Sermon:

Galatians 5:16-18
LIVE BY THE SPIRIT
Romans 7:14- 8:4
What principle should one follow to live the Christian life? If a group of average church
members were asked that question what answers would they give? Some would likely
emphasis Bible reading and prayer. Some would stress faithful church attendance. Others
might mention living by the Golden Rule or using your life to serve others. Still others might
say, "Imitate Christ." Good answers, but is there a principle that over-arches these? Here we
have Pauls answer to the question, "How to live the Christian life?" His over-arching guiding
principle is Live by the Spirit.
Many professing Christians are quite ignorant of the Holy Spirits ministry and they fail to
recognize and experience His work. They tend to emphasize rules rather than the life of
divine grace, the life of the Spirit. We preachers often hammer on morality but teach little
about the workings of the Spirit and His power to help. To substitute moralizing for the
biblical teaching of the Holy Spirit led life is tragic.
The real secret of success or victory in living the Christian life is to follow the Holy Spirits
guidance and receive His empowering. This leads to an inner and outer transformation of
life that a code of ethics cannot even touch. This was Pauls understanding and deep
conviction; to live in victory is to walk by the Spirit (CIT). It is each believers responsibility to
live a Spirit controlled life.
I. The Victorious Life, v.16.
II. The Inner Struggle, v. 17:
III. Spiritual Freedom, v.18:
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will never carry out the desires of the flesh.

Here we have the answer to the abuses described in the previous verses, and the secret to
the victorious Christian life. This life of victory comes not from following an external code but
from obeying an internal Presence. The Holy Spirit takes the place of the law as the
controlling power in the Christians life.
The word walk, used 32 times in Galatians, is used figuratively of ones way of life. The verb
[peri-pateite] is in the present imperative and literally means keep on walking. The promise
here given is to the believer who continuously lives in dependence on the indwelling Holy
Spirit for guidance and power. The Spirit does not operate automatically in the believers
heart but waits to be yielded to, depended on, and followed. The secret to victory in living
the Christian life is walking continuously by the Spirit.
To walk by the Spirit of God is to be sensitive to the Spirits leading and follow it. The Spirit
of God will always lead us in accord with the Word of God, never contrary to it.
When a Christian does yield to the Spirits control, the promise, or the result, is that he will
not in any way gratify the fallen nature. The word not is better translated by the emphatic
word never for it represents the most emphatic double negative (oume) or negation possible
in the original Greek. If you follow the Spirit directions and promptings you will never be
dominated by your sinful nature, here defined as flesh.
The flesh refers to the fallen evil nature of man. It desires to dominate the free will of man.
The flesh combines with the power of temptation to keep you from following the way of
Christ Jesus.
When you were saved and received Jesus as Lord and Savior, the power of sin and of your
fallen nature was broken, but it was not eradicated. The believer has been given the
responsibility to obey the Spirt, the good new is that believers in Jesus Christ can. The
believer though must walk in the Spirit for the fallen fleshly nature desires to dominate the
believers life like it has been accustom to doing before the believer experienced salvation
from sin and its power over him.
The word desire or gratify (teles te) means to complete or fulfill by outward action. This

desiring was part of the original nature of man but was perverted into evil by our fallen
nature. God has given us natural desires to be express in healthy ways. Satan uses our
sinful nature to get us to use our natural and originally good desires in a ways that are
contrary to Gods will. Much sin is an illegitimate expression of a legitimate desire. While no
believer will ever be entirely free from the evil desires that stem from his fallen human
nature, he need not capitulate to them, but by walking in the Spirit he will always experience
victory over them. This wonderful truth is as much a part of the gospel as is the promise of
the forgiveness of sin. The promise of walking by the Spirit is the guarantee of moment by
moment victory.
A LESSON FROM THE OAK TREE
Around our home where we lived in Spring City, TN were some beautiful oak trees. Every
year during the fall season I noticed that some of them retain their dried leaves long after
the maples, the elms, and the walnuts become bare. Even the strong winds of winter and
the early spring rains did not completely strip their limbs. But as springtime progresses, the
scene begins to change. Fresh little buds start appearing at the tips of the twigs. Soon the
dried leaves of the preceding season drop away because of the surging forces of new life
from within.
This is a picture of the Holy Spirits work in us as a Christians. Old habits cling to our lives
with a tenacity that can almost drive us to despair. Even trial and adversity do not remove all
the lifeless leftovers of our fallen human nature. But Christ, who dwells in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit, is at work. His powerful life continually seeks expression from within. As we
nurture it through confession of sin, prayer, meditation on the Word of God, obedience, and
fellowship with Christ we begin to live continuously in the Spirit. Then the dead works of the
flesh gradually drop away. It is the living that expels and replaces the dead.
Do you feel discouraged? Have your efforts to turn over a new leaf or pluck off the old ones
met with defeat? Then take a lesson from the mighty oak. Thank God for the wonderworking power of the Holy Spirit within you! Keep on yielding to His gentle urging to be kind,

loving, honest, and faithful. As you do your part the Holy Spirit will take care of those "old
leaves." The best way to get rid of the old nature is to give life to the new nature.
II. THE INNER STRUGGLE (v 17).
Paul further explains the reason to live a life that is controlled by and energized by the Spirit
in verse 17. "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;
for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you
please."
There is an inner spiritual conflict and struggle in each believers life between desires
wrongly expressed and the indwelling Holy Spirit and between Holy Spirit prompted desires
and the flesh. The explanation for this inner civil war is the fact that Christians have two
natures, a fleshly or sinful nature received at birth, inherited from fallen Adam, and a new
nature received at spiritual birth given by Christ. Again, the old natures power was broken
not eradicated at salvation. Both natures, the believers earthly nature and the new nature,
have desires, the one for evil and the other for holiness. Thus they are in conflict with each
other, and the result would be that they keep a believer from doing what he would otherwise
do. Paul gives personal testimony to his struggle in Romans 7:15-25 and to his Holy Spirit
won victory in Romans chapter 8.
Note that Paul is not saying that these two antagonists are equal. Paul does not deny that
there is daily victory. The Holy Spirit is infinitely stronger. The Bible is saying that the
Christian cannot simply will to over come the flesh. If we rely on our own wisdom we will
make wrong choices and fail. What the Apostle is pointing out is that we cannot win this
victory in our own strength and by our own will but only by surrendering to the Holy Spirit
and finding His strength. The only way to victory over wrong desires is submitting to the
Spirit and giving Him continuous control of your life.
III. SPIRITUAL FREEDOM (v18).

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
The solution is not to pit our will to obey the law against the flesh but to surrender our will to
the Holy Spirit. The present tense verb indicates that freedom from the defeat, bondage,
curse, and even the impotence of the law (Gal. 3:11ff, 21ff) is for those continually being
willing led by the Spirit. The godly life is not lived under the rules of Law, but is found in a life
led by the Spirit. It is important for the Galatians and us to know that just as justification is
not possible by works, so sanctification cannot be achieved by human effort. It is a fact that
Christ saves and that the Holy Spirit sanctifies (through heeding the word of truth and
living a life of truth). (The if is a first class condition- which could be translated and they who
are). To live victoriously one must submit to the Spirits direction and let the Spirit control
ones life.
WHOSE MONOPOLY?
A group of pastors had gathered to make plans for a city-wide evangelistic campaign. One
of the men suggested that the well-known evangelist D. L. Moody be considered as a
possible speaker. The pastors discussed the suggestion and several spoke favorably about
Moody. One young preacher who wasnt in favor of inviting Moody stood up and said with a
note of sarcasm, "From the way some of you talk, youd think Mr. Moody has a monopoly on
the Holy Spirit."
The room became quiet. Then another pastor said, "No, Mr. Moody doesnt have a
monopoly on the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit does have a monopoly on Mr. Moody!"
That pastor recognized that Moody was a man who had not only yielded his body to be a
temple of the Holy Spirit but had learned to be fully submissive to His will. The Holy Spirit
truly had a monopoly on Mr. Moody.
We are admonished to "be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18). That involves yielding ourselves
to the will and power of the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to accomplish His purposes
through us.

No one has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit. But He should have a monopoly on us. The
human spirit fails unless the Holy Spirit fills.
Back to the BASICS
In the 1994 Winter Olympics, held in Norway, twenty-three year old Tommy Moe of the
United States won the gold on the mens downhill. It was "a beautifully controlled run," said
William Oscar Johnson in Sports Illustrated, "on which he held tucks and thrust his hands
forward in perfect form at places where others had stood up and flailed their arms."
After his victory, Tommy Moe explained his thought processes. "I kept it simple," he said, "
and focused on skiing, not on winning, not on where Id place. I remembered to breathe
sometimes I dont."
The winner of the gold medal in the Olympics had to remember the most basic of basics:
breathing! He kept it simple.
Likewise as we seek to have a strong walk with God, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to
know where we win or lose. Those being led by the Spirit breathe the exhilarating and
invigorating air of moral and spiritual freedom. No longer being under laws bondage, they
live out Gods presence with gladness of heart. Spiritual victory depends on the basics. We
need to make sure were being led by the Spirit.

CONCLUSION
Cooperate with the Holy Spirit and let Him lead and you will live according to the high
standards of the life and teachings of Jesus. No other directed life will come even close to
enabling the believer to live the Christ-like life on earth. Being led by the Holy Spirit involves
the desire to hear, the readiness to obey Gods Word, and the sensitivity to discern between
your feelings and His prompting. Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit.
Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions,
and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires.

Sermon:
ROMANS 8:5-11
LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
Our text reveals that there are only two ways to live life. Paul draws several contrasts
between existence ruled by the flesh and the new life of the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit is to
be "in step" with the Spirit. Life in the Spirit means to follow His lead and remain in His
control. It is life governed by the Spirit of God. This life is distinguished by the mind being
set or focused on serving Christ. This individuals desires are not selfishly controlled but are
controlled by the will of Christ who lives in Him. If you are a believer, the Spirit is always in
you for the purpose of lovingly leading you.
If a person is not in step with the Spirit of God he or she will be controlled by the flesh.
These people live an existence which is dominated by sinful human nature whose focus and
center of attention is self, whose life is lived to satisfy selfish desires.
These two mind sets are intent on diametrically opposite directions. The mind set dominated
by the desires and activities of the sinful nature is on the way to death. The mind set
dominated by the desires and activities of the will of God is on the way to life and life eternal.
Each person
is responsible for which mind set he pursues. The believers responsibility is to set his mind
on living in submission to the indwelling Holy Spirit or to focus his mind on Christ. (CIT).
I. THE TWO MIND SETS, 5-8.
II. THE INDWELLING SPIRIT, 9-10.
III. SPIRIT GIVEN LIFE, 11.
First in verses 5-8 Paul answers the question what does it mean to live according to the
sinful nature or to live according to the Spirit? Verse 5 For those who are according to the
flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the

things of the Spirit.

People live life with one of two mind sets. One type of persons mind is set (set on is
phronousin, pres. tense, "keep on being mindful of or aspiring for") to seek those things he
is most interested in, constantly talking about, engaged in and boasting about. Those who
walk according to the flesh yield to the dictates of the flesh. They have their desires set on
the things of the world, the things this world has to offer.
Those who live according to the Spirit aspire for or have their minds set on what the Spirit
desires. To walk after the Spirit is to align or subject oneself to the Spirit. The man who
walks after the Spirit cannot act independent of Him (Gal. 5:16). He acts in subjection to or
in accordance with the Holy Spirit. He may have many failures but his basic orientation and
uppermost concerns have to do with the things of the Spirit. The things of the Spirit are the
things which the Spirit proposes and approves.
Ones mind or the concentration of ones life either sides with one group or the other, it is
impossible to be on both sides at once. You can not serve both God and mammon (or
wealth, the world). The
basic disposition or direction of our lives is either on Gods side or on the side of sinful
human nature. The sinful nature and the indwelling Spirit are in conflict (Gal. 5:17).
We are involved in a real battle for the mind as verse 6 states, For the mind set on the flesh
is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
As Christians, we are to be self-disciplined not only in our physical appetites but also in our
thoughts. To lose the focus of our minds is to fall prey to the devil. Satan wants to control
your mind, to have mind-control over you so he can brain-wash you to see life his way. He
will use your thinking as his weapon to control you, defeat you (spiritually), and eventually
devour you. If you dont learn to control/master your thoughts, Satan will win the inner war.
You must win the battle for your mind!

The mind is so much a part of everything we do and it is difficult to discipline it. The difficulty
of controlling the mind is underscored by Lanny Bassham, an Olympic gold medalist in
shooting the small-bore rifle. He explained in Sports Illustrated, "Our sport is controlled nonmovement. We are shooting from 50 meters -- over half a football field -- at a bulls eye
three-quarters the size of a dime. If the angle of error at the point of the barrel is more that .
005 of a millimeter (that is five one-thousandths), you drop into the next circle and lose a
point. So we have to learn how to make everything stop. I stop my breathing. I stop my
digestion by not eating for 12 hours before the competition. I train by running to keep my
pulse around 60, so I have a full second between beats. You do all of this and you have the
technical control. But you have to have some years of experience in reading conditions: the
wind, the mirage. Then you have the other 80 percent of the problems --- focusing the
mind!"
How often we fail in disciplining that vital part of life! Our thoughts begin to drift from the
God centered life into worldly and forbidden areas, and we let them go. We become
anxious, lustful, hateful. We think proudly. We give in to self-pity. Race car driver Sterling
Moss once said of driving at high speeds, "Its necessary to relax your muscles when you
can. Relaxing your brain though is fatal!"
Its the same in the battle with Satan. When you let the Devil control the way you think, you
will live in fear, anger, depression and some even live with thoughts of suicide. You are
what you think. Proverbs 23:7 says "For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Your
thought-life affects everything about you how you act how you feel how you live. [If
you THINK negative thoughts you will ACT in a negative way. If you THINK sad things
you will BE sad. If you THINK youre sick you will FEEL sick. If you THINK youre
worthless youll TURN OUT to be worthless. If you THINK bad thoughts youll DO bad
things. BUT on the other hand If you THINK Godly things youll
ACT more Godly! Each of us need to surrender our mind to God, or Satan will influence
more & more, then control more & more of our thinking [ then more and more of his life. For
he who will not command his thoughts will soon lose command over his actions.]

Lord, saturate my thoughts with truth, And let Your Word in me abide;
Then, thinking on the pure and good, May my whole life be edified!
If a person persists in being worldly he is on the side of the world and must expect the
worlds dooms (or death). On the other hand, if the things concerning God and His kingdom
are his chief concern, he can expect life: sweet communion with God. The light of God in
the mind, Gods love poured out in the heart, and joy unspeakable and full of glory. All this
and far, far more.
He can expect peace which implies contentment, a sense of security, and an inner calm.
Those that set their mind on the Spirit have the inner assurance that past sins are forgiven,
that present events, no matter how painful, are being overruled for good, and that nothing
that might occur in the future will be able to separate him from the love of God in Christ.
Such peace means basic freedom from fear, anxiety and restlessness.
The greatest blessings of Christ are granted to those who walk after the Spirit. The mind set
on the Spirit is life and peace and this becomes our experience as we learn to walk in the
Spirit.Isaiah 26:3 says, You will keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You.
Do you have a need to control things? To find a solution for every problem? To have a back
plan in case God doesnt come through the way you think He should? Have you ever
noticed that the more you try to fix things, the more anxiety you experience? Paul calls this,
"The mind of the flesh." Fixing is the opposite of trusting; usually you cant do both. Now that
doesnt mean God wants you to be mindless or helpless; it just means He wants you to live
by faith, not head knowledge! When you learn to trust God and operate in "the mind of the
Spirit," you experience peace in spite of the circumstances..
[One of the pitfalls of excessive reasoning is that it causes you to become double-minded
and stuck. Listen, "A man of two minds is unstable and unreliable and uncertain about
everything" (Jas 1:8 AMP). Does that describe you?]

Instead of always trying to figure things out -learn to be comfortable not knowing, and start
trusting the One who does! Make a decision today and every time you feel anxious, youll
stop and pray: "Lord Im bringing it to You and Im waiting for Your answer." When you stop
struggling with the whens, whys, and hows, youll begin to experience Gods peace in a
way you never have before. Youll also position yourself for Him to intervene on your behalf.
So make a decision today to surrender and trust God.
We all have our "own minds" about things, dont we? What is right/wrong. What is good/bad.
How we should
act talk think live. God though is not interested in YOUR OPINIONS about these
things. OPINIONS are a dime a dozen everyone has one. God wants you to have the
"mind of Christ" on everything you do, say, think. The "mind" of Jesus is PURE He only
wants what God wants. Thats the "mind" God wants you to have. [The Mind Of Christ
-Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:..." ]
Every person is either under the control of the Spirit or under control of the old nature, either
on a road of peace or on a road that leads to death. Walking in the Spirt is living with Him as
the director of our lives.
Verse 7 amplifies the critical necessity of walking in the Spirit. "because the mind set on the
flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even
able to do so,"
Every unredeemed person whether religious or atheistic, whether outwardly moral or
outwardly wicked is hostile toward God. If a believer lives in the flesh his actions also will be
hostile toward God.
Why? Because it is the nature of the mind set on death to oppose Him who is life. Thus the
mind of the flesh is hostile to God, regarding Him as an enemy. Because a mind that is selfcentered and self-willed does not submit itself to God, as a matter of fact as long as the
mind of the flesh is in control it is not able to submit to God.

