Unashamed: When the Spirit Comes

Good morning, We doing things a little differently today — We are starting with sermon and then Bob is going to be lead us in time of worship and will be ending the with communion…

What we wanting to do this morning is to have set aside some time to respond to what God has been saying to us over the past several weeks…

We have been in this series entitled, “Unashamed.” and— We have been talking about our Emotions....and especially about this emotion called SHAME…

Shame is an EMOTION that we don’t hear of much but it is MAJOR Influencer as binds itself onto other EMOTIONS …

Shame is an emotion that can impacts our identity… For example we can start to identify ourselves through the lenses of shame… Instead of just failing — we can see ourselves as failures..

In the Bible shame can be traced all the way back to the Garden of Eden — when Adam and Eve — took fruit from the tree of knowledge of God Evil… they became aware of their nakedness and moved from being unashamed before God to hiding among the trees in the garden...

In Gen 3:8 we see God Comes to them..

Genesis 3:8 ESV

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Notice that God is the one moving in the Text… often we think we got to move up the ladder towards God… We start up one step and the next… but what happens when we get tired or maybe we slip… we start again… What we need to understand is that God comes to us…

God came down to us through Jesus and the incarnation… When God ascended the Spirit came down to continue the work… We think we have to climb up ---the reality is that we need to wait for God to come down.

.. God is walking in the Garden and He is moving towards his Creation…

Normally, this time was looked forward to and enjoyed… it was a time of communion and sweet fellowship… but sin had spoiled the relationship.... and now they Found themselves hiding from the presence of God..

God walking in the Garden made me wonder about our own awareness of the Holy Spirit… Adam and Eve heard God walking towards them… they heard his foot steps.. …and made me wonder how attuned we are to the Holy Spirit’s movements...

I was sitting outside in our back yard yesterday morning — thinking about … today and presence of the Holy Spirit...

And there was this wind blowing through our backyard through the trees and hedges....and it was really quite loud…it would come in waves blow for a second and then die down for a moment and then blow again… And it reminded me of What Jesus said to Nicodemus about the Holy Spirit…in John 3:8

John 3:8 ESV

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The wind is invisible and mysterious and beyond human control, but we hear it and see the effects of its activity.

So it is with the work of the Holy Spirit. He is sovereign in the exercise of his power, is not visible in his operations, but the effects of his working in the human soul can be both felt and seen.

.Even though we cannot predict how or when God will move… We can have the sense that God is moving…

The presence of Wind seems to preempt a move of God…

Before Creation The Spirit of God was brooding or hovering over the waters…

In Ezekiel 37 God showed Ezekiel a valley full of dry bones.. and he asked Ezekiel can these dry bones live? And then commands Elijah to prophecy over the dead bones… and we see the four WINDS BLOWING and these dry bones being brought back to life…until they form a an exceedingly great Army

On the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 we are told the 120 disciples were gathered together in one place in Jerusalem… Waiting for the Promised Holy Spirit… And When the Spirit Comes.... there is a mighty wind that fills the house....

Acts 2:2 ESV

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Sometimes the spirit can move suddenly, turning a person’s life upside down in an instant. But the wind can also come in the form of a gentle breeze, and some are brought into the kingdom through the quiet operation of the Holy Spirit in their life over a period of time...

The question is where are we in relation to the Presence of God...

The first Question God asks Adam and Eve in the garden---

Where are you? the second question is

Who told you you were naked??

Two great questions? Where are you in relation to the presence of God.

And what is keeping you from the presence of God?

Who told you that you wouldn’t be accepted… We need to be careful of the ideas that we have believed as truth… When you find yourself hiding who told you that you were no good..

T/S When it comes to the Coming of the Holy spirit … There are several things we ought to consider..

1. Consider What is Truth?

— There is a philosophy in our world that says that “this is my Truth.”

Truth is relative and subjective…to the person.

