WEBVTT 00:00:32.409 --> 00:00:34.490 If you're joining us from home, thank you for 00:00:34.490 --> 00:00:37.049 welcoming us into your space. Hey, dads. Hey, 00:00:37.090 --> 00:00:41.170 dads. Happy Father's Day. We appreciate you. 00:00:41.369 --> 00:00:46.380 We love you. We got hot dogs for you and fresh 00:00:46.380 --> 00:00:49.899 root beer from the keg. Just tapped this morning. 00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:54.179 All natural goodness to just cheer up your day. 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:56.039 If you're near a dad, give him a high five and 00:00:56.039 --> 00:01:08.439 tell him happy Father's Day. Oh, it's a beautiful 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:13.299 day. Thank you. It's a beautiful day. All right, 00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:18.459 I don't know about you, but this week, as I was 00:01:18.459 --> 00:01:21.000 reading the news, just kind of tracking everything 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:23.280 that's going on, not only in our country, in 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:25.799 the world, but it was kind of disheartening. 00:01:26.099 --> 00:01:29.060 There wasn't very much positive happening. There's 00:01:29.060 --> 00:01:32.340 a war started. There's division and separation 00:01:32.340 --> 00:01:35.379 in our country. There's finger pointing and rocks 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:38.980 being thrown. Just everything happening that's 00:01:38.980 --> 00:01:42.989 causing people to be upset. Because of the unknowns. 00:01:44.109 --> 00:01:46.689 So let's just lay it all down and ask God to 00:01:46.689 --> 00:01:49.790 intervene. Is it okay if we do that? Holy Spirit 00:01:49.790 --> 00:01:53.750 come. God, we're just thankful for this country 00:01:53.750 --> 00:01:57.329 that we live in, God. That you have provided 00:01:57.329 --> 00:02:00.890 for us to just be a part of. We just ask your 00:02:00.890 --> 00:02:03.430 hand to move through our country, God. Holy Spirit, 00:02:03.469 --> 00:02:06.269 just blow through our country. And we just pray 00:02:06.269 --> 00:02:08.919 that hearts would be drawn back to you. That, 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:10.860 God, through the midst of division and separation 00:02:10.860 --> 00:02:13.520 and finger -pointing, God, that you would be 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:17.159 exalted. We just silence the attacks of the enemy 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:20.539 in Jesus' name, and we speak peace into our world, 00:02:20.599 --> 00:02:24.099 God. We just speak peace and wisdom into world 00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:26.500 leaders, God, that your Holy Spirit, we believe 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:29.740 your Spirit can speak to them and move in them 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:31.900 and give them the words to share, God. And we 00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:34.479 just pray for peace, your peace, which passes 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:37.539 all understanding. And, God, I'm thankful. for 00:02:37.539 --> 00:02:40.080 each and every father that's represented here. 00:02:40.819 --> 00:02:43.379 We just ask that your hand would be upon them 00:02:43.379 --> 00:02:46.939 today as they relax and just celebrate all that 00:02:46.939 --> 00:02:48.939 it means to be a father. Raise them up, lift 00:02:48.939 --> 00:02:51.639 them up, God. Let them be examples of you to 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:54.719 this community. In Jesus' name, Jesus' name, 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:58.500 amen. So this morning, we're continuing our series, 00:02:58.620 --> 00:03:00.900 Come Holy Spirit, and I would like to have a 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:08.060 conversation with you on how to be holy. To be 00:03:08.060 --> 00:03:10.620 holy. I mean just like I shared. We're currently 00:03:10.620 --> 00:03:13.400 living in a country. In a world full of division. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:17.919 Anger. And the unknowns. While at the same time. 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:22.039 Sunday after Sunday. We gather here at HCV. And 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:24.599 we see lots of people coming into a relationship 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:28.199 with Jesus. Lives being transformed. People wanting 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:31.560 to grow their faith. Lots and lots of people 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:35.139 desiring to be baptized. And through this series, 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:37.659 we're seeing people desiring more of the Holy 00:03:37.659 --> 00:03:40.979 Spirit to be filled in new ways to make a difference 00:03:40.979 --> 00:03:44.219 in their homes, while at work or at school, in 00:03:44.219 --> 00:03:47.219 their communities, to be the person that God 00:03:47.219 --> 00:03:50.879 has called them to be. It is so important that 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:54.060 amongst these good things, as we see them happening, 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:56.419 that we discuss the Holy Spirit. Because without 00:03:56.419 --> 00:03:59.860 Him, none of it would be happening. We learned 00:03:59.860 --> 00:04:03.280 who the Holy Spirit was in week one of our series, 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:06.099 and last Sunday we talked about being empowered 00:04:06.099 --> 00:04:09.879 by the Holy Spirit, how God desires that we walk 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:13.060 in that life -giving power, giving it away, and 00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:17.019 seeing other people's lives transformed. This 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:19.420 morning, in our passages that we'll be discussing, 00:04:19.660 --> 00:04:22.980 Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as a person. 00:04:23.629 --> 00:04:26.829 A person that will never leave us. A person that 00:04:26.829 --> 00:04:29.790 will come to us. A person that will remain in 00:04:29.790 --> 00:04:33.910 us forever. See, we must remember that the Holy 00:04:33.910 --> 00:04:37.410 Spirit is a person. The Holy Spirit is not an 00:04:37.410 --> 00:04:41.810 it. The Holy Spirit changes the way we feel because 00:04:41.810 --> 00:04:44.949 he is a person, not a being. The Holy Spirit 00:04:44.949 --> 00:04:47.889 moves and blows wherever he desires and rests 00:04:47.889 --> 00:04:51.529 on people today. I mean, some of you just even 00:04:51.529 --> 00:04:54.310 this morning have already felt his presence as 00:04:54.310 --> 00:04:56.889 we worshiped and glorified the name of Jesus. 00:04:57.470 --> 00:05:00.730 Again, remember, the Holy Spirit is a person, 00:05:00.829 --> 00:05:04.149 not a force. The Holy Spirit strengthens us, 00:05:04.189 --> 00:05:08.610 helps us, guides us. He is a person, not a ghost. 00:05:09.009 --> 00:05:12.529 And because the Holy Spirit is a person, we can 00:05:12.529 --> 00:05:16.430 speak to him. We can listen to him. We can get 00:05:16.430 --> 00:05:20.069 to know him intimately. Since the Holy Spirit 00:05:20.069 --> 00:05:23.689 is a person, we can follow him and we can resist 00:05:23.689 --> 00:05:27.829 him. We can welcome him or we can exclude him. 00:05:27.930 --> 00:05:32.750 We can honor him or we can grieve him. In the 00:05:32.750 --> 00:05:35.769 Bible, we read that no one can proclaim the name 00:05:35.769 --> 00:05:39.250 of Jesus as Lord of their life without the Holy 00:05:39.250 --> 00:05:43.089 Spirit. So when the Holy Spirit is present, we 00:05:43.089 --> 00:05:46.839 know that Jesus is being lifted up. That people 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:50.639 will fall in love with who Jesus is. We are told 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:53.779 the Holy Spirit testifies to our hearts that 00:05:53.779 --> 00:05:57.639 we are in fact children of God. So when the Holy 00:05:57.639 --> 00:06:00.839 Spirit is present, people will feel secure in 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:03.740 their identity as sons and daughters of God. 