{"id":303529,"date":"2015-06-11T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-06-11T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/the-ministry-of-the-holy-spirit\/"},"modified":"2015-06-11T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2015-06-11T15:00:00","slug":"the-ministry-of-the-holy-spirit","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/the-ministry-of-the-holy-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ministry of the Holy Spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pastor J.D. Greear reminds believers of their calling to be participants in The Great Commission. J.D. shares how acquainting ourselves with Scripture is essential for our growth, our walk and our witness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2015-06-11.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:","filesize":"22.68M","filesize_raw":"23786504","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2822],"tags":[5688,4252,5687,4960,5689],"podcast_series":[8085],"cwp_profile":[9391],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-303529","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-growing-in-your-faith","tag-apostle","tag-holy-spirit","tag-j-d-greear","tag-scripture","tag-unreached-people-groups","podcast_series-jesus-continued","cwp_profile-jd-greear","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/303529\/the-ministry-of-the-holy-spirit","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/303529\/the-ministry-of-the-holy-spirit","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"91wa3cdpQH\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/the-ministry-of-the-holy-spirit\/\">The Ministry of the Holy Spirit<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/the-ministry-of-the-holy-spirit\/embed\/#?secret=91wa3cdpQH\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;The Ministry of the Holy Spirit&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"91wa3cdpQH\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Pastor J.D. Greear reminds believers of their calling to be participants in The Great Commission. J.D. shares how acquainting ourselves with Scripture is essential for our growth, our walk and our witness.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2015-06-11.pdf","transcript_content":"<strong>Bob: <\/strong>In John 15, Jesus told His disciples, \u201cApart from Me, you can do nothing.\u201d\u00a0 Pastor J.D. Greear says, \u201cOur union with Christ is inexorably tied to our understanding of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>What was so important about the Holy Spirit that even the Great Commission itself could wait?\u00a0 What it was that was so important is that Christianity\u2014the power of Christianity\u2014is not me doing things for Christ\u2014it\u2019s Christ working in and through me. Effective ministry is not me laboring for Christ\u2014it is Christ in and through me. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Thursday, June 11<sup>th<\/sup>. Our host is the President of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, Dennis Rainey, and I\u2019m Bob Lepine.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to talk to Pastor J.D. Greear about why our understanding of the Holy Spirit and His ministry in our lives is key to just about everything. Stay tuned. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>1:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. Thanks for joining us. So, would you say, as you look at your own walk with the Holy Spirit\u2014and I think we need to back up here because being a part of Cru, as FamilyLife, has been throughout our history\u2014you were working in the high school ministry of Cru before FamilyLife got started. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Back in 1970, I started to work for Cru and worked with them until \u201976, when we started FamilyLife as a ministry of Cru. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>You heard, early and often, about the ministry of the Holy Spirit from Dr. Bill Bright. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Oh my goodness!\u00a0 In fact, it was so often that sometimes we thought: \u201cBill, you\u2019ve only got three or four messages. [Laughter] Don\u2019t you know any other passages in the Bible?\u201d\u00a0 He just kept teaching it over, and over, and over again. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>2:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn fact, when he was doing this, I don\u2019t really recall any other teaching that had ever occurred in my life about who the Holy Spirit is, His work in our lives, and how we could be filled with Him, walk with Him, and experience Him, day-in and day-out. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Did you see people get off balance on the ministry of the Holy Spirit?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Oh, sure. In fact, that\u2019s occurring today. There are all kinds of extremes, but I love something that Bill Bright said. He said, \u201cThe Holy Spirit did not come to glorify Himself.\u201d\u00a0 He said, \u201cThe Holy Spirit came to glorify or to show off Jesus Christ.\u201d\u00a0 And that has always been a centering point to me is: \u201cWhen the Spirit\u2019s work is occurring, is He showing off Himself or is He showing off the Son of God, Jesus Christ?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd I think we have a guest here with us today, J.D. Greear, who agrees with what Dr. Bright taught, back before the earth\u2019s crust hardened, a number of years ago. [Laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>3:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJ.D. \u2014welcome to the broadcast. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>Thank you for having me. