WEBVTT 00:00:26.049 --> 00:00:31.089 If you want to click flip in your Bibles, we're going to be hitting Ephesians chapter six. 00:00:31.250 --> 00:00:33.729 We're in this series called Winning the War. 00:00:33.890 --> 00:00:37.250 We're going through the armor of God in Ephesians six here. 00:00:37.409 --> 00:00:51.890 We are learning that God wants us to learn how to be victorious in life, that we aren't fighting to be victorious, that God has already won and positioned us in a position to be victorious, and we fight from a place of victory. 00:00:51.969 --> 00:00:58.849 And he's given us some very clear instructions on how to live and walk and win those battles that he's put us in. 00:00:58.929 --> 00:01:04.689 And so this week, I'm jumping ahead, but this sermon is entitled Plays in the Playbook. 00:01:05.250 --> 00:01:06.929 Plays in the Playbook. 00:01:07.170 --> 00:01:08.049 I don't know about you. 00:01:08.209 --> 00:01:12.769 Um, any husbands out there love a great opportunity to scare your wife. 00:01:13.010 --> 00:01:13.890 Praise God. 00:01:14.049 --> 00:01:14.530 Yes. 00:01:14.689 --> 00:01:17.010 I knew we were of great spirits here. 00:01:17.170 --> 00:01:27.409 And so every now and then I've learned that my wife forgets that on the cameras at our house, if I get on at the right moment while she's outside, I can talk to her. 00:01:27.890 --> 00:01:28.530 Yeah. 00:01:28.769 --> 00:01:34.850 And so this just random moment where it's quiet and all of a sudden she hears, Kendra, this is God speaking to you. 00:01:35.090 --> 00:01:39.170 And I can just watch her jump right out of her skin in those moments, right? 00:01:39.250 --> 00:01:44.530 Like, like, and then usually I get a bit of an earful by the time I get home, uh, or through the camera. 00:01:44.609 --> 00:01:47.730 And so I just hit delete and hope she calms down before I get home. 00:01:47.890 --> 00:01:52.210 Um, and so I leverage the moments where I can just jump in and scare her. 00:01:52.370 --> 00:02:00.609 And but it's it's one of those moments where it reminded me the reality of the fact that God wants to speak to his people. 00:02:00.769 --> 00:02:07.250 Like we joke around about that, but the reality is I remember when I was called into ministry. 00:02:07.890 --> 00:02:09.729 I was 17 years old. 00:02:09.889 --> 00:02:12.930 I can tell you the youth service I was setting in. 00:02:13.090 --> 00:02:23.490 I can tell you my youth pastor, Jeannie Robinson, and I can tell you the moment we were having in prayer when God spoke to me at 17 years old, called me into ministry. 00:02:23.650 --> 00:02:29.009 And I remember because he took me back to the story of when he asked John, if you love me, feed my sheep. 00:02:29.329 --> 00:02:35.810 I mean, I can remember and hear those words in my ear and in my soul today, like I did when I was 17 years old. 00:02:36.050 --> 00:02:39.009 And that was almost 30 years ago. 00:02:39.250 --> 00:02:39.890 Wow. 00:02:41.170 --> 00:02:43.810 But God wants to speak to us still today. 00:02:43.890 --> 00:02:45.409 It's the heart of what he wants to do. 00:02:45.490 --> 00:02:47.650 I don't know about you if you understand this. 00:02:48.050 --> 00:02:50.689 God wants to speak to you today. 00:02:51.090 --> 00:02:55.490 He wants to speak in our lives still, that it's not something that has gone away. 00:02:55.650 --> 00:03:00.210 It's actually something that has expanded because God wants all his people to learn to hear from him. 00:03:00.930 --> 00:03:05.969 That God wants to help you understand and gain wisdom when you have to make some decisions. 00:03:06.210 --> 00:03:09.330 Anybody have moments where I gotta make some big decisions in life? 00:03:09.490 --> 00:03:11.250 God wants to speak to you and give you wisdom. 