WEBVTT 00:00:02.059 --> 00:00:04.480 Welcome to the Quality Christian Living Podcast. 00:00:04.580 --> 00:00:07.480 I am your host, David Friend. We are in our new 00:00:07.480 --> 00:00:10.480 series entitled Simply the Holy Spirit, and today 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:12.919 we're going to talk about the Holy Spirit working 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:15.919 in us. We're going to search the scriptures for 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:18.179 a better understanding of how the Holy Spirit 00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:20.179 works and what He wants to do in our life. We're 00:00:20.179 --> 00:00:22.219 going to see how the Holy Spirit will help us 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:24.780 in our weaknesses and our difficult times in 00:00:24.780 --> 00:00:26.600 that we're going through trials, and how the 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:29.559 Holy Spirit brings wisdom and power and understanding 00:00:29.559 --> 00:00:31.500 into our life. And we're going to discover how 00:00:31.500 --> 00:00:34.740 the Holy Spirit works in us so that we can be 00:00:34.740 --> 00:00:37.500 a blessing for someone else and be an example 00:00:37.500 --> 00:00:39.859 of how He can give us power and strength and 00:00:39.859 --> 00:00:41.679 understanding. And we're going to find a way 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:44.420 to live and walk in the Spirit. Before we do 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:46.560 that though, we need to pray and seek for His 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:48.700 guidance and direction. Heavenly Father, I thank 00:00:48.700 --> 00:00:51.079 You for the opportunity once again to get into 00:00:51.079 --> 00:00:53.700 Your Word, to be able to speak to people quite 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:56.119 frankly around the world who have a desire to 00:00:56.119 --> 00:00:58.060 learn about the Holy Spirit. I pray that You 00:00:58.060 --> 00:01:01.039 would bless it now. And I now submit and yield 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:03.479 to the Holy Spirit. I ask him to come in now, 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:06.939 take control of my thoughts, my minds, any prayers 00:01:06.939 --> 00:01:09.400 that we may have or any scriptures that we read 00:01:09.400 --> 00:01:11.959 that he would help us and take control of this 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:14.799 podcast and guide our thoughts and our minds. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:17.040 And I pray those who are listening in would receive 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:19.219 a very special touch from him today and that 00:01:19.219 --> 00:01:21.700 the anointing of the Holy Spirit would flow through 00:01:21.700 --> 00:01:25.040 the airwaves to people around this country and 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:27.359 this world who need a closer walk with the Holy 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:30.560 Spirit. us and guide us, and I'll give you praise 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:32.420 and give you glory in advance for what you're 00:01:32.420 --> 00:01:34.700 about to do. For I ask these things in Jesus' 00:01:34.859 --> 00:01:37.390 name I pray. Amen. There are so many places in 00:01:37.390 --> 00:01:39.469 the Word of God that talks about the Holy Spirit. 00:01:39.650 --> 00:01:41.629 The Old Testament refers to the Spirit of God 00:01:41.629 --> 00:01:44.049 hovered over the earth and all the way through 00:01:44.049 --> 00:01:45.969 the Old Testament and throughout the New Testament 00:01:45.969 --> 00:01:48.989 we hear of the power of the Spirit of God. So 00:01:48.989 --> 00:01:51.349 we're going to get into some examples in the 00:01:51.349 --> 00:01:54.170 Word and one of my absolute favorite stories 00:01:54.170 --> 00:01:56.370 in the Word of God has to do with the life of 00:01:56.370 --> 00:01:58.930 a man named Stephen who was quite frankly a servant, 00:01:59.069 --> 00:02:01.969 a man who served others. It's such a powerful 00:02:01.969 --> 00:02:05.109 story and has great examples of how we can then 00:02:05.109 --> 00:02:07.750 operate underneath the power and the anointing 00:02:07.750 --> 00:02:09.969 and the grace of the Holy Spirit. So I'm going 00:02:09.969 --> 00:02:12.349 to read it to you. It's in, not the whole story, 00:02:12.409 --> 00:02:14.590 but I'm going to read excerpts of it, scripture 00:02:14.590 --> 00:02:16.650 here and there, in order to see how the Lord 00:02:16.650 --> 00:02:19.370 wants us to understand how the Holy Spirit worked 00:02:19.370 --> 00:02:21.789 in Stephen's life and how he can also work in 00:02:21.789 --> 00:02:24.050 our life. So as we go through this story and 00:02:24.050 --> 00:02:26.729 as we go through the example of his life, I want 00:02:26.729 --> 00:02:28.629 you to think about how the Holy Spirit wants 00:02:28.629 --> 00:02:31.289 to work in us, wants to touch us and help us 00:02:31.289 --> 00:02:33.810 in our weaknesses and our difficult times. And 00:02:33.810 --> 00:02:36.229 even when we're on top of the world, so to speak, 00:02:36.370 --> 00:02:39.210 when we are absolutely being blessed in every 00:02:39.210 --> 00:02:41.610 area of our life and experience the joy of the 00:02:41.610 --> 00:02:43.449 Lord and when living that abundant life that 00:02:43.449 --> 00:02:47.949 God promised us. truly understand that the Holy 00:02:47.949 --> 00:02:51.270 Spirit wants to bless us, that He has a desire 00:02:51.270 --> 00:02:53.710 to bless those who are followers of the Lord 00:02:53.710 --> 00:02:56.030 Jesus Christ. So I'm going to be reading this 00:02:56.030 --> 00:02:58.669 story found in the book of Acts in chapter 6 00:02:58.669 --> 00:03:00.870 and verse number 8 in the New Living Translation 00:03:00.870 --> 00:03:03.810 says this, it tells us that Stephen was a man 00:03:03.810 --> 00:03:08.050 full of God's grace and power and that he performed 00:03:08.050 --> 00:03:11.629 amazing miracles and signs among the people. 00:03:11.669 --> 00:03:14.389 So here we have a man who was an average guy 00:03:14.389 --> 00:03:17.259 as far as You know, as far as he wasn't a special 00:03:17.259 --> 00:03:20.280 leader, he wasn't a wealthy man. He was just 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:23.240 simply someone who wanted to serve Jesus Christ 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:25.900 and he did it by serving others. The apostles 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:28.219 loved him and they wanted him to be a part of 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:31.199 the ministry. Stephen was a man who simply served 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:34.460 other people daily. That's the main theme that 00:03:34.460 --> 00:03:36.599 we hear about him is that he was there to help 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:38.719 others. You see, when we help others, we're going 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:41.240 to be blessed. When we give, it comes back to 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:43.479 us. Press down, shaking together and running 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:45.900 over. That's what Stephen did, and I believe 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:48.439 there's the key to him being filled with the 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:51.500 Holy Spirit. He was one of the seven men who 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:54.979 were chosen by the apostles to serve and to minister 00:03:54.979 --> 00:03:57.099 to the members of the church