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:07.079 We are told the Holy Spirit is the very presence 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:10.980 and power of God. So when the Holy Spirit is 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:16.259 present, anything is possible. So what would 00:06:16.259 --> 00:06:20.079 it look like to encounter and be filled afresh 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:23.480 with the Holy Spirit this morning? How might 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:29.139 that change us? How might that make us more holy? 00:06:29.819 --> 00:06:32.540 And this is important because in today's world, 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:38.050 we need the Holy Spirit every single day. And 00:06:38.050 --> 00:06:39.889 I'm not just talking about in the big decisions 00:06:39.889 --> 00:06:42.430 like buying a home or when we're in the middle 00:06:42.430 --> 00:06:44.930 of a health or financial crisis. I'm talking 00:06:44.930 --> 00:06:47.610 about needing the Holy Spirit every day, every 00:06:47.610 --> 00:06:51.709 moment, all the time. He wants to be involved 00:06:51.709 --> 00:06:55.730 in our lives. This community of faith is in existence 00:06:55.730 --> 00:07:00.540 today because of the Holy Spirit. And for many 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:03.160 of us, we need to learn a simple vineyard prayer 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:06.019 that goes all the way back to John Wimber at 00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:08.860 the beginning of our movement. And it's two simple 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:15.819 words. God, help. God, help. I'm in trouble. 00:07:16.339 --> 00:07:20.839 God, help. I'm stressed out. God, help. I'm overwhelmed. 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:23.720 And since we're in this series, we can say it 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:27.209 a little differently. Holy Spirit, help. Holy 00:07:27.209 --> 00:07:29.930 Spirit, help me make this decision. Holy Spirit, 00:07:30.110 --> 00:07:34.569 break in and draw my children back to you. See, 00:07:34.649 --> 00:07:37.810 through this simple prayer, we are inviting God 00:07:37.810 --> 00:07:40.509 through the person of the Holy Spirit to work 00:07:40.509 --> 00:07:44.529 in our lives, to make us more holy. And this 00:07:44.529 --> 00:07:47.209 is very important because of today's first thought. 00:07:47.370 --> 00:07:53.009 See, the Holy Spirit is holy. Jesus, in fact, 00:07:53.009 --> 00:07:57.250 describes the Spirit of God as the Holy Spirit. 00:07:57.490 --> 00:08:00.269 Names the Spirit of God the Holy Spirit. John 00:08:00.269 --> 00:08:04.730 14, 15 through 17. If you love me, obey my commandments. 00:08:05.050 --> 00:08:07.329 And I will ask the Father and he will give you 00:08:07.329 --> 00:08:10.350 another advocate who will never leave you. He 00:08:10.350 --> 00:08:15.129 is the Holy Spirit who leads you into all truth. 00:08:15.269 --> 00:08:17.910 And when Jesus names a person the Holy Spirit. 00:08:18.649 --> 00:08:21.949 He is referencing that he is holy. Now that word 00:08:21.949 --> 00:08:26.750 advocate is defined as a person who pleads for 00:08:26.750 --> 00:08:31.089 or supports a cause or individual. To speak in 00:08:31.089 --> 00:08:35.570 favor of. Now John chapter 14 verse 15 to 16 00:08:35.570 --> 00:08:37.889 in the New King James Version reads this way. 00:08:38.070 --> 00:08:41.470 If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will 00:08:41.470 --> 00:08:43.629 pray to the Father and he will give you another 00:08:43.629 --> 00:08:49.169 helper. That he may abide with you. A helper. 00:08:49.289 --> 00:08:51.610 And what does this helper do? Well, holiness 00:08:51.610 --> 00:08:55.350 and the Holy Spirit are deeply connected because 00:08:55.350 --> 00:08:59.389 God is holy. He's glorious. He's beautiful. He's 00:08:59.389 --> 00:09:02.350 worthy of all praise. He's set apart. There is 00:09:02.350 --> 00:09:05.029 no evil. There's no darkness. There's no sin 00:09:05.029 --> 00:09:09.649 present with God. And since God is holy, the 00:09:09.649 --> 00:09:14.230 Holy Spirit is holy and then releases holiness 00:09:14.230 --> 00:09:18.779 inside of us. See, he is our helper in making 00:09:18.779 --> 00:09:21.899 us holy. Let's go back into the Old Testament. 00:09:21.940 --> 00:09:25.360 We read this in Leviticus 19 verse 2. The Lord 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:28.139 also said to Moses, give the following instructions 00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:32.259 to the entire community of Israel. You must be 00:09:32.259 --> 00:09:38.440 holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. See, 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:40.620 fast forward to the New Testament. We are now 00:09:40.620 --> 00:09:43.679 filled and led by the Holy Spirit, shaped by 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:45.980 the Holy Spirit. Last week we learned that we're 00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:48.279 empowered by the Holy Spirit, changed by the 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:51.700 Holy Spirit. And we are enabled to become more 00:09:51.700 --> 00:09:56.669 and more holy each and every day. And in my personal 00:09:56.669 --> 00:09:59.549 experience, when God wants to do something significant 00:09:59.549 --> 00:10:02.470 in my life, in our community of faith, through 00:10:02.470 --> 00:10:06.330 my family, through my relationships, he first 00:10:06.330 --> 00:10:09.389 puts his finger on and challenges me in the area 00:10:09.389 --> 00:10:13.049 of holiness. When God wants to do something significant 00:10:13.049 --> 00:10:16.269 in a church or a city, he challenges the people 00:10:16.269 --> 00:10:21.830 in that area to become more holy. Nearly every 00:10:21.830 --> 00:10:24.330 major revival in the history of the Christian 00:10:24.330 --> 00:10:28.429 church, has been preceded by a fresh hunger or 00:10:28.429 --> 00:10:32.750 passion for holiness. And why is that? Well, 00:10:32.789 --> 00:10:35.710 Peter writes this in 1 Peter 1, 14 through 16. 00:10:36.649 --> 00:10:38.990 So you must live as God's obedient children. 00:10:39.649 --> 00:10:41.889 Don't slip back into your old ways of living 00:10:41.889 --> 00:10:44.889 to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know 00:10:44.889 --> 00:10:48.029 any better then. But now you must be holy in 00:10:48.029 --> 00:10:51.129 everything you do, just as God who chose you 00:10:51.129 --> 00:10:54.340 is holy. For the scriptures say you must be holy 00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:58.240 because I am holiness. Now, holiness, if we're 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:00.960 honest, is really out of fashion these days. 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:03.899 There's not too many people talking about that 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:07.820 word holiness. I mean, the world around us doesn't 00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:10.860 understand it. And it's almost as if the church 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:14.480 doesn't really want to hear about it or receive 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:19.539 it. Holiness can be viewed as repressive. It 00:11:19.539 --> 00:11:22.450 can be looked at as limiting to us. Like, why 00:11:22.450 --> 00:11:24.610 would you limit yourself? Life is short. Be happy. 00:11:24.690 --> 00:11:28.090 Have fun. Follow your desires. Don't deny yourself. 00:11:28.269 --> 00:11:30.629 Do what you want. Holiness is old and outdated. 00:11:31.570 --> 00:11:34.370 Why build habits that help you draw closer to 00:11:34.370 --> 00:11:37.929 God? Why make sacrifices that cost you something? 00:11:38.490 --> 00:11:42.070 Yet, it's kind of ironic, when the world sees 00:11:42.070 --> 00:11:46.190 a truly holy life, a life of integrity and goodness 00:11:46.190 --> 00:11:49.169 and compassion and beauty, it's captivated by 00:11:49.169 --> 00:11:52.190 it. I mean, just think about Mother Teresa. There's 00:11:52.190 --> 00:11:55.809 books written about her, constantly being referenced 00:11:55.809 --> 00:11:58.629 and talked about. Why? Because they see the holiness. 00:11:59.409 --> 00:12:02.710 Blaise Pascal says it this way, the serene beauty 00:12:02.710 --> 00:12:05.950 of a holy life is the most powerful influence 00:12:05.950 --> 00:12:10.570 in the world next to the power of God. But what 00:12:10.570 --> 00:12:13.850 about a life that is powered by the power of 00:12:13.850 --> 00:12:17.210 God? Think about those possibilities. I mean, 00:12:17.250 --> 00:12:20.590 Jesus did tell us, if you love me, obey my... 