Good morning. Good morning. It's good to see you all this morning. I hope you came ready to worship the Lord. I am just really, I'm pretty jacked up today. Amen. And looking for amazing things. I hope you came expecting today.
We want to go to the Lord together in prayer. And before we do that, there are several things that I want to take care of this morning. And I'll do those real quickly. But there are several birthdays in the house today, and I'd like to recognize those. I can't do everybody all the time, but if it happens to fall on Sunday, and I'll bet every seven years, your birthday should fall on Sunday. So if you hang with me for seven years, I'll get around to your name probably. Amen.
But so anyway, that's good. Hey, today, Donna Fogelman's got a birthday. Yeah, we bless Donna back there. Amen. I was looking for Isaiah. I don't see Isaiah yet this morning. Amen. Isaiah Revis. Herman Strickland. He'll be with us in the next service. And also, Miss Shirley Henderson. Miss Shirley, did not see you. There you are, girl. We send happy birthday greetings to you today as well.
And if I missed your birthday in this today, throw a tomato. Amen. And I'm kidding. And I'll duck and let it hit Greg. Hallelujah. I felt that. Amen. Come on. Anybody feel that with me? Amen. Yeah. And I just saw Marsha there. Marsha, it's good to see you. You're in the house, girl. Yay. Yay. Good. Amen.
Want to keep her in our prayers. Let me give you some prayer points to remember as we go to the Lord together in prayer. And as I'm doing that, Joe Johnson, would you come and lead us in this prayer? And a couple of our prayer partners, if you would, to come join me down here. Man, I just sense God's up to something today. Is anybody with me? Amen. You sense something in the room today that God is just up to something? Amen. Praise the Lord.
Well, do remember these as we get ready for prayer. Helen Pendergrass, she's on her way, probably already at Duke. Had to go this morning. The fluid has started to build up. She was supposed to have that removed on Friday, but things got a little worse, so she went this morning. Do remember her. Cheryl Pittman needs our prayers. Kaylee Overby, she's behind the computer this morning, but she's got an operation coming up this week on her leg. Do remember her. Jordan Ivey needs our prayers. Brenda Coca, Brenda's going to have to have surgery on her eye. And I told her, I told her, I said, I can fix it. You don't need to go to the doctor. Just quit looking at William, and it'll get better. But anyway, for some reason, she wants to have it operated on so she can see him better. Pay for that later, right? You don't do that to council members, do you? I guess I have not learned yet.
Bobby Jackson's in the house today. Bobby's got to have open heart surgery this week. So we want to... Bobby, we want you to come. We want to pray for you as well. Again, Marsha, Otha Piper did not get a very good report. So please, let's remember Otha in our prayers. Dinky Ramsey continues to need our prayers. Amy Reeves with her blood pressure and a host of other things. And Jimmy and Carolyn Ellington, keep them two rascals in your prayers.
And let me just drop in a little nugget right here. For any of you guys or ladies that are good with tools, we welcome you to join us at Jimmy and Carolyn's Thursday morning. We're going to partner with Rebuilding Hope, and we're going to build them a handicap ramp. So if your schedule allows and you have a little bit of time, we would love for you to join us. Let Wilson Sawyer know on our side, Rebuilding Hope on their side, and we're going to partner and get them a handicap ramp built this week. And we're excited about that.
Let me also encourage you to remember the nine individuals that made decisions to fully commit to follow Jesus last week. Somebody say, yay, God, right there. Amen. Hallelujah. And so we're excited about that. And then one last one. Also remember what's going on overseas with Israel. Iran is making some advancements against Israel, and we need to continue to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem, and that God would continue to intervene, and that Israel would receive the needed help and support that they do need.
So do keep all of those in your mind this morning. I know that's more than you can remember, but I hope you can remember some of those. You may have needs this morning that you would like to represent with an upraised hand in the house. Yeah, lots of needs today. Well, as we go to the Lord together in prayer, here's what I want to encourage you. If you'll bring those needs to this altar, I promise you God will move on your behalf this morning. He knows His children, and He loves His children, and He's here to meet every need because He loves us. Amen.
And so as we go to the Lord together in prayer, why don't you step out, and let's just bring all of our needs to Him today. Joe, would you lead us please, bud? We're just going to interrupt you, but we're not interrupting the worship. Amen. Listen, I think when things happen, it's time to stop and celebrate. Amen. And let me just tell you right now. Kevin just gave his life to Jesus today. Amen. Hallelujah. Kevin came in bound, but he's going out free. He came in lost, but he's found. Amen. He came in blind, but now he sees. Amen. Hallelujah.
And I just want us to take about 30 seconds. Maybe you're here today, and God's already doing His work. Let me just say that again. God's already doing His work. I felt it when I walked in the house today that God's ahead of us. Amen. We're lagging behind, but God's already ahead of us. And as they go into this next song, if you're here today, and you don't know Jesus as your Savior, if you're here today, and you have walked away from Him, let me tell you how to get back to Jesus. Step out from the pew where you are and meet me at this altar. Hallelujah. And I will tell you how to find the one that you're looking for in the name of Jesus.
So for about 30 seconds, can we just give God a good praise break right here? Amen. Can we just lift Him up? Hallelujah. Oh, my soul. And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Hallelujah. He's worthy of praise today, church. Hallelujah. He's worthy of our praise. Hallelujah. Father, thank You for filling this room with Your presence. Holy Spirit, You are without a doubt more than welcome. You are encouraged today. Do as only You can do. Hallelujah. We stand at attention to You today, Lord, for truly the King of Kings has walked into the house today. Thank You for saving Kevin today. Thank You for saving and delivering and setting Kevin free today. Hallelujah.
