1 00:00:05,486 --> 00:00:07,075 "What Father among you 2 00:00:07,075 --> 00:00:09,406 if his son asks for a fish 3 00:00:09,406 --> 00:00:12,180 will instead of a fish 4 00:00:12,180 --> 00:00:13,838 give him a serpent? 5 00:00:13,838 --> 00:00:15,188 Or if he asks for an egg 6 00:00:15,188 --> 00:00:16,958 will give him a scorpion? 7 00:00:16,958 --> 00:00:19,187 If you then who are evil 8 00:00:19,187 --> 00:00:20,732 know how to give good gifts 9 00:00:20,732 --> 00:00:21,649 to your children, 10 00:00:21,649 --> 00:00:23,559 how much more will your heavenly Father 11 00:00:23,559 --> 00:00:26,431 give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" 12 00:00:26,431 --> 00:00:30,235 Now, brethren, I would just challenge you here. 13 00:00:30,235 --> 00:00:32,398 How much more will your heavenly Father 14 00:00:32,398 --> 00:00:35,459 give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? 15 00:00:35,459 --> 00:00:37,405 One thing I want you to see right off 16 00:00:37,405 --> 00:00:38,710 and absolutely clearly 17 00:00:38,710 --> 00:00:41,055 and make no mistake about: 18 00:00:41,055 --> 00:00:43,821 These are saved men 19 00:00:43,821 --> 00:00:47,100 asking Jesus to teach them to pray. 20 00:00:47,100 --> 00:00:49,857 These are not lost men asking Jesus 21 00:00:49,857 --> 00:00:51,891 how to be saved. 22 00:00:51,891 --> 00:00:53,213 Now that's important 23 00:00:53,213 --> 00:00:56,033 because the way to be saved 24 00:00:56,033 --> 00:01:01,564 is not to ask God for the Holy Spirit. 25 00:01:01,564 --> 00:01:03,540 You understand that, right? 26 00:01:03,540 --> 00:01:06,085 Because there can be a misunderstanding here. 27 00:01:06,085 --> 00:01:08,109 People can look at this and they can say, 28 00:01:08,109 --> 00:01:11,226 well, if they're asking for the Holy Spirit, 29 00:01:11,226 --> 00:01:15,078 maybe that means that they don't have the Holy Spirit 30 00:01:15,078 --> 00:01:17,166 and people that don't have the Holy Spirit 31 00:01:17,166 --> 00:01:18,357 are lost people, 32 00:01:18,357 --> 00:01:21,041 and so you go the Father and you ask Him for the Spirit, 33 00:01:21,041 --> 00:01:24,592 and basically, if, you know, 34 00:01:24,592 --> 00:01:26,369 Paul says this in Roman 8, 35 00:01:26,369 --> 00:01:28,199 if you don't have the Spirit, 36 00:01:28,199 --> 00:01:30,001 you don't belong to Jesus Christ. 37 00:01:30,001 --> 00:01:31,382 Right? So maybe it's people 38 00:01:31,382 --> 00:01:33,189 who don't have the Spirit, 39 00:01:33,189 --> 00:01:34,796 who don't belong to Jesus Christ 40 00:01:34,796 --> 00:01:36,689 coming to the Father to get the Spirit 41 00:01:36,689 --> 00:01:39,610 so that they can get saved. 42 00:01:39,610 --> 00:01:42,191 I don't know if any of you have ever thought that, 43 00:01:42,191 --> 00:01:44,617 but that is obviously not what that means. 44 00:01:44,617 --> 00:01:47,520 What you have is you have the idea 45 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:52,921 of a child going to his father, 46 00:01:52,921 --> 00:01:56,947 which is very consistent with the disciples 47 00:01:56,947 --> 00:02:02,585 asking Jesus to show them how to pray 48 00:02:02,585 --> 00:02:03,633 to their Father. 49 00:02:03,633 --> 00:02:05,365 And that's how Jesus started, right? 50 00:02:05,365 --> 00:02:08,087 Pray this way: "Father..." 