07-15 Holy Spirit is the Portal to the Kingdom

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:12

Hello, my name is Paul, and I am the voiceover for a ministry provided to you by Jim Pugh at God is Government called Your Daily Bread, taken from Christ's teaching of the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6, verse 11. This is a daily devotion ministry focused not only on uplifting Scripture, but Scripture that will grow your spiritual connection with Christ. We hope that you receive these devotions to uplift you, encourage you, but most importantly, advance your knowledge base of the Holy Scriptures. Today's focus discussion will be on the Holy Spirit as the portal to the kingdom. Scripture tells us that Jesus gave Peter the keys of the kingdom. In Matthew 16, verse 19, ESV, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. We are told in the book of Acts that Peter used the keys of the kingdom three times. Let us take a moment to review the three situations where Peter used the keys of the kingdom. In Acts 2, it is Peter who explains to the Jews that their King Jesus is on the throne, and that in him and in all who believe in him, the kingdom of heaven has arrived. Acts 2, 30-36, NKJV. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul was not left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured out this which you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Peter explains in his sermon that the coming of the Holy Spirit indicates that the rule of God on earth had arrived. Acts 2 17-21, NKJV. And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of my spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams, and on my men servants, and on my maidservants, I will pour out my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath, blood and fire and vapor of smoke, the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Peter indicates later that he knows this message will be spread further to those who are afar off, to whomever God may call. 2.39. In the next several chapters, the message continues to spread, and the newborn church faces some initial growth pains. In Acts 8, Philip, one of the early church leaders, preaches the gospel to the Samaritans, and, right in line with the statement from Jesus, about the church storming the gates of hell, unclean spirits are cast out of people, and the lame are healed. Acts 8 7, NKJV. For unclean spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. When the apostles in Jerusalem hear about this, they send Peter and John to Samaria. Why? To use the keys of the kingdom to open the gates of hell, which imprison the Samaritans. This is exactly what Peter does in Acts 8 17, with the laying on of hands so that the Samaritans also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 8 17 NKJV. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Finally, Peter opens the door to the Gentiles, in Acts 10, 24-48. A Gentile named Cornelius summons Peter, and after Peter explains the gospel to him and his family, they believe, and the Holy Spirit comes upon them all, just as it did with the Jews and with the Samaritans. After this, Peter's role in the book of Acts fades, to the point where he is not even mentioned again after Acts 15. He had fulfilled his task. He had opened the doors the kingdom so that now the gospel could be preached to all people, so that everyone who believe in Jesus for eternal life and seeks to follow his ways can help the kingdom of heaven spread upon the earth, just as it is in heaven. Acts 10, 24-48 NKJV. And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, Stand up, I myself am also a man. And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he said to them, You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask then, for what reason have you sent for me? So Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you. So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God. Then Peter opened his mouth and said, In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation whoever fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ, He is Lord of all, that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with him after he arose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he who was ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets witness that, through his name, whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, Can anyone forbid water that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit, just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. It always had to do with the Holy Spirit. It is here where we start the journey for the keys of the kingdom. To settle the biblical issue of when the Holy Spirit came into the picture of humanity, we will go to the scriptures themselves. Many think that the Holy Spirit came at day of Pentecost, but that is not the case. Let us review this to lay the foundation of understanding. We find the first appearance of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was at creation. Genesis 1 2, NKJV. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. The Holy Spirit was also part of the creation of humans. Job 33 4 NKJV. The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. In Genesis 6 3, NKJV. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh, yet his days shall be 120 years. God was telling us two things here. The first was that his Holy Spirit was with man from the first day of life to his last day. The second thing God told us was that due to the corruption in the world that he just destroyed with the flood, that he was limiting life of mankind to a hundred and twenty years individually. Nehemiah 9 20 NKJV reveals the Spirit's Old Testament role in teaching. You also gave your good spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold your manner from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. Nehemiah 9 30 NKJV. Yet for many years you had patience with them, and testified against them by your spirit in your prophets, yet they would not listen. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. The Holy Spirit also teaches in Job 32 8, NKJV, but there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. In Psalm 143, verse 10, NKJV, Teach me to do your will, for you are my God, your spirit is good, lead me in the land of uprightness. Other passages that also highlight this role is Psalm 17 and Haggai 2, 4-5. Psalms 139 7 NKJV, where can I go from your spirit, or where can I flee from your presence? Haggai 2, 4-5, NKJV. Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel, says the Lord, and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehosedak the high priest, and be strong, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts. According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so my spirit remains among you, do not fear. The Holy Spirit also empowered individuals in the Old Testament in order to accomplish a divine plan. Samson's mighty deeds were performed, when in Judges 14, verse 6, NKJV, and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart, as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand, but he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. Also in Judges 15 4, NKJV. Then Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and he took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails. Other examples abound, including the Spirit's work in Joseph, as stated in Genesis 31, 8, NKJV. If he said thus, the speckled shall be your wages, then all the flocks bore speckled, and if he said thus, the streaked shall be your wages, then all the flocks bore streaked. The spirit worked through Moses and the seventy elders of Israel in Numbers eleven seventeen, NKJV. Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you, and will put the same upon them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. The Spirit worked through Gideon in Judges six thirty four NKJV, but the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. Then he blew the trumpet, and the Abezrites gathered behind him. The Spirit worked through David in 1 Chronicles 28, verse 12, NKJV, and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things, and many others. When the task was accomplished, the Holy Spirit would leave the person. This is in contrast to the Holy Spirit's current role of indwelling believers and abiding with them forever, as Jesus stated that he would pray to the Father in John 14, 16, NKJV, and I will pray the Father, and He will give you another helper, that he may abide with you forever. A final important role regarding the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament is his relationship to the Messiah. In Isaiah 42:1, NKJV, Isaiah prophesied, Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights, I have put my spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations. Long before the coming of Jesus Christ, the prophets spoke of the Messiah as one who would have the Spirit upon him. When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, Luke 3, 22 NKJV states, and the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven which said, You are my beloved Son, in you I am well pleased, clearly revealing Jesus as the Messiah. Yet, as the third person of the Trinity, his nature is always the same. The same spirit involved in the creation of the universe lives within those who follow Christ today. Christians enjoy the daily benefit of a personal relationship with God through the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who strengthened Samson and caused David to dance, now empowers us and fills us with joy. This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4, 6, NKJV. We should clearly see that it is through the Holy Spirit that we obtain access to the keys of the kingdom. In the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon the individuals God wanted to use for his purpose and left them after his purpose was achieved. It was Christ who asked the Father to bring into the lives of all people the Holy Spirit to be a helper in fulfilling God's purpose. We need to break this down element by element so that we can completely understand that it is the Holy Spirit which provides the portal to the keys of the kingdom. Thank you for joining us in this exploration of the Holy Spirit as the portal to the kingdom. Until next time, remember to keep the faith, stay strong, and continue to shine your light in the world. To hear these daily devotions of your daily bread, please log on to goddessgovernment.com. Goodbye, and may your faith always lead the way.