TODAY ON ANSWERS WITH BAYLESS CONLEY:
NO DEMON CAN EVER TAKE YOU OUT OF THE FATHER'S HAND OR MOVE YOU OFF OF THE FOUNDATION OF
YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST.
BUT THEY JUST SAID, "LOOK, I KNOW, AND YOU'RE NOT TALKING ME OUT OF IT.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAVIOR'S LOVE.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE REALITY OF SALVATION."
THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS YOU ARE FACED WITH EVERY DAY.
WE ARE ALL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS THAT WILL MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES.
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THESE ANSWERS MIGHT BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
GET READY TO DISCOVER ANSWERS IN THE BIBLE WITH BAYLESS CONLEY.
HI THERE.
I'M BAYLESS CONLEY AND THIS IS THE "ANSWERS" BROADCAST.
AND YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, "HOW ARROGANT, 'ANSWERS WITH BAYLESS CONLEY.'"
WELL, THE TRUTH IS I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS; I DON'T HAVE MANY OF THE ANSWERS.
BUT I FOUND OUT WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE ANSWERS AND THAT IS IN THE BIBLE.
SO WHEN LIFE'S QUESTIONS COME WE GO TO THE SCRIPTURES.
WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO HELP YOU FIND THOSE ANSWERS.
AND TODAY WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT: THE PRESENCE, POWER, AND PERSON OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
HERE'S BAYLESS CONLEY WITH PART TWO OF HIS CONTINUING MESSAGE FROM LAST WEEK.
YOU KNOW, JOEL HOLM, GREAT PART OF OUR TEAM HERE, HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH KOREA.
AND HIS FATHER WAS A MISSIONARY, AND HIS DAD WOULD TAKE HIM OUT INTO RURAL AREAS THERE
IN KOREA WHEN HE WOULD HOLD EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS.
AND JOEL SAID, "I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER TEN YEARS OLD, MY DAD TOOK ME OUT TO ONE OF HIS
EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS.
THEY'D SET UP THE TENT AND PREACHING, AND THEY BROUGHT THIS FARMER IN ON A STRETCHER.
IT WAS ACTUALLY AN OLD ARMY COT. AND LAID HIM DOWN IN THE AISLE."
SAID THE FARMER HAD BEEN PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN FOR TEN YEARS DUE TO A FARMING ACCIDENT.
HE WAS ABLE TO SPEAK, BUT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE ANYTHING FROM THE NECK DOWN FOR TEN
YEARS.
AND JOEL SAID, "I REMEMBER MY FATHER STEPPING OFF THE PLATFORM WITH A COUPLE OTHER OF THE
KOREAN PASTORS, KNEELING DOWN, AND PRAYING FOR THAT MAN AND THEN SUDDENLY, THE MAN SAT
UP."
HE SAID TWO OF THE KOREAN PASTORS HELPED HIM TO HIS FEET.
SAID WITHIN FIVE MINUTES, THAT MAN GRABBED UP HIS COT AND WALKED OUT OF THE TENT UNDER
HIS OWN POWER.
JOEL SAID THAT FOREVER SHAPED HIS FAITH IN GOD AS HEALER.
I'M TELLING YOU, FRIEND, THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES HAVE A POWER.
AND THAT POWER THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS, IT MAKES THE DECLARATIONS AND THE PROMISES
OF GOD POSSIBLE FOR US.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE ANGEL GABRIEL CAME TO THE YOUNG VIRGIN, MARY, THIS TEENAGE GIRL?
SAYS, "HEY, MARY, YOU'RE HIGHLY FAVORED OF GOD.
THE LORD IS WITH YOU.
YOU'RE GOING TO CONCEIVE IN YOUR WOMB AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND YOU'LL CALL HIS NAME
JESUS.
AND HE'S GOING TO BE GREAT!
HE'S GOING TO HAVE THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER, DAVID."
AND HE GOES ON AND ON. AND MARY ASKS A PRETTY RATIONAL QUESTION.
"HOW?
I'VE NEVER HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH A MAN." AND I LOVE GABRIEL'S ANSWER.
"THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL OVERSHADOW YOU.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL COME UPON YOU, AND THE POWER OF THE HIGHEST WILL OVERSHADOW YOU.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER."
THAT WAS GABRIEL'S ANSWER.
AND THEN GABRIEL SAID, "FOR WITH GOD, NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE."
AND ACTUALLY, THE WORD THERE, "NOTHING," IS THE GREEK WORD "RHEMA."
IT LITERALLY MEANS "NO DECLARATION OF GOD WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE OF FULFILLMENT."
THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE SAYS, "NO WORD FROM GOD SHALL BE VOID OF POWER OR IMPOSSIBLE OF FULFILLMENT."
WHY?
BECAUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER.
AND MARY RESPONDED, "BE IT TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD, LORD.
I ACCEPT THIS.
I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET MY HEAD AROUND IT, BUT I ACCEPT IT." AND I THINK WHEN WE TAKE
THAT POSTURE ABOUT THE DECLARATIONS AND THE PROMISES OF GOD, BE IT FOR HEALING, BE IT
FOR DELIVERANCE, BE IT FOR FULLNESS IN YOUR LIFE, BE IT FOR PEACE, OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT
BE, YOU CAN THINK, "HOW CAN THIS EVER HAPPEN?
THIS IS CRAZY.
I DON'T SEE HOW I CAN EVER GET OUT OF THIS CIRCUMSTANCE."
FRIEND, I'M TELLING YOU HOW IT CAN HAPPEN.
YOU SET YOURSELF IN ALIGNMENT WITH GOD'S WORD, SAY, "BE IT TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD,"
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER MAKE THAT DECLARATION A REALITY FOR YOU, MAKES THAT PROMISE A REALITY,
A POSSIBILITY, FOR YOU.
IT'S GOD'S WORD AND GOD'S SPIRIT WORKING TOGETHER.
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONCEIVE HOW IT COULD HAPPEN WITH YOUR LIMITED UNDERSTANDING AND
LIMITED FRAME OF REFERENCE, BUT I'M TELLING YOU HE CAN BRING IT TO PASS.
NOW, AS WELL AS OUTWARD SIGNS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES, OUTWARD MIRACLES, HE DOES INWARD
THINGS THROUGH HIS POWER, AS WELL.
HE CARRIES A POWER.
RIGHT HERE IN ROMANS 15 BACK UP TO VERSE 13.
ROMANS 15:13.
NOW MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, THAT YOU MAY ABOUND
IN HOPE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
NOW, FRIEND, HOPE IS INWARD, AND IT SAYS WE CAN ABOUND IN HOPE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
SOME OF YOU SITTING HERE TONIGHT, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HOPELESS REGARDING SOME THINGS IN YOUR
LIFE, SOME DREAMS THAT HAVE DIED, SOME SITUATIONS THAT HAVE JUST GONE HAYWIRE.
I'M TELLING YOU, YOU CAN ABOUND IN HOPE.
HOW?
BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT ANOTHER VERSE WITH ME.
IT'S FIRST THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 1, AND WE WANT TO LOOK AT VERSE FIVE.
I WANT TO LOOK AT THE FIRST PART OF THAT VERSE, FIRST THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 1 AND VERSE 5.
1 THESSALONIANS 1:5.
IT SAYS THIS:
FOR OUR GOSPEL DID NOT COME TO YOU IN WORD ONLY, BUT ALSO IN POWER, AND IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND IN MUCH ASSURANCE,
ALRIGHT, OUR GOSPEL, IT WASN'T JUST WORDS, BUT IT CAME IN POWER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH
MUCH ASSURANCE.
NOW, ACTUALLY, WHEN THE WORD WAS PREACHED IN THESSALONICA FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT'S RECORDED
IN ACTS CHAPTER 17.
THE STORY IS THERE, AND THERE IS NO RECORD OF ANY MIRACLES OR HEALING TAKING PLACE, AND
YET PAUL SAYS THE GOSPEL CAME WITH POWER AND WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH MUCH ASSURANCE.
