WEBVTT 00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:08.000 Well, a sermon scripture reading comes this morning from John chapter 3, verses 5 through 8. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:11.679 John chapter 3, verses 5 through 8. 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:15.279 Here now the reading of God's holy word. 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:28.719 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:36.560 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:40.799 Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:47.840 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear it sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. 00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:53.439 So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:05.840 Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:09.280 Thank you for his word to us this morning. 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:13.200 Lord, we thank you for your Holy Spirit. 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:18.879 And we pray, Holy Spirit, that we need you now to do a work within us. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:25.040 Lord, fill us, mold us, shape us, empower us, draw near to us. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:27.120 Ever nearer. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:34.959 Give us a sense, Lord, this morning, that we sit at your feet this morning. 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:38.079 And we'd be thankful. 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:40.239 And we'll be changed. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:43.680 We pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:44.480 Amen. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:57.840 So we're coming to our uh we're continuing our current sermon series on serving our city and our world in the name of Christ. 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:03.040 You'll see that again in your bulletin in the dismissal this morning. 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:09.199 And if you're new to us, and even those of you who have been with us for a while, I hope that's starting to sink in a little bit. 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:10.000 Siddling. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:14.719 Serving our city and our world in the name of Christ. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:26.719 And I hope that this part of our dismissal, but also our mission statement, is working its way in because we want to see God by God's grace. 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:41.039 We want to be a people who are who are who are excited and energized and enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit to serve in these ways, to serve our city, to serve our world in the name of Christ. 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:54.319 And so Pastor Tom, over the last few weeks, has been expounding on the scriptures which speak to how life in the kingdom involves bearing or has bearing on the city. 00:02:55.759 --> 00:03:00.159 And for us to be a faithful presence within the city. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:15.919 This morning I want to focus your attention on the necessity of the Holy Spirit to be in the work of furthering the gospel and how that truth shapes our service to the world as his people. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:25.759 The necessity of the Holy Spirit and furthering the gospel and how that truth shapes our service in the world as his people. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:32.639 What we believe shapes our service and it will also shape your prayers. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:39.840 And so I want to see this primarily through the conversation that Jesus has with a man called Nicodemus. 00:03:40.639 --> 00:04:02.080 Nicodemus, Nicodemus was a leader, he was a Pharisee, he was a teacher, he was the one who was responsible for the indoctrination of many people, families, households, in such a way that the people of Israel took him at his word as speaking for God, as his representative. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:05.199 And so in this sense, he was a movement leader. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:13.039 He was someone who had given his life to serving and seeing this work go forward. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:28.319 And I think Nicodemus is a good example on this point of many good and well-meaning people today who give their lives to various causes, who give their lives to various movements for the sake of others. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:44.079 There are a lot of well-meaning people, well and good intentioned people who are engaged in philanthropy, who are engaged in humanitarian work, who are engaged because they want to see some good shown in this world. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:49.360 And I can only believe that Nicodemus was one of those people. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:52.720 He believed in his cause. 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:59.120 He wanted to see good happen in the world and for God to bless his nation. 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:09.199 And we can thank God for his common grace in this way, moving people to give themselves to various works like these, serving the world. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:11.439 I'm thankful for that. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:27.519 There are people in this world that want to work towards achieving better health, who want to work toward better living conditions, who want to work toward the development of others and other nations. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:32.160 But what Jesus here is saying to Nicodemus is radical. 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:42.160 If our service is to be carried out in the name of Christ, then one must be born again. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:06:00.240 Any other service is a working on the part, a seeking to improve that condition or this condition, to fix this problem or that problem, to address this moral evil or that moral evil, but that doesn't go far enough. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:01.519 It cannot. 00:06:56.240 --> 00:07:04.800 Within our own resources, within our own mental capacity, within our own emotional capacity, in the realm of our own ability. 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:18.560 But God, by his grace, operates within us to give us a new heart. 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:21.759 And in doing so, he gives us a new spirit. 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:29.439 And what that means is that kingdom service and movements are begun by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:31.920 It always begins with God. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:39.839 Without the Holy Spirit operating on us and coming to indwell us, we cannot see the kingdom of God. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:40.959 No one can. