Embracing the Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit

 

Summary

In reflecting on the presence of the resurrected Christ, I am reminded of the Great Commission in Matthew 28, where Jesus promises to be with us always. This assurance should fill us with anticipation and remove any nervousness or fear, as it is not about our abilities but about what He will do through us. The essence of our faith is not in orchestrated events or predictable outcomes, like a wave pool where everything is controlled, but in the unpredictable and powerful movement of God. We should yearn for genuine encounters with the Holy Spirit, where miracles and transformations occur beyond human control.

I shared a story of a miraculous healing in a remote village, which serves as a reminder of the power of God that we often long to see. This power is not something we can manufacture; it requires a deep dependence on God. Like Paul, who chose to preach not with eloquence but with the power of the Spirit, we must rely on God to manifest His power through us. Our faith should rest not on human wisdom but on the demonstration of the Spirit's power.

The Holy Spirit's presence in our lives should lead to a transformation where sin loses its grip on us. If we find ourselves continually returning to sin, it may indicate that we have not fully surrendered to God. The Spirit within us should cry out for righteousness and a deeper relationship with God, not out of obligation but from a genuine desire.

We must move away from a consumer mentality in the church, where we rely on others to feed us spiritually. Instead, each of us should seek a personal, vibrant relationship with God, like Moses on the mountaintop. The church should be a gathering of individuals who have encountered God personally and are filled with His Spirit, manifesting His power for the common good.

I pray that we would not settle for anything less than the true movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the church. May we demand the real thing and not be content with man-made experiences. Let us be a generation that seeks the authentic power of God, transforming our lives and the world around us.

Key Takeaways:

1. Presence of Christ: The assurance of Christ's presence should eliminate fear and nervousness, shifting our focus from our abilities to what He will do through us. This perspective invites us to anticipate His work in our lives and ministries. [00:24]

2. Genuine Encounters: Our faith should not be about orchestrated events but about seeking genuine encounters with the Holy Spirit, where God's power is evident and transformative. This requires a deep dependence on God rather than human efforts. [04:54]

3. Transformation by the Spirit: The Holy Spirit's presence should lead to a transformation where sin loses its grip on us. If we continue in sin, it may indicate a lack of true surrender to God. Our lives should reflect a genuine desire for righteousness. [18:16]

4. Personal Relationship with God: Each believer should seek a personal, vibrant relationship with God, like Moses on the mountaintop. The church should be a gathering of individuals who have encountered God personally and are filled with His Spirit. [29:04]

5. Rejecting Consumer Mentality: We must move away from a consumer mentality in the church, where we rely on others for spiritual nourishment. Instead, we should demand the authentic power of God, transforming our lives and the world around us. [30:27]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:24] - Christ's Presence and the Great Commission
- [01:14] - Overcoming Nervousness and Fear
- [02:28] - The Wave Pool Analogy
- [04:01] - Seeking Genuine Encounters
- [05:11] - Miraculous Healing Story
- [06:51] - Dependence on God's Power
- [08:04] - Preaching with the Spirit's Power
- [10:06] - Transformation by the Spirit
- [11:22] - Manifestation of the Holy Spirit
- [13:54] - Hunger for Supernatural Power
- [17:01] - Spirit's Cry for Righteousness
- [19:19] - Nature of Sin and Transformation
- [23:30] - True Surrender to God
- [29:04] - Personal Relationship with God
- [30:27] - Rejecting Consumer Mentality

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:18-20
2. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
3. 1 John 3:5-10

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Observation Questions:

1. In Matthew 28:18-20, what promise does Jesus give to His disciples, and how does this relate to the assurance of His presence in our lives? [00:24]

2. According to 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, how does Paul describe his approach to preaching the gospel, and what does he emphasize as the source of power in his message? [09:04]

3. In 1 John 3:5-10, what does the passage say about the relationship between sin and being a child of God? How does this relate to the transformation by the Spirit mentioned in the sermon? [18:16]

4. What analogy does the speaker use to describe orchestrated church events, and how does this contrast with genuine encounters with the Holy Spirit? [04:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the promise of Christ's presence in Matthew 28:18-20 impact a believer's approach to fear and nervousness in their faith journey? [00:24]

2. What does Paul mean when he says he decided to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and how does this decision affect the demonstration of the Spirit's power? [09:04]

3. How does the passage in 1 John 3:5-10 challenge believers to examine their relationship with sin, and what does it suggest about the evidence of true surrender to God? [18:16]

4. In what ways does the speaker suggest that a consumer mentality in the church can hinder the authentic movement of the Holy Spirit? [30:27]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt nervous or fearful in your faith journey. How can the assurance of Christ's presence help you overcome these feelings? [01:14]

2. Consider your personal relationship with God. How can you seek a more vibrant and personal encounter with Him, similar to Moses on the mountaintop? [29:04]

3. Identify an area in your life where sin still has a grip. What steps can you take to fully surrender this area to God and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you? [18:16]

4. How can you move away from a consumer mentality in your spiritual life and take responsibility for your own spiritual growth? What practical steps can you take this week? [30:27]

5. Think about a recent church service or event you attended. How can you seek genuine encounters with the Holy Spirit rather than relying on orchestrated experiences? [04:01]

6. Reflect on the miraculous healing story shared in the sermon. How can you cultivate a deeper dependence on God to see His power manifest in your life and community? [05:11]

7. What is one specific way you can demonstrate the Spirit's power in your daily interactions, relying less on human wisdom and more on God's power? [09:25]

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Presence Transforms Our Perspective
The assurance of Christ's presence, as promised in the Great Commission, should shift our focus from our own abilities to what He will accomplish through us. This perspective invites us to anticipate His work in our lives and ministries, eliminating fear and nervousness. When we understand that it is not about our capabilities but about His power, we can approach our daily lives with confidence and expectation. This shift in focus allows us to see beyond our limitations and trust in His divine plan. [00:24]

Matthew 28:20 (ESV): "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to shift your focus from your own abilities to trusting in Christ's presence and power?


