Cornerstone Church

I was reading Exodus 3 again this morning, and something hit me in a way it never has before. When Moses saw the burning bush, the very first thing Adonai told him was, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”

And it made me stop and think.
Here in the U.S., we don’t really understand what it means to approach a King. We’re casual by default. We’re comfortable. We’re used to informality. And I think sometimes that spills over into our worship without us even realizing it.

We come to Adonai with coffee in one hand, distractions in the other, and our minds running a hundred different directions. We talk to Him like He’s just another person in the room. But He’s not. He is the King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. The One who holds the universe together with His word.

And I’m not saying we need to be stiff or afraid — He’s still our Father. But I do wonder if we’ve lost something… a sense of awe, a sense of reverence, a sense of holy fear. Moses didn’t stroll up to that bush casually. Adonai stopped him and said, “Remove your sandals.” In other words: Recognize Who you’re standing before.

It made me ask myself…
Do I approach Him frivolously?
Do I rush into prayer without thinking about Who I’m speaking to?
Do I honor His holiness, or have I gotten too casual with the King?

Maybe — just maybe — we all need to adjust our attitude when we come before Him. Not out of guilt, but out of love. Out of respect. Out of a deeper awareness that the same Adonai who invited Moses to holy ground is the One who invites us today.

Just something that’s been stirring in me.

Another chance to honor Christ our savior! Come join us tomorrow for a day of worship.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE NEVER BEEN TAUGHT

Millions of Christians claim to have received the Holy Spirit.

Some point to a spiritual experience.

Some point to a prayer they once prayed.

Some point to a church service they attended years ago.

Others point to speaking in tongues.

But here is the question that every believer must honestly ask:

What does the Bible actually say is the evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit?

This subject has created arguments, confusion, division, and misunderstanding throughout the body of Christ for many years.

Some say the evidence is speaking in tongues.

Others say the evidence is miracles.

Others say it is prophecy.

But if we are truly seeking truth, we must allow Scripture to speak louder than our traditions, experiences, denominations, and personal opinions.

The world does not need another argument.

The world needs the truth.

The first thing we must understand is that the Holy Spirit is not merely an experience.

The Holy Spirit is not a feeling.

The Holy Spirit is not goosebumps during worship.

The Holy Spirit is not emotional excitement.

The Holy Spirit is God Himself dwelling within the believer.

When the Holy Spirit enters a life, He does not come merely to give gifts.

He comes to transform the person.

This is where many people have missed it.

We have become fascinated with manifestations while neglecting transformation.

We celebrate gifts but ignore character.

We admire power but overlook holiness.

Yet the greatest evidence of the Holy Spirit is not what happens through a person.

It is what happens within a person.

Jesus said:

"By their fruits you shall know them."
Matthew 7:20

Notice that Jesus pointed to fruit before performance.

Character before charisma.

Transformation before manifestation.

One of the clearest evidences of the Holy Spirit is a changed life.

When the Holy Spirit truly begins to work in a person, old desires begin to lose their power.

Sin becomes a burden rather than a pleasure.

Conviction becomes stronger.

The desire to please God becomes deeper.

The appetite for holiness increases.

The love for righteousness grows.

The person is not perfect, but they are no longer comfortable living in rebellion against God.

The Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23 says:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

Notice that Scripture calls these things the fruit of the Spirit.

Not the fruit of human effort.

Not the fruit of religion.

Not the fruit of church attendance.

The fruit of the Spirit.

Where the Holy Spirit is genuinely present, these qualities begin to grow.

A person may speak in tongues and still be proud.

A person may prophesy and still be dishonest.

A person may perform miracles and still lack love.

But a person who is truly yielding to the Holy Spirit will increasingly reflect the character of Christ.

Another evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit is a growing love for God's Word.

Before many people encounter God, the Bible feels boring.

But when the Holy Spirit comes, Scripture begins to come alive.

The believer develops a hunger for truth.

A desire to learn.

A desire to obey.

A desire to know God more deeply.

Jesus said:

"When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth."
John 16:13

The Holy Spirit does not lead people away from Scripture.

He leads people deeper into Scripture.

Another evidence is conviction of sin.

The Holy Spirit does not make us comfortable in wrongdoing.

He lovingly confronts us.

He corrects us.

He warns us.

He draws us back whenever we wander.

A believer who can live in deliberate sin without conviction should examine their spiritual condition carefully.

The Holy Spirit is holy.

Where He dwells, He produces a desire for holiness.

Another evidence is love.

Not merely love for friends.

Not merely love for people who agree with us.

But genuine Christ-like love.

Love for God.

Love for truth.

Love for fellow believers.

Love even toward enemies.

First John 4:7 says:

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God."

The Holy Spirit makes people more loving, not more hateful.

More compassionate, not more cruel.

More forgiving, not more bitter.

More humble, not more arrogant.

Now let us address one of the biggest debates.

What about speaking in tongues?

The Bible clearly records speaking in tongues as a genuine spiritual gift and as an experience associated with the work of the Holy Spirit in several passages, including Acts 2, Acts 10, and Acts 19.

However, Scripture also teaches that not all believers have the same gifts.

First Corinthians 12:29-30 asks:

"Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all speak with tongues?"

The implied answer is no.

This means that while tongues are a biblical gift of the Holy Spirit, the New Testament also emphasizes other evidences of the Spirit's work, especially transformed character, obedience, holiness, love, and spiritual fruit.

The deepest evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit is becoming more like Jesus.

The Holy Spirit did not come merely to make us supernatural.

He came to make us Christ-like.

The tragedy of our generation is that many seek power without purity.

Many seek gifts without godliness.

Many seek manifestations without transformation.

But Heaven is not impressed by gifts alone.

God looks at the heart.

The greatest proof that the Holy Spirit is working in your life is not merely what happens in church on Sunday.

It is who you are when nobody is watching.

It is how you treat people.

It is how you respond to temptation.

It is how you handle correction.

It is whether your life increasingly resembles Jesus Christ.

The question is not whether you had an experience years ago.

The question is whether the Holy Spirit is producing His fruit in your life today.

TEACHING SUMMARY

1. The Holy Spirit is not merely an experience but God's presence dwelling within the believer.

2. The clearest evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit is a transformed life that increasingly reflects the character of Jesus Christ.

3. The fruit of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, reveals the Spirit's work in a believer.

4. The Holy Spirit creates a hunger for God's Word, conviction of sin, obedience to truth, and a desire for holiness.

5. Spiritual gifts are important, but transformed character remains one of the strongest biblical evidences that the Holy Spirit is actively working in a person's life

BIBLE REFERENCES TO MEDITATE ON

Matthew 7:20

Galatians 5:22-23

John 16:13

1 John 4:7

Acts 2:4

Acts 10:44-46

Acts 19:6

1 Corinthians 12:29-

Warmest congratulations to our graduates! May divine favor be upon you in the years ahead!

Reminder:
Sunday dinner after church
Bring your favorite dish
And don’t forget dessert!