00:03:11.409 --> 00:03:22.689 Maybe it's financial decisions, maybe it's futures, maybe it's careers, maybe it's relationships, and you just like, man, God, I need you to speak to me and give me a sign. 00:03:23.009 --> 00:03:24.849 Let me hear and know what to do. 00:03:25.009 --> 00:03:26.930 Maybe it's a direction in our lives. 00:03:27.090 --> 00:03:32.210 You feel like I'm sitting at a crossroad and I don't know which way to go. 00:03:32.770 --> 00:03:34.289 God, where am I supposed to go? 00:03:34.449 --> 00:03:35.650 Which way am I supposed to turn? 00:03:35.810 --> 00:03:37.490 Which way do you want me to head? 00:03:37.729 --> 00:03:43.009 Maybe you've hit rock bottom in your life and you just feel like everything is falling apart. 00:03:43.729 --> 00:03:45.409 Listen, I got news for you. 00:03:45.490 --> 00:03:53.890 If you're here today and you feel like you're hit rock bottom, let me tell you, one of the best places God speaks to us is when we're at the bottom. 00:03:54.129 --> 00:03:56.370 There's no more distractions. 00:03:56.770 --> 00:04:00.050 There's no more other things we're trying to lean on. 00:04:00.210 --> 00:04:10.210 We've kind of exhausted all options, and suddenly we're in a space where God is trying to speak to us and we can hear him speak to us. 00:04:11.009 --> 00:04:11.810 I believe this. 00:04:11.890 --> 00:04:15.890 We're gonna look at it today that God speaks to us and confirms it with his word. 00:04:16.129 --> 00:04:32.529 I think this is, we're gonna look at the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, that I believe one of the best weapons that God has given to you and I today is the fact that God wants to speak to us, and God always confirms it with his word, but it's the nature of who God is to speak and guide and direct our lives. 00:04:32.769 --> 00:04:35.810 Psalm 37, 21 or 23 says this. 00:04:36.050 --> 00:04:39.649 It says, the Lord directs the steps of the godly. 00:04:39.889 --> 00:04:42.370 How many of you guys need God to direct your steps in your life? 00:04:42.530 --> 00:04:43.889 You got some stuff coming on, man. 00:04:43.970 --> 00:04:45.649 God, I need your help. 00:04:45.970 --> 00:04:49.250 He delights in every detail of your life. 00:04:49.410 --> 00:04:51.970 I don't know about you, but that's encouraging to me. 00:04:52.129 --> 00:04:53.810 That's a great reminder. 00:04:54.290 --> 00:04:59.170 God wants to guide my steps and he delights in every detail of my life. 00:04:59.329 --> 00:05:02.209 Sometimes I hear people say, Man, I just don't know if I can pray about that. 00:05:02.370 --> 00:05:07.569 Like, God's got more important prayers to hear or more important prayers for somebody to answer. 00:05:07.649 --> 00:05:11.730 And I love this scripture because it reminds me every detail matters to God. 00:05:11.970 --> 00:05:15.810 There is not an unimportant detail in your life to God. 00:05:16.530 --> 00:05:24.449 That's how much he loves us, that's how much he cares about us, that he's trying to lead us to victory, and he wants to be interactive in our life. 00:05:24.530 --> 00:05:27.089 And one of the ways he does that is to speak to us. 00:05:27.250 --> 00:05:31.569 And so Ephesians 6, starting at verse 10, we've read this chunk every week. 00:05:31.649 --> 00:05:33.250 I'm gonna keep reading it as we do it. 00:05:33.329 --> 00:05:37.410 I think it's important for us to hear these words and get them in our soul. 00:05:37.889 --> 00:05:43.810 Ephesians 6, starting at verse 10, says, A final word, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 00:05:44.050 --> 00:05:45.089 Great reminder, man. 00:05:45.170 --> 00:05:47.410 I don't have to be strong, I just have to be strong in him. 00:05:47.730 --> 00:05:48.370 Amen. 00:05:48.930 --> 00:05:54.850 And put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. 00:05:55.009 --> 00:06:06.290 For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in heavenly places. 