WEBVTT 00:00:13.070 --> 00:00:15.949 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. To get connected 00:00:15.949 --> 00:00:19.550 or to give online, please go to hcv .church slash 00:00:19.550 --> 00:00:23.730 connect or hcv .church slash give. If at any 00:00:23.730 --> 00:00:25.969 point during this message you feel called to 00:00:25.969 --> 00:00:28.829 make a change in your life, text change me to 00:00:28.829 --> 00:00:34.030 97000. Now enjoy the message. So good to see 00:00:34.030 --> 00:00:36.130 you gathered here. If you join us from home. 00:00:37.059 --> 00:00:39.899 Welcome. Thank you for welcoming us into your 00:00:39.899 --> 00:00:43.200 space. Jersey Sunday, one of my favorite Sundays 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:46.039 of the entire year, because I believe it's a 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:48.079 beautiful picture of the church coming together 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:50.640 to worship, even though we have some differences, 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:53.539 right? Different colors, different sports, different 00:00:53.539 --> 00:00:58.060 teams gathering to celebrate the one who was 00:00:58.060 --> 00:01:02.140 victorious. And listen, that's an important statement 00:01:02.140 --> 00:01:05.560 that I want to highlight. Because I'm going to 00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:08.120 be sharing some simple practical truths this 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:09.879 morning that can radically change your life. 00:01:10.819 --> 00:01:13.500 You know, God is here. He's moving in our community 00:01:13.500 --> 00:01:16.060 of faith. But quite often we go through the motions 00:01:16.060 --> 00:01:20.079 of church. I just want to challenge you. Be different 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:23.840 today. Engage. Invite the Holy Spirit to come. 00:01:24.780 --> 00:01:27.480 To overwhelm your heart, your mind, so that you 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:30.420 can think and live differently. So let's pray. 00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:33.840 God, come. Holy Spirit, come. Move in this place. 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:38.219 We give this time to you, God. Wake us up. Clear 00:01:38.219 --> 00:01:43.299 our minds. Silence distractions, God. We just 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:47.000 want you to have your way. In Jesus' name, amen. 00:01:47.859 --> 00:01:49.920 So this is the perfect Sunday to kick off our 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:53.420 new series, We Are Family. For the month of September, 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:55.859 we're going to be discussing community, what 00:01:55.859 --> 00:01:59.879 it means to be together as a family and change. 00:02:00.829 --> 00:02:04.709 See, the church is called to live together. We're 00:02:04.709 --> 00:02:06.969 called to encourage one another. We're called 00:02:06.969 --> 00:02:09.210 to pray for one another. We're called to welcome 00:02:09.210 --> 00:02:12.569 and embrace others with God's love that are in 00:02:12.569 --> 00:02:15.830 need of hope. Now, over the last two years, I've 00:02:15.830 --> 00:02:19.389 visited several new doctors and therapists trying 00:02:19.389 --> 00:02:22.189 to figure out a solution to my back problems 00:02:22.189 --> 00:02:25.330 that's causing my right foot to go slightly numb. 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:28.500 And it's interesting, when visiting a new doctor, 00:02:28.580 --> 00:02:31.960 there's at least 10 different pieces of paper 00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:36.460 that you have to fill out, read, and sign. Even 00:02:36.460 --> 00:02:39.819 though you already filled out said papers on 00:02:39.819 --> 00:02:42.340 your phone before you got to the office. But 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:45.219 you have to do it anyway. And one of those papers 00:02:45.219 --> 00:02:49.379 is your family medical history. And those questions 00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:53.960 begin with, has anyone in your family ever suffered 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:57.949 from? and there's like a hundred different things 00:02:57.949 --> 00:03:01.349 listed on this piece of paper, I get through 00:03:01.349 --> 00:03:04.430 the first five and just think, I have no clue. 00:03:04.810 --> 00:03:07.729 It just feels like you're absolutely failing 00:03:07.729 --> 00:03:11.069 a test. So I just leave them blank and move forward. 00:03:11.550 --> 00:03:14.430 But then I got to think, it's interesting that 00:03:14.430 --> 00:03:17.969 doctors, when they think about your life and 00:03:17.969 --> 00:03:20.090 how they're going to treat you, they connect 00:03:20.090 --> 00:03:23.110 our biological history to our present and future. 00:03:23.659 --> 00:03:26.840 biological health. See, doctors form a baseline 00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:29.800 by first looking at our family history, where 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:33.199 we come from. If this is the case biologically, 00:03:33.419 --> 00:03:38.259 could this be the same theologically? See, maybe 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:40.860 for you and I, the most important time in human 00:03:40.860 --> 00:03:44.919 history is not right now. It's not the time while 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:47.379 we are living. Though it feels like it, because 00:03:47.379 --> 00:03:49.840 we have this little glimpse of life and we want 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:52.580 to make the most of it. But see, as we read through 00:03:52.580 --> 00:03:56.360 the Bible, we need to step out of our time, our 00:03:56.360 --> 00:03:58.539 daily struggles, our doubts, our fears, and we 00:03:58.539 --> 00:04:01.419 need to begin to see life through a kingdom lens, 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:06.259 where God is totally in control. See, Jesus spoke 00:04:06.259 --> 00:04:09.919 these words to Simon in Matthew 16, 18. Now I 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:12.879 say to you that you are Peter, which means rock, 00:04:13.139 --> 00:04:17.139 and upon this rock I will build my church, and 00:04:17.139 --> 00:04:20.100 all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:23.720 when Jesus says, I will build my church, he literally 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:28.819 means the church is his. It's his church. The 00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:32.500 word my is a personal possessive pronoun. And 00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:36.060 this is important because in 2025, we quite often 00:04:36.060 --> 00:04:40.459 say things like my church. Well, this is my church. 00:04:40.660 --> 00:04:42.959 And if we're not careful, we can find ourselves 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:45.899 judging and ridiculing other churches because 00:04:45.899 --> 00:04:49.519 of our differences. Yet Jesus made it very clear 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:53.459 that this would not be Peter's church. It would 00:04:53.459 --> 00:04:57.259 be his church. Which means we should not argue 00:04:57.259 --> 00:05:00.040 or discuss different disagreements that cause 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:02.720 division with other churches. Because we're all 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:07.420 still a part of his church. That's why we choose 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:11.100 to use the term that church on our t -shirts. 