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:24.000 commandments. And when Jesus tells us to follow 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:28.360 his commandments to be holy, he's pointing us 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:30.980 into an intimate relationship with our creator. 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:34.460 He's saying, no, become more holy, not out of 00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:37.759 duty or obligation, but to gain a greater intimacy 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:41.879 with God. See, these practices are meant to help 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:45.039 us draw us closer to God. Why? Because he's holy. 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:49.080 And he desires that we become more holy, becoming 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:54.549 more like his Son. Holy simply means to be set 00:12:54.549 --> 00:12:59.769 apart and completely devoted to God. When God 00:12:59.769 --> 00:13:04.129 calls us to be holy, he's simply saying, be completely 00:13:04.129 --> 00:13:08.210 mine. And this is possible because of our second 00:13:08.210 --> 00:13:10.970 thought. See, the Holy Spirit lives inside of 00:13:10.970 --> 00:13:15.110 you. He lives inside of you. Again, John 14, 00:13:15.190 --> 00:13:18.570 17, he is the Holy Spirit. He leads you into 00:13:18.570 --> 00:13:22.340 all truth. The world cannot receive him because 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:25.799 it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:29.440 him. But you know him because he lives with you 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:32.700 now and later will be in you. Again, Jesus speaking 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:35.299 to his disciples, the Holy Spirit hasn't fallen 00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:38.639 or filled them yet, but now we are living post 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:42.139 -filling or post -Pentecost, and we are now filled 00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:46.259 with the Spirit. And sometimes we think, if I 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:49.679 just try harder, Chris. If I white knuckle it, 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:52.700 if I grit my teeth and push through, if I stay 00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:55.740 out of trouble or temptation, I can become more 00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:58.000 holy. And let me just say, how's that working 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:02.879 out for you? Because it simply isn't the case. 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:07.000 It's not going to work. We are broken, sinful 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:10.399 people living in a world full of sin and brokenness. 00:14:11.149 --> 00:14:13.889 And see, in my time pastoring this church, time 00:14:13.889 --> 00:14:16.889 and time again, I've seen people fall away, walk 00:14:16.889 --> 00:14:20.309 away from God. They've become miserable and frustrated 00:14:20.309 --> 00:14:23.350 and serving in our community of faith. Why? Because 00:14:23.350 --> 00:14:25.049 they're trying to become holy in their own strength. 00:14:25.590 --> 00:14:28.509 Oh, it's like another job. Oh, I don't want to 00:14:28.509 --> 00:14:31.330 serve. Oh, I need to sleep in on Sunday. And 00:14:31.330 --> 00:14:33.309 it's like, no, don't do it in your own strength. 00:14:33.409 --> 00:14:36.590 Desire to be filled with the Spirit. It's impossible 00:14:36.590 --> 00:14:40.299 to become holy by our own efforts. It's the Spirit 00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:43.759 of God that changes us. But at the same time, 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:46.659 listen now, we have a part to play in the relationship. 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:49.659 We can't just place all the responsibility on 00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:51.139 the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, it's all yours. 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:56.379 Change me. You know, we get out our folder or 00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:59.720 our note taker. Jesus, I've been following you 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:02.120 for two years now. Holy Spirit, how have you 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:05.620 changed my life? Have you made me more patient? 00:15:06.489 --> 00:15:08.789 Nah, nothing's changed. I'm still full of anger. 00:15:10.190 --> 00:15:13.110 Have you made me more kinder? Nah, I'm still 00:15:13.110 --> 00:15:15.049 aggravated with people. Can't stand them. You 00:15:15.049 --> 00:15:17.950 must not be doing your job, Holy Spirit. I've 00:15:17.950 --> 00:15:21.090 gone forward for prayer on Sunday. I've put post 00:15:21.090 --> 00:15:23.970 -it notes on the crosses. Holy Spirit, why aren't 00:15:23.970 --> 00:15:26.710 you working in my life? It doesn't work that 00:15:26.710 --> 00:15:29.750 way. We can't just blame the Holy Spirit for 00:15:29.750 --> 00:15:33.590 him not changing us. We work in partnership with 00:15:33.590 --> 00:15:37.659 the Holy Spirit. He empowers us. He changes us. 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:40.179 See, when the Holy Spirit reveals areas of our 00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:44.480 life that are not holy, address it. Change it. 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:48.120 Go the other way. Right? Maybe it's a bad habit 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:50.340 or an addiction that's caused you to fall or 00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:53.279 stumble. Maybe it's how we're spending all of 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:56.279 our time binge -watching Netflix or scrolling 00:15:56.279 --> 00:16:00.549 through social media. I mean, our culture spends 00:16:00.549 --> 00:16:05.309 more time on screens, on phones and TVs and iPads 00:16:05.309 --> 00:16:09.549 than they do with other people. And in the church, 00:16:09.570 --> 00:16:12.230 they spend more time on their screens than they 00:16:12.230 --> 00:16:15.990 do the Holy Spirit. I mean, we really have to 00:16:15.990 --> 00:16:18.190 ask God through the Holy Spirit to reveal to 00:16:18.190 --> 00:16:22.950 us those areas that are not lining up for his 00:16:22.950 --> 00:16:25.809 desire for us to be holy. And listen, it's a 00:16:25.809 --> 00:16:29.789 daily ask. Because daily we are tempted. Daily 00:16:29.789 --> 00:16:34.309 we fall. Why? 1 Corinthians 6 .19. Don't you 00:16:34.309 --> 00:16:38.669 realize, church, that your body is the temple 00:16:38.669 --> 00:16:42.309 of the Holy Spirit who lives in you and was given 00:16:42.309 --> 00:16:45.889 to you by God. You don't belong to yourself. 00:16:46.809 --> 00:16:50.110 I mean, where do you think God lives? Have you 00:16:50.110 --> 00:16:54.730 ever thought about that? Rome? Jerusalem? Some 00:16:54.730 --> 00:16:56.710 people think he lives in this building so they 00:16:56.710 --> 00:16:59.330 can stop by every Sunday and high -five God, 00:16:59.549 --> 00:17:04.609 check in, what's up? But no, that scripture I 00:17:04.609 --> 00:17:06.670 just read to you, the promise here is that the 00:17:06.670 --> 00:17:11.410 Spirit of God lives in us. And it's so important 00:17:11.410 --> 00:17:15.170 for us to understand that truth. Okay, we're 00:17:15.170 --> 00:17:17.130 not perfect. I mean, think about your current 00:17:17.130 --> 00:17:20.569 home. If it's anything like mine, it's far from 00:17:20.569 --> 00:17:23.220 perfect. Right, there's always something that 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:27.420 needs fixed. Right, I was away two days in Richmond 00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:29.259 at a baseball tournament with my son. I get back 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:32.640 last night. I look out the window. I said, Zoe, 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:36.059 the pool looks low. Sure enough, the water had 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:38.460 leaked out below the filter. Why? Because the 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:40.640 filter had a leak, and I had to go out, fill 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:43.480 the pool, fix the filter. I'm frustrated. Oh, 00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:45.299 as soon as I get home, there's something else. 