1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 2: This is Donna Jones and you are listening to That's 3 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: just what I needed. Hey, friend, If you've ever been 4 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 2: in a conversation where you've walked away thinking, Wow, that 5 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 2: was just what I needed. You know how life giving 6 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 2: that can be, Well, that's what this podcast is all about. 7 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: We're women who. 8 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: Want to know, love, and follow God in our real lives, 9 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: but sometimes wonder just how to do it. 10 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 1: So each week we'll talk about what following. 11 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 2: God looks like in the midst of daily demands and 12 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 2: crazy cultural chaos. Because this isn't just what we need, 13 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 2: it's actually exactly what we need. Hey, hey, my friend, 14 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 2: do you ever find yourself as a Christian woman thinking 15 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 2: why is the Christian life so hard? Why can't I 16 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: be more loving, or more joyful or more patient? If so, 17 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 2: you're gonna love this episode. If you are one of 18 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 2: those lucky women that feel like, Wow, the Christian life 19 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 2: is so easy for me. I'm loving, I'm patient, I'm kind. 20 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: But you're one of those gals who wants to learn 21 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 2: a little bit more about the Bible, you're gonna love 22 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 2: this episode too. Stay tuned because we are about to 23 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 2: dive into the Holy Spirit who he is and what 24 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 2: he does to help us live the Christian life. 25 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: You're gonna love it. 26 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 2: Years ago, we were on a family camping trip. Now 27 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 2: you need to know something about me. I love camping, 28 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 2: but I don't do it very often. We don't do 29 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: it very often. Now. My husband grew up camping all 30 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: the time, so for him this was his wheelhouse. For me, 31 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 2: not so much. But we had a group of friends 32 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 2: and they convinced me that this beach camping trip was 33 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: going to be epic. I was gonna love it. 34 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: Well. 35 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 2: I did, in fact, enjoy it, except for the fact 36 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 2: that where we had to pitch our tent was high 37 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 2: up on this hill and it was just sand. It 38 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 2: was just dust everywhere. Well, day one was great. Day 39 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 2: two I was like, Okay, this is dirty, and I 40 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 2: am not a dirt person. I'm a very clean person. 41 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 2: So starting to get to me. By day three, I 42 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 2: was about to lose my mind. But I was with friends, 43 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 2: and you know how it is when you're with friends. 44 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 2: You can't lose your mind with friends. So I was 45 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: putting on a happy face. I was saying all the 46 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 2: right things, but inside I was so torked out. And 47 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 2: so I told my husband. I need to go on 48 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: a run. I got to get my attitude together. So 49 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: I'm running down the beach and I'm just having this 50 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 2: dialogue with the Lord and I said, Okay, Lord, what 51 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 2: is wrong with me? Everybody else seems to be taking 52 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: all of this mess and stride. They seem to be 53 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 2: having a great time. Why is my attitude so bad? 54 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 2: And then I just felt like the whisper of the Lord, 55 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 2: not an audible voice or anything like that, but just 56 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: I started thinking and I just felt like the Lord 57 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 2: was saying, Donna, are you filled with love? 58 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: And I was like, no, how about peace? Definitely? 59 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 2: No patience, Oh gosh, I'm about to lose my marbles. 60 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: No kindness, not the real kind, faithfulness, gentleness, no self control, 61 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: oh my gosh. 62 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 1: No. 63 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: I just basically went through the list of the fruits 64 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 2: of the spirit and I had to answer no, no, no, no, no, 65 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 2: and no. And as I was running and I was 66 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 2: just kind of processing this whole thing and my whole 67 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 2: bad attitude, I realized that I had been trying to 68 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 2: will myself into living that quote unquote good girl Christian life, 69 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: you know, the happy when the patient won, the kind one, 70 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 2: the one that's like, oh, I got this. I'm just 71 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 2: so chill and let me take care of that, you 72 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 2: know that one. That's who I was trying to be. 73 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 2: Only it wasn't working because my insides were not in 74 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 2: alignment with my outsides. And it was because I was 75 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 2: living out of my flesh, not allowing the Lord to 76 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 2: live through. Now, before we dive into the Holy Spirit, 77 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: I want to say something. This is not like a 78 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: magic bullet. This is not like, you know, abracadabra. Lord, 79 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 2: let the Holy Spirit live through me and all of 80 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 2: these fruits of the Spirit are just going to magically appear. 