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You've Got Mail Message 3: Listen! Bible: Romans 8:10-17a 26/05/07

POWER, PRESENCE, LISTEN.

Three words to remember.. and maybe they will help you to hear what God wants to say to you this morning.

1. Have you ever felt just a little bit “down”.

I’m no good. I lost my temper again.

I’m a USELESS Christian.

I’ve made such a mess of things... I’ve ruined my life.

I had hoped to do so much for God but now I can’t do anything. Or how about…

There’s nothing I can do. I haven’t got any gifts or talents that God can use. I’m too young! I’m too old! I used to do so much, but I can’t do anything now.

It’s not true! None of those things are true if you have put your faith in Jesus, if you have responded to his invitation… Follow me. And if you know in your heart that you want to live your life with him - then when you feel “down” about yourself, I hope you know that that's not the voice of the Spirit of Truth you're hearing. It's Satan, who just loves to see us depressed, upset, and best of all feeling unworthy and unable to live a life which brings honour and glory to God and demonstrates the power of his Spirit.

And one way to tell Satan to get lost, is to remind yourself and him of the truth that we have heard read this morning - in the passage from Romans we are told - the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.

2. Here’s a pub quiz question.. from the “famous quotes” section Who said? “When you’re dead, you’re dead. That’s it.” Actually it was a famous twentieth century actress and singer - Marlene Dietrich.

When you’re dead you’re dead. It’s a pity she didn’t know the whole story.

It is true that there is no power on earth that can breathe life into a corpse…. but there is one in heaven who can! For we know that God our Father raised his son Jesus Christ from the dead through the power of his Holy Spirit.

And when these bodies die and rot away… it is the Holy Spirit who will give life to our resurrection body and bring us to the place where we will be with Jesus for ever.

That is the power of the Holy Spirit, power to bring new life even from death. And the Bible says that the mighty power of the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead, LIVES IN US.

That was the whole point of the Father’s gift that Jesus promised to us. He said - when I go away, I will ask the father and he will send you another comforter, another counsellor, another helper, a friend to be with you. (John 14) And on the day of Pentecost that promise was fulfilled and we now live in the Age of The Spirit where all those who belong to Jesus receive from the father the gifts of the Holy Spirit.. his PRESENCE with us. The same Spirit of POWER who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us.

If you are a friend of Jesus, if you have welcomed him into your life as your friend and your Lord, then he has promised that the POWER and PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit is the Father’s gift for you.

3. I was talking to another minister the other day who was looking forward to retirement. And he warned me… once you turn 60 things get a lot harder. And he was saying how standing up for a long time, doing several services in a day, and all the rest of it takes it’s toll. He was wanting to give helpful advice.

I am sure that there is truth in what he said… but that is not the point. As we get older, our bodies get weaker... but God's Holy Spirit doesn't get any weaker as we get older... does it?

So maybe the most important thing for any of us, is to want to be about the Holy Spirit’s business - to be more and more concerned about doing whatever it is that God is calling us to do. You see if we are concerned about doing what God wants… then no matter how old we get.. we will always be able to do it! Because whatever God calls us to do, the Holy Spirit will enable us to do. That’s what the Bible says “he will equip you with everything good for doing his will.” (Hebrews 13:21)

The POWER of the Holy Spirit is for us now to enable us to live the life that God has created us to live.. and the PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit with us means that it is ALWAYS possible for us to do whatever it is that GOD wants us to do

(Of course what God wants us to do… may not always be the same as what we might choose ourselves to do!)

4. Have you noticed the fear that is around today. Fear of missing out on something - fear of running out of time. It’s the “in” thing to have a list of things that you want to do before you’re thirty.. or fifty or whatever. I found one article in a paper that said “100 things to do in Scotland before you die”.. (probably of cold or pneumonia)

Now God has promised those who belong to him a place in his kingdom… so I can just imagine travelling with the angels to some far flung galaxy, exploring unknown parts of God's unfathomable creation.. and some smart Alec will come up to me and say “Well Duncan you really missed out on the 97 other things you could have done in Scotland.” As if in the presence of God I’m going to feel as if I missed out because I never went bungee jumping with crocodiles in Loch Ness or whatever.

Don’t spend time worrying about whether or not you are going to do all the things you want to do before you die… Instead make sure that you are doing what God wants you to do before you die.

And if you find that sometimes you worry about getting older… (oh no I’ll be thirty in four years time!!)_ … the truth that God tells us is, day by day as the Spirit’s Presence and Power is with us, our relationship with God should become stronger, more mature. The longer we learn to depend on the Spirit's Power, the more we delight in his Presence with us… then we become more and more able to be used by God in ways that will build up his kingdom. Growing old with God doesn’t make you weaker… it makes you stronger. You should become MORE able to build up his church and more able to help others to see the God’s love demonstrated in your life.

As long as we have a mind we can pray,

as long as we have breath in our bodies we can give praise and thanksgiving to God. As long as we can speak a word to anyone we can speak a word of encouragement, as long as the spirit of God lives in us, we can be a means by which God can demonstrate his love and concern for another person.

As long as people can look into your eyes they can see the love of Jesus in them, as long as they can feel the touch of your hand they can feel the love of Jesus

5. When Jesus promised that he would never leave us.. he meant it. The Lord is here (His Spirit is with is.)

That is his promise to you now… and forever.