THE SPIRIT'S POWER WAS EVIDENT AMONG THEM.
LISTEN TO THIS SAME VERSE FROM THE LIVING BIBLE.
HE SAID, "FOR WHEN WE BROUGHT YOU THE GOOD NEWS, IT WAS NOT JUST MEANINGLESS CHATTER
TO YOU.
NO, YOU LISTENED WITH GREAT INTEREST.
WHAT WE TOLD YOU PRODUCED A POWERFUL EFFECT UPON YOU, FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT GAVE YOU GREAT
AND FULL ASSURANCE THAT WHAT WE SAID WAS TRUE."
THE MESSAGE BIBLE SAYS, "WHEN THE MESSAGE WE PREACHED CAME TO YOU, IT WASN'T JUST WORDS.
SOMETHING HAPPENED IN YOU.
THE HOLY SPIRIT PUT STEEL IN YOUR CONVICTIONS."
YOU KNOW, JESUS SAID IN JOHN 15:26, "WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES, HE WILL TESTIFY OF
ME.
HE DOES THAT THROUGH OUTWARD SIGNS AND WONDERS, BUT HE ALSO DOES IT THROUGH AN INWARD WITNESS.
BOTH ARE THE OUTWORKING OF THE SPIRIT'S POWER."
1 JOHN 5:10 SAYS, "HE WHO BELIEVES IN THE SON OF GOD HAS THE WITNESS IN HIMSELF."
1 JOHN 3:24, "AND BY THIS, WE KNOW."
EVERYONE SAY, "WE KNOW."
WE'RE NOT HOPING; WE'RE NOT GUESSING, "WE KNOW THAT HE ABIDES IN US BY THE SPIRIT WHOM
HE HAS GIVEN TO US."
1 JOHN 4:13, "BY THIS, WE KNOW, WE KNOW THAT WE ABIDE IN HIM AND HE IN US BECAUSE HE HAS
GIVEN US OF HIS SPIRIT.
LISTEN, NO ONE IS SAVED, NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN SAVED OR EVER WILL BE SAVED, JUST AS THE RESULT
OF REACHING AN INTELLECTUAL CONCLUSION.
THE MIND AND THE WILL ARE CERTAINLY INVOLVED, BUT IT IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS MORE THAN THAT.
THE NEW BIRTH, REGENERATION, BEING SAVED, OCCURS BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES THE GOSPEL
REAL TO THAT PERSON'S HEART.
HE BRINGS ASSURANCE.
HE PUTS STEEL IN THEIR CONVICTIONS.
LISTEN, IF YOU CAN BE TALKED INTO SALVATION, YOU CAN BE TALKED OUT OF SALVATION.
BUT IF THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES A WORK OF POWER IN YOUR HEART, BRINGING ASSURANCE AND LETTING
YOU KNOW THAT THE GOSPEL YOU HEAR IS TRUE, WHEN YOU EMBRACE THAT, NO ONE CAN TAKE IT
FROM YOU.
NO PERSON CAN TAKE IT FROM YOU.
NO DISTRESSING CIRCUMSTANCE, NO UNANSWERED QUESTION, NO PERSECUTION, NO TRIAL OR TRAGEDY,
NO CLEVERLY WORDED ARGUMENT, NO ANGEL, NO DEMON CAN EVER TAKE YOU OUT OF THE FATHER'S
HAND OR MOVE YOU OFF OF THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST ADHERING TO OR AGREEING, MENTALLY ASSENTING TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL.
THE SPIRIT LITERALLY DOES A WORK IN THE HEART OF EVERY BELIEVER.
THEY KNOW, THEY'RE ASSURED, THERE IS STEEL IN THEIR CONVICTION.
IT IS SUPERNATURAL, MY FRIEND.
AND IT'S DONE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IT'S WHY YOU CAN GET SOMEBODY THAT MAYBE GETS INTO A CONVERSATION WITH AN INTELLECTUAL AND
THE NEW BELIEVER DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THE INTELLECTUAL'S QUESTION, BUT THEY JUST
SAY, "LOOK, I KNOW, AND YOU'RE NOT TALKING ME OUT OF IT.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAVIOR'S LOVE.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE REALITY OF SALVATION."
