The Holy Spirit Being Obeyed (Part 4)

[0:00] Last week we closed out looking at the example of the Lord Jesus in surrendering and yielding to the Spirit of God.

[0:29] Now, realize that what we saw was that in the eyes of a number of people, that no doubt made Jesus look weak.

[0:43] And in particular his apostles, they were no doubt curious about why he didn't take advantage of situations that would reveal himself to be truly the Messiah.

[0:53] So we kind of took a little bit of look at that, realized that in our submission to the Spirit of God, that it could make us seem weak in the eyes of other people too.

[1:08] People that don't know about being led by and directed by and empowered by the Spirit of God, even some believers, just don't understand. Amen?

[1:21] It's amazing how we put ourselves in a mold or people try to put us in a mold. And talking about being moldy. Amen? Yeah. Yeah.

[1:32] And the idea is we can't put ourselves in a mold saying this is the way it has to be or this is the way it should be and try to fit into that mold.

[1:43] God doesn't deal with molds. Amen? Amen. He just takes a life and does with it as the sovereign God what he wants to do with it. It's our responsibility to learn how to yield to the Spirit of God and let him do those things in and through us and with us that he wants to do.

[2:05] All right? So, that was the case with Jesus looking weak in the eyes of others. But again, he could afford to seem foolish in the eyes of silly, sinful men.

[2:17] The reason being is because he knew the one by whom he had been sent and the one into whose hands he had committed his spirit. Now, he could afford to do as he was told and he could afford to die because he knew that someone else was taking the consequences.

[2:37] Now, again, want to emphasize that last phrase or that whole statement. He could afford to do just what the Spirit of God told him to do because he didn't have to worry about the consequences.

[2:54] He knew that someone else was going to take care of the consequences and he knew that that was God the Father. So, likewise, if we're not ready, not prepared to do what we're told to do by the Spirit of God, no matter what it may lead to, no matter how it may look in the eyes of other people, then we're just not going to grasp a hold of the reality of what it means to be resurrected with the Lord Jesus and to live that resurrected life in the power of the Spirit of God.

[3:30] Now, the life of the Lord Jesus within us makes human circumstances irrelevant when it comes to the point of obedience to his clear directions.

[3:44] Now, instructions. I want you to let that soak in. All right? How much do we realize how often we are controlled by human circumstances?

[3:58] Or let me rephrase that. We let ourselves be controlled by human circumstances. Let's go on here. To share his life now as he once shared his father's life on earth then is to know as he did that someone else is taking care of the consequences.

[4:16] Now, how many times when we think or when we sense the Spirit of God directing us into something, to do something, how many times do we stop and count the cost?

[4:34] Are we guilty of that? Yeah, a lot of times we are, aren't we? Okay? Okay? I hear you, Lord. Or maybe we're either questioning whether it's really the Lord we're hearing or whether we're hoping it's not.

[4:48] Okay? And we stop and consider it just a minute. What is it I should do here? You know, what are the consequences in this?

[5:00] Where is this going to lead to? What are, you know, what are these circumstances going to be filled with? And can I get through that successfully?

[5:13] So we question some of those things because of the circumstances. Now, in light of this, it doesn't mean that what God purposes is always irrational.

[5:24] He doesn't always work that way. Amen? He's a God of reasonableness, isn't he? Yeah. He knows what we can take. He knows what will confuse us, throw us off course.

[5:35] He knows all of that. So he reasonably deals with each of us in accordance to how we deal with that. All right? Now, nor is there any particular virtue in being foolhardy or acting out of the ordinary.

[5:55] There's no award in that. Amen? It's just like the guy that wants to say, all right, I'm just going to go out.

[6:06] I want to be martyred for Jesus. Sets his sight to go out and be martyred somehow for Jesus or face persecution for Jesus without the Spirit of God leading him to do so.

[6:18] That's what he's just determined he's going to do. Circumstances can get in the way if we let that. But God's got to work within us in a manner that he knows he needs to take us.

[6:33] All right? It's just that we become delightfully detached from the pressure of circumstances. And that it ceases to be the criteria in the decisions that we make.

[6:45] Okay? When it comes to sensing the Spirit of God directing us into something, is there any time that we should question about what the circumstances are going to be?

[7:06] The reason we could do it without considering the circumstances is if we are certain that it's God speaking to us and directing us into whatever it is we're looking at.

