More Than a Feeling: Understanding the Personal Presence of the Holy Spirit

The sermon is a doctrinally sound, topical exposition on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, centered on John 14. The pastor correctly affirms the Spirit's personality, His role in salvation and sanctification, and the Trinitarian nature of God. The hermeneutic rightly connects Old Testament promises to their New Testament fulfillment at Pentecost. While the core theology is solid, the homiletical structure suffers from a low text-to-talk ratio and a folksy tone that occasionally undercuts the gravity of the subject. The call to action, while earnest, could be more deeply rooted in the indicative grace of the Spirit's work rather than focusing primarily on the imperative of human effort.

🟢
Theological Status: Theologically Sound Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Philadelphia
❓ What do these grades mean?
🔍 Biblical Discernment: The 7 Church Parallels
The Faithful Parallels Smyrna • Philadelphia
Teaching that parallels the churches that endure suffering with true spiritual riches (Rev 2:9) and keep the Word of Christ without denial despite having "little strength" (Rev 3:8).
The Cold Orthodox Parallel Ephesus
Teaching that upholds doctrinal precision yet parallels the loss of the "first love"—the vital, motivating power of the Gospel (Rev 2:4).
The Formalist Parallels Sardis • Laodicea
Teaching that parallels churches relying on a reputation of being alive while being spiritually dead (Rev 3:1), or resting in lukewarm self-sufficiency, claiming to be "rich" while spiritually bankrupt (Rev 3:17).
The Compromised Parallels Pergamum • Thyatira
Teaching that parallels churches tolerating the "doctrine of Balaam" through cultural accommodation (Rev 2:14), or allowing seductive teachings that lead the flock into false gospels and immorality (Rev 2:20).
Date: 2025-11-09 | Church: Trinity Baptist Church | Speaker: Mark Harris

📺 Media: Watch Sermon on YouTube

🧐 Overview

Sermon Summary: This sermon moves beyond viewing the Holy Spirit as a vague force, presenting a clear biblical case for Him as a personal, present 'Helper'—just like Jesus—who empowers believers for daily life. It's a foundational message for anyone wanting to understand how God provides strength and comfort after Christ's ascension.

Pastoral Analysis: The sermon is a doctrinally sound, topical exposition on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, centered on John 14. The pastor correctly affirms the Spirit's personality, His role in salvation and sanctification, and the Trinitarian nature of God. The hermeneutic rightly connects Old Testament promises to their New Testament fulfillment at Pentecost. While the core theology is solid, the homiletical structure suffers from a low text-to-talk ratio and a folksy tone that occasionally undercuts the gravity of the subject. The call to action, while earnest, could be more deeply rooted in the indicative grace of the Spirit's work rather than focusing primarily on the imperative of human effort.

Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Philadelphia — The sermon presents sound, foundational doctrine on the person and work of the Holy Spirit with warm Gospel affections, avoiding major error, though it could be strengthened in homiletical precision and depth.

🧭 Biblical Alignment Dashboard

Overall Verdict: Biblically Sound

CategoryStatusReasoning
Soteriology ⚠️ WEAK While affirming salvation through Christ, the sermon lacks precision on the sovereign, monergistic work of the Spirit in regeneration, leaning on general invitational language without fully articulating God's decisive role in drawing the sinner.
Bibliology ✅ PASS The sermon affirms the authority of Scripture, treating both Old and New Testaments as God's inspired Word and the foundation for doctrine.
Hermeneutic ✅ PASS The pastor correctly connects Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah, Joel) about the Spirit to their fulfillment at Pentecost, demonstrating a sound redemptive-historical understanding.
Theology Proper ✅ PASS The sermon clearly and repeatedly affirms the doctrine of the Trinity and the distinct personhood of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Sacramentology ⚪ N/A No sacraments were observed or discussed in the provided transcript.

📖 How they Handle Scripture & Jesus

Primary Text: John 14 (Topical)

Scripture Saturation: Verses Read: 9 | Referenced: 6 | Alluded: 4

Passages Read Aloud:

  • John 14:16-20 [00:36:34 ▶️ 📄]
    "And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another helper, that he may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him, but you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans I will come to you a little while longer and the world will see me no more but you will see me because I live you will live also at that day You will know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you."
  • Isaiah 44:3 [00:47:29 ▶️ 📄]
    "For I will pour water on him who is thirsty and floods on the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring."
  • Joel 2:28-29 [00:48:44 ▶️ 📄]
    "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. Your young men shall see visions."
  • John 14:12 [00:52:31 ▶️ 📄]
    "Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in me and works that I do, he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father."
  • John 14:17 [01:10:53 ▶️ 📄]
    "The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, But you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you."
  • John 14:20 [01:12:06 ▶️ 📄]
    "At that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me And what's that last statement? An I in you."

Key References: Isaiah 44:3, Joel 2:28, Joel 2:28-29, John 14:12, 1 John 2:1, Psalm 51

Christological Connection: Thematic: The pastor connects the text to Christ by explaining that the Holy Spirit is 'another helper of the same kind' (allos) as Jesus, making Christ's personal presence and power available to the believer.

🧱 Sermon Outline

  • Introduction: The Disciples' Need for a Helper [00:33:04 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor sets the context of John 14, describing the disciples' anxiety at Jesus' impending departure and their need for comfort and strength.
  • Point 1: The Assurance of the Holy Spirit [00:46:32 ▶️ 📄] : The sermon establishes the promise of the Spirit's coming, tracing the assurance from Old Testament prophets like Isaiah and Joel to the direct promise of Jesus.
  • Point 2: The Assignment of the Holy Spirit [00:58:02 ▶️ 📄] : This section focuses on the personality of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that He is a person, not an impersonal force, and explaining that He is 'another helper' of the same kind as Jesus.
  • Point 3: The Activity of the Holy Spirit [01:10:02 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor explains the Spirit's work for us (salvation), in us (sanctification), and through us (service/witness), contrasting His pre-Pentecost work 'with' people to His post-Pentecost work 'in' people.
  • Conclusion & Application [01:18:02 ▶️ 📄] : The sermon concludes with a call to know and obey the Holy Spirit promptly, inviting the congregation to respond at the altar.

🗝️ Key Topics & Themes

  • Military Service and Sacrifice [00:19:25 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor prays for military personnel and honors their service.
  • Worship and Praise [00:21:07 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor leads a prayer asking for God's guidance during worship.
  • Holy Spirit [00:22:20 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor mentions the gift of the Holy Spirit given to believers.
  • The Holy Spirit [00:38:37 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers.
  • The Holy Spirit's role in spiritual growth and church vitality [00:40:31 ▶️ 📄] : The pastor emphasizes the importance of understanding the Holy Spirit for personal and communal spiritual growth.