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:13.819 Because that church just simply means, yeah, 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:16.259 it's... That church, which just means you're 00:05:16.259 --> 00:05:19.860 a little different. Now, the first church was 00:05:19.860 --> 00:05:22.980 not about preference or comfort. It was about 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:28.860 possession. Possessing Jesus' claim that the 00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:31.600 people were now his own. And not only were they 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:34.939 his own, but that the powers of hell would not 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:38.399 conquer this new gathering. So today, I want 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:41.860 to discuss, don't forget where you came from. 00:05:43.019 --> 00:05:46.980 don't forget where you came from. A statement 00:05:46.980 --> 00:05:49.160 that reminds us of the importance of knowing 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:53.300 our history. A history of people gathering as 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:56.199 the church to change the world. That even the 00:05:56.199 --> 00:05:59.939 powers of hell cannot stop. Because see, when 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:02.279 we see ourselves as a part of that history, it 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:05.319 releases a confidence within us to face whatever 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:09.660 is thrown our way today, tomorrow, and into the 00:06:09.660 --> 00:06:13.649 next generation. Listen, no politician can stop 00:06:13.649 --> 00:06:17.610 us. No government can stop us. No war can stop 00:06:17.610 --> 00:06:21.110 us. No crisis can stop us. Because Jesus said, 00:06:21.310 --> 00:06:25.430 even the powers of hell will not conquer the 00:06:25.430 --> 00:06:28.250 church. And because Jesus made that promise, 00:06:28.550 --> 00:06:31.790 we can stand on that promise and understand it 00:06:31.790 --> 00:06:35.029 as truth. Jesus then challenges his followers 00:06:35.029 --> 00:06:38.230 to go into all the world and to preach and share 00:06:38.230 --> 00:06:41.569 this good news with everyone. And we must remember 00:06:41.569 --> 00:06:45.410 that Jesus is speaking to a ragtag group of imperfect 00:06:45.410 --> 00:06:48.629 people. And listen, that's one of the reasons 00:06:48.629 --> 00:06:51.769 I love pastoring our community of faith, that 00:06:51.769 --> 00:06:53.750 Jesus is birthed here in the tri -state area. 00:06:53.930 --> 00:06:57.509 Look around for a second. We're just a ragtag 00:06:57.509 --> 00:07:01.529 group of imperfect, broken people gathering together 00:07:01.529 --> 00:07:04.670 as the church, believing he's going to use us 00:07:04.670 --> 00:07:08.870 to change the world. Thank you for being a part 00:07:08.870 --> 00:07:12.629 of our community of faith. I am humbled and honored 00:07:12.629 --> 00:07:15.589 to lead you. After Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, 00:07:15.810 --> 00:07:18.290 the recorded history of Jesus' life, ministry, 00:07:18.370 --> 00:07:21.110 and miracles, his death, burial, and resurrection, 00:07:21.529 --> 00:07:24.910 we come to the book of Acts. Or in your Bibles, 00:07:24.910 --> 00:07:29.449 it may read Acts of the Apostles. Now some theologians 00:07:29.449 --> 00:07:32.769 say the book of Acts, which is written and contained 00:07:32.769 --> 00:07:35.629 in its biblical form, is actually still being 00:07:35.629 --> 00:07:38.790 recorded today because the church that we are 00:07:38.790 --> 00:07:42.069 a part of, is still on the same mission. And 00:07:42.069 --> 00:07:45.329 it's so important that we know and embrace that 00:07:45.329 --> 00:07:48.629 we are connected with that truth. See, as we 00:07:48.629 --> 00:07:51.850 read the Bible and apply it to our lives, we 00:07:51.850 --> 00:07:56.430 learn who I am, what I'm called to do, and what 00:07:56.430 --> 00:07:59.449 I am a part of. And when we understand that we're 00:07:59.449 --> 00:08:01.910 a part of a family called by God to transform 00:08:01.910 --> 00:08:06.600 the world, it changes us. It gives us hope. It 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:09.199 gives us meaning and it gives us purpose. Which 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:13.100 leads us to discuss how we are united in community. 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:16.540 How God brings us together. Four truths that 00:08:16.540 --> 00:08:19.740 unite us to boldly move forward. And the first 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:25.199 is this. Love wins. Love wins. Acts chapter 1 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:27.860 verse 3. For the next month I'm going to be diving 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:30.079 into the book of Acts. And we're going to read 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:32.220 about this first church, this early church. And 00:08:32.220 --> 00:08:35.580 apply it and bring it to 2025 and make it a reality. 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:39.500 Verse 3. During the 40 days after he suffered 00:08:39.500 --> 00:08:42.519 and died, he appeared to the apostles from time 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:46.440 to time. And he proved to them in many ways that 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:49.019 he was actually alive. And he talked to them 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:52.679 about the kingdom of God. Now notice, Jesus proved 00:08:52.679 --> 00:08:56.759 to his followers that love wins and death is 00:08:56.759 --> 00:09:01.000 defeated. It's the uncommon proof that death 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:05.039 doesn't win. Right? Jesus shows up. He's already 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:09.179 been brutally murdered, buried in a tomb. And 00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:12.759 now he proves to them in many ways that he had 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.360 risen from the dead, that he was alive. I mean, 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:17.299 the scars in his hands and his feet where he 00:09:17.299 --> 00:09:20.059 hung on a cross. Jesus actually walked seven 00:09:20.059 --> 00:09:22.919 miles with two guys that didn't even recognize 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:26.120 him. He began to teach them about Old Testament 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:28.639 prophecies being fulfilled in his death, burial, 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:30.940 and resurrection. Then their eyes were opened 00:09:30.940 --> 00:09:33.960 and they recognized, oh, it's Jesus. The resurrected 00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:37.360 Jesus walked through walls and even had Thomas 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:41.159 touch the hole in his side where the spear punctured 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:46.600 his skin. Why is all this important? Why would 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:49.580 you tell me that, Chris? Because during Jesus' 00:09:49.799 --> 00:09:52.759 time and the preceding times before Jesus, the 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:55.840 people believed and worshipped many gods. They 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:58.379 had gods of fertility. They had gods of sun, 00:09:58.539 --> 00:10:02.220 gods of rain, god of the harvest. They had gods 