00:06:06.530 --> 00:06:09.490 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor. 00:06:09.649 --> 00:06:11.250 This is what Paul is saying. 00:06:11.649 --> 00:06:17.089 I'm trying to equip you for the life we live now so that we can walk in the victory God wants us to. 00:06:17.410 --> 00:06:23.009 Put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. 00:06:23.089 --> 00:06:25.810 And then after the battle, you will be standing firm. 00:06:26.050 --> 00:06:28.610 He doesn't say you may be standing firm. 00:06:28.930 --> 00:06:29.810 You will be. 00:06:29.970 --> 00:06:34.769 Victory is guaranteed if we choose to follow God's recipe here. 00:06:35.329 --> 00:06:46.290 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness, for the shoes, put on peace that comes from the good news, so that you will be fully prepared. 00:06:46.449 --> 00:06:49.730 In addition to all these things, hold up the shield of faith. 00:06:49.889 --> 00:06:51.649 This is what we talked about last week. 00:06:51.889 --> 00:06:55.649 The shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 00:06:55.810 --> 00:06:57.410 And then we're gonna come back to this one. 00:06:57.490 --> 00:06:59.089 I felt led after last week. 00:06:59.250 --> 00:07:02.050 We'll circle back around to jump ahead a little bit. 00:07:02.209 --> 00:07:07.089 Put on salvation as your helmet and take up the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. 00:07:07.649 --> 00:07:10.769 So we're gonna tackle this one on purpose. 00:07:11.009 --> 00:07:14.530 The sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. 00:07:15.490 --> 00:07:16.449 I think it's important. 00:07:16.610 --> 00:07:18.129 We got to catch a couple details here. 00:07:18.290 --> 00:07:20.689 I'm gonna do a little bit of teaching here today. 00:07:20.850 --> 00:07:23.810 So if you want to take notes, I would encourage you to take a few. 00:07:23.970 --> 00:07:27.889 Pull your phone out, bust out the note app, um, jot them down as you go. 00:07:27.970 --> 00:07:32.769 Uh maybe this is something new and and and maybe it challenges thoughts that you've had. 00:07:32.930 --> 00:07:34.129 Uh, here's what I know. 00:07:34.290 --> 00:07:40.689 Sometimes we have the wrong idea about God and we need our wrong thoughts challenged so we can line up with God's right thoughts for us. 00:07:41.009 --> 00:07:44.370 And so we're gonna step into some uncomfortably real spaces. 00:07:44.449 --> 00:07:45.649 It's what I've promised to be. 00:07:45.810 --> 00:07:49.649 And we're gonna talk about what the word of God really is, the sword of the spirit. 00:07:49.889 --> 00:07:55.569 In in the New Testament Greek, there are always two words that God uses to describe the word of God. 00:07:55.730 --> 00:07:59.889 It is the logos or logos word of God and the Rhema word of God. 00:08:00.050 --> 00:08:03.329 The the logos word of God is the written word of God. 00:08:03.569 --> 00:08:06.850 We understand it as the Bible that many of us open up. 00:08:07.009 --> 00:08:12.129 You maybe you've got the U version app, maybe you've got a paper version that you like to go out of. 00:08:12.209 --> 00:08:13.970 That is the written word of God. 00:08:14.290 --> 00:08:19.649 But here in Ephesians, uh, Paul doesn't use the logos, he doesn't say the written word of God. 00:08:19.730 --> 00:08:21.410 It's the Rhema word of God. 00:08:21.569 --> 00:08:25.569 The rhema word of God is the spoken word of God. 00:08:27.250 --> 00:08:29.810 And so which one is the one that's important? 00:08:29.889 --> 00:08:31.970 Is it the written word or the spoken word? 00:08:32.370 --> 00:08:35.809 Yes, they're both important. 