HE HAS A PRESENCE, AND HE CARRIES A POWER.
THIRDLY, HE IS A PERSON.
YOU KNOW, JESUS, WHEN HE REFERRED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, ALWAYS REFERRED TO HIM AS HE OR HIM,
NEVER, EVER "IT."
IN ACTS CHAPTER 5, WHEN ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA SOLD THE PROPERTY AND CAME AND TRIED TO DECEIVE
THE CHURCH AND DECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, PETER, BY THE SPIRIT, SAID, "WHY HAS SATAN FILLED
YOUR HEART TO LIE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT?
YOU HAVEN'T LIED TO MEN, BUT YOU HAVE LIED TO GOD."
PETER REFERRED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AS GOD.
HE'S JUST AS MUCH GOD AS THE FATHER IS.
HE'S JUST AS MUCH GOD AS THE SON IS.
I THINK SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT.
YOU KNOW, IN ACTS CHAPTER 13, THERE'S LEADERS AT THE CHURCH OF ANTIOCH.
THEY'RE MINISTERING TO THE LORD.
THEY'RE FASTING.
AND SUDDENLY, THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, "SEPARATE TO ME BARNABAS AND SAUL FOR THE WORK TO WHICH
I HAVE CALLED THEM."
IT SAYS THEY WENT OUT, BEING SENT OUT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, "I CALLED THEM.
SEPARATE THEM TO ME."
IN ACTS CHAPTER 15, HUGE DEAL GOING ON IN THE CHURCH ABOUT GENTILES BEING ABLE TO GET
SAVED, NON-JEWISH PEOPLE COMING INTO THE KINGDOM.
DO THEY HAVE TO BE CIRCUMCISED?
DO THEY HAVE TO KEEP THE JEWISH LAW, DO THEY HAVE TO BECOME A JEWISH PROSELYTE, AND DO
ALL OF THAT BEFORE THEY CAN COME INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
DO YOU KNOW IT WAS TEN YEARS BEFORE A NON-JEW GOT SAVED?
TEN YEARS THE CHURCH WAS EXCLUSIVELY, 100% JEWISH.
I MEAN, IT'S A HUGE THING.
AND JAMES, THE LEADER IN THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM, YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT IN ACTS CHAPTER 15,
THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH GOT TOGETHER TO CONSIDER THIS MATTER.
WHAT ABOUT THE JEWISH LAW?
WHAT ABOUT OUR CULTURE?
WHAT ABOUT OUR TRADITIONS?
AND THESE GENTILES, DO THEY HAVE TO KEEP THE LAW TO BE SAVED?
OR IS IT JUST BY SALVATION?
IS IT BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH?
AND WHEN THEY CAME OUT, THEY WROTE TO THE GENTILE CHURCHES, AND THIS IS HOW THEY STARTED
THE LETTER: IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND TO US TO LAY NO GREATER BURDEN UPON YOU
THAN THESE THINGS.
SO THEY HAVE THIS MEETING, AND THEY TALK AS IF THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS RIGHT THERE, TAKING
PART IN THE MEETING AND MAKING HIS WILL KNOWN.
IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND IT SEEMED GOOD TO US.
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4 AND VERSE 30 SAYS, "DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD BY WHICH
YOU HAVE BEEN SEALED FOR THE DAY OF REDEMPTION."
HE'S A PERSON.
HE CAN BE GRIEVED.
"DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT."
THE MESSAGE BIBLE SAYS, "DON'T BREAK HIS HEART."
THE NEW LIVING TRANSLATION SAYS, "DON'T BRING SORROW TO HIM."
YOU SEE, HE'S NOT JUST SOME FORCE OR SOME VAPOROUS PRESENCE WITHOUT A PERSONALITY.
HE IS A PERSON.
AND HE'S NOT JUST THE MUSCLE OF GOD.