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>J.D. has written a book called <em>Jesus Continued\u2026: Why the Spirit Inside You Is Better than Jesus Beside You<\/em>. J.D. and his wife live in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. He\u2019s a pastor of the Summit Church there. They have four children. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThis book is about the Holy Spirit. You share, in the book, about how you learned your sacrifice of yielding to God, the Father\u2014how yielding to the Holy Spirit ultimately brought forth life from your heart and really set you on the right course. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Bob: <\/strong>Now, this was back when you were in high school before you went to college; right?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>Right. So, yes; if the Holy Spirit is a person\u2014if it\u2019s not a doctrine that we are just supposed to believe and a chart we are supposed to follow\u2014if it\u2019s a person, then, the most important response we give that person is surrender. You know, where we say: \u201cHere I am, Lord. Send me,\u201d\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>4:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014where we look at what God is doing in the world and we say, \u201cHow has God equipped and gifted me to be a part of it?\u201d In the church, we talk a lot about who\u2019s called the what?\u2014we\u2019re all called. We\u2019re all called to be a part of the mission of God. The question is not \u201cIf we\u2019re called;\u201d it\u2019s only, \u201cWhere and how?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt was in high school that I began to understand what it meant for there to be 6,400 unreached people groups. I almost felt like I was saying to God\u2014imagine you were walking by some railroad tracks\u2014there was a kid that was on the railroad tracks. The kid was crippled and couldn\u2019t move, and here comes a train. You get down on your knees and say: \u201cGod, what is Your will in this situation?\u00a0 Will You move in my heart?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou know, God would send an angel down from heaven to punch you in the throat if you asked that because He\u2019s like, \u201cYou know what my will is!\u201d\u00a0 We talk about finding God\u2019s will\u2014it\u2019s not lost!\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt was like, \u201cOkay, Lord, how do You want to use me in the worldwide spread of the gospel?\u201d\u00a0 Now, for me, that question led to the revelation of a spiritual gifting that now has me in fulltime ministry. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>5:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFor the <em>majority<\/em> of people\u2014that\u2019s not where that question leads\u2014it leads them to serve God faithfully as a dentist, to serve in a home, to serve wherever God is. What we say is: \u201cWhatever you are good at, do it well for the glory of God. Do it somewhere strategic for the mission of God because the Spirit of God has intentioned to use you in His mission.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You say that there are a number of distinct ways that we experience the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and I love where you start. You start right where you were talking\u2014the gospel. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>Yes, in the gospel. So, probably the biggest surprise\u2014if I could\u2014of this book, as I studied it\u2014was how closely the Bible ties the depth in the gospel to the fullness of the Spirit. Paul says in Galatians 3\u2014he says: \u201cDo you want more of the Spirit?\u00a0 Well, how did you initially receive the Spirit?\u2014by believing the gospel.\u201d\u00a0 Therefore, if you want more of the Spirit, you become more intimately aware of the gospel. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>6:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn Ephesians 3, Paul prays that we \u201cwould know the depth, the width, the height, and the length of God\u2019s love because then we\u2019ll be filled\u201d\u2014he says\u2014\u201cwith all the fullness of God.\u201d\u00a0 Depth in the gospel leads to fullness of the Spirit. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAn old British pastor named D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones used to say that probably the best example of the fullness of the Spirit in the Bible\u2014it\u2019s an unusual one. He said: \u201cIt was Moses. When Moses asked to be in God\u2019s presence, and God puts him in the cleft of the rock, covers him with His hand, passes by,\u201d\u2014and this is the key part Lloyd-Jones says\u2014\u201cHe <em>declares<\/em> His name to him.\u201d He says: \u201cWhat it means to be in the Spirit is the Holy Spirit has put you into Christ. He declares God\u2019s name to you in a way that you begin to feel and to sense the beauty and the power of His name. Things that were doctrinal propositions to you become felt realities.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHe used the example of a father walking along with a five-year-old son\u2014when he picks the kid up and he spins him around, then, he blows a raspberry in his neck and says: \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>7:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cYou\u2019re my boy!\u00a0 I\u2019m proud of you. I love you.\u201d\u00a0 Lloyd-Jones said, \u201cIs that boy any more that man\u2019s son in that moment than he was the moment before?\u201d\u00a0 The answer is, \u201cOf course, no.\u201d\u00a0 Legally, his son-status hasn\u2019t changed; but in that moment, that son <em>feels <\/em>his sonship. He said, \u201cThat\u2019s what the Spirit of God does\u2014He makes it come <em>alive<\/em> to you.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Okay, there\u2019s someone listening, right now, who heard you use the word, \u201cgospel,\u201d a half dozen times when you just explained that. They\u2019re wondering: \u201cDo I understand the gospel?