Responding to the Urgent Call of the Spirit

 

Summary

In this sermon, the focus is on the urgent call of the Holy Spirit to the unconverted, urging them to respond to God's voice today. The message is rooted in Hebrews 3:7, emphasizing the immediacy and importance of heeding God's call without delay. The sermon highlights the peculiar circumstances of the congregation, suggesting a time of revival and spiritual awakening, and stresses the need to reach out to those who have not yet committed to faith in Christ.

The Holy Spirit's voice is presented as a continuous and unchanging call throughout time, urging immediate obedience to God's word. The sermon underscores that the Holy Spirit speaks through the Scriptures, urging believers and non-believers alike to respond to God's commands and promises. It warns against the danger of hardening one's heart, which can occur through indifference, unbelief, or procrastination.

The sermon also addresses the urgency of the present moment, emphasizing that today is the time to respond to God's call. It draws parallels between the immediate obedience seen in creation and the expected response of humanity to God's voice. The preacher appeals to the congregation, especially the unconverted, to recognize the fleeting nature of life and the uncertainty of tomorrow, urging them to seize the opportunity for salvation now.

Furthermore, the sermon highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in convicting and drawing individuals to Christ, emphasizing that the Spirit's work is ongoing and active. It calls for a heartfelt response to God's invitation, warning against the dangers of delaying or rejecting the call to repentance and faith.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Urgency of Today: The Holy Spirit's call is immediate and demands a response today. Delaying obedience to God's voice is dangerous, as the opportunity for salvation may not always be available. The Spirit's call is not just for a future time but is a present and pressing invitation to turn to God. [01:31]

2. The Danger of a Hardened Heart: Hardening one's heart against God's call can occur through indifference, unbelief, or procrastination. This resistance to the Spirit's prompting is a grave sin that can lead to eternal separation from God. It is crucial to remain open and responsive to God's voice. [05:40]

3. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is actively working in the hearts of individuals, urging them to seek salvation and respond to God's call. The Spirit's work is not limited to the past but continues today, drawing people to Christ and convicting them of their need for a Savior. [07:22]

4. The Immediacy of God's Commands: God's commands in Scripture are not suggestions for future consideration but calls for immediate action. The gospel demands a response of faith and repentance now, not at a more convenient time. [21:58]

5. The Consequences of Rejection: Rejecting God's call and hardening one's heart can lead to eternal consequences. The sermon warns of the danger of ignoring the Spirit's voice and the risk of being eternally separated from God's presence. [26:45]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Introduction and Context
- [00:29] - Call to the Unconverted
- [01:00] - Seasons of Revival
- [01:47] - The Holy Spirit's Voice
- [02:25] - The Authority of Scripture
- [03:50] - The Timeless Call of the Spirit
- [04:28] - Immediate Obedience
- [05:40] - The Danger of Hardening Hearts
- [07:07] - The Spirit's Work in Believers
- [09:10] - Urgency for Soul Winning
- [10:00] - The Awakened Sinner's Plea
- [12:01] - The Spirit's Deeds as Invitations
- [14:37] - The Spirit's Urgency
- [17:04] - Hearing God's Voice
- [21:58] - Commands and Invitations
- [26:45] - Consequences of Rejection
- [30:40] - The Special Time: Today
- [38:27] - The Danger of Delay

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 3:7-8 (KJV): "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:)"
- Psalm 95:7-8 (KJV): "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness."