Truth in Christianity is objective… We speak of truth being absolute -that which is real and complete opposed to that which is false… In other words Truth is not a moving target...… What was true yesterday is true today…

The Bible teaches that Truth is more than just good Values or Principles —

But truth is Personified in the Person of Jesus Christ.... Jesus tells us this himelf..

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

… IF WE ARE GOING TO CONSIDER TRUTH WE NEED TO LOOK TO JESUS..

IN Hebrews 12 we see whole Grandstand of witness who have Already Consider the Truthfulness of God and his word.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Who are the cloud of witnesses?

These are not merely spectators, looking down from heaven and watching believers’ lives;

instead, they witness through the historical record of their faithfulness that constantly encourages those who follow them..

These great believers’ lives, examples, and faithfulness in God, without seeing his promises, speak to all believers of the rewards of staying in “the race.

The analogy of here is of a marathon which was part of the Greek games... what is needed to complete this marathon is ENDURANCE.…

We have the Encouragement and inspiration in the great Arena… their lives calling out to us keep going… But --- Endurance means --

a. Letting GO…

One of the advantages of airlines giving restricted baggage is that we have all had to learn how To travel light… But most of us want more baggage than we need...

Let us lay aside every weight — and sin which clings so closely and let us run the race with endurance… .

There are things that hold us back… distractions… that hinder our progress… it could be sin that cause us to drift off corse...…the familiar sin that we hold onto so closely.. Well that is going to keep tripping you up...

b. Look to Jesus..

We have a stadium full of example… but we have the ultimate example in Jesus

Jesus is the founder and perfecter of faith…

Vrs 3 The word Consider written in the imperative… Think about carefully — Think about how Jesus endured hostility that he faced.. The message Bible.. paraphrase’s this text...

The Message Chapter 12

. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.

Think about visiting Rome in those days.. …When you came into Rome your first impression of the city --- would be the crosses with criminals on them…talk about a statement… The cross ultimate capital punishment… not only was it a death sentence but it was a means of shaming… criminals in front of the whole community..

The writer tells us that Jesus endure the shame of the cross —so that we could be set free from the weights..

Jesus is the ultimate Example of How to Face Difficulties. When you find your struggling go back to the story again — see example of Jesus… What you discover is that Jesus in his humanity was fully dependent upon the Father, Fully dependent on the Holy Spirit…

Here is the thing Jesus did the Work on the Cross.... Jesus is author and perfecter of our Faith… The Holy Spirit is the ONE WHO APPLYS TRUTH…

2. Consider the Spirit of Truth

We Need to Understand Who and What the Holy Spirit is.

Often there is a confusion between the Person and the Work of the Holy Spirit… The Holy Spirit has been called some sort of mystical power, force, or energy…but this is misconception..The Holy Spirit Works in Power — there is no doubt about that… The HS will empower the Church for ministry… something that is needed…

The seasoned Pastor A.W Tozer said...

“The Holy Spirit is not enthusiasm … He is a Person. Put that down in capital letters—that the Holy Spirit is not only a Being having another mode of existence, but He is Himself a Person with all the qualities and powers of personality.”

He exists and ministers as a Person…The Holy Spirit has a mind, emotions and will, He Speaks, teachers, comforts…

Jesus always used the Pronoun “He” or “Him” when talking about the HS...

Why is this important?

If we think of the Holy Spirit as a mysterious power, our thought will continually be, “How can I get more of the Holy Spirit?”

How can we get more Power? Instead of just three amps, I want six amps. Instead of one gallon of the Spirit, I want two gallons..

However If we think of the Holy Spirit as a person, our thought will be, “How can the Holy Spirit have more of me?”

WE should be praying for more of the Holy Spirit… the person and presence in our lives... It is not a one time deal…

Paul said in his letter to the the church that they were to be continuously filled with the Spirit… Why do we need to be filled again and Again with the HS.. D.l. Moody explained it well in he said, “Because we leak.”