51 00:02:08,087 --> 00:02:11,747 "Our Father..." 52 00:02:11,747 --> 00:02:13,751 So, what does that mean? 53 00:02:13,751 --> 00:02:15,935 Obviously every single Christian 54 00:02:15,935 --> 00:02:18,420 has the Holy Spirit, 55 00:02:18,420 --> 00:02:23,623 so if we already have the Spirit, 56 00:02:23,623 --> 00:02:26,274 and if the Spirit once takes up residency - 57 00:02:26,274 --> 00:02:27,787 by the way, 58 00:02:27,787 --> 00:02:29,209 one of the promises connected 59 00:02:29,209 --> 00:02:30,640 with the New Covenant 60 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:33,950 is that God's going to give His Spirit to us. 61 00:02:33,950 --> 00:02:36,379 He's going to put His Spirit within us. 62 00:02:36,379 --> 00:02:38,818 And if we don't have that Spirit, 63 00:02:38,818 --> 00:02:43,128 what is it? About Romans 8:9 I think? 64 00:02:43,128 --> 00:02:45,776 If we don't have the Spirit, we don't belong to Christ. 65 00:02:45,776 --> 00:02:48,816 And obviously, we don't go 66 00:02:48,816 --> 00:02:55,902 having the Spirit, losing the Spirit, having the Spirit, losing the Spirit. 67 00:02:55,902 --> 00:02:59,293 Once that Spirit is given, 68 00:02:59,293 --> 00:03:02,110 He is with us always. 69 00:03:02,110 --> 00:03:04,491 Forever. 70 00:03:04,491 --> 00:03:05,762 Jesus said that. 71 00:03:05,762 --> 00:03:08,177 Jesus said that this Comforter was coming, 72 00:03:08,177 --> 00:03:12,683 and He would be with them forever. 73 00:03:12,683 --> 00:03:14,963 And so what do we make of that? 74 00:03:14,963 --> 00:03:17,207 Why are we praying for the Holy Spirit 75 00:03:17,207 --> 00:03:22,774 if we already have the Holy Spirit? 76 00:03:22,774 --> 00:03:24,038 Well, it's interesting, 77 00:03:24,038 --> 00:03:25,690 if we look at the parallel passage 78 00:03:25,690 --> 00:03:27,942 over in Matthew 7, 79 00:03:27,942 --> 00:03:29,791 it doesn't say "Holy Spirit" there, 80 00:03:29,791 --> 00:03:32,686 it says "good things." 81 00:03:32,686 --> 00:03:34,017 It almost seems to me like 82 00:03:34,017 --> 00:03:35,534 what Luke does is He reaches 83 00:03:35,534 --> 00:03:37,363 in the bag of good things 84 00:03:37,363 --> 00:03:40,176 and He brings out the best thing. 85 00:03:40,176 --> 00:03:42,199 And why would I say the best thing? 86 00:03:42,199 --> 00:03:43,842 Because Jesus, back there 87 00:03:43,842 --> 00:03:45,808 in that area where John started - 88 00:03:45,808 --> 00:03:50,141 the John 14, 15, 16 realm 89 00:03:50,141 --> 00:03:54,232 where Christ is leaving His disciples - 90 00:03:54,232 --> 00:03:56,012 do you know why He was telling them 91 00:03:56,012 --> 00:03:58,469 that He was leaving them peace 92 00:03:58,469 --> 00:04:01,310 and that they ought not to be afraid? 93 00:04:01,310 --> 00:04:03,713 Because He was telling them at the same time 94 00:04:03,713 --> 00:04:05,801 that He was going away. 95 00:04:05,801 --> 00:04:07,401 He was going to be taken away, 96 00:04:07,401 --> 00:04:09,258 but He said this to them: 97 00:04:09,258 --> 00:04:12,338 Look, it is more profitable for you 98 00:04:12,338 --> 00:04:17,036 that I go and the Holy Spirit come. 99 00:04:17,036 --> 00:04:18,648 There is something 100 00:04:18,648 --> 00:04:21,329 about having the Holy Spirit 101 00:04:21,329 --> 00:04:23,282 that is more profitable for the church 102 00:04:23,282 --> 00:04:26,638 than if Christ remained here bodily, 103 00:04:26,638 --> 00:04:28,257 earthly Himself. 