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:48.720 This, that, and you become frustrated, and it's 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:53.750 your home. But I fixed it because I care about 00:17:53.750 --> 00:17:57.769 it and I enjoy living in it. God has chosen to 00:17:57.769 --> 00:18:03.230 make his home in you. Even in imperfect people, 00:18:03.329 --> 00:18:06.450 we're not perfect. And that changes everything 00:18:06.450 --> 00:18:09.970 when we receive that truth. Because, our third 00:18:09.970 --> 00:18:12.410 thought, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. 00:18:15.109 --> 00:18:18.740 Life is daily full of difficulties. Maybe it's 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:21.059 at your work or at school. Maybe it's a relationship 00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:23.279 that you're dealing with. I mean, maybe you're 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:26.680 here this morning and you've been fighting with 00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:28.640 your spouse all week, but you're sitting in your 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:32.259 chair like, yeah, everything's great. And now 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:34.259 you're getting nudged in your elbow. See, I told 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:39.880 you. Maybe you have to make a decision that will 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:42.819 impact the rest of your life. And in all of these 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:45.500 different situations, we have to learn to pray 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:47.200 that simple prayer. What was it again, church? 00:18:47.849 --> 00:18:52.990 God help. Holy Spirit help. I mean, Paul writes 00:18:52.990 --> 00:18:55.289 these words to the church in Galatia, a church 00:18:55.289 --> 00:18:57.950 that he planted and started. But unfortunately, 00:18:58.029 --> 00:19:00.210 that church began to slip back into the world. 00:19:00.250 --> 00:19:02.809 They began walking in their old ways of thinking. 00:19:03.130 --> 00:19:06.150 And we read this in Galatians 5, 13, 16 through 00:19:06.150 --> 00:19:09.230 17. For you have been called to live in freedom, 00:19:09.329 --> 00:19:12.410 my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom 00:19:12.410 --> 00:19:15.920 to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, Use your 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:18.079 freedom to serve one another. So in the beginning 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:20.380 here, Paul is contrasting the difference between 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:24.180 walking in the power of the Spirit and walking 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:27.960 in our own strength. He's saying, here's the 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:30.519 two. And he continues. So I say, let the Holy 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:33.140 Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing 00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:36.920 what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:39.279 wants to do evil, which is just the opposite 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:41.700 of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives 00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:43.960 us desires that are opposite of what the sinful 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:48.029 nature desires. These two forces are constantly 00:19:48.029 --> 00:19:50.910 fighting each other so you're not free to carry 00:19:50.910 --> 00:19:53.210 out your own good intentions. Now notice Paul 00:19:53.210 --> 00:19:58.730 says that our flesh, right, our desires, our 00:19:58.730 --> 00:20:02.329 selfish desires, are constantly fighting with 00:20:02.329 --> 00:20:04.569 the life that God desires for us. There's this 00:20:04.569 --> 00:20:09.549 battle raging within us because our self, our 00:20:09.549 --> 00:20:12.069 sinful nature, doesn't want to walk in the abundance 00:20:12.069 --> 00:20:15.000 that Jesus promises. Doesn't want us to be holy. 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:17.640 And you say, okay, Crystal, what's the difference? 00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:19.619 Well, Paul goes on to say, if we're walking in 00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:21.900 our own strength, in our flesh, this is what 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:23.819 it looks like. Are you ready? Now take a scorecard. 00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:26.059 Keep a count of your life here. Galatians 5, 00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:30.240 20 to 21. Chasing after things instead of God. 00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:32.920 manipulating others, hatred of those who get 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:34.859 in your way, senseless arguments, resentment 00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:37.680 when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:40.279 quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:42.420 love with your own opinions, being envious of 00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:44.599 the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled 00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:46.799 addictions, wild parties, and all other similar 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:49.759 behaviors. Haven't I already warned you that 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.980 those who use their freedom for these things 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:54.519 will not inherit the kingdom of God? Now, if 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:56.420 you're anything like me, most of us didn't score 00:20:56.420 --> 00:21:01.309 very high on that list. Temper tantrums. Oh, 00:21:01.450 --> 00:21:06.109 we never do that. Yeah, right. Every day, we 00:21:06.109 --> 00:21:09.269 see examples in our own life of what Paul just 00:21:09.269 --> 00:21:12.430 wrote down. But we must understand, when Paul 00:21:12.430 --> 00:21:14.490 writes, we will not inherit the kingdom of God, 00:21:14.549 --> 00:21:16.769 he doesn't mean that we're going to be separated 00:21:16.769 --> 00:21:18.750 from God. We're not going to lose our salvation. 00:21:18.990 --> 00:21:21.250 It means we won't be living or walking in the 00:21:21.250 --> 00:21:24.509 fruits of the Spirit. That's all it means. And 00:21:24.509 --> 00:21:26.690 in tune, if we choose our own selfish ways, you 00:21:26.690 --> 00:21:28.190 know what we're going to be living in? Turmoil, 00:21:28.190 --> 00:21:32.269 stress, and frustration. But Jesus died so that 00:21:32.269 --> 00:21:35.349 we can free the ways of this world and live in 00:21:35.349 --> 00:21:39.130 the kingdom right now. We are told to pray that 00:21:39.130 --> 00:21:41.869 the kingdom of God comes from heaven to where? 00:21:42.250 --> 00:21:46.269 Earth. That's the story of the Bible. We literally 00:21:46.269 --> 00:21:50.930 get to live in the future right now. But when 00:21:50.930 --> 00:21:53.069 we pursue our own strength or our own desires, 00:21:53.289 --> 00:21:55.509 we limit the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit 00:21:55.509 --> 00:21:59.089 inside of us. God wants to fill us with his fruit 00:21:59.089 --> 00:22:02.619 so that we can Give it away rather than be living 00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:06.279 with anger and stress. See, we will get ourselves 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:08.519 into trouble if we allow ourselves to control 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:11.900 it. But listen to the fruit that God produces, 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:16.039 Galatians 5, 22 to 23. But the Holy Spirit produces 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:19.940 this kind of fruit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, 00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:22.460 patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:26.619 and self -control. Now, how many of you believe 00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:28.160 our world could use a little bit more of those 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:34.410 qualities? Right? They need it. Guess who was 00:22:34.410 --> 00:22:36.710 supposed to have this fruit flowing out of them? 00:22:37.890 --> 00:22:40.710 You and me. That's right. Look at your neighbor 00:22:40.710 --> 00:22:47.890 and say, where's the fruit? Where's the fruit? 