WEBVTT 00:00:09.449 --> 00:00:14.289 Welcome to ECB's weekly sermon podcast. ECB is 00:00:14.289 --> 00:00:16.589 an international church in Bangkok, Thailand 00:00:16.589 --> 00:00:19.789 with dozens of nationalities worshiping together. 00:00:20.109 --> 00:00:22.989 We invite you to connect with us from wherever 00:00:22.989 --> 00:00:27.210 you are through our website, ecb .asia, or our 00:00:27.210 --> 00:00:31.050 mobile app. And now we pray that you are blessed 00:00:31.050 --> 00:00:34.950 by this week's sermon. If you were here the past 00:00:34.950 --> 00:00:37.710 two weeks, you got to hear from Pastor Phil. 00:00:37.869 --> 00:00:40.750 We also got to hear from Scott last week. We 00:00:40.750 --> 00:00:42.929 began a new series of studies called The Presence, 00:00:42.950 --> 00:00:45.030 Living Life with the Holy Spirit. Because after 00:00:45.030 --> 00:00:47.570 we finished this study on the life of Jesus and 00:00:47.570 --> 00:00:50.750 what he accomplished for us, we realized in the 00:00:50.750 --> 00:00:55.229 last study that he had created a way now for 00:00:55.229 --> 00:00:59.229 God to be in us. And we studied what the Bible 00:00:59.229 --> 00:01:00.990 said about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 00:01:01.109 --> 00:01:03.630 And from that point, we transition into this 00:01:03.630 --> 00:01:06.909 study. If God has given us His Spirit to live 00:01:06.909 --> 00:01:09.750 in us, then how do we live life with the Holy 00:01:09.750 --> 00:01:15.629 Spirit? And we have studied how the Holy Spirit 00:01:15.629 --> 00:01:20.049 transforms us, also how He gives us a new identity. 00:01:20.290 --> 00:01:23.250 And today we're going to be studying the empowering 00:01:23.250 --> 00:01:28.299 presence of the Holy Spirit. I want to invite 00:01:28.299 --> 00:01:30.760 you to read out loud with me the foundation of 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:33.180 this study that we've been doing for the past 00:01:33.180 --> 00:01:36.879 two weeks. Since we are living by the Spirit, 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:41.099 let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part 00:01:41.099 --> 00:01:43.739 of our lives. And that's the core of why we're 00:01:43.739 --> 00:01:46.760 doing this study. So that this will be a reality 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:50.459 in all of our lives. And when it comes to the 00:01:50.459 --> 00:01:53.500 presence, the empowering presence of the Holy 00:01:53.500 --> 00:02:00.250 Spirit, Is that God did not just save you from 00:02:00.250 --> 00:02:06.269 a past. But He saved you for a future. And that 00:02:06.269 --> 00:02:09.930 future means that He is going to lead you into 00:02:09.930 --> 00:02:12.449 the plan and the vision that He has for you. 00:02:13.610 --> 00:02:17.310 And for that, it matters that we learn to live 00:02:17.310 --> 00:02:20.810 life with the Holy Spirit. Because there is a 00:02:20.810 --> 00:02:25.340 big problem. Even though God has... A desired 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:28.039 vision for our lives. That he wants to lead us 00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:31.460 into. There is someone else that has a plan. 00:02:31.699 --> 00:02:36.280 For you as well. And Jesus warned us about this. 00:02:36.379 --> 00:02:40.879 In John chapter 10. It says the thief comes only 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:45.439 to steal. Steal. Kill and destroy. I have come 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:51.939 that you may have. What? Life. And in what way? 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:59.360 Have it to the. God knows you have potential 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:05.120 to become this. You have potential to achieve 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:11.060 this. He saved you with potential. But that potential 00:03:11.060 --> 00:03:14.139 will be magnified and expressed to the degree 00:03:14.139 --> 00:03:18.860 that we are led by the Holy Spirit. And to the 00:03:18.860 --> 00:03:21.879 degree that we understand that there's an enemy 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:25.120 that wants to oppose that. that wants to deter 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:28.139 you, that wants to paralyze you, so that you 00:03:28.139 --> 00:03:31.439 do not experience the life that Jesus came to 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:41.879 give you. And that's why Jesus says, look, there's 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:44.919 the enemy that wants to steal, kill, and destroy 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:48.000 that potential, but then there's me that wants 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:51.199 you to fulfill that potential and live your life 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:56.400 to the full. And for that purpose, Jesus said 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:59.460 to the apostles when he started teaching them 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:01.560 about the Holy Spirit that was about to come 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:05.900 after his death and resurrection. He tells them, 00:04:05.900 --> 00:04:09.139 look, this Holy Spirit that I'm going to give 00:04:09.139 --> 00:04:14.419 you, when the Spirit of truth comes, he will 00:04:14.419 --> 00:04:17.199 guide you into something. What is he going to 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:22.819 guide you into? All truth. And as He guides you 00:04:22.819 --> 00:04:25.740 into the truth, He will not speak on His own, 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:29.019 but will tell you what He has heard. And He will 00:04:29.019 --> 00:04:36.740 tell you about the future. I am giving you the 00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:39.779 Holy Spirit, if you are my follower, so that 00:04:39.779 --> 00:04:43.600 now the Holy Spirit can guide you into the future, 00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:47.740 so that you can experience life to the full potential 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:53.329 that I envision for you. Now that I was in the 00:04:53.329 --> 00:04:56.689 U .S., I got to drive a lot. We rented a nice 00:04:56.689 --> 00:05:02.069 car that was nice to drive, and just the whole 00:05:02.069 --> 00:05:04.990 area of Oregon and Washington is so beautiful. 00:05:05.569 --> 00:05:10.209 Just to drive around, nice highways, no motorcycles, 00:05:10.490 --> 00:05:17.709 no buildings, just you see the open sky, the 00:05:17.709 --> 00:05:21.250 mountains, the forest, the trees, the pine trees. 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:26.560 But I'm not familiar with the area. So as we 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:29.060 were driving, I had to put my iPhone there with 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:32.779 the GPS, you know, right there. And every time 00:05:32.779 --> 00:05:35.779 that I'm going in an area like this, I think 00:05:35.779 --> 00:05:39.120 about the Holy Spirit. Because GPS tells me, 00:05:39.180 --> 00:05:43.139 you know, in the next turn, you will turn to 00:05:43.139 --> 00:05:46.000 the right or take the next exit. And I'm not 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.740 there yet. I've never been there yet. But GPS 00:05:48.740 --> 00:05:52.420 tells me about the future. So when I reach the 00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:56.720 future, I know what to do. And Jesus says, I'm 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:58.339 going to give you something better than GPS. 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:01.240 Because it's going to be in you and doesn't run 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:05.079 out of battery. And his name is the Holy Spirit. 