104 00:04:28,257 --> 00:04:29,784 And Jesus realized it. 105 00:04:29,784 --> 00:04:31,548 The Holy Spirit was going to unleash 106 00:04:31,548 --> 00:04:33,035 such power into the church. 107 00:04:33,035 --> 00:04:34,935 You think about just what happened 108 00:04:34,935 --> 00:04:36,359 in the life of Peter. 109 00:04:36,359 --> 00:04:38,859 Here's Peter walking with Christ 110 00:04:38,859 --> 00:04:41,145 bodily on the earth, 111 00:04:41,145 --> 00:04:43,065 and look what he was like, 112 00:04:43,065 --> 00:04:45,889 versus when Christ leaves, the Spirit comes, 113 00:04:45,889 --> 00:04:47,795 now Peter's filled with the Spirit, 114 00:04:47,795 --> 00:04:49,475 where before he was denying Christ 115 00:04:49,475 --> 00:04:50,866 in front of little girls. 116 00:04:50,866 --> 00:04:53,409 Now he's standing boldly before the Sanhedrin 117 00:04:53,409 --> 00:04:55,070 and he's proclaiming Christ. 118 00:04:55,070 --> 00:04:57,531 And Christ Himself said 119 00:04:57,531 --> 00:04:59,248 Peter was going to go all the way 120 00:04:59,248 --> 00:05:02,966 to laying down his life for Christ. 121 00:05:02,966 --> 00:05:04,940 The Spirit of God 122 00:05:04,940 --> 00:05:09,239 endued the church of God 123 00:05:09,239 --> 00:05:11,724 with power from on high. 124 00:05:11,724 --> 00:05:15,228 And basically, I think the way 125 00:05:15,228 --> 00:05:18,001 we want to take Luke 11, 126 00:05:18,001 --> 00:05:20,610 how much more will our Father 127 00:05:20,610 --> 00:05:23,380 give the Holy Spirit to them that ask. 128 00:05:23,380 --> 00:05:28,501 It's the idea of the influences of the Spirit, 129 00:05:28,501 --> 00:05:30,285 and we all have to admit 130 00:05:30,285 --> 00:05:32,346 that even in that early church, 131 00:05:32,346 --> 00:05:33,901 they had the Spirit there. 132 00:05:33,901 --> 00:05:36,385 The Spirit came down on that church 133 00:05:36,385 --> 00:05:38,224 on the day of Pentecost. 134 00:05:38,224 --> 00:05:40,245 But some of those very same men 135 00:05:40,245 --> 00:05:43,570 upon whom that Spirit fell in that day, 136 00:05:43,570 --> 00:05:45,558 we find later accounts 137 00:05:45,558 --> 00:05:47,438 where filled with the Holy Spirit 138 00:05:47,438 --> 00:05:48,407 there was boldness, 139 00:05:48,407 --> 00:05:51,135 there was all sorts of things breaking out in the church. 140 00:05:51,135 --> 00:05:55,355 The power of God is not static in the church. 141 00:05:55,355 --> 00:05:58,095 You can't come to that conclusion by the book of Acts. 142 00:05:58,095 --> 00:06:00,351 You can't come to that conclusion historically. 143 00:06:00,351 --> 00:06:02,370 You can't come to that conclusion probably 144 00:06:02,370 --> 00:06:05,235 if you've been a Christian any length of time, 145 00:06:05,235 --> 00:06:07,772 you realize it in your own life. 146 00:06:07,772 --> 00:06:09,230 In the life of the church, 147 00:06:09,230 --> 00:06:12,403 we have ebbs and flows. 148 00:06:12,403 --> 00:06:17,655 Brethren, a pastor friend has said, 149 00:06:17,655 --> 00:06:20,571 brethren, if we have such promise in the Scriptures, 150 00:06:20,571 --> 00:06:22,289 every time we come to pray, 151 00:06:22,289 --> 00:06:24,751 we ought to be asking for the Holy Spirit. 