Gospel Living

The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit | Part 4 Series:  The Fundamentals of our Faith  · 4 of 4 2/1/2017 (WED)

The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit | Part 3 Series:  The Fundamentals of our Faith 1/25/2017 (WED) In this session, we study the ministry of the Holy Spirit. (Based on _Fundamentals of the Faith_ by John MacArthur)

28  “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29  but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30  for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” God forbade blasphemy (Ex 22:28), and demonstrating its seriousness, He commanded death for those blaspheming in ancient Israel (Lv 24:10–16).  Coming from Jerusalem, the scribes now blaspheme Jesus as demon-possessed (3:22)—though not to His face, for He had to call them over to Himself (v. 23).  They recognize and resolutely reject their Redeemer, and now they remain without hope. They believe He works wonders.  This highlight from the Jewish Talmud notes “the ministry of Jesus: ‘On the eve of Passover Yeshu [Jesus] was hanged. And an announcer went out in front of him for fourteen days [saying], “He is going to be stoned, because he practiced sorcery and led Israel astray!” ’ ( ...

NOTE: In light of my previous post , here's the audio from last week's study.  I'll post last night's audio here next Wednesday, and then we'll be rolling on a schedule! The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit | Part 2 Series:  The Fundamentals of our Faith 1/18/2017 (WED) In this session, we study the divinity and work of the Holy Spirit. (Based on _Fundamentals of the Faith_ by John MacArthur)

The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit | Part 1 The Fundamentals of our Faith 1/11/2017 (WED) We switched from Thursday groups to Wednesdays, and this is our first meeting on the new night. Previous sessions were not recorded. In this session, we study the Personhood of the Holy Spirit. (Based on _Fundamentals of the Faith_ by John MacArthur)

Video: Audio: Notes ( PDF ): Why Jesus Had to Be Baptized | Mark 1:9–11 Shaun Marksbury | Morning Service | 15 January, 2017 Heavenly Father, ·         We thank You for sending Your Son and revealing Him to us.  ·         As we study this passage, may we grow in understanding how Jesus’s baptism is part of the good news of Your kingdom. I.                Introduction As we noted last week, John the Baptist could have followed his father into temple service.  That wasn’t what the Lord had for him, however.  According to Luke 1:80, John the Baptist had grown up in the desert, living the life of a Nazarite, until it was time for his ministry to begin. Jesus, on the other hand, had lived a few different places.  Remember that He was born in Bethlehem Ephratah (Mt 2:1; Lk 2:4), fulfilling scriptural...

This list might be a bit late, but here are a few books I enjoyed last year and recommend. Bible Why Four Gospels? by David Alan Black My Review Biographies Men of Science Men of God by Henry M. Morris My Review The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor's Journey Into Christian Faith by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield My Review Christian Living Let Go and Let God? A Survey and Analysis of Keswick Theology by Andrew David Naselli My Review Charismatic The Fallible Prophets of New Calvinism by Michael John Beasley My Review End-Times Dispensationalism: Essential Beliefs and Common Myths by Michael J. Vlach My Review Premillennialism: Why There Musts Be a Future Earthly Kingdom of Jesus by Michael Vlach My Review Family The Family Worship Book: A Resource Book for Family Devotions by Terry L. Johnson My Review The Holy Spirit God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments ...

11  And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12  And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. Popular cinema and other forms of media have portrayed spiritual warfare as a mystical extension of human conflict.  Humans fight with swords and fists in the mud, while angels might do so in aerial displays of grace and power.  Christians are taught to involve themselves by speaking words binding evil spirits until supernatural authorities can cart away the tempters.  When compared to such rhetoric, true spiritual warfare may not seem as spectacular, but it is far more effective. It’s the presence of Jesus that brings demons to their knees.   True spiritual warfare is fought by Christ and His Word.  That is why we are commanded to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Eph 6:10).  We can stand only in the armor He provides us (vv. 11–13).  Our only...

We don't just experience God's presence individually, but also in corporate worship. This is why being in fellowship with other believers on Sundays is vital to the health of the Christian life.  That life is then lived individually, but always in the presence of God. Consider this from "God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments (New American Commentary Studies in Bible & Theology)" by James M. Jr. Hamilton, E. Ray Clendenen --- "In the old covenant God faithfully remained with His people, accompanying them in a pillar of fire and cloud, then dwelling among them in the tabernacle and the temple. Under the new covenant, the only temple is the believing community itself, and God dwells not only among the community corporately (Matt 18:20; 1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16), but also in each member individually (John 14:17; Rom 8:9–11; 1 Cor 6:19)." Start reading this book for free: http://amzn.to/2h9Icjm

3  He is like a tree  planted by streams of water  that yields its fruit in its season,  and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers.  4  The wicked are not so,  but are like chaff that the wind drives away. The stress and urgency of life pushes us in different directions.  Here, though, we see a stout life in the man eschewing worldly wisdom and meditating upon God’s Word.  What can we glean from the contrast of these two verses? The text gives us a sense of immobility in verse three—the righteous is not becoming like a well-established tree but presently is one.  The righteous didn’t start off being by the streams, but the Lord planted him there.  These waters are God’s Word, and they give the righteous life.  Consider Jer 17:7–8, which similarly describes “the man who trusts in the Lord” as “a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when...

“I have baptized you with water,  but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It may surprise you to think that John’s baptisms changed nothing spiritually within a person.  It’s true that they represented repentance, but they didn’t wash away sins and make people new.  John points us to the true, saving baptism—the one we must be plunged into—the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The followers of Jesus waited the length of Jesus’ ministry for this to be fulfilled.  Nearing Pentecost after His resurrection, He told His disciples that they would soon “be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5).  After Acts 2, the term “church” appears to describe believers.  Pentecost is thus remembered as the time when the church began. Some can claim membership in the church and not be baptized in the Spirit.  In Acts 8:16, we see that that someone can only be “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” without the baptism of the Spirit.  Only a true ...