The Greek word translated subject ( ) is a military term for subject to orders. Since it is in the
present tense it meas continued insubordination. The mind of the flesh will be in continuous
subordination to God and His way.
The mind of the flesh also is impotent to change its own nature. Those controlled by the
mind of the flesh are helpless. They do not simple dont submit to the law of God. They can
not following the Law of God. [The law of God is the revelation of His nature, therefore
opposition to Gods law is opposition to God.]
How did you learn your multiplication tables States & Capitals Bible verses?
REPETITION! What you put into your minds, REPEATEDLY, will OCCUPY your mind. What
OCCUPIES your mind, will ultimately express itself in your character and lifestyle.
Verse 8 reveals another sad truth. and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Did you realize that God can be pleased? Mankind was created for the expressed purpose
of pleasing God (Rev. 4:10; 2 Cor. 5:9; 1 Thess. 4:1). The Holy Spirit is the source of all that
pleases God in man. A person who is NOT motivated or empowered by God even his best
works are produced by his flesh for self-centered reasons and will never be seen by God as
a work for Gods glory.
You need to understand that a life lived with its desires set on this world cannot please God.
Those people who are living "in the flesh," that is those whose affection, purposes,
thoughts, words, and deeds are basically controlled by their sinful nature
are unable to please God. Realize that Gods heart is no an iceberg. It can be please and is
filled with delight at our obedience (Col. 3:20).
[The unsaved lead lives that are totally void of spiritual life and ability. A believer, then, who
gives in to his sin nature is acting like the unsaved ( 1 Cor. 3:3).]
Ive been filled with the Spirit, but I have learned that I leak! I need to daily surrender to the
Spirits will and leadership so that I can daily live in the power of the Spirit.

II. THE INDWELLING SPIRIT, 9-10.

After speaking objectively about the two types of mind sets, Paul now addressed his
readers directly in verse 9. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the
Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not
belong to Him.
["If indeed" is a first class condition assumed true.] A test of whether or not you have saving
faith is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. You can be certain of your eternal
salvation if the Spirit of God dwells in you. (Oike is dwells indicates being at ones home).
If anyone does not have the indwelling Spirit of God it does not matter their profession of the
local church they are a member of, they are not a member of Christs eternal body. To
belong to Christ, the Holy Spirit of God must indwell your life.
It is the indwelling Holy Spirit that gives a believer a totally different life (2 Cor. 5:17). The
opposite, however, is also true. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not
belong to Christ ( lit. "this one is not of Him"). Since only the Holy Spirit gives spiritual life, a
person cannot be related to Christ apart from the Spirit.
The person who gives no evidence of the presence, power and fruit of Gods Spirit in his life
has not authentically claimed Christ as Savior and Lord. The person who demonstrates no
desire for the things of God and has no inclination to avoid sin or no passion to please God
is not indwelt by the Holy Spirit and thus does not belong to Christ. A sobering truth.
[The interchange of the titles "Spirit of God" and "Spirit of Christ" argues for the deity of
Jesus Christ. This statement also makes it clear that the indwelling presence of the Holy
Spirit is the identifying mark of a believer in Jesus Christ ( 1 John 3:24; 4:13).]
10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because
of righteousness.

In verses 9 and 10 Pauls thought flow moves from "Spirit of God" to "Spirit of Christ" then to
"Christ in you." It is plain that to say the "Spirit of God or the Spirit of Christ in us or Christ in
us is to say the same thing. This scriptural usage finds its explanation in the doctrine of the
trinity. While there is only one God, He reveals Himself in three persons.
[Verse 10, like verses 9b and 11, is a conditional statement which in Greek the condition is
assumed to be true;
if can be understood as "since" or "because."] As a result of Christs indwelling presence,
your body is dead (or, "subject to death"; 7:24) because of sin, yet your spirit is alive
because of righteousness, the righteousness of Christ. Though all that have sinned in the
flesh will physically die, those who live by the Spirit will live because their spirit is alive.
Because of Gods imputed righteousness, a believer is alive spiritually. That person whose
spirit has been born again by the Spirit of Christ is alive even though His body be dead. The
eternal, spiritual life of God is implanted by the indwelling Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ here
and now, even though a believers body is mortal like everyone else. The Spirit is the source
of life and where ever the Spirit dwells there is life.
III. SPIRIT GIVEN LIFE, 11.
In verse 11 Paul wrote about an even better promise. But if the Spirit of Him who raised
Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give
life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
It was the Holy Spirit who was the agent of Christs resurrection from the dead. Just as the
Spirit lifted Jesus out of physical death and gave Him life in His mortal body, so the Spirit
who dwells in the believer, gives to that believer new life both now and forever (Jn. 6:63; 2
Cor. 3:6). In other words, God promises spiritually empowered resurrection life now (6:4, 8,
11) as we live in our mortal bodies.
The ultimate destination of our bodies is not death but resurrection. Our bodies have not yet

been redeemed but they will be. How do I know? Because the indwelling Holy Spirit is not
only the Spirit of Life but the Spirit of resurrection for He is the Spirit of Him who raised
Jesus from the dead.
Rest assured since the same Spirit which is in Christ and raised Him from the dead now
lives in us ( 1Cor. 15:23), even our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19), we will most certainly be raise to
new life also. The possession of the Spirit of God which is the source of all real life is a
pledge and security that our bodies will be resurrected also.
This resurrection also includes a transformation. The changing of our bodies into a new and
glorious vehicle of our character and personality. This resurrected body will be free of all
bondage to sin, disease, pain, decay and frailty. It will be a perfect body fit for a perfected
person living in a Gods perfect place.
As you live day by day surrender to walking in the Spirit of the Living God and the hope of
eternal life with God will shine brighter and brighter within your soul. It will give a peace and
confidence that the world, the flesh and the devil can never take away.
CONCLUSION / INVITATION
If the Spirit of God dwells in a person how careful he or she should be that nothing in his
thoughts or feelings offend his or her divine quest! Some questions therefore we need to
ask ourselves are:
How am I at mental-discipline? When I catch myself thinking wrong thoughts, do I make
myself think about something else?
Where are some of the places I go and what are some of the things I do that feed my mind
with the wrong kind of stuff?
Do I need to memorize verses like Philippians 4:5-8 to help discipline and retrain my mind?
According to the Bible every person is either under the control of the Spirit or under control
of the old nature, either on a road of peace or on a road that leads to death. Walking in the
Spirt is living with Him as the director of our lives.
Today through surrendering to the Holy Spirit in our lives there is a constant abiding of love,

power and soundness in our minds. Are you experiencing the abiding love and peace of the
Spirit? If not no one can change that but you. Right here right now God is speaking. How
will you respond?

Sermon:
Pessimistic, Optimistic or Realistic? Living with an Authentic Spirit
Which of these words would you use to describe yourself?
Pessimist / Optimist / Realist
Which would you use to describe yourself?
The pessimist says the glass is half empty.
The optimist says the glass is half full.
The realist knows there is water in the glass.
Who are you?
The pessimist complains about the rain.
The optimist expects it to dry up later change.
The realist knows to takes an umbrella in case.
Who are you?
The pessimist says God wont answer my prayer.
The optimist says God may answer my prayer.
The realist knows God always answers prayer according to His will.
Who are you?
Ok so you know who you think you are.
Would others agree?

Are you Authentic?

Is there unquestionable evidence that you are who you say you are?
Or is the real you hidden behind a false attitude?
Is the real you hidden behind a mask?
Is the real you hidden so deep that you dont even remember when you last saw him or her?
Are you Authentic?
-------------------------------------------------------Tonight is Encouragement Night and God has laid a message in my heart that I believe will
speak to all of us, whoever we are.
Its a message for the pessimist for those who look at the worst and expect the future to
be no better.
Its a message for the optimist who expects things to get better - who expects the future to
be brighter.
Its a message for realists people who are willing to adjust their thinking about life and
about God.
And it is a message for those of us who want to be Authentic.
Authentic People who do not want to hide behind false labels, attitudes or masks.
People who are Authentic with God and Authentic with each other.
How well do you know yourself?

Do you allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the real you to your family?
Do you allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the real you to your friends?
Do you allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the real you to your colleagues?
Do you allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the real you to you?
-------God knows us better than we know ourselves.
And if each of us could know God better than we do, it would help us more than we can
imagine.
Knowing God better, having a deeper personal relationship with Him, removes fear and
gives us hope.
When we know God, when we are in an authentic relationship with Him, we have authentic
hope, we have authentic peace, we have authentic joy, we have authentic faith!
===============================
What is God really like?
Even amongst Christians there seems to be some confusion about what God is really like about who He really is.
Some people focus on His justice.
Some focus on His love.
Others say that the God of the Bible and the gods of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam are
basically the same.
When we let God speak for Himself - we discover who the Authentic God really
is!
In the book of Isaiah, the Authentic God introduces Himself with the words:
I am the Lord and there is no other.

We all need to know God better,

J. I. Packer wrote, Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and
blunder through life blindfold as it were with no sense of direction and no understanding of
what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life.
We all need to build our relationship with Him,
We all need to draw closer to Him in love.
We need to be in an authentic relationship with the authentic God.
We all need to learn how to trust Him more.
We need to learn to be thirsty for God.
Lets look at a passage from Isaiah, that speaks of thirsting for God and what that
brings ......
Isaiah 44:3-44:8 (NLT)
3 For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields.
And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.
4 They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank.
5 Some will proudly claim, I belong to the Lord.
Others will say, I am a descendant of Jacob.
Some will write the Lords name on their hands and will take the name of Israel as their
own.
6 This is what the Lord saysIsraels King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heavens Armies:
I am the First and the Last;
there is no other God.
7 Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power.
Let him do as I have done since ancient times

when I established a people and explained its future.

8 Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?
You are my witnessesis there any other God? No! There is no other Rocknot one!
Water will be poured on those who are thirsty.
Water is a symbol for the Spirit of God.
If you are thirsty for God,
God will pour out His Spirit on you
What does that mean - it means a personal revival,
it means the manifest presence of God,
it brings blessings, power and anointing.
Matthew 5:6 reminds us that Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled.
Are you thirsty tonight?
Are you thirsty for God?
Are you thirsty for worship?
Are you thirsty for prayer?
Are you thirsty for SEEKING THE LORD?
Are you thirsty for SERVING THE LORD?
Are you thirsty for THE WORD OF GOD?
Are you thirsty for an authentic relationship with God?
Let me remind you of John 7:37-39 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood
and shouted to the crowds, Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in
me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, Rivers of living water will flow from his

heart. (When he said living water, he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to
everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet
entered into his
glory.)
When the Holy Spirit is poured out on you the overflow brings floods to those around you!
In verse 8 it says You are My witnesses.
The promises of this passage are for people who talk to others about God.
People who speak about His nature, His character, His attributes.
Biblically speaking, the difference between a person who sees and has a bright future and
the person who sees and has a bleak future is what we believe about God.
The person filled with Authentic hope knows God.
The promises of this passage are for witnesses, for people who will talk about God.
Are you witnessing?
The word witness comes from a root word that means return, repeat, do again.
A witness is someone who emphatically repeats a testimony.
A witness is someone who talks about what they have experienced to be true.
What is it that we are to be witnesses about?
What is it about God that we are to talk about?
We are to speak Authentic Truth about God and our relationship with Him?
We can talk about the supremacy of God. v6a
Many in this world look at God through the wrong end of a telescope.

They reduce Him, they belittle the infinite God or they ignore Him.
In Psalm 50:21, God says, You thought I was just like you
Martin Luther once said, Your thoughts about God are too human.
This is what the Lord saysIsraels King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heavens Armies:
I am the First and the Last; there is no other God
He is King. Hes King of kings.
Whether they know it or not, whether they like it or not, whether they know Him or not, all the
people in this world are under Gods sovereign rule.
English, French, Americans, Israelis, Syrians, Koreans, Australian - All are ruled by the King
of kings.
God is on the throne!
In a world in turmoil with leaders and politicians seeking to pursue their own agendas, even
taking their stand against God.
Psalm 2:4 reminds us that God is King and is enthroned in the heavens and He simply
laughs at the plans of earthly kings.
Compared to God, kings, prime ministers and presidents are like ants.
Our Lords prayer ends this way: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever He is king.
AND He is Lord

God has universal authority.

God does not need to request permission to act.
People may rebel against Gods authority.
But that does not thwart or stop His plans and wise purposes. -- God is supreme.
He is able to carry out His eternal purpose in every single detail without interference.
He is king and He is Lord.
God is supreme - this is a truth we can trust.
Our lives are not the product of fate or luck.
Every detail of our lives has been planned by God from eternity.
Every event even the difficult ones, are part of a perfect plan
by a redeeming Ruler who is supreme over all!
We can talk about the supremacy of God.
We can talk about the eternity of God v. 6b
We live linear lives. We live in time.
Life for us is a succession of moments and events,
so because we live in the now, we tend to worry about the future.
The fact that we exist in time means that we do not know what tomorrow may bring.
For us the future is uncertain.
God does not have that problem God says I am the First and the Last

God says He is eternal.

He is before everything else
He is after everything else.
God is the One who always is.
Everything is present tense to God.
For God, its like, everything that will happen has already happened. He was, He is, and He
will be.
Psalm 90:2 says, From everlasting to everlasting You are God.
What happened when you were five; what happened to you today, what will happen to you
tomorrow, what will happen when you are 85 is all known to God.
Time doesnt apply to God.
He existed before time began.
Over and over, the scriptures repeat this truth about God.
In Revelation 22:13, Jesus makes an audacious claim. He identifies Himself as the God
ofIsaiah 44 when He says, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the
beginning and the end. God is eternal. Its true of God the Father, God the Son Jesus,
and God the Holy Spirit.
Someone once said, I dont know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow.
God is eternal and already knows your tomorrows just as He knows all your yesterdays.
God is eternal.

Supremacy, eternity, we can talk about the uniqueness of God. v. 6c-7a

There are lots of gods being talked about in the world today.
Some people think of a god who is like a celestial policeman looking for opportunities to
pounce on anyone who strays.
Others think of a god who is like grandfather an indulgent, kindly old gentleman who
would never want to stop people from enjoying themselves.
The Authentic God of the Bible is both a Judge who calls us to live holy lives and a Saviour
who provides us with forgiveness when we sin.
Look at what God says about Himself
there is no other God. Who is like me?
Theres no god like the God of the Bible.
In all the major religions of the world - there is no god like the God of the Bible.
Some religions present a god who is transcendent separate and removed from creation
uninterested in the details of our lives.
Some religions paint a picture of a god who is everywhere and in everything virtually
indistinguishable from creation and unable to do anything to care for the details of our
lives.
But the Authentic God of the Bible is both above all and with us.
Our God takes an intimate interest in the details of our lives and He is powerful.
All the other so-called

gods in this world are gods in name only.

They are pseudo-deities, not real ones.
The God of the Bible cares about your future.
The God of the Bible powerfully works in your life for His glory and your good.
----------------------Supremacy, eternity, uniqueness, we can talk about the foreknowledge of God. v. 7
Nothing takes God by surprise.
Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power.
Let him do as I have done since ancient times
when I established a people and explained its future.
God is always fully aware of everything.
He never has to learn. He never forgets anything.
God knows the smallest detail of your life.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:8 Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him
He knows the words that we will say even before they are spoken: Psalm 139:4 says You
know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
And He knows the days of our lives even before we are born Psalm 139:16: You saw me
before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid
out before a single day had passed.
Because of the foreknowledge of God, He can never make a mistake when it comes to your
life.

He can never fail to plan ahead for you.

He can never fail to take into account all the things that will occur all the eventualities that
will play a part in the journey that is your life.
God knew that you would be sitting right here, right now, today, worshipping in this service.
God in His goodness wants the best for your future
God in His wisdom plans the best for your future.
God in His foreknowledge sees the best in your future.
God in His power secure your future.
Supremacy, eternity, uniqueness, foreknowledge, we can talk about the unchangeableness
of God. v. 8
What would our future be like if God were unpredictable?
How could we trust our future to a God who could change?
What if His purposes changed that Jesus isnt going to come back and set up His
kingdom?
What if His promises changed that we couldnt count on Him to walk through the valley of
the shadow of death with us, that our sins arent forgiven, The Authentic God doesnt
change.
You are my witnessesis there any other God? No! There is no other Rocknot one!
Hes a rock. This is why we can say with David in Psalm 18:1-2
I love you, Lord; you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my saviour; my God is my rock, in whom I find
protection.

He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

God is a Rock who is infinitely worthy of our trust. Our future depends on One who is worthy
of trust.
God is absolutely and eternally unchanging in His being, His purposes, and His promises.
Are you witnessing?
There is so much more you can speak of:
His power, His wisdom, His love, His sovereignty, His creativity,
His righteousness.
And so much more - the list goes on and on.
He is supreme, eternal, unique, unchangeable, and has all knowing.
Every attribute of God is authentic.
----------------------------------------------------In closing, let me ask you:
Do you authentically show God in your life?
Does God cause you to shine like a diamond? Reflecting His presence and Power and
personality.
Sometimes, life is hard and difficulties come so often that our souls just feel dry.
When we come to know God and experience Him as supreme over the events in our lives,
eternal in His plan for our lives,
unique in His ability to bless our lives, unchangeable in His desire to do good in our lives,
then we find our thirst quenched.
Because of who He is, God gives us springs in the desert.

God promises to pour out His Spirit.

When we say, Its pouring outside we dont mean Its raining a little.
We mean, If you go out, youll get drenched.
God has promised his people will be drenched with the Spirit.
The impact of the outpouring of the Spirit is not supposed to be a one-time thing, but
continual.
The Spirit can be a source of constant refreshment the way a tree by a river continually
drinks up water.
Our lives may be surrounded by desert, but if your roots go down by the river of the Spirit
we will always flourish.
Pessimist / Optimist / Realist or Authentic Christian?
Give your fears about the future to the Lord.
He will see to it that your needs will be met.
See Him as the Authentic Rock to build on.
Have faith for your future.

Sermon:

Why Seek Ye The Living Among The Dead ?