#### Observation Questions
1. What is the main message of Hebrews 3:7-8, and how does it relate to the urgency of responding to God's call? [00:14]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in speaking to us today? [03:32]
3. What are some ways mentioned in the sermon that people might harden their hearts against God's call? [05:40]
4. According to the sermon, how does the Holy Spirit's work continue in the hearts of believers today? [07:22]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the sermon emphasize the immediacy of responding to God's call today rather than delaying? [01:31]
2. How does the sermon illustrate the danger of a hardened heart, and what are the potential consequences mentioned? [05:40]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Holy Spirit is actively working to draw individuals to Christ? [07:22]
4. How does the sermon compare the expected response of humanity to God's voice with the immediate obedience seen in creation? [28:00]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the Holy Spirit urging you to take immediate action. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [01:31]
2. Consider areas in your life where you might be resisting God's call. What steps can you take to soften your heart and be more receptive? [05:40]
3. How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's ongoing work in your life and the lives of those around you? [07:22]
4. What practical steps can you take this week to respond to God's commands with immediacy, rather than waiting for a more convenient time? [21:58]
5. Identify someone in your life who has not yet committed to faith in Christ. How can you be a part of the Holy Spirit's work in drawing them closer to God? [09:10]
6. How can you ensure that your daily actions and decisions align with the urgency of God's call to repentance and faith? [26:45]
7. What specific distractions or excuses might be preventing you from fully responding to God's invitation today, and how can you address them? [30:40]

Devotional

Day 1: The Urgency of Immediate Response
The call of the Holy Spirit is not something to be postponed or ignored. It is a pressing invitation that demands our attention today. The Spirit's voice is a constant, urging us to turn to God without delay. The opportunity for salvation is not guaranteed to be available indefinitely, and the fleeting nature of life underscores the importance of responding now. The immediacy of this call is a reminder that God's invitation is not for a distant future but for this very moment. [01:31]

Hebrews 3:15 (ESV): "As it is said, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been delaying obedience to God? How can you take a step today to respond to His call?


Day 2: The Peril of Indifference
A hardened heart is a grave danger, often resulting from indifference, unbelief, or procrastination. This resistance to the Holy Spirit's prompting can lead to eternal separation from God. It is crucial to remain open and responsive to God's voice, allowing His word to penetrate and transform our hearts. The danger lies in becoming desensitized to the Spirit's call, which can happen gradually if we are not vigilant. [05:40]

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

Reflection: In what ways have you noticed your heart becoming indifferent to God's voice? What practical steps can you take to soften your heart and remain receptive to His guidance?


Day 3: The Active Work of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is actively working in the hearts of individuals, drawing them to Christ and convicting them of their need for a Savior. This work is not confined to the past but continues today, urging people to seek salvation. The Spirit's role is to illuminate the truth of the gospel and to guide us into a deeper relationship with God. Recognizing the Spirit's ongoing work in our lives encourages us to be attentive and responsive to His leading. [07:22]

John 16:13 (ESV): "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."

Reflection: How have you experienced the Holy Spirit's guidance in your life recently? What is one way you can be more attentive to His leading this week?


Day 4: The Call for Immediate Action
God's commands in Scripture are not mere suggestions for future consideration but calls for immediate action. The gospel demands a response of faith and repentance now, not at a more convenient time. This immediacy reflects the urgency of the message and the importance of aligning our lives with God's will. Delaying our response to God's commands can lead to missed opportunities for growth and transformation. [21:58]

James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

Reflection: What is one command from Scripture that you have been putting off? How can you take concrete steps to act on it today?


Day 5: The Consequences of Rejection
Rejecting God's call and hardening one's heart can lead to eternal consequences. Ignoring the Spirit's voice risks being eternally separated from God's presence. This sobering reality highlights the importance of responding to God's invitation with sincerity and urgency. The consequences of rejection are not just temporal but have eternal implications, urging us to take seriously the call to repentance and faith. [26:45]

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (ESV): "In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might."

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you have been resisting God's call? What steps can you take to open your heart to His invitation and avoid the consequences of rejection?