I'VE HEARD PEOPLE REFER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE MUSCLE OF GOD. AND I THINK THEY GET
THAT BECAUSE OF THE METAPHORS USED, ESPECIALLY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, THAT TALK ABOUT WHEN
GOD DID MIRACLES AND ACCOMPLISHED MIGHTY THINGS.
HE DID IT BY HIS OUTSTRETCHED ARM, BY HIS MIGHTY HAND, JUST LIKE WHEN YOU REACH OUT
TO DO SOMETHING.
YOU REACH OUT WITH YOUR ARM.
BUT YOU DON'T SAY, "OH, LOOK, THERE'S BAYLESS."
NO, I'M BAYLESS, AND I JUST REACHED OUT.
SO THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT JUST THE MUSCLE OF GOD.
HE'S NOT JUST THIS VAPOROUS FORCE WITH POWER THAT CAN DO THINGS; HE IS A PERSON.
AND WE GRIEVE HIM WHEN WE DON'T RECOGNIZE HIM AS A PERSON OR WHEN WE'RE ONLY INTERESTED
IN HIM BECAUSE OF HIS POWER.
I REMEMBER YEARS AND YEARS AGO THIS GUY THAT I KNEW.
HE WAS STARTING AN ITINERANT MINISTRY, PREACHING.
AND HE CAME TO ME AND SAID, "BAYLESS, I'VE GOT THIS MEETING IN KANSAS."
WE WERE LIVING IN OKLAHOMA AT THE TIME.
AND HE SAID, "HEY, I'D LIKE YOU TO COME.
YOU COULD PLAY YOUR GUITAR AND SING A SONG AND MAYBE SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR TESTIMONY.
AND IT WOULD JUST BE GREAT."
I THOUGHT, "WELL, MAYBE."
THEN HE GOT DOWN TO IT AND SAID, "CAN YOU DRIVE?"
I WOULDN'T HAVE MINDED IF HE HAD LED WITH THAT, BUT IT BECAME OBVIOUS PRETTY QUICKLY
THAT HE REALLY WASN'T INTERESTED IN FELLOWSHIPPING WITH ME ON THE WAY THERE OR INTERESTED IN
MAYBE ANYTHING THAT I COULD ADD TO WHAT WAS GOING ON, HE WAS INTERESTED IN ME BECAUSE
I COULD PROVIDE HORSEPOWER THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE.
HE DIDN'T HAVE A CAR, AND I DID.
HE WAS ONLY INTERESTED IN ME BECAUSE OF WHAT I COULD DO FOR HIM. AND HONESTLY, HE STILL
CONTINUED TO BE MY FRIEND, BUT IT GRIEVED ME ON THE INSIDE BECAUSE I REALIZED HOW HE
VIEWED ME.
I WAS JUST A TOOL TO BE USED.
HE WASN'T INTERESTED IN A RELATIONSHIP.
HE WASN'T INTERESTED IN MY LIFE ALL, BUT JUST INTERESTED IN WHAT I COULD DO.
DO WE LOOK AT THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT SAME WAY?
DO WE GRIEVE HIM?
SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 13 AND VERSE 14, AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS VERSE.
"HE SAID, 'THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE COMMUNION OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU ALL.
AMEN.'"
NOW WE KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
WE KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD.
BUT HOW MUCH DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
THAT WORD MEANS "FELLOWSHIP."
THE MESSAGE BIBLE, SEVERAL OTHER TRANSLATIONS, SAY, "MAY THE INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT BE WITH YOU."
HOW MUCH DO WE KNOW ABOUT HIS FRIENDSHIP?
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A NEW CHRISTIAN, I WAS LIVING IN OREGON.
AND THERE WAS AN OLD FIRE ROAD THAT WENT BACK INTO THE HILLS AND IT JUST SORT OF ABRUPTLY
ENDED.
AND I USED TO, SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, TAKE MY OLD TRUCK, AND I'D DRIVE TO THE END OF
THAT FIRE ROAD, PARK MY TRUCK, AND THEN I WOULD LITERALLY RUN THROUGH THE WOODS TO THIS
CLEARING.
