The kingdom of God is not built by human strength or intellect but through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. As believers, we are called to rise from our weaknesses and embrace the strength provided by the cross. This divine empowerment allows us to fulfill God's purposes, moving beyond our limitations and stepping into the extraordinary life God has planned for us. The Holy Spirit animates and empowers us, enabling us to be effective instruments in God's hands. [02:23]
Zechariah 4:6 (ESV): "Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.'"
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit's power rather than your own strength? How can you invite the Spirit to empower you today?
Day 2: Living in the Last Days with Purpose
We are living in the last days, a time characterized by global challenges and spiritual opportunities. Despite the darkness and chaos, the gospel will be preached to all nations, and God will use ordinary people filled with His Spirit to accomplish this mission. This is a time for believers to rise up and be bold in their faith, trusting that God will work through them to reach the lost and bring hope to a hurting world. [07:05]
Acts 2:17-18 (ESV): "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.'"
Reflection: How can you be a light in the darkness during these challenging times? What specific action can you take this week to share the hope of the gospel with someone in your life?
Day 3: True Repentance and Transformation
True repentance involves a change of heart and a turning away from sin. It is a conscious decision to stop living by our own understanding and to align our lives with God's truth. This transformation is not just about feeling sorry for our sins but about allowing God's word to guide us and shape our actions. As we repent, we open ourselves to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live lives that reflect God's love and righteousness. [15:27]
2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV): "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you need to experience true repentance? What steps can you take today to align your life more closely with God's truth?
Day 4: The Promise of the Holy Spirit for All
The promise of the Holy Spirit is available to all who turn from their sins and identify with Christ. This gift empowers us to live transformed lives and to be effective witnesses for Christ in our generation. The Holy Spirit equips us with the boldness and strength needed to share the gospel and to live out our faith in a way that impacts the world around us. Embracing this promise means stepping into a life of purpose and divine empowerment. [19:18]
Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV): "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."
Reflection: Have you fully embraced the promise of the Holy Spirit in your life? How can you allow the Spirit to guide and empower you in your daily walk with Christ?
Day 5: Urgency in the Valley of Decision
In this season of harvest, many are in the valley of decision, and God is calling us to make a choice to follow Him wholeheartedly. Recognizing that we are part of His end-time army, we are equipped by His Spirit to reach the lost and to bring in the harvest. This is a time of urgency, where our decisions have eternal significance. As we commit to following God, we become instruments of His grace and love in a world that desperately needs it. [13:32]
Joel 3:14 (ESV): "Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision."
Reflection: Are you in the valley of decision regarding your commitment to God? What steps can you take today to follow Him more wholeheartedly and to be part of His mission in the world?
Sermon Summary
As we stand on the brink of a new year, we are filled with gratitude for the testimonies of God's love that have carried us through 2021. As we look forward to 2022, we anticipate a year of harvest, a time when God will move mightily through His people. We are reminded that it is not by our own might or power, but by the Holy Spirit that God's kingdom will be built. We are called to rise up as soldiers in God's army, breaking through walls of unbelief and claiming our inheritance in Christ. The promise of the Holy Spirit is for all who turn from their sins and identify with Christ, empowering us to be witnesses to the ends of the earth.
The last days, as prophesied by Joel and confirmed by Jesus, are marked by pestilences, famines, and wars. Yet, in the midst of these calamities, the gospel will be preached to all nations. This will be accomplished not by human effort, but by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, enabling ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Just as the early church was empowered at Pentecost, we too are called to be filled with the Spirit, speaking boldly and living lives that testify to God's power and love.
The harvest is ready, and God is looking for willing hearts to be His instruments. We are called to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit, trusting that God will equip us for the work ahead. As we step into this new year, let us commit to being part of this end-time harvest, allowing God to use us for His glory.
