The Holy Spirit and As You Wish!

The Holy Spirit and … As you wish! 10.19.2014

While teaching through the life of Jesus from the Apostle John

I was struck by Jesus regular reference to the Holy Spirit

NT refers to the HS over 90 times

The teaching of Jesus and the writers of the Scriptures is that the HS is a person The HS - feels, speaks, understands, can be grieved and angered (has feelings) The HS can be lied to, ignored, rejected, denied and silenced

Two weeks ago I gave an introduction to the HS. Last week Pastor Mark – Holy Spirit and the Word.

As you wish!

One of my favorite movies is The Princess Bride When our three older kids were young – on a family trip – we’d listen to the book on cassette tape

When Wesley was working as the farm-boy, he fell in love with Buttercup Anything that Buttercup asked him to do he would simply respond – Totally Twitter-pated As you wish …

Later in the movie, Wesley returned as The Dread Pirate Roberts and there is one scene where Buttercup pushes The Dread Pirate Roberts down a hillside and she hears the words – “As you wish …”

That line --- As you wish … has been running through my mind as a response to the HS

When planning my Dad’s funeral this last week – I kept thinking – God is the one I have to please People’s expectations, wanting people’s approval at least not their disapproval God is the one I am called to please

Jump into the Bible study …

As you wish …

Scriptures use the term ‘please the Spirit’

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8 NIV)

Whoever sows to please their flesh ---- destruction Whoever sows to please the Spirit --- life

When someone chooses to please the Spirit they are living the AS YOU WISH life.

Here’s what we know from Jesus – the writers of NT Every person who commits to live as a follower of Jesus Who entrusts their past, present and future into Jesus’ care Who entrusts his yesterday, today and tomorrow into Jesus’ care is forgiven and the HS is placed in their heart.

The Apostle Paul referred to the Spirit living in a Jesus follower this way:

Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT)

My body – this bag of flesh and bones is the container for the HS The HS was given and lives in you

The work of the HS is to enable us to live the life that Jesus desires for us to live.

I’m going to take you on a little bit of a journey today as to how the HS works in us Death/Life

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. (Romans 8:5 NLT)

Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:6 NLT)

Sinful controlled mind = No way – I’ll do what I want - death Spirit controlled mind = As you wish! - Life

Death/Life – enemies Not just cross-town rivals Mortal enemies Clear back to the Garden of Eden

God gave Adam and Eve one instruction …

The LORD God warned him, "You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden —except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 NLT)

You are sure to die What does it mean - DIE --- Life will be removed from you

You will DIE - You will be alive but you won't be alive You’ll be alive without life flowing through you

One way – death One way – Life

Life is the – As you wish! Life

In Jesus’ most famous teaching – The Sermon on the Mount - there is a interesting line … He’s talking to the disciples and teaching them Blessed are the poor Blessed are the meek For whatever reason partway through his dialogue he tells his disciples that he didn’t come to mess with the Jewish Law

That the Jewish Law was important

I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 (NIV 1984)

Pharisees and the teachers of the law were the best of the best Prided themselves on having everything right Prayers Handling money Religious laws Professional righteous/religious guys

Unless your righteousness - Surpasses

Surpass the professional --- How in the world does that happen?

 Surpass the best hitter in all of baseball  Surpass the best QB rating  You can keep your job if you surpass the top sales person  We’ll keep you around if you sell more songs than U-2

He wasn’t just talking to the disciples then … He was talking to all of his disciples down through all time

How do I do that? How do I surpass the righteousness of the professional religious person?

By: Pleasing the Spirit By: Growing to the place where I respond – As you wish!

Pleasing the Spirit is the work of the Spirit in our lives

Come into this world and the absolute best I can do is strive to follow the law Let’s just say – the 10 Commandments The best/absolute best I can do is try to keep the 10 Commandments That is the absolute best I can do because I’m dead/death is in me

Ephesians 2:1 – When you were dead in your transgressions Eph 2:5 we were made alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions (Colossians 2:13 NIV) - When you were dead in your sins …

Then because of God’s work in my life I surrender/trust Jesus I place my – Past/Present/Future - into Jesus’ hands He forgives my past He leads me in the present He guides me through the future When I do that When I surrender to Jesus

IF YOU HAVEN’T DONE THAT … WE’RE GOING TO PRAY IN JUST A FEW MINUTES YOU CAN PLACE YOUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE INTO JESUS’ HANDS

When a person does that Jesus places the HS into a person Jesus places LIFE back in that person

When you were dead in your sins … God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins. (Colossians 2:13 NIV)

Now under the power of life …

Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law

Jesus’ most famous teaching – Sermon on the Mount dead – Law – life of the Spirit

Jesus … Let me illustrate what I mean by surpassing the righteousness of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'

Before the law – do whatever you want Hurt whoever you want Kill whoever you want Someone in your way … knock them off

That is how death acts

LAW comes along – You shall not murder, and anyone who does will be judged.

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.

Death – Do what you want Law – Don’t murder

Spirit – Life

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Death – do what you want Law – Don’t murder – and that is the absolute best someone can hope for when they are living under death Spirit – Life --- Be reconciled – make peace

Life – As you wish – Pleasing the Spirit Continually wrestle anger and hurt to the ground and let Jesus work it out of your heart. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' Before the law – do whatever you want

Sleep with whoever you want Whenever you want However you want As often as you want

That’s the way of --- death

Interesting that our world says --- that’s the way of life You really want to live life Get all you can get and get it now!

Law: You shall not commit adultery You have a wife/husband Sleep with them and them only

Spirit – Life But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Death – Do whatever you want sexually Law – 10 Commandments – Don’t commit adultery

Life – As you wish – Pleasing the Spirit Continually wrestle lust to the ground and let Jesus work it out of your heart.

Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.'

Before the law – do whatever you want

Promise people whatever you want or they want Manipulate Make false statements Say whatever you want That’s the way of --- death

Law – Don’t break your promises

Spirit - Life

Do not swear an vow at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.

And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. "

As you wish – Spirit pleasing life – the HS creates integrity in person Their word is all that’s needed No promises No swearing

I’ll do it and it’s done One more:

You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'

Before the law – do whatever you want

I don’t get mad I get even – That’s a lie I get vengeance I’m going to make them hurt I’m going to make them pay

Law – Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth

Life/Spirit – As you wish!

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Walk away Don’t get back Don’t make them pay

When we are under death – the best/absolute best we can hope to do is live the Law

But if our righteousness is to surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law

We have to have Life in us Life is the HS in us Life is letting the HS have access continually

Living the: As you wish life!

This last week I was preparing for my Dad’s funeral

Expectations Make people happy Family wants this Some are going to want it to lean this way Others want it to lean this way

People from the community … this expectation

My calling in life is to live the --- AS YOU WISH! life