Pastor Ken Crow
Luke 24:1-5 (King James Version)
Luke 24
1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the
sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by
them in shining garments:
5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them,
Why seek ye the living among the dead?
It is time for revival to break out in our churches . No doubt the coming of the Lord draws
nigh . Tonight I know it is Wed. night and just a few of us are here. But I know also you
would not be here on Wed. night unless you were dedicated.
I think back to last week. We had wonderful services over the weekend. But I also came to
realize that what went on here Sunday morning and Sunday night started last Wed. night.
Tonight I think God is challenging us. Calling each one of us to a higher calling.

1. It is my personal responsibility as a Christian to be alive spiritually.

1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the
sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
A. The they mentioned in verse one expected to find a corpse.
Many today do not turn to the church to find what they are looking for.
Far to often they have shown up needing to find life but found a lifeless body in decay and
decline. No excitement nor enthusiasm. A going through the motions mentality that changes
nothing. In fact when one enters into a place like that they often leave with the stench of
death. They return to no other church because all they expect to find is another corpse!
Let us be challenged tonight as a church body, the body of Christ to live verse two as a
church! Let the ones who enter here find the stone rolled away! Let us reaffirm the mission
statement of Jesus found in Luke 4 !
Luke 4:18-19 (King James Version)
18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to
the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
:Let the ones who come over the thresh hold of that entry way find not death but the Spirit of
the Lord in this place!
Before they got up and started for the grave of Jesus something super natural had
occurred .
Long before Sunday morning if life is to be found in a church something super natural must
be going on in the lives of the

congregation.
Somebody has to be praying!
Somebody has to be expecting!
Somebody has to be saying Lord , roll away that stone before we even get there this
morning!
B., bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Just in case they found the body still there they brought spices to anoint the body!
When we all, the church realize we are to be anointers!
Mark 16:1 (King James Version)
Mark 16
1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and
Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him
John 19:38-40 (King James Version)
38And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the
Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him
leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
39And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a
mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
40Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the
manner of the Jews is to bury.
I say this without reservation. When the church becomes anointers and what I mean by that

is conduits of the Holy Spirit and gets away from social club ways and becomes again what
we were meant to be in the first place people will be getting to all our churches extremely
early to find seats and parking places.
The truth is to many times people come in and find not anointers but dead bodies in need of
anointing!
Leviticus 24:2 (King James Version)
2Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light,
to cause the lamps to burn continually.

3. 4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood
by them in shining garments:
5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them,
Why seek ye the living among the dead?

What should people find when they come to this place?

A. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (New King James Version)
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

B. Luke 19:46 (King James Version)

46Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer
C. Psalm 34:1 (King James Version)
Psalm 34
1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 35:18 (King James Version)

18I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

D. Mark 16:16-18 (King James Version)

16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned.
17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues;
18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they
shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
E.Mark 2:1-2 (King James
Version)
Mark 2
1And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in
the house.
2And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive
them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

Amen and God

Do you live like a 'Before' or 'After' Pentecost

Christian?

Sermon:
Today is Pentecost, one of the three most important celebrations of the Christian Calendar.
At Christmas we remember the coming of Jesus into this world, the Messiah, born of a
virgin in a humble stable. As the old hymn writer put it God contracted to a span,
incomprehensibly made man.
At Easter we remember the death of Jesus on the cross, and celebrate His triumphant
resurrection from the grave.
Jesus bore the punishment for our sin on the cross, so that by believing in Him we could be
saved and restored to a relationship with God.
His sacrifice was sufficient to deal with all our sins, past, present and future.
His sacrifice was sufficient to pay the price for all the sins of those who repent and accept
Him as Lord and Saviour of their lives.
One perfect sacrifice through which you and I, His disciples are promised forgiveness,
wholeness and eternal life.
Pentecost is when we remember and celebrate the coming of the Third Person of the Trinity,
the Holy Spirit.
Listen to the words of Acts 2:1-4 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting
together in one place. 2Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a
mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3Then, what looked like
flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4And everyone present
was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit
gave them this ability.
Pentecost is when the Church was birthed as the Holy Spirit filled the first followers of Jesus
with power and transformed them into dynamic disciples.

Remember Jesus last words before His ascension recorded in Acts 1:8
Jesus said: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be
my witnesses, telling people about me everywherein Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
The word translated Power is in the Greek dunamis. Dunamis is used 120 times in the New
Testament. It is a word that refers to strength, power, or ability.
Dunamis is not just any power; the word refers to miraculous power or marvellous works.
Dunamis can also refer to moral power and excellence of soul,
Dunamis is the root word of our English words dynamite, dynamo and dynamic.
We do not live the Christian life in our own power, but in Gods. We are empowered by the
Holy Spirit. On that day of Pentecost the disciples were filled with dunamis power, Holy
Dynamite. Today we as believers in Christ, disciples of Jesus, are filled with that same
power as those first disciples.
We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be dunamis disciples, dynamite disciples, dynamic
disciples.
Today, Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the birth of the church and the coming of the Holy
Spirit, our Comforter, our Counsellor, our Helper, our Encourager, our Advocate, in Greek
the Paraclete.
Paraclete, or parkl
tos, the one who consoles or comforts, the one who encourages, the one who uplifts; the
one who refreshes, the one who intercedes on our behalf as our advocate with God the
Father.

The Holy Spirit is the one Jesus promised to send to His disciples. Listen to Jesus words
inJohn 14:15-17 Jesus said: If you love me, obey my commandments. 16And I will ask the
Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17He is the Holy
Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isnt looking for Him
and doesnt recognise Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will
be in you.
At Pentecost, the Advocate arrived in Power.
The Holy Spirit was poured out on the 120 disciples gathered together in the Upper Room
and they were changed, they were transformed.
No longer timid people, hiding away, they boldly went outside into the street filled with the
Power of the Holy Spirit. Peter preached the Gospel and 3,000 people were saved that day.
Power, Boldness, to go out and speak truth and thousands were saved. Could that happen
today?
Yes it can! God has not changed, His power has not diminished. The Holy Spirit still
operates in power in our lives.
The truth of the Gospel still changes and transforms lives today and He uses ordinary
people like you and me to share the truth of who Jesus is with others.
God has a plan and a purpose for us, as disciples of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit,
we are commanded to go into the world, share the Good News that the Messiah has come,
telling people about Jesus who lived a perfect, spotless life and willingly died on the cross to
pay the penalty for sin and that He rose on the third day conquering the power of death.
Jesus is alive today, and the promise of forgiveness and eternal life is available to all who
trust in Him as their personal Lord and Saviour.
God calls each of us to be witnesses to the truth that Jesus saves, and we are empowered

by the Holy Spirit to speak in His power in Boldness, that Jesus is the Only Way, the Only
Truth, the Only Life, the Only way of salvation.
-------Ok, here is the question: You knew there would be a question: Are you a BEFORE or
AFTER Christian?
Let me clarify the question. Be honest with yourself and with God for a moment, Does your
daily Christian life look more like the disciples BEFORE they were filled with the Holy Spirit
or more like the disciples AFTER they were filled with the Holy Spirit?
Do you live as a Christian in hiding, afraid of what others may say or do if they discover who
you are and what you believe?
Or do you boldly stand and proclaim, God is real, the Bible is true, Jesus is Lord and
Saviour!
The first disciples were in hiding.
They were afraid.
Then the Holy Spirit came.
They were filled with power.
Then they boldly went out where they were too afraid to be just minutes before.
The Gospel was preached.
Thousands were saved.
The Church was born.
And for nearly 2000 years disciples of Jesus have shared the truth of the Gospel.
The Gospel is being shared in every part of the world,
by people face-to-face, through Radio and TV broadcasts, through the Internet the message
that Jesus Christ is Lord is being shared throughout the world... BUT
But what about in your neighbourhood, in your street, in your own home, are you using

every opportunity you are given to share the truth about Jesus?
Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to work in you and through you in the same way He
empowered those first disciples of Jesus?
Acts 2:47 tells us that each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being
saved.
As the Gospel was shared, people came to a saving knowledge of Jesus, they became His
followers, His Disciples and the Church grew each day!
The church was strong, empowered by The Holy Spirit, the church grew not just in physical
number, it also grew spiritually, disciples made other disciples who made other disciples. We
have been commanded by Jesus to do the same.
We need to be willing participants in the plans and purposes of God not just passengers.
At times it feels like we are in some kind of bubble or cocoon, looking out at the world
around us, hoping for change, praying for change, expecting someone else to do
something.
There is already someone God has appointed who should be doing something, You and
Me.
We are the ones who have already received the Power of the Holy Spirit.
We need to step up, we need to be the dynamic, spirit-filled, disciples God expects us to be.
In this generation, in this community, in our families, in us, the Holy Spirit can bring revival.
He can move in power, lives can be changed and transformed. The Holy Spirit has not
changed and He lives within us to empower us.
Will you allow the Holy Spirit to work in you and through you?

Are you willing to become a blessing to others?

Are you willing to proclaim the truth of the Gospel?
Then allow the Holy Spirit to work afresh and anew in you today.
He may not fall on us as He did in Acts 2 with tongues of fire or with the sound of a mighty
wind. But He will move within each of us.
Allow the Dunamis, dynamite, dynamic power of the Holy Spirit to bring spiritual growth and
release spiritual gifts in your life.
Then you will see, change, transformation, miracles, in your life and the lives of those
around you.
------As I draw to a close let me remind you that the Holy Spirit gives all of us gifts.
1 Peter 4:10-11 says 10God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual
gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak
as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others?
Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring
glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.
Each
of us is different and the gifts He gives to each of us are different. Each and every Spiritual
gift He gives is of equal value and importance to God.
The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans chapter 12 verse 6-8 wrote this: In His grace,
God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the
ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving
others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8If your gift is to encourage others,
be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take
the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it

gladly.
Different people, different gifts, prophecy, tongues, words of wisdom, healing, whatever gifts
we have been given by the Holy Spirit we are meant to use them for Gods honour and
glory.
Finally, as well as giving gifts, the Holy Spirit helps us to develop the Fruit of the Spirit in our
lives.
Galatians 5:22-23, the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
How evident is the Fruit of the Spirit in your life?
The Holy Spirit has come in Power.
The Holy Spirit gives each of us gifts, skills and abilities that we must use for Gods glory.
The Holy Spirit produces fruit in each of our lives.
This Pentecost Sunday let us remember and celebrate.
May each of us by the Power of the Holy Spirit be the disciples God has called us to be.
May each of us know and experience the fullness that comes from being indwelt, guided,
protected and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Sermon:

Humility - The First Step To Happiness

What would it take to make you happy? This question was asked of 52,000 Americans in
Psychology Today. These were the answers:
Friends and social life
Having a good job
Being in love
Recognition and success
Sex
Personal growth
Good financial situation
Having a nice home or apartment
Being attractive and beautiful
Being married
The interesting thing about this survey is that most of the attempts to find happiness are
through external situations.
There is a popular idea that when circumstances are right Ill be happy. This is known as
when/then thinking. It goes something like this:
When I get married then Ill be happy.
When I loose twenty pounds then Ill be happy.
When I win the lottery then Ill be happy.
The popular idea of happiness is that if you have the right set of circumstances you will be
happy. My question is Is it possible to be happy even if the circumstances are not

perfect? The Bible teaches us that:

Happiness is not based on circumstances - it is based on ATTITUDE.
In the gospel of Matthew chapter five we have what is known as the Beatitudes. Follow
along with me as I read the beatitudes:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, For theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you
falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for
so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:3-12 (NKJV)
Each of these beatitudes begins with the word blessed. Blessed can also mean Happy.
In other words every time you see blessed in this passage you could substitute the word
Happy. Today we are going to focus in on verse three:
Happy are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:3 (BBE)
Over the next nine weeks we will be looking at the beatitudes.

This verse sounds like a contradiction doesnt it? Happy are the poor Being poor does not
sound like there would be much happiness does it? But being rich may not bring
happiness either. Jesus is teaching that true happiness is not based on external
circumstances but on an internal attitude a BE attitude. In other words, your happiness
should not depend on the right circumstances but on your right attitude. Circumstances
can change. Circumstances WILL change. But if we have the right attitude we can be
happy no matter what the circumstances are. Here
is a fact:
FACT:
Happiness is a CHOICE.
Happiness depends on choosing the right ATTITUDE.
Lets look at our focal verse again.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Let me tell you briefly what it does NOT mean. It
does not mean that I have no value. It does not mean that I need to have low self esteem. It
does not mean that I need to put myself down. Jesus did not die for junk He died for
people. You have value, you have worth, you have purpose, you have significance. That
does not mean that you are perfect youre not. Youre human just like the rest of us. We all
have sinned yet we have value.
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? It simply means we need to have an attitude of
humility. When it comes to our relationship with God we are all on the same playing field.

We all depend on Him for our salvation.

Poor in spirit = HUMILITY
Humility is not thinking less of yourself it is thinking of yourself LESS.
Humility is admitting that you dont have it all together. Humility is admitting that you dont
know it all. Humility is realizing that the universe does not revolve around me. Humility is
admitting to God that you need His help.
This morning we are going to look at three benefits of humility.
Benefit one:
1. Humility reduces STRESS.
When I know that I dont have all the answers a great burden is lifted off my shoulders.
I can remember when I was new to the ministry someone asked me if I could give them five
verses of scriptures about love. I said, Sure and then I was silent. The person waited for
me to give them the five verses about love right then. Finally the person asked, Well, arent
you going to give me the five verses? I said, Sure, give me a concordance. The person
looked shocked and said, Well, I thought that you being in the ministry and all - that you
could give them to me right off the top of your head. I laughed and said, "Its better to use
the tools that are out there then to rely on my memory."
Folks I am not a walking concordance. I know a lot more verses of scripture than I did back
then but I still dont know them all. I continue to study I continue to learn. I still rely on

the tools that any one of you could use. If you dont know something about the Bible - admit
it and look it up. Admitting that we dont know it all being humble reduces a lot of stress
in our life.
You dont have to solve all the problems in the world. You cant solve all the problems in the
world. You dont have to fake the fact that you dont have all the answers. I dont have all the
answers. But I can point you to the One who does. I am not perfect but I can tell you about
One who is. I dont have to play God but I can show you the way to God. In a real way I
am a guide to Jesus - so are you.
A friend of mine once said to me, You know Tom you are a good preacher. In fact
you are a great preacher." (I dont know if this is true but he sure made me feel good. He
sure encouraged me.) He went on to ask, "How do you keep from getting a big head? Do
you know what my answer was? I said, You know at my house I still have to take the
garbage out. Folks, whatever your job - you are still human. You still are not perfect. There
is only one who is and youre not Him.
We here in America have a proverb I dont know if it is used worldwide. It goes something
like this He still puts his pants on - one leg at a time. When we are talking about those in
leadership positions when we are talking about those who are famous when we are
even talking about the President of The United States sometimes we will say He still puts
his pants on - one leg at a time. I still put my pants on - one leg at a time - so do you. That
is a proverb about humility.
I think there are times we take ourselves too serious and we dont take God seriously
enough. We are trying to impress people and that leads to stress. When I humble myself
when I admit my dependence upon God it reduces the stress in life. When my stress goes
down and my happiness goes up.

Happy are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
The second benefit of humility is:
2. Humility improves RELATIONSHIPS.
How many of you love to be around people with big heads? How many of you like being
around people who brag and boast about themselves all the time? How many of you like
being around people who are full of themselves? Prideful people are a pain in the "blessed
assurance". They are an irritation. They are self centered and they are never happy. Never
happy! All they do is make others around them unhappy. Many times they build themselves
up by cutting others down.
On the other hand how many of you like being around humble people? They dont put on
airs to impress you. When you tell them a story they dont have to one up you. They are
honest and open they may even tell you funny stories of mistakes that they have made in
their lives. (Such as preaching with their fly unzipped. That happened back when I would
preach sermons from behind the pulpit - quite some time ago. I sure am thankful for pulpits.
If you had been there Im sure you would have been thankful for pulpits too.)
Folks were all human - we all make mistakes. Humility doesnt mean we think less of
yourself, you just think more about others.
When you become interested in others you become interesting to OTHERS.
Your relationships improve when you become humble. You dont have to be right all the time
you dont have to have all the answers. It becomes easier to say, Im sorry. I was

wrong. "I messed up."