Key Takeaways
1. time army, equipped by His Spirit to reach the lost. [13:32] ** [13:32]
Bible Reading: - Acts 2:14-21 - Joel 2:28-32 - Matthew 24:6-14
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Observation Questions:
In Acts 2:14-21, what does Peter say about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and its significance for the last days? How does this relate to the prophecy of Joel? [03:34]
According to Matthew 24:6-14, what are some of the signs of the last days that Jesus describes? How do these signs relate to the current global challenges mentioned in the sermon? [06:00]
What role does the Holy Spirit play in empowering believers to be witnesses, as described in Acts 2 and the sermon? [09:52]
How does the sermon describe the urgency of decision-making in the context of the end-time harvest? [13:32]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does the promise of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:39 extend to future generations, and what implications does this have for believers today? [19:31]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that ordinary people can be used by God to accomplish extraordinary things during the last days? [08:02]
How does the concept of repentance, as discussed in the sermon, align with the biblical understanding of turning away from sin and aligning with God's truth? [15:27]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between global challenges and spiritual opportunities in the last days? [07:05]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on a time when you felt empowered by the Holy Spirit to do something beyond your natural abilities. How can you seek more of this empowerment in your daily life? [09:52]
The sermon emphasizes the urgency of decision-making in the last days. Is there a decision in your spiritual life that you have been postponing? What steps can you take to make that decision today? [13:32]
How can you actively participate in the end-time harvest by sharing the gospel with those around you? Identify one person you can reach out to this week. [07:19]
The sermon calls for repentance and a change of heart. Is there a specific area in your life where you need to turn away from sin and align with God's truth? What practical steps can you take to make this change? [15:27]
How can you cultivate a heart that is open to being used by God, even in ordinary circumstances? What might be holding you back from fully surrendering to His call? [10:04]
In light of the global challenges mentioned in the sermon, how can you maintain hope and faith in God's promises? What scripture or prayer can you focus on to strengthen your faith? [06:00]
The sermon speaks about the promise of the Holy Spirit for all who turn from their sins. How can you ensure that you are living a life that is receptive to the Holy Spirit's guidance and power? [19:18]
Sermon Clips
"We're not much in ourselves but you in us is everything, so lord we ask god that you would use us for your glory in a new and a profound way in the days ahead. We ask your lord jesus christ that you would raise up an army of soldiers for your kingdom's sake who didn't don't even know yet that they're soldiers in your army but god you would break through every wall of unbelief and reach the center core of every heart and cause us cause us to rise up and say i'm going with god." [00:01:03]
"Lord jesus christ before you come and return to this world we ask that you would grant one great and glorious harvest on the face of the earth god almighty that you would bring an innumerable number of people into your kingdom and god you would do it through people tonight that you're going to use for your glory that you're going to raise us up as the end time church you're going to give us the strength that we need the giftings of the holy spirit." [00:01:42]
"God this kingdom will be built by your holy spirit animating us empowering us causing the promises of god to come to life as we choose to believe you jesus christ we ask you tonight that you would raise us out of all weakness and raise us into the strength that your cross has provided for us my god raise us out of voicelessness and give us a voice lord to speak to this generation." [00:02:19]
"The last days of course as described by joel the prophet he spoke about pestilences if you go to the old testament and read from the book of joel there there was a pestilence that had come over the land and you think about this worldwide pestilence called covet that's not going to go away it's just going to continue mutating and actually could in the long term actually become more fearful than it actually it is today." [00:05:04]
"Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom there will be famines pestilences earthquakes in various places all these are the beginning of sorrows then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake in other words it will become extremely unpopular as this world launches into its final rebellion against the lordship of jesus christ it will be unpopular to be a follower of christ." [00:06:11]
"Then suddenly jesus says but this gospel will be preached in all the world and then the end shall come and so we ask ourselves how in the world is this gospel going to be preached well the answer is easy it's acts chapter 2 verses 17 and 18. let me read it again it will come to pass in the last days says god that i will pour out my spirit on all flesh your sons and your daughters will prophesy your young men shall see visions your old men shall dream dreams." [00:07:19]
"The answer being that god himself will preach the gospel through a people that have abilities which he alone could have given them it's really that simple that's the way it started on the day of pentecost 120 ordinary people i've shared it probably dozens and dozens of times from this and other pulpits because my mind loves to go back into that room where where they had gathered it was a fearful time it was a dark time there a murderous spirit had gotten a hold of this world." [00:08:02]
"The harvest is already here the fields are already white to harvest and god now is looking for a people just another group of ordinary people like you tonight sir in your home like you ma'am like you a young person he's not looking for super men or super women he's not looking for people with innumerable diplomas on their wall he's not looking for you to argue his existence on the earth he's looking for you to open your heart and let him be god and prove who he is through your life to every doubter that you'll ever encounter." [00:09:51]
"Joel said there are multitudes multitudes in the valley of decision in this season of harvest joel's speaking about in the last day that multitudes are are there as the threshing instruments are beginning to come and gather the harvest and they're in their hearts they're they don't know which way to move they don't know what to do they're being moved about by winds and yet in the midst of it all the voice of god is calling them calling the the undecided to make a decision." [00:13:28]
"Peter said to them three things number one he said repent in other words put away your sin have a change of heart you've walked your own way you've made your own choices you've done your own thing it's probably why you're feeling so empty as you're listening to my words tonight well stop going that way that's what it means stop the journey that where you have prescribing the waste the pathway for your own feet you're living by your own thoughts you're your own judge of what is good and what is evil when there's a clear standard of that presented to you in the word of god." [00:15:27]
"Peter says repent be baptized in the name of jesus christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit it's the promise of god turn from your sin put away trying to do things in your own strength trust that i will give you the strength to be the person i've called you to be and you will receive the gift of the holy spirit." [00:19:18]
"The promise is to you and to your children and to all who are afar off as many as the lord our god will call and so tonight i say 2022 let the harvest begin because the promise tonight is to you it's to you this is what he says if you'll turn from your sin if you will identify with christ in water baptism you will receive the gift of the holy spirit truly amazing this promises to you and we talk about the need for restoration in our families to your children the promises to all who are far off." [00:19:36]