00:22:50.109 --> 00:22:53.210 And please understand, this isn't a one -time 00:22:53.210 --> 00:22:56.440 encounter, church. This isn't, oh, I was filled 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:59.319 with the Holy Spirit. This is an everyday filling 00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:02.579 of the Spirit that produces this kind of fruit 00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:07.680 in our lives. Now, what I want you to do is give 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:12.779 yourself a score. What areas is God calling you 00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:16.660 to focus on and change today? Because they're 00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:20.299 right there, evident, but there's good news leading 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:23.880 to our final thought. The Holy Spirit is co -creating 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:27.420 our lives. See, God, through the Holy Spirit, 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:31.660 is co -creating with you and me to become the 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:35.240 person he created us to be. Co -creating means 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:39.400 there's what? Two people involved. You and the 00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:42.880 Holy Spirit. God wants to speak to us because 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:46.700 he has a plan for our lives every single day. 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:49.359 A plan to bring God's kingdom here to earth, 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:52.470 Galatians 5. Those who belong to Christ Jesus 00:23:52.470 --> 00:23:54.690 have nailed the passions and desires of their 00:23:54.690 --> 00:23:57.430 sinful nature to his cross and crucified them 00:23:57.430 --> 00:24:00.390 there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let 00:24:00.390 --> 00:24:03.170 us follow the Spirit's leading in every part 00:24:03.170 --> 00:24:05.250 of our lives. Not the parts that we want him 00:24:05.250 --> 00:24:10.109 to live in. Every part of our lives. Let us not 00:24:10.109 --> 00:24:12.309 become conceited or provoke one another to be 00:24:12.309 --> 00:24:17.279 jealous of one another. See, every day. Every 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:20.380 morning before our feet hit the floor, I believe 00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:24.500 we need to pray, Holy Spirit, come upon me. Just 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:27.119 go ahead and give them that day right now. Because 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:32.720 if you don't, emails, text messages, work, school, 00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:35.380 it's all going to bombard you. But if you pause 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:37.160 before your feet hit the floor and say, come 00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:41.240 Holy Spirit. then we're handing that day over 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:44.900 to him in that simple way. Then we have to be 00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:48.420 attentive to his answer, to his response that 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:50.900 comes in a number of ways. See, quite often, 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:53.700 God does not speak to us through an audible voice. 00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:59.920 We're not going to hear this, Sam, Sam, please 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:03.170 turn right and go change a tire. Like, you're 00:25:03.170 --> 00:25:05.809 not going to hear that. An audible voice of God. 00:25:05.890 --> 00:25:09.049 You can hear it, but it's very rare. God typically 00:25:09.049 --> 00:25:11.430 comes to us in practical ways. There's a great 00:25:11.430 --> 00:25:14.630 story about this. There was a terrible storm 00:25:14.630 --> 00:25:16.650 that came into a town, and local officials sent 00:25:16.650 --> 00:25:19.569 out an emergency warning that the riverbanks 00:25:19.569 --> 00:25:21.609 were going to overflow and flood the nearby homes. 00:25:21.950 --> 00:25:24.450 They ordered everyone in the town, evacuate immediately. 00:25:25.269 --> 00:25:29.359 But a very religious... Holy man heard the warning 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:31.880 and decided to stay, saying to himself, I'm going 00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:36.059 to trust that God will save me from the danger. 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:39.519 He will give me a divine miracle. The neighbors 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:42.160 came by his house and said to the man, we're 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:44.480 leaving. Jump in the car. We have room for you. 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:47.220 Please come with us. But the man declined. I 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:49.539 have faith that God will save me. As the man 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:52.059 stood on the porch watching the water rise up 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:55.279 the steps. A man in a canoe paddled by and called 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:57.640 to him, hurry and come into my canoe. I have 00:25:57.640 --> 00:26:00.559 room for you. The water is rising quickly. But 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:04.319 again, the man said, no thanks. God will save 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:07.440 me. The floodwaters rose higher, pouring water 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:10.240 into his living room. And the man had to retreat 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:12.819 to the second floor when a police motorboat came 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:15.640 by to rescue him. We're here to save you. Get 00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:17.799 in the boat. But the man refused, waving them 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:20.619 off, saying, use your time to save someone else. 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:24.859 I have faith that God. Will save me. The floodwaters 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:26.920 rose higher and higher. And the man climbed to 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:29.579 the top of his rooftop. Where a helicopter flew 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:32.240 over. Spotted the man. Dropped the ladder. Said 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:35.339 climb up. We will save you. Quickly. This is 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:38.619 your last chance. I will grab your hand and pull 00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:41.880 you to safety. No thank you. God will save me. 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:45.680 Shortly after the house broke up. The floodwaters 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:48.619 swept the man away. And he drowned. While he 00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:50.799 was in heaven, the man stood before God and asked, 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:53.619 I put all my faith in you. Why didn't you come 00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:57.079 and save me? God said, son, I sent you a warning. 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:59.259 I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:02.220 you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. What 00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:10.759 more were you looking for? You know, so often 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:14.539 I hear talk about. You know, people praying to 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:17.619 God and asking God to help them, to change them. 