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:55.279 The in the name of Christ printed in the dismissal that we say every week is speaking to that. 00:07:56.079 --> 00:08:00.480 His mission, his work, his glory. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:07.120 A new love, a new willingness is given to us. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:10.959 That's the first thing. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:17.360 But what is just as important is our continued need of the Spirit. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:20.959 Look at the disciples prior to Pentecost. 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:23.680 The door, you remember, is locked. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:24.560 Right? 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:35.519 The meeting is taking place in secret, fearful, insecure, doubtful, no doubt feeling inadequate without Jesus. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:43.120 If you think about it, one of the greatest challenges, I think, to any form of service is this deep sense of inadequacy. 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:47.919 Think about why you do some active service. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:52.799 Often you do it because you feel a sense of ability, right? 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:57.600 And on the flip side, why do you stay away from certain forms of service? 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:00.480 Well, you feel a lack of ability. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:11.279 We don't want, particularly Washingtonians, we tend to gravitate to the things that we're familiar with and we have experience with and that we feel like we're good at, we're able to do, we want to look proficient. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:28.159 So what accounts for the change from where the disciples are in this room, in this state, to where Peter is soon boldly proclaiming the gospel out in the open, hauling in thousands of new converts to Christ. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:53.600 It can only be explained as the Holy Spirit powerfully working within them, bringing near the presence and love of Jesus Christ in their hearts, overcoming their inadequacies, overcoming and being more real to them than all of their fears, enabling them to walk in obedience to the light as it was revealed to them, and then and then taking that next step to walk in the light. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:10:00.960 And then again and again, and soon it becomes a path that is illumined to them. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:07.200 God doesn't expect us to just run. 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:12.720 He lets us take small steps and he illumines our way. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:19.279 He empowers us through his spirit, but we must take that next step to walk in his light. 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:25.440 And he will lead us and he guides us in any form of service he would have for us. 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:31.279 We mustn't lose sight of his willingness to work within us. 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:33.759 That is vital for our service. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:46.240 I think we need to be reminded that come what may, whatever we undertake, Jesus gave us the promise, I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:50.240 Come what may, I will always, always be with you. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:52.399 That was the promise he gave. 00:10:53.840 --> 00:11:07.279 And yet I think Jesus' posture at this very moment is also a good reminder to us, a continual reminder of this need we have for the Holy Spirit to advance the gospel, to do any kind of service in his name. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:11.120 What did Jesus do when he ascended into heaven? 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:16.559 Well, he went and he sat at the right hand of God the Father. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:22.559 And we might ask, well, how can he be seated when there is so much work to be done? 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:26.639 What does that posture signify? 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:32.559 Well, for starters, we know that Jesus, by his sitting, is still very active. 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.279 He is actively interceding for us. 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:56.240 But his posture reveals to us the absolute necessity and power of the Holy Spirit to go forth and to reach the nations, to glorify the Son and the Father in individual hearts is how he uses his power and authority. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:59.840 And likewise, what do we see at Pentecost? 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:02.159 Acts 1 and 2. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:04.960 The disciples are together, they're seated, right? 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:13.919 Christ is seated, the disciples are seated, waiting for the promised Holy Spirit, and then what happens? 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:17.600 Well, in comes this rushing wind. 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:20.559 It comes to them, not from them. 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:30.159 This rushing wind comes and the Spirit comes and fills the room and acts upon them, and they are moved to testify to the mighty works of God. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:34.399 Read through the Acts of the Apostles. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:37.200 Who is the primary actor? 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.759 It's the Holy Spirit. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:44.240 God leads, we follow. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:47.840 We do not build the kingdom. 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:52.799 We preach it because we're given to see it. 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:57.919 We proclaim it and we testify to it. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:00.960 And he adds to it. 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:06.639 In this way, we are witnesses to what God has done. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:14.399 And in so doing, we participate in God's mission for the world in humility and reliance. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:27.840 You know, I take it to be a profoundly comforting truth that the Holy Spirit is not bound by our own activity or even our intentions. 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:30.480 Sometimes good, sometimes not. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:33.919 The Holy Spirit is not bound by our intentions. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.679 I think that's a good thing. 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:38.320 He is sovereign and he is free. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:41.759 The wind blows where it will, Jesus says. 