Father, we praise You. We're humbled. We're humbled that all we like sheep have gone astray. We've all sinned and come short of the glory of God. But yet while we were yet dead in our trespasses, we were dead in our sins, You sent Your Son Jesus, that through Him, through Him we might not only have the forgiveness of sin, but we also may be clothed with the righteousness of our God. How humbly and how awestruck we are. Who You are today. Bless You, God, and we praise You. We magnify the very name that's above every name. And by lifting His name, He has promised He would draw us close to You. So draw us to Yourself today, Lord. And we'll forever be grateful for all that You are doing. We ask it all in Jesus' name. Amen and amen. Can you bless Him as you're being seated today? Thank You, Lord. Praise God. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Amen, amen.
And if you missed Wednesday night, I'm just going to tell you, I wish I had time enough to talk to you. But if you missed Wednesday night where we had the opportunity in our group, other groups have some different things that are going on. But in our group, we talked from Isaiah 6 where it talks about the train of His robe filled the temple. And I'm going to tell you, it is amazing to think about the awe of God, the awesomeness of God. If you're missing Wednesday nights, let me encourage you. That is our discipleship piece. I like to say that from time to time. And if you're not here on Wednesday nights, we are pouring everything we can. I put almost as much study in on my Wednesday nights as I do my Sunday mornings. Not as much, but it's a high level. And I promise you, our other teachers do as well. They would love to have you. I'm not trying to get you in my group. I'm just trying to get you in discipleship. We've got some amazing classes with different things that are going on inside of them. And I would strongly encourage you to come. We have some that are age appropriate for you folks that are, how do I want to say it, that are younger than I am. That means you're in kindergarten and such. We've got classes for them. But we've got them all the way across the board. So we would encourage you.
And then if you can't make Wednesday night, don't you dare miss Wednesday morning. I'm going to just tell you right up front. Pastor Tony is amazing. And then the connect groups after that are life-changing. So look at your neighbor and tell them Wednesday is a good day to be in the house. Amen. Come as you are. You say, I don't have time to go home and get cleaned up after work. Come as you are. Listen. And my work clothes on Wednesday too. Now just wait and see if anybody would catch that. Amen. But yeah, so a lot going on.
Hey, this morning I want to continue our series on undercover. We're talking about the person of the Holy Spirit. And I want to pour some things into you. I've got a little bit of an apologetic appeal to what I'm doing today. But there's several places, or a couple of places really, that are primary for you to turn to. One, turn to John chapter 7. Then turn to Acts chapter. I'm going to just go ahead and tell you to go to Acts chapter 4. That's the next place I'm going to spend more time in. Some others I'll talk about. But I want to spend more time in those two places, primarily Acts chapter 4. And that is where I want to do a little bit more of a line by line kind of revealing some things to us there.
But as we get ready for that, just John chapter 7. And here's my big question for you. And listen, hold on before you put it up. Stay. Stay spiritually minded with me today, okay? Stay spiritually minded with me today. Don't let your mind drift, all right? Because this question right here could be humorous, but I don't mean it to be, okay? Enjoy it if you want to. Here's my question for you today, and it'll make more sense as we go along. Guys, if you'll throw that next slide up. Here's the big question for you today. What's that coming out of you? I want to talk to you about what is being revealed out of your life. What is that coming? What is that coming out of you? And I want to talk about in this idea of undercover, the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. And if I were to title it, I'd just say living proof. Look at your neighbor and tell them you're living proof. Go ahead. If it's not your husband or your wife, just tell them you're living proof of something. And we're going to leave that open right there for just a few moments.
So, I'm just trying not to wreck any marriages today. And my wife's with the grandchildren today. And so, don't y'all let me get in trouble, please. She's not here to help me out. So, in John chapter 7, verses 37, 38, and 39, Jesus talking or referencing to Him. And it says, on the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, let anyone who is thirsty, let anyone who is thirsty. I'm talking about what's going to go in you so that we can talk about what's coming out of you. Amen. Are y'all with me now? Is it making sense already? Let anyone who is thirsty, look at your neighbor and ask them, are you thirsty this morning? Amen. Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, watch this. Here's what's going to come out. Rivers of living water will flow from within you. Hallelujah. Let me say that again. Whoever believes in Jesus, as the Scriptures have revealed, here's a promise for you. That rivers of living water, not just water, every word's important here. That rivers. That's a, listen, that's an unlimited source right there. That rivers of living water, ungated, this river doesn't have a dam on it. This isn't Carr Lake and the Roanoke River, amen, that has somewhere to back it up. No, this is a flowing river that stays fresh all the time, amen. That rivers of living water shall flow out of your life. Hallelujah.
And let me just go ahead and tell you that while we're thinking about that so often, we're thinking about it's for our benefit, but I got news for you. I don't know, and I don't mean to get too personal this morning, but I don't know how God's working in the Creech family. I just know that the prayers, Granddaddy, you've been praying, God's answering right now. Amen. And your row's filling up. Amen. Because rivers of living water, prayers that have been prayed, are flowing right now. Amen. And I'm going to just tell you like this, thank you, Grandpa and Grandma, for not giving up and constantly praying. Amen. Because rivers of living water shall flow out of you, not for you, but for those around you. Amen. You're to be a wellspring of life for those that are around you. Amen.