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:20.420 And they're wanting this miraculous sign, this 00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:23.579 writing on the wall, this divine voice. When 00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:27.059 in reality, God speaks to us in natural ways. 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:32.240 I mean, God even uses our wives. But we don't 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:38.000 like to pay attention to them. I mean, this simple 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:41.400 story. That's right. High five, wives. I believe 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:46.950 in you. But I'm guilty is all. What does this 00:27:46.950 --> 00:27:49.150 story speak to? It speaks to our own stubbornness 00:27:49.150 --> 00:27:51.829 and willingness at times to, well, no, I want 00:27:51.829 --> 00:27:55.789 this answer to the prayer that I prayed. And 00:27:55.789 --> 00:27:58.549 we ignore what God is telling us, Romans chapter 00:27:58.549 --> 00:28:01.430 8. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you 00:28:01.430 --> 00:28:03.430 have no obligation to do what your sinful nature 00:28:03.430 --> 00:28:06.730 urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, 00:28:06.730 --> 00:28:09.559 you will die. But if through the power of the 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:11.319 Spirit you will put to death the deeds of your 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:13.460 sinful nature, you will live for all who are 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:16.420 led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:22.779 See, Jesus died for us. And when we choose to 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:25.980 follow him, friends, we're called to die. We're 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:27.880 called to lay our life down, but we also must 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:31.220 remember that Jesus rose from the dead. As do 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:34.329 we. Jesus promises that through the Holy Spirit 00:28:34.329 --> 00:28:36.549 we will rise to new life. That we will experience 00:28:36.549 --> 00:28:40.769 abundance. As we are dearly led by the Spirit. 00:28:41.890 --> 00:28:44.549 As we allow Him to guide and direct our lives. 00:28:44.630 --> 00:28:46.089 Not just the parts we want Him to. Well, you 00:28:46.089 --> 00:28:49.529 can have this part. It's Sunday. No, Jesus died 00:28:49.529 --> 00:28:52.450 and rose so that He could send the Holy Spirit 00:28:52.450 --> 00:28:55.869 to fill us with the very power of God. I mean, 00:28:55.890 --> 00:28:58.230 think about it. It's kind of amazing. So many 00:28:58.230 --> 00:29:00.029 of you feel like, well, I'm not unique. I'm not 00:29:00.029 --> 00:29:02.049 different. I'm not set apart. Dude, if you're 00:29:02.049 --> 00:29:03.529 in a relationship with Jesus, you have two dads. 00:29:05.210 --> 00:29:07.670 Think about that. You're pretty unique. You've 00:29:07.670 --> 00:29:11.809 got two fathers. You are set apart. You are radically 00:29:11.809 --> 00:29:14.450 different. I mean, think about this. We're built 00:29:14.450 --> 00:29:17.190 for a different home. Yes, we live here in the 00:29:17.190 --> 00:29:20.670 tri -state area, but this isn't our home. I mean, 00:29:20.690 --> 00:29:22.329 Peter says it this way. Listen to this. It's 00:29:22.329 --> 00:29:24.829 amazing. Friends, this world is not your home, 00:29:24.910 --> 00:29:28.380 so don't make yourself cozy in it. Don't indulge 00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:31.059 your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:33.240 exemplary life in your neighborhood so that your 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:36.359 actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll 00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:39.019 be won over to God's side and be there to join 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:43.440 in the celebration when he arrives. God is co 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:47.440 -creating our lives with us. He's allowing us 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:52.720 to walk and live in abundance. Church, the Holy 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:56.769 Spirit is on your side. He's on our side. He 00:29:56.769 --> 00:29:59.049 wants to give us the desires of our heart. He 00:29:59.049 --> 00:30:02.329 loves us more than we love ourselves. He desires 00:30:02.329 --> 00:30:05.970 that we prosper. How do I know that? Simple question. 00:30:06.089 --> 00:30:08.609 If you're a parent here this morning, if you're 00:30:08.609 --> 00:30:13.109 a parent, do you want your kids to prosper? Yes 00:30:13.109 --> 00:30:16.329 or no? You're not right. I want my kids to prosper. 00:30:16.369 --> 00:30:19.690 I want them to buy me dinner. Right? Shoot, I 00:30:19.690 --> 00:30:21.650 want to live with one of them in 20 years so 00:30:21.650 --> 00:30:26.269 I don't have to pay a mortgage. Of course I want 00:30:26.269 --> 00:30:29.849 my kids to prosper. I desire my children to be 00:30:29.849 --> 00:30:35.009 much better than me. And if we desire that for 00:30:35.009 --> 00:30:38.230 our kids, think about how much God desires that 00:30:38.230 --> 00:30:43.650 for us. God desires that his children experience 00:30:43.650 --> 00:30:47.190 shalom. Now we hear that word shalom, we think, 00:30:47.230 --> 00:30:48.930 all right, Chris, I have no idea what that means. 00:30:49.250 --> 00:30:54.660 This is all shalom means. It means. You are good 00:30:54.660 --> 00:30:57.200 in every area of your life. It's all Shalom means. 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:59.660 Physically, mentally, socially, relationally, 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:01.799 financially, spiritually, that you're living 00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:03.819 the abundant life that Jesus promised. And God 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:07.519 wants us to live in Shalom throughout our life. 00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:10.960 And we do that by partnering with the Spirit. 00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:14.799 He's living inside of us. So that the world sees 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:17.539 what? This fruit flowing out of us and desires 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:20.480 to be in this relationship with God because of 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:22.700 how they see us living our lives, which leads 00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:24.880 us to our action steps. Three simple steps of 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:27.200 partnering with the Spirit. Okay, and the first 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:29.539 one is very important. The first one is very 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:33.859 simple. Remember who you are. Remember who you 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:36.720 are. And who are you? You have not received a 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:38.380 spirit that makes you fearful slaves. You're 00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:41.730 not a slave. No, you've received God's spirit 00:31:41.730 --> 00:31:45.089 when he adopted you as his own children. Now 00:31:45.089 --> 00:31:47.309 we call him Abba, Father, for his spirit joins 00:31:47.309 --> 00:31:50.029 with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. 00:31:50.210 --> 00:31:52.670 And since we are his children, we are his heirs, 00:31:52.750 --> 00:31:55.309 heirs to the kingdom. In fact, together with 00:31:55.309 --> 00:31:58.769 Christ, we are heirs to God's glory. But if we 00:31:58.769 --> 00:32:02.930 are to share his glory, we will also share his 00:32:02.930 --> 00:32:05.609 suffering. Think about that. We're children of 00:32:05.609 --> 00:32:08.670 the king. God loved us so much that he sent Jesus 00:32:08.670 --> 00:32:10.609 to die for us so that we can live in abundance. 