because the apostles 00:03:57.099 --> 00:03:59.300 were told, you need to preach, you need to study, 00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:01.120 you need to prepare, you need to reach out, you 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:03.800 need to go to the masses. Well, they needed a 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:06.419 group behind them. They needed a group of people 00:04:06.419 --> 00:04:09.060 who were servants to help and support the apostles 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:11.939 and hold up their hands and lift them up. It's 00:04:11.939 --> 00:04:14.620 the same way in the church. have a senior pastor 00:04:14.620 --> 00:04:17.740 who's just a wonderful powerful man of God and 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:19.879 someone who's blessed to the Lord and anointed 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:22.459 by the Holy Spirit and he's reaching people and 00:04:22.459 --> 00:04:24.779 doing a great ministry but the behind -the -scenes 00:04:24.779 --> 00:04:27.360 things the things that opening the doors and 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:29.319 getting the place cleaned up for the services 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:31.360 and going out and talking to people inviting 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:33.939 people to come to the church and the people who 00:04:33.939 --> 00:04:36.720 who watch the floors and the people who who set 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:38.639 up the tables and the people set up the chairs 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:41.560 these are all people that are vital part of the 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:44.029 church and that's what Stephen So I hope that 00:04:44.029 --> 00:04:46.170 gives hope to people out there. Maybe you're 00:04:46.170 --> 00:04:48.089 not a pastor, maybe you're not ordained, maybe 00:04:48.089 --> 00:04:49.649 you don't really feel you have a call in your 00:04:49.649 --> 00:04:51.910 life that you're supposed to quit your day job 00:04:51.910 --> 00:04:54.170 and go into full -time ministry and like that. 00:04:54.350 --> 00:04:56.269 But bottom line, you know that you know that 00:04:56.269 --> 00:04:58.569 you know you want to be used of God. And if you 00:04:58.569 --> 00:05:00.949 want to be used of God, He will put us to work. 00:05:01.050 --> 00:05:04.009 It reminds me of a story of my pastor who came 00:05:04.009 --> 00:05:06.089 to me one day, Pastor Tommy, and he came to me 00:05:06.089 --> 00:05:08.550 and he says, you know David, he says, I just 00:05:08.550 --> 00:05:10.949 really feel that the Lord wants to use you in 00:05:10.949 --> 00:05:13.430 the church and would you Do me a favor and help 00:05:13.430 --> 00:05:15.730 this one Sunday school class." He says, I just 00:05:15.730 --> 00:05:18.449 need someone to step in and kind of teach it 00:05:18.449 --> 00:05:20.589 and oversee it. It's an adult class. And maybe 00:05:20.589 --> 00:05:23.110 for four, five, or six weeks or so, you can help 00:05:23.110 --> 00:05:25.310 it and kind of see if we can't find someone else 00:05:25.310 --> 00:05:27.629 to come in and take it over and do this permanently. 00:05:27.790 --> 00:05:29.730 And I said, well, sure, I'll be happy to do that. 00:05:29.750 --> 00:05:32.209 So my wife and I decided, OK, we'll be the Sunday 00:05:32.209 --> 00:05:34.509 school teachers. So we started in first week, 00:05:34.529 --> 00:05:36.269 second week, third week. The next thing you know, 00:05:36.370 --> 00:05:38.810 the class started to grow. And it was five and 00:05:38.810 --> 00:05:41.860 six weeks. And it was growing and growing. grew 00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:43.779 and grew and grew it wasn't because of me it 00:05:43.779 --> 00:05:46.800 was because of God it was a divine move of God 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:49.720 a sovereign move of the Holy Spirit to draw people 00:05:49.720 --> 00:05:52.480 in that class we started with about 25 or 30 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:54.740 people that were meeting in the church sanctuary 00:05:54.740 --> 00:05:57.560 and in a period of about a year we had like 200 00:05:57.560 --> 00:06:00.480 people then it went to 300 to 400 to 5 we had 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:03.500 roster of 600 people who attended that class 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:06.240 we tended that class now don't don't take this 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:08.720 wrong I'm not boasting or bragging about anything 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:10.980 that my wife and I did but there was a in the 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:12.959 church, the pastor came, they needed someone 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:16.300 to serve other people. He asked us if we would 00:06:16.300 --> 00:06:18.579 do it for six weeks. We wound up teaching that 00:06:18.579 --> 00:06:21.519 class for 15 years, and God blessed it. Matter 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:23.800 of fact, that was how my wife and I were being 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:25.819 taught. Quite frankly, we didn't know it at the 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:28.519 time. We were being trained and put in a position 00:06:28.519 --> 00:06:30.860 that someday we would pastor our own church, 00:06:30.899 --> 00:06:33.180 and that's what happened, and so we thank God 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:35.259 for that. But that little six -week assignment 00:06:35.259 --> 00:06:37.379 that we were asked to do, we stepped in. What 00:06:37.379 --> 00:06:39.360 if we'd have missed on that? What if we had have 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:41.720 passed on that? We could have missed our opportunity 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:45.500 to be quite frankly led into pastoring and starting 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:47.740 a church in North Scottsdale. So God blessed 00:06:47.740 --> 00:06:50.199 it. I thank God for it. And to God be all the 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:52.040 glory and honor. And I want to thank my pastor 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:54.759 Tommy for asking us to take a stand and do that. 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.720 So you may be in a church that needs someone 00:06:57.720 --> 00:07:00.899 to step up and take over an area or help in an 00:07:00.899 --> 00:07:03.439 area. Go to your pastor, talk to them, and volunteer 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:05.939 to be a servant of the Lord. I know God will 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:08.879 richly bless you in all that you do. Now, none 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:11.740 of that I had prepared to talk about my past 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:14.459 experience with our pastor and the class and 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:16.600 the Sunday school class and all that. And none 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:18.560 of that was anything I planned to talk about, 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:21.300 you see. So therefore, the Lord obviously has 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:23.879 placed the Holy Spirit in this teaching already 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:25.860 to take me in an area that I think would help 00:07:25.860 --> 00:07:27.860 and minister to people who are trying to make 00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:29.920 decisions on what they should or should not do 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:32.019 in their church. Let's get back to Stephen now. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:36.199 He was chosen because it was evident to the apostles 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:39.670 that he was with the Holy Spirit that he just 00:07:39.670 --> 00:07:41.730 showed it in everything that he did. That tells 00:07:41.730 --> 00:07:45.709 us that anyone in the church can experience life 00:07:45.709 --> 00:07:48.110 being filled with the Holy Spirit. Now let's 00:07:48.110 --> 00:07:51.269 look a little closer at Stephen. In Acts chapter 00:07:51.269 --> 00:07:56.029 7 we see that because of Stephen's faith in Jesus 00:07:56.029 --> 00:07:58.870 Christ. The religious priests hated him. The 00:07:58.870 --> 00:08:01.829 apostles loved him. The people loved him. The 00:08:01.829 --> 00:08:04.490 people in the church loved him. But the outside 00:08:04.490 --> 00:08:06.589 people, the people that were not followers of 00:08:06.589 --> 00:08:08.550 Jesus Christ, matter of fact they were enemies 00:08:08.550 --> 00:08:11.389 of the gospel, they hated Stephen because Stephen 00:08:11.389 --> 00:08:13.990 was doing something that would bless the kingdom 00:08:13.990 --> 00:08:16.389 of God and bless the ministry of the Lord Jesus 00:08:16.389 --> 00:08:19.350 Christ. But because of his acceptance by the 00:08:19.350 --> 00:08:21.449 Holy Spirit and his acceptance by the Lord and 00:08:21.449 --> 00:08:24.759 acceptance by the apostles to be a part of that. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:27.420 He was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit 00:08:27.420 --> 00:08:30.699 and that power was making quite an impact in 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:33.240 the church in those days. He was a servant to 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:35.940 others. That's all he did. So any of us can be 00:08:35.940 --> 00:08:37.679 filled with the Holy Spirit if we just simply 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:40.799 submit our lives to Christ and submit our hearts 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:43.139 and our minds and our thoughts to the Holy Spirit 00:08:43.139 --> 00:08:45.220 and ask him to lead us, guide us, and direct 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:48.000 us. Now Stephen was anointed by the Holy Spirit 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.919 to challenge his accusers. You see, they came 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:53.240 after him. But he had something to say back to 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:55.480 them. Now, he was bold and strong in this. If 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:57.100 you want to really read the whole story, you 00:08:57.100 --> 00:08:59.580 should read the book of Acts, chapter 7, and 00:08:59.580 --> 00:09:01.940 I believe in chapter 6. If you'll read those, 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:03.639 you'll see the whole story, but I'm going to 00:09:03.639 --> 00:09:06.340 just use a few scriptures in order to help us 00:09:06.340 --> 00:09:08.940 better understand how Stephen's life affects 00:09:08.940 --> 00:09:11.519 us today and how the Holy Spirit can work in 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:13.840 each and every one of us. In Acts, chapter 7, 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:17.659 verse 51, Stephen called his accusers. This is 00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:19.700 what he said to them. You are stubborn people. 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:23.470 You are heathen. at heart and death. in the truth 00:09:23.470 --> 00:09:27.029 you must forever why is it he says why is it 00:09:27.029 --> 00:09:29.970 you must always forever resist the Holy Spirit 00:09:29.970 --> 00:09:32.529 he didn't say you're resisting me he didn't say 00:09:32.529 --> 00:09:34.570 you need to hear my message you needn't say you 00:09:34.570 --> 00:09:37.649 need to hear the Apostles message he said a very 00:09:37.649 --> 00:09:39.750 powerful statement that's what he had great wisdom 00:09:39.750 --> 00:09:41.970 and it came because he was filled with the Holy 00:09:41.970 --> 00:09:45.149 Spirit he said you are always resisting the Holy 00:09:45.149 --> 00:09:47.509 Spirit see the Holy Spirit wants to move into 00:09:47.509 --> 00:09:50.029 everyone if you're a Christian or not if you're 00:09:50.029 --> 00:09:53.320 of another faith of maybe even in a cult or something, 00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:55.440 or no people in a cult, the Holy Spirit wants 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:57.559 to speak to them, wants to speak to every single 00:09:57.559 --> 00:10:00.159 person on the face of the earth. And we need 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:02.580 to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit. And 00:10:02.580 --> 00:10:05.240 he knew that they were fighting against the Spirit 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:08.059 and would not surrender to the Holy Spirit. You 00:10:08.059 --> 00:10:11.580 see, the Jewish leaders were infuriated, absolutely 00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:14.440 violently upset with Stephen and the words that 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:16.379 he had to say. So let's look a little closer 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:18.639 as this story goes along and we can see what's 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:21.200 taking place as Stephen is filled with the hope 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:24.379 Spirit and his enemies are filled with an evil 00:10:24.379 --> 00:10:27.179 spirit. So let's look at Acts chapter 7 and verse 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:29.879 55. I'm reading again in the New Living Translation. 00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:33.059 It tells us that, but Stephen, full of the Holy 00:10:33.059 --> 00:10:36.019 Spirit, gazed steadily. Now while they were his 00:10:36.019 --> 00:10:38.519 accusers, were coming after him and they were 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:41.559 attacking him and they wanted to beat him to 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:44.980 death and soon they would kill him. In the midst 00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:48.000 of all this, Stephen stopped and it says, but 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:51.120 Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:52.779 into heaven. You know, that's what we need to 00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:55.240 do in the midst of trials. We need to gaze steadily 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:57.500 into heaven. We need to ask the Holy Spirit for 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:00.039 guidance and comfort. I know when I've been diagnosed 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:03.240 with incurable cancers and given basically death 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:06.620 sentences by doctors in my lifetime on three 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:09.720 different occasions, I needed to gaze steadily 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:12.379 into heaven. I need to gaze steadily into the 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:14.940 Holy Spirit and seek comfort and his guidance 00:11:14.940 --> 00:11:17.460 because my flesh wasn't going to give me any 00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:20.460 comfort. My flesh was being accused and my flesh 00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:22.860 had no way of battling it but the Holy Spirit 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:25.320 who lived and dwelt in me gave me the strength 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:27.860 in the power of the Holy Spirit to deal with 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:29.720 these issues and that'll happen in your life. 