So stay with me right here, or else I'm going to get in trouble and keep you too long. Listen to verse 39. By this, he meant, so let's define now what the rivers of living water are going to be. He's going to define this. So by this, he meant the Spirit. Notice the capital S. This is not you. This is not of yourself. This is of God. Because if you believe in Him, as the Scripture says, there's a promise that Jesus talked about that the Father made that He'll deposit something inside of you that will flow like a river of rushing water. So this promise, then, is the Spirit whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Now, when it comes to the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, I didn't say in the sinner's life. I said in the believer's life. Fast forward with me. We know the Spirit is the one that draws unto salvation. Amen. But there's a work, again, that wants to be done in your life by the person of the Holy Spirit after you're saved. And so in the believer's life, few topics have been so popular and so neglected at the same time. I tell folks all the time that we're in this place where the pendulum never swings to the middle and we can have balance. It's always radical left or radical right. It's in almost everything in our lives, in our world, in everything. It's hard to find truth in the middle where it belongs. And today, I want to pack it in and get it where it really belongs in the middle.
So it's a popular topic because people want the power that is associated with this gift, this promise that the Lord has made to us. And they want to experience something of the divine in their life, something beyond their normal human experience. And the Holy Spirit seems to be the easy ticket. Hold on. And whereas Jesus is clearly established in His authoritative role as Lord, there's a misconception that the Spirit can be readily or easily manipulated. Now, let me just say that again. We have to, as Pentecostals, I'm talking to the house today. Amen. Amen. I'm just talking to the house today. I'm feeding some sheep right now. Amen.
And so we, as Pentecostals, we love to shout and we love to run. My watch went off today. Told me several times, you're being too loud. Amen. It wasn't the music too loud. They're back there watching the decibel counter every Sunday all the time. But I'm going to just tell you, for me, if you were close to me, your decibel meter would have been going off that I was exceeding 90 decibels because I like to shout. I like to praise my God. Amen. Because I found out that he's worthy of praise. Amen. Because he's a delivering God. Glory to God. I can tell Kevin that God delivers because I'm living proof that he delivers today. And I get excited about that. Amen. I know I was bound for a devil's hell, but I got news for you and I've got news for Satan. I'm not bound to hell anymore. I'm headed to heaven. Hallelujah. And I believe there's some in here today that could say the same thing. Hallelujah. Let everything that has breath. What's coming out of you? Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Now, he cannot be easily manipulated. Now, he's clearly, Jesus, is clearly establishing in his authoritative role as Lord this misconception that is wrong at times. Because, listen, just because the Holy Spirit is called, and I'm not going to deal with these today. I may next week. It's called the comforter. He's called the helper. He's called the counselor. Many Christians assume that the Spirit's purpose is to be our servant and help us enjoy abundant life. That's the misconception. That the Holy Spirit can be manipulated to do what we want him to do for us.
So, we have to be careful that he's not, listen, listen. He was not given for us. We were given, we were created for him. Don't let those two. Don't let the dog. The tail wag the dog. Amen. Husbands, look straight ahead. Don't look to your left or right right now. Jesus sent the Spirit not for us, but for him to carry out his rule and authority in and through our lives.
I love the way Dr. David Cooper describes the experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a post-conversion work. He says that the Holy Spirit, listen, it is not that we get more of the Holy Spirit in this experience that we call the baptism. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, it's not that we get more. And I'm not going to take a lot of time right here. I think we understand well enough to know now that the Holy Spirit is a person. Amen. And in our old school terminologies, trying to do our best but missing the mark a little bit and then making it confusing, we would talk about when we would get baptized in or with the Holy Spirit, we'd say we'd get more of the Holy Spirit. The problem with that is if we get more of him. When we got saved, did we only get an arm or a leg or what did we get? No, we got the person of the Holy Spirit.
So in the baptism of the Holy Spirit that we're going to talk about all the way up to Pentecost, I want you to understand it's not that you're going to get more of him. He's going to get more of you. You're not hearing me. He's going to get more of you in your yielding to him by faith and receiving. So there's a clear understanding here that he gave. He gets more of us. Hear me and hear me carefully and just put some love on top of it too. Too often, we fall into a self-centered approach to our walk with God that emphasizes what we get out of it instead of what the Spirit wants to do through us. It's why we teach that you've got to die to self.
So I'm not omitting the work of sanctification. I said that last week. And I'm not going to. I'm not going to. I'm not going to keep qualifying that statement. You're just going to have to hear me and love me. Hear me. Listen. God wants to sanctify his people. Hear me that. Amen? But I'm talking about something beyond that as well. Because as we die, as we die, he has more of us. Now, we neglect the biblical teaching that clearly describes the Spirit's role in our lives and what God wants us to experience sometimes.
But when we finally understand, when we finally understand our relationship with the Holy Spirit, we'll then truly experience a transformed life that walks in step with his purposes for our life, individually and collectively. Now, as we consider the impact of Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit to everyone who believes, we must first keep the topic in context. And that's where I want to keep that pendulum from swinging out of context. Think of Christ's work in three different distinct areas. That's why I led off last week like I did with the three shakings. In those three shakings, there's some revelation there that we need to understand. And I think we can further go a little further with it today.