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:04.379 of water that would protect them while they were 00:10:04.379 --> 00:10:07.059 on their ships. And all these different gods 00:10:07.059 --> 00:10:10.299 that would protect and serve the desires or needs 00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:14.879 that they had as people. Then God shows up in 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:18.059 human flesh in the person of Jesus and conquered 00:10:18.059 --> 00:10:21.879 the one thing no other God could. See, Jesus 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:24.259 conquering death and declaring that love wins 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:27.759 is the only time in human history this has ever 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:30.340 happened. Now, some of you Bible scholars are 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:31.559 sitting there thinking, wait a minute, Chris, 00:10:31.659 --> 00:10:35.480 what about Lazarus? Lazarus was dead and was 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:37.940 raised back to life by the power of Jesus. That 00:10:37.940 --> 00:10:41.460 is very true. Then he died, right? He was not 00:10:41.460 --> 00:10:45.840 forever alive. Jesus is the only one that never 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:49.220 died. He lived the perfect life. He died the 00:10:49.220 --> 00:10:51.940 death that all of us deserve because of our brokenness 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:55.740 and pain. He's resurrected to new life. And then 00:10:55.740 --> 00:11:00.029 he ascends into heaven. as his followers stand 00:11:00.029 --> 00:11:03.610 in amazement staring at the sky. I mean, they're 00:11:03.610 --> 00:11:05.789 literally staring at the sky, not believing what 00:11:05.789 --> 00:11:09.710 they had seen. An angel had to shock them back 00:11:09.710 --> 00:11:12.850 into reality so that they would return to the 00:11:12.850 --> 00:11:15.529 mission that Jesus had already given them. In 00:11:15.529 --> 00:11:20.470 other words, love wins. Convincing proof that 00:11:20.470 --> 00:11:23.350 God is in control and is concerned about every 00:11:23.350 --> 00:11:27.429 area of our lives. So much so that the good news 00:11:27.429 --> 00:11:30.649 declares that we will spend eternity with Jesus, 00:11:30.789 --> 00:11:35.090 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Verse 51. But let me 00:11:35.090 --> 00:11:38.509 reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not 00:11:38.509 --> 00:11:42.970 all die, but we will all be transformed. Then, 00:11:42.970 --> 00:11:44.929 when our dying bodies have been transformed into 00:11:44.929 --> 00:11:46.750 bodies that will never die, this scripture will 00:11:46.750 --> 00:11:49.629 be fulfilled. Death is swallowed up in victory. 00:11:49.830 --> 00:11:51.809 O death, where is your victory? O death, where 00:11:51.809 --> 00:11:56.029 is your sting? But thank God. He gives us victory 00:11:56.029 --> 00:11:59.149 over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:11:59.669 --> 00:12:03.429 See, this life that we're living right now is 00:12:03.429 --> 00:12:06.090 not all that there is. You know, this 50, 60, 00:12:06.289 --> 00:12:09.570 70, 80, for some of you maybe 90 years that we're 00:12:09.570 --> 00:12:12.509 alive here, it's not all that there is. Because 00:12:12.509 --> 00:12:16.090 the Bible tells us eternity has been placed in 00:12:16.090 --> 00:12:19.090 every human heart. Not just ours, every human 00:12:19.090 --> 00:12:21.850 heart. And when we put our faith in Jesus, that 00:12:21.850 --> 00:12:24.610 truth is activated. Through the power of the 00:12:24.610 --> 00:12:28.049 Holy Spirit. By Jesus declaring that love wins 00:12:28.049 --> 00:12:31.110 and death is defeated, it means that we can trust 00:12:31.110 --> 00:12:35.389 God in every area of our life. Maybe you're being 00:12:35.389 --> 00:12:39.009 tempted this week. Trust God. He will lead you 00:12:39.009 --> 00:12:41.629 away from it. Maybe you're sick and struggling 00:12:41.629 --> 00:12:44.850 physically. Trust him. Believe in your healing. 00:12:45.129 --> 00:12:47.950 Maybe you're in pain or you're doubting. Trust 00:12:47.950 --> 00:12:52.029 God. He will walk you through it. The point... 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:57.740 Because Jesus defeated death, we have the ability 00:12:57.740 --> 00:13:01.299 to stand on the truth that he overcomes all. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:03.980 Which leads us to our next truth, number two, 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:08.480 we're united in Holy Spirit power. Holy Spirit 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:12.460 power. Three words that can cause a lot of confusion 00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:15.580 and concern for people because of either their 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:19.059 church background or experiences. Now, in the 00:13:19.059 --> 00:13:22.509 Bible, The Holy Spirit is referred to as the 00:13:22.509 --> 00:13:26.789 comforter, the helper, a revealer. Jesus actually 00:13:26.789 --> 00:13:30.769 promised us a gift in the Holy Spirit. But it's 00:13:30.769 --> 00:13:33.629 important to recognize the Holy Spirit is not 00:13:33.629 --> 00:13:37.289 weird. Okay? And what do I mean by that? What 00:13:37.289 --> 00:13:39.149 are you trying to say, Chris? Well, listen. Let 00:13:39.149 --> 00:13:41.629 me get it real practical for you. Being a vegan 00:13:41.629 --> 00:13:45.490 is not weird. But I've met some people who practice 00:13:45.490 --> 00:13:48.529 veganism, and just being honest, they're a little 00:13:48.529 --> 00:13:54.950 weird. True or false? CrossFit is not weird. 00:13:55.850 --> 00:13:59.269 But I've met some people who CrossFit, mainly 00:13:59.269 --> 00:14:02.889 myself, and they're a little weird. Because I 00:14:02.889 --> 00:14:05.169 do things to my body that I probably shouldn't 00:14:05.169 --> 00:14:08.230 be doing at 52, but I do it anyway. Because in 00:14:08.230 --> 00:14:13.809 my mind I say, I'm going to win. All so that 00:14:13.809 --> 00:14:16.970 I can be healthy. So I'm simply trying to say. 00:14:17.569 --> 00:14:20.309 Please leave any bad experiences from church 00:14:20.309 --> 00:14:23.649 or misunderstandings in the past and embrace 00:14:23.649 --> 00:14:26.990 what the Bible says to us today about the Holy 00:14:26.990 --> 00:14:29.970 Spirit. Acts chapter 1 verses 4 through 5. Once, 00:14:29.970 --> 00:14:32.649 when he was eating with them, he commanded them, 00:14:32.730 --> 00:14:34.750 do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends 00:14:34.750 --> 00:14:37.049 you the gift he promised. There it is, the gift. 00:14:37.389 --> 00:14:40.529 As I told you before, John baptized with water, 00:14:40.610 --> 00:14:43.789 but in just a few days you will be baptized with 00:14:43.789 --> 00:14:46.470 the Holy Spirit. Now for some of us gathered 00:14:46.470 --> 00:14:48.450 here today, you've been in a relationship with 00:14:48.450 --> 00:14:51.190 Jesus for some time now. And you don't even know 00:14:51.190 --> 00:14:54.190 that you have a gift inside of you that's alive 00:14:54.190 --> 00:14:56.769 and active. And I want to encourage you, the 00:14:56.769 --> 00:15:00.169 Holy Spirit is not for some mature follower of 00:15:00.169 --> 00:15:02.950 Jesus, the one with an advanced degree in Bible 00:15:02.950 --> 00:15:06.970 study. The ability to live a life in pursuit 00:15:06.970 --> 00:15:08.909 of Jesus is through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:15:09.070 --> 00:15:10.750 If we try it in our own strength, we're going 00:15:10.750 --> 00:15:15.259 to fail. Simply put, the Holy Spirit, gives us 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:19.100 the boldness, the joy, and the peace to navigate 00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:23.100 all of life. So continuing on a little bit further, 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:27.700 Acts 1, 8, but you will receive power. Now everyone 00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:34.100 say, I've got the power. I've got the power. 