Quotes



The Holy Ghost in fact not only speaks thus in the 95th Psalm but it is his unvarying utterance the Holy Ghost saith or continues still to say hear ye his voice today he has a certain Doctrine upon one occasion and a still deeper Truth at another period according as there was need or as his people were prepared for it but this particular utterance is for all time and for every day of Grace. [00:03:26]

Every command of scripture calls for immediate obedience the law of God is not given to us to be laid by upon the Shelf to be obeyed at some future period of life and the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not so intended for the 11th hour is to be lightly trifled with during the first 10 wherever the Holy Ghost exalts he speaks in the present tense and bids us now repent or now believe or now seek the Lord. [00:04:25]

The Holy Ghost saith today he bids his people make haste And Delay not to keep the commands of God and he bids Sinners seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near oh may you hear his warning voice and live further while the Holy Ghost speaks in scripture on this wise he speaks in the same manner in the hearts of his people for he is a living and active agent his work is not ended. [00:06:43]

The spirit of God has been in this church communicating with his people and the tenor of the communication has been this seek to win souls and I will warrant this assertion that in no case has the spirit said seek the conversion of Sinners at the end of the year awake to earnestness about their souls when you have become more mature in years and judgment but every man and woman here saved by grace who has felt the Holy Spirit within him has felt an Impulse to seek the conversion of Sinners at once. [00:07:30]

Today if you will hear his voice Harden not your hearts how does the Holy Ghost thus speak he saith this first in the scriptures every command of scripture calls for immediate obedience the law of God is not given to us to be laid by upon the Shelf to be obeyed at some future period of life and the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not so intended for the 11th hour is to be lightly trifled with during the first 10. [00:04:25]

The Holy Ghost is urgent because he is grieved with sin and will not see it continued for an hour and every moment that a sinner refuses to come to Christ is a moment spent in sin yay that refusal to come is in itself the most Wen and cruel of offenses the hardness of man's heart against the gospel is the most Grievous of all provocations therefore does the Holy Spirit long to see man rid of it that he may yield himself to the omnipotent Power of Love. [00:14:41]

Today that is especially while the Holy Ghost is leading others to hear and to find Mercy today while the showers are falling today receive ye the drops of Grace today while there are prayers offered up for you today while the hearts of The Godly are earnest about you today while the foot stol of Heaven's Throne is wet with the tears of those who love you today lest lethargy should seize the church again today lest the preaching of the word of God should come to be a matter of routine and the preacher himself discouraged should lose all Zeal for your soul today while everything is peculiarly propitious hear ye the voice of God. [00:30:53]

Today if you will hear his voice Harden not your hearts that is the special danger and how is it incurred when persons are under concern of Soul their heart is in a measure softened but they can readily Harden it first by willingly relapsing into their former indifference by shaking off all fear and saying in willful Rebellion no I will have none of it. [00:38:37]

The Holy Ghost saith today but why so urgent blessed Spirit why so urgent it is because the Holy Ghost is in sympathy with God in sympathy with the father who longs to press the prodigal to his bosom in sympathy with the son who is watching to see of the travail of his soul the Holy Ghost is urgent because he is grieved with sin and will not see it continued for an hour and every moment that a sinner refuses to come to Christ is a moment spent in sin. [00:14:41]

Today if you will hear his voice Harden not your hearts I leave those thoughts with you may God grant that they may make Impressions where his will designs they should there is thirdly in our text a special time EMP emphasized the Holy Ghost saith today today is the set time for hearing God's voice today that is while God speaks oh if we were as we should be the moment God said seek ye my face we should reply thy face Lord will I seek. [00:27:07]

Today if you will hear his voice Harden not your hearts how does the Holy Ghost thus speak he saith this first in the scriptures every command of scripture calls for immediate obedience the law of God is not given to us to be laid by upon the Shelf to be obeyed at some future period of life and the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not so intended for the 11th hour is to be lightly trifled with during the first 10. [00:04:25]

Today if you will hear his voice Harden not your hearts that is the special danger and how is it incurred when persons are under concern of Soul their heart is in a measure softened but they can readily Harden it first by willingly relapsing into their former indifference by shaking off all fear and saying in willful Rebellion no I will have none of it. [00:38:37]

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Transcript
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