Humility changes things. Humility changes relationships. It changes our relationships with
one another but it also changes our relationship with God. Look at this verse from Second
Chronicles with me:
If My people who are called by My
name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
This verse tells us that there are four steps that improve a relationship with God they are:
A. Humble ourselves.
B. Pray.
C. Seek Gods face.
D. Stop sinning (turn from our wicked ways).
When we do these four things our relationship with God improves. Notice that the first step
in Second Chronicles is to humble ourselves. Humility improves relationships and helps
bring happiness.
Our third point today is:
3. Humility releases Gods POWER.
Look at James chapter four with me:

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 (HCSB)
Would you like to feel Gods strength in your life? The Bible says that God gives grace to
the humble. The Bible says that spiritual power is given to those who walk humbly before
the Lord. God gives strength to those who realize that they need to depend on Him.
Folks when I consider the majesty and mystery of God I am in awe. When I consider that
God has taken me even me and placed me here as your pastor I am humbled. Im not
the most intelligent person in this congregation. Some of you have more insight and wisdom
than I have. Yet God has placed me here for a purpose.
Sometimes I act a little impulsively without thinking things through. Sometimes I wait too
long when I should have jumped in. Sometimes I open my mouth and insert my foot and get
myself in trouble because of it. Sometimes I feel so inadequate. Sometimes I feel so ill
prepared. Sometimes situations seem overwhelming. Its at times like that when I pray to
God and ask Him for wisdom and strength.
I humble myself before Him and He strengths me. I have to realize that I am where I am not because of who I am but because God is who He is. I am strengthened not because
I am strong - not because I am a great guy but because I have a Great God. I think that is
what Paul was talking about when he said:
Jesus said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.
Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christs power
may reside in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (HCSB)
Gods strength in perfected in weakness. You have often heard it said "God helps those
who can help themselves." This is not a true statement. The truth is: "God helps those who

realize they cant help themselves." He expects us to do our best - but He also expects us to
rely on His strength. When we admit we need Him - He steps in. It takes a humble person to
admit their weaknesses.
Is there any area of your life youre trying to get control of and its just not working? Have
you humbled yourself in that area? Have you admitted to God that you just dont know how
to fix it? Tell God that its just not working and that you dont know what to do next. Humble
yourself
before Him. You dont have all the answers youre not supposed to. You are supposed to
come to Him humbly - admit your weakness - ask Him for help.
You see humility brings about strength. Humility brings about power. Humility brings about
happiness because God provides for you - what you cannot provide for yourself. "God
gives grace to the humble." Is it any wonder that:
Happy are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:3 (BBE)

Living in the Power Zone

Sermon:
INTRODUCTION
For the past few weeks we have been looking at a short series entitled, Discovering the
Champion in You. I believe that all of Gods children are destined to be champions of the
faith. Often times we dont feel like we are, but the reality is, God has declared us more than
conquerors in Christ Jesus by His doing.
We started off our series with a message entitled, Maintaining a Winning Attitude. We
discovered that what separates a chump from a champion is attitude. And in order to
maintain that winning attitude we need practice the praise principle, right praying, right
thinking and right living.
Last week we said that in order to become a champion we needed to get into shape. We
needed to become F.A.T. Christians. Not lazy and overweight, but faithful, available and
teachable.
This morning we will continue our series with a message entitled, Living in the Power
Zone.
ILLUS: In 1965 the Florida Gators football team was mediocre at best. Struggling in the heat
and humidity of the deep south, the players were fighting a tougher opponent within
themselves than they had ever fought on the gridiron they had great difficulty finishing the
game in champion-like form because they were dehydrated. So a team of University doctors
developed a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage that kept the team properly nourished
throughout the game. Before the eyes of thousands of fans, the teams second half

performance improved and in 1967 won the Orange Bowl. As you may know this beverage
is on every sideline around the globe keeping athletes performing at their best. Of course,
this beverage is known as Gatorade.
Now you might be asking yourself, what does Gatorade have to do with living out my faith in
Christ? The answer is simple. You see, Gatorade gave the Florida Gators an edge over their
opponents they had the advantage.
Christians have an advantage to living out the faith in champion-like fashion. What is it? Its
more like Who is it? Hes the Holy Spirit.
Gatorade asks athletes is it in you? Im asking you today is the Holy Spirit in you? Are
you living in the Power Zone of the Holy Spirit?
When I talk about the Power Zone, Im talking about living in the empowerment of the Holy
Spirit resurrection power being Spirit-filled and fire baptized.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Acts 1:8
GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
But in order to live in the Power Zone we must first understand Who the Holy Spirit is and
why God wants us to live and operate in the Power of His Might.
Many Christians today dont acknowledge the Holy Spirit, much less live a life that is

empowered by Him. The Holy Spirit has become a taboo topic within the church. Wed
rather talk about a myriad of other things other than Spiritual Gifts, supernatural
wonder working power and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The modern day Church has substituted the Holy Spirit for cappuccino machines and movie
screens. In some churches, they have removed the alters where people would come and
seek Gods forgiveness and empowerment in order to be less churchy and seeker
sensitive. Why is this? Its not that movie screens and things are bad, but I firmly believe that
what the church is morphing into grieves the heart of God. The church is becoming a place
where people can become entertained in Jesus name.
We need to realize that the Holy Spirit is the power behind the church today.
He was promised by God to empower all who would believe.
"And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall
see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit
in those days. Joel 2:28-29
This is also the passage that Peter preached at Pentecost. But the bottom line is that Gods
promises are not broken. God promised us His Spirit to live and empower us. This
empowerment, this infilling, this baptism and the gifts of the Spirit did not die out with the
Apostles. If it had, then Gods promise would have been broken.
Jesus didnt want just any old believer walking the streets of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria
and the uttermost ends of the earth spreading the Gospel. He specifically told the disciples
to wait in Jerusalem for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until
you are endued with power from on high." Luke 29:49
God didnt love the Apostles more than you and I. He didnt brand them a special people
and give them something He wouldnt give us. We see in the book of Acts chapter 9 where
Peter preached in a Roman soldiers house, a man by the name of Cornelius. And as Peter
was preaching the Spirit filled that place and all who were there began to speak in other
tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
When the Apostles were martyred, did God revoke His Spirits empowerment from them?
No. The empowerment of the Spirit wasnt just for the first century church its a promise
and a gift of God to teach, guide and regenerate believers. If theres ever a day we need
Holy Spirit empowerment, its today.
GOD WANTS US TO LIVE IN THE POWER ZONE
Notice I said live. God wants us to dwell and remain in His sustaining power. The Power
Zone isnt a place to vacation or to visit. Although sadly thats what its become.
If we are not walking day by day in the sustaining resurrection power of the Holy Spirit, then
all we are becoming is church people. And then all were going to do is raise up a
generation of church people who have never witnessed a true move of God.
Im not talking about warm fuzzies and
goose bumps at the alter. Im talking about an old fashioned outpouring of the Holy Spirit of
God where peoples lives are radically changed, people are healed, demons are sent away
cowering like whipped puppies, cities and nations are awakened to a sense of repentance.

A church who is committed to living in the Power Zone will be identifiable. The Power Zone
is whats going to separate a real church from just another club and clique on the corner.
TO BE A CHAMPION IN THE POWER ZONE, WEVE GOT TO WORK OUT
Any athlete needs to work out. And God has gifted Spirit-filled believers with a method of
being built up.

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself 1 Corinthians 14:4

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit
Jude 1:20
For some reason speaking in tongues is very controversial within the Body of Christ. But this
is the method and the means that God has given to us to build ourselves up in the faith.
We need to be built up. We cant effectively run the race or fight the good fight if were not in
the proper shape.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. I might not understand it, but I can
hear it.
When I speak or pray in a tongue, its not me thats praying but my spirit. When I came to
Christ my spirit, the part of me that is created in the image and the likeness of God, was
made alive by Christ.

And when that happened, the Holy Spirit linked up with my spirit. But when I was filled with
the resurrection power, the Holy Spirit overflows in my life. And when I pray in the Spirit, I
am speaking not unto man, but into God in a mystery.

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands
him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries- 1 Corinthians 14:2
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays 1 Corinthians 14:14
Some people may get upset when you pray in tongues. But the reality is Im not talking to
them anyway. Im talking to God in a mystery. The devil doesnt even know what Im saying.
This is a privileged line of communication between me and my Father. Only He can
understand what were talking about.
I know something the devil doesnt know. Ive got some inside information. Ive got the
advantage. This is extremely important especially when we realize that we are fighting a war
not against things we know and see, but against spiritual things we cannot see.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the
whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we
do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of
righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of

the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful
to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-Its time to do some warfare and our firepower is prayer. But not just ordinary prayer
power zone prayer. We are fighting a battle on a plane and plateau that we dont fully
understand. But the Spirit does. And we pray in the Spirit, we are battling devils and
demons, strongholds and hindrances to the advancement of our Lords Kingdom.
Paul tells us to stand sometimes we wonder why we get tossed to and fro like a boat on
stormy seas it may be a result of not abiding in the Power Zone.
Weve got to commit to live in and operate in Holy Spirit power. I can tell when I walk into a
church who is living in the power zone. They dont look around and count heads and brag
about how many people they have in their church. Instead of asking how many people were
at church, they ask how many people got saved today, how many people were healed, how
many people were delivered?
When I talk to people, I can tell whos living in the Power of the Holy Spirit. They are not selfcentered and complainers.
When you operate in the Power Zone your perspective changes. Its no longer about you,
but about Jesus.
Weve got to pack up and move out of the comfort zone and into the power zone.
Some of you have been living in the ghettos of death, damnation and depression

Your neighbors are guilt and shame

And youve been living a powerless existence
Much like a caterpillar youre just inching your way through trying not to get stepped on,
crawling through other peoples mess as the dust is kicked in your face then youve got to
worry about being destroyed by the birds of the air.
But then God begins to woo you into a secret place.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the wings of the
Almighty Psalm 91:1
He cocoons you with His unfathomable love and something wonderful begins to take place
in the power zone; a metamorphosis of sorts.
What was once an ugly creeping shell of person is transformed into a beautiful creature with
wings to soar over all the stuff you had to crawl through.
But heres what I believe the Lord wants us to get in our spirit. A butterfly cant go back and
become a caterpillar. In fact a butterfly cant even think about how to be a caterpillar again.
Its been changed forever!
Thats why we have to LIVE in the Power Zone. Weve got to pull up our stakes and relocate
to a new dwelling. Weve got to totally
uproot, cause were not going back.

WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE POWER ZONE, YOU CAN

live in the promise of God
live in the power of God
live in the protection of God
walk by faith and not by sight
count it all joy when you enter into diverse temptations
know that my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus
lay hands on the sick and they shall recover
walk in to the enemys camp and take back some things that rightfully belong to you
know if God be for me then who shall be against me
stake claim over your household and declare, as for me and my house we will serve
the Lord
know you are seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus right now
know that the evil one, the devil, cannot touch you
tear down strongholds that have had a grip on your life
cause all hell to tremble with every step you take
see people released from the unyielding clutches of the enemy
be pressed but not crushed, persecuted, but not abandoned struck down but not
destroyed
walk on serpents and scorpions and overcome all the power of the devil
have doors open for you that were once shut
CONCLUSION
Some of you need to make your way to this alter today. I mean run dont walk down here to
enter into the Power Zone.

Some of you need a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit,

Some of you need an initial filling of the Holy Spirit
Some of you may just need Jesus
Im not talking about receiving a warm fuzzy, or goose bumps
Im talking about resurrection power - a genuine encounter with God today
Men, you need to be living in the Power Zone to become the king, prophet and priest of your
household
Ladies, where are Gods leading ladies this morning? Ladies you need to make a journey to
the Power Zone this morning to walk victoriously, to be transformed into the virtuous woman
to be the heart of your husband and to allow your children to rise up and call you blessed.
Young people, you are the generation that Jesus is walking among. You will be the
generation that will shake the nations for the Kingdom. But you wont do it on your own
strength and ability. Some of you are being lured by the desires of this world, but you need
to abandon and forsake those snares and move into the Power Zone to receive Holy Spirit.

Principles For Better Living

Sermon:
INTRO.- ILL.- I like the story about the preacher who had a microphone in his hand as he
preached, and as he moved around the platform he would jerk the cord as he went.
Then he moved to one side, getting wound up in the cord and nearly tripping before jerking
it again. After several circles and jerks, a little girl in the third pew leaned toward her mother
and whispered, "If he gets loose, will he hurt us?"
I suspect that some little kids probably think that way. However, the preaching of Gods
Word is for the purpose of helping people, blessing them, bettering them, building them in
the faith of Christ.
I Cor. 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a
hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must
be done for the strengthening of the church.
We all are here to help make life better for one another. At least, we should be! We are in
the construction business, not the destruction business! And everything we do in the church
should be for the purpose of building up one another.
Are you interested in better living? Who isnt?
ILL.- One very cold December I picked up a hitchhiker in Iberia, MO, probably 30 years ago.
I took him to the church next door so he could have a warm place to stay that night and then

I visited with him. I have never in my life met a person like him. He didnt want to have
anything to do with other people including his own family who basically disowned him.
He was a true hermit, of sorts. He didnt want to be around other people and didnt want to
go to church, but he did thank me for my help. He apparently didnt want a better life, which
meant a change of life.
That man is not the only person who didnt want a better life. Ive seen hundreds and
hundreds of husbands and wives and whole families that didnt want a better life. HOW SO?
It was obvious that they never made any significant spiritual changes in their lives. They
werent interested in going to church or getting to know God and how can life get better
without God???
Surprisingly, there isnt much in scripture about better living but there are many scriptures,
that if observed, will give us a better life on earth. There isnt a specific text or chapter in the
Bible like the love chapter that deals with better living. But heres a good text to consider.
Eccl. 2:24-25 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his
work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find
enjoyment?"
What an interesting scripture! Without God, who can find enjoyment in life? And without
God, how can we acquire a better life? I want to help people experience a better life, here
and now, and it will only happen in Christ.
PROP.- Scriptural principles to make life better.
1- Stay cool, dont blow your cool

2- Try faith, dont let faithlessness rule

3- Be possessed, dont give in to
obsession
I. STAY COOL, DONT BLOW YOUR COOL
ILL.- In New York City last week a taxi clipped a red Beetle while veering across four lanes
of traffic to pick-up a fare. The two drivers got out to examine the damage the cabbie a short
man of Middle Eastern origin, the Beetle driver a hulking giant.
As the cabbie approached, the Beetle driver grabbed him by the shirt and hoisted him off
the ground. There, at eye level with the cabbies feet dangling in the air, the Beetle owner
began screaming, every third sentence being, "This is your lucky day!"
Eventually, the cabbie was lowered back to the ground, but, then, the Beetle guy asked,
"Dont you want to know why this is your lucky day?"
He then proceeded to answer his own question: "Because Im on my way to anger
management class and I dont dare show-up with blood on my shirt!"
Stay cool, dont blow your cool, but people do blow their cool often when driving. Its called
road rage, and I have read, however, that its far worse in England than in the US. But it
doesnt make any difference whether its road rage, work rage, shopping rage or whatever it
is, this kind of anger is not good!
James 1:19-20 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow
to speak and slow to become angry, for mans anger does not bring about the righteous life
that God desires.

Be slow to become angry. Why? Because anger doesnt please God. Most of the time our
anger is not right or righteous. Our anger is often self-centered. We get angry because
things didnt go our way, not because we are holy and everyone else is unholy.
We know that Jesus experienced righteous anger when he drove the money-changers out
of the temple, but honestly, how often do we experience righteous anger? Perhaps when we
see or read of child abuse. That should bring up some righteous anger!
Romans 12:9 Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. The time for anger is when evil
prevails. At other times, our anger is not good.
Ephesians 4:26-27 In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still
angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
In your anger do not sin. The scripture predicts that you will get angry. Everyone gets angry
eventually. Of course, we dont like to admit it. But the point is: WHEN you get angry, dont
let it get out of hand. Dont let the sun down go on your anger. Dont stay angry when
evening comes. Why? Because that anger will only get worse or intensify.
Do not give the devil a foothold. Is this in connection to our anger? Could be. It sounds like
it. Anger opens the door to let the devil into our lives.
Ben Franklin said, Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.
William Penn said, It is he who is in the wrong who first gets angry. That could very well
be.

Will Rogers said, People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.
Someone said, An angry man is again
angry with himself when he returns to reason.
Isnt that the truth? It is to me. After Ive become angry and then thought about it, I didnt
think much of it! That is, my anger. Anger is a loss of self-control and we are supposed to
self-controlled people. The fruit of Gods Spirit is self-control. So if we lose control and
become angry then Gods Spirit is certainly not in control.
ILL.- A lady once came to preacher Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts.
"Theres nothing wrong with losing my temper," she said. "I blow up, and then its all over."
"So does a shotgun," Sunday replied, "and look at the damage it leaves behind!"
ILL.- Many years ago during a Knicks-Bullets playoff game, one of the Bullets players came
up from behind the great Walt Frazier and punched him in the face. Strangely, the referee
called a foul on Frazier. Frazier didnt complain. His expression never changed. He simply
called for the ball and put in seven straight shots to win the game, an amazing display of
productive anger.
Would to God we all had that kind of self-controlled anger. Anger that is controlled and put
into good action is a good thing, but otherwise, it is not. Staying as cool as possible will lead
to a better life.
II. TRY FAITH, DONT LET FAITHLESSNESS RULE
ILL.- When my son Shane was only 8 days old we had him in the hospital for abdominal

exploratory surgery. He did that projectile vomiting after every feeding. They did an X-ray on
his stomach and it showed that his small intestines only went to a point and then stopped.
The doctor said they needed to do this exploratory surgery.
While Shane was in surgery, I wept. I wept very hard. For a while I couldnt pray. Finally,
after weeping for a period, I was able to pray. And I prayed, Lord, its up to you whether he
comes through this surgery or not. If he doesnt, he belongs to you.
WHAT IS THAT? At first, it was not faith. It was fear. I was not acting from faith. I felt utterly
helpless and all I could do was cry. Finally, when I gathered my thoughts and senses and
prayed, thats when I started to live by faith. I simply left Shane in Gods hands and either
way, God would take care of him.
Brothers and sisters, we dont always let faith rule our lives, do we? If anything we are often
faithless instead of being full of faith. Many times in life we just stumble through life on our
own without exercising any faith in the God of heaven at all! And whats a big indication that
we dont live by faith? ONE IS DEFINITELY A LACK OF PRAYER.
When we are living by faith in the Lord we take everything to Him in prayer. And another
proof that we are living by faith is that we live by His Word.
If we know that something contradicts Gods Word then we drop it like a hot potato. That
says that we believe God most of all and we are living by faith in His Word.
Psalm 118:8-9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than
to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. (princes or
preachers or presidents, etc.)