\u00a0 Do I know God?\u00a0 Do I have the sonship that you are talking about there?\u201d\u00a0 Introduce that person to the One who is his or her Creator and how he or she can have a relationship with Him. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>J.D: <\/strong>The gospel is the finished work of Christ on our behalf where God, in His love, sent a Savior to do for us what we couldn\u2019t do for ourselves. He lived a life that we were supposed to live\u2014a life without sin\u2014but then, He died the death we were condemned to die because we were sinners. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>8:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHe traded places. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou know, at our church, we say, \u201cYou can summarize the gospel in four words: Jesus in my place.\u201d\u00a0 What it means to become a believer is to believe that Jesus has finished the work of your salvation and to trust it as your own. In that moment, Scripture says, when you receive Him, you become a son or daughter of God. That\u2019s when the Holy Spirit first enters your life. He\u2014to use a theological term\u2014baptizes you into the body of Christ. He uses the finished work of Christ to forgive you of your sin, to establish His presence with you, and make you a son or daughter that He will never leave nor forsake. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And so, for that person who doesn\u2019t understand or isn\u2019t certain where they will spend eternity, what would you tell them to do as a result of hearing what you just shared?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>Repent and believe are the two words the Bible always uses. Repent means acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord of your life and you are not. Believe means believe that He\u2019s done everything necessary to save you just as He said He did. Repentance and belief make one born-again. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>9:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s when you are saved, and the Spirit of God comes into you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And I want to make sure our listeners heard that last little phrase he used, \u201cAnd the Spirit of God will come<em> in <\/em>to your life.\u201d\u00a0 It may not be a visible manifestation of the Spirit of God coming into your life; but the Bible promises whoever has believed upon Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord <em>has<\/em> the Holy Spirit. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>J.D: <\/strong>Absolutely. Yes, in fact, it\u2019s only by the Holy Spirit that we can acknowledge the truth of the gospel. It\u2019s a beautiful thing when you see somebody understand that Jesus has died to save them\u20141 Corinthians 12 says that is the Holy Spirit inside of them. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Bob: <\/strong>J.D., you seem to be saying that our relationship with the Holy Spirit\u2014the fullness of the Spirit\u2014is tied to this message of transformation on an ongoing basis. I think a lot of people think of the gospel as that message that we need when we first become a Christian\u2014that we then can set aside as we pursue deeper things. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>10:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHow does our ongoing understanding of the gospel\u2014how does that fit into all of this for somebody who has been walking with the Lord for 20 or 30 years?\u00a0 Why does he still need the gospel?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>The gospel is not just the way that we begin the Christian life. It\u2019s the way that we <em>grow<\/em> in the Christian life. I used to think\u2014in fact, I learned it this way: The gospel is the ABC\u2019s of Christianity\u2014the diving board off of which we jump into the pool. The way that you grow in Christ is by learning doctrines, and the Old Testament kings\u2019 names, and whether or not Kirk Cameron was going to get left behind\u2014those things\u2014that was depth. [Laughter]\u00a0 Really, the gospel is the A-Z\u2014it\u2019s the entire pool. The way that your affections for God grow \/ the way that your love for God grows is 1 John 4:19\u2014by the awareness of the love of God for you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWell, it\u2019s the same thing with the fullness of the Spirit. The fullness of the Spirit\u2014Paul says in Galatians\u2014comes alive in us the more intimately aware we become of what God has given us in the gospel.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>11:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhen we walk in the Spirit \/ when we walk in the knowledge of the gospel\u2014that is when we are able to escape the lusts of the flesh. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tLet me tell you one quick story where I saw this recently. A group of fraternity guys at a campus \/ college campus near where our church is asked me to come and do a Bible study for them. I asked them when I got there what they wanted to learn about; and of course, they said, \u201cSexual lust.\u201d\u00a0 I made the statement, Dennis, that they could turn off their sexual desire on and off like a light switch. You should have seen the look on their face when I said that. They were like, \u201cBro, we knew that the male body changed when it got older; but we had no idea a 41-year-old would make that dumb of a statement.\u201d\u00a0 I said, \u201cI\u2019ll prove it to you!\u201d They said, \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI said: \u201cAlright, imagine you are with your girlfriend. One thing is leading to another\u2014I don\u2019t know what you call it anymore in college. It had something to do with a baseball diamond when I was in college\u2014but there you are\u2014you passed the point of no return, where you just feel like your sexual passion is uncontrollable.