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:08.399 And he's going to be in you and he will guide 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:11.600 you into the future. It's like, yeah, but how 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:13.519 do I know that once I get there, I'm going to 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:17.269 have what I need? How do I know that the Holy 00:06:17.269 --> 00:06:19.670 Spirit is going to be there to guide me into 00:06:19.670 --> 00:06:23.629 the future? And Jesus tells him, look, I'm going 00:06:23.629 --> 00:06:26.990 to lead you into places and circumstances that 00:06:26.990 --> 00:06:30.069 are going to test you beyond your limit. But 00:06:30.069 --> 00:06:33.910 don't worry. You have my spirit. You will have 00:06:33.910 --> 00:06:38.459 everything that you need. And he tells them, 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:41.100 in the moments when you are facing the authorities 00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:44.240 and you have to witness for me in front of these 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:47.860 people, don't freak out. When you are arrested, 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:50.019 don't worry about how to respond or what to say. 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:52.579 God will give you the right words at the right 00:06:52.579 --> 00:06:57.040 time. When will God give you what you need? At 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:00.240 the right time. And the right time is not yet. 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:03.519 But once you get there. At the right time, the 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:05.839 Holy Spirit will give you what you need. For 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:09.259 it is not you who will be speaking. It will be 00:07:09.259 --> 00:07:13.120 the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 00:07:15.100 --> 00:07:19.939 Oh, this is great. Now that I have the Holy Spirit 00:07:19.939 --> 00:07:22.540 in me, He's going to guide me into the future 00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:27.459 like the GPS does. And when I am there, what 00:07:27.459 --> 00:07:31.740 I need... He is going to give it to me. Because 00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:40.339 now is the Holy Spirit working. Through me. And 00:07:40.339 --> 00:07:44.279 therefore. It was very important. That the apostles 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:49.300 knew. That in order to follow Jesus. After his 00:07:49.300 --> 00:07:54.639 death and resurrection. They will need to learn. 00:07:56.269 --> 00:08:00.209 To live life with the Holy Spirit. And that's 00:08:00.209 --> 00:08:04.689 why Jesus, before he goes to the Father in his 00:08:04.689 --> 00:08:07.829 ascension, he tells the apostles that they will 00:08:07.829 --> 00:08:11.470 have to wait. And he says, now I will send the 00:08:11.470 --> 00:08:14.329 Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised, but 00:08:14.329 --> 00:08:17.730 stay here in the city, in Jerusalem, until the 00:08:17.730 --> 00:08:20.810 Holy Spirit comes and fills you with something. 00:08:21.970 --> 00:08:34.629 With what? Power. Power from heaven. Because 00:08:34.629 --> 00:08:39.889 there's potential, but potential to be magnified 00:08:39.889 --> 00:08:46.870 needs power. I do not know if you've ever run 00:08:46.870 --> 00:08:51.169 out of battery in your laptop. It's a pain. You 00:08:51.169 --> 00:08:53.149 open it, ready to do the work, and it's like, 00:08:53.230 --> 00:08:57.909 ran out of battery. Well, that computer has all 00:08:57.909 --> 00:08:59.970 the potential to do all the work, but without 00:08:59.970 --> 00:09:04.470 power, it's useless. So the one thing that you 00:09:04.470 --> 00:09:07.669 will do is that you will get your power cord, 00:09:07.950 --> 00:09:11.730 plug it into the wall, plug it in the computer, 00:09:11.909 --> 00:09:16.029 and now you have power. And now that you have 00:09:16.029 --> 00:09:21.450 power, the potential can be materialized. And 00:09:21.450 --> 00:09:25.370 the power that you need is called the Holy Spirit. 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:28.659 Spirit. There's a potential that God has given 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:31.899 you. He saved you for a future. But this future 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:36.100 has not. Materialized. It will materialize as 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:39.019 you follow God and the Holy Spirit will guide 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:41.759 you into that future. And at every turn, he's 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:44.240 going to give you what you need. So do not worry 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:47.379 beforehand. He will give you what you need. And 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:50.240 as you follow the Lord, you are planning to that 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:52.980 power because the Holy Spirit is the power for 00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:55.659 you to achieve everything that God has called 00:09:55.659 --> 00:10:00.659 you to be. And that is how it works. This is 00:10:00.659 --> 00:10:08.970 what Jesus taught us. So in order to live the 00:10:08.970 --> 00:10:15.169 life to the full that Jesus saved us for, it 00:10:15.169 --> 00:10:19.629 is the primary role of the Holy Spirit to lead 00:10:19.629 --> 00:10:25.529 us into that future. But the enemy is going to 00:10:25.529 --> 00:10:29.049 try to oppose you. He's going to try to kill 00:10:29.049 --> 00:10:33.490 that potential. And he's going to use his tactics 00:10:33.490 --> 00:10:38.200 and his tools. that are same old, same old, they 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:46.419 never change. In the beginning of the church, 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:50.059 the first generations of followers of Jesus, 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:53.860 these were the first humans ever in the history 00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:58.720 of humanity to experience what it was like to 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:01.789 live life with the Holy Spirit. And to start 00:11:01.789 --> 00:11:04.190 experiencing the guiding of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:04.409 --> 00:11:07.509 And to see the potential being materialized. 00:11:07.870 --> 00:11:11.750 And one of those people that I want to focus 00:11:11.750 --> 00:11:17.850 on today is Philip. Philip was just a normal 00:11:17.850 --> 00:11:20.549 follower of Jesus, just like you and me. He was 00:11:20.549 --> 00:11:24.029 just a Christian. He was not one of the apostles. 00:11:24.529 --> 00:11:29.620 He was not a leader of the church. That has accomplished 00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:33.700 a lot. He was just a normal guy. But he loved 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:38.919 Jesus. And he started following the Lord. With 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:40.899 the first generation of Christians right there 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:45.659 in Jerusalem. We do not know the background. 