THE FAMILY... FINDING THE POWER TO DO !  	  Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  5-31-98 A.M.   		Ephesians 5:18-6:9   	 A:\EPH5-18 
	THE FAMILY... Oh the importance of understanding that the family is
      the foundation and building blocks of society.  When family values 
      crumble... society is doomed.  How can we Accept the "Basics" and 
      the "Roles"; Learn to Communicate; Determine the Destiny; Manage 
      Money God's Way... How can we live by God's rules when all around 
      the godless society pressures us to conform?  Not by might nor by 
      power but by My Spirit says the Lord. (Zech.4:6)  This is Pentecost
      Sunday... The Holy Spirit came on this day... 50 days after Christ's
      Resurrection.... 

I.  THE PROMISE of THE SPIRIT... 
  A. The Old Testament...Ezekiel 36:27; Joel 2:28; Zechariah 12:10 
  B. The New Testament... (Jesus' Promises...) 
    1. "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,
         that he may abide with you for 	ever;..."  Jn.14:16 
    2. "... for he dewlleth with you, and shall be in you."  vs.17 b 
    3. "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."  vs.18 
    4. "It is expedient that I go away... I will send the Comforter unto 
        you."  John 16:7 
    5. "Receive ye the Holy Spirit:"  John 20:22    (the Resurrection day) 
    6. "But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come unto 
        you...."  Acts 1:8                                                                                                                                                                  	- they were told to "tarry..."  Luke 24:49
  C. The New Testament.. (the Fulfillment) 
    1. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come...."  Acts 2:1 

II.  THE PERSON of THE HOLY SPIRIT... 
  A. He is NOT a "ghost".. or a mythical force... 
  B. He Is.. A Person... God the Spirit.. 
    1. Three Persons in the NT are referred to as "God" 
	- The Father... 1Cor.1:3; 8:6; 2Cor.1:2,3; 11:31; Gal.1:1 
	- The Son... (Jesus & the Father are One.. Jn.14:9) Jn.1:1,14 
	- The Spirit... Acts 5:3,4..."lied to the Spirit... lied to God" 

III.  THE PROVISION of THE HOLY SPIRIT... When did He come ??? 
  A. He has always been...  Heb.9:14... present... always will be 
  B. He "came upon individuals" in the OT.. to empower them... 
    1. And... in a sense He still does that today... 
  C. He Came on the Day of Pentecost... Acts 2 
    1. He was manifested with great demonstration.. 
    2. He came to dwell in each and every believer 
  D. He Comes.. At Conversion... to Abide in Each Believer.. 1Cor.6:19
 
IV.  THE POWER of THE HOLY SPIRIT... 
 ** Many things the Spirit does... gifts us, guides us, comforts us, 
    convicts us, empowers us... But...
 ** In relation to the Family... Eph.5:18-6:9... When He Is In Control... 
  A. Then believers can be happy hearted, thankful, submissive people 
  B. Then a Wife can submit unto her husband as unto the Lord 
  C. Then a Husband can love his wife as Christ loved the church.... 
  D. Then Children can obey their parents... and be well pleasing to the
     Lord.. Col.3:20 
  E. Then Fathers can bring their children up in the nurture and admonition
     of the Lord..
 
HERE IS THE POWER TO BE AND TO DO... BUT HOW CAN HE BE IN CONTROL ??? 
	DESIRE (Mt.5:6)   CONFESS  (1Jn.1:9)    YIELD   (Rom.6:13; 12:1,2)
		 ASK   (Luke 11:13)   BELIEVE  (1John 5:14,15) 
ARE YOU SAVED ? 	THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT ABIDES IN YOU !! 
	BUT THE QUESTION IS... IS HE IN CONTROL MOMENT BY MOMENT ?  (Eph.5:18)