✅ Commendations

Theology Proper | Clear Teaching on the Personality of the Spirit

Your insistence that the Holy Spirit is a person, not an 'it,' was powerful and pastorally crucial. Having the congregation repeat the phrase 'The Holy Spirit is a person' effectively corrected a common and debilitating misconception, rightly shifting the focus from 'How can I use it?' to 'How can He use me?'

Hermeneutics | Correct Redemptive-Historical Connection

Your use of Isaiah 44 and Joel 2 was excellent. You correctly presented these Old Testament passages not as standalone proof-texts but as prophecies that find their ultimate fulfillment in the New Covenant work of Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. This teaches the congregation to read the Bible as a unified story.

Christology | Insightful Explanation of 'Another Helper'

Explaining the Greek word 'allos' (another of the same kind) versus 'heteros' was a moment of profound clarity. This simple linguistic point powerfully established that the Spirit is not a lesser replacement for Jesus, but the very presence and power of Christ made available to every believer.

🧠 Questions for Reflection

Use these questions for personal study or small group discussion:

  • The pastor emphasized that the Holy Spirit is a 'person' you can have a relationship with, not just a force. How does this idea challenge or change your previous understanding of God?
  • The sermon described the Christian life as one empowered by an internal 'helper.' In what areas of your own life do you feel you lack the power or strength to overcome challenges, and how does the concept of a divine helper address that feeling?
📜 Full Sermon Transcript (Audit)

Use the 📄 icons next to quotes above to automatically jump to their location in this raw transcript.

[00:00:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Just keep walking.

[00:08:42] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In Jesus' name, amen.
[00:09:20] Let us pray.
[00:09:29] Let us pray.
[00:11:27] Let us pray.

[00:11:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Right on, King Jesus, no man can hinder me.
[00:11:55] Right on, King Jesus, right on, no man can hinder me.
[00:11:56] I was one young when I begun, no man can hinder me, but now my race is
[00:12:03] RIDE ON, KING JESUS, NO MAN CAN UNHINDER ME.
[00:12:27] RIDE ON, KING JESUS, RIDE ON, NO MAN CAN UNHINDER ME.

[00:12:28] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
KING JESUS RIDES ON A WELL-FIED HORSE, NO MAN CAN UNHINDER ME.
[00:12:29] THE RIVER OF JOY AND LEANING CROSS, NO MAN CAN UNHINDER ME.

[00:12:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Rite on, King Jesus, no man can anger thee.
[00:12:42] Rite on, King Jesus, rite on, no man can anger thee.
[00:12:45] If you want to find your way to God, no man can hinder me, the gospel my way must be taught.

[00:13:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Let's stand as we sing our first hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

[00:13:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[00:14:13] of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Christ of Latter-day Saints

[00:14:31] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

[00:14:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
All to grace now reign our King!
[00:15:13] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy

[00:15:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Well, good morning.
[00:15:52] It is great to see you here in the house of the Lord and so grateful that you've gathered with us as we have joined here at Trinity Baptist Church in Mooresville, North Carolina just to lift up and magnify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
[00:16:07] And if you're visiting with us today, we want to bid you a warm welcome in the name of the Lord and on behalf of our Trinity Baptist family.
[00:16:14] In fact, our deacons have some gift bags that they would love to put in the hands of those of you who are visiting with us this morning.
[00:16:20] and some things that we want you to take home that you will hopefully remember your time here at Trinity that you'll find in that bag and then the guest card that we want you to take it just a moment fill it out and place in the offering plate when it comes by a little bit later in the service so if you are visiting with us as they make their way down the aisle just lift your hand up high enough and long enough
[00:16:40] We invite you to pray with us and when we study God's Word
[00:17:04] We hope you'll take a copy of the Bible and turn with us today and again, just let God speak to you right where you are this very morning.
[00:17:13] Well listen, this is an important week.
[00:17:16] It is the week that we celebrate veterans and I've had the privilege over the weekend of being at a number of events and I'll tell you, I am grateful that there are still communities in this country who understand the importance
[00:17:30] of celebrating and honoring the men and women who have been willing to stand in the gap put themselves out there for our freedom for our safety and and really for freedom around the world and that is the men and women who have worn the uniform of this country so i want to take a moment this morning right here i know it's not veterans day veterans days on tuesday the 11th
[00:17:53] But I want to take a moment this morning and ask all of our veterans if you will this morning just to stand right where you are so we can take a moment and just say thank you.
[00:18:03] Would you do that?
[00:18:04] If you're a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, would you stand right where you are today?
[00:18:25] Well it is so important and I hope that if you recognize those that as they stood in just a moment when we greet each other I hope you'll take a moment to maybe just grab their hand and say thank you because if ever there was a time that we need to say to our veterans a word of thank you we need to do it not only in what we say but also in showing it through care and through love and through respect for the impact that they have made
[00:18:54] and continue to make in our United States military that are called on on so many occasions and how grateful grateful we are for your service and the impact that you have made well listen we want to go to the Lord in prayer this morning and I'm just going to ask you if you will to join me as we just ask him to just move mightily in our midst as we worship him today father we do just stop in the midst of of this time
[00:19:25] To just focus our eyes squarely upon you, the very author and finisher of our faith.
[00:19:36] Lord, I am grateful for this community and I'm grateful for churches across this nation who still will take time to honor those men and women who stand in the gap and have stood in the gap for generations.
[00:19:55] Been willing to take the risk of paying the price and knowing that there are many that we celebrate on a different day their lives called Memorial Day who paid the ultimate price and gave everything including their own lives for the freedom that we know and that we live out every day.
[00:20:26] So Father, I just pray that you would just touch those who have served our nation today, that you would just touch their hearts and remind them that there are places across this nation who truly recognize, honor, and respect the service that they have given to our country.
[00:20:48] And Lord, today as we join our hearts just to lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving to you, we do so knowing that, Father, you guard us and you guide us each and every day.
[00:21:07] We know that you died for us on the cross of Calvary, and we know that it's only through the shed blood of Jesus that men can be made right with you.
[00:21:19] And Lord, I pray that this morning as we continue this worship service that we might truly let our voices be lifted in praise and worship to you.
[00:21:29] That our hearts would be open to what you want to say to us as we study your word together.
[00:21:34] And Father, that we would not miss this opportunity to open our own hearts to say to you, Lord, speak.
[00:21:43] Your servant listens.
[00:21:46] And may all of us listen.
[00:21:49] To what you want to say to us today, remind us as we study the presence and the person and the power of the Holy Spirit today, remind us of the amazing gift that has been given to all of us as Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father and the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to us to live and function every single day here on this planet Earth.
[00:22:20] We're not alone.
[00:22:23] And we thank you for that.
[00:22:25] May you guide us as we honor you today.
[00:22:29] For it's in the name of Jesus that we pray.
[00:22:32] And all God's people said, Amen.
[00:22:36] Listen, if you have children or preschoolers with you from preschool through third grade, we want to invite them to come and make their way to the front and to go here to my right and your left.
[00:22:45] and as we are greeting one another so let's all stand to your feet right now if you will and let's turn around and shake a few hands hug a few necks thank a veteran today if you saw them this morning for their service and the impact they've made for our country hello how are y'all today

[00:23:19] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:23:28] Amen.