John 16:13 ESV

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Truth speaks to the issue of Clarity.... removing what is obscure and hidden and exposing things that are false.. There are things that we have come to believe about ourselves and others that are simply not true… When the Spirit comes He is going shed light and to bring us Truth… The world cannot understand the Spirit of truth because they do not know him.. But the HS will guide you into all truth...

Jesus told his disciples before his Ascension that He was sending them the HS.

John 14:16–17 ESV

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Jesus said that Holy Spirit would not only be with the disciples but he would be in them…

He comes to us as the comforter… this has several meanings.The Greek Word Para- kletos to Describe the work of the HS..The word Parakletos means called to come along side to assist…

It has a Range of meanings that describes how the HS works..

a. THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES AS OUR COMFORTER

Jesus tells us that the HS will be another Comforter — that speaks to both the HS being Third Person of the Trinity and also his continuation of the ministry of Jesus on the earth…

Just as Jesus comforted his disciples —The HS will continue this ministry of strengthening…

Which begs the question...Do we need comforting? s...

Dr. Mary Lamai in her article in Psychology Today … says that Our emotions are going to tell us to do something…Our emotions will tell us take action to reduce our stress or negative emotions.…it will try and suppress or avoid things like anxiety, shame, sadness, fear or some of other emotion… Does this by taking Comfort in something else… the obvious ones would be just need a drink or that you must have “comfort food” to calm your nerves… or other substances and addictive behaviors — Comfort by avoiding Pain… I had to smile the other day — I had long day and she left me a note — for the plan for Wednesday…She put it on the refrigerator door… and I found it

The Holy Spirit is our Counselor … He is going to lead to truth...

Do we need counseling?

I’ll never forget a lecture that we had by Dr. Kelly Boyce…Head of the Counseling department at GCTS... she started off by saying that said that those of us in the helps professions... pastors and counselors are those who would benefit most from being counseled…We wanting to help others… but we all come with stuff…

Jesus said He would send another Comforter/Counselor that implies that we may need his help...

C. THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO US AS FRIEND

Jesus made this astounding statement to His disciples:

John 16:7 ESV

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Jesus told his disciples that it was necessary for him to go so that the Holy Spirit himself would come… Jesus thought that it was necessary/essential to send the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, the greatest teacher who ever lived, the One who revealed mysteries that had been hidden since the foundation of the world, is attempting to convince His closest followers that the Spirit of God—not Jesus Himself physically present—would be the best companion for them and the generations of believers to come

Now we all have different levels of friendship… Jesus had his the 3, 12, 120, multitude...

we might have one or two close friends that we might share everything with.. Then we have aquintenances....

We relate differently to friends that are close… The closer you are to someone the more vulnerable you come… because there is high level of trust… for example…

How do we grow in Friendships?

Build Awareness.

Friendships always Begins with Awareness of someone in the room… I met Pam at Church… we knew each other when we were teenagers… but there was no sparks… but when we both got back from college… I noticed her…she stood out… And I wanted to get to know her.... In order to have a relationship you have notice the person in the room.

When we received Christ… it can be dramatic… my life took 180 degree turn… My friends changed… my conversation changed… I became active in our local church...

Even though the Holy Spirit endwells us we can loose awareness of the Holy Spirit… It’s like that with most relationships… starts up with a high… if we are not careful… we can loose love… What is normally the problem is a break down in communication.

2. Start Communicating.

Every relationship requires communication, and intimacy grows when we have special times together. In order for us to enter into a close relationship with another person, we must first seek to understand what makes that individual tick. In other words… we need to listening..

Cultivating an awareness of God’s Presence does not mean that we will always feel Him physically. It begins with the revelation of His nearness—the Bible says that the Holy Spirit is present in and with us and so we believe it. He is our constant Companion.

We need to remember that God always ?Comes to us.. The Holy Spirit, wants to be closer to you than any other person on earth. He desires intimacy—the deepest level of relationship you can experience.

James 4:5 ESV

5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?

James says, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously.”

He is jealous for you and longs for your time and attention. Just think: the Holy Spirit is God, and nothing is hidden from Him. His knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are limitless—and He longs to reveal Himself to you.