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:48.000 How did he come to know the Lord? Who shared 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:52.039 the gospel with him? We do not know. But we know 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:57.139 that this Philip. was led by God through a series 00:11:57.139 --> 00:12:00.480 of experiences in his life so that what he became 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:05.120 was nothing compared to what he started. And 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:08.139 I imagine if I told Philip when I met him at 00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:11.259 the beginning of his walk with God, Philip, God 00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:14.259 is going to make you into this, he would have 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:17.679 laughed. He'd say, yeah, right, me? I'm just 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:26.159 a normal guy. But you have potential. And God 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:29.600 saved you to fulfill that potential. And he gave 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:32.600 you the Holy Spirit to achieve that potential. 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:35.299 What does that look like? Well, let's look at 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:40.139 Philip. Because Philip, we see him first at the 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:43.580 beginning of his life. God is going to use his 00:12:43.580 --> 00:12:47.919 life to impact a community. And you studied this 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:52.960 last week with Scott. He told us in detail. how 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:56.000 the community was struggling in Jerusalem because 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:59.679 now there was the cultural conflict among the 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:02.559 widows and the Greeks and the Hebrews and all 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:04.379 these things that were happening at the early 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:08.860 church. They are right there in Jerusalem. And 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:11.460 Philip is there, a new believer, and he's following 00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:14.519 Jesus in that generation. And we are told that 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:18.480 they have a problem. This struggle that starts 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:21.039 happening with these two groups in the church. 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:24.700 And the apostles said, you know, we should spend 00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:27.100 our time teaching the word of God, not running 00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:29.679 a food program. That's not for us to do. So, 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:32.440 brothers, select seven men who are well respected 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:36.399 and are full of the spirit and wisdom. And we 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:39.700 will give them this responsibility. It's like, 00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:43.820 guys, we are busy. We need help here. Can somebody 00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:49.120 run this food program? So they started looking 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:52.899 for people and they started thinking of potential 00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:55.820 people. And somebody thought, hey, why don't 00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:58.639 we ask Philip? He's a nice guy. He loves God. 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:02.080 And every time I talk to him, he's so helpful. 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:07.019 He's a humble guy. Why don't we ask him? Maybe 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:09.559 he will be interested. Somebody approaches him 00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:12.100 and says, Philip, you know, we have this problem 00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:14.799 and the apostles were wondering whether you'd 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:17.990 be willing to help. Will you pray about this? 00:14:18.409 --> 00:14:22.450 And Philip says, okay, sure. And then he goes 00:14:22.450 --> 00:14:25.409 and then comes back and says, yeah, I think I 00:14:25.409 --> 00:14:31.110 want to help. So he's mentioned for the very 00:14:31.110 --> 00:14:35.590 first time right there. As one of the seven guys 00:14:35.590 --> 00:14:40.190 that were called to help the apostles run this 00:14:40.190 --> 00:14:44.000 food program in the community. Everyone liked 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:47.460 the idea and they chose the following. Stephen, 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:50.779 a man full of faith in the Holy Spirit, and Philip 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:55.779 and the rest of the guys. And this is the beginning 00:14:55.779 --> 00:15:00.879 of Philip, as we know, being led by the Holy 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:07.519 Spirit. He walked into an opportunity to serve 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:10.639 in his community that he had never run a restaurant 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:16.049 or anything before. But he could help. So he 00:15:16.049 --> 00:15:21.610 did. And God used that help to allow the apostles 00:15:21.610 --> 00:15:24.590 now to focus on the word, focus on the preaching, 00:15:24.730 --> 00:15:27.549 focus on sharing the gospel. And the church grew 00:15:27.549 --> 00:15:30.730 rapidly after that because there was a man called 00:15:30.730 --> 00:15:34.470 Philip that loved the Lord. And he prayed about 00:15:34.470 --> 00:15:37.549 how can I get engaged. And the Holy Spirit led 00:15:37.549 --> 00:15:41.460 him to help. With the management of the food 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:46.279 program. At his church in Jerusalem. Serving 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:52.460 tables. Running crowds. Oh. What a great potential. 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:57.659 You could say. That's great future. But actually. 00:15:57.799 --> 00:16:00.919 That was the first step. In his journey with 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:06.600 the Lord. And often. It happens like that. Is 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:09.820 that. If you are wondering. God, what are the 00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:13.159 plans that you have for my future? Don't look 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:18.100 too far. Start looking at the future today. How 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:24.080 do you want me to serve you today, here, and 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:28.259 now? And it so happened that today you come here 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:31.700 and you're going to engage downstairs with all 00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:33.799 of these people that are saying, Hey, the Lord 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:36.740 is doing work with us. Would you consider joining 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:40.379 us and helping us? And you will be amazed at 00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:44.080 how the Holy Spirit leads in things that at the 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:46.480 beginning seem like completely insignificant. 