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:39.720 Words that have been going through my head all 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:41.759 morning long because isn't there a song that 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:54.330 says those words? It's Jersey Sunday. Let's have 00:15:54.330 --> 00:16:00.990 a little fun. Thank you John. If you're in a 00:16:00.990 --> 00:16:04.730 relationship with Jesus, you've got the power. 00:16:05.330 --> 00:16:09.870 But what do you have the power to do? The Bible 00:16:09.870 --> 00:16:13.750 tells us you have the power to be my witnesses. 00:16:15.190 --> 00:16:18.250 See if the Holy Spirit is making you weird, that 00:16:18.250 --> 00:16:24.850 may just be you. Just saying. The Holy Spirit 00:16:24.850 --> 00:16:30.029 came to make us a witness to all people, everywhere, 00:16:30.350 --> 00:16:35.409 all of the time. Alfred Nobel, many people know 00:16:35.409 --> 00:16:40.330 that name because of the Nobel Peace Prize. But 00:16:40.330 --> 00:16:42.409 what you may not know about Alfred Nobel is he 00:16:42.409 --> 00:16:45.330 was also part of creating and inventing dynamite. 00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:48.799 Now he later developed a Nobel Peace Prize because 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.779 he felt horrible because of the destruction that 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:54.919 dynamite had caused. When he was looking for 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:57.940 the word to name dynamite, he searched different 00:16:57.940 --> 00:17:01.179 words that meant power, and he found the Greek 00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:05.359 word dunamis. Now that word dunamis, when translated, 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:09.859 means power or dino, which Nobel then used to 00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:13.740 name dynamite. It's interesting that that is 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:16.500 the same word that when Jesus said you will receive 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:21.279 power, power in that statement is the word dunamis. 00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:25.180 So when Alfred Nobel searched all of human history 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:28.720 to name dynamite, he used the word that Jesus 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:32.720 used to describe the type of power his followers 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:36.140 have living inside of them. So I want to challenge 00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:40.470 you. Don't be afraid of the Holy Spirit. Don't 00:17:40.470 --> 00:17:44.750 be intimidated by the Holy Spirit. Welcome the 00:17:44.750 --> 00:17:48.190 Holy Spirit to change your life and empower you 00:17:48.190 --> 00:17:51.750 to change the world. Because it's the kind of 00:17:51.750 --> 00:17:54.309 power that enables us to shine in the darkness. 00:17:55.029 --> 00:17:57.990 It's the type of power that enables us to be 00:17:57.990 --> 00:18:01.190 full of hope in a world that is hopeless. It's 00:18:01.190 --> 00:18:04.029 the kind of power that releases the miraculous 00:18:04.029 --> 00:18:07.529 to come through our prayers as we lay hand on 00:18:07.529 --> 00:18:11.299 others. and see God move through their life. 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:14.680 Now, what should our lives look like when we're 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:16.839 full of the Holy Spirit? Well, it's interesting. 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:20.259 Paul answers that in Galatians chapter 5, verses 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:24.599 22 to 23. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:27.539 of fruit. Now, let's just pause there a second. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:32.160 Notice, it does not say fruits. Because if you 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:34.859 grew up in church, chances are you learn fruits 00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:37.670 of the Spirit. But notice, what does it say, 00:18:37.730 --> 00:18:41.430 church? It says fruit. Singular, not plural. 00:18:41.829 --> 00:18:44.529 And this is important because it shows us that 00:18:44.529 --> 00:18:47.789 all of these qualities come from one source. 00:18:48.269 --> 00:18:51.329 And that source is the Holy Spirit. And it lives 00:18:51.329 --> 00:18:55.529 where? In us. He lives in us. Let's continue. 00:18:56.769 --> 00:19:00.390 Releases this kind of fruit in our lives. Love, 00:19:00.470 --> 00:19:04.009 joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 00:19:04.069 --> 00:19:07.599 gentleness. and self -control. There is no law 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:12.519 against these things. So evaluate your life today. 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:16.180 This is how a follower of Jesus is called to 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:19.960 live. God sent a gift that empowers us to be 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:24.220 different, to be separate, to stand apart. We 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:28.339 are now the evidence of the life and the miracles 00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:30.019 of Jesus. Think about that just for a second. 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:35.099 We, you and I, are now the evidence. the example, 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:41.279 the pace setters, the standards of the life and 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:45.559 miracles of Jesus. And understanding that gives 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:48.420 us the confidence to step out in faith, to pray 00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:51.579 boldly for others, to pray boldly for the tri 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:54.359 -state area, to believe that God is going to 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:56.859 change people's lives through the power of the 00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:59.319 Spirit living inside of us, which leads us to 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:03.259 our third truth, we are united in common purpose. 