Now, these three distinct, as I preached on, the cross, the resurrection, and the gift of Pentecost. All three of them are significant, and all three of them stand on their own. But all three of them are linked together as well. You can't separate them and have the fullness that God wants you to have in your life without associating with all three of these now at the cross the power of sin and its consequences were dealt with in a death blow at the cross the power of sin dealt with whereas sin once had power over you now we've been given power over sin as Paul said the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God first Corinthians 1 and 18 there should be listen to me listen to me listen to me in every born-again believer there should be no place in your life where sin is increasing somebody's gonna help me today no believer should ever have the mindset or any terminology that would communicate that through our lives once we're born again that sin should increase and in fact Paul was real clear about it and he said that it should decrease amen so number one we understand the power of the cross the power of the resurrection is a gift that must be opened and lived out and with that gift those who earnestly seek to live as children of God will walk with him and experience his purpose in your life in their life so the cross and the resurrection are incredible events with far-reaching impact that will change our lives daily yet without the gift hear me hear me because I don't want anybody to listen to me don't stop short look at your neighbor and tell them don't stop short here's what I want you to understand without understanding and dealing with Pentecost you're stopping short of what God wants to do in your life my whole goal of leading us up to Pentecost and I was going to save this for the closing but I'm going to save this for the closing but I'm going to save this for the closing but I'll just go ahead and tell you right now because rabbits start running in my head and those things get loose up there especially after Easter when I've eaten too much chocolate come on help me now keeping our grandson and I went upstairs in his little game room and I noticed that there was this empty bucket and beside it was a full bucket and I was like let me look over in there in the empty bucket guess what was in there nothing or else it wouldn't have been empty come on but what was in there was a full bucket and I was like what was in there what was in there in the other bucket there was stuff in it but it was empty too there was empty wrappings of a lot of chocolate candy that came from Easter are you hearing me there was empty Easter eggs that had popped open and chocolate had all come out of amen and so I asked him I said boy does your mom and daddy know all this chocolate's been up here we've got to open up what God is giving us here with Pentecost to experience what he wants us to experience and I said boy I'm going to open up what he wants us to do in our life so the pinnacle of Christ's work the pinnacle of it listen to me listen to me leading up to his death and resurrection and in the resurrection Jesus talked about the person of the Holy Spirit more than he did anything else at the moment that life was about to escape from him his primary topic was the Holy Spirit and I think it's time for the church to get reaccustomed and reacquainted with the Holy Spirit and I think it's time for the church to get reaccustomed and reacquainted with the person of the Holy Spirit the pinnacle of it for the spirit for the spirit takes Christ's work on the cross and through the resurrection and brings that work to bear upon our lives thus he completes his work of salvation there in our lives now all three events in the life of Jesus stand alone as I said but they find their intended purpose when they're grouped collectively together now Pentecost is the exclamation point it is the defining exclamation point here that we understand of all that God has done on our behalf the Holy Spirit will bring you spirit here's what he'll do he'll bring you spiritual insight he'll bring you practical application and he'll bring empowerment into your life to live out the truth of God's great salvation day by day so let me just ask you when we see this pop that next slide up there for me I'm going to ask you a question I'm going to ask you a question if you will that we see the Holy Spirit does these things in our life he brings spiritual insight he carries us to the next place maybe I missed that one my bad can't you bring up what I didn't put in back there aren't you that good Kaylee's like don't tell him to look back here here's the testimony of the early church that I want to get across to you and it was this that God's people proclaimed the gospel listen to me of the church the early church the early church the early church the early church in the power of the Holy Spirit and it was confirmed with holy lives let me say that again the early church preached the gospel out of their own testimony what's coming out of you what's coming out of you they preached it out of the truth that God had given that they received and it also came not only proclaiming the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit but it came out of their holy lives can I just say this with love that God's people ought to be different is that okay without me meddling today I mean if I read the Bible right y'all are supposed that we're supposed to be a peculiar people husbands this way husbands this way we're supposed to be a peculiar people radically different than the world does the world look at you and say you're odd to have fun today amen in the context I mean you don't fit in to their world you're in it but you're not of it let me say it again you're in it but you're not of it and so we have to understand the work here of the Holy Spirit so then what then is the secret behind this kind of life well this is where I want to get to today what is the secret and if you really want to know listen up there is no secret there is no secret because the Holy Spirit is the secret behind this kind of life and let's make valid the people He is because He's already revealed it to us and told us the Bible clearly tells us of a gift from God that unleashes the power and wisdom of His kingdom second Peter 1 & 3 providing all things that pertain to life and godliness so God's already equipped us look at your neighbor and tell them you're already equipped yes he's given it it's already been revealed Acts 1 & 5 & Acts 1 & 8 let's know what it said for John and I'm No, these are familiar, but I'm going to stay right here until we get it. Acts 1 and 5. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized in or with the Holy Spirit. Remember that from last week. You're probably going to hear it next week. Amen. In verse 8. But you will receive power. Power. When the Holy Ghost, King James, for you NIV, when the Holy Spirit, and just in case you're confused, that's the same person. Listen. Amen. When the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit comes on you, and watch what you're going to receive power for. That you will be my witnesses. How? By what you preach, what you proclaim with the truth of the gospel, and by living holy lives. That's how your witness is. But I believe there's more as well. Let's keep going. And in Jerusalem, and Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. So the result of the Spirit's coming upon the earth. The apostles was beyond earth-shaking that I talked about last week. It did more than shake the earth. It changed lives. It made people live holy before God. And you say, well, what's the big deal with that? Because the Bible says, without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. So it's not optional, my people. Listen to me. This is not optional teaching. Well, pastor, I know you believe that you Pentecostal. I know all that. And I'm okay, but I'm just not there. Listen to me. You've got to live a holy life to see God. And we've got to live holy lives to have His Spirit fall in this house and change lives. Are we still okay? All right.