81 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 2: I have walked with the Lord for decades upon decades, 82 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 2: and I can just tell you that is just not 83 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 2: how it works. However, neither is the Christian life lived 84 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 2: by trying to gut it out and live the Christian 85 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 2: life apart from a real connection with the Holy Spirit. 86 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,359 Speaker 2: So what does that look like? And who is the 87 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit and how does he help us live the 88 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 2: Christian life? And what are his unique ministries. The Bible 89 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 2: teaches that God eternally exists in three persons, God the Father, God, 90 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:55,160 Speaker 2: the Son, God the Holy Spirit. They are co equal, 91 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 2: they have different functions, but they are all God. The 92 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit is God, Jesus is God. The Father is God. 93 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 2: But the Holy Spirit is not the Father, and the 94 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 2: Father is not the Son, and the Son is not 95 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 2: the Spirit or the Father. So it's three distinct persons 96 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 2: but one God. I know, I know, you're scratching your head. 97 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 2: So's everybody else who has ever tried to figure out this, 98 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 2: And it's because it's God and we're not. But when 99 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: Jesus was on the earth and he was about to 100 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 2: be crucified and then resurrected and then ascended back into heaven, 101 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 2: he had a conversation with his disciples, preparing them for 102 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 2: what was to come. Now, as he was preparing them 103 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: for what was to come, they didn't totally get it 104 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 2: because they didn't understand that Jesus was going to be crucified. 105 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 2: But Jesus knew, and Jesus knew that his crucifixion and 106 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: even his resurrection and even his ascension was going to 107 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 2: be a whole new phase for them because Jesus, when 108 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 2: he lived in the flesh, was God with them. But 109 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 2: he knew they were going to feel lonely and isolated, 110 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 2: and wow, you know, we had God with us right here. 111 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: Now, what are we going to do. 112 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 2: Jesus was God with them, the Holy Spirit was God 113 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: in them. And for you and me as believers in 114 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 2: Jesus as our savior, the Holy Spirit is God in 115 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 2: us as well, because the Bible teaches that the Holy 116 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 2: Spirit resides in a believer when somebody places their faith 117 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 2: in Jesus Christ. Now, I'm going to give you the 118 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 2: biblical background for this. It is found in John chapter fourteen. 119 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 2: And this is what Jesus says to his disciples. If 120 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 2: you love me, keep my commandments, and I will ask 121 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 2: the Father and he will give you another advocate to 122 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,799 Speaker 2: help you and to be with you forever, the Spirit 123 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 2: of Truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither 124 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 2: sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for 125 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 2: he lives with you, and he will be in you. 126 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 2: That's found in John fourteen fifteen through seventeen. Another time, 127 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 2: Jesus was talking to the crowds, and he said, if 128 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 2: anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink, 129 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 2: for if he comes to me, out of his in 130 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 2: her being will flow rivers of living water. And then 131 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 2: the text goes on to say, and this he spoke 132 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 2: of the Spirit, which had not been given because Jesus 133 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 2: had not been glorified. Now I'm just saying that from memory, 134 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 2: so I want to say that's John eight. But again 135 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 2: Jesus was saying, Hey, the Spirit hasn't been given yet, 136 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 2: but he's going to be and he's going to be 137 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: in you, and he's going to produce rivers of living water. 138 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 2: So Jesus was prepping the disciples, I'm God with you, 139 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 2: but don't fear. I'm not going to leave you as orphans. 