152 00:06:24,751 --> 00:06:25,680 For what? 153 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:29,034 What does the Holy Spirit bring to the church? 154 00:06:29,034 --> 00:06:30,510 It brought to that early church 155 00:06:30,510 --> 00:06:31,916 boldness and courage 156 00:06:31,916 --> 00:06:34,602 to proclaim the Gospel. 157 00:06:34,602 --> 00:06:39,586 The Holy Spirit brings the Word to mind. 158 00:06:39,586 --> 00:06:41,762 Remember? He said if they get imprisoned 159 00:06:41,762 --> 00:06:43,720 or they're brought before these leaders 160 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:45,819 that don't worry ahead of time 161 00:06:45,819 --> 00:06:47,059 what you're going to say? 162 00:06:47,059 --> 00:06:48,828 Have you guys ever experienced that? 163 00:06:48,828 --> 00:06:50,257 You've been in a situation - 164 00:06:50,257 --> 00:06:51,874 maybe you haven't been in prison, 165 00:06:51,874 --> 00:06:53,348 but you've been in a situation 166 00:06:53,348 --> 00:06:55,287 where immediately you needed something 167 00:06:55,287 --> 00:06:56,977 and God gave it to you. 168 00:06:56,977 --> 00:06:59,911 Brethren, He brings the fruits of the Spirit. 169 00:06:59,911 --> 00:07:01,212 The chief one is love. 170 00:07:01,212 --> 00:07:02,801 You just can't get away from it. 171 00:07:02,801 --> 00:07:05,064 The New Testament is basically this: 172 00:07:05,064 --> 00:07:06,807 Christ gave a new commandment. 173 00:07:06,807 --> 00:07:09,632 That commandment is a commandment of love. 174 00:07:09,632 --> 00:07:11,837 That is the greatest test of Christianity. 175 00:07:11,837 --> 00:07:12,603 Love. 176 00:07:12,603 --> 00:07:14,771 And the Spirit is the one Who gives it to us. 177 00:07:14,771 --> 00:07:16,402 A love for Christ Himself. 178 00:07:16,402 --> 00:07:21,728 A love on the horizontal plane for one another. 179 00:07:21,728 --> 00:07:24,005 A love in the church. 180 00:07:24,005 --> 00:07:25,466 We heard about peace. 181 00:07:25,466 --> 00:07:27,331 He gives that peace. 182 00:07:27,331 --> 00:07:29,405 My peace I leave with you. 183 00:07:29,405 --> 00:07:31,386 Where does that peace come from? 184 00:07:31,386 --> 00:07:33,970 We find in Galatians 5 distinctly 185 00:07:33,970 --> 00:07:36,237 that peace comes from the Spirit of God. 186 00:07:36,237 --> 00:07:38,509 This Spirit is the one Who gives gifts 187 00:07:38,509 --> 00:07:39,573 to the church. 188 00:07:39,573 --> 00:07:40,776 Do we want gifts? 189 00:07:40,776 --> 00:07:42,148 Do we want laborers? 190 00:07:42,148 --> 00:07:43,608 Do we want men and women 191 00:07:43,608 --> 00:07:46,435 who have abilities to minister, 192 00:07:46,435 --> 00:07:47,720 to show mercy, 193 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:51,395 to give, to teach, to serve? 194 00:07:51,395 --> 00:07:52,588 Absolutely! 195 00:07:52,588 --> 00:07:54,575 All that gamut of gifts. 196 00:07:54,575 --> 00:07:56,779 Even the supernatural element. 197 00:07:56,779 --> 00:07:59,306 Brethren, it's the Spirit of God 198 00:07:59,306 --> 00:08:00,858 that gives those things. 199 00:08:00,858 --> 00:08:03,526 The Spirit of God is that Spirit 200 00:08:03,526 --> 00:08:06,316 which we are warned against quenching. 