Prepared for His Return: The Power of the Holy Spirit

Devotional

Day 1: The Essential Role of the Holy Spirit

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 highlights the critical role of the Holy Spirit in distinguishing true believers from those who merely appear to be Christians. The oil in the parable symbolizes the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to live victoriously in a world filled with challenges. Without the Holy Spirit, navigating life's difficulties and being prepared for Jesus' return is impossible. The Holy Spirit is not just an add-on to the Christian life; He is essential for living out our faith authentically and effectively. [41:41]

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: Think about a recent challenge you faced. How did you rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you through it? If you didn't, how can you start seeking His guidance in similar situations?

Day 2: Daily Communion with God

Just as the Israelites gathered manna daily, believers must seek God's presence every day. Our spiritual vitality depends on our daily communion with God through prayer and reading His Word. This daily relationship ensures that we are continually filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling us to live above our circumstances. Without this daily connection, we risk spiritual stagnation and vulnerability to life's pressures. [59:16]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: How can you create a daily routine that prioritizes time with God? What specific steps will you take to ensure you seek His presence every day?

Day 3: Prioritizing Time with God

Time is a precious commodity, and how we spend it reflects our relationship with God. Procrastination, presumption, and poor prioritization are sins that hinder our spiritual growth. We must prioritize our relationship with God, recognizing that He will not compete with other distractions in our lives. By making time for God a priority, we demonstrate our commitment to growing in our faith and deepening our relationship with Him. [57:36]

Psalm 90:12 (ESV): "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

Reflection: Identify one activity that consumes your time but doesn't contribute to your spiritual growth. How can you replace it with time spent with God?

Day 4: Living Under the Power of the Holy Spirit

We are designed by God to live under the power of the Holy Spirit, not by our own strength. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome life's challenges and live victoriously. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot do the will of God or represent Him effectively. Living under the Holy Spirit's power means surrendering our own efforts and relying on His strength and guidance in every aspect of our lives. [44:13]

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 areas of your life are you relying on your own strength instead of the Holy Spirit's power? How can you begin to surrender these areas to Him?

Day 5: Preparation for Jesus' Return

The parable of the ten virgins emphasizes the importance of being prepared for Jesus' return. This preparation involves spending time with God and being filled with the Holy Spirit. We must live our lives ready, ensuring that we are not caught unprepared when the bridegroom comes. This readiness is not a one-time event but a continuous process of spiritual growth and vigilance. [49:07]

1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 (ESV): "For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to ensure you are spiritually prepared for Jesus' return? How can you maintain this readiness in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate the presence of God among us, lifting our voices in worship and gratitude. We rejoiced in the miracles God has performed, including the healing of little Jameson, and reflected on the power of prayer. Our focus was on the parable of the ten virgins from Matthew 25, which underscores the importance of being prepared for the return of Jesus Christ. This parable teaches us that not everyone who appears to be a Christian truly is; the possession of the oil, representing the Holy Spirit, distinguishes the wise from the foolish.

The Holy Spirit is essential for living a victorious Christian life. We are designed by God to live under the power of the Holy Spirit, not by our own strength. This was evident from the moment God breathed life into Adam, making him a living soul. Sin separated humanity from God, but through Jesus' sacrifice, the Holy Spirit became available to all who believe. The tearing of the temple curtain at Jesus' crucifixion symbolizes this new access to God's presence.

Living under the power of the Holy Spirit requires time and commitment. The wise virgins were prepared because they spent their time wisely, unlike the foolish virgins who wasted theirs. This preparation involves daily communion with God through prayer and reading His Word. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome life's challenges and live above our circumstances.

We must prioritize our relationship with God, recognizing that time is a precious commodity. Procrastination, presumption, and poor prioritization are sins that hinder our spiritual growth. We need to spend time with God daily, as we cannot rely on past spiritual experiences to sustain us. Just as the Israelites gathered manna daily, we must seek God's presence every day.