00:08:36.929 --> 00:08:40.610 One is always important, and people say, Well, I don't know. 00:08:40.769 --> 00:08:44.049 Like, we can't always trust what people say God spoke to them. 00:08:44.209 --> 00:08:51.409 Oh, you can because you can measure it against scripture, and if it doesn't line up with scripture, they're a false prophet, and I would stop listening to them. 00:08:54.129 --> 00:09:05.649 And so God wants to speak to us today that that maybe the best analogy that I can give, because it is football season, and everybody in here said, Amen. 00:09:06.049 --> 00:09:11.009 Like I turned on college football yesterday just to have football in the background, man. 00:09:11.089 --> 00:09:13.489 I didn't care that they were playing in Ireland, it didn't matter. 00:09:13.649 --> 00:09:16.929 I just needed some football on the TV, right? 00:09:17.169 --> 00:09:18.529 And so here's the reality. 00:09:18.609 --> 00:09:22.049 Here's the best analogy I heard somebody use one time. 00:09:23.250 --> 00:09:25.169 Think of a playbook. 00:09:25.409 --> 00:09:32.529 If you are in sports, the logos, the written word of God is the playbook. 00:09:33.329 --> 00:09:40.209 The Rhema word of God is the play that God is calling out of his book for you to run in your life right now. 00:09:41.809 --> 00:09:43.489 And so which one is important? 00:09:43.649 --> 00:09:56.849 Well, you got to know the playbook, so I know what plays to run, but then I gotta know the playbook because sometime God is gonna speak to me a specific scripture in my life, and that's the play he's calling me to play in my life right now. 00:09:57.969 --> 00:10:06.449 The written word of God is confirmed by the spoken word of God, and we got to know the written word so when God starts calling plays, we know how to play. 00:10:07.569 --> 00:10:09.409 You don't here's the reality. 00:10:09.569 --> 00:10:12.049 Maybe some of you guys struggle with fear or anxiety. 00:10:12.209 --> 00:10:17.329 Let me tell you the play God has given you for that in Timothy, that God has not given you a spirit of fear. 00:10:17.409 --> 00:10:20.049 I've given you a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. 00:10:20.209 --> 00:10:24.849 I gotta know the playbook to know that that's the play God might be calling me to play right now. 00:10:25.089 --> 00:10:28.369 Maybe, maybe depression or anxiety is ruining your mind right now. 00:10:28.449 --> 00:10:35.969 And then I gotta know the play might be Philippians 4 7 that the peace of God that passes all understanding would guard our hearts and minds. 00:10:36.849 --> 00:10:42.209 You gotta know the playbook so that when the Spirit calls the play, we know what we're doing. 00:10:43.169 --> 00:10:46.369 That God wants to speak to his people still today. 00:10:46.609 --> 00:10:48.609 God has always been a God who speaks to people. 00:10:48.689 --> 00:10:52.529 Think about it this way: if you don't believe me, we read from Genesis to Revelation. 00:10:53.250 --> 00:10:55.409 Why did Noah build an ark? 00:10:56.049 --> 00:10:59.250 Because God said to. 00:11:00.529 --> 00:11:01.169 Right? 00:11:02.369 --> 00:11:04.289 God spoke to Noah. 00:11:04.449 --> 00:11:05.250 What about Moses? 00:11:05.569 --> 00:11:07.329 Why did Moses do some of the things he did? 00:11:07.489 --> 00:11:10.289 Because God spoke to him. 00:11:11.409 --> 00:11:13.729 Abraham, following God, did some things. 00:11:13.809 --> 00:11:15.329 Why did Abraham do those things? 00:11:15.489 --> 00:11:21.250 It wasn't because he ate a wild pizza the night before and had a crazy dream, it's because God spoke to him. 00:11:22.369 --> 00:11:25.089 We get over to the New Testament. 00:11:25.329 --> 00:11:29.250 Mary and Joseph, they're about to have baby Jesus, right? 00:11:29.329 --> 00:11:29.569 Why? 00:11:29.729 --> 00:11:32.449 Because God spoke to them. 00:11:32.769 --> 00:11:37.969 Paul in scripture tells us multiple times where Jesus did what? 00:11:38.209 --> 00:11:39.569 He spoke to him. 00:11:39.889 --> 00:11:42.209 John writes the entire book of Revelation. 