The black-and-white elements of 1 John will help us in spiritually confusing times.  According to John, we must test to know the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.  As such, I have two simple main points from the text: 1) we must test the spirits, and 2) we can know the difference.  Pastor Shaun Marksbury | Cornerstone Church of Savannah |  http://cornerstonesavannah.org/

I was talking to a church member this week who was troubled that a family member viewed the Holy Spirit as a force.  While reading the Nicene Creed, I was struck afresh by the early church's view on God the Spirit. The Nicene Creed, originally penned in AD 325, was amended in 381.  The whole creed is as follows: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;  And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and si...

John the Baptist said that the coming Messiah would baptize believers in the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8).  Peter, full of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, identifies Jesus as responsible for the pouring out the Spirit in Acts 2:33.  Similarly, Paul tells us that Jesus pours out the Holy Spirit on us for regeneration, renewal, and justification (Titus 3:5-7). This idea comes from key Old Testament passages.  For instance, in Ezekiel 36:25–27, we read of the LORD sprinkling water on us, giving us a new heart, and placing the Holy Spirit within us.  In Joel 3:1ff, we read of the LORD pouring out the Holy Spirit.  The New Testament authors drew the appropriate connections. So, the Old Testament clearly identifies God as the source of the Holy Spirit.  In the New, however, this act is performed by Christ.  Jesus is indeed Lord (1 Corinthains 12:3; Romans 10:9) Perhaps this is why Nicodemus had trouble accepting what Christ was saying in John 3. Jesus does n...

The good folks at the Master's Seminary want to see the Christ's church as biblically-oriented and God-honoring as possible. As such, they have been placing their class lectures online for free.  This act of love provides wonderful opportunities for discipleship, training, and review. This post highlights the second of four theology classes offered by the seminary (the first is here ). Here are a few questions these videos will help you answer: Who was Jesus of Nazareth? (Christology, the largest section) What claims did He make? Why did He come to earth and die? What false beliefs and heresies about Christ have arisen over the years? What prophecy points to Him? Who is the Holy Spirit? (Pnuematology) Or, should the question be what is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit do? What does it mean to be indwelt by the Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit work through the Charismatic-type churches? What are angels and demons? (Angelology) Who is Satan, for th...

Steve Lawson on the Ministry of the Holy Spirit http://www.gty.org/Blog/B130806 Pentecostalism is a charismatic movement that derives its name from the day of Pentecost described in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the members of the early church. That passage remains a centerpiece of Pentecostal teaching to this day. It is ironic that such a "movement of the Holy Spirit" has always paid little or no attention to Jesus' clear description of the Spirit's true ministry in His church. In this video, Steve Lawson explains what that ministry is. Jesus, referring to the Holy Spirit, said, "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8). He also said, "He [the Spirit] will testify about Me" (John 15:26 ). A clear proclamation of the true ministry of the Holy Spirit, and what that work looks like in the lives of His people, is long overdue—but not for much longer! For i...

Steve Lawson on the Role of the Holy Spirit http://www.gty.org/Blog/B130730 Christians exalt God—we understand that. That means we should exalt each member of the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The charismatic movement, however, tends to focus attention on the Holy Spirit to an inappropriate degree. In the following video, Steve Lawson explains why that is a problem. The ministry of the Spirit is to primarily magnify the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is a mark of any true movement of the Holy Spirit. The Strange Fire conference will declare and defend a biblical view of the Holy Spirit. For more information about the conference, please visit www.tmstrangefire.org. In anticipation of the sold-out Truth Matters' Strange Fire Conference taking place October 16-18, 2013, we will be looking at each of the promo videos.  God bless!

What Does It Mean to Be "Led by the Spirit"? http://www.gty.org/Blog/B130423 In anticipation of the sold-out Truth Matters' Strange Fire Conference taking place October 16-18, 2013, we will be looking at each of the promo videos.  God bless!

nbelievers, invited there to begin a several-week investigation of Christianity, arrive at a catered midweek service. There, they meet their group leaders who encourage them to ask questions about the faith. Aspects of the Gospel are presented over the next few weeks with hopes that unbelievers will repeat the sinner’s prayer, and many will. They are now ready for their Holy Spirit Weekend, where they will gather to lift their voices in chaotic syllables and tones—where they will learn to sing and pray “in the Spirit.” I’ve attended one of these Holy Spirit Weekends, but since I did not believe the Holy Spirit endorses tongues “singing,” I took on the role of an observer. The instructions I heard were similar to those given by Charismatic radio broadcasts. Get rid of doubt and fear. Ask, and the Father will give you the good gift of the Holy Spirit. Open your mouths in faith and begin producing sounds, and the Holy Spirit will take control. As the guitar plays, listen to ...

hat might it be like for those indwelling Hell to visit Heaven’s glories for a day? C. S. Lewis helps us envision this bizarre scenario in The Great Divorce .  There, we meet a woman seeking her son who happened to trust in Christ, and thus avoided the torments she endures.  Even though she's presented with a rare, post-mortem opportunity to convert (Scripture gives no indication that such an offer would ever take place), she not only rejects Christ again, but states that she would rather her son spend eternity with her in the pit rather than for her to continue to endure their separation. Though she called her emotional attachment to her son love , we recognize it as being twisted and deformed by her controlling nature.  We notice it because we can think of real-life examples of false love.  As our society continues to pollute love with things like lust, power, and control, the genuine emotion seems to slip further from our cultural conscience.  ...