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:31.799 It'll happen in every one of our lives if we 00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:35.039 gaze into the eyes of our Heavenly Father and 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:37.299 that's through seeking the Holy Spirit in our 00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:40.240 life. It says, but Stephen full of the Holy Spirit 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:43.360 gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:46.460 of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place 00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:49.899 of honor at God's right hand." Wow. Verse 56, 00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:54.000 let's go on. Stephen told his accusers in verse 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:57.580 56, look, I see the heavens opened and the son 00:11:57.580 --> 00:12:01.220 of man standing in the place of honor at God's 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:03.879 right hand. Now, picture this. My goodness, the 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:05.820 man is under attack. I don't know how many people 00:12:05.820 --> 00:12:07.919 were at him. They were picking up stones to stone 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:10.700 him to death. They were yelling and cursing at 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:13.179 him and saying all kinds of hideous things about 00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:15.220 him and threatening him and all this. And in 00:12:15.220 --> 00:12:17.460 the middle of that, he decided to turn his attention 00:12:17.460 --> 00:12:20.019 away from all that stuff, all those trials, all 00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:22.240 that anxiety that could be upon him and look 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:24.039 for the Holy Spirit and look for the guidance. 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:26.940 And the Holy Spirit is the one who revealed the 00:12:26.940 --> 00:12:30.220 vision of Jesus being in heaven to Stephen. So 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:33.100 it's pretty powerful. This angered the priest. 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:35.080 The more they yelled at him, the more he looked 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:37.039 up into the heavens. It's basically what happened 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:39.299 to him. So this angered the priest and the leaders. 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:41.990 So they began to stone Stephen. They figured, 00:12:42.049 --> 00:12:44.230 well, this guy, we can't shake him with words. 00:12:44.309 --> 00:12:46.350 We can't shake him with threats. We can't shake 00:12:46.350 --> 00:12:48.669 him with all these accusations and whatever. 00:12:48.909 --> 00:12:51.009 But basically, they're saying, we're just going 00:12:51.009 --> 00:12:52.769 to have to take you out. And so they started 00:12:52.769 --> 00:12:55.409 to stone him. The Bible continues to tell us, 00:12:55.409 --> 00:12:58.649 it says this, as they stoned Stephen, prayed, 00:12:58.789 --> 00:13:01.990 Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. He fell to his 00:13:01.990 --> 00:13:05.529 knees and shouted, Lord, don't charge them with. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:08.480 the sin, and with that he died. We have to stop 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:10.840 and think for a second. Look at what he was going 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:13.759 through. Look at what this incredible scene must 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:15.720 have been. These people were gathered all around 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:17.419 him. They had taken him out into the countryside 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:19.799 to stone him to death. And as they're stoning 00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:22.980 him to death, he's so filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:25.480 See, as he's facing the most difficult thing 00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:27.600 he'll ever face in his life here on earth, in 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:29.580 the middle of all that, he is so filled with 00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:32.259 the Holy Spirit that he has compassion for those 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:34.820 who are attacking him. Such compassion that he's 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:37.399 based saying the same thing that Jesus said when 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:40.480 Jesus was on the cross and before Jesus gave 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:43.279 up his life he said forgive them father for they 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:46.299 know not what they're doing and Stephen was so 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:48.519 filled with the power of the Holy Spirit that 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:50.980 in the middle of this horrendous, absolutely 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:53.679 horrendous event that was taking place, he knew 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:56.139 that he was dying. He said, please forgive them. 00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:57.960 These people don't know what's going on. They 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:00.360 really are not aware of it. What amazing power 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:02.139 that is. And I know that's heavy, and I know 00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:04.259 that's extreme. A lot of people would say, well, 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:06.320 that's a pretty extreme example. But really, 00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:08.580 when you think about what we face in life each 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:10.860 and every day, we've got to learn how to overcome 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:13.179 it. We've got to know that when we're told that 00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:15.039 we've got a sickness, we've got to trust God. 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:16.889 When we're told that We have a financial problem. 00:14:17.070 --> 00:14:18.990 We've got to trust God. When our marriage is 00:14:18.990 --> 00:14:21.110 maybe shaky and in trouble, we need to trust 00:14:21.110 --> 00:14:23.750 God. When our kids are wayward, we need to trust 00:14:23.750 --> 00:14:26.549 God. Whatever takes place in our life, we've 00:14:26.549 --> 00:14:28.809 got to understand that we've got to walk in the 00:14:28.809 --> 00:14:31.250 power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot do this on 00:14:31.250 --> 00:14:33.389 our own. We can't just say, well, I've got strength. 