So why on earth would you want to ignore the PRESENCE and the POWER of the Holy Spirit in your life?

St. Paul was aware that those who have tasted the goodness of God, who have welcomed him into their life... can treat the Holy Spirit as a house guest who is unwelcome. A guest that they would rather have nothing to do with. … Another verse from this morning’s passage from Romans… you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live.

We don’t have to ignore the Holy Spirit… but we can if we choose to. And that is such a huge mistake to make.

6. Which brings us to third word: “LISTEN”

We have been Looking at the letters to the churches in the book of revelation. And the words that we have to hear today are these

Anyone who is willing to hear should LISTEN to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Listen… It’s a command. Jesus says we need to pay attention, we need to act on what the Spirit says.

The awesome power and the loving presence of the Holy Spirit cannot change us, cannot be at work in us, if we are not willing to LISTEN, to be guided and taught by the Spirit.

7. How can you know that you are listening to the Spirit?

Here are two ways to check it out. The first one is this:

Make sure that what you think is in accordance with God's revealed word. The Bible says “All scripture is inspired by God.. Spirit-breathed.” (1 Tim 3:16). If the Holy Spirit inspired the Bible to be written the Holy Spirit is not going to be speaking to anyone words that contradict what the Bible says.

Yet so often followers of Jesus choose to listen to their own feelings rather than listen to the Spirit-inspired word of God. We live in a culture that tells us that we should be led by our feelings, trust your heart, do what feels like the right thing. Angelina Jolie is excellent as Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider films… but not so good as a moral teacher. She says “Anything that feels that good couldn't possibly be bad.”

Yes it can. Lots of things feel good.. but are bad for us. Do you want me to make a list.. or can you make your own. Folk are still recovering from last nights binge drinking which felt so good at the time.. not so good now. The addict feels great after a hit... but it’s a bad a destructive habit. A married man flirting with a female colleague at work… might make him feel good about himself.. it’s destructive of his integrity, and of his marriage. Just because something feels good… it doesn’t mean it is good.

Maybe there’s something you want to do… and you find yourself saying “Well it feels so right.. I’m sure God’s in this”. Check it out. Check it out with your Christian leaders… That’s me and others in leadership with me. God’s called us here to pastor you. And turn to the presence of the Holy Spirit with you ask him to teach you from the written word… check to see whether your action or attitude is in accordance with what the Spirit has already made plain. And if it isn’t... then ask the Spirit to give you Power to be obedient to God’s will… and that power will be given. Because the Holy Spirit is there to help you to do things that are pleasing to God.. things that are good for you.

And a second way to know if you are Listening to the spirit, is to look for the effect of the Spirit in your life.

You know sometimes there is a danger that we read the story of Pentecost and the early church in the wrong way.

What do you think was the most powerful work of the Holy Spirit in the early years of the church?

Was it the gift of perseverance that enabled early generations of Christians to honour Jesus in the face persecution?

Was it the miraculous healings that were part of the life of the church since the very beginning?

Was it boldness in preaching the message of Christ crucified on the cross that was accompanied with such power that thousands upon thousands of people came to receive it and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and saviour?

All of these things and many more are the result of the Presence and Power of the spirit. All of this can only be part of the life of those who are ready and willing to LISTEN to what the Spirit says and be obedient.

But what is the most powerful work of the Spirit?

For me… there is a clue in an old history book.

It’s not in the Bible. It was written by a Christian who belonged to the generation of Christian believers who lived at the end of the second century, About 150 years after the resurrection. His name was Tertullian. He was a bishop in N. Africa… he wrote this. But it is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See, they say, how they love one another, for they themselves are animated by mutual hatred. See, they say about us, how they are ready even to die for one another, for they themselves would sooner kill.

At this time of fantastic expansion of the church throughout the whole Roman Empire… what were non-believers, pagans, saying about the Christians? “See how they love one another.”

Maybe it is what we would expect in a church where followers of Jesus are Listening to the Spirit and welcoming the Presence of the spirit, and receiving the Power of the spirit. Of course it is. Because what does the Bible say is the EFFECT of the presence and power of the Spirit in the life of one who is willing to listen and be obedient… it spells it out so clearly.

(Galatians 5:22)

The fruit of the Spirit, (the effect of the spirit) is Love: love for God, for others who Jesus died to save, love for members of the body of Christ in obedience to the command of Jesus to his disciples… Love one another. Joy Do people see that your friendship with Jesus and his people brings joy into your life? Peace Do you make folk more anxious when you are around, or do you bring the peace and presence of God into their lives? Patience - Kindness -Goodness, is that what people see in you…Faithfulness.. are you someone who can be trusted. Meekness (humility) the Bible says so much about humility because we have to follow the example of Jesus who humbled himself and became a servant for the sake of others. And Self-control - it’s spiritual fruit. Self-control is the effect of living in the presence of the Holy Spirit and depending on the power of the Holy Spirit it is the result of obedience to God’s word, it is the outcome of Listening to what the spirit says. Without the evidence of this work of the spirit in the lives of the followers of Jesus.. then and all the preaching and all the miracles can do nothing to glorify the risen Christ who says

“Listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches.”