When I know or understand something of great value or importance, I passionately desire to share it with those who are close to me. The same is probably true of you, and the Holy Spirit is no different.

.. A friend, a true friend, a real friend … By the way, this is a better friend than any friends you have, even if you think you have some good friends. No one has a friend like this.

3. Consider the Power of GOD

Kyle Idleman who is a pastor and author of tells of a time in his ministry that he was working long hours and not sleeping well… he was stressed and anxious... trying to make things happen.. In the middle of the night he remembered what happened during their move a few years earlier…

During the move kyle had saved the heaviest piece of furniture for last—the desk from his office.

As he was pushing and pulling the desk with all my might, his four-year-old son came over and asked if he could help. So together we started sliding it across the floor. He was pushing and grunting as we inched our way along.

After a few minutes, Kyle says his son stopped pushing, looked up and said, "Dad, you're in my way." And then he tried to push the desk by himself. Of course it didn't budge. Kyle says that it was then that he realized that he thought he was actually doing all the work, instead of me. I couldn't help but laugh.

Kyle says that at the moment he started laughing at his son's comment, he recalled that middle-of-the-night incident and I realized why God was laughing at me. I thought I was pushing the desk. I know that's ridiculous, but instead of recognizing God's power and strength, I started to think it all depended on me.

When you think that Disciples had been with Jesus for three years… And during this time they had witnessed many miracles The disciples witnessed the Resurrection…

But ...Until the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost they still remained powerless…

The timing is interesting because it fell on the same Day as the Feast of Pentecost..

Pentecost ’refers to feast of Pentecost which Israel celebrated from the begining of passover seven weeks and then of the 50th day the has this feast — Feast of weeks… which Marked the beginning of the barley harvest. Jesus had instructed his disciples to go Jerusalem into an upper room and wait for the promised Holy Spirit.

The coming of the Holy Spirit was prophesied by the Prophet Joel..

Joel 2:28–29 ESV

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

In Acts 2 we see the Holy Spirit Coming in Power… Again we remember that the Power was for purpose.. Power to live for Jesus and power to be witnessess..

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is poured out in such an avalanche that the contrast between before and after would be like experiencing a normal rainfall versus being under a monsoon or a tropical downpour of the Spirit

We need the Power of the Holy Spirit… but...

“Power without truth can lead to heresy. Power without love can lead to abuse.

But ....Power based on truth and manifested in love can bring about renewal and revival as well as deep and significant healing of broken persons.”

Conclusion:

The challenge of every pastor is to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable.. This is is done not with a club… Done through the sword of the spirit which is Truth…

Jesus said when the spirit comes… he is going to bring truth… The spirit is the great revealed of the heart…

let’s make this a little more personal? A few months ago really began to question my intimacy with God… Do I love God With that First love… First love = intimacy… Do you remember First love in marriage.. well all you could do is think about that person and the next time you will meet.. but as time goes on a relationship can move from first love… to room mates...

Let me ask you a question: Was there ever a time in your Christian walk when you loved Jesus more than you do today? Was there ever a time when you had more joy and peace? Consider this: God’s love toward you has never changed, and his joy and peace have been available to you, constantly, in full measure.

In the book of

Proverbs 1:20 ESV

20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;

wisdom is personified as a woman crying out in noisy streets of the market place and the city Gates — Wisdom is calling out for the wise and godly man to pursue her....but there are no takers…

Wisdom - speaks of the blessings of the Spiritual life....or in the NT we talk about the abundant life…

David tells us

Wisdom cries out but no one is responding to the call.... and there are several reasons -

Some are preoccupied with the cares of life.. There just to much Noise in the hustle and bustle of life… So, they simply can’t hear..

Others have become cynical and critical of biblical truth…

In the middle of this David says THE OFFER STILL STANDS..

Proverbs 1:23 ESV

If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

David says IF — your turn —

change your ways…And listen…

He will Pour out His Spirit

He will make known his word to you.