[00:23:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
There is within my heart all melody Jesus whispers sweet and low Fear not, I am with thee, peace be still Hear how all parts ebb and flow Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Sweetest name I know
[00:24:07] Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.
[00:24:29] All my life was wrecked by sin and strife, discord filled my heart with pain.
[00:24:31] Jesus swept across the broken streets, stirred the slumbery courts again.
[00:24:32] Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, Gives my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.
[00:24:50] Most of times He lays through waters deep Trials fall across the way Most of times the passing's rough and steep See His footprints all the way Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know
[00:25:15] Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.
[00:25:31] Soon He's coming back to welcome me, far beyond the starry sky.
[00:25:32] I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown I shall reign with Him on high Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Sweetest name I know Fills my every longing Keeps me singing as I go
[00:26:02] The foundation, ye saints of the Lord, His way, for your way, it is excellent work.
[00:26:27] What more can he say than to you he hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus hath fled?
[00:26:29] Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, I will still in thee aid.
[00:26:56] I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.
[00:26:58] With true fiery trials thy pathway shall mine My great songs of mission shall be thy supply The flame shall not hurt thee, I only desire Thy drops to consume and thy gold to refine
[00:27:28] The soul that on Jesus hath weaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to its foes.
[00:27:55] That soul, though all hell should endeavor to slay, I'll never, though never, though never forslay.

[00:27:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Amen.
[00:28:00] You may be seated.

[00:28:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Well, good morning, Trinity family.
[00:28:10] What a joy to be gathered here in the house of the Lord.
[00:28:12] Amen.
[00:28:14] This is the moment in our worship when we have the privilege to give back to God a portion of what He has so richly provided for us.
[00:28:22] Every good and perfect gift comes from Him, and today we give not out of obligation, but out of gratitude and love.
[00:28:31] For those worshiping with us online, you may also share this act of giving through TrinityBaptist.com.
[00:28:40] Let us pray.
[00:28:42] Heavenly Father, we thank you for this sacred place of worship and for the people who make this church a family, and for the many blessings you continue to pour into our lives.
[00:28:53] Thank you for the vision of Trinity Christian Academy, where hearts and minds will be shaped for your kingdom.
[00:29:00] and the next generation will be trained to walk in truth and grace.
[00:29:04] Lord, may every gift given today be used to build your church, extend your love, and glorify your name.
[00:29:11] Keep us faithful in our giving, joyful in our serving, and steadfast in our walk with you.
[00:29:17] In the precious name of Jesus we pray.
[00:29:21] Amen.

[00:30:24] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:30:28] Amen.
[00:31:13] In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:31:37] Amen.
[00:32:04] Let us pray.

