Northside 101

Spiritual Warfare is one battle that we do not have the luxury of being neutral in. The Bible gives us clear instructions to identify our enemy, so that we may advance.

1. The Call to Be Alert.

• Be Sober- Be Vigilant.

2. The Description of Our Adversary.

• Devil
• Satan
• Old Serpent
• Dragon

3. The Call to Advance.

(4) Important Traits

• Perfect
• Established
• Strengthen
• Settle

"To know the will of God, is to have an open Bible and an open road map." - William Carey

• 8 Billion people on earth
• 6.5 Billion claim not to have a relationship with Christ
• 3.37 Billion have little to no access to the gospel
• 1 Billion people have never heard the name of Jesus

Instruction #1: Stay in Jerusalem.

1. Why must the disciples stay in Jerusalem?

• Truth #1 - We wait for the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit gives us the power and authority to complete the mission God gave to us.

Instruction #2: It is not for you to know the time or season the Father has prepared.

2. Why did the disciples ask Jesus if this was when the Kingdom was coming?

• Truth #2 - Our focus is to be on the mission God has given to the church.

InStruction #3: Witness of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts.

3. Why did Jesus specifically give these locations to his disciples?

• Truth #3 - The gospel of Christ is given for all people in all places.

Instruction #4: Be ready for the return of Christ.

4. Why do you stand looking at the sky?

• Truth #4 - To be ready for Christ's return is to be obedient to Christ's commands.

"I will hold the rope to pull people from the pit." - William Carey

The Holy Spitenables and empowers you supernaturally

Acts 1:8

The promise for power-The protice of power - The prayer for power -

Acts 8:26-33

Ephesians 3:16 and Ephesians 1:15-21

<> The Holy Spirit teaches you accurately

The promise for revealing truth - John 14:25-26 and John 16:12-15

The purpose for revealing truth - Il Timothy 3:14-17

To be saved = verses 14-15

To live saved = verses 16-17

Teaching = This is what is right

Reproof = This is what is wrong

Correction = This is how to get right

Training in righteousness = This is how to stay right

I shared with the morning Bible Study (that gathers every Wednesday at 10:00 by the way) that to me, the best Super Bowl commercial was Harrison Ford and his Jeep. His lines caught my attention:

"The longest thing we will do is live our lives. And life doesn't come with a user's manual...I but it would have been easier if it had, wouldn't it?" Well...God did! The Bible.

66 books. 1,189 chapters. 31,102 verses. 757,439 words.

They help us know God better.

They help us love God better.

They help us trust God better.

They help us obey God better.

They help us serve God better.

They help us live life better.

They help us glorify God better.

God established three institutions: The family, the government, the church. And all three are to operate under and according to the ultimate and final authority of God's Word. Want to know why families fall apart, governments fall apart, churches fall apart? They give their own wants and wills the authority that only the word of God holds and deserves.

Trouble today: Either the Bible doesn't line up to your life or your life doesn't line up with the Bible!

The Holy Spirit gorifies God through you fruitfully

The premise for being fruitful- John 15:1-8 The life of Jesus in me, being lived out through me.

The evidence of being fruitful - Galatians 5:22-23

<> The Holy Spirit comforts you peacefully

The promise of peace -

John 14:27

The picture of peace-

Acts 7:54-56

Peace is not the absence of challenges/trials in life... Peace comes from trusting in the Lord in them all.

Isaiah 26:3 - You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

The prayer for peace - Philippians 4:4-7 (But don't forget verses 8-9!)

<> The Holy Spirit perfects Christ's joy in you fully. I wrestled between "perfects" /"provides" BUT

The promise of joy - John 15:9-11

The picture of joy - Acts 13:48-52

The prayer for joy - Romans 15:13

Reminds me of what God is doing at Northside!

"Now may the God of hope fill you with..."

<> The Holy Spirit declares God's Word through you convincingly

• The promise - Mark 13:9-11

The picture - Acts 4:5-13-

<> The Holy Spirit sanctifies you progressively

John 17:17 and I Corinthians 6:11

<>The Holy Spirit leads us purposefully

The prayer and the picture -

Acts 13:1-4 and Acts 16:6-10

We are encouraged to live a true Christian life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This passage shows the sharp contrast between the Spirit and the flesh, and how we as believers should walk bearing the fruit of God's nature.

1. The Conflict between the Spirit and Flesh. Vs. 16-18

2. The Works of the Flesh. Vs. 19-21

3. The Fruit of the Spirit. Vs.22

Ephesians 4:11-16

1. The Dispersion of Gifts

Saved by grace through faith

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Gifted with purpose by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:4)

2. The Diversity of gifts

Pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelist. etc

Why must there be diversity?

3. The Design for Your gift

Build/edify the church

Unify the church

Mature in our walk with Christ

The Holy Spirit calls you to Christ compassionately

Revelation 22:17

The Holy Spirit convicts you of sin mercifully

John 16:7-11

Acts 2:37-38

Psalm 32:3-5

The Holy Spirit is operative in your salvation graciously

Titus 3:3-7

The Holy Spirit secures you as a child of God eternally

Ephesians 1:13-14

II Corinthians 1:21-22

I John 3:21-24 and 4:13

The Holy Spirit lives in you purposefully

John 14:16-17

Acts 6:3

I Corinthians 6:19-20

II Timothy 1:7

The Holy Spirit testifies with your spirit emphatically

Romans 8:14-17

Galatians 4:6-7

The Holy Spirit imparts God's love into your heart lavishly

Romans 5:5-8

How is this love to be expressed to others?

I Corinthians 13:4-8

How do all these truths become reality in my life?

The Holy Spirit will guide you to live a life of continual dependence upon the Lord

The Holy Spirit guide you to live a life of continual surrender to the Lord

The Holy Spirit guide you to live a life of continual trust in the Lord

The Spirit-filled life is marked by purpose, power and effectiveness. It is not something you do, but something you are because of who is living and working inside you. God desires for you to live a Spirit-filled life, being led by the Spirit on a daily basis.

1. The Holy Spirit Strengthens Us.

2. The Holy Spirit Purifies Us.

3. The Holy Spirit Filled Us for Ministry.

The Command of God is to walk strictly and carefully being filled with the Spirit. This command is in present tense which means we are to be constantly filled with the Spirit.

The Spirit-Filled Believer Is:

1. Redeeming The Time. Vs.15-16

2. Discerning The Lord's Will. Vs.17

3. Being Constantly Filled with the Spirit. Vs. 18-21

Trials in the Greek give us the word "peri-ras-mos." It means to tempt, try, test, prove. God allows various trials to make us stronger and purer.

First - You discover it was working for us.

Second - You discover just how much God has strengthened you.

Third - You discover eternal perspective.

Many accounts in the Scriptures show us how God‘s people have overcome circumstances and trials to help them grow spiritually. God will not permit His children to be in the fire too long. We do belong to God and he is preparing us for his glory.

- Peter Gave us this illustration in I Peter 1:7 referring to the goldsmith.

1. Adversity will test your testimony

2. Adversity will test your trust

3. Adversity will test your tenacity