In conclusion, God desires a relationship with each of us. He offers His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, but we must invest our time in Him. As we prepare for Jesus' return, let us ensure that we are filled with the Holy Spirit, living victoriously and ready to meet our bridegroom.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Z5YtbowCQI&t=2501s'>[41:41]
2. Daily Communion with God: Just as the Israelites gathered manna daily, we must seek God's presence every day. Our spiritual vitality depends on our daily communion with God through prayer and reading His Word. This daily relationship with God ensures that we are continually filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling us to live above our circumstances.

3. Prioritizing Time with God: Time is a precious commodity, and how we spend it reflects our relationship with God. Procrastination, presumption, and poor prioritization are sins that hinder our spiritual growth. We must prioritize our relationship with God, recognizing that He will not compete with other distractions in our lives.

4. Living Under the Power of the Holy Spirit: We are designed by God to live under the power of the Holy Spirit, not by our own strength. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome life's challenges and live victoriously. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot do the will of God or represent Him effectively.

5. Preparation for Jesus' Return: The parable of the ten virgins emphasizes the importance of being prepared for Jesus' return. This preparation involves spending time with God and being filled with the Holy Spirit. We must live our lives ready, ensuring that we are not caught unprepared when the bridegroom comes.

### [41:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:56] - Greeting and Announcements
[35:26] - Testimony of Jameson's Healing
[36:32] - Power of Continuous Prayer
[37:24] - Dessert Wars and Fellowship
[37:49] - Shoutout to Media Team
[38:28] - Reading of Matthew 25:1-13
[39:45] - Prayer for the Holy Spirit
[40:14] - Signs of the End Times
[41:12] - True vs. False Christians
[42:14] - Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit
[44:42] - The Significance of Jesus' Sacrifice
[45:40] - Our Bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit
[47:38] - The Cost of a Relationship with the Holy Spirit
[49:07] - Reflection on Time and Relationship with God
[51:03] - Dependence on the Holy Spirit
[53:00] - Waiting on the Lord for Strength
[55:04] - The Church Alive in the Holy Spirit
[57:36] - God Will Not Compete for Our Time
[59:16] - The Manna Principle: Daily Seeking God
[60:49] - The Need for Continuous Spiritual Renewal
[63:00] - Signs of Poor Time Management
[67:16] - The Sin of Presumption
[69:16] - Prioritizing God Above All
[70:47] - God's Desire for a Relationship with Us
[72:25] - Call to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
[74:00] - Invitation to Accept Christ

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In the parable of the ten virgins, what distinguished the wise virgins from the foolish ones? ([38:28])
According to Genesis 2:7, how did God create man, and what does this signify about our relationship with Him? ([43:13])
What does 1 Corinthians 6:19 say about our bodies and the Holy Spirit? How does this relate to the sermon’s message? ([45:40])
What are some examples given in the sermon of how we can waste our time instead of preparing for Jesus' return? ([57:36])

Interpretation Questions

Why is the Holy Spirit compared to oil in the parable of the ten virgins, and what does this imply about the necessity of the Holy Spirit in our lives? ([41:41])
How does the tearing of the temple curtain at Jesus' crucifixion symbolize our new access to God's presence? ([44:42])
What does it mean to live under the power of the Holy Spirit rather than our own strength, according to the sermon? ([44:13])
How does the daily gathering of manna by the Israelites relate to our need for daily communion with God? ([59:16])

Application Questions

Reflect on your daily routine. How much time do you spend in prayer and reading the Bible? What changes can you make to prioritize your relationship with God? ([57:36])
Think about a recent challenge you faced. How did you rely on your own strength versus seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance? What can you do differently next time? ([44:13])
Identify one area of your life where you have been procrastinating or poorly prioritizing your time. How can you realign this area to better prepare for Jesus' return? ([57:36])
The sermon mentioned that we cannot rely on past spiritual experiences to sustain us. What steps can you take to ensure you are continually filled with the Holy Spirit? ([59:16])
How can you create a distraction-free environment to spend quality time with God daily? What specific distractions do you need to minimize or eliminate? ([57:36])
Reflect on the concept of living victoriously through the Holy Spirit. What does a victorious Christian life look like to you, and how can you strive towards it? ([44:13])
The sermon emphasized the importance of being ready for Jesus' return. What practical steps can you take this week to ensure you are spiritually prepared? ([49:07])