II Corinthians 5:6-7 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at
home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight.
We live by faith in this world, not by sight. We live by faith in the God of heaven. We look
beyond this world and look forward to heaven! This sounds crazy to the average person on
the street, however, if we truly believe in the promise of eternal life then doesnt it make
good sense to look forward to it?
ILL.- John G. Paton was making a translation of the Scriptures into the language spoken in
the country where he was a missionary, and searched for a word for Faith. The natives
had no word for believe.
One day, while working on his translation, a native entered his room and, tired out, flung
himself down on one chair, resting his feet on another chair and remarked how good it was
to lean his whole weight on the chairs. Suddenly Paton he realized he had the meaning for
the word believe or faith: to lean his whole weight on God.
And that is really what true, Biblical faith is! It is a matter of leaning your whole weight on the
Lord or trusting the Lord fully for an answer.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding...
Be not faithless. Rather be faithful and walk by faith in the Lord and His Word. Trust Him to
direct you in all things in life. Trust Him to work out everything in life. We often find ourselves
between a rock and a hard place in life. Living by faith means that we will pray and trust God
to lead us and work out everything for good.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

who have been called according to his purpose.

III. BE POSSESSED, DONT GIVE IN TO OBSESSION
ILL.- OCD. Do you have it? Obsessive compulsive disorder. Its when a person cant leave
something alone. Their thoughts are dominated by something to the point that they obsess
about it continually.
For example, there are people with OCD who constantly wash their hands. Every time they
pass the bathroom they MUST wash their hands. They obsess over disease and germs to
the point where they are constantly washing their hands for fear they will get some kind of
germ.
I once saw a woman on TV who had OCD and constantly cleaned her house night and day.
Now I realize thats pretty extreme behavior but thats what she did. She was obsessed by
the need for cleanliness.
I knew of a school principle one time who had a compulsive behavior about food. He
wouldnt admit to it, but it was said that he had a fear of starving to death. And whenever the
local grocery store had a sale on some food item that he liked he would buy tons of that
product and store them in one room of his house.
Some people said he had enough food
in that one room to feed an army. And he didnt stop buying with canned goods. He had
freezers full of meat and other products. That is obsessive compulsive behavior!
Is there anything that you obsess over? Germs? Cleanliness? Mowing your lawn to
perfection? Food? Completing any task to perfection? Perfectionists can have OCD.

Are we ever obsessive about anything? YES! There are some things that we think about or
feel that we just have to do and they may not even be anything evil or bad.
ILL.- In 1968 I bought a new Pontiac Firebird. I washed it every day and waxed once every
week. Wouldnt you say that was obsessive compulsive behavior?
The point is this: We all obsess over certain things in life, perhaps not to the extreme degree
of some, but we do it. And these things tend to control us and/or our behavior at times.
ILL.- I used to love to fish for bass so much that I had a friend with a bass boat who ran a
service station just around the corner from where I lived. If he called me and said, Lets go,
I knew exactly what he meant. I would grab my fishing rods and tackle box and head out of
the door.
If something wasnt really pressing or really needed that next few hours and he called,
THEN I WAS IMMEDIATELY GONE!
ILL.- One time my 35 year old daughter Holly said, Dad, I remember when I was a kid that
on Friday nights we couldnt watch anything on TV because you had to watch boxing.
Thats being obsessive and its also being selfish.
Brothers and sisters, let me suggest to you that instead of us being obsessive about what
we just have to do in life, that we become POSSESSED. Whats that? Instead of being
obsessed with life or lifes material things that we become possessed by the Spirit of God!
Galatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful
nature.

We must not give in to obsession, that is, being obsessed with the things of this world.
Rather we should be possessed by God or by the Spirit of God.
Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled
with the Spirit.
Instead of being obsessed with wine or anything else, we should be filled with Gods Holy
Spirit. And when were filled with Gods Spirit through worship, Bible study and prayer, we
will experience a much better life here and now.
CONCLUSION----------------------------The world offers all kinds of advice for a better life. For example, I have in my office a little
paperback book entitled, Dont Sweat The Small Stuff...its all small stuff. This is true to
some extent and it sounds good, but we do sweat the small stuff in life! We sweat most
everything in life!
There is only one sure cure for a better life and thats in the Lord. Matthew 6:33 Seek first
the kingdom...
I still believe that when we put the Lord first in life everything will go better in life. Lets do it!
Lets work harder at seeking the Lord
first in all things in life and then we will be amazed by Gods blessing on our lives.
Stay cool, dont blow your cool. Live by faith. Dont be faithless. And be possessed by Gods
Spirit and life will be better.

Sermon:
GALATIANS 5:16-18
LIVE BY THE SPIRIT
[Romans 7:14- 8:4]
What principle should one follow to live the Christian life? If a group of average church
members were asked that question what answers would they give? Some would likely
emphasis Bible reading and prayer. Some would stress faithful church attendance. Others
might mention living by the Golden Rule or using your life to serve others. Still others might
say "Imitate Christ." We have Pauls answer to how to live the Christian life here. His overarching guiding principle is Live by the Spirit.
Many professing Christians are quite ignorant of the Holy Spirits ministry and they fail to
recognize and experience His work. They tend to emphasize rules rather than the life of
divine grace, the life of the Spirit. We preachers often hammer on morality but teach little
about the workings of the Spirit and His power to help. To substitute moralizing for the
biblical teaching of the Holy Spirit led life is tragic.
The real secret of success or victory in living the Christian life is to follow the Holy Spirits
guidance and receive His empowering. This leads to an inner and outer transformation of
life that a code of ethics cannot even touch. This was Pauls understanding and deep
conviction; to live in victory is to walk by the Spirit (CIT). It is each believers personal
responsibility to live a Spirit controlled life.
I. THE VICTORIOUS LIFE, v.16.
II. THE INNER STRUGGLE, v. 17.
III. SPIRITUAL FREEDOM, v.18.

In verse 16 we have the answer to the abuses of liberty described in the previous verses,
and the secret to the victorious Christian life. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will never
carry out the desires of the flesh.
The life of victory comes not from following an external code but from obeying an internal
presence. The Holy Spirit takes the place of the law as the controlling power in the
Christians life.
The statement contains an exhortation, "live by the Spirit" and a promise, "and you will
never carry out the desires of the flesh." First the wise advice on how to live your life. The
word walk, used 32 times in Galatians, is used figuratively of ones way of life. It has the
sense of "live" or "conduct oneself." The verb [peri-pateite] is in the present imperative and
literally means keep on walking. Who we are to live in or by [the dative pneumati indicates
origin, sphere, and instrumentality] is the Spirit. The exhortation is to live our lives in the new
reality of "the Spirit" who we encountered and experienced at our conversion.
An astounding promise is attached to those who will surrender daily to Gods Spirit. This
promise is to the believer who continuously lives in dependence on the indwelling Holy Spirit
for guidance and power. The Spirit does not operate automatically in the believers heart but
waits to be yield to or depended on. The secret victory in the moral conflict of the Christian
life is
living by the Spirit.
When a Christian continuously yields to the Spirits control, the promise is that he will not in
any way gratify the fallen nature. The word "not" is better translated by the emphatic "never"
for it represents the most forceful double negative ( ) possible in the original Greek. If you
follow the Spirits directions and promptings you will "no never" be dominated by your sinful
nature, here defined as "the flesh."
When you were saved by receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord the power of sin and of your
fallen nature was broken, but it was not eradicated. The believer has been given the
responsibility to obey the Spirit. The believer must walk in the Spirit for the fallen nature

desires to reassert itself and dominate the believers life as it has been accustomed to doing
before the believer experienced salvation from sin, Satan, and self.
The phase "carry out" or gratify (telesete from tel "bring to an end, finish, complete,
accomplish, carry out") "the desires" indicates to complete or fulfill by outward action. This
desiring is part of mans original nature but has been perverted by our fallen nature. God
has given us natural desires to be express in healthy ways. Satan uses our sinful nature to
get us to use our natural and originally good desires in ways contrary to Gods will. Much sin
is an illegitimate expression of a legitimate desire. While no believer will ever be entirely free
from the evil desires that stem from his failed human nature, he need not capitulate to them,
but by walking in the Spirit he will always experience victory over them. This wonderful truth
is as much a part of the gospel as is the promise of the forgiveness of sin. The promised
reward of walking by the Spirit is the guarantee of moment by moment victory.
Around our home in Spring City, TN were some beautiful OAK TREES. Every year during
the fall season I observe that some of them retain their dried leaves long after maples, elms,
and walnuts become bare. Even the strong winds of winter and the early spring rains did not
completely strip their limbs. But as springtime progresses, the scene begins to change.
Fresh little buds start appearing at the tips of the twigs. Soon the dried remnants of the
preceding season drop away because of the surging forces of new life from within.
This event is a picture of the Holy Spirits work in us as a Christians. Old habits cling to our
lives with a tenacity that can almost drive us to despair. Even trial and adversity do not
remove all the lifeless leftovers of our fallen human nature. But Christ, who dwells in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit, is at work. His powerful life continually seeks expression from
within. As we nurture it through confession of sin, prayer, meditation on the Word of God,
obedience, and fellowship with Christ we begin to live continuously in the Spirit. Then the
dead works of the flesh gradually drop away. It is the living that expels and replaces
the dead.
Do you feel discouraged? Have all your efforts to turn over a new leaf or pluck off the old
ones met with defeat? Then take a lesson from the mighty oak. Thank God for the wonder-

working power of the Holy Spirit within you! Keep on yielding to His gentle urging to be kind,
loving, honest, and faithful. As you do your part the Holy Spirit will take care of those "old
leaves." The best way to get rid of the old nature is give life to the new nature.
Two forces surge within my breast
The one is foul, the other blest;
The new I love, the old I hate;
The one I feed will dominate. [Our Daily Bread]
II. THE INNER STRUGGLE (17).
Verse 17 provides an additional reason for a life that is controlled and energized by the
Spirit. "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for
these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please."
There is an inner spiritual conflict and struggle in each believers life between desires
wrongly expressed and the indwelling Holy Spirit, and between the indwelling Holy Spirit
prompted desires and the flesh or our fallen nature. The explanation for this inner civil war is
the fact that Christians have two natures, a fleshly or sinful nature received at birth, inherited
from fallen Adam, and a new nature received from Christ at spiritual birth. Again, the old
natures power was broken not eradicated at salvation.
Both natures, the believers earthly nature and the new nature, have desires; the one for evil
and the other for holiness. The flesh wants to live only humanly or according to ones own
guidance and direction. The new nature wants to live out Gods Word under the direction
and empowering of the Spirit. The fallen nature wants to continue dominating your life. Thus
they are opposed to each other and in conflict with each other. You must choose constantly
to obey the Spirit. [The verbs wish or please and do are subjunctive.] If the Spirit is not
yielded to the result would be that a believer will not do what he would otherwise do. Paul
gives personal testimony to his struggle in Romans 7:15-25 and to his victory in Romans
chapter 8.

Note that Paul does not say these two antagonists are equal. There is daily victory. The
Holy Spirit is infinitely stronger. The Bible is saying that Christians cannot simply use their
will-power to over-come the flesh. We cannot win this victory in our own strength and by our
own will-power but only by surrendering to the person of the Holy Spirit and finding His
strength. The only way to victory is willing the Holy Spirit to control your life and walking
continuously in His love and guidance.
I read a humorous story about a man who strolled out of a hardware store with a smile on
his face and a brand-new chainsaw in his hands. He was told it could cut down five big oak
trees in an hour. Twenty-four hours later, however, his smile was gone. Frustrated,
he was back at the store complaining that the saw would never cut five trees in an hour. "It
took me all day to cut down five trees," he said.
Puzzled, the store owner stepped outside with the saw, gave the cord a swift pull, and fired
up the steel-toothed beast. Its deafening roar sent the customer stumbling to get away.
"Whats that noise?" he gasped.
Its ridiculous for someone to try to cut down trees with a chain saw without starting it up.
But thats how foolish we are as Christians when we try to live for Christ in our own strength.
We get frustrated and spiritually exhausted when we try to work things out on our own terms
and according to our own schedule. We fail to draw on the power of the Holy Spirit who lives
within us (Romans 8:9-11). Yet His presence can become real and powerful when we rely
on Him. [Our Daily Bread MRD II]
III. SPIRITUAL FREEDOM (v18).
Verse 18 reinforces the doctrine that a Christian is not to be under law but led by the Spirit.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. [The if is a first class condition
which could be translated -and you are.]
The solution to the believers conflict is not to push our will to obey "the law" which also
opposes the works of the flesh but to surrender our will to the Holy Spirit. The present

passive tense verb indicates that freedom from the defeat, bondage, curse and impotence
of the law (Gal 3:11ff, 21ff) is for those who voluntarily are continually being "led by the
Spirit." The Holy Spirit will enable the believer to live on a higher plane of existence. It is a
new reality of life based in and directed by the Spirit.
The godly life is not lived by following the rules of Law but is found in a life lived in
relationship with the Spirit of God. Just as justification is not obtain by work so sanctification
cannot be achieved by fleshly effort. Jesus must save us and the Holy Spirit must sanctify
us (through heeding the Word of Truth and living a life of truth). To live victoriously one must
submit to the Spirits direction and let the Spirit control ones life.
A group of pastors had gathered to make plans for a city-wide EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN.
One of the men suggested that the well-known evangelist D. L. Moody be considered as a
possible speaker. The pastors discussed the suggestion and several spoke favorably about
Moody. But one young preacher who wasnt in favor of inviting him stood up and said with a
note of sarcasm, "From the way some of you talk, youd think Mr. Moody has a monopoly on
the Holy Spirit."
The room became quiet. Then another pastor said, "No, Mr. Moody doesnt have a
monopoly on the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit does have a monopoly on Mr. Moody!"
That pastor recognized that Moody was a man who had not only yielded his body as a
temple of the Holy Spirit but had learned to be fully submissive to His will. The Holy Spirit
truly had a monopoly on Mr. Moody.
We are admonished to
"be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18). That involves yielding ourselves to the will and power
of the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to accomplish His purposes through us.
No one has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit. But He should have a monopoly on us. Does
He?
[Back to the BASICS] In the 1994 Winter Olympics, held in Norway, twenty-three year old
Tommy Moe of the United States won the gold on the mens downhill. It was "a beautifully

controlled run," said William Oscar Johnson in Sports Illustrated, "on which he held tucks
and thrust his hands forward in perfect form at places where others had stood up and flailed
their arms."
After his victory, Tommy Moe explained his thought processes. "I kept it simple," he said, "
and focused on skiing, not on winning, not on where Id place. I remembered to breathe
sometimes I dont."
The winner of the gold medal in the Olympics had to remember the most basic of basics:
breathing! He kept it simple.
Likewise as we seek to have a strong walk with God, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to
know where we win or lose. Those being led by the Spirit breathe the exhilarating and
invigorating air of moral and spiritual freedom. No longer being under laws bondage. They
live out Gods presence with gladness of heart. Spiritual victory depends on the basics. We
need to make sure were being led by the Spirit.
CONCLUSION
How can you win the unrelenting battle between you flesh and your spirit? Admit that you
are powerless to win without surrendering to God. Consciously submit to God and draw on
His strength. The closer you walk with God the stronger your spiritual life will be.
Cooperating with the Spirit and letting Him lead will be in accord with the high standards of
the life and teachings of Jesus. Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear, the
readiness to obey Gods Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and His
prompting. Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Then the words of Christ
will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ
will help you control your selfish desires.

ROADBLOCKS to the Baptism In the Holy Spirit

Sermon:
Breaking Through the Obtacles in Your Path
Acts 1:8 (NIV)
But YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Power to tell people about Jesus!

You cant do this with human ability.
The Holy Spirit will empower YOU!
We are witnesses with an empowered testimony.
The Holy Spirit empowers both our words and the activity of our lives.
The power to overcome sin validates the words we speak.
Satan does not want you to receive Holy Spirit power in your life!
Your enemy wants to limit your effectiveness.
God will not be stopped by the obstacles Satan uses in your life.
Acts 2:17 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. (NIV)
1 John 4:4 . . . for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world. (MsgB)
Roadblock #1 IGNORANCE
Acts 19:1-6 (NIV)
1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at
Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit

when you believed?

They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3So Paul asked, Then what baptism did you receive? Johns baptism," they replied. 4Paul
said, Johns baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one
coming after him, that is, in Jesus. 5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of
the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and
they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Roadblock #2 UNBELIEF
Luke 11:9-13 (NIV)
9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door
will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him
who knocks, the door will be opened.
11Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he
asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy
Spirit to those who ask him!
Roadblock #3 UNCONFESSED SIN
Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (NIV)
You cant hold onto your favorite sins and expect God to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
What sin are you trying to hide from God?
You are only fooling yourself!
1 John 1:8-9 8If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept

the truth. 9But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to
cleanse us from every wrong. (NLT)
Confession is to AGREE WITH GOD about our sin. Agreement with God produces
REPENTANCE (turning away from sin).
Do you only feel bad caught with your hand in the cookie jar, or are you ready to turn from
your sin to God?
2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads
to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (NIV)
Roadblock #4 CONDEMNATION
Many people feel UNWORTHY and BOUND BY GUILT.
Why should God fill me with the Holy Spirit?
If Satan cant lead you into sin, then he will try to chain you to the sins of your past.
Romans 8:1-2 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin
and death. (NIV)
BREAK FREE WITH PRAISE!
Dont stand condemned by Satan. Begin to thank God for His marvelous forgiveness He
has given you!
Psalm 103:11-12 11As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who
fear him. 12And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. (MsgB)

Roadblock #5 SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS
Some people just want to figure it all out.
What if its just me?
I dont want to make a fool of myself.
Self-consciousness is PRIDE.
Isaiah 5:21 Doom to you who think youre so smart, who hold such a high opinion of
yourselves! (MsgB)
Lose self-consciousness in GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS!
BREAK THROUGH WITH CHILDLIKE FAITH!
Matthew 18:3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little
children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (NIV)
Baptism is literally to be immersed. Let God immerse you in His Spirit instead of being
immersed in yourself.

Roadblock #6 DEAD FAITH

James 2:26 The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse.
Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse. (MsgB)
FAITH MUST BE ACTIVE!
The same faith needed for salvation is required to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (NIV)

BREAK THROUGH WITH LIVING FAITH!