00:14:33.389 --> 00:14:35.690 I can do this. I can overcome. I'll do it my 00:14:35.690 --> 00:14:37.809 way, that type of thing. No, we've got to stop 00:14:37.809 --> 00:14:40.090 thinking that way. We can't think that we can 00:14:40.090 --> 00:14:42.570 do it in our own ability because we are weak 00:14:42.570 --> 00:14:45.090 in our abilities. God's abilities are unlimited. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:48.139 and his power is great and unlimited, the Holy 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:50.860 Spirit's power is unlimited, and that's where 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:52.840 we get our strength. I think after all this, 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:55.220 you can now understand why I love the story of 00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:57.500 Stephen. And by the way, as Stephen was being 00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:59.840 stoned to death, the Bible tells us that the 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:03.039 accusers took off their coats and laid them at 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:06.740 the feet of a young man named Saul. This was 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:10.159 Saul, the man who eventually became the apostle. 00:15:10.429 --> 00:15:13.870 Paul. You see, in those days, Saul was a man 00:15:13.870 --> 00:15:16.590 who hated Christians. He wanted to take out Christians. 00:15:16.629 --> 00:15:18.929 He wanted to kill as many Christians as he possibly 00:15:18.929 --> 00:15:21.210 could. And I believe that when he experienced 00:15:21.210 --> 00:15:23.289 and saw what Stephen went through and Stephen's 00:15:23.289 --> 00:15:25.950 faith and Stephen's trust in his God, that was 00:15:25.950 --> 00:15:28.029 the beginning. That was the first thing that 00:15:28.029 --> 00:15:30.450 ever happened, I think, that made Paul, back 00:15:30.450 --> 00:15:33.789 then known as Saul, started to look in a different 00:15:33.789 --> 00:15:35.490 direction. And of course, we know later on the 00:15:35.490 --> 00:15:38.330 road to Damascus, Paul was slain down on the 00:15:38.330 --> 00:15:41.139 ground and he lost his eyesight. and Jesus came 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:43.100 there and said, why are you persecuting me? Why 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:46.000 are you coming after me? And Saul was converted 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:48.820 and named Paul the apostle, one of the greatest 00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:50.899 men that's ever walked the face of this earth. 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:53.840 But he did that under the power and the anointing 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:55.860 of the Holy Spirit. You know, we've learned so 00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:59.320 much from this Bible story. Let me first list 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:01.360 just maybe a couple of those items I think we've 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:04.039 learned from it. One, we learned about a deeper 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:06.059 relationship with the Holy Spirit, that that's 00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:07.860 what we've got to have. We need to have that 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:10.419 in our life in order to face all the trials that 00:16:10.419 --> 00:16:13.000 we're going to face. And we learned that it's 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:16.559 so important to understand how God wants so much 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:20.220 to help us and wants to bless us. Stephen was 00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:23.559 able to face difficult times, but we learn from 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:25.580 that that the Holy Spirit was with him. And I 00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:27.259 think it's important I make a statement here. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:30.100 I talk about a lot on how the Holy Spirit is 00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:32.340 with us when we're facing trials, but the Holy 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:34.580 Spirit's with us all the time. He's with us when 00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:36.879 we're really doing well, when things are going 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:39.980 great. If we yield to Him, He'll give us direction 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:42.200 and guidance, and He'll lead us in our life. 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.879 So we've got to understand the Holy Spirit is 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:46.059 there to help us in good times and bad times 00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:49.279 alike. You know, we need to stop and think. every 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:52.080 time in our life about whatever we face, good 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.320 or bad, that the Spirit is there to comfort and 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:56.919 to help us. All right, number two. In this story 00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:59.279 of Stephen, I think that we see how the Holy 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:01.820 Spirit gives us strength and grace for others. 00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:04.000 Isn't that interesting? Strength and grace, they 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:06.299 go together. You know, Jesus came to earth and 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:07.859 he was filled with strength, but he was filled 00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:10.759 with grace. And the Holy Spirit has all the grace 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:12.440 that we'll ever need and all the strength that 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:14.279 we'll ever need. So we've got to understand and 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:16.339 we see that in Stephen is that the Holy Spirit 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:19.220 gave him strength to face the challenges and 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:21.480 strength to be able to be aggressive and to be 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:23.579 able to tell people what he believed and when 00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:26.299 he believed it and to serve others and in all 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:28.759 areas of his life but grace for other people 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:30.779 when he was being mistreated and I think that's 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:32.880 a great lesson for us to learn. And now number 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:35.740 three, in this story we see how the Holy Spirit 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:38.660 filled Stephen so that others could see that 00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:42.059 Stephen was full or filled with or filled in 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:44.259 the Holy Spirit. You know, other people will 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:46.579 see us. Have you ever been to someone and walk 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:48.259 up to you're chatting with them and they'll look 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:49.940 at you and they'll say something like, you just 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:51.579 seem to be happy all the time. You just seem 