So the results of the Spirit's coming upon the apostles was beyond earth-shaking. The Spirit-filled disciples literally shook the gates of hell. So dramatic was the coming of the Spirit upon the apostles that their enemies could not deny the power. They were in wisdom that they displayed. Now, I'm going to come back to this. But listen to Acts 4 and 13 because it's one of my favorite. I like to throw it up there. Acts 4 and 13, it says, Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated. Paul's right there. That does not mean they were dumb people. They had just not been to all the schools that so many look at that they were supposed. They hadn't been with the scribes and the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They weren't from the elect. Amen. You know what it really means, Marty? That these were common everyday folk like you and me. That these weren't some spiritual elites. But it says, When they saw their lives and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled at their life. Your life ought to bring forth the place where people marvel at what God can do through your life. Hallelujah. Keep going with me here. And what it says, Therefore, the secret that has been revealed, how do we obtain it? I like what Dr. Pike writes in his book. He said, It is as easy for us. Somebody say easy. Can I tweak his statement? Let me say it this way. It should be as easy for us to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit as it is to get saved. And I believe part of what we can do to help that is to get people where they need to be with proper understanding. Let me say this. Let me say this. Getting baptized. Getting baptized in the Holy Spirit does not make you a spiritually elite. It does not make you better than anybody else. It makes you better than yourself. I need to preach over here. Let me say it again. It does not make you better than anybody else. It makes you better than yourself. It is not about climbing some hierarchy. Pastor, I'll never get there. I'll never be where you are. I'll never be where Sister... I'm going to just tell you. There's a lot of folks in my life I'll probably never get to where they are. Amen. But I can tell you this. I'm better than I used to be. Amen. And I'm getting better every day. Amen. Because the Spirit's getting more and more of me every day when I drown in His Word. Amen.
And this is where I want to get us. That we... Listen to me. I'm going to go back to verse... You're going to see it all connect. That those who hunger and thirst. What are you thirsty for today? Because whatever you're drinking from is what's coming out of you. Now, I know for my... For my Brule Cycles group right back here. Amen. They're filling up a pew back there as well. When I talk about drinking something, they already know. They're thinking about my daddy. Amen. I'm coming in. I got to get me a Mountain Dew. Right? Amen. Don't look at me and laugh that way. You know what I'm talking about. My daddy loved to go by there. And I'm going to tell you when he walked... In fact, my daddy went by there so much and drank so many Mountain Dews that sometimes when he'd pull up on the lot, those guys would go ahead and get one out of the machine, set it on the counter and say, Mr. Richardson, it's already ready for you. What we drink is what's going to come out of us. The way that we sup with the Lord will determine what we produce in front of others.
Now, so here's what I want you to understand. Here's what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is. It is an experience. It is an experience that we receive by faith the same way we receive by faith our salvation. How many of you believe that you're saved today? Amen. Guess what? That's the same way God's going to sanctify you by faith. Amen. It's the same way he's going to baptize you in the Holy Ghost. Amen. It's not what you can do or earn. If it were, it would not be a gift. Let it make sense for you today. Because listen, we got folks that are struggling right now. I think I am, but I don't know that I am. I think I want to be, but I don't know how to be. I'm going to go ahead and cut to the chase and tell you, you receive it by faith. Quit trying to work for it. Hold on. Turn loose. Carry. No, receive. Not something you've got to work for.
Everybody say, time out. Hey, Dinky. I didn't even see her. She had blessed her heart. She'd been sick. Amen. I didn't even see you sitting in the house. Hey, sure. Glad you made it today. Everybody look at your neighbor and say, time in. All right. So here's what the day of Pentecost did. And I'm going to run real fast because I've got to move with some things. The day of Pentecost, and here's the way I like to say it. It convinced, it equipped, it empowered, and encouraged the early church to make a difference in their world. And my goal today is to spend some time convincing you of the need. But once I get you to the place I think I've done enough convincing, then I want to move on beyond that and to get us into a place where we go beyond the convincing. We go to the place of, of equipping and empowering.
Now, I can't empower you. I can't equip you. That's my job. But I can't empower you. That's God's job. And he will empower you. Look at your neighbor and tell him he'll do it. Come on. Tell him he'll do it. Tell him, hold on. Turn loose. Buckle up. Whatever you got to tell him, amen, just tell him receive. He will empower. Amen. Amen. And that empowerment will bring encouragement like you've never known before.
So from a simple apologetic, that means experience and operation. It means experience, putting it to practice. Let me share four thoughts with you real quick. And I'm going to do just a little bit more leading in before I do that. I want to, I want to do a leading in here in Acts chapter four. So turn to Acts chapter four and you'll see the leading in and just walk along with me here. Peter and John are in great conflict with the temple authorities since they have crucified Jesus. And Peter and John, through the name of Jesus of Nazareth has healed a lame man that was sitting at the gate. You remember the story, man's 40 years old, been crippled since birth and Peter and John on after Pentecost has come and they've been empowered by God to do supernatural things so that their lives are being lived out holy and a testimony before the world, their lives are being used by God and all of a sudden God starts doing supernatural things through their life. Somebody shout, amen. Somebody shout. That's what I want. That's what I want, God. Amen. Good. I'm trying, I'm still asking what's coming out of you. You got to know what you're drinking in. Amen. Rivers of living water, rivers of living water shall flow out of you.
