Lakeview Christian Center

The Explicit Spirit

The Spirit’s work this morning

“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31)

-Illumination of the preached Word
“…no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11)
-Conviction of sin (John 16:8) and assurance of the Gospel (Rom. 8:16)
-Manifest presence in our gathered worship (1 Cor. 14:25)
-Awakening sinners with the miracle of regeneration (John 3:8)
-Distributing gifts throughout the body (1 Cor. 12)
-Freeing prisoners in bondage to sin (2 Cor. 3:17)
-Glorifying Christ as Lord of all
“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3)

The Spirit’s ministry every day

“…[We] walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. …For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God ” (Romans 8:4, 14)

-Dependency on the Spirit for every moment
-Spirit-filled lifestyle of obedience, wisdom, and self-sacrifice (Eph. 5:18)
-Boldness in personal witness and every-day evangelism
-Continually renewed by the Spirit and washed by the Word (Titus 3:5)
-Lives characterized by love and joy (Gal. 5:22)

Praying the Beatitudes

Matthew 5:3-11

-Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

-Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

-Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

-Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

-Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

-Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

-Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

-Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

-Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

“Always Ready”

Sanctify Christ as Lord

“In your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord…” (1 Peter 3:15)

-Christ reigning as Lord in our hearts
-Committed to the supremacy of Christ in all things for the joy of all peoples
-Christ to exert his lordship over the things we cling to most
….“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’ ” —Abraham Kuyper
-The unbelieving to declare, with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)
-Church committed to the Kingdom of Christ so that “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:11)

Always Ready to Give a Defense

“…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope within you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good
conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Peter 3:15-16)

-We would be a people who are eager to share the Gospel
-Freedom from the fear of man that prevents us from making a defense
-Our gentle and reverent defense would attract the lost
-Grace to suffer and be slandered for the sake of Christ the Lord
…“I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16)

Come to Him

Drawn by a Sovereign Lord

“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except by the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matt. 11:25-27)

-God to stake His claim on lost souls this morning
-God to be pleased to reveal himself to many
-Jesus exalted as the sovereign distributor of grace
-Christ to awaken the sleeper & discipline the wanderer
-“Salvation belongs to the Lord” (Jonah 2:9) to be the anthem of praise

Coming to a Tender Christ

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:28-29)

-Spiritually weary to find rest in Christ
-Those who labor in self-righteousness to trust the work of Christ
-Resistant hearts to be won by the Savior
-Those who thirst to abandon empty cisterns in order to drink of Christ
-“Learning of Christ” to be the posture of all LCC believers