140 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 2: The Holy Spirit is going to be God living in you. 141 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 2: Jesus goes on to even explain to his disciples, this 142 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 2: is a great thing because right now you have Me 143 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 2: with you, but the Spirit will be in you. When 144 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 2: Jesus lived in the flesh, he was limited by his flesh, 145 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 2: so he couldn't be in Jerusalem and Bedlam at the 146 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 2: same time, for instance. But because the Spirit is not 147 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 2: limited by flesh, the Spirit can be with me right 148 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 2: now as I'm recording this podcast, and the Spirit can 149 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 2: be with you wherever you are right now. Let me 150 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 2: just think about that. Right now, this Spirit is with me, 151 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 2: and right now, my friend, the Spirit is with you. 152 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 2: If you know Jesus as your savior. So that means 153 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 2: that we all have access to the Spirit, and that's 154 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 2: a really good thing because the Spirit has very specific 155 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 2: ministries in the life of a believer. Just like the 156 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 2: Father has very specific ministries in the life of a believer, 157 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 2: and the Son has very specific ministries in the life 158 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 2: of a believer, namely our salvation, the Spirit also has 159 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,959 Speaker 2: very specific ministries in the life of a believer. We're 160 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 2: gonna take a quick break, and when we come back, 161 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 2: we're going to talk about how the Holy Spirit is 162 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 2: already at work in your life. I'm going to show 163 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 2: you how, and I'm going to help you understand how 164 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 2: he's already been working in your life and you may 165 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 2: not have even recognized it, and how he can work 166 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 2: even more in your life so you can grow in 167 00:08:56,240 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 2: your love and knowledge of God. Okay, so let's talk 168 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 2: about how the Holy Spirit works in the life of 169 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 2: a believer. Well, number one, the Holy Spirit he helps 170 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 2: us meet God in the first place. You remember that 171 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,679 Speaker 2: passage in John three, the one where Nicodemus comes to 172 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 2: see Jesus at night and he's like, Okay, help me understand. 173 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 2: How does somebody get into the Kingdom of God and 174 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 2: what does Jesus say, Nicodemus, You can't enter the Kingdom 175 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 2: of God unless you're born again. And Nicodemus totally does 176 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 2: not get this because he says, how can somebody enter 177 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 2: into his mother's womb? The second time, I don't get it. 178 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 2: And then Jesus says, you have to be born of 179 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 2: the water, end of the spirit. In fact, this is 180 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 2: Jesus's words verbatim. Very truly, I tell you, no one 181 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 2: can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born 182 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 2: of water and of the spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh. 183 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 2: That's humans giving birth to humans. But the spirit gives 184 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 2: birth to the spirit, and so the Holy Spirit is 185 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 2: the one that causes us to be born again. That's 186 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 2: John three, five and six years ago. I had a 187 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 2: gal in this Bible study that I was leading. It 188 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 2: was for seekers people that weren't Christians yet. And after 189 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 2: we were in this Bible study, oh, I don't know, 190 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 2: like seven or eight weeks, she told me that she 191 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 2: was getting frozen younger with her boyfriend. And she goes, Okay, 192 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:16,199 Speaker 2: do you think it's weird that I'm starting to think 193 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 2: about God all the time? And her boyfriend was like, yeah, 194 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 2: that's bizarre. She said it made her feel weird. But 195 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 2: she told me that story, and she goes, do you 196 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 2: think that's weird? And I said, no, I don't think 197 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 2: it's weird at all, because what that signifies is that 198 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 2: God is reaching out. His spirit is reaching out to 199 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 2: woo you to himself. That's the Holy Spirit working in 200 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 2: your life. The fact that you were even thinking about God. 201 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 2: So the Holy Spirit helps us meet God, but the 202 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit also helps us know God better. Let me 203 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 2: give you some really practical illustrations that you've already experienced. 204 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 2: Have you ever had the moment where you just felt like, Okay, 205 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 2: I need to pray right now. I just I need 206 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 2: to pray. Maybe it was for a friend or family member, 207 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 2: or just someone in your you just felt compelled to pray. 208 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,559 Speaker 2: Do you know why you felt compelled to pray because 209 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 2: that was the Holy Spirit working in your life. Have 210 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 2: you ever had a situation where you're like, I need 211 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 2: to say something about that, I need to speak up 212 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 2: for Christ, or I need to just say something that 213 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,680 Speaker 2: would indicate that I am a follower of Jesus Christ, 214 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 2: or you know, direct the conversation toward that end. Do 215 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 2: you know why that even came into your mind? That 216 