Day 2: Seeking Genuine Encounters with the Holy Spirit
Our faith should not be about orchestrated events but about seeking genuine encounters with the Holy Spirit, where God's power is evident and transformative. This requires a deep dependence on God rather than human efforts. When we yearn for these authentic experiences, we open ourselves to the unpredictable and powerful movement of God, allowing Him to work miracles and transformations beyond our control. This dependence on God invites us to step out in faith, trusting that He will manifest His power in and through us. [04:54]

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (ESV): "And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

Reflection: How can you create space in your life to seek genuine encounters with the Holy Spirit this week?


Day 3: Transformation by the Spirit Leads to Righteousness
The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives should lead to a transformation where sin loses its grip on us. If we find ourselves continually returning to sin, it may indicate that we have not fully surrendered to God. The Spirit within us should cry out for righteousness and a deeper relationship with God, not out of obligation but from a genuine desire. This transformation is a process that requires us to continually seek God's presence and allow His Spirit to work within us, leading us to live lives that reflect His righteousness. [18:16]

Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

Reflection: What is one area of sin in your life that you need to surrender to the Holy Spirit for transformation?


Day 4: Cultivating a Personal Relationship with God
Each believer should seek a personal, vibrant relationship with God, like Moses on the mountaintop. The church should be a gathering of individuals who have encountered God personally and are filled with His Spirit. This personal relationship with God is not something that can be outsourced or delegated; it requires intentional time and effort to cultivate. As we draw near to God, we experience His presence and power in our lives, which in turn impacts the community of believers around us. [29:04]

Exodus 33:11 (ESV): "Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent."

Reflection: What steps can you take this week to deepen your personal relationship with God and experience His presence more fully?


Day 5: Rejecting a Consumer Mentality in the Church
We must move away from a consumer mentality in the church, where we rely on others for spiritual nourishment. Instead, we should demand the authentic power of God, transforming our lives and the world around us. This shift requires us to take responsibility for our spiritual growth and seek a personal encounter with God. As we do so, we become active participants in the body of Christ, contributing to the common good and manifesting His power in our communities. [30:27]

Hebrews 5:12-14 (ESV): "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."

Reflection: How can you move from being a consumer to an active participant in your church community, contributing to its spiritual growth and vitality?

Quotes


I tell my students if you feel any nervousness, it's probably because there's sin in your life. Why do you feel nervous when you get on a stage? Is it because you're concerned about what people will think of you? That's usually where the nerves come or maybe there's a lack of belief that God is really there. [00:01:03]

I feel like for many years I've been content with that because it's fun and everyone's having a good time. But man, don't you read the scriptures and go gosh there was so much it was unpredictable like where you go out that really was a move from God. It wasn't man-made. [00:04:37]

I want to see that one of my friends in Waco was telling me about this experience he had where and this is someone I trust so much where he was in this village I forget it was in Nepal or somewhere overseas and he goes literally there was a 60 year old woman who was blind from birth and he prayed for her. [00:05:04]

Paul said I made a choice when I came before you I decided to know nothing this was my decision. Paul was brilliant because I decided to know nothing except Christ and him crucified and so I came up there came to the city and I just thought let me just tell them about how Jesus was the son of God. [00:09:42]

The Bible says that each person every one of us including myself is given a manifestation of the Holy Spirit for the common good. They understand so he's saying somehow the Spirit of God could manifest through me and we read these words but do you understand what that means like for the spirit to manifest through you? [00:11:11]

When the Spirit of God enters into you the Bible says your spirit cries out daddy father. I've never had a dad that dad I did have man went a horrible relationship but somehow everything inside of me God just wants to tell you that you're my father now and you're all that I need. [00:17:44]

The Bible says he can put his seed in you to where your very DNA now loathes the mud you used to love and every time you even dabble and it's like oh I don't like that anymore no one has to drag you internally man you're headed this direction. [00:20:25]

I love the story of Moses we just read Exodus this week too and how he would go up on the mountain and the lightning and the fire you know and all the people had to stay at the base and he'd go up and talk to God then he'd come back down and go this is what he said. [00:27:45]

The church was meant to be was not one guy coming before God and then bringing a message to the people but everyone everyone having been could you imagine if every one of you was like a Moses and you went up on that mountaintop and then we all gather together a bunch of Moses. [00:29:19]

I want the Spirit of God working through me and through the church or nothing else. So Father I pray that this was really of the spirit so there is lasting fruit I prayed that I didn't go in the flesh God please Lord Holy Spirit moving us cause us to long for that which is from you. [00:30:36]

I pray that we would not settle for anything less than the true movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the church. May we demand the real thing and not be content with man-made experiences. Let us be a generation that seeks the authentic power of God, transforming our lives and the world around us. [00:31:03]

I want to die I want Francis Chan to die I don't like him I don't like where he's dragging me everything would you die I want him crucified with Jesus so it's no longer Francis who lives but Christ lives in me has that ever happened in your life man do you come here and just feel guilty. [00:23:12]

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Transcript
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