THERE WAS THIS ENORMOUS BOULDER IN THE CLEARING.
I GUESS IT HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND COME DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN AND JUST CRASHED INTO THIS
CLEARING PROBABLY 1000 YEARS BEFORE.
IT WAS BIG ENOUGH TO SIT 20 PEOPLE ON IT. AND THAT WAS MY MEETING PLACE WITH THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
AND I CAN SO DISTINCTLY REMEMBER PARKING MY TRUCK AND LITERALLY EXCITEDLY RUNNING BECAUSE
I WANTED TO GO THERE AND MEET WITH HIM. AND I USUALLY WOULD TAKE AN APPLE WITH ME, AND
I'D SPEND AN HOUR, COUPLE HOURS, SITTING ON THAT ROCK, SOMETIMES CRYING, SOMETIMES WORSHIPING.
THE SPIRIT'S PRESENCE WOULD COME AND MEET ME. AND DO YOU KNOW IN MY MIND'S EYE, I IMAGINED
HIM RUNNING TO GET TO THAT ROCK JUST LIKE I DID?
I THINK HE WAS JUST AS EXCITED TO BE WITH ME AS I WAS WITH HIM.
YOU KNOW, IN THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON WHEN THE FATHER SAW HIS SON FAR OFF, WHAT
DID HE DO?
HE RAN TO MEET HIM.
THE ONLY PICTURE WE HAVE OF GOD RUNNING IN THE BIBLE.
BUT I JUST COULDN'T WAIT TO GET THERE BECAUSE I WASN'T THERE TO ASK FOR NEEDS.
I DIDN'T HAVE A CHRISTMAS LIST TO READ TO MY CELESTIAL SANTA CLAUS.
I JUST WANTED TO BE WITH HIM.
SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE, AND I WAS GETTING TO KNOW HIM AS A PERSON.
AND MANY, MANY TIMES, I SAT ON THAT ROCK AND I'D FELLOWSHIP, EXPERIENCE FRIENDSHIP WITH
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
HE HAS A PRESENCE, HE CARRIES A POWER, AND HE IS A PERSON.
JUST END BY SAYING THIS: AND HE DOES HAVE A PLAN FOR YOU.
FIRST, HE WANTS YOU TO KNOW HIM IN SALVATION.
AND THEN HE WANTS YOU TO BEGIN TO KNOW HIM IN SOME OF THESE WAYS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
HE WANTS YOU TO HAVE AN INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP WITH HIM.
NOW IF IT HELPS YOU RIGHT NOW, BUT ONLY IF YOU WANT TO, BUT IF IT HELPS YOU MAYBE JUST
CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR A MOMENT.
SOMETIMES IT AIDS US IN BLOCKING OUT DISTRACTION.
AND I JUST WANT TO SUBMIT TO YOU RIGHT NOW THAT IF I CAN TALK YOU INTO PRAYING A PRAYER
AND COMMITTING YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST IF IT'S MERELY BY PERSUASIVE WORDS, THEN SOMEBODY
ELSE CAN COME ALONG AFTER ME AND TALK YOU OUT OF IT.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A SENSE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MAKING SOMETHING REAL TO YOU, NO ONE EVER
TAKES THAT AWAY FROM YOU, MY FRIEND.
AND IT IS THE BASIS FOR TRUE SALVATION.
THE BIBLE SAYS IF WE BELIEVE WITH OUR HEART, NOT JUST OUR HEAD, BUT IF WE BELIEVE WITH
OUR HEART THAT CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AFTER HAVING DIED ON THE CROSS FOR OUR
SINS, AND IF WE'LL WILLINGLY CONFESS HIM AS OUR LORD, THAT MEANS BOSS, MEANS I'M WILLING,
JESUS, TO DIE TO MY RIGHTS OF INDEPENDENT LIVING AND SUBMIT MY ALL TO YOU AND RECEIVE
THIS GIFT OF SALVATION, THIS GIFT OF FAMILY THAT YOU OFFER.