00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:06.619 Acts chapter 1 verse 8, but you will receive 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:08.579 power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You 00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:11.119 will be my witnesses, telling people about me 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:12.839 everywhere in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:16.079 Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Now you 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:19.160 must remember that Jesus first told his followers 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:23.000 to go to Jerusalem and what? And wait. To wait 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:26.180 for the gift that he was promising. But then 00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:29.680 we learn, once you receive the gift, you are 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:32.599 now to leave Jerusalem and tell people about 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:36.099 me. Everywhere to the ends of the earth. See, 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:39.680 when we receive this gift, when it's a part of 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:42.099 our lives, church, we're called to do something 00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:45.539 with it. We're called to give it away. And sometimes 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:50.619 our Jerusalem is the building that we now call 00:20:50.619 --> 00:20:54.680 the church. And see, this building is not the 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:58.140 church. It's a building. The church is the people. 00:20:58.730 --> 00:21:02.069 Without people gathering, there is no word in 00:21:02.069 --> 00:21:04.910 the New Testament that describes church as a 00:21:04.910 --> 00:21:09.630 building. It's always been the gathering of the 00:21:09.630 --> 00:21:14.069 people. We are the church. These are four walls 00:21:14.069 --> 00:21:17.670 that we participate in and welcome God into. 00:21:17.910 --> 00:21:22.390 Let's continue in Acts 2, verses 1 -6. On the 00:21:22.390 --> 00:21:24.829 day of Pentecost, all the believers were meeting 00:21:24.829 --> 00:21:28.220 together in one place. Suddenly there was a sound 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:30.240 from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm. 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.660 It filled the house where they were sitting. 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:34.359 Then what looked like flames or tongues of fire 00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:36.839 appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:40.099 present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:42.299 speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:45.920 gave them this ability. At that time there were 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:48.359 devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:51.500 When they heard the loud noise everyone came 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:53.970 running. And they were bewildered to hear their 00:21:53.970 --> 00:21:56.569 own languages being spoken by the believers. 00:21:56.869 --> 00:22:00.849 Now notice, when they were filled with the Holy 00:22:00.849 --> 00:22:02.769 Spirit, when the followers were filled with the 00:22:02.769 --> 00:22:05.049 Holy Spirit inside the room, they were gathered 00:22:05.049 --> 00:22:10.109 in the upper room. It not only made sense to 00:22:10.109 --> 00:22:12.109 them gathered in the room, but it also made sense 00:22:12.109 --> 00:22:15.369 to them gathered outside the room. All the people 00:22:15.369 --> 00:22:18.369 came running to hear their language being spoken. 00:22:18.849 --> 00:22:21.430 See, we don't gather in this place just for us. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:25.880 We gather here to grow, to encourage one another, 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:29.359 to be challenged, and then we are to go into 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:31.759 the world and share the good news. We do something 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:35.180 with what God has given us to the ends of the 00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:38.599 earth. See, we are called to be witnesses to 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:41.180 people that are different than us. Right? They 00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:44.700 may not support the same football team, obviously. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:48.720 They might not vote the same way. They may not 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.440 have the same skin color. They may not think 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.960 the same way. They may have different preferences. 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:54.559 But that's not what it's all about. It's about 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:58.059 us coming together as a family, as the church, 00:22:58.140 --> 00:23:00.519 to reach everyone in the tri -state area, to 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:03.380 break down barriers, to love people in a way 00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:05.880 that extends his grace to the people in need. 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:09.579 I mean, we all know the first church was full 00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:12.279 of broken people with different backgrounds and 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:15.259 preferences, but they united under one common 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:19.460 purpose. to take the good news to the ends of 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:22.099 the earth. And when we put our faith in Jesus, 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:27.579 we join a family, the church, that is a part 00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:30.319 of a heritage that many scholars believe in the 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:33.220 next five to nine years will celebrate its 2 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:38.039 ,000th birthday as the church, which is really 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:41.420 cool when you think about where we came from, 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:43.960 which leads us to our final truth. We are united 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:48.420 in prayer. Acts chapter 1 verse 14, they all 00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:53.500 met together and were constantly united in prayer. 00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:57.019 And I got to thinking about this group of people 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:59.900 that were gathered. You had Thomas, the skeptic, 00:23:59.900 --> 00:24:03.559 the doubter, if you will. You have Peter, who 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:07.000 denied Jesus three times, had to meet Jesus on 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:10.940 the beach to be restored. Yet Mary, Jesus' mother, 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:13.819 think about her heart. She was crushed. She was 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:16.200 grieving the loss of her son that she brutally 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:20.819 watched happen. Why did they all meet together? 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:24.779 Because they needed each other. They desired 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:27.619 to support one another. And friends, this happens 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:31.579 through prayer. It happens through the encouragement 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:35.119 of those sitting around us. That's why I challenged 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:37.079 you last week. Don't forget about the crosses. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:39.099 They're real. Take a post -it. Put a post -it. 