[00:32:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Amen and amen.
[00:33:00] Thank you, Brother Chase, for blessing us this morning.
[00:33:04] Turn in your Bibles, if you will, to the Gospel of John, the 14th chapter.
[00:33:09] The Gospel of John, the 14th chapter is where we find ourselves this morning.
[00:33:14] You know, God's people all through the ages have seemed to go to the 14th chapter of John as we've been seeing and really have found comfort, they've found strength, they've found peace, and they've found encouragement in difficult times in their lives.
[00:33:32] and you may remember that the chapter began by Jesus starting with that famous statement let not your hearts be troubled and we know of course that the disciples were troubled at that point in fact he had just told them that very night that he was going to be going away and the very thought that after three and a half years
[00:33:56] of being with him now just let that sink in for a moment three and a half years of being with him constantly meals together they slept under the same roof they were together throughout the day in the marketplace in the temple three and a half years they were with him constantly and now he was about to leave
[00:34:26] Think of the anxiety.
[00:34:30] Think of the trouble that was just filling their hearts.
[00:34:35] And so we found in this chapter that Jesus is actually speaking words of comfort to their hearts.
[00:34:44] That's why he said the statement, I go to prepare a place for you.
[00:34:49] And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again.
[00:34:55] He said words like, in my Father's house are many mansions.
[00:35:00] He said the statement, I am the way, the truth, and the life.
[00:35:06] No one comes to the Father except through me.
[00:35:10] Think about those statements.
[00:35:12] The strength, the comfort, the encouragement that those words had to have brought.
[00:35:20] But, can you imagine the disciples
[00:35:26] Emotionally had to be down.
[00:35:29] And I can see them really just thinking this through.
[00:35:33] He's going away.
[00:35:36] What are we going to do when He goes away?
[00:35:41] How in the world are we going to have the strength?
[00:35:43] How in the world are we going to have the knowledge?
[00:35:45] How in the world are we going to have the power to function and operate when He's gone
[00:35:55] How will we even deal with adversity if he goes away?
[00:36:04] And I paint that picture for you because I want you to know that it's in that context that Jesus is about to speak again here in verse 16.
[00:36:15] And I want you to stand and honor the reading of the Word of God.
[00:36:19] And we pick up in verse 16 and we're just going to read down through verse 20 to get started this morning.
[00:36:27] He's just said in verse 15, if you love me, keep my commandments, and then verse 16 is where we pick up.
[00:36:34] And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another helper, that he may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him, but you know him, for he dwells with you,
[00:36:57] and will be in you I will not leave you orphans I will come to you a little while longer and the world will see me no more but you will see me because I live you will live also at that day
[00:37:20] You will know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you.
[00:37:33] Would you pray with me, Father?
[00:37:38] Father, this is such an important passage of Scripture this morning.
[00:37:44] That I'm convinced that this generation desperately needs to hear and understand.
[00:37:51] For Lord, it's here we find incredible insight and understanding of the fact that we are not alone, but that you are in our midst.
[00:38:07] Lord, I just pray that today you will teach.
[00:38:10] I pray that today you will impart into the minds and hearts of every man and woman here your truth.
[00:38:17] And I just pray personally that you would let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, Lord, let them be pleasing unto you.
[00:38:27] For it's in Jesus' name I pray.
[00:38:30] Amen.
[00:38:30] You may be seated.
[00:38:33] Now, those of you that have been Christians for a long period of time,
[00:38:37] Jesus is speaking here in these verses we've just read about the coming of the Holy Spirit.
[00:38:48] You see, the Bible teaches that God has chosen to reveal Himself, as you know, in three persons.
[00:38:55] One God, one God, but He has revealed Himself in three persons.
[00:39:03] We call it the doctrine of the Trinity.
[00:39:06] And in fact, we know the doctrine of the Trinity teaches God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
[00:39:16] And we're finding here this morning in this critical, important passage of the Holy Spirit and the role He plays in the life of the believer.
[00:39:29] Now if you've been a Christian for a very long time, you know all about the truth in the Bible of the Holy Spirit.
[00:39:37] But I have come to recognize, at least in the last decade, that there are a lot of people that are hearing
[00:39:44] Messages in church today who are relatively new believers.
[00:39:49] And as a new believer you are seeing things here in this passage maybe you've never seen before.
[00:39:57] You're learning and hearing about things you've never learned about or heard before.
[00:40:03] And it could be that one of the truths that is new to you is the truth of the Holy Spirit.
[00:40:11] And I've come to believe, and I mean this with all my heart, that if you will understand the person and the work of the Holy Spirit, you will have found an absolute essential to the growth in your spiritual life.
[00:40:31] I mean, it's for sure.
[00:40:33] And one reason that a lot of people I think are not growing or have not grown and seem to be spiritual dwarfs
[00:40:41] is they've never understood what is taught about the Holy Spirit.
[00:40:47] It's been said that the average Christian lives somewhere between Calvary and Pentecost.
[00:40:54] And if you think about it, think about it in these terms.
[00:40:58] Think about Bethlehem.
[00:41:00] At Bethlehem we're going to celebrate a whole lot about Bethlehem in the coming weeks.
[00:41:05] That's about God with us.
[00:41:08] And then when you think about Calvary, there on the cross, think about God for us.
[00:41:17] He died for us there.
[00:41:21] But then you think about Pentecost.
[00:41:25] That's where it's all about God in us.
[00:41:30] God in us.
[00:41:35] And so we know
[00:41:37] That all believers have been to Calvary and they've understood God for us.
[00:41:46] You've understood that Christ Jesus died for your sins, but there are an awful lot of folks who have never understood Pentecost and understood what it means, God in us, in the person and the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit.
[00:42:05] Ladies and gentlemen,
[00:42:07] Mark it down.
[00:42:09] You and I need the Holy Spirit in our lives as born-again believers.
[00:42:15] We are living in a time that is filled with just unusual, out of the ordinary problems as we look around.
[00:42:23] And I don't believe that just ordinary living is going to be able to cope with many of the problems that we're seeing in our world today.
[00:42:31] I don't believe that the average Christian life that's being lived out in America today is going to be successful.
[00:42:39] You know why?
[00:42:40] Because I'm convinced you must have the power of the Holy Spirit if you're going to remain strong and overcome the kind of temptations that we are seeing in our world today.
[00:42:52] If we're going to face the challenges of living for Christ in this millennium, we need the Holy Spirit applied every day in our lives.
[00:43:05] We need the Holy Spirit in our churches.
[00:43:10] The average church, apart from the Holy Spirit, many of you have been in the average church.
[00:43:18] It's just like Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones.
[00:43:25] Hello.
[00:43:29] I've been in a lot of churches that are like a lot of dry bones.
[00:43:36] You remember Ezekiel saw a valley filled with bones and yet those bones had no life in them.
[00:43:47] But when Ezekiel prophesied to the wind, the wind, the very breath of God from heaven came into those bones and they began to come together and they began to move and they began to live.
[00:44:02] And the same thing is true in the church today, my friend.
[00:44:07] The church is just like a valley of lifeless bones until the Holy Spirit's power takes control.
[00:44:14] And when the Holy Spirit comes on the scene, He takes the words of a man, He energizes him with power, and life is produced in the heart and lives of individuals.
[00:44:28] Listen, Jesus uses the word helper.
[00:44:33] Several times, in fact, four times in these chapters in John.
[00:44:39] I want you to look at them just and mark these.
[00:44:42] The first time is in verse 16 here of chapter 14.
[00:44:46] Look what he said.
[00:44:48] And I will pray the Father and he will give you another helper.
[00:44:53] Underline that.
[00:44:55] Then drop down to verse 26.
[00:44:57] And in verse 26,
[00:45:00] Jesus says, but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
[00:45:13] Look over at the next chapter in chapter 15 and look at verse 26.