00:32:11.289 --> 00:32:13.589 And now we are filled with the Spirit. And it's 00:32:13.589 --> 00:32:17.210 not something weird, right? It's not this force 00:32:17.210 --> 00:32:19.289 of this. It's a person. We're filled with the 00:32:19.289 --> 00:32:22.250 Spirit, and we are now righteous and holy, connecting 00:32:22.250 --> 00:32:25.369 with the living God every single day. God is 00:32:25.369 --> 00:32:27.950 now our Father, and we are his children. What 00:32:27.950 --> 00:32:31.650 a perfect example for us to walk in here on Father's 00:32:31.650 --> 00:32:34.710 Day. Remember who you are, church. You are a 00:32:34.710 --> 00:32:37.690 son. You are a daughter of God. Which leads us 00:32:37.690 --> 00:32:39.589 to our next step. Partner with the Spirit. Now 00:32:39.589 --> 00:32:42.450 that you know that, have confidence in partnering 00:32:42.450 --> 00:32:45.869 with the Spirit. He is the Holy Spirit. He leads 00:32:45.869 --> 00:32:49.150 you into truth. Listen to Him. It's a bad choice. 00:32:50.009 --> 00:32:53.470 Don't eat it. Don't smoke it. The world cannot 00:32:53.470 --> 00:32:55.589 receive Him because it isn't looking for Him 00:32:55.589 --> 00:32:57.490 and doesn't recognize Him. But you know Him, 00:32:57.549 --> 00:33:01.069 church, because He lives with you now and later 00:33:01.069 --> 00:33:05.869 will be in you. The Holy Spirit is God who lives 00:33:05.869 --> 00:33:08.650 inside of us, empowers us to live fruitful lives. 00:33:09.089 --> 00:33:11.490 When the Spirit is the source of our life, he 00:33:11.490 --> 00:33:15.309 guides us, he directs us in all aspects. Galatians 00:33:15.309 --> 00:33:20.569 5, what is the fruit? Love, joy, peace, patience, 00:33:20.829 --> 00:33:23.529 kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, 00:33:23.630 --> 00:33:28.890 self -control. See, I daily have to remind myself, 00:33:29.190 --> 00:33:32.089 wait a minute. The Holy Spirit lives in me. Why 00:33:32.089 --> 00:33:35.269 am I depressed? Why am I negative? Why am I angry? 00:33:35.390 --> 00:33:37.789 The Holy Spirit lives in me. But we are selfish, 00:33:37.890 --> 00:33:40.349 arrogant people that like to live life on our 00:33:40.349 --> 00:33:44.009 own terms. How do I know that? Because I've risen 00:33:44.009 --> 00:33:45.950 a lot. I've raised a lot of children. And I'm 00:33:45.950 --> 00:33:49.049 raising one right now named Phoenix. And let 00:33:49.049 --> 00:33:51.329 me tell you something. He wants to do things 00:33:51.329 --> 00:33:56.890 the way he wants to do them. He doesn't want 00:33:56.890 --> 00:33:59.299 any help. He doesn't want to be told what to 00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:02.579 do. Even though I can help him, we can be successful 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:06.480 in a few minutes. No, he'll take hours doing 00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:12.179 what he wants, however he wants it. And Jesus 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:15.659 says, no, you're children. You're just like that. 00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:18.920 And the best way to learn to follow the Holy 00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:20.840 Spirit is to read the Bible. So many of you, 00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:23.400 you're not reading the Bible. You're not listening 00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:25.599 to the Bible. You're not applying God's directions 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:28.179 to your life. I'm telling you, it transformed 00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:32.039 my life these last five years of daily reading 00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:34.199 through the Bible, having a plan where I'm reading 00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:36.440 the Old Testament, the Psalms, the Proverbs, 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:38.880 the New Testament. I'm listening. I'm applying 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:41.139 it to my life every single day. It's the first 00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:45.250 thing I do. I don't do anything else. I drink 00:34:45.250 --> 00:34:47.909 30 ounces of water and I listen to the Bible. 00:34:47.989 --> 00:34:50.289 I read the Bible and I apply it to my life. That's 00:34:50.289 --> 00:34:51.989 the very first thing I do. And some of you say, 00:34:52.050 --> 00:34:53.530 why are you drinking 30 ounces of water? Try 00:34:53.530 --> 00:34:55.710 it. It will change your life. You want to get 00:34:55.710 --> 00:34:57.809 healthy? Drink 30 ounces of water before you 00:34:57.809 --> 00:35:00.510 have that cup of coffee. It will change your 00:35:00.510 --> 00:35:04.929 life. But the point is, so many people in the 00:35:04.929 --> 00:35:07.289 church aren't doing that. They're not desiring 00:35:07.289 --> 00:35:10.090 to get closer to God. But we have to because 00:35:10.090 --> 00:35:12.530 that's how we learn to partner with the Spirit. 00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:15.219 Remember who you are. Partner with the Spirit. 00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:19.519 Our final step, embrace change. Let's all say 00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:22.980 those two words together. You ready? Embrace 00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:26.480 change. Change is good, church. It's good to 00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:29.900 change. You should be changing every single day, 00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:32.619 1 % every day. Romans 8, therefore, dear brothers 00:35:32.619 --> 00:35:36.019 and sisters, you have no obligation to do what 00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:39.059 your sinful nature urges you to do. So don't 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:42.809 say, well, the devil made me do it. For if you 00:35:42.809 --> 00:35:44.829 live by its dictates, you will die. But if through 00:35:44.829 --> 00:35:46.289 the power of the Spirit you put to death the 00:35:46.289 --> 00:35:48.449 deeds of your sins in nature, you will live for 00:35:48.449 --> 00:35:50.769 all who are led by the Spirit of God are children 00:35:50.769 --> 00:35:52.789 of God. And what I want you to do this morning, 00:35:52.869 --> 00:35:55.130 how we're going to close, we're going to close 00:35:55.130 --> 00:35:59.289 in two ways. I want you to reflect on your life 00:35:59.289 --> 00:36:03.610 right now. I want you to reflect on it. I want 00:36:03.610 --> 00:36:06.090 you to give yourself a score. We read through 00:36:06.090 --> 00:36:09.489 Galatians, we saw the fruit of the Spirit, and 00:36:09.489 --> 00:36:12.840 we saw the fruit of the flesh. You know, what 00:36:12.840 --> 00:36:16.199 area of your life is God highlighting when I 00:36:16.199 --> 00:36:17.960 was reading the fruits of the flesh? And he's 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:20.139 saying, hey, you need to work on that. You need 00:36:20.139 --> 00:36:22.360 to change that. You need to change that attitude. 00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:24.199 You need to change that negativity. You need 00:36:24.199 --> 00:36:26.559 to change that judgment. You need to get rid 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:28.559 of that anger. You need to get rid of that habit. 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:32.159 It's keeping you away from God's Holy Spirit. 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:35.980 See, that's what this is all about. We can be 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:39.179 holy when the Holy Spirit empowers us and fills 00:36:39.179 --> 00:36:41.420 us to be holy, but we've got to be willing to 00:36:41.420 --> 00:36:43.800 change when he says, no, this isn't working, 00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:50.409 change. So will you stand with me? So throughout 00:36:50.409 --> 00:36:53.710 this series, we've been obedient to following 00:36:53.710 --> 00:36:56.510 Jesus' command to the disciples. Let's see if 00:36:56.510 --> 00:36:58.829 you remember from week one, the first gathering 00:36:58.829 --> 00:37:00.849 did not remember. They failed miserably, which 00:37:00.849 --> 00:37:03.730 means I failed miserably. What did Jesus tell 00:37:03.730 --> 00:37:06.190 the disciples to do in the upper room? They had 00:37:06.190 --> 00:37:12.130 to... That's really bad. Well, yeah, like two 00:37:12.130 --> 00:37:14.710 people said it. That's my point. You want to 00:37:14.710 --> 00:37:17.030 try it again? All right. All right. Round two. 00:37:19.339 --> 00:37:22.900 Jesus told his disciples to go to the upper room 00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:25.539 and wait. Okay, that's better. Thank you. All 