Do you really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive all that He gives? We said that...
WE MUST BE THIRSTY,
WE MUST BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF GOD,
WE MUST BE SURE OF OUR SALVATION, and answer the question
WHO IS GOING TO BE EXALTED.
The Holy Spirit does not exalt Himeself. The number one ministry and work of the Holy Spirit is to take us to the Lord Jesus Christ. The number one ministry and work of the Lord Jesus Christ is to take us to the Father.
The Person of the Holy Spirit always points us to our Lord Jesus Christ and to truth. The Holy Spirit's job is to bring glory to the Son. The Son's job is to bring glory to the Father.
Yes, it is a joy experiencing the gifts, the power, the anointing, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but these things are not the main reason that He was sent to be with us. There are many who exalt the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit and miss His main ministry and work in pointing us to the Son.
The motivation of the heart determines a lot when we are seeking after the Father. Are we thirsty for the Father or for what He can give or how He can make us feel? King David cried out after his sin because he knew that he had sinned against God and he also knew the joy of the Father's presence was now missing.
First he cried out for God's mercy and love and that the Father would cleanse him of his sin.
Psalms 51:1 (ESV) To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Psalms 51:2 (ESV) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
He did not try to blame others or his circumstances for his sins. He took personal responsibility for his sinful words, deed, and thoughts.
Psalms 51:3 (ESV) For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Psalms 51:4 (ESV) Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
Even though he was King and looked upon by others as beyond reproach, he acknowledged that he was born a sinner. In other words David acknowledged there was no good in him. And then proclaimed that the only thing in him that was good was God's wisdom and truth.
Psalms 51:5 (ESV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalms 51:6 (ESV) Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
David did confessed by faith "under the Law," what many believers today fail to do under grace. He made a proclamation by faith that if God forgave him of his sin then he certainly would be forgiven and cleaned and that settled it.
Psalms 51:7 (ESV) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalms 51:8 (ESV) Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Psalms 51:9 (ESV) Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
David new that we have a sin problem because we have a heart problem. He knew that he needed more than to be fixed or repaired, he needed to be replaced. He asked God for a new heart and a new spirit. Then he cried out for what we need more than anything in our church services and that was for the Father's presence. He knew that salvation belonged to God. David also asked that the Father's salvation be rekindled with the Father's joy.
Psalms 51:10 (ESV) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 51:11 (ESV) Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalms 51:12 (ESV) Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
The Father desires that we seek His presence over His power and His grace over His gifts. He will guide us to all truth. The only way to fill a glass with fresh, clean, cool water that is drinkable, is to ensure the glass desiring the water is first emptied and cleaned inside from anything else.
John 16:8-11 ESV And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: (9) concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; (10) concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; (11) concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
John 16:13-14 ESV When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (14) He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
WE MUST BE THIRSTY,
WE MUST BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF GOD,
WE MUST BE SURE OF OUR SALVATION, and answer the question
WHO IS GOING TO BE EXALTED.
The Holy Spirit does not exalt Himeself. The number one ministry and work of the Holy Spirit is to take us to the Lord Jesus Christ. The number one ministry and work of the Lord Jesus Christ is to take us to the Father.
The Person of the Holy Spirit always points us to our Lord Jesus Christ and to truth. The Holy Spirit's job is to bring glory to the Son. The Son's job is to bring glory to the Father.
Yes, it is a joy experiencing the gifts, the power, the anointing, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but these things are not the main reason that He was sent to be with us. There are many who exalt the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit and miss His main ministry and work in pointing us to the Son.
The motivation of the heart determines a lot when we are seeking after the Father. Are we thirsty for the Father or for what He can give or how He can make us feel? King David cried out after his sin because he knew that he had sinned against God and he also knew the joy of the Father's presence was now missing.
First he cried out for God's mercy and love and that the Father would cleanse him of his sin.
Psalms 51:1 (ESV) To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Psalms 51:2 (ESV) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
He did not try to blame others or his circumstances for his sins. He took personal responsibility for his sinful words, deed, and thoughts.
Psalms 51:3 (ESV) For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Psalms 51:4 (ESV) Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
Even though he was King and looked upon by others as beyond reproach, he acknowledged that he was born a sinner. In other words David acknowledged there was no good in him. And then proclaimed that the only thing in him that was good was God's wisdom and truth.
Psalms 51:5 (ESV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalms 51:6 (ESV) Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
David did confessed by faith "under the Law," what many believers today fail to do under grace. He made a proclamation by faith that if God forgave him of his sin then he certainly would be forgiven and cleaned and that settled it.
Psalms 51:7 (ESV) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalms 51:8 (ESV) Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Psalms 51:9 (ESV) Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
David new that we have a sin problem because we have a heart problem. He knew that he needed more than to be fixed or repaired, he needed to be replaced. He asked God for a new heart and a new spirit. Then he cried out for what we need more than anything in our church services and that was for the Father's presence. He knew that salvation belonged to God. David also asked that the Father's salvation be rekindled with the Father's joy.
Psalms 51:10 (ESV) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 51:11 (ESV) Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalms 51:12 (ESV) Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
The Father desires that we seek His presence over His power and His grace over His gifts. He will guide us to all truth. The only way to fill a glass with fresh, clean, cool water that is drinkable, is to ensure the glass desiring the water is first emptied and cleaned inside from anything else.
John 16:8-11 ESV And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: (9) concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; (10) concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; (11) concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
John 16:13-14 ESV When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (14) He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
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