Open your mouth and speak to God.
Acts 1:14; 2:4 They all joined together constantly in prayer . . . All of them were filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (NIV)
Acts 4:24, 31 Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in
prayer . . . While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak Gods Word with fearless
confidence. (MsgB)

Roadblock #7 IMPATIENCE
Dont be in a hurry!
Be willing to wait upon the Lord.
Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do
not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me
speak about. (NIV)

DONT BE STOPPED!
ROADBLOCKS BREAKTHROUGH
Ignorance TEACHING

Unbelief ASK GOD

Unconfessed Sin REPENTANCE
Condemnation PRAISE
Self-Consciousness
CHILD-LIKE FAITH
Dead Faith LIVING FAITH
Impatience WAIT ON GOD
Be Filled With The Holy Spirit!

Jesus Is Your Reward

Sermon:
Pursue Understanding: Jesus Is Your Reward
Pastor Jim Luthy
Ephesians 1:15-23

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you the
Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better."
As I shared the message that we are blessed, the people of our church began to hear from
God:
"God has shown me the way that he loves me."
"I will be more like Christ as his grace enables me to see the many blessings he has
brought into my life, and to be more thankful for those many blessings."
"God has shown me that I am blessed and one of his children who does not deserve this
blessing but I am grateful for this eternal gift of grace and love."
"God spoke to me in great heights and depths tonight. Boiling it all down I learned that I am
blessedgreater than my little human brain can fathom."
"God has shown me how I accept grace from God, but I dont extend it to other people."

"God has shown me our blessing is drastically different from the worldly blessing."
"God has shown me that there is hope."
A similar experience happened to a compulsive fisherman from Galilee:
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," Peter realized.
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by
man, but by my Father in heaven."
When the people in our church began to hear from God, they received the same Spirit that
opened Simon Peters eyes to understand that Jesus was the Christ. That same Spirit
visited our church! Thats the Spirit Paul prayed would come to the church in Ephesusthe
Spirit who comes to impart wisdom and revelation. The Spirit who brings wisdom and
revelation is the Holy Spirit. It is God himself visiting us to give us his wisdom, and to give us
revelation. Why? According to Ephesians 1:17 its so that we may know him better.
I heard Chuck Swindoll on the radio say that wisdom is "the ability to take spiritual truths
and apply them to practical everyday situations." Thats pretty good, but I would go even
farther. Wisdom is also the ability to take spiritual truths and apply them to situations that
arent of the everyday variety. After all, its not every day that youre trying to decide whether
to get married or a spouse asks for a divorce or a child is flunking out of school or your
employer lays you off. We need wisdom everyday because not everything we face is an
everyday situation.
Isnt it amazing that one of the roles of the Holy Spirit for those who live on another level is
to come and place in you the wisdom of God? Can you think of any better way to live wisely

than to have the ability of God to understand how to apply the word that originated in him to
the specific situations you face? Thats what happens. In Colossians 2:2-3, Paul writes that
Jesus is the treasure chest of wisdom and knowledge. When we receive Christ into our lives
by faith, that treasure chest of Jesus is planted in us by the ongoing
sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. When that is done, you have received the Spirit of
wisdom. It really is an encounter with Christ.
Thats why the person who has been blessed and is living on another level will often say, "I
dont know how I knew what to say, I just knew it," or "the Lord reminded me in his Word
that" Nobody knows where the wind blows from or where it is blowing, but once its blown
through you, you say "That was God! Thank you Lord!" You see, youve just encountered
Christ. Youre living on another level. The world doesnt experience that!
That same Spirit also gives us revelation, which is a little different than wisdom. That word
"revelation" is also translated "appearing" or "coming" or "manifestation." It is specifically the
glory of God, an illumination of Jesus, like the one Peter received, like the one the two men
received at the end of the road to Emmaus, like the one Saul received along the road to
Damascus. The Spirit of revelation is the person of God made manifest in your experience.
To know him means to encounter him. It is the difference between knowing about Jesus and
knowing him experientially. When you have the Spirit of revelation, Jesus is made real to
you.
Notice Paul did not pray that the church would be scholars of the Bible to know him better.
Paul did not pray that the church would graduate from seminary or complete some
discipleship program so they would know him better. Paul did not pray that the church would
develop a strategic Sunday School or catechism so the children would know him better.
These are good things, tools in the hand of God to help us catch glimpses of him, just like
any spiritual disciplinefasting, prayer, meditation, solitude--but these things are not

necessarily spiritual and are definitely not an end in themselves. The point of all these
things is the goal. Jesus is the goal. We want to encounter him. We want to be, as Tommy
Tenney describes it, "God Catchers."
And heres the good newsthat Spirit is for us all. The purpose of the Spirit of wisdom and
revelation is for us to know him better. Its not just for the preacher who preaches to the
congregation. Its not just for the teacher who passes on information to the students. Its not
to make the prophet the only one who receives revelation. It is the Spirit of God, meant for
the children of God, so that the children of God may know their Father.
This is why I believe anyone in our church can become a cell leader. You dont have to be a
scholar. You dont have to know the original Greek or Hebrew. You need to read your Bible
and you need to study your Bible to understand what it says, and not what you want it to
say. But in the cell group, our prayer is that the same Spirit of wisdom and revelation that led
you to put your faith in Christ will come upon you so that others can receive that Spirit too
so that everyone in the cell will know Jesus better. Were all on a journey
and none of us have arrived. The cell leaders responsibility is not to teach, but to facilitate
the sharing of what weve learned through our experiences with Christ and in this world. The
cell leader most needs to be prayed up and covered in the blood of Jesus so that nothing
will hinder the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Let me tell you, that has a lot more to do with
humility and faith than it has to do with scholarship. And I say to you all, that you can do
that! Where you are weak he is strong. Where you are unprepared, we will prepare you, but
we want you to know that you can lead a dynamic TLC Group. We want you to prepare for
that today.
If God has taken hold of you, he simply wants you to share with others out of your
knowledge of him. As you continually receive the Spirit of wisdom of revelation, you know
God better. He becomes familiar to you. When you are living on another level, your reward is

the manifest presence of God! How has Jesus been manifest to you? If you have the
Presence, whether youve been saved 30 seconds or 30 years, you can influence others
because you can do all things through Christ.
But youve got to have the Presence.
Moses knew the importance of the Presence (Exodus 33): The Lord had been leading the
people out of slavery in Egypt to a land he assured them was full of milk and honey. Now
the Lord is telling Moses to go up into that land, "But," he says in verse 3, "I will not go with
you, because you are a stiff-necked people." You see, for the Israelites, the promised land
became the goal. They became more interested in the milk and honey than in the presence
of God.
Have you ever been more interested in the milk and honey than the Presence? About a year
after I had gone into ministry, my wife and I were facing some struggles. Tammie felt
uncomfortable with my being in ministry and I was very uncomfortable with her being
uncomfortable. I was ready to quit. We wanted the milk of peace and the honey of
contentment. The crime lab in Pensacola, Florida opened their arms to me and we began to
consider moving. They opened up a spot for me to come to work for them and sent us
information about housing. We looked it over real close. Then we realized (Tammie realized
it first), that if we went to Pensacola looking for milk and honey, we were going to find
ourselves there without the presence of God.
Have you been tempted to grab the promises of God without the presence of God? Have
you ever tried to bear the fruit of faith by bypassing the act of faith? Have you ever gone
ahead of God, failing to hear the prophetic voice say "wait on the Lord?" If you have, then
you know what the Israelites were faced with. When you think about it, thats the essence of
sin and temptation. When we give in to temptation, we have exchanged the fruit of that

temptation for the presence of God. Thats what sin does, it separates us from the
Presence.
Lets return to Exodus 33. "When the
people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn" Moses goes to the tent of
meeting outside the camp, and as he goes in (notice the significance of entering in
another plug for spiritual disciplines), the presence of God came down in a pillar of cloud
that landed at the entrance of the tent.
On the outside, the people began to worship in the presence of God. Have you ever seen a
bunch of stiff-necked people worship? I have. You look around a place like that and you say,
"Wheres the Presence?" But even when stiff-necked people come in contact with the
presence of God, its a different dynamic.
On the inside of the tent, Moses spoke to God face to face:
"You have been telling me, Lead these people, but you have not let me know whom you will
send with me. You have said, I know you by name and you have found favor with me. If you
are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you (notice the connection
between receiving wisdom and knowing God) and continue to find favor with you.
Remember that this nation is your people."
The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
You know, that would have satisfied me, but for some reason, that didnt satisfy Moses. You
would think he just received the answer he was looking for. God said his presence would go
with him. If I were Moses, I would have jumped up and down like Id just been told I was the
new starting point guard for the Lakers. "Whoohoo!" Then I would have run outside to tell

everyone, "Hey you guys! Dont sweat it! He said hell go. He said hell go! Yes! All is well."
But Moses, without getting ahead of himself like I would have, pressed the conversation.
This is where you have to really admire Moses. He stood in the gap for his people, even
though they were whiners and complainers and a bunch of sticks in the mudthey must
have been driving him crazybut he stood up for them. What a great picture of leadership.
Ive concluded that Moses continued in this dialogue because God had conceded that he
would go with Moses and be present with Moses, but Im not sure Moses believed he would
go with all the people.
Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from
here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you
go with us? Then Moses says something that ought to give all who intend to live on another
level pause
"What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the
earth?"
What Moses was saying was, "without you, Lord, were nothingthe milk means nothing,
the honey means nothing, all that fertile land means nothing. Our freedom means nothing
without your presence."
You see, we can build a big building and have all kinds of activity going on. We can meet
together in our homes, have great big potluck dinners, come to church on the weekends,
feed the hungry and shelter the homeless
and do all kinds of wonderful things FOR God, but the truth is we are nothing and our
message is meaningless unless we do these things WITH God.

Do you want to know why the church has lost its relevance? Weve lost the Presence. Weve
focused on better families and recovery and financial freedom; weve focused on the milk
and honey. Those things have become the goal, and weve lost our desire for the presence
of God.
I believe, though, that God is making the church thirsty for his presence again. So we pray
for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that we may know him better.
Church, what else will distinguish us from all the other people on the earth? What else will
distinguish us from the Mormons and the Muslims and the Moose lodge? Nothing. Nothing
other than the presence of God.
Are you thirsty yet?
I liked what Dave Johnson said at a recent Pastors Renewal Retreat on this same subject:
(paraphrase) "Hollywood can make better movies than us. Broadway can put on better
productions than we can. Corporations have more money and build bigger and more
attractive buildings than us. What do we have that nobody else has? The Presence."
We are a people of the Presence! Without the presence of God, we are nothing! Its the
presence of God that distinguishes us. Its the presence of God that draws the attention of
the nations. Its the presence of God that brings people to the blessing of God. Its the
presence of God that makes us holy.
At Pentecost, there came a sound "like the blowing of a mighty wind that came from
heaven." That wind was the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit came upon the people and the
crowd came when they heard the sound. They were bewildered because the upper room
recipients of the Presence were speaking in tongues and each person heard them in their

own language, but the reason they came was that they heard the sound of the wind.
Friends, we need the wind of God. When the wind of God blows and we receive the Spirit of
wisdom and revelation, we will know Jesus better. We will have experienced him. His
presence will be made manifest to us. People will be drawn, not by our wisdom, nor by what
has been revealed to ustheyll be amazed by those things--but it will be the presence of
God that draws them. We are a people of the Presence! What else will distinguish us from
the rest of the earth?
Paul had two things he was praying for on behalf of the church in Ephesus (and if it was
Gods will for the church then, it is Gods will for the church now). First he prayed that they
would receive the Spirit of wisdom and understanding so that they would know him better.
Second, he prayed that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened so they would know the
riches that accompany him. He prayed they would know the Presence before he prayed they
would know the milk and honey.
Theres nothing wrong with milk and honey. Your Father in heaven loves to give you milk
and honey. Its a
delight to him to give you hope, riches, and power. But knowing Jesus comes first.
Receiving the Spirit of wisdom we can say to God, "I hear you." Receiving the Spirit of
revelation we can say, "I see you." This is the first prize for those who live by faithJesus is
your reward. Living on another level, we encounter Christ in wisdom and revelation. Living
on another level, we encounter the manifest presence of God. Living on another level, the
Spirit of God becomes for us a pillar of cloud in the light of our good days and a column of
fire in our darkest nights.
The hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and

his incomparably great power are incredible promises for us who believe. But they mean
nothing to us apart from him. Without knowing him personally, without having experienced
his manifest presence, these things are meaningless. How could we trust him if we dont
know him? It is senseless.
Weve already learned that those who have heard and believed are blessed. Now
understand this, you who are blessed: Jesus is your reward. Jesus is the prize. God is the
goal. Dont pursue the milk and honey. Dont live or believe or follow for the sake of the
hope, for the riches, or for the power. Youll find those things in Jesus. Live to know him. He
is your reward.
When you know that you are blessed and that Jesus is your reward, you are living on
another level.

Sermon:
LIVING A SPIRIT DRIVEN LIFE
KEEPING YOUR TANK FULL

TEXT: Ephesians 5:15-21; Acts 4:31; Luke 11:13

INTRO:How many of you like going to the Gas pumps now of days!
It is crazy to think how much money we are paying for a gallon of gas, and they say that the
end is not in sight. In Northern California, here in Quincy, We are paying on an average the
highest amount in the Nation. $2.50 a gallon.
But here is the kicker- We will pay for it, we will pay the price, any price, because we like not
having to walk, we like our cars, we like the power we have when we are in them.
Some may choose to drive less, or even carpool now and then, but for the most part,
nobody is going to give up their cars.
It is funny, that in the physical world, we will do anything, pay any price for the fuel to give
our vehicles power. Most of us will not even let our tanks go much below a quarter of a tank
before we are right in that station filling back up again.

What about your Spiritual Tank?

How long do you go before you fill that tank up with fuel and power?
Do you feel this morning you are riding on Fumes???
Is your tank DRY?
Just like the fuel for your car, we are dependent on it and get it from a King from the Middle
EastThe Middle Eastern King we get our fuel, our Anointed Oil from, Is Jesus ChristAnd Jesus, our King does not charge $45.00 a barrel for his OilIt is a FREE gift- Not just a one time gift, but a gift that we can go back and get more and
more and more
Last week we uncovered the promise of God that he would Pour out His Spirit in the last
days. We also learned that God did this on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
Two things happened:
1. God GAVE (Poured out His Spirit) to the Church- By evidence of two of three witnesses,
Fire and Wind- the third witness of the Holy Spirit is Oil.
2. The 120 in the upper room RECEIVED the Holy Spirit.
I know a lot of believers Pray for God to send His Holy Spirit to His church, I myself may
have even been guilty of this in the past, however, we need to understand the truth, or the

matter, and that is that God has already given His Spirit to the Church, our prayers should
be more in line ofGod help us live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and cultivate fruits in the
Spirit.
All over the World, believers are receiving the Gift of being filled with the Holy Ghost- .
For example:
The Pentecostal, Spirit Filled church in Latin America is growing so fast, that they can not
train pastors fast enough.- Missionary Jerry Brown
The Largest Protestant church in the world is a Spirit Filled Pentecostal Church- Soul
Korea
Lives are being changed in Cuba today- Castro has now allowed the doors of churches to
be reopened, however, the stipulation is that they have to be Spirit Filled Pentecostal
Churches- James Braddy
The new numbers come from the 2004 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches,
published recently by the National Council
of Churches. The Pentecostal bodies in the top 25 are newcomer the Church of God
(Cleveland, Tenn.), with 944,857 members (25th); the Church of God in Christ, with
5,499,875 members (4th); the Assemblies of God, with 2,687,366 (10th); and the
Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Inc., with 1,500,000 (tie 16th).
Gods Gift to the Church is being received by his people- You today may even remember the
time that you received the Gift from the father- But here is my Question:
Hove you received lately?
When was the last time you were filled?

How well is your life in producing Fruits of this gift.

ILLUS: The great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa -- the city of
his birth -- but only on condition that the instrument never be played upon. It was an
unfortunate condition, for it is a peculiarity of wood that as long as it is used and handled, it
shows little wear. As soon as it is discarded, it begins to decay. The exquisite, mellow-toned
violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. The
moldering instrument is a reminder that a life withdrawn from all service to others loses its
meaning.
Bits & Pieces, June 25, 1992.
PROP.SENT: The Bible commands us to ..be filled with The Spirit. This is not a command of
a one time experience, but a continued filling, influencing every aspect of our lives including
transformed relationships, dynamic ministry and enhanced worship, which includes a
personal prayer language.

I. RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. Gift form God!
Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Do Christians receive the Holy Spirit when they are saved? If so, how is this experience
different from the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
Yes, when persons accept Christ, the Holy Spirit begins a great work in their lives. The Spirit
convicts them of sin, convinces them of righteousness, and dwells within them (John 6:44;
14:17; Roman 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13). No one becomes a Christian without this gracious
work of the Holy Spirit.

