”Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
What are some Biblical principles regarding the nature of the Holy Spirit’s voice?
We’ll look at a variety of passages to draw out these principles. The message consists today of a series of “mini-expositions” from these passages. (John 16 & Romans 8 in particular)
I. Consistent with God’s Word vs.13
He is “the Spirit of Truth” & Jesus said “He will guide you into all truth”
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
God will never ask you to pursue a course of action that is contradictory to the Bible.
Ie. Break Up a Home-Marriage / Create dissention and division within the church / Cause a new believer to stumble / Poor testimony to the unsaved.
This stresses how important it is that we must be busy building the Scriptures into our lives.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Compare Eph. 5:18-19 with Col. 3:16
II. Contradicts worldly philosophy vs.8
“He will reprove (Convince, convict, contradict) the world”
LOOK UP & READ Colossians 2:8-10
A. What is wrong with the world? Vs.8
1. It’s philosophy (lit – love of wisdom – to the Greeks – highest effort of the intellect) world view, interpretation of life.
2. It’s traditions.
1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
3. It’s Rudiments – (elements, foundational principles)
B. Our Completeness in Christ vs.9-10
He is our sole and final authority. Our living head.
Areas of contradiction to worldly philosophy….
1. Forgiveness LOOKUP & READ Isaiah 55:6-9
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
2. Servant Heart – Matthew 20:25-28
3. Core Value System LOOK UP & READ Col. 3:1-4
4. Response to our enemies. – “Love your enemies” etc. Matt 5
III. Clashes with your fleshly desires
LOOK UP & READ Romans 8:5-8
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
A. No middle ground between flesh and Spirit.
We have some natural fleshly desires which are good in the right context, So When do fleshly desires become sin?
1. When we desire what is forbidden by God.
2. When we wrongly desire the right thing. (idolatry)
B. Life in the flesh, of the flesh and for the flesh is war against God vs.7-8
C. Life in the Spirit is life and peace (rest from conflict)
IV. Causes us to Consider the Consequences of our sin
We can sin against the Holy Spirit of God as believers!!
How do we sin?
A. By Grieving the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
EXPLAIN – (Grieving)
How do we grieve Him? (See vs. 22 & 24 – Put Off/Put On)
Eg. Lying / Anger / Thievery / Corrupt Communications / Bitterness
B. By Quenching the Holy Spirit
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 Quench not the Spirit.
EXPLAIN – (quenching)
How do we do this? Some examples are given in text.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Our sin against the Holy Spirit will cost us dearly in spiritual victory and power/usefulness.
You are quenching JOY vs.16 / PRAYER vs.17 / GRATITUDE vs.18
Our sin will cost others – God intends that the Holy Spirit’s power would work through us overflowing into the lives of others.
John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
V. Contributes to Spiritual Growth / Sanctification
LOOK UP & READ Romans 8:13-15
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
1. Through mortification of the flesh by the Spirit vs.13
2. Through being led (to bring, to carry) by the Spirit vs.14
3. Through a sonship-relationship by the Spirit vs.15
VI. Brings Calmness, Comfort, Courage to our hearts vs.7
SEE John 14:26 & 15:26
He is called the Comforter – paraklete (one who comes along side)
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
Conclusion: (Review)
Let’s be careful, diligent to recognize the Character of the Spirit’s voice.
1. Consistent with God’s Word
2. Contradicts worldly philosophy
3. Clashes with your fleshly desires
4. Causes us to Consider the Consequences of sin
5. Contributes to Spiritual Growth / Sanctification
6. Brings Calmness, Comfort, Courage to our hearts