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>12:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd they said: \u201cYes, that\u2019s what we\u2019re talking about right there. There is no possible way you can turn that off!\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI said, \u201cOkay; in that moment, in walks that girl\u2019s Navy SEAL father, who just got back from Afghanistan\u2014bam!\u2014off like a light switch.\u201d\u00a0 One of the guys kind of nodded his head and said, \u201cYes, that\u2019s a good point.\u201d I said: \u201cWhat changed in that moment?\u00a0 Is it that you <em>lost<\/em> sexual desire?\u00a0 No!\u00a0 What changed was your sense of your presence of the father; right?\u00a0 The presence of the father <em>outweighed<\/em> your sexual desire. You had a greater desire to stay alive than you did, sexually, for this girl.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWell, that\u2019s what the Holy Spirit does with the gospel\u2014is He makes the presence of the Father become so <em>real,<\/em> and so <em>personal<\/em>, and so <em>felt<\/em> that the things of earth begin to grow strangely dim. The powers of sin lose their grasp over us because God is <em>growing<\/em> us in the knowledge of His love, which increases our love for Him, which frees us from the shackles of sin. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Well, the pinnacle of the expression of God\u2019s love for us is the death and resurrection of Christ. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>13:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAs we contemplate, and meditate on, and consider again\u2014whether you\u2019ve been a Christian 10 years, 20 years, 50 years\u2014you go back and you stop and consider the cross and you consider the sacrifice of Christ\u2014that will rebirth in you a fresher, deeper, new understanding of God\u2019s love. That does drive everything. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>Martin Luther used to say to progress in the Christian life is always to begin again\u2014and he meant to go back to the gospel, and not go be\u2014the gospel is like a well. You get the best water out of the well, not by going wider, but by going deeper into it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>And the way you go deeper is you get in the Book that God clearly wrote\u2014the Bible. And that\u2019s another way you talk about experiencing the Holy Spirit because the Scriptures are the living words of the Father that the Holy Spirit uses in our lives to direct us, comfort us, teach us, convict us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>14:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tExplain further how we experience the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>Well, the Scriptures, as you said, are the very words of God. Bible, without Spirit, is dead Christianity \/ Spirit, without Bible, ends up being more like New Age mysticism. So, it is when you are seeking the Spirit of God in the Bible\u2014that\u2019s when Christianity really begins to come alive\u2014it\u2019s when it begins to explode. I mean, Jesus said it\u2014He said, \u201cApart from Me, you can do nothing.\u201d\u00a0 He also said, \u201cMy Words are Spirit, and they are life.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, it is by reading the Scripture\u2014and not looking at them as a textbook of something that an absentee teacher gave you and, then, left the room and told you to memorize\u2014but something that Jesus says: \u201cI will guide you through it, and I will make it real. I\u2019ll make it come alive.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHere\u2019s something that, to me, is pretty awesome to consider. Right after Jesus gave the Great Commission\u2014which is the most important assignment ever given to any group of people\u2014the first thing He tells them to do is to do nothing and wait. I mean, you think about that for a minute\u2014\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>15:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014millions of people around the world dying and going to hell\u2014and Jesus tells the only group of people who know anything about what the plan of salvation really is to do nothing until they receive the Holy Spirit. What was so important about the Holy Spirit that even the Great Commission, itself, could wait?\u00a0 What it was that was so important\u2014is that Christianity \/ the power of Christianity is not me doing things for Christ\u2014it is Christ working in and through me. Effective ministry is not me laboring for Christ\u2014 it is Christ in and through me. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>It is back to the subtitle of your book: \u201cWhy is the Spirit inside you better than Jesus beside you?\u201d because, when He comes to work in us, He gives us the ability to go and to speak into people\u2019s lives. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>That\u2019s right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Well, and I\u2019ve always been struck by the parallel between what we find in Colossians 3 and what we find in Ephesians 5. In both passages, it talks about speaking to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs\u2014making melody in your heart\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>16:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u2014but in Ephesians 5, it says that you do that as you\u2019re filled with the Spirit. In Colossians 3, it says you do that as you let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThere is a connection\u2014we\u2019re not saying \/ you\u2019ve already made this clear\u2014we\u2019re not saying that the Word of God is the Spirit. There is a difference between God\u2019s Word and God\u2019s Spirit, but there is a connection between the ministry of the Spirit and the Word; isn\u2019t there?