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:54.720 And that ought to be an encouragement because what it means at a very practical level is that there is no anti-conversion law or government mandate that can overrule the sovereignty and work of the Holy Spirit. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:57.279 I don't know if you have, maybe you have. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.600 Tried pushing against the wind. 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:02.480 I know that if you've tried it, you didn't do it for very long. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:06.399 It's pointless. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:11.519 Governments may try to barricade and force the wind back all they like. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:15.039 They can do it with all, they can do it all their lives, but good luck. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:17.519 Jesus laughs at that kind of thing. 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:24.399 That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:28.080 The wind blows where it wills. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.759 His work cannot be thwarted. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:40.960 The Spirit is sovereign and free and is always exercising this freedom and his perfect wisdom. 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:43.039 I'm going to borrow from Mr. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:47.200 Spurgeon here, who testified to the Spirit's sovereignty in his day. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:53.919 One nation has been visited by the Holy Spirit and not another, who shall tell me why? 00:14:54.480 --> 00:15:02.720 Why do the unreached lands lie in the dense darkness while on Britain the light of God is concentrated? 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:12.080 Why has the Reformation taken root in England and among the northern nations of Europe, while in Spain and Italy it has left scarce a trace? 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:16.000 Why blows the Holy Spirit here, not there? 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:19.200 Is it not that he does as he wills? 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:25.039 So too it is with the blessing which rests upon ministries. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:44.879 One man wins souls to God, and as a joyous reaper returns with full sheaves, but another who goes forth with strong desires and seems at least to be as earnest as his fellow comes home with a scanty hand full of ears, which he has painfully gleaned. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:51.200 Why is one man's net full of fish and another's utterly empty? 00:15:52.159 --> 00:16:08.799 One servant of the Lord seems, whenever he stands up to preach the gospel, to attract men to Jesus, as though he had golden chains in his mouth, which he did not cast about men's hearts, to draw them in joyful captivity to his Lord. 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:14.000 While another cries in bitterness of soul, who has believed our report? 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:17.919 Truly the wind blows where it wills. 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:27.200 These challenges, these changes happen, sorry, these changes, not challenges, these changes happen to each man differently. 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:47.360 One day the preacher shall be all alive, his spirit shall be stirred within him, and he shall speak evidently with the Holy Ghost, sent down from heaven, and tomorrow he shall find himself dull and heavy, even to his own consciousness, and even more so to his people's experience. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:50.639 For the power rests not upon him. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:57.919 One day he speaks like the voice of God, and another day he is but a reed shaken of the wind. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:06.960 You see him come forth with the unction of the Lord upon him, and his face shining with the glory of the fellowship of the Most High. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:16.480 And tomorrow he shall say, Look not upon me, for I am black, but the glory shall have departed. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:27.759 That really ministered to me this week as I think about the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:38.000 The Spirit, for his own wise reasons, his own good reasons, puts not forth an equal power upon any man at all times. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:47.119 The wind doesn't blow with the same force all the time on any one person, or even on any one per ministry or work. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:50.480 But there's wisdom in that. 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.359 There's goodness in that. 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:58.480 But the wind blows where it wills. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:16.160 I say all this because I the hope for service lies not in our own abilities, but in the sovereign, moving, and work of the Holy Spirit, living and active within us and in our midst. 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:20.559 Like the great trade winds that blow all over the world, right? 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:23.759 Like those big, great trade winds that blow. 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:30.000 Or like the breeze that hits you in the face as you walk out the door in the morning. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:37.599 It comes with different pressures and forces and energy and life. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:46.000 But know this, the spirit always goes before us. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:19:02.640 I say that too because don't be surprised if the power for service isn't always equal in your service or in your ministry, or even in your own soul. 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.920 Don't be surprised by that. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:14.000 But here's the thing if you're thinking at this point in time, great, that means I don't need to do anything. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:15.359 Alright? 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:20.960 I'd remind you that although the Spirit is free, he's not aimless. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:26.319 He works with intention and purpose. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:29.680 And so Jesus commands us to pray. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:34.000 Pray earnestly for Christ's name to be exalted in the harvest. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.440 Pray for laborers. 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:37.200 Pray for more of the Spirit. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:45.440 For it, pray for more of his blowing energy and power in our lives and in our ministry and in our service. 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:48.240 Ask for it. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:55.440 Jesus speaks to us of a harvest mindset, not a drought mindset, right? 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.119 A harvest mindset. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:09.039 So we pray and we ask that he would be pleased to do his influence, have his influence and power be at work and his operations to be at work within us. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.240 And through us. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:22.079 William Carey, a missionary to India, knew how important the prayers of others were in the service to the world. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:30.240 At one point he said to those close to him that in being sent out, he felt as though he were going down a pit into a pit. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:36.559 And he said to those around him, he said, If I go down, I want you to hold the ropes. 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:40.319 All go down if you hold the ropes. 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:48.480 He knew that his mission would only succeed if many prayers were offered on his behalf. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:59.119 And if God is to do great things through us and through this church and through your own service in the world, then what we need is people who are willing to hold up the ropes. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:08.000 I hope you've gotten to know some of the people whom we have sent out to the nations. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:13.440 We've needed to hold the ropes for them, haven't we? 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:18.240 But it's not just a few in a committee, it's all of us. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:28.880 All of us holding the ropes in our CFGs, in our prayer ministry, in our private and family devotions. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:31.039 Are you holding on to the ropes? 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.960 That would be my question to you this morning. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:35.359 Are you holding on to the ropes? 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:39.119 For any of those whom have been sent out. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:45.599 That's a great place to start in your service to the world. 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:52.640 And that lowering down, of course, can take different forms. 00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:59.680 We've heard from Nate just a few moments ago, being sent out, the Holy Spirit working within him. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:05.119 And his family, moving them to go out, to go out to India. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:10.160 One of the most remote and unreached people groups in all the earth. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:16.960 Using the gifts that God has given him and the movement of the spirit within to send him out. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.559 To send them out. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:21.440 We heard of DDA shared a few weeks ago. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:25.599 DDA, powerfully, God working in him, sending him out. 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:33.359 And the grace of God in answering prayers, many prayers that were offered up. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:35.279 People holding the ropes. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.920 The wind is blowing. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:47.119 A desire of these children to pray and commune with their heavenly father, these orphan children. 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:57.920 Bibles in their hands, the desire to know Jesus, being taught and discipled to obey everything that He commanded. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:01.039 The wind is blowing. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:06.720 We'll hear in a few weeks' time from the Kwaches. 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:13.759 Earnest prayer has been made for Dorothy Taft and for the Market Project. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:28.000 I was talking with one of our missionaries, missionary partners recently, and he was sharing how he and this mission group that he was involved with were involved in broadcasting the gospel over cable TV in the Middle East. 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:43.599 And he shared that it wasn't long afterward where this broadcast had gone out, where they began to receive hundreds of, if not thousands, I think, of phone calls from people calling to ask, who is this Jesus? 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:49.839 Some seeing dreams that led them to ask, what am I to do with him? 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:52.319 What do I do? 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:56.160 What does he want to say to me? 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:03.519 And they were able to have and shear the gospel. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:11.440 What does this tell us but that the wind blows where it wills and that God uses the power of prayer? 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:21.920 God has been pleased to work through you to serve the nations, his body here in Alexandria. 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:24.400 But I believe that he has more. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:26.880 I believe he has more for us. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.559 The wind is still blowing. 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:34.640 And it's an exciting thing for me to watch, to see how the wind is blowing. 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.160 I'm in our midst. 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:43.920 Doing his renewing and convicting work amongst us so that we have this heart to serve the nations. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:25:07.519 What I've found in my own life is that the power for service doesn't come so much from fixing my eyes on the power itself, so much as by fixing my eyes on Jesus, risen from the dead, who has all authority and power given unto him. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:25.519 Because when my eyes are on him, when I know that he empowers me, and the Spirit moves me toward him by faith, my fears and my inadequacies, my failures are all eclipsed. 00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:36.640 I find myself strengthened and given the necessary power from heaven to walk in the light as he illumines my feet. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:42.720 I honestly don't know where the Spirit might take me this year. 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:49.920 I don't know where it might take you in service to the world. 00:25:51.039 --> 00:26:00.960 I'm praying about that, and the missions committee is looking into ways in which they can come alongside you and where you might be able to participate and pray about that too. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:08.319 But what I do know is if I keep my eyes on Jesus, he can use me. 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:12.480 And whatever service he might ask me to do. 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:16.400 The wind blows where it wills. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:32.160 Roy Hishan, the late evangelist with whom some of you are familiar with, tells a story of a powerful work of the Spirit and a man who had sought to serve the world in the name of Christ. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:36.559 And so I'm going to share this story with you. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:50.640 I remember, he says, when a fellow worker and myself were taking part in a minister's conference in Brazil, a young American missionary flew in from his station in the mission aircraft. 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:54.240 A great hunger of heart had brought him. 00:26:54.960 --> 00:27:01.759 In conversation, he told us of the barrenness on their station and the defeat in his own life. 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:08.079 There had only been one professed conversion in their area in the whole year. 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:17.680 The missionaries had got so cold that if one of them were to seek to talk seriously about the Lord, the others would say, He's talking like a missionary. 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:29.759 He told us how recently the Lord had begun to work in his heart again, and had sought to show him things of which he must repent to get right with God. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:35.200 In some matters it meant putting things right with his fellow missionaries. 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:44.160 He told us as a result, a new fellowship had begun to grow up between the missionaries, and there was a new touch of blessing on the work. 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:51.359 We suggested that he might give his testimony in the meeting that day, and he did so. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:28:04.720 And as he concluded, what was an impressive story of the Lord humbling him and bringing him back to the cross, he said, However, I cannot say that I am filled with a spirit yet, but I am seeking. 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:17.359 Afterwards, Heshin says, I drew him aside and I said, While I praise God for your testimony, I was disappointed to hear you say that you are not yet filled with the spirit. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:26.720 As we talked further, he began to see that he did not need to go any further than the cross to be filled with the spirit. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:34.960 In that place of brokenness where the blood was applied to his heart, Jesus was made to him all he needed. 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:45.119 And in so much as he came to the cross, God did and indeed fill him with the Spirit because of the blood of Christ. 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:59.839 If his faith would receive it, there he began to believe in the value of the blood of Jesus on his behalf. 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:28.400 In those days, he could be seen in quiet corners, under the trees, and elsewhere, beheld in wonder and worship, believing it all, cleansed in the blood, therefore filled with the spirit. 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:34.160 And Jesus made to him all he needed. 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:40.079 His righteousness with God and his holiness within. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:45.839 He returned to his station radiant, emancipated. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:55.200 As he humbly gave his testimony there, the Lord began to use his testimony to make others hungry. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:30:00.960 Christians began to repent, and others began to seek Christ for the first time. 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:06.720 He wrote back, it's rivers of living water again. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:12.079 Rivers of living water. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:15.279 That's what the Spirit can do. 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:19.759 That's what the Spirit is still doing. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:24.640 Are you in need of empowerment this morning, my friend? 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:29.440 Are you in need of strength to serve the world? 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:34.160 If it can happen in this man's heart, it can happen in yours. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:38.799 Take hold of the rope, yes. 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:44.240 Be willing to serve and be sent, yes. 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:47.279 But in all this, look to Jesus. 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.160 Why? 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:52.400 Because what is needed more than your service is your heart. 00:30:54.559 --> 00:31:02.000 Faith, as someone has said, is not asking for what you have, not God, but making use of what God says we have. 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:05.279 And what do you have? 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:09.680 You have a God who sent his son to die for you. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:23.440 You have a God who left the heavens for you, to redeem you, sparing no expense. 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:29.200 You have a God who is risen and intercedes for you at this very moment. 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:42.640 And you have a God who, because he desires to be with you, and because he desires to use you in service to the world, is pleased to indwell you and to empower you through his Holy Spirit. 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:48.880 Truly, the wind blows where it wills. 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.559 Amen. 00:31:56.640 --> 00:32:03.680 Oh Father, we praise you and we thank you for your spirit. 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:07.279 We thank you for your presence within us. 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:13.759 Lord, uh, we might say at times, Lord, who is sufficient for these things? 00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:16.720 And yet, Lord, we know that you are sufficient. 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:23.519 And that because you indwell us, Lord, you make us a people who can serve you and your kingdom. 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:27.119 A people who can serve even the nations. 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:30.400 Lord, don't pass us by. 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:32.160 Don't use us, we pray. 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:35.039 For your glory and for your name's sake. 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:36.559 Amen.