201 00:08:06,316 --> 00:08:08,305 Quenching has the idea 202 00:08:08,305 --> 00:08:10,176 of throwing water on a fire. 203 00:08:10,176 --> 00:08:11,602 You throw water on a fire, 204 00:08:11,602 --> 00:08:12,945 it diminishes its heat. 205 00:08:12,945 --> 00:08:14,352 It diminishes its light. 206 00:08:14,352 --> 00:08:17,321 The Spirit is what infuses the church 207 00:08:17,321 --> 00:08:21,183 with light and heat. 208 00:08:21,183 --> 00:08:23,173 We need to pray for the Spirit. 209 00:08:23,173 --> 00:08:24,863 When the Spirit helps us, 210 00:08:24,863 --> 00:08:27,042 when the Spirit empowers us, 211 00:08:27,042 --> 00:08:28,812 it's only then, brethren, 212 00:08:28,812 --> 00:08:30,807 that we can advance 213 00:08:30,807 --> 00:08:32,653 and we can take ground. 214 00:08:32,653 --> 00:08:34,002 It's the Spirit of God 215 00:08:34,002 --> 00:08:36,906 that puts that fire in the hearts of men and women 216 00:08:36,906 --> 00:08:39,707 to go forth, to lay down their lives 217 00:08:39,707 --> 00:08:41,475 for the Gospel's sake, 218 00:08:41,475 --> 00:08:43,319 to sacrifice. 219 00:08:43,319 --> 00:08:45,111 It's the Holy Spirit that we need 220 00:08:45,111 --> 00:08:48,145 in order to have a powerful Gospel. 221 00:08:48,145 --> 00:08:49,587 It's the Holy Spirit 222 00:08:49,587 --> 00:08:52,573 that causes men to be born again. 223 00:08:52,573 --> 00:08:54,413 We want to see life in this church. 224 00:08:54,413 --> 00:08:55,803 We want to see growth. 225 00:08:55,803 --> 00:08:57,261 Don't we find also, 226 00:08:57,261 --> 00:09:02,345 what is it about 2 Thessalonians 2:13? 227 00:09:02,345 --> 00:09:03,979 1 Thessalonians 2:13 228 00:09:03,979 --> 00:09:05,426 We find there, brethren, 229 00:09:05,426 --> 00:09:08,061 we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 230 00:09:08,061 --> 00:09:10,470 Sanctification. Any kind of growth. 231 00:09:10,470 --> 00:09:13,340 Don't we also find in 2 Corinthians 3:18, 232 00:09:13,340 --> 00:09:16,342 that by the Lord Who is the Spirit, 233 00:09:16,342 --> 00:09:19,193 that's how we behold the glory of Christ? 234 00:09:19,193 --> 00:09:21,751 And are transformed into His image 235 00:09:21,751 --> 00:09:24,309 from one degree of glory to another? 236 00:09:24,309 --> 00:09:26,077 Brethren, the Spirit of God 237 00:09:26,077 --> 00:09:28,532 is also an intercessor in our prayers. 238 00:09:28,532 --> 00:09:30,295 We find that in Romans 8. 239 00:09:30,295 --> 00:09:33,254 The Spirit is a Spirit of adoption. 240 00:09:33,254 --> 00:09:36,703 And He bears witness with our spirits 241 00:09:36,703 --> 00:09:38,013 that we're children of God. 242 00:09:38,013 --> 00:09:40,904 Beloved, do we want assurance in this church? 243 00:09:40,904 --> 00:09:42,019 I'll tell you what, 244 00:09:42,019 --> 00:09:43,844 it's when we have a hope of salvation, 245 00:09:43,844 --> 00:09:45,377 and a deep-founded assurance 246 00:09:45,377 --> 00:09:47,463 that you can lay your life down for Christ. 247 00:09:47,463 --> 00:09:48,512 People would go around 248 00:09:48,512 --> 00:09:49,796 doubting, wondering, 249 00:09:49,796 --> 00:09:51,955 not sure if they're in, sure if they're out, 250 00:09:51,955 --> 00:09:53,709 very difficult for people like that 251 00:09:53,709 --> 00:09:57,489 to really launch out and do anything for Christ. 