However, there is an additional and distinct ministry of the Holy Spirit called the baptism in
the Holy Spirit. The Baptism is an empowering gift from God the Father that is promised to
every believer
Matthew 3:11; Luke 11:13; 24:49; Acts 2:33, 38Scripture teaches us that after a person is a believer, God has the Gift of the Holy Spirit, or
the Baptism of the Holy SpiritI know some teach that this Baptism in the Holy Spirit is the same thing as a person
becoming saved, and the Holy Spirit takes up residency. However, the Baptism of the Holy
Spirit, came after one believes.
On the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit was received by 120 BELEIVERS.It helps the Christian to live a holy life and also brings a new devotional attachment to Jesus
Christ, making Him very real and precious.
The primary purpose of
the Baptism is to give greater power for witnessing (Acts 1:8). Other benefits include a
greater joy in spiritual service, and a heightened sense of ones mission to the world.
We will share more on this a little latter.
B. Gift that keeps giving!
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were
all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Once a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, why is it necessary to be refilled later?
On the Day of Pentecost 120 disciples (committed followers of Jesus) were "filled" with the
Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). This fulfilled the promise Christ had made to them a few days earlier.
He had said, "John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy
Spirit" (Acts 1:5). But this initial experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit is only the
beginning of a lifelong experience. God wants us to remain filled with the Spirit.
ILLUS: Perhaps an analogy will best clarify this. As Christians we may be compared with a
reservoir for producing electrical power, like one of those you see when you drive down the
canyon. When we accept Christ, construction of our reservoir is complete. We now have the

potential to be useful and to affect lives. But until the flood gates are opened and the
cascading river waters pour through, no power is realized. So it is when we are baptized in
the Holy Spirit. We open our lives to God and the Holy Spirit pours into us and through us. It
is then we become most effective in Gods service.
As with the reservoir, this power-generating experience is not intended to be a one-time
occurrence. It is to be an ongoing process. When our spiritual power runs low, we need to
return to the Source and let the blessed Holy Spirit pour into us again, bringing fresh power.
This happened to the early followers of Jesus. Peter and John they had already been
baptized in the Spirit; but later on, when persecution arose, they needed a new surge of
spiritual power; so they prayed to the Lord once again and "they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit" (Acts 4:31).
As the Spirit-filled believer serves the Lord, there is an expenditure of spiritual power. It
becomes necessary for him to open himself afresh to the Holy Spirit in order that his power
may be replenished.
The command in our text today Ephesians 5:18 is literally, "Keep on being filled with the
Spirit." Here lies the secret of Spirit-filled living. The Spirit-filled life is a continuous process
of receiving and giving, of being filled and sharing with others, of receiving power from God
and spending it in gospel service.
II. LIVING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
How do you know if you are living a spirit filled life?
Is the any signs that we need to be aware of, any warnings?
A Spirit-Driven Life is believers who has
A. Transformed Relationship! (desperately seek more of GOD. )
Psalm 42:1, 2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

I thirst for God, the living God.

There was an evangelist in the 19th century named Charles Finney who led about 500,000
people to the Lord in his lifetime. This was before microphones or mega churches or
televangelism.
All Finney had going for him was the power of God working through him. Finney said that
revival is nothing more and nothing less than a new beginning of obedience to God, starting
in Gods people.
Finney believed that Christians were more at fault for not being revived than sinners are for
not being saved.
Judgment begins in the house of God. Revival comes when we Christians get serious about
obeying God. The Lord wants to shake up His people, big time
The question is will we let Him?
ILLUS: If our churches dont pray, and if people dont have an appetite for God, what does it
matter how many are attending the services? How would that impress God? Can you
imagine the angels saying, "Oh, your pews! We cant believe how beautiful they are! Up
here in heaven, weve been talking about them for years. Your sanctuary lightingits so
clever. The way you have the steps coming up to the pulpitits wonderful. . . ." I dont think
so.
If we dont want to experience Gods closeness here on earth, why would we want to go to
heaven anyway? He is the center of everything there. If we dont enjoy being in his presence
here and now, then heaven would not be heaven for us. Why would he send anyone there

who doesnt long for him passionately here on earth? Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire
A Person Living a Spirit Filled life, will have his/her relationship to God be transformed into a
passion that can not be quenched.
We think that revival is going to disrupt our life and it will.
But we desperately need our lives disrupted, shaken up. If were honest, well admit that
were living below the level of joy and abundance God has for us.
Revival personal revival will bring that joy! But to have it, we must cut loose the sin that
so easily entangles us. Every day offers each of us a new beginning of obedience to God.
Empowered not by our fleshly attempts at obedience, but by His Spirit working in us to obey.
Today offers that same opportunity, that same new beginning.
Trust God to show you that same opportunity, that same new beginning.
Seek after more of God.
Ask Him to touch your heart and move in a fresh way in your life!

A Spirit-Driven Life is one in which believers maintain a heart of

B. Total Repentance!
ILLUS: Playing Around With Sin
Sammy was a good-looking young boy who lived in the deep south. His summer days were
filled with times of walking through the woods, playing with friends, and fishing in the pond
down the dirt road Fishing was by far his favorite thing to do. Just about every day during his

summer vacation, he would dig up some worms and head off, pole in hand, for a day of
fishing.
This steamy hot day was like most others during Sammys summer break.
Waking early, he could hear the pond calling him to come fish. Sammy quietly walked out
the front door, grabbed his pitchfork and worm pail from the porch, and walked into the
woods to search for bait. He turned over old stumps and dug under leaves hoping to find
worms. Under one old stump he hit the jackpot. The ground was writhing. In two minutes he
had all the bait he needed, and in 15 minutes he was at the pond.
Reaching into his bait bucket, Sammy pulled out a big worm. He double hooked it and
tossed it into the water. He noticed a stinging in his hand, but filled with the excitement of the
moment, he paid no attention to it. Within 30 seconds, Sammy had a strike and pulled in a
nice catfish. Wow, he thought, a fish in the first minute. This is unbelievable!
He put the catch on his stringer, hurried to re-bait his hook, and tried his luck again. Once
again he felt a stinging sensation in his hand as he threw his hook into the pond. He didnt
have time to worry about it. Within just a few seconds, he had another huge fish. He
fumbled the next time he baited his hookhis hand felt numb and stiff. But Sammy was too
excited about catching another fish to give it much thought.
At the end of only an hour of fishing, Sammy had caught eight large fish. This was definitely
his best fishing day ever. He was so proud of his accomplishment that, even though there
was plenty of day left to fish, he threw the heavy stringer of fish over his shoulder and
dashed down the dirt road toward home to show off his catch to his mom and dad.
The local sheriff happened to drive up alongside Sammy and started to congratulate him on
his catch of fish. With a smile and a victory whoop, Sammy held up the stringer. The sheriff
gasped, parked his car and strode over to Sammy. His eyes hadnt deceived himSammys
arms really were red and swollen to about twice their normal size. Exactly where have you
been and what bait did you use to catch all those fish?" the sheriff asked Sammy, already
guessing the answer.

I found some special bait under an old stump," Sammy boasted. "These worms really wiggle
good," he commented, handing up the bait bucket for inspection. After a close look at the
worms, the sheriff went into fast-forward. Securing the bucket in his truck, he then scooped
Sammy and his stringer of fish into the backseat of his patrol car. Spinning a U-turn on the
gravel road, he sped off to the hospital, but Sammy was already dead.
What the sheriff had discovered was that Sammy had been fishing with baby rattlesnakes.
Sammys deadly bait brought him a good mornings fishing but cost him his life. Had Sammy
stopped fishing after that first sting, he could have been saved. One bite from a baby rattler
wont kill a person who gets treatment in time. But Sammy was having fun and didnt bother
himself with the small voice of pain in his hand. Then, as his hand grew numb, even that
small voice was silenced.
Playing around with sin is like using baby rattlesnakes
for bait. Sinning seems harmless to people who dont recognize sin and are unaware of its
deadly consequences. The more sin you get into, however, the more numb you become to
its sting.
In the excitement of the moment, you ignore the still small voice of God warning you of
danger and encouraging you to choose life instead of death.
Calloused. Indifferent, Ignorant to the things of God.
We must cry out to God on a regular basis in repentance.
Hebrews 1:12, 13 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own
hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn

each other every day, as long as it is called today, so that none of you will be deceived by
sin and hardened against God.
People lose their hunger for God as a direct result of a hardened heart.
? Find yourself slipping into a comfortable mode of complacency?
? Find your thought life drifting off to a place that only concerns the flesh?
? Consumed with the affairs this life brings?
? Indifferent to the Holy Spirits conviction and guiding?

Allow the Holy Spirit to soften your heart thru repentance!

It is ludicrous to think that we are living a Spirit Filled Life, and then the next moment we are
fulfilling the desires of our flesh. Not yielding to the Conviction of the Holy SpiritLike the pain in little Sammys arm- The Holy Spirit will warn us of danger. But it is up to us
to respond.
Remember it is the little foxes that spoil the vine.
A Spirit-Driven Church is a body of believers who are actively loving and
C. Testifying of the Redemption!.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall

be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
earth.
The primary purpose for the Baptism of The Holy Spirit- is to empower Gods people with
Dunamis power! To be WITTNESSES of the Testimony of Jesus Christ!
Its power that we need from God to fulfill the great task of reaching our world. With the
Good News of Jesus Christ. Next week Ill talk a little more about dynamite!
It is thought his POWER we are given the BOLDNESS- Par-rhay-see-ah to evangelize those
we come in contact with.
This parrhesia, gives us power to speak forth the word of God, outspokenness, freedom of
speech, with frankness and candor. The word denotes a divine enablement that comes to
ordinary people, exhibiting spiritual power and authority.
This word also refers to being empowered to give a clear presentation of the gospel, without
being ambiguous or unintelligible.
Parrhesia is not a human quality; it is the result of being Filled with the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, one of the greatest and most airtight test, if a person is living a Spirit filled life, is
simply- Are you sharing the life saving testimony of Jesus Christ????
I know that I can get myself in to a lot of trouble with some people However,
if you just look at scripture you will find that it is Impossible to separate the two:
Spirit Filled living, equals on hands involvement in evangelism.

After the initial reception of the Holy Spirit, the 120

Acts 2:11 we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
Which led to Peter preaching and Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were
baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 4:4- But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about
five thousand. Solomons Porch
We must be careful not to divorce the two:
I know there is a lot of emphasis today on the signs and wonders that come with the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit- But signs and wonders are not the test or the primary purpose for
the Spirit Filled believer.
How long has it been since you shared the Testimony of Jesus with someone?
A Spirit Filled believer will have a passion for the Lost!
A Spirit Filled Believer will Be constantly emptying him or her self/ always coming back for
more of what God will have for them.

I will boldly make this statement:

If you have not given out, what God has given you, then you are probably not living a Spirit
Filled Life.

Your life is not filled with LIFE!! You heard me! Spiritually you are dying, In order to grew and
have Abundant Spiritual life, You have to give out!!
ILLUS: A natural example of this point can be found by looking at the two seas in the Holy
Land. The Sea of Galilee freely receives and gives out water. It has an abundance of life,
nurturing many different kinds of fish and plant life. The water from the Sea of Galilee is
carried by way of the Jordan river to the Dead Sea. But the Dead Sea only takes water in
and does not give out. There is nothing living, no fish or plant life in the Dead Sea. The
powerful life giving waters of the Sea of Galilee become dead when mixed with the hoarded
waters of the Dead Sea. Life can not be sustained if held onto. John Bevere, The Bait Of
Satan Charisma House, 1997, page 12,13.

Church you have to give out, if you are going to survive, if you are going to bring New Life
into those around us, we need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
CONCLUSSION The command to Be filled with the Spirit is a command to be continually
filled, it is not a one time event. However, we must pour out what God has poured into us. If
we are going to have any effect on the world around us, we need to have the power of the
Holy spirit working in our lives, we need to make sure we are Living a Spirit Filled Life.
Sermon:
Living Water
John 4:5-15, 28 READ
WATER Multi-billion $ industry WATER!!!!
- PUBLIX made list of different types of water sold.

WHY? Desire for pure water vs. tap water.

- There IS a difference!
ILL. Chemistry class distilled water
2 THINGS I notice in John Ch. 4 water and thirsty.
WHAT is the water that Jesus is speaking of? - John 7:37-39 all turn
NOTICE: The ABUNDANCE of the Spirit 7:38 rivers.
- Jesus wants you filled.
WHY do we need to be filled?
- BECAUSE we LEAK got holes in us comes out all over the place!
WHEN tell that dirty joke (or listen) start LEAKING!
WHEN spread that gossip (or listen) start LEAKING!
WHEN read that magazine watch that TV show, movie drink from that can think
that thought START LEAKING!
Leaking isnt good BUT at least we have something to leak!
INDWELT w/ Holy Spirit when SAVED a 1-time event once-and-for-all.
Jesus promised this in Jn. 14:17 for He dwells with you and will be in you.
- Rom. 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells

in you.
1 Cor. 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God
dwells in you?
THINK ABOUT THAT!
The Holy Spirit LIVES WITHIN YOU! (if saved).
-Are you ever AWARE of this?
We hear of being DEMON POSSESSED AND we know the consequences .
- BUT we are HOLY SPIRIT POSSESSED.
Do you ever SENSE His presence?
Do you ever HEAR Him speak to you (hear voices)?
Do you ever FEEL His LOVE?
Do you ever TALK to Him?
Do you ever THINK about Him?
IF NOT EITHER LOST OR been leaking!
You are INDWELT by the Holy Spirit.
Do you know the CONSEQUENCES? The BENEFITS?
You wont realize the BENEFITS UNLESS you STOP THE LEAK AND get
FILLED with the Holy Spirit.

WHAT are some of the BENEFITS of being filled with the Holy Spirit?
Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience),
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
We WANT these things AMEN? (Yes?) They are a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
IF youre dry all leaked out empty THEN these things have leaked out.
- BECAUSE they are a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.
Have you got POWER over Satan? - WHY NOT? BECAUSE youre leaky.
BESIDES YOU have no power over Satan ONLY the Holy Spirit does.
- SO if running on empty NO POWER.

Do you have POWER over HABITS? If NOT running on empty leaky.

Do you have POWER over TEMPTATION? empty
Do you have POWER over WORRY FEAR LUST HATE SINFUL THOUGHTS

- IF NOT running on empty leaking

JESUS John 14:26 But the Comforter, the HolySpirit, whom the Father will send in My
name, He will teach

you all things.

The Holy Spirit is your comforter your teacher.
John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all
truth;
Do you ever do DUMB things things you eventually REGRET?
- SOMETIMES like a bull in china shop act on IMPULSE
- SOMETIMES we just live our life AIMLESSLY without any clear DIRECTION.
WHY? BECAUSE acting in the flesh dont rely on the WISDOM of the Holy Spirit.
- WHY? BECAUSE Running on empty leaking not filled with the Holy Spirit.
HOW DO YOU GET THIS filling OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
John 7:37-39 all turn AGAIN.
thirsts turn back to 4:13-15 read.
IF you are thirsty Jesus promises you:
4:15 - a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
7:38 rivers of living water.
God has promised us an ABUNDANCE fountain springing up rivers
- We dont need to live off of just a FEW DROPS of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

You arent going to DRINK UNLESS thirsty.

- PROBLEM we DRINK the WRONG THINGS.
WHAT do we NEED? We NEED the water of the Holy Spirit.
WHAT do we DRINK? We drink from the well of the world AND wonder why running
on empty leaking.
WATER is important to LIFE.
- NO WATER = NO LIFE other PLANETS planet Earth.
THIS WEEK drinking ONLY WATER no coffee no soda no milk no tea
ONLY WATER.
- A water fast if you please.
WHY dont we have any POWER any fruit? (love, joy, peace, patience, self-control )
- BECAUSE empty dried up leaking.
WHY are we empty leaking?
- BECAUSE we arent THIRSTY Thirsty for the Holy Spirit.
God has tried to tell us many times about being THIRSTY for Him.
Ps. 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My
soul THIRSTS for God, for the living God.
Ps. 63:1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul THIRSTS for You; My

flesh longs for you in a dry and THIRSTY land where there is no water.
Mt. 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and THIRST for righteousness. For they shall be
FILLED.
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall
never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never THIRST.
Isaiah 55:1 Ho! Everyone who THIRSTS, come to the waters; And you who have no
money, come, buy and eat.
Its FREE! All you have to be is thirsty thirsty for GOD thirsty for the filling of the
Holy Spirit.
You dont have to EARN the filling of the HolySpirit.
You dont have to WORK to receive His filling.
You dont have to clean up your act first.
You dont have to WAIT until you get your life straightened out be good enough.
All you have to be is thirsty its FREE!
- AND to be thirsty all you have to be is dried up spiritually leaked out
running on empty. IF youre dry THEN you ought to be thirsty.
John 4:28 all turn, read.

CONCLUSION:

WHAT do we need in our Christian lives?