THE BIBLE SAYS ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE WHOLE WORLD STANDS
GUILTY BEFORE GOD.
EVERY HUMAN BEING IS IN NEED OF SALVATION, AND JESUS SAID, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH,
AND THE LIFE.
NO ONE COMES TO ME EXCEPT THROUGH THE FATHER," HE SAID.
HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY MEANS INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. AND HE STANDS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT
WITH HIS ARMS OPEN WIDE.
NOW MY PART IS TO TELL YOU THAT STORY.
ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN DO THE HOLY SPIRIT'S PART.
IF YOU KNOW…
IF YOU KNOW IF HE'S DOING SOMETHING IN YOU AND LETTING YOU KNOW THAT WHAT I'M SAYING
IS TRUE, I WANT TO LEAD YOU IN A SIMPLE PRAYER.
AGAIN, I CAN GIVE YOU THE WORDS.
YOU CAN TIE A SINCERE HEART AROUND THEM AND WE WANT TO COME TO GOD IN THAT MOMENT OF PRAYER.
I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO SAY THIS TO ONE PERSON THAT'S IN HERE.
DON'T RESIST THE HOLY SPIRIT.
YOU KNOW HE'S DEALING WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW THERE'S A REALITY THERE, AND IT MAY BE THAT YOU ARE SET IN SOME PARTICULAR VIEW
OR PARTICULAR STANCE, AND YOU REALIZE THAT QUITE POSSIBLY IF YOU IN SINCERITY SUBMIT
YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST THAT THAT POSTURE, THAT STANCE YOU'VE TAKEN, IS LIABLE TO BE CHALLENGED
BY HIM. AND YOU'RE AN HONEST ENOUGH PERSON TO REALIZE THAT, YEAH, THAT MAY HAPPEN.
I'M TELLING YOU DON'T RESIST THE HOLY SPIRIT.
MY FRIEND, IF YOU KNOW HE'S DEALING WITH YOU AND YOU DON'T RESPOND, IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT
THE NEXT TIME.
SOMETHING HAPPENS TO OUR HEART WHEN WE RESIST.
OUR HEART GETS CALLOUSED.
I WANT TO PRAY WITH YOU.
IF YOU'RE A BACKSLIDER THAT'S AWAY FROM GOD, YOU PROBABLY DON'T NEED TOO MUCH CONVINCING.
HERE YOU ARE IN CHURCH.
YOU COULD HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE.
GOD'S NOT MAD AT YOU, BUT YOU NEED TO COME HOME.
YOU NEED TO RECOMMIT YOUR LIFE TO THE SAVIOR.
BIBLE SAYS GOD IS MARRIED TO THE BACKSLIDER.
HE'S NOT GIVING UP ON YOU.
I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO ONE THING.
I'M GOING TO COUNT TO THREE.
IF YOU WANT TO GET IN ON THIS PRAYER WHEN WE ALL PRAY TOGETHER IN A MOMENT, I'M GOING
TO ASK YOU TO LIFT A HAND WHEN I GET TO THREE.
NOW CERTAINLY YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIFT YOUR HAND.
IT'S NOT AN ABSOLUTE NECESSARY PART, BUT I THINK IT HELPS PEOPLE BECAUSE THE SCRIPTURE
DECLARES THAT FAITH IS EXPRESSED THROUGH ACTION.
AND AN ACT AS SIMPLE AS LIFTING A HAND IT CAN BE A REFLECTION OF YOUR HEART.
YOUR HEART'S REACHING UP TO GOD; YOUR HAND REFLECTS OUTWARDLY WHAT'S HAPPENING INWARDLY.
AND I THINK AN ACT THAT SIMPLE CAN LITERALLY HELP YOUR FAITH BEGIN TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE ANY HANDS THAT ARE RAISED, YOU CAN PUT THEM DOWN, AND THEN WE'RE GOING
TO ALL PRAY A PRAYER TOGETHER.
ONE, TWO, THIS IS YOUR MOMENT, FRIEND, THREE.
IF YOU WANT IN ON THE PRAYER, LIFT YOUR HAND.