00:11:42.289 --> 00:11:42.609 Why? 00:11:42.849 --> 00:11:45.169 Because God spoke to him. 00:11:45.649 --> 00:11:52.529 And so the question is if it's the nature of God to want to interact and lead his people by speaking to them. 00:11:53.809 --> 00:11:57.169 Has God suddenly stopped speaking to us now? 00:11:59.729 --> 00:12:01.169 Nothing in Scripture. 00:12:01.569 --> 00:12:03.969 I promise you, I've read it multiple times. 00:12:04.209 --> 00:12:06.689 If you disagree with me, show me where it's at. 00:12:06.769 --> 00:12:08.769 I'd love to have a conversation with you about it. 00:12:08.929 --> 00:12:12.529 There's nothing in Scripture that says God's done speaking to us today. 00:12:14.209 --> 00:12:27.729 That God has given us his spirit, the sword of the spirit, so that his spoken word can call the right play in our life as he speaks to us and tries to lead us down the path that he has for us. 00:12:28.289 --> 00:12:31.729 That is God's playbook that he's playing. 00:12:31.889 --> 00:12:34.369 That is the book he's still playing out of today. 00:12:34.689 --> 00:12:38.369 He wants to have conversations with us, he wants to talk with us. 00:12:38.609 --> 00:12:45.329 The problem is, if we're all honest in here, some of us aren't comfortable with God speaking to us. 00:12:45.889 --> 00:12:49.329 If we're just honest, which is cool, like it's happened in scripture, right? 00:12:49.409 --> 00:12:54.369 Israel had a moment where Moses said God was wanting to speak to them and they were like, no, no, no, I'm good. 00:12:54.529 --> 00:12:56.769 Like you just go here from God for me. 00:12:57.169 --> 00:12:59.729 I'll just do whatever God tells you to do. 00:13:00.049 --> 00:13:00.449 Why? 00:13:00.609 --> 00:13:06.529 Because to be honest, it's a little bit intimidating when the God of the universe decides I want to have a conversation with you, right? 00:13:07.409 --> 00:13:13.089 And so for some of us, we we don't like this conversation because it makes us uncomfortable. 00:13:13.250 --> 00:13:16.369 Well, here's a reality that we have to get in this moment. 00:13:16.769 --> 00:13:22.209 Don't confuse God's comfort with him making you comfortable. 00:13:22.769 --> 00:13:25.329 I think this is the mistake we often make in church. 00:13:25.409 --> 00:13:26.609 I hear it as a pastor. 00:13:26.769 --> 00:13:32.049 There are some things that happen in the church or some things that happen in the Bible I'm not comfortable with. 00:13:32.289 --> 00:13:32.769 Cool. 00:13:33.089 --> 00:13:36.369 God isn't checking with you to see what you're comfortable with. 00:13:37.329 --> 00:13:40.609 Because God never promised you or me a comfortable life. 00:13:40.849 --> 00:13:42.849 I think that's the other mistake that we make. 00:13:43.009 --> 00:13:46.849 We thought when we got saved, God was just gonna make my life comfortable and easy. 00:13:47.089 --> 00:13:53.889 He was gonna give me one of those power recliners and I could just back, turn on a football game and take a nap until we go to heaven, right? 00:13:55.489 --> 00:13:58.049 God promised to comfort you. 00:13:58.929 --> 00:14:01.729 He did not promise to make you comfortable. 00:14:02.849 --> 00:14:10.129 And sometimes following God and experiencing his comfort happened because he led us into uncomfortable spaces. 00:14:10.769 --> 00:14:13.009 Everybody wants to experience God's comfort. 