Peter and John healed a man and they get in trouble. And so they're brought into by all the temple authorities, the Sadducees and the religious leaders and they're brought in and now all of a sudden they're in trouble with them. And so they, when they, when the man is healed and they see him up. Scripture says that he's leaping and walking and praising the Lord and Peter and John have preached Christ crucified and raised from the dead and 5,000 people. We believe that there's two different ways of looking at it. It can be argued back and forth. That's part of the 3,000 at Pentecost or maybe not that it's 8,000 now. I believe it's three and five and I believe it's 8,000 people that have now been converted or surrendered their life to Christ. And so they believe the message and have accepted Christ. And the temple authorities. The temple authorities are furious. They're mad. Peter and John are arrested and questioned. Acts chapter 4 verse 7. This is a powerful question right here that we need to be ready to respond to. Listen to what it says. By what power? That's evident. Listen to me. That's evident and apologetic view. That's evidence to him that something was operating in their life that was not of them. Because they knew that they couldn't heal the man. So they wanted to know by what power? Or by what name have you done this miracle? By what power? Or by what name has worked through you?
Now, I'm going to just tell you, I've been, you know, Joe, I can tell you, you and I have been in some fierce battles over there in that little room over there. And I can tell you one thing. I never, ever looked at anybody that was bound and said by the name, in the name of Mark, do anything. But I can tell you what, when I said in the name of Jesus, things started to happen and it wasn't by any power I had then. Or have now. But I can tell you this. By faith, by God can work through my life. Amen. And I can call upon his name and the powers of heaven can come down and still deliver and set captives free. There's testimony of that. Amen. In Acts 9 and 10. And Paul, they answer him back. And they said, Peter and John says that we have preached Christ crucified and raised from the dead. And these 5,000. And verse 9 and 10 says, If we're being called into account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this. You and all the people of Israel, that's where he'd really say, listen up, I'm about to tell you the truth. He said, it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Hallelujah.
So the question's at hand then. How'd Peter get so bold? How did Peter get so bold? What happened to this guy, Peter, who days before cowered down in fear from a little girl that even mentioned the name of Jesus, that he would deny him three times? The answer is found in verse 8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit. It was by that that he said to them, there you have it. Peter and John were filled with the Holy Spirit in accordance with the promise of the Father, endued with words of wisdom. And were able to resist the questioning of the authorities. I don't know if you've ever been in that place where they begin to question you, and you're like, I don't know how to answer that question or what I'm going to say. And then all of a sudden, the Holy Spirit would show up. Amen. And he would begin to pour things, and out of you would come answers that you're like, I didn't think about that. I didn't know that. And all of a sudden, God just starts speaking English through you to give answers to what's being asked. I've been in numerous counseling sessions. And on and on and on. And struggling with trying to find an answer, Kenny, to a people's problem or to something. And to give them something to go on. And sometimes it would take an hour to get around to it. And then all of a sudden, in a matter of a moment, I'd feel the Holy Ghost show up. And when he would show up, he would give me about two sentences after an hour. And those two sentences would bring them to their knees. And the Holy Ghost would begin to work in their life and change them right then and there. And then I'd always look up to God. And say, why didn't you tell me earlier? And he usually says, I tried to, but you weren't listening.
He wants to endue us with that kind of power. So that we can speak boldly. Somebody say boldly. Yeah. Acts 13 is valuable to our apologetics. Our defense here. Acts 4 and 13. And I'm going to use the Passion Translation. Verse 13 says, the council members were astonished. Again, one of my favorite. They witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John. Especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men and women. And I'm throwing the women part in because I don't want you left out today, ladies. Especially when they discovered. Who had never had any religious training. Then, then, then, they began to understand. Watch this. The effect that Jesus Christ had had on their life. What's coming out of you today? What's coming out of you?
Four things I'm going to tell you in bullet point. And I'm going to let you go. Four things. Number one, spirit-filled lives radiate the personality of Jesus Christ. Acts chapter 4, verses 1 through 4. Break it down. Apologetically. Let's look at it. It's obvious that the court of these men had been in with Jesus. That they had been in His presence. And isn't that what we desire today? That people see our lives and say, there's no doubt that you've been with Jesus. That's the hopeless and helpless world. That they would see Jesus in us as demonstrators of love and depositors of hope. Let me say that again. That we'd be demonstrators of love and depositors of hope. That's what they want to see out of our lives. The authorities knew Peter and John couldn't do it on their own. So they asked, by what power or whose name did you do this? But therein lies the problem for the Sanhedrin. Here's what they knew. They had crucified one. They had silenced one voice. They had killed two hands and two feet. But now the problem has multiplied. What they thought they had exterminated had multiplied. Now all of a sudden, there's 8,000 voices in a matter of days. There's 8,000 people that are walking around telling the story. There's 8,000 people that are rejoicing and singing His praises. There's 16,000 hands who are working for His cause. And there's 8,000 feet that are walking around the city and the temple courts and the marketplace. And there's 8,000 hearts that are aflame telling the good news that Jesus is the Messiah and that Jesus Christ saves. And not only is He alive, but He's alive in them through the Holy Spirit and the city's in an uproar. And that's my prayer. God, turn us loose and turn our city upside down.
So help me finish this part up. Just throw your hands up like this right here so that you can receive. Say this with me. I want to reflect His personality. Come on. Say it like you mean it. Nobody's going to arrest you today. You're free. I want to reflect His personality in Jesus' name. All right. Receive that. Second thing. They're living witnesses to the power of Pentecost. In verses 8 through 10, as Peter and John are standing there in the midst of the authorities, every time it looks like the authorities are making ground in their accusations, there's this lame man. I mean, the debate's going back and forth. But the Bible says that the lame man hung around with Peter and John. Are y'all staying with me right here? I mean, Kenny, it means everywhere Peter and John went, it's like they're right there. This lame man is right there with them. And while the argument's going on back and forth, and they're trying to catch Peter and John, all of a sudden, every time it looks like that they're making headway in the argument, I can see the lame man just kind of shift from one leg to the other. Amen. And he's just standing there right there. And when they don't see him, he'll just clear his throat. Ahem, ahem, here I am. And so the argument is that it changes lives.