[00:45:18] Jesus says, but when the Helper comes, some of your translations say Comforter, when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of me.
[00:45:36] And then look over at the next chapter in chapter 16 and drop down to verse 7 and you see Jesus says, nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is your advantage that I go away.
[00:45:48] For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.
[00:45:56] But if I depart, I will send Him to you.
[00:46:00] Do you see that?
[00:46:01] Four times in those three chapters, Jesus says the Holy Spirit, the Helper, is going to come.
[00:46:14] So what I want to do just in the next few minutes with all of us together is I want us to really focus as I lay out as simply as I know how some of the key things that the Bible teaches
[00:46:28] about this helper, the Holy Spirit.
[00:46:32] And number one, I want you to jot this down because it all starts with the assurance of the Holy Spirit.
[00:46:40] See, in the latter books of the Old Testament, you find the writings of the prophets.
[00:46:46] You'll find in Isaiah.
[00:46:48] You'll find in Jeremiah.
[00:46:50] You'll find in Ezekiel.
[00:46:52] You'll find in Daniel.
[00:46:54] There was this assurance
[00:46:58] That the Holy Spirit would come one day.
[00:47:03] In fact, hold your finger here in John 14 for a moment.
[00:47:06] I want to ask you to go back to Isaiah for just a minute.
[00:47:09] The book of Isaiah.
[00:47:14] In the book of Isaiah, I want you to look at chapter 44 and verse 3.
[00:47:20] In Isaiah 44 and verse 3, look what you find there.
[00:47:26] The prophet writes,
[00:47:29] For I will pour water on him who is thirsty and floods on the dry ground.
[00:47:38] I will pour My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring.
[00:47:49] You see Isaiah 44 3?
[00:47:52] It's the picture of this land that is very dry, it is very parched.
[00:47:58] It's been a long time without water.
[00:48:02] And yet God says that a time is coming when I will bring my Spirit.
[00:48:11] And it will be like refreshing rain on parched earth.
[00:48:21] Isaiah.
[00:48:23] If you turn over a few books to the book of Joel, there also in the Old Testament, you'll find down in Joel chapter 2 and verse 28.
[00:48:37] Joel chapter 2 and verse 28, you find these words.
[00:48:44] And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
[00:48:51] Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.
[00:48:57] Your old men shall dream dreams.
[00:49:00] Your young men shall see visions.
[00:49:05] You say, well, Mark, why are you pointing out to us what Isaiah wrote and what Joel wrote?
[00:49:09] Because I just want you to see, these are just two of the prophecies God gave in the Old Testament of the assurance that the day would come
[00:49:21] When God's Spirit would invade the lives of His people in a very, very special way.
[00:49:29] And now when you look not only to those Old Testament prophets, but Jesus is adding His own assurance right here in the 16th verse of John chapter 14.
[00:49:43] And now you know in the life of Jesus, the Holy Spirit played a very prominent role.
[00:49:51] In fact, think about this.
[00:49:55] One prominent role the Holy Spirit played was the way Jesus was born.
[00:50:01] Jesus was not born like you and I were born.
[00:50:05] Amen?
[00:50:07] When you and I were born, it was the result of conception between a male and a female.
[00:50:15] Yes, that's still how it works.
[00:50:19] Regardless of what you heard on TV today.
[00:50:23] Still works that way.
[00:50:24] That's biology 101.
[00:50:26] There was male and female.
[00:50:29] And yet when Jesus Christ was born, the Bible teaches us that He was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
[00:50:40] He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
[00:50:45] Jesus Himself was brought into the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.
[00:50:53] Spirit played a prominent role in Jesus' life.
[00:50:57] For another thing, I point to when Jesus was baptized.
[00:51:02] When He came up out of the water, we find that the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, actually came and rested upon Jesus.
[00:51:13] and everything Jesus did in his earthly ministry.
[00:51:16] He's himself pointed out he did this in the power of the Spirit in the wilderness when he was tempted.
[00:51:24] The Bible says he went into that temptation in the power of the Holy Spirit.
[00:51:31] When he performed miracles, he did so by the power of the Holy Spirit.
[00:51:38] You say, well, Mark, what's your point?
[00:51:40] My point is this.
[00:51:41] If you'll take one minute and think, we're talking about the Son of God.
[00:51:50] We're talking about Jesus Christ.
[00:51:54] And if Jesus needed the Holy Spirit in operation of His life, you and I desperately need the Holy Spirit operating in our lives.
[00:52:09] And so Jesus assures His disciples
[00:52:12] He says, I'm going to give the Holy Spirit to you.
[00:52:17] He will come in answer to my prayer.
[00:52:25] If you remember last week in John 14, we look back at verse 12, if you recall last week.
[00:52:31] And in verse 12, it says clearly, Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in me and works that I do, he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father.
[00:52:47] What's Jesus saying?
[00:52:48] He's saying, this is what is going to make it possible for my disciples
[00:52:53] to do even greater works than I have done.
[00:52:57] Jesus makes it very clear.
[00:52:59] Jesus says, I'm going to die on the cross.
[00:53:02] He makes it very clear.
[00:53:04] I'm going to be buried.
[00:53:05] Three days later, I'm going to arise from the dead.
[00:53:09] I'm going to the right hand of the Father.
[00:53:12] I'm going to ask the Father and He is going to give me the Holy Spirit as a love gift and I will die.
[00:53:23] I pour my Holy Spirit on you.
[00:53:32] Ladies and gentlemen, be assured of what Jesus was giving assurance of, that the Holy Spirit would come
[00:53:46] And I want you to know this morning, on this November Sunday, that the Bible has expressed that truth to us.
[00:53:55] That in the fullness of time, and the Holy Spirit was given, just as the Old Testament prophets had recorded it, just as Jesus himself had expressed it.
[00:54:06] Do you remember what happened on the day of Pentecost?
[00:54:10] You do recall that, don't you?
[00:54:12] The disciples had been in that upper room.
[00:54:14] They had been gathered there for ten days praying.
[00:54:17] They were all in one accord in one place.
[00:54:21] And the Bible says that there came a sound from heaven that was described as a rushing mighty wind.
[00:54:31] And the Bible says that God's Holy Spirit, like flames of fire, came and rested upon those people.
[00:54:39] And they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
[00:54:43] And if you will recall, they found themselves able to speak in languages they had not previously studied or learned.
[00:54:51] They found themselves able to communicate the gospel to folks who could not understand their dialect otherwise.
[00:55:00] And in the power of the Spirit working through those believers, ladies and gentlemen, more than 3,000 people came to faith in Jesus Christ that day.
[00:55:12] Man, we ought to give the Lord a praise offering for that, should we not?
[00:55:16] Absolutely.
[00:55:18] Praise His holy name.
[00:55:20] That's what happened.
[00:55:24] And it caused such a sensation.
[00:55:27] And in Acts chapter two, the people were all amazed seeing these ordinary people with this kind of power.
[00:55:37] And by the time you get to verse 12 in Acts chapter two, the people asked,
[00:55:43] What does this all mean?
[00:55:44] Remember?
[00:55:47] What does this all mean?
[00:55:48] And Peter responded in verse 16 of that same Acts 2 chapter and said, This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.
[00:56:08] That's what this means.
[00:56:10] What you're seeing this day is exactly what the prophet Joel said was going to pass.
[00:56:19] In answer to the prayer of the Lord Jesus Himself, God's Holy Spirit came in power.
[00:56:33] So let me ask you, how is it that anybody can ever think
[00:56:39] God will bless them as a church.
[00:56:42] How can anybody ever think that God would bless them to be a soul winner if they don't have the power of God's Spirit working full measure in their lives?
[00:56:59] You see, the assurance of the Holy Spirit
[00:57:03] simply means that the Holy Spirit of God is just as present in the world today as Jesus was present in the world 2,000 years ago and that means
[00:57:20] that there is a supernatural personality active in this very world today on November the 9th, 2025.
[00:57:31] Can I tell you?
[00:57:33] God has not abandoned this world.
[00:57:41] He is just as alive, He is just as active, and He is working just as strongly
[00:57:50] As at any other time in history.
[00:57:55] The assurance was given of the Holy Spirit.
[00:58:02] But the second thing I want you to notice real quickly that's taught here is the assignment of the Holy Spirit.
[00:58:09] You say, what do you mean the assignment?