[7:18] Yeah. That's where we get our confidence in anything. Right? Whether we're dealing with circumstances, looking at those as a criterion, whatever.

[7:29] And in reality, you look at the people throughout Scripture, no matter which Old Testament, New Testament, whatever.

[7:42] And they're certain it was God that spoke to them, that showed them, that was directing them however he was doing that. And so with that, then, he could go with confidence.

[7:57] Philip's a good example of that, is he not? God said, go. I'll show you where to go. Just go.

[8:07] To this direction. Had no clue why he was sent there, why he was being sent there. He just knew it was God that said that, and he did what God said.

[8:18] And what happened? He met up with this eunuch. Now, some people in that circumstance would question, all right, here's this guy riding in this chariot, reading the Scriptures.

[8:34] And so he just has the gumption just to ask him, do you understand what you're reading? How can I understand except somebody guide me and lead me in this?

[8:46] Okay? Now, from this vantage point of us looking at the Scripture, we know that was a divine appointment, because we know what happened.

[8:58] But what about Philip? Would Philip see this as the reason and purpose for God sending him down that road?

[9:09] Or would he have the idea, well, I'll deal with this guy, but there's got to be something else God's got in mind here. Amen? Yeah. Something perhaps more grandiose.

[9:21] Okay? Good example for us that we not do that. We do what God says. Go where God goes, shows us to go.

[9:34] And then we let him use us however he wants to use us. One of our problems is we set a standard of value on how to be used.

[9:49] Amen? I could just go over to Lee. Well, I don't want to go to Lee's house. I'm afraid I'd get in trouble. Yeah.

[10:00] Yeah. But I'll go to Lee's house, all right, and visit with him and have a good visit with him. And we'd talk about the Lord and things about the scriptures and all those things.

[10:12] And I'd leave and go someplace else. And I figured, okay, yeah, Lord, thank you for that. Appreciate you to let me do that. But there's something else in a greater scale that you want me to do today.

[10:23] Not knowing that Lee really needed me to come by. Amen? He needed my wisdom, the wisdom that God had given me. He needed all the direction that the Lord showed me to give to Lee.

[10:36] And he would accept every bit of it because he'd know it came from the Lord, right? Absolutely. All right. I'll remember that. Now I can use him as a very good example at any time.

[10:49] Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So. Uh. Yeah. Now. We do as we're told. Whether God's instructions appear to be compatible with the immediate situation or not.

[11:04] And you leave God to vindicate himself and to justify the course of action upon which, as he commanded, you have embarked. All right.

[11:17] So. We just let God do what he wants to do and be certain of it. And if. You know. And here's a question that we. We. Wrestle with sometimes.

[11:29] All right. Let's let's suppose we were sensing that God is. God is directing us or speaking to us, showing us something he wants to us to be involved in.

[11:43] First question. Would it be a sin to question that? How many think it would be a sin to question whether or not we think it's God working on us?

[11:57] You're not going to raise your hand. Tom's the only brave one. There's also a matter of seeking confirmation from the Lord.

[12:10] You know, we think about. All right. Throwing out the fleece. You know. Hey. Unbelief. All that. But I think God honors an honest heart. That's honestly seeking to know.

[12:23] Lord. I don't want to do this in the flesh. I want to be sure this is you showing me. So somehow give me some confirmation here. So I can go ahead and do as you say if that's what you're saying.

[12:35] Okay. Yeah. All right. Now. It was on the same basis that Abraham could afford to say it a lot. In Genesis 13 verses 8 and 9.

[12:46] Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee and between my herdmen and thy herdmen. For we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee?

[12:58] Separate thyself, I pray, from me. If thou will take the left hand, then I will go to the right hand. Or if thou depart from the right hand, then I will go to the left hand.

[13:09] Now. Here's what someone calls restful indifference to what others might reasonably have argued with was legitimate self-interest here.

[13:20] Lot could take the left or Lot could take the right. Or he could have taken it all. That's what Abraham told him.

[13:31] God's covenant was still with Abraham. And here's the key. God's covenant was still with Abraham.

[13:42] And Abraham knew that. He knew that. There was no question in his mind whether or not he was still in a covenant relationship with God.

[13:54] He knew it. And that's all he needed to know. All right. Let Lot take the choice here. God's in control of my life.