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:51.360 But you know what the Lord is testing in your 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.860 heart as He's leading you to the next step of 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:59.899 your future? Are you willing? Are you doing this 00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:03.100 because I'm asking you? Are you doing this because 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:05.859 it's going to bring fame to you? You are after 00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:09.490 the big things. Or are you after following me? 00:17:11.009 --> 00:17:13.829 And would you take those moments of saying yes 00:17:13.829 --> 00:17:17.009 to the Lord in the little things? The Lord notices. 00:17:18.789 --> 00:17:21.569 And if he can trust you with the little things, 00:17:21.670 --> 00:17:27.329 then the bigger things will come. And so it happened 00:17:27.329 --> 00:17:31.990 with Philip. We are told that not only God used 00:17:31.990 --> 00:17:35.329 him to impact that community in a very simple 00:17:35.329 --> 00:17:41.519 way. But impactful. From impacting that community, 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:44.740 God is going to use him in the next season of 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:50.279 his life to impact a region. And so it happens 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:53.440 that we are told that as the Christians were 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:55.599 right there, the first Christians in Jerusalem, 00:17:56.099 --> 00:18:01.180 there's persecution that starts happening. Who 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:06.039 was the key person behind this persecution? Saul 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:08.839 of Tarsus, who became eventually known as the 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:12.039 Apostle Paul. This was before he followed Jesus. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:17.000 Christians started being killed, taken to prison. 00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:21.599 So most of the Christians in that region in Jerusalem, 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:27.099 they started fleeing to the empire. And some 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:29.579 of them, including the apostles, remain in Jerusalem. 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:34.279 And Philip is one of those guys that left Jerusalem. 00:18:35.289 --> 00:18:38.650 Run from there. He ends up finding himself. In 00:18:38.650 --> 00:18:41.769 Samaria. Right there in the area in the north. 00:18:43.849 --> 00:18:50.569 And you know. No. Person that was a good Jewish 00:18:50.569 --> 00:18:54.430 man. Ever wanted to go to Samaria. That was the 00:18:54.430 --> 00:18:57.730 last place for you to go. Because Jews and Samaritans 00:18:57.730 --> 00:19:03.880 didn't like each other. But we are told. That 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:06.359 Philip ends up there. Now, I want you to think 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:10.900 for a second. This is major disruption. This 00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:13.799 was you hearing, hey, your visa expires today. 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:17.119 You have to leave the country tomorrow. This 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:21.460 is disruption in his life. He's like, hey, I'm 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:23.680 running this food program in Jerusalem. Everything 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:25.720 is good. The ministry is strong. And he's like, 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:29.380 run for your life. Leave Jerusalem. And he finds 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:31.799 himself right there in Samaria. And what happens? 00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:36.339 The believers who were scattered preached the 00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:40.339 good news about Jesus wherever they went. Philip, 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:45.140 for example, went to the city of Samaria and 00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:49.000 told the people there about the Messiah. And 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:54.720 crowds listened intently to Philip because they 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:58.640 were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:07.559 signs he did. What? Philip, you are sharing the 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:11.160 gospel with the Samaritans and there's miracles 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:16.940 that God is using you to perform? What? What 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:20.440 kind of things did you do? Well, many evil spirits 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:23.720 were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:27.059 And many who had been paralyzed or lame were 00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:31.099 healed. So there was great joy in that city. 00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:37.779 God uses Philip to suddenly bring disruption 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:42.759 to the kingdom of darkness in that city. His 00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:45.559 plans were disrupted and now God is using his 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:50.079 life to disrupt the plans of the enemy. And how 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:54.240 did you get from serving tables in a community 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:58.200 to now... preaching the gospel to crowds, healing 00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:01.779 paralyzed people, casting out demons. Where is 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:14.900 that power coming from? Holy Spirit. One of the 00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:17.480 experiences that I have had when leading the 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:20.759 church and we have to invite people to become 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:24.220 elders, it's always a beautiful experience because 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:28.599 Often the experience is that the person says, 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:34.099 who me? An elder? No, I'm not elder material. 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:39.500 I'm just a normal Christian. And often when God 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:42.019 is going to call you out of your comfort zone 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:47.319 to take next levels of influence and impact in 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:51.039 the kingdom, you will feel that you don't have 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:56.099 what it takes. But don't worry. Because who is 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:59.140 going to give you what you need by the time you 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:05.039 need it? Jesus said, the Holy Spirit. And now 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:07.640 in this moment of disruption in Philip's life, 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:10.819 where he has to leave his home and everything 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:14.799 that he is comfortable with and escape, God is 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:17.900 going to use him in that moment to impact that 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:21.660 entire region with the power of Jesus flowing 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:31.559 through him. And I wonder, could it be that the 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:34.680 next level of impact and potential that God has 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:39.779 envisioned for you will only be activated once 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:44.500 your plans become disrupted? And if you are in 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:48.569 a time of disruption, Rather than praying to 00:22:48.569 --> 00:22:51.250 God and saying, God, why are you doing? I thought 00:22:51.250 --> 00:22:53.710 I was going to stay here for a long time. Now 00:22:53.710 --> 00:22:56.029 I have to leave. I don't understand you. I left 00:22:56.029 --> 00:22:58.650 so much behind to follow you here. Now you want 00:22:58.650 --> 00:23:04.450 me to go where? Change your prayer. The Holy 00:23:04.450 --> 00:23:07.309 Spirit has not left you. He will lead you into 00:23:07.309 --> 00:23:11.210 the future. And often God will use disruption 00:23:11.210 --> 00:23:14.490 in your life to lead you to the next season. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:18.220 And I can tell you from personal experience, 00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:23.220 when we were serving in Dallas in our church 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:28.119 there, COVID hit. We moved to stay with my mother 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:31.779 -in -law during that time to be able to help 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:35.099 her because she was elderly. And we ran all the 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:37.180 ministries of the church online during COVID 00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:44.240 in the U .S. We had no idea. That at the end 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:46.680 of COVID. God was going to be calling us to Thailand. 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:52.019 But here we are there. Planning to continue ministering 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:54.339 with the church. We were not thinking about anything 00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:58.359 beyond COVID. We just knew we needed to be there. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:03.019 But because we were there. In this town an hour 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:06.119 away from our home. We were not staying at home 00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:10.099 during the week. And so it happened. That there 00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:13.259 was a winter storm that came in Dallas. One of 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:17.319 those days. And we were fine here. But our home 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:21.859 wasn't. And we did not know. And we started hearing 00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:25.319 that they were plumbing, breaking because of 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:28.500 the freezing and damage happening in places. 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:31.920 And so my wife wisely said, shouldn't we ask 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:33.579 somebody from the church to go and check our 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:38.440 house? And we did. And one of the guys that went 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:41.240 to check. As soon as he walked in, there was 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:44.579 water flowing from the front of the house into 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:48.160 the front of the house. Water flowing, water 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:52.640 flowing. And so we discovered that the dishwasher 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:56.940 had a little hose that because of the low temperatures 00:24:56.940 --> 00:25:02.019 became damaged and popped. So the water kept 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:04.599 flowing from that place the whole time and damaged 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:08.509 the entire house. Remember the house I told you 00:25:08.509 --> 00:25:12.289 we spent a long time fixing? You know, the whole 00:25:12.289 --> 00:25:15.470 beautiful wood floor, the beautiful carpet, all 00:25:15.470 --> 00:25:19.529 of that? Damaged. We had to take all of that. 00:25:19.589 --> 00:25:22.549 We had to hire a crowd to remove all of our furniture. 00:25:22.970 --> 00:25:26.809 Where did you put all your furniture in a matter 00:25:26.809 --> 00:25:30.869 of 24 hours? Well, we were running all of our 00:25:30.869 --> 00:25:34.309 ministries online. So we had a whole fellowship 00:25:34.309 --> 00:25:38.519 hall, like JC, a little bit bigger. Available. 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:43.720 So we took the crowd, the people that came to 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:46.440 move the furniture, and they put everything there. 00:25:48.380 --> 00:25:55.359 So we were homeless, disrupted for a few months. 00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:57.799 Thankfully, we were living here at that time. 00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:03.299 But it's like, why would God do this? So that 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:05.720 forced us to have to go through all of our stuff. 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:10.319 And start putting things in boxes. And getting 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:16.720 rid of things. And feeling uprooted. And when 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:21.079 God uprooted us. And when God had all of our 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:25.539 stuff put in boxes. He says, I'm sending you 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:34.279 to ECB Thailand. We're already packed. We already 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:38.750 did the garage sale. We already felt uprooted. 00:26:40.529 --> 00:26:43.670 What a difference it would have been. We were 00:26:43.670 --> 00:26:45.329 in the middle of our ministry. With everything 00:26:45.329 --> 00:26:50.450 going on. And God says. Stop. Go. Disruption. 00:26:50.950 --> 00:26:54.509 When you are following the Lord. It's never really 00:26:54.509 --> 00:26:58.970 a disruption. It feels like it. But the Holy 00:26:58.970 --> 00:27:01.730 Spirit will lead you into the future. And it 00:27:01.730 --> 00:27:04.910 will tell you what's next. At the time you need 00:27:04.910 --> 00:27:13.099 it. And God can use that disruption to maximize 00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:15.559 your potential to the next level. And you have 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:21.279 no idea that God could use you that way. And 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:27.000 then from there, Philip is moved from impacting 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:32.220 a community and a region now to impacting a nation. 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:39.059 How is God going to use Philip to impact a whole 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:43.400 nation? What is interesting is that God moves 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:47.039 him from this super successful ministry with 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:51.299 the crowds and the city, having joy, to now going 00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:56.799 into anonymity. And we are told that from Samaria, 00:27:56.920 --> 00:28:01.329 God tells Philip, I want you to leave this place, 00:28:01.509 --> 00:28:04.710 and now you're going to go in a road in the middle 00:28:04.710 --> 00:28:08.829 of nowhere. It was a road that connected Jerusalem 00:28:08.829 --> 00:28:12.930 with Gaza. The same Gaza that is in the news 00:28:12.930 --> 00:28:16.910 today. And there was a road that connected Jerusalem 00:28:16.910 --> 00:28:19.750 through Gaza. And God says, Philip, I want you 00:28:19.750 --> 00:28:25.569 to go there, to that road. What for? Why leave 00:28:25.569 --> 00:28:28.190 the crowds? Why leave this successful ministry? 