[00:58:10] Well, I already pointed out that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity.
[00:58:16] And now the Bible teaches, listen to me, that the Holy Spirit is a person.
[00:58:24] Make sure you understand that.
[00:58:26] When we're dealing with the Holy Spirit, we are dealing with a real personality.
[00:58:31] I meet too many people in my coming and going that think of the Holy Spirit as sort of impersonal, that somehow they think of the Holy Spirit as just some kind of power, some kind of it.
[00:58:45] No, no, no, no, no.
[00:58:47] The Holy Spirit is a person.
[00:58:49] In fact, I want everybody to say that with me.
[00:58:52] The Holy Spirit is a person.
[00:58:55] Say it again.
[00:59:00] Did you notice all the use of the personal pronouns?
[00:59:03] Look in verse 17 when you really get down to it.
[00:59:08] The Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him, talking about the world, neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you, this is Jesus to His disciples, you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you.
[00:59:31] You see all those personal pronouns?
[00:59:34] You say, but Mark, what's the big deal?
[00:59:36] I mean, so what, whether the Holy Spirit is a real person or an it?
[00:59:43] Oh, makes a huge difference.
[00:59:47] You know why?
[00:59:49] Because if the Holy Spirit were an it, then the question becomes, how can I get it?
[01:00:00] How can I use it?
[01:00:05] But if the Holy Spirit is a divine person, well the question becomes, how can He get me?
[01:00:19] How can He use me?
[01:00:24] See the difference?
[01:00:27] That's why this is so, so important.
[01:00:31] Listen, this is bottom line stuff here, and let me just put it in bottom line statement.
[01:00:36] When we know the Holy Spirit is a person who comes to live within the life of an individual believer, that's when our life will really change.
[01:00:49] He is a real person.
[01:00:52] You say, but wait a minute, Pastor, does the Holy Spirit have a body?
[01:00:56] No.
[01:00:56] Then how can the Holy Spirit be a person?
[01:01:01] If he has no body.
[01:01:03] Well, you don't have to have a body to be a person.
[01:01:07] I mean, you did know that, didn't you?
[01:01:09] I mean, for instance, the time will come when you're gonna die and they'll take that body of yours and they'll put it in the grave.
[01:01:20] But I've got important news for you.
[01:01:23] When your body dies and goes in the ground,
[01:01:29] You don't cease to be a person.
[01:01:34] Are you okay?
[01:01:38] When you were conceived, when that sperm met that egg, and you were conceived at that moment, you became a person.
[01:01:51] Make sure you know that.
[01:01:56] And you're going to live somewhere for all eternity because you're a person.
[01:02:04] That's why if you're lost today, you need Jesus desperately this morning because there is a life in you that is going to live forever and forever and forever somewhere.
[01:02:25] If you can realize today that the Holy Spirit is a person, say it with me again, the Holy Spirit is a person.
[01:02:34] One more time.
[01:02:37] The Holy Spirit is a person.
[01:02:38] If that truth will just get hold of your heart today, that the Holy Spirit is a real person, it will absolutely revolutionize your life as a Christian.
[01:02:49] Listen, here is a cure for loneliness.
[01:02:53] Right here.
[01:02:55] Some of you have lost loved ones.
[01:02:58] And listen, many of you are going to leave these services today and you're going to return to an empty house.
[01:03:05] You're going to return to an empty apartment.
[01:03:08] There's somebody that's single today and you're by yourself and you're lonely.
[01:03:13] But if you know Jesus as your personal Savior, you hear Him say, I give you another Helper and He'll abide with you forever.
[01:03:28] He's a cure to loneliness.
[01:03:31] He's also a cure for sorrow right here.
[01:03:36] Some of you have faced tragedy.
[01:03:39] And that tragedy you've been through and you could give testimony of it today has brought great incredible sorrow into your life.
[01:03:47] And you became aware of the unseen presence of the Comforter, the Helper, who came to bring you strength, who came to bring you encouragement in that very hour of need.
[01:03:58] Listen, how awesome is it to know that the very person of the Holy Spirit is in your life?
[01:04:09] By the way, look carefully at Jesus' words.
[01:04:14] Notice he uses this phrase, another helper.
[01:04:20] Another helper.
[01:04:23] Now, I just point that out to you because that word, another, helps you understand just what the Holy Spirit's assignment and who the Holy Spirit is like
[01:04:39] When he comes.
[01:04:41] Now, just so you understand this, there's two Greek words that are translated or mean another.
[01:04:49] One of those Greek words is the Greek word heteros.
[01:04:53] It's one often sometimes used and it means another of a different kind.
[01:05:00] If you're heterosexual, it means a man and woman, another of the different kind.
[01:05:08] There's another word that is used, allos, A-L-L-O-S, and it means another of the same kind.
[01:05:19] The word allos, A-L-L-O-S,
[01:05:23] is the one Jesus uses right here when he talks about another helper.
[01:05:30] And it's as if Jesus is saying, I will give you another of the same kind of helper.
[01:05:41] You get it?
[01:05:43] Jesus is saying, I'm gonna give you someone just like me.
[01:05:54] I'm going to give you someone just like me.
[01:06:01] I'll give you someone who's going to be in you and I'm going to give you someone who's going to be to you everything I've been during these three and a half years that we have dwelt together.
[01:06:15] Another helper, another of the same kind.
[01:06:22] Ladies and gentlemen, if you'll just let that sink into your heart this morning, Jesus is promising that His own personal presence is going to be available to you.
[01:06:33] Amen?
[01:06:35] He's saying another of the same kind.
[01:06:37] Jesus can be just as real to you in the 21st century as He was to the disciples as He was walking with them and talking with them every single day in the first century.
[01:06:50] I don't know about you, but I find that to be dynamite.
[01:06:54] When you really let that sink in.
[01:06:56] I'll give you another helper.
[01:07:01] In fact, you want some great news?
[01:07:05] As a believer today, just so you know that your stock is really high, you've got two helpers.
[01:07:15] You've got two helpers.
[01:07:18] You got the Holy Spirit who is the helper in your heart.
[01:07:23] And in 1 John 2.1, you got to turn over and look at it because I don't want you to take my word for anything.
[01:07:31] Go over to 1 John 2 and look at verse 1.
[01:07:34] I want you to see it with your own eyes.
[01:07:36] It says, My little children, these things I write to you so that you may not sin.
[01:07:47] But then look at the rest of it.
[01:07:49] And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
[01:08:07] Now make sure you get that.
[01:08:10] That word advocate, you might want to circle.
[01:08:13] Same Greek word as the helper.
[01:08:18] He's saying these things I write to you that you're not to sin, but if any man does sin, you've got an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
[01:08:36] Oh friend, listen to me.
[01:08:37] You've got two helpers today.
[01:08:40] You've got the Holy Spirit who is in your heart.
[01:08:43] He's in you.
[01:08:45] He's in you.
[01:08:46] He's in you pleading His case to you.
[01:08:51] And you've got another helper of the same kind who is at the right hand of the Father and His name is Jesus and He's pleading your case to the Father.
[01:09:06] Right now.
[01:09:08] You got two helpers this morning.
[01:09:11] I believe that ought to give the Lord a praise offering for that.
[01:09:14] That He's giving you two helpers this morning.
[01:09:18] You have the Holy Spirit in you pleading His case to you, convicting you, rebuking you, comforting you, strengthening you, speaking to you, guiding you, helping you walk, helping you maneuver through this world.
[01:09:32] You have the Holy Spirit living in you as your helper.
[01:09:37] But you also have an advocate, another helper, at the right hand of the Father interceding for you, pleading your case to the Father.
[01:09:48] and His name is Jesus.
[01:09:50] Well, I gotta wrap this up, so here's the last thing I'm gonna tell you.
[01:09:54] We've seen the assurance of the Holy Spirit.
[01:09:57] We've seen the assignment of the Holy Spirit, what He's doing.
[01:10:02] But the last thing I want you to see is what I call the activity of the Holy Spirit.
[01:10:07] And this is real important because in the words of this chapter, Jesus shows us the difference that Pentecost really makes.
[01:10:19] Go back to John 14 and look at verse 17.
[01:10:24] What again did He say?
[01:10:25] He said, The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him,
[01:10:37] But you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you.
[01:10:53] See, here's the best way I know to put this.
[01:10:59] Prior to Pentecost, the Holy Spirit dwelt with people.
[01:11:07] But after Pentecost, the Holy Spirit dwells in people.
[01:11:14] You got that?