00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:54.059 to bring a kind of joy into the room and you're 00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:56.359 just a positive, encouraging person. You see, 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:58.380 when that's said to us, we've got to realize 00:17:58.380 --> 00:18:00.539 if we're a follower of Jesus Christ, that's the 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:03.200 Holy Spirit that brings that to us. And people 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:05.680 are drawn to that. They are drawn to the Holy 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:07.619 Spirit. They're drawn to the power and the presence 00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:10.220 of the Holy Spirit. So I think it's amazing that 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:13.519 from this story we can learn that we can live 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:15.759 filled with the Holy Spirit that other people 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:18.210 will see. And we'll have so much of God in us 00:18:18.210 --> 00:18:20.589 and so much power and strength and love and grace 00:18:20.589 --> 00:18:23.470 in us that it'll overflow. It literally will 00:18:23.470 --> 00:18:26.269 overflow. We'll have an abundance for good works 00:18:26.269 --> 00:18:28.509 and we'll have an abundance to be able to reach 00:18:28.509 --> 00:18:30.349 out. We'll be blessed but we'll have so much 00:18:30.349 --> 00:18:32.470 left over that we can be a blessing to others. 00:18:32.630 --> 00:18:35.990 And then the final step here maybe for this particular 00:18:35.990 --> 00:18:39.309 podcast dealing with this story on Stephen, we 00:18:39.309 --> 00:18:42.430 found in the book of Acts chapter 7, it shows 00:18:42.430 --> 00:18:45.349 us how the Holy Spirit brought wisdom to Stephen. 00:18:45.230 --> 00:18:48.670 even in what to say and how to say it. Now think 00:18:48.670 --> 00:18:51.130 about that for a second. A lot of times as a 00:18:51.130 --> 00:18:53.509 pastor I counsel people that are having problems 00:18:53.509 --> 00:18:55.230 in their families, problems in their marriage, 00:18:55.490 --> 00:18:57.150 difficulties with their kids and they come in 00:18:57.150 --> 00:18:59.769 to see me and I pray with them and I many times 00:18:59.769 --> 00:19:01.869 pray and say, Heavenly Father, I pray that the 00:19:01.869 --> 00:19:04.410 Holy Spirit now would help these parents or help 00:19:04.410 --> 00:19:06.930 this husband or this wife, this spouse to know 00:19:06.930 --> 00:19:10.670 what to say and how to say it. So that's so important. 00:19:10.789 --> 00:19:14.059 The Holy Spirit knows what to say. But just as 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:17.240 importantly, he knows how we should say it. And 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:19.660 so ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us and help 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:22.380 us in that area of our life. Now I realize that 00:19:22.380 --> 00:19:25.299 some may say that Stephen, after all these great 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:26.940 things you're talking about and this great man 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:28.940 that he was, he was stoned to death. The bottom 00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:31.339 line was he was stoned to death. Well, it's true, 00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:33.920 that's true. But listen to this. The story of 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:38.680 Stephen that took place over 2 ,000 years ago 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:42.339 has brought life, and hope and peace and comfort 00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:45.740 and grace and forgiveness of sins to hundreds 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:48.670 of millions of people in this world. He went 00:19:48.670 --> 00:19:50.869 through all that, and yes he was stoned to death, 00:19:50.970 --> 00:19:53.849 but now he's spending eternal life with Jesus 00:19:53.849 --> 00:19:55.950 Christ, his Lord and Savior. And no matter what 00:19:55.950 --> 00:19:58.430 we go through here in life, here on this earth 00:19:58.430 --> 00:20:01.250 while we're here, we have a goal and a plan in 00:20:01.250 --> 00:20:04.170 our life is to spend eternity with Christ. And 00:20:04.170 --> 00:20:06.529 Stephen was so filled with the Holy Spirit that 00:20:06.529 --> 00:20:08.930 the good times and the bad times, he was led 00:20:08.930 --> 00:20:10.930 by the Spirit of the Living God and his life 00:20:10.930 --> 00:20:13.410 was strong and vibrant. He had a great impact 00:20:13.410 --> 00:20:16.609 and so can we as followers of the Lord Jesus 00:20:16.609 --> 00:20:19.210 Christ. We're kind of running out of time because 00:20:19.210 --> 00:20:21.750 I have a goal to keep these below 30 minutes 00:20:21.750 --> 00:20:23.910 That's kind of my goal And I know the Holy Spirit 00:20:23.910 --> 00:20:26.509 will help me to keep it within that in addition 00:20:26.509 --> 00:20:28.569 to that if I get a thought or something I'll 00:20:28.569 --> 00:20:30.630 write it down the Holy Spirit gives me and we 00:20:30.630 --> 00:20:32.789 can talk about that in future podcasts because 00:20:32.789 --> 00:20:35.329 I don't have to get everything done in one podcast 00:20:35.329 --> 00:20:38.009 so let's just kind of as we wrap this thing up 00:20:38.009 --> 00:20:39.990 talk a little bit about what we've learned today 00:20:39.990 --> 00:20:41.809 and what we've come to understand about the Holy 00:20:41.809 --> 00:20:44.630 Spirit living in us the Holy Spirit truly lives 00:20:44.630 --> 00:20:46.869 in every believer in first Corinthians chapter 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:49.039 Chapter 6 and verse 19, Paul wrote these words, 00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:51.880 Don't you know that your bodies are the temples 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:55.359 of the Holy Spirit? Who is in you? So therefore, 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:57.400 you know if Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, 00:20:57.700 --> 00:21:00.349 he lives. The Holy Spirit lives and dwells inside 00:21:00.349 --> 00:21:03.250 of you. The Holy Spirit is always available to 00:21:03.250 --> 00:21:06.009 help us. So we need to yield to Him. That means 00:21:06.009 --> 00:21:09.170 think only about Him and think upon only those 00:21:09.170 --> 00:21:11.210 things that are good and true and right. Paul 00:21:11.210 --> 00:21:13.049 talked about that and we'll talk about that in 00:21:13.049 --> 00:21:16.250 future podcasts. The Holy Spirit has many titles. 00:21:16.410 --> 00:21:18.650 He's the Comforter, the Periclean or the Helper. 