00:14:13.169 --> 00:14:16.449 Nobody wants to get uncomfortable, so they have to experience it. 00:14:17.969 --> 00:14:20.929 And so it comes this way when it comes to God speaking to us. 00:14:21.089 --> 00:14:22.849 It's weird, I'm not comfortable with it. 00:14:22.929 --> 00:14:29.169 Like those moments and things happen, and so we just want to shut it down because it's something I'm not comfortable with. 00:14:29.969 --> 00:14:37.329 Here's the problem with that there's two things that are spiritually dangerous to me when we start taking out the pieces of scripture where God says he wants to speak to us. 00:14:37.489 --> 00:14:45.009 One, it means we start cutting out the pieces of the Bible that we're not comfortable with so that we can build a God we are comfortable with. 00:14:45.409 --> 00:14:54.529 And we have to be careful because if we start doing that, but then we want to call other people out for changing God's truth and taking out the pieces we don't like, there's a word for that. 00:14:54.609 --> 00:14:56.289 It's called hypocrite. 00:14:58.849 --> 00:15:04.689 And we can't talk about one thing and then do it on another way because I'm not comfortable with it. 00:15:06.689 --> 00:15:11.889 And so if it's in scripture and we're uncomfortable, now we got to wrestle with this reality. 00:15:12.129 --> 00:15:20.289 Because the other spiritual dangerous problem with that is we start making a God that fits in a box that we're comfortable with, and there's a word for that, it's called an idol. 00:15:22.849 --> 00:15:29.409 Listen, if you can fit God in a box that you're comfortable with, you're not serving the real true God. 00:15:32.209 --> 00:15:43.489 Because if a finite human being can create a God who's supposed to be infinite and be comfortable with that, we've we've had to have missed part of who God is and what he's doing. 00:15:43.889 --> 00:15:45.089 Can I just be honest with you? 00:15:45.169 --> 00:15:49.250 Even as your pastor, there are parts of God I'm not comfortable with. 00:15:50.449 --> 00:15:51.569 You can't say that. 00:15:51.649 --> 00:15:53.009 You're the pastor. 00:15:53.729 --> 00:15:55.009 I just did. 00:15:57.649 --> 00:16:01.649 To be honest, I'm not comfortable with God's grace at times. 00:16:02.209 --> 00:16:03.729 Oh, I want it for me. 00:16:04.289 --> 00:16:07.729 I'm just not as comfortable when he shows other people the kind of grace I want. 00:16:07.889 --> 00:16:12.049 Because I think he should be ready to strike some of them people with lightning bolts and just be done with them, God. 00:16:15.169 --> 00:16:18.129 I'm not comfortable with the way God blesses some people. 00:16:18.289 --> 00:16:21.009 Like, I wish you would start writing me some checks, God. 00:16:21.329 --> 00:16:23.729 I mean, do you know who they are and what they do? 00:16:25.329 --> 00:16:33.489 There's some people that call themselves Christians, that call themselves preachers, that man, I'm not comfortable with them carrying the title Christian, and I just wish God would deal with them. 00:16:36.529 --> 00:16:38.849 There's parts of God that we have to understand. 00:16:38.929 --> 00:16:48.609 If if I'm serving him, there should be parts of his nature and who he is that we can't fully explain and we can't fully be comfortable with. 00:16:48.769 --> 00:16:53.169 And if you can shrink him down to something that is, you're not serving God anymore. 00:16:53.329 --> 00:16:55.089 We do it with Jesus in today's world. 00:16:55.250 --> 00:17:02.529 I can tell you cults that call themselves religions and denominations that have made Jesus, they would say he's an important person. 00:17:02.769 --> 00:17:04.529 They would say he's a prophet. 00:17:04.690 --> 00:17:11.009 They might even say he heard from God, but they don't want to claim that he is God, and they don't want to claim that he is the only way into heaven. 00:17:11.170 --> 00:17:13.089 And so what do we do with that? 00:17:14.529 --> 00:17:16.609 It's uncomfortable, right? 00:17:19.809 --> 00:17:25.170 And so, how do we wrestle through these moments to hear from God and experience him? 00:17:25.569 --> 00:17:27.490 We had one of these moments last week. 00:17:27.569 --> 00:17:32.529 We'll get into it in just a minute, but I want to look at 1 Corinthians 12, 7 through 11. 