[01:11:16] The Holy Spirit before Pentecost came upon people for special services and special responsibilities we see in the Old Testament.
[01:11:24] And listen, it could be withdrawn.
[01:11:27] The Spirit would be given and the Spirit would be withdrawn.
[01:11:31] That's why David prayed in Psalm 51.
[01:11:33] He said,
[01:11:37] Your Holy Spirit from me.
[01:11:40] But now Jesus talks about post-Pentecost when he says he shall be in you.
[01:11:51] You say, where is that preacher?
[01:11:53] Well, look at verse 20.
[01:11:57] At that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me
[01:12:06] And what's that last statement?
[01:12:08] An I in you.
[01:12:11] On the day of Pentecost, ladies and gentlemen, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in the life of believers.
[01:12:18] And what that means is this.
[01:12:21] As I said a moment ago, if you've really accepted Jesus as your Savior, God the Holy Spirit dwells in your life this morning.
[01:12:32] What does He want to do in there?
[01:12:35] I'm glad you asked.
[01:12:41] For one thing, He wants to do something for you.
[01:12:47] You know what that is?
[01:12:49] That's salvation.
[01:12:52] He wants to convict you of sin.
[01:12:54] He wants to draw you to the Father.
[01:12:58] He wants to draw you to the truth of Jesus Christ.
[01:13:03] He wants to do something for you.
[01:13:06] But He also wants to do something in you.
[01:13:12] Now you know what that is?
[01:13:13] That's sanctification.
[01:13:16] In other words, He wants to clean up your life.
[01:13:20] Hello?
[01:13:21] He wants to clean up your life.
[01:13:24] He wants to teach you how to live.
[01:13:28] He wants to take control of your life.
[01:13:31] He wants to help you make your decisions.
[01:13:33] He wants to give you power to overcome temptation.
[01:13:38] He wants to make you more and more like Jesus every day.
[01:13:50] That's His activity.
[01:13:52] Every day.
[01:13:54] He's making you, or wants to, make you more and more like Jesus.
[01:13:59] That's sanctification.
[01:14:03] But then I'll tell you something else.
[01:14:06] He not only does something for you, He not only does something in you, He wants to do something through you.
[01:14:16] You say, what can He do through me?
[01:14:20] Well, He wants to work through your life.
[01:14:23] He wants to work through your life to make you an effective witness to other people.
[01:14:31] In fact, Matthew 10, 20 says, It's not you who speaks, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you.
[01:14:41] You have an awesome assignment to let others see Jesus working through you.
[01:14:54] Let others see Jesus in you.
[01:14:56] You have a phenomenal assignment.
[01:14:59] But you know what?
[01:15:01] You ain't gonna do it.
[01:15:04] You ain't gonna do it.
[01:15:06] Not in your own strength.
[01:15:09] Why?
[01:15:09] Because you're too scared.
[01:15:12] You're scared people are gonna look at you like you're a weirdo.
[01:15:17] You're too lazy.
[01:15:18] You'd rather do what you want to do.
[01:15:24] You're not gonna fulfill this assignment.
[01:15:27] because you're too ineffective on your own.
[01:15:35] But when the power of the Holy Spirit enables you to overcome your fear, when the power of the Holy Spirit energizes you to get off your rear end and do something, when the power of the Holy Spirit
[01:15:57] begins to speak through you, the world is changed by world changers.
[01:16:13] But it wasn't you in your own strength.
[01:16:18] It was the Spirit of God working in you that empowered you to do it.
[01:16:26] I thought about that this morning when I was looking.
[01:16:28] There's an insert in your bulletin.
[01:16:29] I didn't bring it up here with me.
[01:16:30] But there's an insert in your bulletin that talks about these bricks that we're going to be doing for Trinity Christian Academy and how you can be involved.
[01:16:40] I hope you'll take that and read it and look at how you can be engaged in that.
[01:16:45] There's a real need.
[01:16:46] But that's not the point of this.
[01:16:48] My point is that even this school
[01:16:51] and even the things that will happen with this school and the ways that you will find that you can be engaged in pouring in the truth of God's Word into a generation of young people through Christian education is an incredible opportunity that God gives you.
[01:17:17] But you won't do it in your own strength.
[01:17:20] Because you'll come up with a hundred reasons why you can't do it, or why you wouldn't do it, or why you don't have the time or the resources.
[01:17:29] We've got all kinds of reasons we'll give.
[01:17:32] But when the Spirit of God works in you, He's doing so so He can work through you to make a difference in the lives of people.
[01:17:47] To make a difference in the life of a generation.
[01:17:54] Well, as far as Gump said, that's all I got to say about that.
[01:18:02] Here's my question, and I'm done.
[01:18:06] Do you know the Holy Spirit?
[01:18:11] Do you know the Holy Spirit today?
[01:18:16] Do you know the assurance that we've talked about?
[01:18:23] Do you know the assignment that He has?
[01:18:28] Do you know the activity that He's involved in day in and day out?
[01:18:41] Because He's working in you.
[01:18:44] He's working in you.
[01:18:48] If we'll only listen, only listen and obey.
[01:18:55] You heard me share last Sunday night, if you were at the Harvest of Hope celebration,
[01:19:03] In fact, I shared it yesterday.
[01:19:04] I had a pastor that called me and asked me if I would give him a word.
[01:19:09] He was preaching a message today on that the foundations be destroyed.
[01:19:14] What can the righteous do?
[01:19:15] And he said, I know you're in Washington and I know that you are on the front lines.
[01:19:21] Can you just give me a three to five minute introduction that I can play for our folks over here in Stanley County, which is in the district?
[01:19:29] I said, sure, I'll be glad to do that.
[01:19:31] You know what I shared?
[01:19:33] I shared just what I shared with you last Sunday night about the great Welsh revival and about how Evan Roberts, a coal miner, simply had messages that he shared that changed an entire nation and without question impacted other countries of the world.
[01:19:55] And part of his message
[01:19:58] was obey the Spirit promptly.
[01:20:02] That was one of the four.
[01:20:04] If you missed it, sorry, you gotta find somebody who heard the other three.
[01:20:11] But one of those four was obey the Spirit promptly.
[01:20:17] You know why that was so important to a real spiritual awakening?
[01:20:21] because they had become so lax and so complacent and so apathetic in just their routines.
[01:20:37] And when we don't do what the Holy Spirit of God tells us to do, at that moment you're in disobedience and there are consequences.
[01:20:51] For living in disobedience.
[01:20:55] That's why it was so important to change an entire society was they obeyed the Spirit promptly.
[01:21:04] I hope today you understand we're talking about the same Holy Spirit that lives in you.
[01:21:15] Would you bow your heads right where you are please?
[01:21:18] Father in heaven,
[01:21:21] I just ask you to do something right now that humanly we can't do.
[01:21:35] Your Spirit is the one who convicts of sin.
[01:21:39] Your Spirit is the one who draws people to the truth of Jesus and His cross.
[01:21:51] Lord, Your Spirit is the one that gives us the courage that when our palms are sweaty and our mouth is dry and our imagination runs wild of how people will look at us or think we're crazy, only Your Spirit can give us that courage and strength
[01:22:21] to step up and do something.
[01:22:26] Lord, you allowed me to be with a veteran yesterday, a decorated veteran, who in the Vietnam War spoke of so many occasions where he realized that he did not possess the courage, he did not possess the strength on his own
[01:22:51] but he cried out to you and he credited your Holy Spirit for giving him what he needed in just those moments to save untold hundreds of lives God thank you for your Holy Spirit and thank you
[01:23:20] that we can trust you today and that we can look to you with full confidence.
[01:23:31] If there's anybody here this morning that doesn't know Christ as their Savior, I invite you to come.
[01:23:35] We're going to sing in just a moment.
[01:23:38] As we're singing, I'm going to be right here at the front.
[01:23:41] You're welcome to make your way here.
[01:23:43] If there are any of you here that God's speaking to your heart,
[01:23:47] Maybe there's something that you're struggling with, something that you're lacking courage in, something that you're not sure why you haven't stepped up yet.
[01:23:56] Maybe you'll come and just get on this altar and just pray and say, Lord, you've shown me some things today that I need to put to practice in my life.
[01:24:08] Lord, just take control in every way.
[01:24:15] This is your moment, Father, as we wait upon you.
[01:24:19] It's our moment to hear from you and to respond.
[01:24:25] We love you, Lord Jesus, and we lift this prayer in his name.
[01:24:31] Amen.
[01:24:31] Would you stand to your feet as Brother Grant comes to lead us?
[01:24:35] This altar is open.