00:21:18.750 --> 00:21:21.990 He is the grace in our heart and in our mind. 00:21:22.089 --> 00:21:25.089 He reveals the deep things of God. He intercedes 00:21:25.089 --> 00:21:28.160 for us. He is truth. He has the answers to to 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:31.069 our questions. There's only one condition. that 00:21:31.069 --> 00:21:33.970 we have to meet in order to have, I should say, 00:21:34.089 --> 00:21:36.430 the power of the Holy Spirit in our life. And 00:21:36.430 --> 00:21:38.609 that condition is to know Jesus Christ as our 00:21:38.609 --> 00:21:40.950 Lord and Savior. So before I close this podcast 00:21:40.950 --> 00:21:42.789 out, I need to just take a moment. It'll only 00:21:42.789 --> 00:21:45.029 take a moment, but if you don't know Jesus Christ 00:21:45.029 --> 00:21:47.410 as your Lord and Savior, or if you're not sure 00:21:47.410 --> 00:21:49.230 of where you're going to spend eternity, whether 00:21:49.230 --> 00:21:50.869 you're going to spend it in heaven or not, I 00:21:50.869 --> 00:21:52.829 want you to pray this prayer with me. Because 00:21:52.829 --> 00:21:55.069 the Holy Spirit will dwell only in believers, 00:21:55.269 --> 00:21:57.450 followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, those who 00:21:57.450 --> 00:21:59.930 have submitted their life to Him and are trying 00:21:59.930 --> 00:22:02.400 to him and follow him all the days of their life. 00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:04.700 So if you don't know the Lord or if you're not 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:07.240 certain of your relationship with the Lord, just 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:09.619 repeat this prayer with me right now. Say, Heavenly 00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:12.420 Father, I need a Savior. I need you to help me, 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:14.599 but I've sinned. I've fallen short of your glory. 00:22:15.470 --> 00:22:18.089 I ask that you would forgive me of the sins that 00:22:18.089 --> 00:22:20.809 I have committed. I repent of my sins, and I 00:22:20.809 --> 00:22:23.329 believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, 00:22:23.529 --> 00:22:25.369 that He was born of the Virgin Mary, that He 00:22:25.369 --> 00:22:28.150 was crucified but resurrected, and He sits at 00:22:28.150 --> 00:22:30.769 the right hand of the Father. So on this day, 00:22:31.069 --> 00:22:33.849 I surrender my will, my desires, and my heart 00:22:33.849 --> 00:22:36.529 and mind to the Lord Jesus Christ, and I accept 00:22:36.529 --> 00:22:39.930 Him as my Lord and my Savior. In Jesus' name 00:22:39.930 --> 00:22:43.150 I pray. Amen. If you prayed that prayer and you 00:22:43.150 --> 00:22:44.769 really meant it, you really meant it with all 00:22:44.769 --> 00:22:46.950 your heart, get to a good church. Find a good 00:22:46.950 --> 00:22:48.990 Bible preaching church. Get yourself a Bible. 00:22:49.069 --> 00:22:51.769 I truly recommend you read the book of Romans. 00:22:51.890 --> 00:22:54.569 It's a powerful, powerful book and will help 00:22:54.569 --> 00:22:56.170 you in your walk with the Lord. There's a lot 00:22:56.170 --> 00:22:58.049 of other things you should read, but get into 00:22:58.049 --> 00:23:00.390 Christian fellowship. Find fellow believers who 00:23:00.390 --> 00:23:02.789 know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and 00:23:02.789 --> 00:23:05.470 start searching the scriptures and see what God 00:23:05.470 --> 00:23:07.730 has planned for you because he has a purpose 00:23:07.730 --> 00:23:09.970 and a plan for your life. And the Holy Spirit, 00:23:10.069 --> 00:23:12.119 as soon as you accepted Jesus Christ, the Holy 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:15.039 Spirit, came to live and dwell with you. So he's 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:17.720 in you now. So seek him, ask for his guidance, 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:20.519 ask his direction, and yield to his power and 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:22.900 presence. And I ask all these things in Jesus 00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:25.500 name I pray, Lord. Amen. You know, when the Holy 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:28.200 Spirit comes into your life, he will always be 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:31.299 there to help. He's waiting to help. His first 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:34.539 desire is to comfort us. He's ready, willing, 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:37.690 and able. So now let's seek him. Well, I hope 00:23:37.690 --> 00:23:40.450 this has been a blessing to you, and I just want 00:23:40.450 --> 00:23:42.349 you to know we're going to continue on this series 00:23:42.349 --> 00:23:45.289 on the Holy Spirit. Matter of fact, my next podcast 00:23:45.289 --> 00:23:47.750 is going to be entitled, I Believe, unless the 00:23:47.750 --> 00:23:50.750 Lord changes this, if the Holy Spirit redirects 00:23:50.750 --> 00:23:53.529 me. But I'm planning my next podcast to be entitled, 00:23:53.789 --> 00:23:57.269 The Holy Spirit, Our Helper. And I believe that's 00:23:57.269 --> 00:23:59.769 something that will help people, encourage people. 00:24:00.049 --> 00:24:02.210 So with that, I would like you to invite some 00:24:02.210 --> 00:24:04.230 family and friends, tell some people that we're 00:24:04.230 --> 00:24:06.990 doing this series on the Holy Spirit. tell you 00:24:06.990 --> 00:24:10.309 how excited I am about this particular series 00:24:10.309 --> 00:24:12.809 on the Holy Spirit. My wife loves to talk about 00:24:12.809 --> 00:24:15.930 the Holy Spirit. She loves for us to share with 00:24:15.930 --> 00:24:17.970 people and pray with them to receive the infilling 00:24:17.970 --> 00:24:20.690 of the Holy Spirit. And she just really wants 00:24:20.690 --> 00:24:23.309 people to understand the power. And so she's 00:24:23.309 --> 00:24:26.170 so excited about this. So she's praying about 00:24:26.170 --> 00:24:28.849 this series and that God will bless it. And I 00:24:28.849 --> 00:24:31.569 just feel an anointing on this. It's just wonderful. 00:24:31.730 --> 00:24:33.609 And I pray that it'll bless you. You know, if 00:24:33.609 --> 00:24:35.670 you'd like to know more about Quality Christian 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:38.660 Living, which is the name of our podcast, you 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:41.980 can go to my webpage at davidcfriendauthor .com 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:44.339 and when you go there, pull up that first page 00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:46.460 and you'll see a link to all the podcasts that 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:50.660 we've done. This is podcast number 317, so you 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:52.700 can tell there's been a lot of topics that we've 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:54.940 covered. We've talked about the Holy Spirit before, 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:58.380 but not as in depth as we're going to now in 00:24:58.380 --> 00:25:00.539 the months, depending on how the Holy Spirit 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:02.660 leads us. And I wouldn't be surprised if this 00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:05.180 could take six months or so to really really 00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:07.519 complete the work that I believe the Holy Spirit's 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:09.880 called us to do in this particular series. So 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:11.940 you can look at that and you'll see a list of 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.839 all of those and you can scroll all you want 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:16.960 to. It talks about finances. We talk about miracles, 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:19.259 about having faith. We talk about the gifts of 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:21.940 the Spirit. Just a plethora of topics that you 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:24.059 can be blessed by. And if you want to know more 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:26.500 about me as an individual, you can scroll down 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:28.380 on my webpage and you'll see a number of books 00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:30.640 that I've written dealing with various topics 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:33.059 including our veterans, including our finances, 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:36.259 including various issues, I think, on faith and 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:38.779 miracles and things that are important. So I 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:40.660 believe that that will be a blessing to you. 