252 00:09:57,489 --> 00:10:01,179 Brethren, we need the Spirit's power 253 00:10:01,179 --> 00:10:03,473 and His working in our midst. 254 00:10:03,473 --> 00:10:06,128 And what we have here is a promise. 255 00:10:06,128 --> 00:10:08,093 What we have here is disciples 256 00:10:08,093 --> 00:10:10,954 coming to Christ and saying, 257 00:10:10,954 --> 00:10:12,740 "Teach us to pray." 258 00:10:12,740 --> 00:10:15,941 And He wraps up this whole instruction on prayer 259 00:10:15,941 --> 00:10:19,771 with this: be persistent. 260 00:10:19,771 --> 00:10:22,432 Ask and seek and knock. 261 00:10:22,432 --> 00:10:24,062 And above every other thing 262 00:10:24,062 --> 00:10:28,333 that He talks to us about asking for, 263 00:10:28,333 --> 00:10:34,925 He says seek from your Father the Holy Spirit. 264 00:10:34,925 --> 00:10:37,491 I believe that when it says ask for the Holy Spirit, 265 00:10:37,491 --> 00:10:41,055 the idea is that we are to ask 266 00:10:41,055 --> 00:10:44,267 for His influences, 267 00:10:44,267 --> 00:10:48,784 for His fiery influences. 268 00:10:48,784 --> 00:10:51,132 Brethren, we don't want to quench that Spirit. 269 00:10:51,132 --> 00:10:55,804 We want to ask for it. 270 00:10:58,296 --> 00:11:02,260 Did that about use up that 20 minutes? 271 00:11:02,260 --> 00:11:05,272 Pretty close. 272 00:11:09,139 --> 00:11:14,692 I just leave you with this thought. 273 00:11:14,692 --> 00:11:16,597 "How much more will the heavenly Father 274 00:11:16,597 --> 00:11:21,561 give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" 275 00:11:21,561 --> 00:11:24,472 Did you catch those last words? 276 00:11:24,472 --> 00:11:33,289 To those who ask Him. 277 00:11:33,289 --> 00:11:36,222 Brethren, you let your Calvinism 278 00:11:36,222 --> 00:11:39,644 take you in a direction 279 00:11:39,644 --> 00:11:45,240 where you logically start to conclude 280 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,485 that your prayers don't matter - 281 00:11:48,485 --> 00:11:51,357 James says you have not because you do not ask. 282 00:11:51,357 --> 00:11:53,982 Brethren, if you've got a sort of Calvinism 283 00:11:53,982 --> 00:11:56,485 that doesn't believe that statement, 284 00:11:56,485 --> 00:11:59,662 then dump it. 285 00:11:59,662 --> 00:12:00,918 Prayer matters. 286 00:12:00,918 --> 00:12:02,368 God hears prayer. 287 00:12:02,368 --> 00:12:05,250 God gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask. 288 00:12:05,250 --> 00:12:08,952 Jesus does not say 289 00:12:08,952 --> 00:12:11,202 that if you don't ask, don't seek, 290 00:12:11,202 --> 00:12:12,859 don't knock, God is sovereign, 291 00:12:12,859 --> 00:12:14,204 God has His decrees, 292 00:12:14,204 --> 00:12:15,782 and He's going to do it anyways. 293 00:12:15,782 --> 00:12:18,224 He doesn't say that. 294 00:12:18,224 --> 00:12:19,798 He says He gives the Holy Spirit 295 00:12:19,798 --> 00:12:21,283 to them that ask. 296 00:12:21,283 --> 00:12:23,814 Brethren, God forbid we get to the end 297 00:12:23,814 --> 00:12:25,578 and we find we could have had more 298 00:12:25,578 --> 00:12:27,158 if we would have asked for it, 299 00:12:27,158 --> 00:12:30,029 but we just didn't ask. 300 00:12:30,029 --> 00:12:34,819 God help us to not get to that place. 301 00:12:34,819 --> 00:12:37,214 Amen. 302 00:12:37,214 --> 00:12:41,147 You're dismissed for the moment.