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:42.660 Make prayer a part of your life. That's why every 00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:44.859 Sunday during every one of our gatherings, I 00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:47.160 challenge you, if you have one of these needs 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:49.220 or you have a need, get up here and get prayer 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:52.480 because we believe that prayer changes lives. 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:56.359 Now, a few weeks ago, I watched the new Avengers 00:24:56.359 --> 00:25:00.470 superhero movie, Brave New World. And I was discussing 00:25:00.470 --> 00:25:02.849 this movie with my kids, and they were telling 00:25:02.849 --> 00:25:04.970 me how many people thought it was one of the 00:25:04.970 --> 00:25:07.609 worst superhero movies of all time. I was like, 00:25:07.670 --> 00:25:09.390 wow, I was entertained by it. I thought it was 00:25:09.390 --> 00:25:11.650 excellent, which I quickly learned. I'm not a 00:25:11.650 --> 00:25:14.750 critic. I don't watch movies to be critically 00:25:14.750 --> 00:25:17.329 of them. I watch them to be entertained, which 00:25:17.329 --> 00:25:19.490 I was entertained. And I'm learning about all 00:25:19.490 --> 00:25:21.769 these superheroes because as a kid growing up, 00:25:21.789 --> 00:25:23.430 I don't know about you, but I was a Ninja Turtles 00:25:23.430 --> 00:25:26.309 fan. I wasn't a superhero fan. I was all about 00:25:26.309 --> 00:25:29.710 the ninja fighting and sword fair, right? But 00:25:29.710 --> 00:25:31.509 superheroes are now a part of my life because 00:25:31.509 --> 00:25:34.470 all my kids watch superhero movies. Phoenix is 00:25:34.470 --> 00:25:37.569 now into superhero movies. And I got to thinking 00:25:37.569 --> 00:25:41.089 about all these superheroes. For example, there's 00:25:41.089 --> 00:25:44.690 this superhero named Spider -Man. What makes 00:25:44.690 --> 00:25:48.390 Spider -Man Spider -Man? Well, he was bit by 00:25:48.390 --> 00:25:50.930 a radioactive spider that released the powers 00:25:50.930 --> 00:25:53.869 of a spider into his human body. And somehow 00:25:53.869 --> 00:26:01.069 his pain was turned into purpose. His pain was 00:26:01.069 --> 00:26:04.730 turned into purpose. And if we went through the 00:26:04.730 --> 00:26:07.369 whole list of superheroes, you will quickly learn, 00:26:07.450 --> 00:26:10.789 for example, Bruce Banner was working on radioactive 00:26:10.789 --> 00:26:13.549 materials trying to save his friend's life, only 00:26:13.549 --> 00:26:16.049 to be exposed to gamma radiation, which made 00:26:16.049 --> 00:26:23.009 him the incredible... Interesting. His pain became 00:26:23.009 --> 00:26:28.170 his... Can we all say that together? His... Pain 00:26:28.170 --> 00:26:32.829 became his purpose. And you could go through 00:26:32.829 --> 00:26:35.589 every superhero. Now, I can't say Batman because 00:26:35.589 --> 00:26:37.690 Batman's not Marvel, and those of you that are 00:26:37.690 --> 00:26:41.049 superhero geeks would judge me. But Batman, what 00:26:41.049 --> 00:26:43.589 happened to Batman? He lost his parents who were 00:26:43.589 --> 00:26:47.569 brutally murdered. His pain became his purpose. 00:26:48.390 --> 00:26:53.990 All of the superheroes experienced some type 00:26:53.990 --> 00:26:57.529 of pain that gave them purpose. And the same 00:26:57.529 --> 00:26:59.190 goes with those who are in a relationship with 00:26:59.190 --> 00:27:04.069 Jesus. Think about Peter. Right? He was a hothead. 00:27:04.089 --> 00:27:07.049 He yelled, screamed. He denied Jesus three times. 00:27:07.150 --> 00:27:10.089 But yet he used Peter to preach the first sermon 00:27:10.089 --> 00:27:12.630 ever given where 3 ,000 people were adopted into 00:27:12.630 --> 00:27:15.710 the church family. Jesus took his pain and used 00:27:15.710 --> 00:27:19.450 it for purpose. Now what's interesting about 00:27:19.450 --> 00:27:24.069 all these superhero movies is the largest grossing 00:27:24.069 --> 00:27:28.680 movie of all time. is not the individual superhero 00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:32.759 movies. It's when they came together in a movie 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:37.440 called The Avengers. The largest grossing movie 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:40.819 of all time in the history of cinematic movies 00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:45.460 is The Avengers. All these different people from 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:47.779 all these different backgrounds coming together 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:51.440 to defeat the enemy or the powers of hell, if 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:54.799 you will. But Chris, that's a movie. Yeah, it 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:58.259 sure is, but it certainly does relate to the 00:27:58.259 --> 00:28:02.680 church. Acts 2 .42. All the believers devoted 00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:07.619 themselves to prayer. See, we gather together 00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:12.000 for a purpose. We gather together to pray. And 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:14.799 when all the disciples asked Jesus to teach them 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:17.420 one thing, think about this. When all the disciples 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:19.619 asked Jesus to teach them one thing, it wasn't 00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:23.680 to perform a miracle. It wasn't to teach them 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:26.000 how to preach and use parables. It wasn't to 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:28.539 raise the dead. They asked him one thing. They 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:33.839 said, Jesus, teach us to pray. And he taught 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:38.200 them the Lord's Prayer. Our Father, who art in 00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:41.519 heaven, hallowed be your name. Thy kingdom come, 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:45.160 thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 00:28:45.789 --> 00:28:48.490 Give us this day our daily bread and forgive 00:28:48.490 --> 00:28:52.910 us our sins as we forgive those who sin against 00:28:52.910 --> 00:28:56.829 us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver 00:28:56.829 --> 00:29:01.710 us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, power, 00:29:01.990 --> 00:29:05.730 and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Right? 00:29:06.130 --> 00:29:09.430 How did he teach them to pray? That all of our 00:29:09.430 --> 00:29:13.269 needs are met from a God who provides. The first 00:29:13.269 --> 00:29:17.509 church. Change the world through prayer, boldness, 00:29:17.650 --> 00:29:22.349 generosity, and action. And it's my prayer that 00:29:22.349 --> 00:29:25.990 HCV adopts these practices over this next month 00:29:25.990 --> 00:29:29.069 so that we can go forth in the tri -state area 00:29:29.069 --> 00:29:32.390 and the entire world and change it in Jesus' 00:29:32.509 --> 00:29:36.130 name. But here's the challenge for all of you. 00:29:36.609 --> 00:29:41.069 How do we remain united? One action step for 00:29:41.069 --> 00:29:47.049 today. Two words. Show up. Can we all say that 00:29:47.049 --> 00:29:51.390 together? Show up. Let's say it again. Show up. 00:29:51.529 --> 00:29:55.529 Acts 1 .14, they all met together. Acts 2 .1, 00:29:55.609 --> 00:29:57.569 on the day of Pentecost, all the believers were 00:29:57.569 --> 00:30:01.349 meeting together in one place. Acts 2 .42, all 00:30:01.349 --> 00:30:04.069 the believers devoted themselves to fellowship. 