00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:26.900 right. Now it makes me feel better like you're 00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:29.840 learning something. Thank you. So we're going 00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:35.699 to wait. We're going to wait. So if you're in 00:37:35.699 --> 00:37:37.320 your seats, I want to invite you to put your 00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:40.579 hand like this. Thank you. You don't have to, 00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:42.280 but it's just a simple sign of saying, God, I 00:37:42.280 --> 00:37:45.800 want to receive. I'm going to pray, come Holy 00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:48.159 Spirit, and I want you to say, God, what area 00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:56.320 of my life do you want to work on? And I want 00:37:56.320 --> 00:38:00.199 you to listen. I want you to open your mind, 00:38:00.340 --> 00:38:04.519 because I believe he wants to speak to you. I 00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:06.820 believe he wants to highlight an area of your 00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:08.719 life that he wants you to focus on. One area, 00:38:08.780 --> 00:38:13.519 not 14. One. He might show you 14, but one at 00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:19.860 a time. One at a time. Come, Holy Spirit. Speak 00:38:19.860 --> 00:38:24.300 to us, God. Reveal to us the area of my life, 00:38:24.300 --> 00:38:27.840 of our lives, that is not lining up with your 00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:34.400 spirit so that we can be more holy, so that we 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:41.260 can become holy. Speak to us, God. Now, God did 00:38:41.260 --> 00:38:43.000 highlight one other group of people I want to 00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:46.489 pray for. Okay, and this group of people, I'm 00:38:46.489 --> 00:38:48.789 going to invite you to come forward because I 00:38:48.789 --> 00:38:53.670 believe it's a step of faith that you need. If 00:38:53.670 --> 00:38:58.269 you have a question in your life that you need 00:38:58.269 --> 00:39:02.690 answered and can be anything, I want you to come 00:39:02.690 --> 00:39:05.869 up here. A question, something you're supposed 00:39:05.869 --> 00:39:08.030 to do, something you're supposed to change. If 00:39:08.030 --> 00:39:11.309 you have a question about something in your life. 00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:14.619 I believe that God wants to speak to you, but 00:39:14.619 --> 00:39:16.360 it takes a step of faith to come forward and 00:39:16.360 --> 00:39:19.480 receive that. Come Holy Spirit. Anybody with 00:39:19.480 --> 00:39:37.639 questions, direction, guidance? Okay. Keep coming. 00:39:42.730 --> 00:39:48.130 Okay, now, for the people up here, if you feel 00:39:48.130 --> 00:39:50.309 led to come and pray for one of these people, 00:39:50.389 --> 00:39:53.369 we believe that you are the church, that you 00:39:53.369 --> 00:39:55.809 can pray for people. Men with men, women with 00:39:55.809 --> 00:39:59.550 women. Remember, we don't cross genders. We pray 00:39:59.550 --> 00:40:03.829 for same sex. So if you feel led to come and 00:40:03.829 --> 00:40:06.050 pray for someone up here, please do, prayer team 00:40:06.050 --> 00:40:09.110 or not. You may see someone up here that said, 00:40:09.190 --> 00:40:11.800 I mean, I need to pray for them. Just come. Be 00:40:11.800 --> 00:40:17.219 obedient. And for those of you that remain in 00:40:17.219 --> 00:40:20.980 your seats, just receive. Holy Spirit, come. 00:40:23.420 --> 00:40:25.960 God, we are thankful for what you're doing in 00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:29.780 our midst, in our community of faith. Oh, we 00:40:29.780 --> 00:40:35.239 thank you for your abundance. God, we just thank 00:40:35.239 --> 00:40:38.360 you for answered prayers. We just thank you for 00:40:38.360 --> 00:40:42.650 questions. That people are asking, and we ask 00:40:42.650 --> 00:40:46.090 that you would speak now in Jesus' name. That 00:40:46.090 --> 00:40:50.070 you would release pictures, words of knowledge. 00:40:52.070 --> 00:40:55.469 God, that they would hear a still, small voice. 00:40:56.230 --> 00:40:58.349 So for those of you up front here, lay your question 00:40:58.349 --> 00:41:00.949 before God. Speak it out. Lay it down before 00:41:00.949 --> 00:41:03.849 God. This is my question, God. What do I do? 00:41:04.090 --> 00:41:17.510 And then just say, speak. Holy Spirit. Just release 00:41:17.510 --> 00:41:20.889 wisdom and knowledge and guidance, the wisdom 00:41:20.889 --> 00:41:25.949 that only comes from you. Supernatural wisdom. 00:41:32.269 --> 00:41:35.110 God, for any areas of our lives that were highlighted 00:41:35.110 --> 00:41:38.230 that you need to change, God, this is all you 00:41:38.230 --> 00:41:41.480 do. You lay them at the feet. I choose as an 00:41:41.480 --> 00:41:44.179 act of my will to lay down anger. I choose as 00:41:44.179 --> 00:41:46.940 an act of my will to lay down pornography. I 00:41:46.940 --> 00:41:50.960 choose as an act of my will to lay down an addiction. 00:41:54.440 --> 00:41:59.159 Just lay it down. Forgive me, God. Change me, 00:41:59.179 --> 00:42:02.619 set me free so that I can walk in your abundance. 00:42:04.519 --> 00:42:10.699 Yes, God. We wait on you, Holy Spirit. Have your 00:42:10.699 --> 00:42:22.619 way. Have your way, God. In Jesus' name. In Jesus' 00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:27.599 name. Yes, God. In Jesus' name. If someone over 00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:30.380 here on this side, it's okay to cry. It's okay 00:42:30.380 --> 00:42:34.059 to weep. Someone on this side over here, it's 00:42:34.059 --> 00:42:36.800 okay to laugh and to celebrate what God is doing. 00:42:40.590 --> 00:42:44.710 Someone in the middle here, be thankful for the 00:42:44.710 --> 00:42:53.030 many blessings in your life. Yes, God. Jesus. 00:42:54.010 --> 00:42:56.010 There were several words of knowledge that I 00:42:56.010 --> 00:42:59.730 want to share now before we go. You have ankle 00:42:59.730 --> 00:43:03.489 pain in both ankles. We want to pray for you. 00:43:03.510 --> 00:43:06.130 The left side of your abdomen is causing stomach 00:43:06.130 --> 00:43:09.960 pain. You have numbness in your left leg. You 00:43:09.960 --> 00:43:13.579 have left hip issues just below the hip joint. 00:43:14.260 --> 00:43:17.420 You have left knee pain or you have a burning 00:43:17.420 --> 00:43:19.960 sensation or pain in the middle to your lower 00:43:19.960 --> 00:43:22.280 back. If any of those are you, our prayer team 00:43:22.280 --> 00:43:25.440 will be here to meet those requests. We believe 00:43:25.440 --> 00:43:28.900 that God wants to heal you if that is you. And 00:43:28.900 --> 00:43:31.039 before we go, we're going to pray a simple prayer 00:43:31.039 --> 00:43:33.159 because I believe that God brings people into 00:43:33.159 --> 00:43:35.840 this community of faith every single Sunday that 00:43:35.840 --> 00:43:39.019 are distant or far from God. Amen. And we pray 00:43:39.019 --> 00:43:40.840 this simple prayer together because we don't 00:43:40.840 --> 00:43:43.780 single people out and we believe God is welcoming 00:43:43.780 --> 00:43:49.440 people home. Let's pray. Jesus, I'm broken. I'm 00:43:49.440 --> 00:43:55.019 full of doubt, shame, regret, sin. Change me. 00:43:55.280 --> 00:44:00.480 I believe you're God's son. I believe you died 00:44:00.480 --> 00:44:06.079 for me. Make me new. Set me free. Fill me with 00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:11.530 your spirit. Help me, God, to serve others in 00:44:11.530 --> 00:44:15.610 Jesus' name. Amen. Now listen, if you prayed 00:44:15.610 --> 00:44:18.289 that prayer, see me afterwards so I can give 00:44:18.289 --> 00:44:20.030 you some next steps. Don't leave yet. We're not 00:44:20.030 --> 00:44:25.889 done. Come on. Chill. See me next week. We continue 00:44:25.889 --> 00:44:30.099 our series with Holy Spirit, the teacher. Okay, 00:44:30.179 --> 00:44:32.539 and I'm looking forward to learning more that 00:44:32.539 --> 00:44:34.219 God has for us through the power of the Holy 00:44:34.219 --> 00:44:36.139 Spirit. Thank you for joining us online. God 00:44:36.139 --> 00:44:38.300 bless you guys. Brian, shut those doors. I'm 00:44:38.300 --> 00:44:42.079 going there. If you need to leave, go to that 00:44:42.079 --> 00:44:44.739 door. God bless you guys. Love you.