The Perfect Travel Agent
Notes
Transcript
The Perfect Travel Agent
The Perfect Travel Agent
Last week I mentioned , that in this new sermon series we will be focusing our thoughts and attention on the Gospel of Luke.
This Gospel was written that Theophilus, (Friend of God) would be able to have certainty, and confidence about the things He had been taught.
The Gospel of Luke is an orderly account of the life of Christ, beginning with the time just prior to His birth on through His Ascension. Our study will be like a tour,
“Walking with Jesus, into the Kingdom of God.”
Christ’s life journey, is the closest picture, and example we have of the Kingdom of God, here on earth. So as we walk through this Gospel together we are going to be certain about the things we have been taught, and that dying to self, is what we are called to do, and God will give us the grace and the ability to do so, for His honor and glory.
Walking with Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, into the Kingdom of God.
Walking with Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, into the Kingdom of God.
The Holy Spirit a.k.a. “The Perfect Travel Agent”
The Holy Spirit a.k.a. “The Perfect Travel Agent”
Let’s look at a number of passages, that prove what I have just stated.
Not only that, but some of the passages will also give us insight into the Life of Christ, and the fact that He was not working/walking alone in His mission. He had the same “Perfect Travel Agent”, as did the various other characters we are going to read about.
John the Baptist, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary (mother of Jesus), eventually Christ’s disciples.
Before we conclude this morning will see from the Word of God, that we; the children of God, are born of the Spirit. We have this same “travel guide”, that gives those who are called of God a heart of flesh, and removes their heart of stone.
He is indwelling, sustaining, comforting, gifting, sealing, etc . . . us as we walk through this life, in the Already, and Yet Coming Kingdom of God.
Let’s dig into the Gospel of Luke.
15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
The words of the angel Gabriel as he spoke to Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, explaining that The Holy Spirit will be the driving force behind John the Baptist’s ministry, even from his infancy.
Elizabeth, was guided by the Spirit as she spoke to Mary
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Zechariah, we are told, was filled with the Spirit as He prophesied concerning the Messiah, and testified of God’s faithfulness, grace and love and as he blessed his son John, the forerunner of Christ the Lord!
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
All that Zechariah spoke was the direct result of the guiding work of the Holy Spirit. Just as alcohol controls a drunkard, when they are “filled” with alcohol, the Spirit controls those whom He fills.
Let’s jump back a couple of sections in Luke 1, we skipped over one very familiar work of the Holy Spirit. Though it is a familiar account, it ought not be overlooked or watered down, in any way.
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
We will come back to this passage in a few minutes, but I want to read the other verses in the Gospel of Luke, that reference the work of this “tour guide” the Perfect Tour Guide, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself was guided by The Perfect Travel Agent”
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself was guided by The Perfect Travel Agent”
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
Red Letters! Jesus the only begotten Son of God, tells us here and in other verses, about the work, ministry, guidance, anointing, calling, of the Holy Spirit in His life.
21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
You can request this “Perfect Travel Agent”.
You can request this “Perfect Travel Agent”.
Yet they did not ask! Eventually, He breathes the Spirit of God upon them. We will briefly go back to this passage too, but let’s continue
10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
The “Perfect Travel Agent”, is so wonderful, that giving Him a bad review is unforgivable.
The “Perfect Travel Agent”, is so wonderful, that giving Him a bad review is unforgivable.
More details to follow, in the coming weeks.
The “Perfect Travel Agent” is available at all times, to do His work in our lives
The “Perfect Travel Agent” is available at all times, to do His work in our lives
This is exemplified throughout Scripture, in the Old Testament, it took place in varying times a places upon certain people. In the New Testament, particularly in the book of Acts, we see the work of the Holy Spirit in and through all who believe by faith in the Son of God.
As John had predicted would take place, in the words we read a few moments ago, in Luke 3:16
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
G. Campbell Morgan, “The woman had no clear understanding of the depth of that message, nor had those who heard it from her lips. In common with other words of Christ, it has only come to be understood in the light of the Spirit’s dispensation. The water which He gives is the living water of the Spirit, perpetually springing up in the soul of man unto eternal life.”
Have you experienced that spring up in your soul? Notice, that none of the these passage speak of any of these people doing anything to earn or merit or conjure up, this work that the Holy Spirit has done, is doing or will do.
The “Perfect Travel Agent” doesn’t charge a fee, can’t be hired.
The “Perfect Travel Agent” doesn’t charge a fee, can’t be hired.
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
“Favored One” the angel says. This, could just as easily and likely more descriptively be interpreted, “Greetings, One whom the Lord has bestowed grace upon.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Regeneration and Sanctification and filling of the Spirit are the work of God, by means of the person of the Holy Spirit, made effectual by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, not by works of righteousness
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
The Role of the “Perfect Travel Agent”
The Role of the “Perfect Travel Agent”
One Theologian said it this way,
“The work of the Holy Spirit is to manifest the active presence of God in the world, and especially in the church.”
After Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit is the primary manifestation of the presence of the Trinity among us, He is the one who is most prominently with us now. Bringing to us the abundant blessings of God, as He has done from Creation and will continue to do. Then this same theologian went on to explain His role this way.
Empowers or Gives life and empowers for service
1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Purifies/Sanctifies
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Reveals/Enlightens Gives Evidence of God
5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
13 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.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
Unifies
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Gives Stronger or weaker evidence of the presence and blessing of God according to our response to Him.
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Application for Us!
Application for Us!
Recognize the wonder working power of the Holy Spirit
Humbly ask God to bless and fill you and others parts of His body, with His Spirit
Praise Him for the work He has, is and will do in and through you, all the while trying not to grieve or quench the work of the Spirit of God.
Let’s Have a great walk, with Jesus, filled with the Spirit, into the Kingdom of God!!!
Let’s Have a great walk, with Jesus, filled with the Spirit, into the Kingdom of God!!!