Brief Summary
This video discusses the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit rather than one's own efforts to overcome sin and live a holy life. It highlights the difference between viewing God's commands as obligations versus promises, emphasizing that grace empowers believers to overcome sin. The message underscores the need for sincerity, repentance, and a continuous pursuit of the Holy Spirit to experience a transformed life and ministry.
- Emphasizes reliance on the Holy Spirit over personal effort in overcoming sin.
- Highlights the transformative power of grace and the importance of viewing God's commands as promises.
- Stresses the need for sincerity, repentance, and continuous pursuit of the Holy Spirit for a changed life and effective ministry.
Introduction
The speaker shares his personal journey as a Christian, noting that he struggled for years to understand how to live a victorious life over sin. He emphasizes that the explanation he is about to share has been life-changing for him, and he values it deeply because of the effort it took to discover. He contrasts this with receiving an expensive gift that one might not value as much as something earned through hard work.
The Difference Between Law and Grace
The speaker discusses the common interpretation of Romans 6:14, "Sin shall not be master over you," and points out that many read it as a command rather than a promise. He explains that a command is something we must do, while a promise is what God does for us. He believes that struggling Christians often approach this verse as a command, trying to overcome sin through their own efforts, which is living under law. Instead, he argues that the verse should be understood as a promise, where grace empowers believers to overcome sin.
Invitation to the Weary and Thirsty
The speaker extends an invitation to those who are weary and heavy laden from years of struggling with sin, referencing Matthew 11:28. He also invites those who thirst for the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit, referencing John 7:37. He clarifies that Jesus invites those with a deep longing and urgency, not those who are casually interested. He notes that only a certain category of people truly enter into a spirit-filled life of overcoming and empowerment.
God Overlooks Times of Ignorance
The speaker contrasts the experiences of figures in the Old Covenant, who often died without seeing complete victory or fulfillment, with the New Covenant, where figures like Paul could confidently say they had finished their course. He explains that God, in His foreknowledge, overlooks the times of ignorance, as stated in Acts 17:30. This applies both to times when one was ignorant of how to be forgiven and times when one was ignorant of how to live in the New Covenant. He emphasizes that victory over sin is essential, not optional.
The Danger of Willful Sin
The speaker warns against taking advantage of God's grace as an excuse to continue sinning. He references Hebrews 10:26, which states that if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there is no more sacrifice for sin. He explains that regarding the blood of Christ as something common or cheap is dangerous and puts one on very dangerous ground.
The Importance of Sincerity and Honesty
The speaker emphasizes that God looks for sincerity and honesty. He highlights the commendation Jesus gave to Nathaniel in John 1:47, saying there was no hypocrisy in him. He contrasts this with seeking comparisons or commendations based on faith, which he deems less important than being free from hypocrisy. He encourages listeners to be honest about their shortcomings and to turn away from what they know to be wrong in their lives.
Repentance and Seeking the Holy Spirit
The speaker defines repentance as turning away from what one knows to be sin in their own life, emphasizing that it varies depending on one's level of spiritual maturity. He explains that after repenting, one should seek the power of the Holy Spirit, who is called the spirit of grace. He references Zechariah 12:10, noting that God pours out the spirit of grace and supplication, creating a longing and then satisfying it.
God Provides for Every Hunger
Using the analogy of Adam in the Garden of Eden, the speaker illustrates that God creates a hunger and also provides the means to satisfy it. He assures listeners that if God has created a spiritual hunger in them, He has also provided the opportunity to satisfy it, but they must reach out and take it. He encourages listeners to thirst for life in the Holy Spirit and to seek the secret of overcoming sin through the Spirit's power.
The Law of the Spirit vs. the Law of Moses
The speaker references Romans 7 and 8, explaining that Paul recognized nothing good dwelt in his flesh, meaning he wanted to live righteously but couldn't do it on his own. He contrasts the law of Moses with the law of the Spirit, explaining that the law of the Spirit is life in Christ Jesus and sets believers free. He uses the example of leprosy to illustrate the difference between living under law (rules and checks) and living under life (natural sensation and awareness).
Taking Up the Cross Daily
The speaker explains that accessing the tree of life requires letting the sword fall on our flesh, with the Holy Spirit's help. He emphasizes that this is not an automatic process but requires taking up the cross daily. He clarifies that there is no conflict between taking up the cross and living in the Holy Spirit. He uses the analogy of throwing away garbage to illustrate the delight in putting to death the deeds of the body.
The Parable of the Chameleon
The speaker shares a parable from C.S. Lewis about a man with an ugly chameleon on his shoulder, representing the self-life. The man hesitates to let the angel take it away because the chameleon promises to behave. However, when he finally agrees, the chameleon is transformed into a beautiful white horse, which he can ride. The speaker uses this to illustrate the life in the Holy Spirit that believers miss by clinging to their sinful desires.
Bearing the Dying of Jesus
The speaker references 2 Corinthians 4:10-11, explaining that Paul carried in his body the dying of Jesus so that the life of Jesus would be manifested in his body. He explains that the dying of Jesus refers to His consistent choice to put His own will to death. He emphasizes that God delivers believers over to death so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in their mortal flesh.
From Personal Transformation to Ministry
The speaker explains that personal transformation leads to ministry to others. He references 2 Corinthians 4:12, noting that as death works in him, life works in other people. He contrasts the well of water springing up within oneself with the river of living water that flows out to bless others. He emphasizes that God's will is for the spring of water to become a river.
The Value of Seeking and Valuing Truth
The speaker reflects on his 56 years as a Christian, noting that he has never heard this explanation so clearly. He values it because he had to struggle to find it. He explains why his ministry sells books rather than giving them away for free: people value what they pay for. He encourages listeners to long for this life and to be willing to pay any price.
Living in the Spirit
The speaker emphasizes the importance of living in the Spirit, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles. He references Philippians 3:10, where Paul expresses his longing to know Jesus more and the power of His resurrection by being conformed to His death. He encourages listeners to cooperate with the Lord and to throw away their self-life.
The Foolishness of Relying on the Flesh
The speaker references Galatians 3:2-3, questioning how the Galatians received the Holy Spirit and whether they were trying to be perfected by the flesh after beginning in the Spirit. He emphasizes that just as salvation is received by faith, so too is sanctification. He highlights the need for people full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, even for simple tasks in the church, to avoid partiality.
A Call to Prayer and Commitment
The speaker concludes with a call to prayer, encouraging listeners to take a step today and to realize that it is the beginning of many steps. He prays that God will make the message life to everyone, transforming lives, families, and the church. He emphasizes that it is not just one decision but the beginning of many decisions to say no to self-life and to respond to the Holy Spirit every single time.