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:43.140 And if you'd like to subscribe someday to my 00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:46.380 podcast, you can do that by going to cpnshows 00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:49.559 .com or wherever you listen to your podcasts. 00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:52.880 Once again, I appreciate so much you being here 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:55.319 and being a part of this. Our next podcast is 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:58.640 going to get into talking about how the Holy 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:01.160 Spirit helps and the way He wants to help and 00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:03.490 how we can find help and we all need help. from 00:26:03.490 --> 00:26:06.829 time to time and so I believe that we'll get 00:26:06.829 --> 00:26:09.250 into something that will be very very helpful 00:26:09.250 --> 00:26:11.809 very strong with people so if you know people 00:26:11.809 --> 00:26:13.829 who are struggling with questions about where 00:26:13.829 --> 00:26:16.210 do I go from here or should I do this or is it 00:26:16.210 --> 00:26:18.269 is it okay if I do that or they have questions 00:26:18.269 --> 00:26:20.430 about the Holy Spirit just contact them and let 00:26:20.430 --> 00:26:22.230 them know about this series because I believe 00:26:22.230 --> 00:26:24.410 this is going to be one of the quite frankly 00:26:24.410 --> 00:26:26.609 the most anointed series that we've ever done 00:26:26.609 --> 00:26:29.150 and I claim that in Jesus name just to kind of 00:26:29.150 --> 00:26:31.009 give a little hint about what I believe the Holy 00:26:31.009 --> 00:26:33.410 Spirit has placed upon my heart We're going to 00:26:33.410 --> 00:26:35.809 have podcasts. We're going to talk about what 00:26:35.809 --> 00:26:38.960 it means to receive. the comfort of the Holy 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:42.400 Spirit. And what does it mean to understand that 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:45.380 the Holy Spirit is willing and that He's ready 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:48.700 and that He's able? Those could all be individual 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:51.420 podcasts. I truly believe that. So we're just 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:53.160 going to yield to the power and the presence 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:55.720 of the Holy Spirit and ask for His guidance and 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:57.980 direction so that He can lead us through every 00:26:57.980 --> 00:27:00.480 area of this. And I believe it's going to be 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:03.420 fun, exciting, and I believe it'll help us in 00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:05.640 our walk with God. Before I close, let me pray 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:07.579 for you. Heavenly Father, pray for those who 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:09.619 are listening in, and they, many of them are 00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:11.900 here because they have a desire to get closer 00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:14.660 to you and be led by the Spirit of God. Those 00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:17.539 who are Christians that are strong in their walk 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:19.660 with you and and they walk and they're filled 00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:22.039 with the Holy Spirit I pray that this could be 00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:23.920 a blessing to them to share some of these thoughts 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:26.460 with others So I pray a blessing upon everyone 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:28.900 who's listening in both in the United States 00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:31.279 and across the world as we've been blessed To 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.680 see so many different countries around the world 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:36.059 who are listening to these podcasts I pray that 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:38.180 you would bless them father and that they would 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:40.720 receive Exactly what you have for them help them 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:43.680 to be led by the Holy Spirit and help them to 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:47.140 learn to yield by the power of the Holy Spirit 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.940 into everything they face whether it be good 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:51.420 times or bad times bless them and keep them I 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:53.660 pray and I'll thank you for it in advance in 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:56.440 Jesus name amen let me just give you one final 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:59.039 blessing as I close out this podcast may the 00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:01.700 Lord bless you and keep you may his face shine 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:04.059 upon you and may he be gracious to you and give 00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:07.000 you peace May you prosper and be in good health 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:12.000 even as your soul prospers. So may God now richly 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:14.619 bless you in all you do and may you be filled 00:28:14.619 --> 00:28:17.259 with the power and the might and the strength 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:19.599 and the grace of the Holy Spirit in your life. 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:22.420 May you walk daily in it and just receive the 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:24.859 goodness of God. Be blessed in all that you put 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:27.460 your hand to. Thank you once again to listening 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:30.519 into our podcast entitled Quality Christian Living 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:33.819 with this series on the Holy Spirit as we continue 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:35.960 on it. I pray you'll be blessed, and I pray that 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:38.759 you'll let others know about this opportunity. 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:41.799 We'll give you praise, Lord, and give you the 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:43.819 glory for what's taking place. Bless those that 00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:46.279 are here. I am your host, David Friend. Thank 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:48.000 you once again for listening in. This has been 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:52.819 podcast number 317, The Holy Spirit Working in 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.059 Us.