[01:24:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
All ye sinners poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore, Jesus ready stands.
[01:25:12] I will arise and go to Jesus.

[01:25:24] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
He will embrace me in His arms, in the arms of the Lord.

[01:25:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
and Reconciliation, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy,
[01:25:54] I will arise and go to Jesus, He will embrace me in His arms, in the arms of the Lord.

[01:26:24] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[01:26:41] Amen.
[01:26:47] In the arms of my dear Saviour All their organ, lungs, and jaws Let our conscience say

[01:27:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
I will arise and go to Jesus He will embrace me in His arms

[01:27:54] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
All ye sinners, poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore, Jesus ready stands to save you, all up in Him, up and far.
[01:28:20] I will uprise and go to Jesus,

[01:28:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
In the arms of our new Savior, O'er all their arches, mountains, and shores, Come ye, mercy God,
[01:28:45] I will not rise and go to Jesus.

[01:29:07] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
He will embrace me.

[01:29:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
I just want to take a moment just to introduce this couple that's standing here before me today.
[01:29:30] This is Brian and Amy Murphy and we are so grateful.
[01:29:34] They've been visiting us for a good long period of time and faithful here week in and week out and God's been working in their lives.
[01:29:41] and I've known them back way back days when I came to First Baptist in Charlotte many years ago and just faithful folks who love the Lord Jesus and they've said this is where we believe God is is leading us and when we want to be a part of the Trinity Baptist family both of them have been saved and know the Lord and they're coming by letter from Lake Norman Baptist to be a part of our fellowship and what's your pleasure in affirming Brian and Amy as they come today motion made second all in favor lift your hands
[01:30:10] There's your friends, Brian and Amy.
[01:30:12] God bless you.
[01:30:14] God bless you.
[01:30:15] We are so thankful.
[01:30:16] Thank you all.
[01:30:17] So thankful for you coming and I want to invite you to join me at the door in just a moment and let folks come by and give you a right-handed fellowship and I welcome you in.
[01:30:27] Would you all stand to your feet, please?
[01:30:28] Let me encourage you as you leave today, don't forget a couple of things.
[01:30:33] One, I do want to call your attention again to the importance of that insert in there and the opportunity that you have to be engaged in that.
[01:30:41] So please follow the information there.
[01:30:44] You can go to the website of TCA.org.
[01:30:46] and find out even more information but it is a real opportunity for many of us to be engaged in that coming up secondly I want to remind you of life groups tonight hope you'll make plans to be a part of them as they're going to be reactivated here tonight we were off last week and then next week don't forget
[01:31:05] will be our quarterly church conference so we'll be here at the church at six o'clock next week we have baptism as part of that service as well as ordaining a couple of deacons that'll be part of that service as well and then the budget and the things that go with the church conference so it's going to be an exciting evening as well but don't forget life groups tonight while we're here all right brother robert's going to come and give us a closing word and then grant's going to sing us out and then you stop by and welcome ryan and amy on your way out today

[01:31:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Amen.
[01:31:36] Thank you Pastor Mark for a powerful message.
[01:31:39] Church, today our benediction comes from the book of Acts in the first chapter.
[01:31:43] This is Jesus talking and he says this, John baptized with water, but you, you'll be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
[01:31:56] So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?
[01:32:00] And he said to them, It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth.
[01:32:21] Let's pray.
[01:32:23] Holy Heavenly Father,
[01:32:25] God, we acknowledge you as the giver of all good things.
[01:32:29] Lord, you tell us if we who are evil know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more so will our Holy Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.
[01:32:40] So Father, we ask for it this morning.
[01:32:41] We've got a promise that you'll give it.
[01:32:44] You told us in Acts that they were to wait for the promised Holy Spirit, but then Father in Matthew, you said we should go.
[01:32:50] Those who have it should go.
[01:32:52] So my prayer this morning, Lord, is that this church would be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be sent out, to be poured out in the community.
[01:33:00] Father, I pray today that there would be an Acts 1-8 challenge.
[01:33:03] God, over the next eight days, we would tell one person about Jesus.
[01:33:08] It's as simple as going to someone in a grocery store with little kids, saying, you've got a beautiful family.
[01:33:12] Did you hear about this new Christian school in Mooresville?
[01:33:15] Comfort us, Lord.
[01:33:17] Encourage us.
[01:33:18] Exhort us.
[01:33:18] Equip us to do that.
[01:33:19] We're thankful for the Holy Spirit who works in us both to will and to work for your good pleasure.
[01:33:26] We ask this in Jesus' mighty name.
[01:33:28] Amen.

[01:33:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place
[01:33:45] I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord There are sweet expressions on each face And I know that it's the presence of the Lord Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly God
[01:34:18] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy,

[01:35:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Good job guys!

[01:39:56] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Thank you for watching!