[14:06] He's going to direct me to fulfill the promises he's made to me. Because he has a purpose in doing all of those things. And again, always got to remember.

[14:18] It's not about us. It wasn't about Abraham. It's about what God wanted to accomplish through Abraham.

[14:30] And what was that? What was it that God was going to accomplish through Abraham? What was the main thing? Even further than just the nation of Israel.

[14:45] What else? Yeah. Yeah. That's it. Yeah. Down through the line. Which would come through the 12 sons of Jacob.

[15:00] And one of them in particular. That Messiah down the line from that would be born the Redeemer of the world. God's purpose. And all of that was to bring redemption for lost sin.

[15:15] God's purpose. Amen. Now. All Abraham to do. Needed to do. Was remember that. And believe it. Amen. All right.

[15:27] Now. Same thing with us. Now. With that in mind. With that in mind. What is it that you and I have to believe about our relationship with God?

[15:40] As Abraham believed. He was in a covenant relationship with God. Still in that. What is it that you and I need to remember and believe?

[15:51] We're his adult sons by adoption. All right. And we'll always will be.

[16:04] If we've been through that salvation experience. All right. Just as Abraham remembered and believed and knew he was still in that covenant relationship with God.

[16:17] You and I have to realize and continually remember what God makes us in Christ Jesus. His sons. His sons. Part of his kingdom.

[16:29] To be used by him. To glorify him. In whatever way he wants to do that. All right. We need to keep that in mind. Now. Again.

[16:40] That's all that Abraham really needed to know. Likewise. In the same venue. Moses could defy. He could afford to defy. Pharaoh.

[16:51] Put his feet in the Red Sea. Joshua. Could defy Jericho. Put his feet in the Jordan River. As long as they knew God would take the consequences.

[17:03] And deal with the Egyptians. And deal with the Canaanites. However he wanted to. That's all they needed to know. Now. God insists.

[17:18] Now think about this just a moment. Not just with Abraham and Joshua. But. Gideon's 300. Aaron's rod. David's slain.

[17:29] Pinch of salt here. Put a pot of oil there. Anything he wants to use. He can use. He insists on doing the impossible. And vindicates the faith.

[17:40] The faith of those who will obey him. All right. Now. You ever find yourself limiting God?

[17:58] Not limiting per se. His ability to do things. But limiting him. In his desire to do it through us. Okay.

[18:10] Yeah. Yeah. So. Through this we can better understand. What Paul meant. When he wrote in 2nd Corinthians 1 verse 8. For we would not brethren.

[18:21] Have you ignorant of our trouble. Which came to us in Asia. That we were pressed out of measure. Above strength. In so much that we despaired of life. So.

[18:32] We've got to ask ourselves. Have we gone as far as Paul did? To know God as the one who is overwhelmingly.

[18:44] Overwhelmingly adequate. No matter how hopeless the situation may seem to be. Now keep that in mind. Have we come to that realization?

[18:56] You know. Reality TV is a silly thing. We don't watch it. But we see the advertisements on it. It's amazing to me. How reality TV. They've always got cameras there.

[19:07] Amen. Yeah. It's like CNN. When they started the Gulf War. CNN was on the beach with their cameras. Ready for the troops to secretly come in.

[19:18] Yeah. Yeah. Now. Do we really see and sense and know.

[19:29] God is adequate. More than adequate. In every situation. Second Corinthians chapter one verse nine and ten. Paul said we have this sentence of death in ourselves.

[19:42] That we should not trust in ourselves. But in God. Which raiseth the dead. Who delivered us from so great a death. And doth deliver. In whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.

[19:57] Yeah. Now those were extreme circumstances. If you will. God delivered Paul from one. More than one dangerous situation. So Paul understood and knew that God has done that for him.

[20:08] And will continue to do that. As long as God wants to use him. Alright. So he had that. He had that confidence. Now. Only pass the sentence of death upon yourselves.

[20:21] And you can afford to do as you were. As you were told. Even as Esther did. So no doubt she was somewhat mystified. By the instructions. That she received.

[20:33] Again. It deals with the matter. Of dying to ourselves. And being alive. Unto God. Esther knew. That she did not have to ask questions.

[20:45] Alright. She didn't have to ask any questions. Because she was dead to herself. She was trusting. In what Mordecai. Was going to lead her. To do.

[20:56] Even though some of that. Seemed kind of strange. So. Here's the question we have for ourselves. Today. Have you come to the place.