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:31.460 And all the things that we see happening. To 00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:35.740 go in the middle of nowhere. We'll see. As for 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:40.039 Philip. An angel of the Lord said to him. Go 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:44.859 south. Down the desert road. That runs from Jerusalem 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:49.240 to Gaza. So he started out. And he met the treasurer 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:53.380 of Ethiopia. A eunuch. Of great authority under 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:58.680 the Akandas. The queen of Ethiopia. This guy 00:28:58.680 --> 00:29:04.740 is traveling. He serves the very queen of Ethiopia. 00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:11.259 He has authority, power, influence, and he happens 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:15.640 to be traveling on that road. The eunuch had 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:18.680 gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now 00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:23.519 returning back to Ethiopia. Sitting in his carriage, 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:27.680 he was reading aloud. From the book of the prophet 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:34.019 Isaiah. And the Holy Spirit says to Philip. Go 00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:40.759 over. Walk along. Beside that carriage. What 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:45.500 a simple instruction. You see that carriage over 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:49.480 there? Get closer to it. You know honestly if 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:52.180 that was me. I would have struggled with that 00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:55.950 very simple command. He's like, me? What? I don't 00:29:55.950 --> 00:29:59.369 know the guy. Lord, that's going to be weird. 00:30:00.910 --> 00:30:03.430 Is it not me thinking it? Or is it the Lord telling 00:30:03.430 --> 00:30:08.130 me? I don't know. No, I just leave it alone. 00:30:08.390 --> 00:30:11.250 Lord, if this is you, maybe tell me again. You 00:30:11.250 --> 00:30:13.990 know, it's like, that would be me resisting that 00:30:13.990 --> 00:30:18.410 kind of command. But he tells Philip, Philip, 00:30:18.529 --> 00:30:24.900 go. So Philip, Runs over there. And heard the 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:28.420 man reading from the prophet Isaiah. And Philip 00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:35.759 says. Hey. What are you reading? The man replied. 00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:39.839 How can I understand what I'm reading. Unless 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:43.900 someone instructs me. And he urged Philip. To 00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:47.500 come up into the carriage. And sit with him. 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:52.119 The passage of scripture. That he was reading. 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:56.339 It just so happened. It just so happened that 00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:59.779 the passage he was reading. Was this one. He 00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:02.680 was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:05.460 a lamb is silent before the shearers. He did 00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:10.759 not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:13.759 no justice. Who can speak of his descendants. 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:18.619 For his life was taken from the earth. Isaiah. 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:26.180 What chapter? 53. The prophecy of the Messiah. 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:34.079 So the eunuch asked Philip, tell me, was the 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:36.119 prophet talking about himself or someone else? 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:41.240 So glad you asked. So beginning with this same 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:44.519 scripture, Philip told him the good news about 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:49.380 Jesus. And as they rode along, they came to some 00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:52.319 water, and the eunuch said, look, there's some 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:55.400 water. Why can't I be baptized? So he ordered 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:57.940 the carriage to stop. And they went down into 00:31:57.940 --> 00:32:02.059 the water, and Philip baptized him, the first 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:07.599 eunuch, the first Ethiopian follower of Jesus. 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:12.690 When they came up, Out of the water. The spirit 00:32:12.690 --> 00:32:15.829 of the Lord. Snatched Philip away. And the eunuch 00:32:15.829 --> 00:32:20.069 never saw him again. But went on his way. Rejoicing. 00:32:21.910 --> 00:32:26.950 And God. Uses Philip. To bring into the kingdom. 00:32:27.269 --> 00:32:31.809 Of Jesus. A guy that had power. Connections. 00:32:32.069 --> 00:32:36.130 Influence at the government level. Who is the 00:32:36.130 --> 00:32:38.690 first person. To take the gospel to Ethiopia. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:45.920 We just met him. We do not know his name. We 00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:48.240 just know he was a eunuch. And you know what 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:51.200 is beautiful? Is that as he is reading the scroll 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:55.619 of Isaiah, there was a whole section for him. 00:32:56.220 --> 00:33:02.140 In Isaiah chapter 56, just three chapters later, 00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:07.220 there's these words for him. Don't let the eunuch 00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:11.309 say, I am dried up tree. With no children and 00:33:11.309 --> 00:33:14.509 no future. That's what the enemy would like the 00:33:14.509 --> 00:33:20.210 eunuch to believe. No, eunuch, not anymore. For 00:33:20.210 --> 00:33:22.549 this is what the Lord says. I will bless those 00:33:22.549 --> 00:33:25.670 eunuchs who keep my Sabbath days holy and who 00:33:25.670 --> 00:33:28.069 choose to do what pleases me and commit their 00:33:28.069 --> 00:33:31.569 lives to me. I will give them, with the walls 00:33:31.569 --> 00:33:34.309 of my house, a memorial and a name far greater 00:33:34.309 --> 00:33:38.309 than sons and daughters could give. Can you imagine? 00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:44.160 As the eunuch is baptized. And then he leaves 00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:47.559 rejoicing. And now he understands why he is reading. 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:50.980 On chapter 53 he keeps reading. And as he keeps 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:54.519 reading. The Holy Spirit is now encountering 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:58.140 him in that space. And says eunuch I know that 00:33:58.140 --> 00:34:01.849 you have no children. And I know that you feel 00:34:01.849 --> 00:34:04.650 at moments that there's no future for you. But 00:34:04.650 --> 00:34:07.109 eunuch, I'm here to tell you that now you are 00:34:07.109 --> 00:34:11.130 following me. I am your future. I am your reward. 