- We need the POWER of the Holy Spirit PERIOD!
- Zechariah 4:6 Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
Without the filling of the Holy Spirit you will be POWERLESS in your daily life.
Micah 3:8 But truly I am full of POWER by the Spirit of the Lord.
Luke 4:14 Then Jesus returned in the POWER of the Spirit to Galilee.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.
MORE than anything else we need the filling of the Holy Spirit.
- This water keeps us from getting dried up spiritually.
- Eph. 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
Does God have SOMETHING MORE for you THAN a dried up well?
God will pour out His Spirit on those who are DRY and THIRSTY.
- Only HE can satisfy your thirst.
Phil. 1:6 He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus
Christ.
God can do great things in and through you BUT ONLY as we walk in the Spirit of

God.
- The only QUALIFICATIONS are to be thirsty for the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Are you thirsty for Gods BEST?
Are you thirsty for MORE of Gods BLESSINGS?
Are you thirsty for your life to be filled with the Spirit?
THEN John 15:7 Jesus said - If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will
ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Let me close with these words some of the last words of the Bible:
Rev. 21:5-6 Then He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new I will
give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come!
And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
STAND PRAYER
PUBLIX:
Over 24 BRANDS (manufactures) of WATER.
LABELS included:
Fitness Water
Sparkling Water

 Spring Water
NATURAL Spring Water
Seltzer Water
Distilled Water
DRINKING Water (?)
Sparkling Water
Infused Water (?)
Smart Water (?)
Purified Water

Sermon:

Nine Ways the Holy Spirit Helps Us Live Out His Forgiveness
Illustration:A woman confessed to me that she had lied about me. She then asked for my
forgiveness. I told her she was forgiven. She took me at my word, and our relationship has
been good ever since.
But what if she had badgered me with questions like, "Did I show enough grief for what I
did?" and "Could I buy you something to show you I was sincere?" I would have felt insulted.
She would have been placing more value on the quality of her repentance than on my
integrity.
I believe that God is grieved in a similar way when we who have trusted Jesus continue to
be burdened with feelings of remorse and guilt. Gods Word says that we are redeemed and
forgiven "according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7). The only requirement for daily
forgiveness and cleansing is confession (1 Jn. 1:9).
Why then should we keep mourning over our sins, confessing the same ones again and
again? Lets focus on Him instead of on ourselves. Affirm His integrity by taking Him at His
word.
Remember, our forgiveness depends on His character as the infinite Forgiver, not on our
efforts to earn it. Its the object of our trust that matters. (Our Daily Bread)
Ephesians 1:7-1:7
1. The Holy Spirit helps us understand, appreciate and live out Gods unconditional
forgiveness in Christ. Paul wrote, "In Him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of Gods grace that he lavished on us with

all wisdom and understanding." (Eph. 1:7) Ask the Lord to help you more fully understand,
appreciate and live out the truth of Gods forgiveness and grace.
2. The Holy Spirit teaches us that unless we learn to forgive others God will not restore our
fellowship with Him. Jesus said, "If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not
forgive your sins." (Matt. 6:15) Ask the Lord to help you to stop holding grudges, resentment
or anything against anyone so as not to hinder your fellowship with the heavenly Father.
3. The Holy Spirit allows the grace of Christs forgiveness to penetrate to all the corners of
our emotions, mind and perceptions. Many people only allow Gods grace to be appreciated
on an intellectual level without it piercing to all the layers of their emotions, attitudes, and
perceptions. These people tend to be very critical of others because they have not fully
appreciated how much God has forgiven them. Paul encountered such people in the
Galatian church when he wrote,
"Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not
gods. But now that you know God - or rather are known by God - how is it that you are
turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them
all over again?... It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let
yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Gal. 4:8,9; Gal 5:1)
Application: Ask the Lord
to help you allow Christs forgiveness, grace and freedom to penetrate to all the dimensions
and layers of your life, relationships and ministries.
4. The Holy Spirit helps us forgive others as He teaches us to be merciful as our heavenly
Father is merciful. Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy."
(Matt. 5:7)

Application: Ask the Lord to help you to be less critical, judgmental and harsh with people
remembering how much God overlooks your faults.
5. The Holy Spirit helps us heal from past rejections, accusations and abuses through His
grace. We all have experienced terrible adversity in our past experiences. Instead of
dwelling on these past hurts the Holy Spirit has a way of using them to give us greater
empathy for those who are going through similar hardships. Paul wrote, "Praise be to the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all
comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble
with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (2 Cor. 1:3,4)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you heal emotionally, mentally, physically, relationally and
spiritually from your past hurts. David wrote, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their
wounds." (Psa. 147:3)
6. The Holy Spirit convicts us when we try to have a higher standard than God for accepting
others. Paul wrote, "The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not,
and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God
has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone elses servant? To his own master he
stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." (Rom. 14:3,4)
Application: Thank the Lord that He has given you the Holy Spirit to be the determiner of
what is proper, appropriate and beneficial for each individual.
7. The Holy Spirit helps us to resist the temptation to be vengeful while helping us to live by
the Golden Rule - Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31) Jesus said,
"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for

those who mistreat you... Love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without
expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great." (Luke 6:27-35)
Application: Ask the Lord to give you a greater appreciation of His unconditional love and
forgiveness so you can treat even your opposition the way Jesus would if He were in your
shoes.
8. The Holy Spirit helps you to avoid reacting out of your hurt emotions and directs you to
objectively think before you speak, act or respond. The Holy Spirit has a way of transforming
us through the power of the word of God so that we are able to respond in love even when
provoked. Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." (John 20:21)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you overcome any persecution complex.
9. The Holy Spirit helps
you take responsibility for your own faults and failures without succumbing to the temptation
to blame others. James wrote, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Dont they
come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but dont get it. You kill
and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You ask with wrong motives that you may
spend what you get on your pleasures. Submit yourselves, then, to God.
Application: Do not be offended by your sufferings for Christ. (Luke 13:1-5) Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your
hands and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:1-8)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you take full responsibility for your own faults, failures and
improper attitudes. Remember that Jesus said, "If we do not forgive others, neither can we
be forgiven."

BY MY SPIRIT
Sermon:

Many of us dont get excited about going to the mailbox to get the mail. Most of us do one
of two things with our mail; we throw it in the trash, or we put it with our checkbook. My kids
enjoy going to the mailbox. Although they dont get a lot of mail they go with the anticipation
of finding a letter or magazine with their name on it. Does anyone remember what it was like
to be excited to find a letter in the mail addressed to us? Today were recipients of such a
letter.
The Bible tells us All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV) This morning we are going
to look at what should be a familiar passage of scripture to most of us (if you arent familiar
with it, then after I introduce you to it I want you to get well acquainted with itXwrite it down
and memorize it).
This passage of scripture is a PERSONAL WORD. Originally it was a message for
Zerubbabel (did anyone just figure out what verse of scripture Im headed towards?).
Because the Word of God is given to all of us and is beneficial for instruction or an well
needed rebuke to help us live our lives for God, then this is a verse of scripture we can all
personalize. Dont think of this word of the Lord as an antiquated message for another time
and place. This is a personal message for you and me today so put your name into it and
listen to what the Lord has to say to each of us today
X Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel [Praise
Assembly of God]: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.
(NIV)
X Zechariah 4:6 This is Gods Message to Zerubbabel: You cant force these things. They
only come about through my Spirit, says God-of-the-Angel-Armies. (MsgB)
1. This is the Word of the Lord. (Advance)

We are bombarded by announcements and messages today. In our electronic age images
sounds and words flood our TVs, radios, computers, newspapers, magazines, billboards
and more. It is becoming more and more difficult to find someplace where someone isnt
trying to get your attention.
How often do we give our attention to something that is here today and then gone tomorrow.
Advertisers spent millions of dollars to communicate their message on Super Bowl Sunday;
now only three and a half months later many of those multi-million dollar ads are obsolete.
New messages have taken their place.
Gods word has not changed. GODS WORD ENDURES FROM GENERATION TO
GENERATION! His message is timeless; the word of the Lord is not out dated or obsolete.
Gods word continues to speak personally to us today!
1 Peter 1:24-25 24For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the
field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25but the word of the Lord stands forever." And
this is the word that was preached to you. (NIV)
God has no need to invent new ways of communicating
His message to the hearts of men and women. Whether the word is written or spoken,
regardless of if the word is illustrated with pictures or drama, GOD COMMUNICATES HIS
WORD IN THE SAME WAYXBY HIS SPIRIT.
1 Corinthians 2:11-13 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the
mans spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit
of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that
we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words

taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in
spiritual words. (NIV)
Gods Word endures the test of time. His is a message of the Spirit. HEAR THE WORD OF
THE LORD SPOKEN TO YOU TODAY!
2. Stop trying to do it on your own. (Advance)
The Lord says, Not by might nor by powerXyou cant force these things.
Might and power refer to human strength of any kind. No amount of physical, mental or
moral strength will accomplish anything of eternal value. Neither the combined strength of
many nor the authority of any individual is of any value.
How often do we find ourselves trying to do things for ourselves, or looking to what others
can do to help us? In every area of our livesXfrom family and friends, health and medical
needs, education and work, to fun and entertainmentXyou name it; we try to handle
problems on our own.
The Bible reminds us over and over to stop trying to do it on our own.
Psalm 33:16-18 16No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great
strength. 17A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot
save. 18But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his
unfailing love. (NIV)
Proverbs 3:5-7 5Trust God from the bottom of your heart; dont try to figure out everything
on your own. 6Listen for Gods voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; hes the one

who will keep you on track. 7Dont assume that you know it all. (MsgB)
3. By the Spirit of the Lord. (Advance)
God wants to help us! He has given us His Spirit to empower and equip us for every good
work. Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit declares the Lord Almighty. Nothing
will be impossible with God as our helper!
Jesus is our perfect example. Everything Jesus did was not by His own power or strength.
Jesus depended upon the Spirit of the Lord.
Luke 4:18-19 18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery
of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lords favor."
(NIV)
HOW DO WE DEPEND UPON THE SPIRIT? What must we do to Let go and let God?
What do you and I need to do individually and as a church to let the Spirit operate in and
through our lives?
What do we need to do in order to put Zechariah 4:6 into practice in our daily lives today?

1. SUBMIT TO THE SPIRIT THROUGH PRAYER. (Advance)

As individuals and as a church we must be committed to prayer. Prayer plugs us into the
power and resources of the Spirit.
Prayer is the litmus test for our dependence upon the Spirit. Where prayer is absent or

reduced the confidence in human strength increases. We might say we can do nothing
without Gods Spirit, but if we arent praying we are only fooling ourselves. Individuals or
churches who pray acknowledge their dependence upon God and His Spirit.
Isaiah 30:15 God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: Your salvation
requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength
will come from settling down in complete dependence on meXThe very thing youve been
unwilling to do. (MsgB)
James 5:16-18 16 . . . The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17Elijah was
a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land
for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth
produced its crops. (NIV)
2. SUBMIT TO THE SPIRIT THROUGH BIBLE STUDY. (Advance)
God will speak to us through our time spent in prayer. The more we spend time with Him we
will soon realize God is speaking to us through out the day. (He has promised to never leave
us didnt He?)
How will we recognize Gods voice? How can we know God is leading and directing usXis
it God or just me? God will always speak in agreement with His written Word.
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should
change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (NIV)
Through the scriptures God speaks with a clear voice. Through the scriptures we will learn
to recognize the voice of God leading and directing our every step.

John 15:4-7 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it
must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5"I am the vine;
you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart
from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is
thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If
you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given
you. (NIV)
3. SUBMIT TO THE SPIRIT WITH LIVING FAITH. (Advance)
The Lord said, Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit. God did not say, Sit and do
nothing and just watch me do it.
James 2:14-18 14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no
deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily
food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I
wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what
good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds,
and I will show you my faith by what I do. (NIV)

Living By the Spirit - Part 2

Sermon:
Introduction:
I. Their have been a couple of seasons of the TV show survivor.
A. This show has captivated Americas attention for various reasons.
1. One of those reason is surely the art of survival in a stacked situation.
2. When it comes between life and death, it is amazing what people will do, eat and drink.
B. Survival is a real concern period, when you are in a foreign environment or when you are
lost.
1. A person is unable to survive more than a couple of days without water.
2. A couple of weeks without food in general.
3. So in times where we are in survival mode, we realize the most important things in life.
C. Christians can find themselves in a spiritual survival mode very quickly.
1. When they get caught in sin, and are overtaken by the desire of the flesh.
2. They often are trying to get out of it, but there is no seeming end to the chase
3. What will it take for survival?
II. Paul calls each of the faithful Galatians in 5:16 to live by the Spirit.
A. "So I say, Live by the Spirit"
1. Not by the flesh
2. Not by indecision
3. Not by indiscretion, but by the Spirit
B. He brought to our attention that following the flesh is not living by the Spirit.
1. He continues these admonitions in Chapter 6
C. Paul gets practical with us.
1. He calls faithful Christians to care for the overtaken brother.
2. He charges us not to try and measure up
3. He gives us the liability of ourselves

Body
I. Have you given up on your brother?
A. Why is it?
1. Is it a lack of love and concern
a. Many years ago a preacher Henry Ward Beecher went to the pulpit to preach and found a
letter containing one word, "Fool." He calmly, quietly announced the contents of the letter to
the congregation saying, "I have known of people writing a letter and forgetting to sign their
name to it. But this is the first time I have ever seen someone sign their name and forget to
write the letter."
b. Christians should be in the business of helping one another, bearing one anothers
burdens, not creating more burdens.
c. But some Christians are more Critical than they are caring. They are more of a hindrance
than a help.
2. Is it Pride?
a. I wonder often why some will be the first to tell you when you have done something
wrong, but will never compliment you on anything.
b. I often concern myself with why it is that they are the first to criticize and the last to lift a
finger.
c. When it comes to a faltering brother, why is it that we let pride creep in and decide the
fate of a brother in Christ.
d. Isnt that what the brother of the prodigal son dealt with.
1.) Luke 15:25-31
2.) When you a brother in sin, do you not go because of pride
3. Is it Ignorance?
a. Maybe those who do not go to the brother in sin, just dont see it.
b. Oh but that cant be the case, because some how we all know because of the talk.
B. Talk is cheap and painful

1. Without action talk is useless.

a. God gives us language and desire to fix things not just talk
about what is going on
b. What good does it do if we sit around a talk about something anyway.
c. If nothing changes, what good has been done.
2. Gossip only hurts
a. It is so easy to sit back and not do anything and talk about how bad some people are and
tell the neat little secrets.
b. Or even create secrets.
3. Proverbs 11:13 "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret."
a. Gossip is found in a list of sin in 1 Corinthians 12
b. The worst thing about Gossip is that it is the one thing that can destroy a church
c. Talk creates problems that are not really there, and talk will destroy relationships of trust.
C. Paul says live by the Spirit.
1. 6:1 "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him
gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
a. It takes a great deal of love and courage for us to approach an erring brother and seek to
help him.
b. On the other hand it is easy to condemn him and then use the brother to make yourself
look good
1.) That is what the Pharisee did in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:914)
2.) The legalist rejoices when a brother falls, and often gives the matter wide publicity,
because then he can boast about his own goodness and how much better his group is than
the group to which the fallen brother belongs.
c. The contrasting attitude is the Spirit led brother.
1.) The law of Christ is to "love one another" (John 13:34; 15:12)
2.) A brother in Christ will approach an erring brother in love and gentleness, hoping for a

change in life.
d. Paul is probably applying further the Lords instruction on reconciliation (Matt. 18:15-35)
1.) If your brother sins go talk to him privately, not for the purpose of winning an argument,
but for the purpose of winning your brother.
2. verse 2 "Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ"
a. The word for burden in this verse is the carrying of a weight, something unusual in nature.
1.) We all understand that at times our hearts are burdened with the burdens of life.
2.) When a loved one dies.
3.) When we lose our jobs
4.) When the uncontrolled affects our life
b. It is in these times that we are carry each others burdens
1.) In the southern United States it is custom for a man to open the door for woman. It is
customary for him to carry a bag of groceries for the elderly and help someone carry a
heavy trunk.
2.) It should be customary for us, that when a brother or sister is hurting that we are there
helping relieve that burden.
D. Instead of giving up, why dont you learn to encourage
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 "And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage
the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone."
2. James 4:11,12 "Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his
brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you
are not keeping it, but sitting in
judgment on it."
II. Have you given up on yourself?
A. First of all let me say to anyone who is thinking about giving up on yourself, remember a
truth.
1. You are only a failure when you quit trying. You are a success when you try.
2. So many people, today give up on being Christians because they know they can measure

up to following every bit of the Bible.

3. Matter a fact, many do not become Christians later in life, because while young they think
that each person must be perfect once they are baptized.
4. Where do we get such ideas. The Bible flat out tells each of us that we will not ever be
perfect.
5. We will never reach the mark, but yet we still try to give up on ourselves.
B. Maybe the problem lies with our competitive spirits. (v. 3-4)
1. Each and everyone of us are unique.
a. We think a little differently
b. We see life through different eyes
c. We have different talents.
2. Oh boy do we have some things mixed up.
a. Let me tell you that preachers are just as bad if not worse with this.
b. As people we feel that we must be competitors with everything, but that just is not so.
c. You cannot base your standing with God off of someone else.
d. Look at these verses again
C. V. 5 " for each one should carry his own load."
1. A man in a supermarket was pushing a shopping cart which contained, besides
groceries, a screaming a baby boy. As the man proceeded down the aisles, he kept saying,
"keep calm, George. Dont get excited, George. Dont yell, George." A lady watched with
great admiration and finally spoke up and said, "you are certainly to be commended for your
patience in trying to quiet little George." "Lady," he said, "Im George"
2. Raising may be a burden at times, but it is a load that we are given ultimately ourselves
as parents.
3. The same is true of many things in life.
a. When Lucille Ball began studying to be an actress in 1927, she was told by the head
instructor of her drama school, "Try any other profession, but acting." But we know the rest
of the story. She did it anyway and was very successful.

b. Thomas Edison was probably one of the greatest inventors in American history. When he
first attended school in Port Huron, Michigan, his teachers complained he was "too slow."
He later said his genius was "one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."
4. Sometimes we have to ignore the pain, the hurt, the negative feelings and bear our own
burdens!
5. Psalm 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made"
a. We are lot stronger that what we think we are.
b. We are the wonderful creation of God.
c. We can bear our own burdens.
Conclusion
I. Living by the Spirit is not a theological phrase that does not have practical significance.
A. This kind of living should be found in every Christian
B. We should never give up on ourselves or one another.
1. "One another" is one of the key phrases in the Christians vocabulary.
2. Love one another is found at least
a dozen times in the New Testament
3. "pray one for another" (James 5:16)
4. "Edify one another" (1 Thess. 5:11)
5. "prefer one another" (Rom 12:10)
6. "Use hospitality one to another" (1 Peter 4:9), and many other like admonitions.
C. Living By the Spirit is a choice made by each of us.
1. Paul says we have a responsibility, a liability, and an accountability for each other.
a. He says gently restore the erring brother
b. He says bear one anothers burdens
2. In the process remember to keep you focus not on others but on Christ.
a. Christianity is not a competition of who will be the best Christian, but a race to the finish
line.

b. When each of us cross that finish line, their will not be first and second, but all of us will
find victory.
3. Paul said the Christian life is like a race in Philippians
a. Have you joined the race of eternal life?
b. Are you tired and bent over in pain because of the stinging darts of the devil.
c. Let us help.