[21:07] In our relationship. With the Lord Jesus. Where we have stopped interrogating him. About his intentions. Alright Lord.

[21:20] I hear you. But why? What is it you're going to do here? I need to know. Yeah. I do realize.

[21:33] I do realize. I do realize. That. Moses. Kind of did that to the Lord. Remember. Moses said to God.

[21:44] In Exodus. What? 32 or whatever. Lord. I need to see your glory. I need to see you.

[21:57] The idea to me is. There. That Moses was saying. Lord. I need to see and know. How you operate. You have called me.

[22:08] Direct this. To this. Unruly. Backslidden. Group. Of yet to be Baptists. Through the wilderness journey.

[22:19] Alright. We're going to go to Canaan. That's where you're going to take us. But Lord. If I'm going to do this. I need to know.

[22:30] Who you are. I need to know. What you are. I need to know. How you operate. So I can know that. So what did God do?

[22:43] Took him up at the mountain. Put him in the cleft of the rock. Showed him the. Non-consuming aspects of his glory. And that's all he needed. But recognize something there.

[22:56] Did he question God? No. He didn't question God. He just told God. I need something from you. And isn't. Isn't that like.

[23:08] Sticking a dry sponge. Under a faucet of water. And letting it soak it all up. God's eager. To give us what we need.

[23:21] Now. A genuine need. That comes from the heart. Directed by the spirit of God. All right. Not just to silly. To keep.

[23:32] Keep questioning him. Because. Well let me ask you this. In a situation like that. When we keep questioning God. Keep asking him various things. What are we doing? Couldn't it also be.

[23:46] We're questioning in ourselves. Do I really want to do this? Kind of drawing out from God. What's it going to take? What's it going to involve?

[23:57] You know. I need to know. Not going to tell God. You need to know. But you're telling yourself. I need to know. What all this is going to involve. Whether or not. I really think. I need to do this. Okay.

[24:09] Yeah. Kind of like Esther was. Remember earlier. You know. When Mordecai told her. What she has to do. She said to herself. Or said. Yeah. In her mind. This is ridiculous.

[24:21] I'm the queen. And I can serve my people better. Being in this position. Than putting myself to death. By going into the king. Unannounced. Or unbidden.

[24:33] That's what she did. Yeah. We just. You know. We just need. Need to keep. Our hands. Off of God's business.

[24:44] Amen. Now be careful. What I say there. I'm not saying. Don't work for God. I'm just saying. God knows. What he's doing. And he knows.

[24:54] How to do that. He knows. Who he wants to use. And how he wants. To use us. When it comes to our life. When he shows us that.

[25:06] Our eagerness. Ought to say. All right. God. Let's go. Let's do it. Amen. Let's go to work. Here. There's nothing.

[25:16] More. Joyous. Now this comes from the heart of a pastor. But there's nothing more joyous. Than to see. God. At work. In the lives of people.

[25:30] Nothing more joyful. Yeah. Not just in people. But in the world. To watch him work. See what he's doing. Yeah. Yeah. So.

[25:42] Have we come to that point. Where we've stopped interrogating him. About his intentions. And moved along with him. Do we still cling to self-control?

[25:52] Why not enjoy. The journey of discovery. Amen. Nothing like a good journey here. Enjoy discovering how God works.

[26:07] And enjoy. Discovering more of who he is. That's the journey. We're on. And it should be a joyful journey for us.

[26:19] It should be one of excitement. And anticipation. Waking up every morning. All right. Lord. What are we going to find out today? What are you going to show us today? What are you going to be to us?

[26:31] Today? The journey of discovery. Begins when we come to the end of ourselves. And let God navigate the way. Let's pray.

[26:43] Father again thank you for your loving kindness. And your goodness and grace today. And again thank you for the privilege of being back together this evening. To see what you have for us in your word.

[26:54] And Father now thank you for loving us. Thank you for making us yours. And thank you Father for involving us in what you do. And enabling us to be used of you.

[27:06] To honor and glorify you. For you to produce your kingdom purposes through us. So Father thank you for that tonight. And again now we pray your blessings upon the remainder of the week.

[27:17] Enable us to search that out in our heart and our life. As to how we are dealing with you. And letting you deal with us. And we'll thank you for it. Praise you for it in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.

[27:27] Amen. Thank you.