Sermon Clips

1. "We are absolutely designed. By God. Hear me. We are designed by God. To live under the power of the Holy Spirit. And not our own power. We are designed by God. That's why Genesis chapter 2 and verse number 7. Says that God took from the dust of the earth. And he created man. And he formed man. And then he breathed into his nostrils. And man became a living soul." [43:13] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Under our own power. Listen to me. Under our own power. We cannot do the will of God. Under our own power. We just can't do it. I mean it's absolutely impossible. And we cannot represent him. Or we cannot live victoriously. Without the power of the Holy Spirit. In us." [44:13] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The time we spend with God. Equals the level of power. That we will have in our lives. Isaiah chapter 40 and verse 27. In the word of God. But those who wait upon the Lord. Shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They are going to walk and not faint. They that wait upon the Lord. It is those who wait on Him. That gets His strength. And His power." [53:00] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "I want to be a part of a church that is alive. How about you? I want to be a part of the church that is going somewhere. And doing something in the presence of God. That's why we believe in entertaining the presence of the Holy Spirit. Here at Solid Rock. Because we want the Lord to have His way. I don't want to just rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic. I want us to be alive. And His church is alive. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Because we are a part of the body of Christ." [55:04] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Time with God is the only way that you're going to know Him. And God sent His son Jesus to die on the cross. So we could get into His presence and so He could get into ours. You ever thought about that? That's why Jesus came. That's why there was a great gulf that was fixed. That's why that He reached up and got a hold of the hand of God and got a hold of mankind and brought them together so we could have access to God and God could have access to us." [56:07] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "You need God and a relationship with God every day. You need Him. You need Him every day. You need the presence of God each and every day and you want to know why? Because you leak. That's why you leak. You absolutely leak. The service last week Youth Rock took over and Phillip preached an outstanding message and the worship was good. Thank you Pastor Phillip. It was awesome but that was last week and it's over with and it's done. Now you need something else because you leak." [01:00:16] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Here's what I found out. I need Him. I need Him. Every day. I need Him. And God loves that. He loves it when we need Him. He loves it when we call upon Him. He loves it when we come to Him. And we put our trust and confidence in Him. And He is not. He does not despise our weaknesses. And all of our flaws. And all of our hang ups. And all of our idiosyncrasies. And all of these little things that is there. It is simply an invitation for Him. To be into our lives." [52:00] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The cost of the oil. The cost of a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Are you ready? Is time. Time. It is time. That is exactly what it is. Because you cannot enjoy the benefits of the Holy Spirit. That it brings into your life. Without spending time with him. Without having a relationship. Certainly with him. And the difference between the wise. And the foolish virgins. Was not how they spent their money. Or how they spent their time. How did they spend their time." [47:38] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "We didn't get these problems in life waiting on God. You see God is waiting on us and he wants a relationship certainly with us. Now our musicians can come. Here's the conclusion of the matter. God loves you and God cares for you very very much and even in the condition that you are in right now. He desires to be a part of your life. He wants to be a part of your life and he knows that you absolutely cannot get your act together without him." [01:10:17] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "You need the presence of God each and every day and you want to know why? Because you leak. That's why you leak. You absolutely leak. The service last week Youth Rock took over and Phillip preached an outstanding message and the worship was good. Thank you Pastor Phillip. It was awesome but that was last week and it's over with and it's done. Now you need something else because you leak. Because you leak. Difficult people difficult situations and circumstances you know. It spins the spirit out of our lives. It sucks the spirit right out of our life." [01:00:49] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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