Sermon Notes by Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. For Sunday March 16, 2014
Text:1 John 3:24 “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.22, Page 86 a comment on 1 John 3:24. “THE FRUITFUL INDWELLING OF THE SPIRIT IS THE SEAL OF GOD’S LIFE IN THE SOUL. “When by inspiration not of man nor by man we are led to a life which is above and beyond nature, “ we know that he abides in us.” The Spirit which he gave us when we believed (Eph.1:13) is the seal to us of God’s own life. His command used to be an outside letter, bidding us to live a life that was high above us. Now we have an inward force, inspiring a life that conforms to the letter! In a word, God’s Spirit in the soul brings about, in actual life, what the precept enjoins. By the Word we are taught that such a life was the right one to lead. By the Spirit we are also inspired that we cannot lead any other! Let us give note to the fact that :1 The God’s Law outside of our being is a great gift. The Spirit within is greater. It is a blessing to be shown the right way. It is a greater blessing to be disposed to walk therein. 2. As we all have the blessing of the Word, and since we know that there is a greater one obtainable, ought we not to seek for it? For observe: 3. The Gift of the Holy Ghost, albeit it is the greatest possible blessing, is precisely that of which we may make most sure, when sought by fervent prayer. 4. Let those who have the Spirit of God seek for a richer fullness of his indwelling power. The more that we allow the Holy Ghost to possess us, the easier will it be to obey; and just as it is the penitent’s duty to receive pardon from Christ by faith, even so it is the believer’s duty to receive the Spirit from him by faith.”