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 2: was a Holy Spirit working in your life. Have you 217 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 2: ever you were in a need and maybe you were 218 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 2: anxious or worried about something, or maybe you had a 219 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,319 Speaker 2: financial need or a physical need and a Bible verse 220 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 2: popped into your mind something you'd heard years ago. Do 221 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 2: you know why that Bible verse popped into your mind? 222 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 2: Because the Holy Spirit was working in your life. The 223 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 2: Bible says that the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance 224 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 2: the things that Jesus taught us. So the Holy Spirit 225 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 2: has been working in your life, whether or not you 226 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 2: actually identified that that was the spirit. But he's there, 227 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 2: and he's working in your life, and he wants to 228 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 2: work even more. The Holy Spirit also was given as 229 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 2: a guarantee of our salvation. Listen to what the apostle 230 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 2: Paul wrote in Two Corinthians one, twenty one and twenty two. 231 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 2: Now it is God who makes both us and you 232 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 2: stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal 233 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 2: of ownership on us, and put his spirit in our 234 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 2: hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. It's 235 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 2: kind of like when you're purchasing a home and you 236 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 2: put a down payment on a house. It guarantees that's 237 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 2: going to be your house when it closes. 238 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 1: Us grow. That's what the Holy Spirit is. It's God's deposit. 239 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 2: Into your life that you belong to Him and that 240 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 2: you have assurance of salvation and that you your home. 241 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,959 Speaker 2: Your actual home is in heaven. The Holy Spirit is 242 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 2: your guarantee. He's your down payment. The Holy Spirit gives 243 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,679 Speaker 2: us assurance about our salvation. Romans eight fourteen through sixteen 244 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 2: says this, for all who are led by the Spirit 245 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 2: of God are children of God. So you have not 246 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 2: received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you 247 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 2: received God's spirit when He adopted you as his own children. 248 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 2: Now we call him Abba Daddy Father, for his spirit 249 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 2: joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. 250 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 2: That's the New Living Translation and the NIV it says 251 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:28,079 Speaker 2: his spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are 252 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 2: children of God. So if you've ever since the Holy 253 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 2: Spirit moving in your life, that is an indication. It's 254 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 2: the Spirit bearing witness with dear Spirit that you actually 255 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 2: are a real Christian. So the Spirit's presence in your 256 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 2: life gives you assurance of salvation. Here's another thing the 257 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit does. The Holy Spirit makes us witnesses. In 258 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 2: church history, the Holy Spirit was first poured out on 259 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 2: believers on the day of Pentecost. The Bible says in 260 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 2: the Book of Acts that there was one hundred and 261 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 2: twenty believers that were in the Upper Room and they 262 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 2: were all together, and they were all praying. This was 263 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 2: after Jesus's resurrection, and he had been appearing to them 264 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 2: for a forty day period, and then for ten days 265 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,319 Speaker 2: they were just all together and they were praying, and 266 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit came upon each one of them, and 267 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 2: they were able to speak in different languages because this 268 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 2: was at the time when there was a celebration going 269 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 2: on in the city of Jerusalem, so people were from everywhere. 270 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 2: They were from all different dialects and different languages, all 271 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 2: there to worship and to celebrate. And so these people 272 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 2: were given this gift in order that they might share 273 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 2: this good news of Jesus with all of these people 274 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 2: in different languages. And this was just a full moment 275 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 2: of what Jesus told them before he ascended back into 276 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 2: heaven in Acts one eight, and Jesus told them, and 277 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 2: you will be my witnesses when the Holy Spirit comes 278 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 2: upon you. So the Holy Spirit is the one that 279 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 2: enables us to share the love of Jesus Christ with 280 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 2: our friends and our family members. The Bible also says 281 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 2: that the Holy Spirit is our comforter. He's the one 282 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 2: one who comes alongside us and helps us. The Bible 283 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 2: calls the Holy Spirit our counselor our guide, the spirit 284 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 2: of truth. All of these are ministries of the Holy Spirit. 