00:34:11.329 --> 00:34:16.030 Now you are mine. Can you imagine the impact 00:34:16.030 --> 00:34:20.949 in the life of that eunuch to read the words 00:34:20.949 --> 00:34:24.409 of the prophet Isaiah after he has just encountered 00:34:24.409 --> 00:34:33.079 Jesus? And all of that, simply because Philip 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:36.280 was willing to live life with the Holy Spirit. 00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:39.159 And when the Holy Spirit says, I want you to 00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:44.539 leave the crowds behind, and the show behind, 00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:48.139 and I want you to go in anonymity, just to meet 00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:51.500 one guy in the middle of nowhere, Philip did 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:56.909 not protest. And when God tells Philip, Philip, 00:34:56.929 --> 00:35:00.190 you see that carriage there? Get closer. But 00:35:00.190 --> 00:35:02.389 what for? I'm not going to tell you. Just get 00:35:02.389 --> 00:35:08.650 closer. He did not protest. He went. It's one 00:35:08.650 --> 00:35:14.469 step of obedience. It will always lead you to 00:35:14.469 --> 00:35:17.170 the right place. And you will always be there 00:35:17.170 --> 00:35:22.510 at the right time. And God uses this moment. 00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:29.460 That seems so incongruent to really bring a wide 00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:32.320 impact into a region that Philip would never 00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:38.139 visit. Yet God used him to impact that very nation. 00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:44.920 And from there, God is going to use Philip to 00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:50.880 impact now a generation. And this is beautiful. 00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:57.320 Because from all the places to impact, this one 00:35:57.320 --> 00:36:03.739 is the hardest of all. And we are told right 00:36:03.739 --> 00:36:09.920 there that as he leaves this place of that road 00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:14.219 in Gaza, towards Gaza, that the Holy Spirit now 00:36:14.219 --> 00:36:17.460 takes him away from there and leads him to this 00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:24.110 town. That is also known as Ashdod. And in that 00:36:24.110 --> 00:36:29.789 place that you see right there in the map. On 00:36:29.789 --> 00:36:33.210 the coast. Now God is going to lead him there. 00:36:33.369 --> 00:36:35.489 And he's going to lead him all the way to the 00:36:35.489 --> 00:36:40.269 north. Until he settles down in Caesarea. Right 00:36:40.269 --> 00:36:43.230 there in the north. So he's going to move from 00:36:43.230 --> 00:36:46.130 here. Walk all the way. Share the gospel with 00:36:46.130 --> 00:36:50.960 people. He gets to Caesarea. And then he gets 00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:54.519 established. That becomes his new home. That's 00:36:54.519 --> 00:36:57.460 where he settles with the family. And that is 00:36:57.460 --> 00:37:01.239 where we find him next. But this is beautiful 00:37:01.239 --> 00:37:06.380 because as God is using Philip to impact Samaria, 00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:10.260 Jerusalem, and then Ethiopia, at the same time 00:37:10.260 --> 00:37:17.199 there was a guy called Paul who was persecuting 00:37:17.199 --> 00:37:21.719 Christians. Hating them, hating Jesus. And something 00:37:21.719 --> 00:37:25.539 is about to happen. Meanwhile, Philip found himself 00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:29.420 farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached 00:37:29.420 --> 00:37:32.440 the good news there and in every town along the 00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:37.219 way until he came to Caesarea. And at the same 00:37:37.219 --> 00:37:41.739 time that this is happening, Saul was uttering 00:37:41.739 --> 00:37:46.019 threats with every breath and was eager to kill 00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:49.800 the Lord's followers. You have Philip following 00:37:49.800 --> 00:37:52.820 the Lord, impacting people, and you have Saul 00:37:52.820 --> 00:37:55.559 at the same time killing the followers of the 00:37:55.559 --> 00:38:02.300 Lord until Jesus meets Saul. He becomes a follower 00:38:02.300 --> 00:38:05.820 of Jesus. He becomes the Apostle Paul. And he 00:38:05.820 --> 00:38:08.619 now becomes the one that God is going to call 00:38:08.619 --> 00:38:13.300 to start doing all of this outreach in the empire. 00:38:15.059 --> 00:38:19.570 And at the end of his last, trip of the Apostle 00:38:19.570 --> 00:38:23.269 Paul in all that region, as he comes back to 00:38:23.269 --> 00:38:27.210 Jerusalem, he's going to stop by the town Caesarea 00:38:27.210 --> 00:38:31.050 because they come from the coast. And as they 00:38:31.050 --> 00:38:33.250 get to the coast, they get to that town in order 00:38:33.250 --> 00:38:38.590 to go to Jerusalem. And you know, who does he 00:38:38.590 --> 00:38:44.909 meet in that place? The next day, we went on 00:38:44.909 --> 00:38:52.079 to Caesarea. And stayed at the home of who? And 00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:55.059 now it's not just Philip. But he has a nickname. 00:38:56.760 --> 00:39:02.260 Philip the Evangelist. Because very well earned 00:39:02.260 --> 00:39:08.280 name. Philip the Evangelist. One of the seven 00:39:08.280 --> 00:39:11.079 men. Yeah, I know what you're talking about. 00:39:11.139 --> 00:39:15.139 We just read it. Who have been chosen to distribute 00:39:15.139 --> 00:39:21.400 food. Yeah, that guy. But it's not just Philip 00:39:21.400 --> 00:39:27.119 anymore. He has a family. He has married. He 00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:32.380 has children. In fact, four daughters. And he 00:39:32.380 --> 00:39:35.420 has four unmarried daughters who have the gift 00:39:35.420 --> 00:39:41.219 of prophecy. They are following the Lord as a 00:39:41.219 --> 00:39:44.980 family. And God has now used his life to impact 00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:49.139 the life of his children who love the Lord, are 00:39:49.139 --> 00:39:51.659 serving him, and are experiencing the presence 00:39:51.659 --> 00:39:54.219 of the Holy Spirit in their lives, giving them 00:39:54.219 --> 00:40:02.880 a gift of prophecy. I can't imagine Philip and 00:40:02.880 --> 00:40:05.920 Paul sitting at the table having breakfast, good 00:40:05.920 --> 00:40:11.309 Thai coffee, one morning. And remembering. And 00:40:11.309 --> 00:40:17.510 Philip says, Paul, you know what? People call 00:40:17.510 --> 00:40:20.030 me the evangelist today, but you know how I became 00:40:20.030 --> 00:40:23.110 an evangelist? It was because of you. You started 00:40:23.110 --> 00:40:28.050 killing us. And I was so upset that I had to 00:40:28.050 --> 00:40:30.760 leave Jerusalem. Every Jewish. Man wants to be 00:40:30.760 --> 00:40:33.119 in Jerusalem. And because of your fault, I had 00:40:33.119 --> 00:40:34.940 to leave. I had no idea where I was going to 00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:37.960 end up. I end up being in Samaria. And in Samaria, 00:40:38.039 --> 00:40:40.179 the Holy Spirit used me in a way that I never 00:40:40.179 --> 00:40:43.019 imagined possible. He used me to heal people. 