00:30:04.589 --> 00:30:08.549 And here's the bad news. The average church attender 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:11.619 And the United States of America currently attends 00:30:11.619 --> 00:30:17.539 a Sunday gathering once every three weeks. Once 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:22.000 every three weeks. And listen, I get it. We all 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:25.259 live busy lives. We have children that play sports. 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:28.220 We travel to and fro. We have agendas that need 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:30.519 done. We have houses that are falling down around 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:33.440 us that need painted and fixed up and flowers 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:40.150 planted. I get it. I understand it. I have children 00:30:40.150 --> 00:30:43.670 that play travel sports. I understand the craziness, 00:30:43.710 --> 00:30:49.470 but we can't stop meeting together. We have to 00:30:49.470 --> 00:30:53.690 stop with the excuses and make gathering together 00:30:53.690 --> 00:30:58.069 a priority. Hebrews 10, 25, and let us not neglect 00:30:58.069 --> 00:31:01.509 our meeting together as many people do in 2025, 00:31:01.829 --> 00:31:04.490 but encourage one another, especially now that 00:31:04.490 --> 00:31:07.339 the day of his return is drawing near. Listen, 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:11.220 we need each other. We need encouragement. We 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:13.660 need prayer. And if you're anything like me, 00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:18.119 we need challenged, right? Because we are lazy 00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:21.740 people that tend to become selfish and self -consumed, 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:23.859 and we forget about the mission we're on. We 00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:28.759 need challenged. And that happens, right, when 00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:31.859 we gather together, we support one another, and 00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:36.069 we celebrate what Jesus is doing. So I'm going 00:31:36.069 --> 00:31:37.410 to challenge you for the rest of this month. 00:31:38.289 --> 00:31:41.650 Show up. And I get it. If you're traveling, hop 00:31:41.650 --> 00:31:44.150 on the live stream. I'm glad we're sending that 00:31:44.150 --> 00:31:46.529 out there into the cyber world and hundreds of 00:31:46.529 --> 00:31:48.730 people are watching it every week. But listen, 00:31:48.930 --> 00:31:52.769 it does not replace gathering together. When 00:31:52.769 --> 00:31:55.490 we gather together, we experience the presence 00:31:55.490 --> 00:31:58.029 of God like it was meant to be around other believers 00:31:58.029 --> 00:32:01.069 so that we can be challenged to get outside of 00:32:01.069 --> 00:32:05.509 ourselves. We live in a society that's about 00:32:05.509 --> 00:32:10.309 I, iPhones, what I want. It's all about I, I, 00:32:10.470 --> 00:32:13.809 I, when in reality, the first church, the early 00:32:13.809 --> 00:32:17.950 church, was all about us. Let's come together 00:32:17.950 --> 00:32:25.529 to make a difference. With that said, be a part 00:32:25.529 --> 00:32:28.410 of what God is doing in our community of faith. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:32.759 Prioritize gathering together. Okay, I promise 00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:37.420 there's new parking coming real soon. Okay? Real 00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:41.200 soon. I promise. Give me a couple months. It's 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:44.640 almost here. It's going to be here real soon. 00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:46.859 And then suddenly you're going to pull in and 00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:48.940 there won't be a 10 -minute wait on Halfway Boulevard. 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:50.779 And there's going to be all this parking. You're 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:54.299 going to be like, oh, thank God. But it's coming. 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:57.279 I can't announce it yet, but it's coming. Real 00:32:57.279 --> 00:33:02.180 soon. Real, real, real soon. So will you stand 00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:10.680 with me? Listen, I felt there was no better way 00:33:10.680 --> 00:33:14.480 to close than with communion, okay? So I'm gonna 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:16.660 throw this out there now as I share. No, no one 00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:19.220 get distracted. If you need an element, put your 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:21.440 hand up. If you need gluten -free, put two hands 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:23.180 up. Keep them up high or you're not gonna get 00:33:23.180 --> 00:33:26.700 it. Listen, I'm gonna talk with the rest of you 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:31.859 that don't need it. At HCV, okay, this isn't 00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:35.839 just something we do once a month, every first 00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:41.180 Sunday of the month. Jesus told us to do this 00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:43.880 together corporately often and to do it in remembrance 00:33:43.880 --> 00:33:47.440 of him. This is one of the only ordinances that 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:51.220 he left with the church to do together. This 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:57.759 and baptism. And quite often we take this. terrible 00:33:57.759 --> 00:34:01.599 tasting piece of bread, and even worse tasting 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:06.079 juice, and it's just, you just do it. Oh yeah, 00:34:06.119 --> 00:34:07.759 that's what I do. This is what I've done as a 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:10.400 kid. This is what I grew up doing. When in reality, 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:13.699 Jesus established this as an ordinance because 00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:18.000 this is where your life can be changed. He said, 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:19.760 do it in remembrance of me. In other words, do 00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:21.519 it in remembrance of everything that I've done. 00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:24.340 I died on a cross for you. My body was broken 00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:28.679 so you could be healed. My blood was shed so 00:34:28.679 --> 00:34:32.179 that you can be forgiven. In other words, a power 00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:34.940 encounter with the Holy Spirit can happen through 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:38.599 the actions of communion and it can radically 00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:42.099 change your life. Don't make this just another 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:46.159 thing you do. Get real with God before you take 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:48.039 it, before you eat it, and before you drink it. 