Follow the Wind, that’s what we’re going to do.

Steve Brown:
Follow the wind, that’s what we’re going to do, on Key Life. Follow the wind.

Matthew Porter:
This is Key Life, here to let Christians know that God isn’t mad at them. Keep listening and you’ll hear that because of what Jesus has done, you’re welcomed home into the family of God because of His radical grace. Free from the penalties of sin and never alone in your suffering.

Steve Brown:
Thank you Matthew. We’re going to be going, we’re looking at the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, and we’re going to be spending a whole lot of time talking about the Holy Spirit, what the Holy Spirit does, how He operates in our lives, the difference He makes in our lives. We’re going to talk about our sin, we’re going to talk about our guilt, we’re going to talk about truth, we’re going to talk about guidance, we’re going to talk about love, and all of it will have to do with the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. A number of years ago, I used to date our daughters when they were little girls. At least once a month, I would date each of them. And we were driving to dinner, one night, and one of our daughters, Jennifer said, Daddy, you’re always talking about God said this and God said that, and I don’t hear God very much. How does he talk to you? And then in a rare burst of wisdom, I said, honey, do you know that new little student in your third grade class? And you told me that she didn’t have any friends and that you were going to be her friend. And she said, yes. And I said, who told you to do that? And then there was a long silence, and Jennifer said, Oh, that’s him. I hope that as we do this series on the Holy Spirit, you’ll do the same thing. You’ll say, Oh, that’s him. We saw yesterday, if you were listening, that the job description of the Holy Spirit is not to point to himself. The job description of the Holy Spirit is to lift up and to honor and to glorify the first person of the Trinity and the second person of the Trinity. And so, when we’re doing something like a series on the Holy Spirit, I have to be very careful and deft because it could be that the Holy Spirit isn’t altogether happy with me doing that. But I’ve prayed about it and I’m sure that this is something that you need, and that I need, and that both of us will certainly benefit by it. What we’ll be doing over the next few weeks, doesn’t require much of you. When you look at a doctrine like the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, it doesn’t have a lot of commands to it. Now, the Scripture does say.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

But other than that, the Holy Spirit just is. And so, what I want you to do is to recognize those places where the Holy Spirit, God’s Holy Spirit, is operating in your life. Now, when I teach, that’s the purpose. I’m not trying to get you to do something, or to manipulate you, or to make you better, or to make you nicer, or more faithful, or kinder, or more merciful. I’m just going to take some time and point out a doctrine that is so exciting and so surprising and so comforting that it will blow you away. And we’re going to talk about some of the controversy surrounding the Holy Spirit. After all these years of debate, I’m going to teach you the truth about the gift of tongues, about the supernatural gifts of the Spirit. And after this series is finished, there will be no more questions and no more arguments and no more debates. And if you believe that, you believe anything. But the point I’m making is, you don’t have to do anything. We’re going to study pneumatology. Now, pneuma means the action of God. The Holy Spirit is a person, Ephesians 4:30. The Holy Spirit is the second person of the Trinity. And you say, I, is the third person of the Trinity, and you say, I know this. The Holy Spirit acts in creation, Genesis 1:1 through 3.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.

And here it comes.

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And the Holy Spirit is the motivating power of creation. Humans and animals in Job 33, in Psalm 33 and Psalm 104. The Holy Spirit is involved in Revelation, John 16:13 through 15. You don’t have to take notes, I’m going to get to these in detail when we get to them. An application of truth to our lives, Nehemiah 9:20 and John 16. In convicting us of our sin, John 16:8 through 11. In calling us to God, Isaiah 61:1. In teaching us the truths of God that enable us to live as Christians, John 14:26. In saving us, Romans 8:12 through 17. In reminding us of the truths that we sometimes forget, Romans 5:2 and Ephesians 1:13. In giving faith, in sustaining, and unifying. In transforming, in empowering, in freeing, in comforting, in interpreting, the Holy Spirit is involved in all of that. And you knew that, just didn’t know His name. Hey, you think about that. Amen.

Matthew Porter:
Thank you Steve. If you are just joining us, we are at the very beginning of a new teaching series on the Holy Spirit. An important subject that, eh, sometimes doesn’t get the attention it should. More from Steve tomorrow. Don’t miss it. So, here’s a question. Have you ever considered the fact that Jesus is actually alive right here and active right now? Well, Steve gave a sermon a while back called When Jesus Leaves the Building. In that talk, he teaches from Luke 4 on what happens when Jesus is in the building. Take a listen to part of that talk, then I’ll be back to tell you about a special free offer. Here’s Steve.

Steve Brown:
A number of years ago, I was invited to a church in Louisville, Kentucky. It was a Baptist church and the pastor said, Steve, we haven’t had a Presbyterian in this pulpit since 1830, when the church was founded. You’re the first, so don’t screw it up. I said, why would you invite me? And, I mean, I don’t want to be here either. You Baptists are like weeds. You’re everywhere. You can’t get rid of you. Why, why would you invite me? And he said, cause I’ve been listening to what you teach. You only ride one horse, but you ride it well. It was a time when that would have offended me. It doesn’t so much anymore. Things change, I’m a cynical old preacher now. And I know the truth about me and about you and about the church. When I was young, I did premarital counseling as a pastor. There were three sessions and they were all required for those who would have me officiate their service. One of the sessions was on sex. Another of the sessions was on money. And one of them was on Jesus and his relationship to marriage. After a year and a half, I gave up the one on sex. They knew more about sex than I did. And then I looked at my bank account and how I’d messed that up, and I decided I have no business talking to young people about money. Money and sex are the two areas that cause serious problems, but they could get that from somebody else. But I clung to Jesus and I knew a lot about him. So, I kept that lecture. As I said, I’m old. When I was young, I thought I’d be a lot better than I am. Frankly, I thought you would be too, but we’re not. Ray Cortese is a friend of mine at Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church in Florida. He’s in a little tiny community and I asked him why he went there and he said, I went there because I could make a difference. It was a sewer and I was going to clean up the sewer and this church almost died. And then he said, I recognize that there was a sewer, but the sewer was in me. When I saw that, when I began to teach it and be honest and authentic, then God began to do things in the church where he sent me. When I was young, I thought I would study the Scriptures and I have. I thought I would find profound new insights and I would offer them to the family of God. Now, I’m more confused than I was when I started. When I was young, I thought I would win the world to Christ. When I was young, I thought I was going to make a major difference and an impact for Christ in the world. And now, I’m old and none of those things have happened. Now, I’m old and the dreams that I had have been shattered. Now, I’m old and I look at myself and I know the truth. It’s not about me, it’s about Jesus. And so, I’ve reduced, and reduced, and reduced the message. Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Matthew Porter:
Now, if you enjoyed that, and I’m guessing you did, then we would love to mail you that entire sermon on a CD, for free. Give us a call right now at 1-800-KEY-LIFE that’s 1-800-539-5433. You can also e-mail [email protected] to ask for that CD. Or to mail your request, go to keylife.org/contact to find our mailing addresses. Again, just ask for your free copy of the CD called When Jesus Leaves the Building. And finally, if you value what we do here at Key Life, would you prayerfully consider giving to support that work? Giving is easy, just charge a gift on your credit card or include a gift in your envelope. Or just grab your phone and text Key Life to 28950 that’s Key Life, one word, two words. It doesn’t matter. Just text that to 28950 and then follow the instructions. Key Life is a member of ECFA in the States and CCCC in Canada. And we are a listener supported production of Key Life Network.