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT SOME HANDS IN EVERY SECTION, THAT'S AWESOME.
ALRIGHT, JUST PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN.
LET ME LEAD YOU IN A PRAYER, BUT YOU'RE TALKING TO GOD RIGHT NOW.
SPEAK THESE WORDS TO HIM.
JUST SAY, "OH, GOD."
I COME BEFORE YOU WITH HUMILITY.
I CANNOT SAVE MYSELF.
I CANNOT WASH MYSELF CLEAN.
YOU ALONE CAN DO THAT THROUGH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST.
I BELIEVE HE DIED UPON THE CROSS TO TAKE AWAY MY SINS.
I BELIEVE HE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
JESUS, TONIGHT I MAKE A DECISION TO GIVE MY HEART AND SOUL TO YOU.
I CONFESS YOU AS MY LORD.
THANK YOU FOR WASHING ME CLEAN.
I ASK YOU TO TEACH ME YOUR WAYS.
YOU LEAD, AND I'LL FOLLOW, JESUS.
IT'S IN YOUR NAME I PRAY.
AMEN.
WELL FRIEND, WE ARE SO GLAD THAT YOU JOINED US.
AND LISTEN, IF THE BROADCAST HAS HELPED YOU IN ANY WAY, I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER MAYBE LETTING
A FRIEND KNOW ABOUT THE BROADCAST.
BECAUSE THERE WILL BE PEOPLE IN YOUR WORLD; PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN INFLUENCE THAT HAVE NEEDS
AS WELL THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM HEARING WHAT YOU'RE HEARING.
SO GIVE US A SHOUT-OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
LET A NEIGHBOR; LET A FAMILY MEMBER KNOW ABOUT THE "ANSWERS" BROADCAST.
HELP US TO REACH MORE PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
I'LL BE BACK SHORTLY.
AND NOW HERE'S BAYLESS WITH AN INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT YOU CAN APPLY TODAY.
HELLO FRIEND, I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU AND MAYBE FOR SOME OF YOU THIS MAY BE FRIGHTENING
NEWS.
GOD WANTS TO USE YOU TO TOUCH SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE; TO BRING ENCOURAGEMENT TO SOMEONE ELSE,
SOMEONE THAT IS BOWED OVER AND STRUGGLING WITH THE BURDENS OF LIFE.
GOD WANTS TO USE YOU TO BRING A WORD THAT WILL SET THEM FREE.
LET ME READ A VERSE TO YOU.
THIS IS FROM ISAIAH CHAPTER 50 AND VERSE 4.
IT SAYS,
"THE LORD GOD HAS GIVEN ME THE TONGUE OF THE LEARNED,
THAT I SHOULD KNOW HOW TO SPEAK A WORD IN SEASON TO HIM WHO IS WEARY.
HE AWAKENS ME MORNING BY MORNING, HE AWAKENS MY EAR
TO HEAR AS THE LEARNED.
IF WE WILL INCLINE OUR EAR AND SAY, "GOD, TEACH ME. IS THERE SOMEONE IN MY WORLD THAT
IS IN NEED, IS THERE SOMEONE THAT I CAN ENCOURAGE?"
YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT HOW CLEARLY AND QUICKLY GOD MAY ANSWER THAT PRAYER.
YOU'LL SEE SOMEONE'S FACE OR SOMEONE WILL COME TO MIND.
AND YOU MAY JUST HAVE A FAINT THOUGHT.
WELL, FOLLOW THAT OUT AND ENCOURAGE THEM.
GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE TONGUE OF THE LEARNED TO SPEAK A WORD IN SEASON TO THE ONE WHO IS
WEARY.
IT MAY BE YOUR OWN CHILDREN.
EVERYONE NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT.
EVERYONE DOES.
LIFE CAN BE TOUGH.
LIFE CAN BEAT YOU UP. AND FRIEND, PEOPLE THAT WILL GIVE THAT GOOD WORD IN A DUE SEASON,
HOW VALUABLE THEY ARE.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF ANSWERS WITH BAYLESS CONLEY WHO HELP MAKE
THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE.
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