So there's living witnesses to the power of Pentecost, and the man standing there with Peter and John could not be denied. And the lives of you and me in this room right here that are changed and delivered and set free are living testimonies that Pentecost still happens in our life today. If you don't run, I'm going to run for you. Amen. Somebody shout glory to God. Amen. Hallelujah. Shout I'm changed in Jesus' name. Amen. Joe, I'm not picking on you today, but I know where you come from. Amen. I know what was going on in your life, and I know it took the power of God to change you just like it took to change me. Martin, I know your life. Amen. And I'm telling you that God changed your life, and your life is a testimony. And I could go through this room with everybody. I know you're in here today. That we're changed by the power of God, and we're testimony. That Pentecost is real. Hear me, Kevin. Hear me good today. Pentecost is still good today. Amen. Kevin's like, oh, no, that dude, he's like mad at me. No, I'm not, buddy. Throw your hands up real quick. Pastor Ron to come. Let's fool them. Amen. Say this with me. I want to reveal His power. Say it again. Again, I want to reveal His power. You know what I'm asking you to do? Let the Holy Spirit start working through your life. You got to receive something. Amen.
So rivers of living water will start flowing through you so that His power will start operating in your life. Number three, there's got to be a relentless passion to share the truth. Verses 19 to 20 and verses 29 and 30. Just listen to them. Everyone's talking about the healing of this man that had been lame for 40 years. But Peter and John replied, you can judge for yourself. It is better to listen to you or is it better to listen to God? Verse 20, it's impossible for us to stop speaking about all the things that we have seen and heard. And I don't know about you, but I'm going to just tell you right up front. It is impossible for me to not tell about the goodness of my God. It is impossible for me to not share that he delivered me and he set me free. Amen. That he made my life. Make sense again. And I don't care what. Listen, you better go ahead and figure this out because there may come a time in this nation right here that people aren't going to look at you real friendly because you're a Christian. In fact, we're down to about 30 some percent of people that actually attend church on Sunday. Now you're becoming the minority real quick. Don't worry. Don't worry. I think God's in it. I think he's in it. And he's getting ready to empower some people. And I know every one of you in here just about. Listen, I watched it while NC State was making their run. And some of you Carolina fans started pulling for State. Not to mention us Duke fans. You know why? We've got this innate deal in South Office. We like to pull for the underdog. Wait till the church becomes the underdog. And watch and see what God does when we can't get the glory, but he does. You better be. Be ready for it. Amen. Amen.
Verse 29. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable yourself. Notice the threats. Notice the threats. Notice the threats. I'm just getting you ready for the last days. And speak your word with great boldness. Let us speak it with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal. Now listen to verse 30. Listen to what he's going to do. When the church gets her perspective back right, this is my belief. I believe that when we get our perspective. Listen to what he's going to do. Listen to what they were asking. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant, Jesus. Look at your neighbor and tell them, Pentecost is on the way. Somebody shout boldness. Somebody shout power. There's power and there's boldness. Throw your hands up real quick. We're about done. Say, I want to radiate. Say, I want to radiate. I want to radiate. I want to radiate. I want to radiate. His passion.
Then the last thing, and I'm going to let you slide. Here's what I want you to know, that Pentecost prayer still works. Let me say that again. Pentecostal prayer still works. Pentecostal prayer. Look, we talked about this briefly last week, so I'm not going to spend much time. Verse 31. And after they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. You know what I've been praying? God, shake the house. Shake the house. Shake it, Lord. Shake it. This is your house. We're the sheep of his pasture. Shake the house. And listen to what it says. And they were all, somebody just say all again this week. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Here's my key takeaway. They didn't try to fight their battles on their own anymore. They did it collectively together and in the strength and the power of the Holy Spirit. One of the marks of Pentecostal ministry. Can I just, can I talk about us for a moment? One of the marks of the Pentecostal movement, Greg, has been that we're a praying people. Let me go old school on you a little bit today, just to show you that I've earned some gray hair. We used to talk about praying through. And we'd stay and pray until God moved. Now we just pray to and move on instead of praying through and seeing his power come. But I'm believing that that's about to change. May 15th, put it on your calendar. May 15th, May 15th, May 15th. That's the Wednesday night leading up to Pentecost. Here's what I'm asking every one of you to do. Now, I know some of our connect groups have got some things going on. So don't worry about it. Bill Lloyd's already made me aware he didn't want to miss a meal that's coming up. Don't y'all tell Bill I said that. I know their connect groups got a big meal. They've got a big meal coming up. But here's what I'm going to ask you to do. I want to ask everybody in the house to consider. Look at your neighbor and say consider. I want everybody in the house to consider from today forward, every Wednesday, moving towards Pentecost, to at least fast one meal. Y'all with me? If you want to fast the whole day, go for it. But if you want to just fast one meal. Here's what I want to ask you to do. While you're fasting, pray that meal. Here's what else I want to ask you to do. While you're fasting and while you're praying, whatever money you would have spent on that meal that day, give it to a good cause that will glorify God. So if your meal would have cost you $10, bless somebody with $10 that day. Are y'all with me? That's a true fast. Anything less than that's not true fast. The reason that I'm calling each of you to set aside your Wednesday, from now to Pentecost is I believe that God wants to do something at South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church. And I believe he wants to do it through you and you and you and you and you and you and you.