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>Absolutely! In fact, that\u2019s a great passage you just cited. Paul, like any good preacher, ends up telling the same stories over and over again, using the same phrases. Well, Paul repeats these two phrases\u2014except the one thing he substitutes is \u201cBe filled with Spirit,\u201d and \u201cLet the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,\u201d\u2014which shows you that, in His mind, those are the same. Then, when the Word and the gospel dwell in you richly, that\u2019s when you will be filled with the Spirit. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>You\u2019ve mentioned this on a previous broadcast and hinted at it, even in this one, that you believe one of the ways we experience the work of the Spirit in our lives is through the gifting or the spiritual gifts God has given us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>17:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Would you unpack that further?\u2014because I don\u2019t think many people in the church today, who are followers of Christ, really understand this discussion of spiritual gifting.\u00a0\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>Dennis, this is what I think is maybe one of the most neglected teachings in the body of Christ. We know the proposition\u2014God has given to every believer a spiritual gift. You cannot know what the Spirit of God wants from you until you know what He\u2019s put inside of you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOne of the best examples of this\u2014C.S. Lewis\u2014<em>Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe<\/em>. There is this mysterious scene where Father Christmas comes to the four children. He has presents from Aslan who is, of course, the lion who represents Jesus. He gives to Peter a sword, and I think it\u2019s Lucy that he gives an ointment. They are confused: \u201cWhat do these mean?\u201d\u00a0 And Father Christmas doesn\u2019t tell them\u2014He just leaves. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThey are staring at these mysterious gifts; but in just a little bit, in this battle with the White Witch, Peter realizes his sword was given so that he could lead an assault. Lucy realizes that the ointment was given to help her bind up the wounded in battle. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>18:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat C.S. Lewis was trying to show is that the way you figure out what Jesus wants from you is by looking at what he\u2019s put inside of you. We ought to be a gift-driven people. When it comes to determining the will of God, you look and say, \u201cWhat has God given me to use in His Kingdom?\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Okay; so, we\u2019ve got swords; we\u2019ve got ointment to proclaim the gospel. How do we determine whether we are holding a sword, ointment, another gift that God has given to us for this task?\u00a0 Help a mom \/ help a dad, not only for themselves, but also to equip them to help their children find out what their spiritual gifts are if they are a believer in Christ. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>Yes, and that\u2019s a great question. So, the\u2014a spiritual gift is a manifestation of Jesus using you\u2014there\u2019s not like one chart in the New Testament, and you figure out exactly which one you\u2019ve got. It\u2019s just a manifestation where Jesus uses you to do part of His work. Now, there are different ones that are listed\u2014from exhortation, to mercy, to faith\u2014and all these different ones. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>19:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI would encourage somebody to get those lists, and to look at them, and see which one resonate. A tool that I\u2019ve given our church\u2014it\u2019s not original with me\u2014but to help them determine their spiritual gift is\u2014picture a Venn diagram, which is three circles that come together in kind of one place\u2014the three circles are affirmation, affinity, and ability. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAbility just means things that naturally you have a proclivity toward. A lot of times, preachers would make good vacuum cleaner salesmen because they\u2014then, you\u2019ve got affirmation, which is where the body of Christ is saying to you, \u201cYou know, when you do that, you really minister to me.\u201d\u00a0 That\u2019s how I discovered I had the gift of teaching\u2014was just teaching a small Bible study\u2014that people said, \u201cMan, God really uses you in my life.\u201d\u00a0 The third one, affinity, is things that you are really passionate for. The Great Commission is huge. The mission is large in the world; but God will sometimes take one part of it, and He\u2019ll laser-like focus it, where it just becomes a passion for you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>20:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>So, I feel like I am good at this \/ I have a passion for it\u2014and people say it\u2019s effective \/ it\u2019s being used in their lives. That tells you that may be a spiritual gift?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>That\u2019s a <em>strong<\/em> indication of spiritual gift. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, get busy using it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>Absolutely. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes. Get in the\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>J.D: <\/strong>The way you figure it out is you start using it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Get in the game. This morning, I read about the good Samaritan and just how Jesus was teaching the Levites, really, how to, frankly, walk in the Spirit and reach out to people in need. Whether we are raising children or whether it is <em>us<\/em>, driving by a neighbor\u2019s house that has a need\u2014we need to allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us\u2014and stop our car, get out, and knock on the door \/ or stop and help someone who is in need\u2014but use the gifts God has given you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd here is the question: \u201cAre you experiencing the work of the Holy Spirit in your life right now?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>21:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf you aren\u2019t, don\u2019t settle for some second-rate experience of what is a so-called Christian faith because it\u2019s not it at all. He came to be at work in you and through you to do what He wants done on this planet. Be a part of it\u2014it\u2019s the adventure of a lifetime. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>And I think the key is\u2014if you want to understand better the ministry of the Holy Spirit \/ who He is, how He\u2019s at work in our lives\u2014get a copy of J.D. Greear\u2019s book, <em>Jesus Continued\u2026: Why the Spirit Inside You Is Better than Jesus Beside You<\/em>. It\u2019s a book we\u2019ve got in our <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> Resource Center. You can go, online, to FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the link in the upper left-hand corner of the screen that says, \u201cGO DEEPER.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019ll take you right to J.D.\u2019s book, and you can order it from us on our website. Again, the website is FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the link that says, \u201cGO DEEPER,\u201d to find J.D.\u2019s book. Or call 1-800-FL-TODAY; and ask for the book, <em>Jesus Continued\u2026<\/em>. You can order over the phone\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>22:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u20141-800-358-6329. That\u2019s 1-800-\u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then, the word, \u201cTODAY.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, I\u2019m just sitting here, thinking about how core this subject is to everything we do, here at FamilyLife. When you boil it down, <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is all about help\u2014practical, biblical help for your marriage and for your family. And our conviction is that the real help we need in marriage is ultimately spiritual help. It has less to do with techniques or tricks for a happier marriage, and has a whole lot more to do with us understanding our relationship with God and walking with Him daily. Then, out of the overflow of that walk, will come stronger\/healthier marriage and family relationships. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tEverything we do, here at <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, is grounded on that basic premise. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>23:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to say, \u201cThank you,\u201d to those of you who share this vision with us\u2014those of you who support this ministry\u2014either as Legacy Partners, giving on a monthly basis, or those of you who will, from time to time, get in touch with us and say: \u201cI think it\u2019s important what you guys are doing. Your program has had an impact in my life,\u201d \u201c\u2026in my marriage,\u201d \u201c\u2026in my family. I want to just say, \u2018Thank you,\u2019 with a donation to show my support.\u201d\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf you can help with a donation today of, at least, $50, we\u2019d like to say, \u201cThank you,\u201d by sending you a book for men and a book for women\u2014two books\u2014one from Dennis Rainey called <em>Stepping Up: A Call to Courageous Manhood<\/em> \/ the other from Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Mary Kassian. It\u2019s the new <em>True Woman 201: Interior Design<\/em> book. These two books will come as our thank-you gift to you when you help with a donation of, at least, $50 today. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br>You can do that, online, at FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the link in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that says, \u201cI CARE,\u201d to make an online donation. Or call 1-800-FL-TODAY. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>24:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMake your donation over the phone. Or you can mail your donation to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> at PO Box 7111, Little Rock, AR; and our zip code is 72223. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, tomorrow, we\u2019re going to continue our conversation with Pastor J.D. Greear about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I hope you can tune for that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, along with our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I\u2019m Bob Lepine. We will see you back next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHelp for today. Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2015 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>","theme_header_position":"","post_header_is_sticky":"","is_header_overlay":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/303529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=303529"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=303529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=303529"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=303529"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=303529"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=303529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}