00:40:43.420 --> 00:40:48.079 He used me to reach the Samaritans. He used me 00:40:48.079 --> 00:40:51.260 to cast out demons. And all of that because of 00:40:51.260 --> 00:41:02.679 you. And there, two guys. That discover life 00:41:02.679 --> 00:41:09.639 with the Holy Spirit. Meeting. Before Paul enters 00:41:09.639 --> 00:41:12.019 the last season of his ministry. That will lead 00:41:12.019 --> 00:41:16.800 him to prison. What an encouraging meeting that 00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:22.440 must have been. But this was Philip. This was 00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:25.960 the future that God had for him. And at every 00:41:25.960 --> 00:41:29.659 step, he demanded that he learn to live life 00:41:29.659 --> 00:41:31.980 with the Holy Spirit. And it's the same thing 00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:36.360 for you. It's the same thing for me. You have 00:41:36.360 --> 00:41:39.300 a potential that God saved you for. There's a 00:41:39.300 --> 00:41:45.420 future that is there awaiting. Only if you follow 00:41:45.420 --> 00:41:49.619 the Holy Spirit's leading and resist the attack 00:41:49.619 --> 00:41:55.699 of the enemy. That's why. The Word of God says 00:41:55.699 --> 00:41:58.840 this, and this is what Paul wrote to Timothy. 00:41:59.179 --> 00:42:02.360 Would you read it out loud with me? For God has 00:42:02.360 --> 00:42:06.840 not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but 00:42:06.840 --> 00:42:11.400 of power, love, and self -discipline. Let's read 00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:15.300 it one more time. For God has not given us a 00:42:15.300 --> 00:42:19.619 spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, 00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:26.119 and self -discipline. Remember. This is whom 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:30.079 the Holy Spirit is. And if you're a follower 00:42:30.079 --> 00:42:32.619 of Jesus, he has given you the Holy Spirit to 00:42:32.619 --> 00:42:36.699 guide you into the future. But the things that 00:42:36.699 --> 00:42:42.820 the enemy will use to compromise our future is 00:42:42.820 --> 00:42:49.030 exactly this. Fear and timidity. You will start 00:42:49.030 --> 00:42:52.730 experiencing fear. The first fear that the enemy 00:42:52.730 --> 00:42:55.349 will use to deter you is the fear of whether 00:42:55.349 --> 00:42:59.630 you can trust God's plans for your future. When 00:42:59.630 --> 00:43:01.590 you start wondering, God, how do I know that 00:43:01.590 --> 00:43:03.409 I can follow you on the future you have for me? 00:43:03.429 --> 00:43:06.349 It's a good future to be at. How do I know that's 00:43:06.349 --> 00:43:09.170 good? Maybe it's a miserable life. I don't want 00:43:09.170 --> 00:43:13.570 that, so I'll just follow my plans. And you resist. 00:43:15.719 --> 00:43:18.039 Submitting to the guidance of the Spirit because 00:43:18.039 --> 00:43:22.280 you believe that God is not someone you can trust 00:43:22.280 --> 00:43:24.639 and His plans are something you should be afraid 00:43:24.639 --> 00:43:32.579 of. Not so. That's an enemy lie. The second fear 00:43:32.579 --> 00:43:34.539 that you're going to wrestle with is the fear 00:43:34.539 --> 00:43:39.219 about yourself. Do I have what it takes? How 00:43:39.219 --> 00:43:41.280 do I know that I will have what I need by the 00:43:41.280 --> 00:43:45.059 time I get there? You have the promise of the 00:43:45.059 --> 00:43:51.380 Holy Spirit. And timidity. Timidity is this sense 00:43:51.380 --> 00:43:54.219 of who, me? No, not me. You got the wrong person. 00:43:54.960 --> 00:43:58.099 I'm not the one. Philip, you are going to be 00:43:58.099 --> 00:44:04.159 known as the evangelist. God is going to use 00:44:04.159 --> 00:44:08.820 you to impact a community, a region, a nation, 00:44:09.019 --> 00:44:16.639 a next generation. Who? Me? I'm just happy to 00:44:16.639 --> 00:44:19.199 serve tables. I have no idea what you're talking 00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:24.619 about. Timidity can paralyze you because you 00:44:24.619 --> 00:44:29.480 think that you do not have what it takes. But 00:44:29.480 --> 00:44:34.039 in reality, you are not what it takes. It's the 00:44:34.039 --> 00:44:38.159 Holy Spirit in you that is what it takes. You 00:44:38.159 --> 00:44:42.679 understand that? You don't have you. In you, 00:44:42.739 --> 00:44:44.840 everything that you need for that future is the 00:44:44.840 --> 00:44:49.260 Holy Spirit in you. That will give you the power, 00:44:49.380 --> 00:44:53.000 the love, and the self -discipline. This is the 00:44:53.000 --> 00:44:58.250 Holy Spirit in you. So whenever this fear of 00:44:58.250 --> 00:45:01.349 yourself being inadequate is paralyzing you, 00:45:01.449 --> 00:45:04.130 remember and go to the Lord in prayer and say, 00:45:04.190 --> 00:45:07.409 Lord, I know that this is not about me. If you 00:45:07.409 --> 00:45:09.769 are calling me to this future, I'll go in your 00:45:09.769 --> 00:45:12.429 name because you are the source of my power. 00:45:13.170 --> 00:45:15.590 You are the source of everything that I will 00:45:15.590 --> 00:45:21.610 need. And I want to step in in faith. That is 00:45:21.610 --> 00:45:27.659 how this works. Fear and timidity will be used 00:45:27.659 --> 00:45:30.840 by the enemy to compromise that future. But Jesus 00:45:30.840 --> 00:45:35.400 is telling you today, no. Not if you're following 00:45:35.400 --> 00:45:38.199 me. Because the Holy Spirit I gave you will lead 00:45:38.199 --> 00:45:40.980 you into the future. Will give you what to say 00:45:40.980 --> 00:45:43.099 when you need it. Will provide the things you 00:45:43.099 --> 00:45:45.500 need by the time you need them. So just chill 00:45:45.500 --> 00:45:50.320 and follow me. Will you trust me with your future? 00:45:51.619 --> 00:45:55.369 Will you? And perhaps that's what you need to 00:45:55.369 --> 00:45:57.369 tell the Lord today as we conclude this study. 00:45:57.750 --> 00:46:01.230 Lord, thank you for this day. I needed to hear 00:46:01.230 --> 00:46:04.090 this. I will trust you with the future because 00:46:04.090 --> 00:46:06.570 I know I have what it takes to do your will. 00:46:06.690 --> 00:46:09.090 And I know that you have what it takes to overcome. 00:46:09.489 --> 00:46:13.449 So together we're a good team. I'm for it. Lord 00:46:13.449 --> 00:46:16.570 Jesus, you gave us your spirit to lead us into 00:46:16.570 --> 00:46:20.849 all future. Thank you. For inviting us to follow 00:46:20.849 --> 00:46:23.690 you. Thank you for inviting us to live life with 00:46:23.690 --> 00:46:28.030 the Holy Spirit. And I ask you Lord today. That 00:46:28.030 --> 00:46:31.690 as you lead your people. Through simple opportunities 00:46:31.690 --> 00:46:36.820 that are opening up. Or through disruption. Or 00:46:36.820 --> 00:46:39.519 by placing them in positions that go beyond their 00:46:39.519 --> 00:46:42.260 comfort zone. Lord, no matter what it is that 00:46:42.260 --> 00:46:45.360 you are doing. Today I ask you, break the power 00:46:45.360 --> 00:46:48.280 of the enemy that is trying to oppose and deceive. 00:46:49.460 --> 00:46:52.960 And fill your people with your spirit. And let 00:46:52.960 --> 00:46:56.579 the voice of your spirit speak loudly. So that 00:46:56.579 --> 00:46:59.280 they may discern what you are doing. And let 00:46:59.280 --> 00:47:02.579 that future be blessed. The plans that you have 00:47:02.579 --> 00:47:05.969 for them, be blessed. And we ask you, Lord, that 00:47:05.969 --> 00:47:10.110 nothing will compromise those plans and that 00:47:10.110 --> 00:47:13.690 the impact and the potential will simply grow 00:47:13.690 --> 00:47:17.409 by the power and the grace of the Holy Spirit. 00:47:17.690 --> 00:47:33.039 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. If you are looking 00:47:33.039 --> 00:47:36.800 for community or are in need of prayer, we welcome 00:47:36.800 --> 00:47:40.239 you to engage by sending us an email to office 00:47:40.239 --> 00:47:45.219 at ecb .asia. If God is calling you to support 00:47:45.219 --> 00:47:47.820 our ministries, you will find giving options 00:47:47.820 --> 00:47:51.619 on our website. And remember to join us next 00:47:51.619 --> 00:47:53.320 week. God bless you.