Sermon Notes 3/31 – The Holy Spirit is a Stopper

***Acts 14:19-28 – Paul has a GO sign from the Holy Spirit to minister in cities

***The Holy Spirit says YES and NO……..

***Acts 16:5-12 – The Holy Spirit says No or STOP……..

-do not go to Asia.  Go to Europe

                   How does the Holy Spirit Stop Us?

(1.) THROUGH VISIONS – Acts 16:6-10 (v9)

-visions are mental pictures while you are awake

-visions are a part of the last days – Acts 2:1-17

              a. Visions are produced by the Holy Spirit

                         -they will glorify the Lord

                         -they help to fulfill the great commission

                         -they are for every born again believer

                         -they confirm what the Lord has shown you

                         -they must go along with the Word of God

       ***We Need Discernment in the Last Days***

-Proverbs 30:7-9 – the prayer of Agur – 64 words

-there are 2 things Agur prays for – Discernment and his needs to be met

DISCERNMENT – means to distinguish/separate out/examine/questions/a judicial examination in a court/scrutinize

-al visions must be held up to the Word of God and go along with the Bible

vs 5-6 – “Keep deception and lies far from me”

v5 – The Word Is Pure

                  a. the Word was written by God and is righteous, flawless & godly

                  b. the Word works during trials and hard times

v6 – the Word of God is a shield – protects us from deception

-Never add anything to the Bible.  Visions are not to add to the Bible

-The Lord rebukes anyone who tries to change the Bible or make it into something that it does not say

(2.) THE HOLY SPIRIT STOPS US THROUGH PEOPLE – Ephesians 4:11-12 and Exodus 18:1-28

-we need the right people in our lives

-2 groups of people – flesh or Spirit believers and people – we need to discern what each group says to us to make sure it is from the Lord

(3.) THE HOLY SPIRIT STOPS US THROUGH OUR SPIRIT – Romans 8:9-16

-the Holy Spirit speaks to us

-we follow the Holy Spirit and His leading

-the Holy Spirit speaks and always puts us on the Highway of Holiness – Acts 16:11

(4.) THE HOLY SPIRIT STOPS US THROUGH CONVICTION – 2 Samuel 12:1-15

conviction – means convincing someone they have sinner and are on the wrong road.  It is a legal term where a lawyer cross examines someone until they say they are guilty

*conviction is proof you are saved

*conviction and confession of our sin does not stop the consequences of our sin

*conviction can be accepted or rejected

(5.) THE HOLY SPIRIT STOPS US THROUGH OUR INSTRUCTION MANUAL – Colossians 3:8-15

-the Bible tells us what is right and wrong and we follow what is right

-obey the Word of God no matter what it says