So I want to ask you one last time today, what's coming out of you? God, what's coming out of you? Throw your hands up one last time and let's do this together and I'm done. See, I want to reverberate. That's a big word, right? I want to reverberate His power. Every once in a while, preachers are morons and we have to alliterate everything. So I wanted four R's. Here's what I want you to understand your takeaways today. Here's what I want to close with. Grab your Bible or your cell phone. Whatever you read from, grab it. Come on, throw it up in the air. Throw it up in the air. Throw it up in the air. Say this with me. Acts 4 is my story. I'm claiming it. I want His personality. I want to reveal His power. I want to radiate His passion. And I want to reverberate His prayer. Say this with me. I desire. I claim. I receive in Jesus' name. And here's what I'm doing. I'm commissioning you through the word of God to receive the gift, the promised gift of the Father. Say this with me. Pentecost is coming. My gift from the Father is mine. And I want it Jesus' name. Stand with me if you would this morning.
Father, I want to thank You for what You have done here in this house today. Transforming us by the renewing of our mind, the washing of the word, the cleansing. Thank You for the salvation that has come to the house today. Thank You for the work of the Holy Spirit that You're doing in our house. But Lord, I believe there's so much more that You want to do. Not only in us, but through us. For Your glory. Lord, I just simply believe Your word today. That if we will have a great desire. That if we will hunger and thirst. That if we will sit at Your feet. And drink of Your cup. Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. And whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow. From within. Lord, as we position ourselves for our pre-Pentecost. I believe, God, that that night You're going to save some people. You're going to sanctify some folk. You're going to fill with the wonderful promise of the Holy Spirit. With the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. I believe not the fruit, but the gifts of the Spirit will begin to operate. In the house. Words of wisdom. Words of prophetic tones. Will begin to speak. I believe bodies will be healed. And lives will be changed forever. I believe, God, You want a real revival. Not one that's made up by man. Not one that we sit at and we shout and leave unchanged. But one where it can be marked by holy living. And transformation through miraculous works.
So, Lord, I'm calling us up. Not out, but up. To allow You to do Your work in our life. Individually and collectively. Now for just one moment. You're here today. And the Holy Spirit's been working on you since you walked in the door. You're at a place right now that you would say, I know I have not been thirsty for the Lord is with me. For the things of God. I've been toying with them. I've been thinking about them. I've been considering. But today the Holy Spirit has convinced you that today is the day of salvation. Today is the day of rededication. You know that you're a sinner and in need of a savior. You're backslidden. And I want to tell you about a man named Jesus who died on the cross for the forgiveness of your sin. Died on the cross for the rededication of your life. And you're here today to say, Lord, I'm a sinner in need of a savior. I'm a drifter in need of direction. Whatever you, either way you want to look at it. You're here today and you're ready to surrender your life to Jesus fully. Without anyone looking around. That's you today. Would you just give me a quick wave so I know who I'm dealing with. Do it quick. I need to let you go. I see that hand. Thank you for being honest. Are there others? Are there others? Are there others? Are there others? Come on, don't miss what God's doing. Don't miss what God's doing. Are there others? Hallelujah. Let me have a couple of prayer partners real quick. Just come on down. Hallelujah. For those of you that raised your hand. Can I compel you? Can I work with the Holy Spirit right now and speak for him? And tell you that I'm a sinner in need of a savior. I want you to listen to him today. Absolutely. You can listen every day today, whenever you want. Recognize it. I didn't take... If God slots in on that, as soon as you've learned to delight in this day, you're ready. You know when you like to get something, what's going on in your life that you got that's up to date already. Here is my prayer. Moment to do that if you're here today and you what you so desire would you step out from where you are and just come just step out from where you are just come on be bold enough be brave enough be man enough be woman enough to say I need Jesus in my life right now I desire Jesus in my life right now here's what I can promise you if you'll grab the person next to you if you'll just grab their hand they'll walk with you today because God's been doing something amazing to you and he wants to do it for you completely right now come on young man come on young lady step out receive the spirit of life through Jesus Christ today hallelujah come on church help me pray come on help me pray right now there's some souls hanging in the balance right now hallelujah come to the table and eat receive today hallelujah holy spirit do your work and draw draw I pray hallelujah to your altar and be desperate for him today come on you know you need him you know you need him you know the shambles life is in hallelujah thank you Lord you don't have to be lost anymore thank you Lord thank you Lord thank you Lord thank you for what you've already done and for those that you're still working on here in this house today our desire is to drink of the wellspring of the life and be transformed through this gift of the holy spirit that you have promised to us while heads are still bowed just so I'll know listen I just I believe confession is good for us while heads are bowed you're here today and don't be afraid I'm not going to bring you forward I just want to know I want to know how many are here today that would say pastor I want to drink more from the come on just give God a wave offering today say Lord I want to drink from your will I want my thirst to be for you Lord I want to eat from your table thank you Lord here's what I can promise you today that if you'll thirst for him you will be filled in the name of Jesus amen amen here's your assignment today go into strengthen the power of the Holy Spirit and know that he's still changing lives and you're one of them in the name of Jesus god bless you thank you for being in the house give God praise amen look forward to seeing you Wednesday night god bless you.
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on Apr 14, 2024