285 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 2: So if you need comforting, ask the Holy Spirit to 286 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 2: comfort you. That's one of his jobs. If you need wisdom, 287 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 2: ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom. If you 288 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 2: need help, ask the Holy Spirit to give you help. 289 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 2: Another ministry of the Holy Spirit is that he corrects 290 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 2: us and he directs us when we do something that 291 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 2: we know is not in alignment with God's will for 292 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 2: our lives, or it's in disobedience to one of his commands. 293 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 2: That feeling that we get of guilt is from the 294 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. He convicts us. Now, the Holy Spirit never 295 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 2: condemns us. That's the enemy's job. But the Holy Spirit 296 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 2: does convict us. And what conviction does is it moves 297 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 2: us toward Christ and toward walking with God in a 298 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 2: closer way. Whereas condemnation moves us away from God. That's 299 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 2: why condemnation is from the enemy, but conviction is from 300 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit. It corrects us, it directs us, it 301 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 2: read directs us, because it's the Holy Spirit helping us 302 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 2: get back on track and helping us walk worthy of 303 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 2: the calling with which we've been called. In fact, that's 304 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 2: exactly what happened to me when I was jogging on 305 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 2: the beach. It was the ministry of the Holy Spirit 306 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 2: that was convicting me. And you know what, it didn't 307 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 2: shame me. It actually freed me because it opened my 308 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 2: eyes to what my real problem was. And my real 309 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 2: problem was I was just trying to live the Christian 310 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 2: life apart from Christ and the work of His Spirit 311 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 2: in my life. So it actually was really helpful that 312 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit convicted me. And that's how it works. 313 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 2: So don't ever be afraid of the Holy Spirit's conviction. 314 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 2: It's a good thing. It's a godly thing, it's a 315 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 2: holy thing. And although there's a host of other things 316 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 2: that the Holy Spirit does, one of the sweetest things 317 00:16:57,320 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 2: that the Holy Spirit does for you and me is 318 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 2: that he prays for us us in Romans eight, this 319 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 2: is what it says in the same way, the Spirit 320 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 2: helps us in our weakness. We don't know what we 321 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 2: ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for 322 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 2: us with groans too deep for words. Let that just 323 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 2: sit with you for a minute. I don't know about you, 324 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 2: but on a regular basis, I feel so weak, and 325 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 2: it is so comforting to know that when I don't 326 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,360 Speaker 2: even know what to pray, I can't even put two 327 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 2: words together. The Holy Spirit's got my back. He's got 328 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 2: yours too. This is one of the ministries of the 329 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. He intercedes for you with groans that are 330 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 2: too deep to even put into human language. 331 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 1: Wow. That's pretty amazing, isn't it. 332 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:48,239 Speaker 2: God loves you so much that he has committed to 333 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 2: your best like a tender parent. God encourages you, He 334 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 2: corrects you, He protects you, He comforts you, he directs you, 335 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 2: he counsels you, and he even prays for you in 336 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,959 Speaker 2: your weakest, most vulnerable moments. He does all this and 337 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:06,160 Speaker 2: more by the power of the Holy Spirit. 338 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,679 Speaker 1: Well, I hope you enjoyed today's episode. I hope it 339 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:12,439 Speaker 1: was just what you needed. 340 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,239 Speaker 2: And if it piqued your interest, you should know that 341 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 2: much of what I talked about today is found in 342 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 2: my book Seek, a Woman's Guide to Meeting God. You know, 343 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 2: summer's coming up and a lot of Bible studies are 344 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 2: winding down. This would be a great read. It has 345 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 2: a Bible study at the end of each chapter. You 346 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 2: can do it by yourself or in a small group. 347 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:36,160 Speaker 2: It is a best selling book and if you've never 348 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:39,160 Speaker 2: read it, I highly recommend it. And as a reminder, 349 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 2: jump over to my website, Donna Jones dot org where 350 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 2: you can find lots of free resources and I'd love 351 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 2: to connect with you on social media. 352 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: You'll find me at Donna A. 353 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:51,119 Speaker 2: Jones on Instagram or Donna Jones Speaker and author on Facebook. 354 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 2: And as always, my friend, can't wait to see you 355 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 2: next time, for that's just what I needed.