00:17:32.609 --> 00:17:33.809 It's gonna be on the screen. 00:17:33.970 --> 00:17:39.009 I'm gonna have it in the amplified version because I like the way it breaks it out a little bit more. 00:17:39.250 --> 00:17:45.009 I don't know, but we're talking about the sword of the spirit, the spoken word of God, from the written word of God. 00:17:45.169 --> 00:17:49.250 And if it's in God's word, then we have to wrestle with the pieces we aren't comfortable with. 00:17:49.490 --> 00:17:53.490 And this is how God says he works in our world today. 00:17:54.690 --> 00:18:02.129 So starting in verse 7, 1 Corinthians 12, but to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit. 00:18:02.210 --> 00:18:13.730 That word manifestation, it's just a fancy word for a clear display of the Spirit, the spiritual illumination and enabling of the Holy Spirit for the common good. 00:18:13.889 --> 00:18:15.730 So we can understand some things here. 00:18:15.889 --> 00:18:19.409 You may have to follow slow with me on scripture because I'm gonna stop and go. 00:18:19.490 --> 00:18:22.849 I'm gonna be like a guy who's learning to drive a clutch for the first time, right? 00:18:24.129 --> 00:18:25.009 We'll be okay. 00:18:25.169 --> 00:18:32.849 Um, the listen, the first thing about the Holy Spirit that we have to understand is that it's for the common good of everybody. 00:18:33.089 --> 00:18:37.809 I hear people say, man, God has gifted me with his gift and he blesses me. 00:18:37.970 --> 00:18:41.169 Listen, the problem is the Holy Spirit isn't for me, it's for us. 00:18:41.889 --> 00:18:45.569 And when the Spirit works, it's never for you, it's for everyone. 00:18:45.889 --> 00:18:52.049 You are a byproduct and benefit from it, but it is not just for a person, it is for the common good of everyone. 00:18:53.009 --> 00:19:01.009 First biblical piece that we should get here in this to one is given through the Holy Spirit the power to speak a message of wisdom. 00:19:01.329 --> 00:19:10.849 Every now and then it means God is speaking to us through the Holy Spirit to give us a message of wisdom or insight into a situation in our life where we need him to move. 00:19:11.009 --> 00:19:16.929 That he has given us a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same spirit. 00:19:17.169 --> 00:19:21.889 A word of knowledge would be something that we shouldn't know about unless the Holy Spirit revealed it to us. 00:19:22.049 --> 00:19:25.569 And if you're like, I don't know if I believe that, go to John 1. 00:19:25.649 --> 00:19:26.849 You can look at this later. 00:19:27.009 --> 00:19:28.450 I have to keep the sermon moving. 00:19:28.609 --> 00:19:34.849 There's a moment where Jesus is talking to Nathaniel, and Jesus said, Yeah, I saw you sitting under the fig tree. 00:19:35.089 --> 00:19:36.690 How did Jesus know Nathaniel? 00:19:36.849 --> 00:19:38.769 Nathaniel was sitting under the fig tree that day. 00:19:38.929 --> 00:19:45.409 The Holy Spirit gave Jesus a word of knowledge about something he didn't know and showed him something he couldn't have seen. 00:19:45.649 --> 00:19:47.730 We'll see these things at work in Jesus' life. 00:19:47.809 --> 00:19:50.690 I'm going to compare him as the analogy here as we go. 00:19:53.009 --> 00:20:03.009 To another the wonderworking faith given by the same Holy Spirit, to another extraordinary gifts of healing by the one spirit. 00:20:03.169 --> 00:20:04.769 So he talks about giving gifts of faith. 00:20:04.929 --> 00:20:12.609 You under the reality of this church is sitting here today, like it's not because of me, it's not because of my wife, it's it's a gift of faith from the Holy Spirit. 00:20:13.730 --> 00:20:23.089 A gift of faith for God that invited us and you and everybody that's come along the way to believe in something we don't yet see and trust that God's building something here. 00:20:23.409 --> 00:20:25.970 Miracles of healing, gifts of healing. 