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:51.000 And I believe the Holy Spirit will be released 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.199 in your life because that's what I'm going to 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:58.300 pray for. Amen? Now you know every Sunday I pray 00:34:58.300 --> 00:34:59.980 a simple prayer because I believe God brings 00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:01.539 people into our midst that are distant and far 00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:03.820 from God. And if you're ready to pray this prayer 00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:06.900 with us, please do. But if you're not ready and 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:08.599 you're just kind of checking Jesus out and you're 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:10.920 wondering about faith and you're not sure, please 00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:12.659 don't take communion after we pray this prayer. 00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:16.719 Just put it down and set it aside because that's 00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:21.039 offendable to God. And I don't want that on my 00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:23.269 conscience. But we're going to pray a simple 00:35:23.269 --> 00:35:25.030 prayer. And if you get right with God, then please 00:35:25.030 --> 00:35:26.309 partake in the communion because you're going 00:35:26.309 --> 00:35:28.590 to celebrate what God just did in your heart. 00:35:29.849 --> 00:35:34.130 So let's pray together. Jesus, I'm broken. I'm 00:35:34.130 --> 00:35:39.289 full of doubt, shame, regret, sin. Forgive me. 00:35:39.809 --> 00:35:44.449 I believe you're God's son. I believe you died 00:35:44.449 --> 00:35:49.690 for me. Make me new. Set me free. Fill me with 00:35:49.690 --> 00:35:55.000 your spirit. empower me, Holy Spirit, to serve 00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:59.599 others. In Jesus' name, amen. So if you prayed 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:01.139 that prayer for the first time, see me on your 00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:03.599 way out, hug me, high -five me, do something 00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:05.840 so I can tell you to get baptized and take next 00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:08.460 steps. But if you're a believer and you're ready 00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:10.400 to partake in communion, get your heart right, 00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:15.039 Holy Spirit, come, search our hearts. If there's 00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:16.820 sin, if there's addiction, if there's doubt, 00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:19.699 if there's frustration, get rid of it. Ask for 00:36:19.699 --> 00:36:21.699 forgiveness, seek forgiveness, then partake in 00:36:21.699 --> 00:36:25.059 the bread and the juice. Amen? Come Holy Spirit. 00:36:27.239 --> 00:36:32.199 Search our hearts. Reveal to us any areas that 00:36:32.199 --> 00:36:39.099 don't line up with you. On the night he was betrayed, 00:36:39.300 --> 00:36:45.920 Jesus took bread. He broke it. He gave it to 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:47.719 his disciples and said, take, eat. This is my 00:36:47.719 --> 00:36:49.760 body, which is broken for you, and do it in remembrance 00:36:49.760 --> 00:37:00.519 of me. Let's eat. Likewise, after supper, he 00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:02.440 took the cup of wine. He said, this is my blood, 00:37:02.460 --> 00:37:04.280 which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness 00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:07.139 of sins. Drink it often, and when you do, do 00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:13.840 it in remembrance of me. Let's drink. Change 00:37:13.840 --> 00:37:16.730 us, God. Make us more like you. May we remember 00:37:16.730 --> 00:37:20.969 where we came from, the rich history of family 00:37:20.969 --> 00:37:23.190 and life change you've adopted us into. Now, 00:37:23.210 --> 00:37:26.590 two things before we go. I'm almost done. Every 00:37:26.590 --> 00:37:29.070 single one of you in your bulletin got a small 00:37:29.070 --> 00:37:33.539 invite to our tie -dye run next month. Our goal 00:37:33.539 --> 00:37:35.880 this year, we had 170 runners last year. Our 00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:38.780 goal this year is over 200 runners doing a 5K 00:37:38.780 --> 00:37:42.519 or 10K. All proceeds not to HCV, going to Compassion 00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:45.059 to change children's lives that are in poverty. 00:37:45.079 --> 00:37:49.619 Amen? Take that invite and give it to somebody 00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:53.719 and tell them you'll run it with them. Deal? 00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:57.699 Can you do that? Because that's how word gets 00:37:57.699 --> 00:38:01.960 out. And if you belong to a gym, we have posters. 00:38:02.570 --> 00:38:05.230 Take a poster and put it up in your gym, wherever 00:38:05.230 --> 00:38:08.090 that gym is. I know there's one in Four Star, 00:38:08.289 --> 00:38:10.869 but I want one in One Life and Planet Fitness, 00:38:10.949 --> 00:38:13.949 and I don't know what other gyms there are. Anytime, 00:38:14.369 --> 00:38:19.030 free time, backflip time, whatever time you got. 00:38:19.570 --> 00:38:22.130 Take a poster, put it in the gym. Number two, 00:38:22.190 --> 00:38:26.389 that's number one. Number two, we have a tailgate 00:38:26.389 --> 00:38:29.550 right outside these doors in our parking lot. 00:38:30.399 --> 00:38:32.159 It's for groups. And some of you are thinking, 00:38:32.199 --> 00:38:33.920 I don't want to be in a group, Chris. Okay, fine. 00:38:34.039 --> 00:38:37.219 Don't be in a group. But walk through the tailgate, 00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:39.500 meet someone new, high -five them, and get a 00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:43.199 free bite to eat. Deal? I don't care if you join 00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:45.000 a group. I want you to join a group. I know it's 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:47.139 best for you, but many of you won't because only 00:38:47.139 --> 00:38:49.800 about 30 % of our people are in a group. But 00:38:49.800 --> 00:38:51.679 you can at least walk through the groups, meet 00:38:51.679 --> 00:38:52.980 someone you don't know, and then maybe you'll 00:38:52.980 --> 00:38:54.659 end up in a group. Well, you're manipulating 00:38:54.659 --> 00:38:59.800 me, Chris. I sure am. Just being honest. So this 00:38:59.800 --> 00:39:01.320 is what our series is going to look like for 00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:03.699 the next month. Several words of knowledge before 00:39:03.699 --> 00:39:06.420 you go. If you're currently experiencing disappointment 00:39:06.420 --> 00:39:09.519 in this life, we want to pray for you. Left arm 00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:12.960 pain, elbow pain in the right joint of your elbow, 00:39:13.199 --> 00:39:16.760 right hand pain, muscle or tendon injury that 00:39:16.760 --> 00:39:19.639 could have in your hand, you have abnormalities 00:39:19.639 --> 00:39:22.139 on your tongue, or you have pain in your right 00:39:22.139 --> 00:39:24.539 foot when you walk. If any of those are you, 00:39:24.579 --> 00:39:26.219 if you have any prayer requests, our prayer team 00:39:26.219 --> 00:39:28.739 would be here on the right. To believe that God's 00:39:28.739 --> 00:39:31.159 going to heal you. Amen? Love you guys. Have 00:39:31.159 --> 00:39:32.699 a great week. Look forward to next week.