00:20:26.129 --> 00:20:28.210 The reality is, you're like, I don't know if I believe in that. 00:20:28.369 --> 00:20:29.169 Well, that's cool. 00:20:29.329 --> 00:20:34.369 Like I'm standing here today because I can tell you a very specific story of how Jesus healed me. 00:20:34.609 --> 00:20:41.250 Because in my early 30s, I was walking around with a cane and I'd been to the mayo clinic three times, and no doctor could give me an answer. 00:20:41.409 --> 00:20:45.250 And a person prayed for me, and I was miraculously healed. 00:20:45.490 --> 00:20:48.450 And so you can say God doesn't do that, like that's cool. 00:20:48.609 --> 00:20:51.889 It's in scripture, and I've experienced that reality. 00:20:57.490 --> 00:21:00.049 By one spirit and to another, the working of miracles. 00:21:00.210 --> 00:21:01.250 We saw Jesus do this. 00:21:01.409 --> 00:21:02.929 He got out and walked on water. 00:21:03.089 --> 00:21:03.809 What is that? 00:21:04.129 --> 00:21:05.490 It's a working of a miracle. 00:21:05.569 --> 00:21:07.569 It's impossible, and yet Jesus did it. 00:21:07.889 --> 00:21:12.929 He took a few loaves of bread and a few fish and fed, well, they say 5,000. 00:21:13.009 --> 00:21:15.089 He probably fed 20 or 25,000 people. 00:21:15.250 --> 00:21:16.049 How did he do that? 00:21:16.210 --> 00:21:17.409 A miracle. 00:21:18.769 --> 00:21:21.089 Because Jesus can do anything. 00:21:22.289 --> 00:21:27.250 And another prophecy, a foretelling of the future or speaking a new message to God. 00:21:27.409 --> 00:21:31.809 Sometimes he works in that vein of telling people things that they don't yet know. 00:21:31.970 --> 00:21:41.009 And the the another way he works is the discernment of the spirits, the ability to distinguish sound godly doctrine from the deceptive man-made religions and cults. 00:21:41.169 --> 00:21:45.970 If we ever need something in today's world, we need the spirit to give us discernment. 00:21:46.929 --> 00:21:52.849 I can't tell you how many TikTok videos and Instagram reels that make me want to throw up in my mouth when I watch them. 00:21:54.289 --> 00:22:02.450 That take a small measure of truth, bend it around a lie, and people believe it because they claim to be a Christian, and I read it in God's word. 00:22:03.169 --> 00:22:12.769 And if we don't have discernment to recognize what's happening here, we're going to be taken advantage of by the enemy. 00:22:13.730 --> 00:22:15.809 And so, how do we protect against that? 00:22:15.970 --> 00:22:22.210 The word of God that confirms the spoken word of God that always lines up with scripture and reveals to us things we don't know. 00:22:22.369 --> 00:22:24.529 We live in a world that needs this today. 00:22:28.769 --> 00:22:33.490 Um to another various kinds of tongues, and to another an interpretation of tongues. 00:22:33.649 --> 00:22:43.409 All these things, the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the empowering are brought about by one and the same Holy Spirit, distributing to each one individually as he chooses. 00:22:43.730 --> 00:22:44.849 So hear me. 00:22:45.809 --> 00:22:49.009 No person is in control of the Holy Spirit using them. 00:22:49.970 --> 00:22:51.809 It's as he chooses. 00:22:53.009 --> 00:22:54.929 Nobody possesses a gift from God. 00:22:55.009 --> 00:22:57.730 They're his gifts that he gives to his people. 00:22:59.490 --> 00:23:00.529 And so what do we do? 00:23:00.609 --> 00:23:01.569 Like, here's the reality. 00:23:01.730 --> 00:23:04.369 Like, I'm just gonna be real, uncomfortably real for a moment. 00:23:04.450 --> 00:23:09.329 We had a moment last week where there was a message in tongues and an interpretation that happened in service. 00:23:09.490 --> 00:23:11.089 If you won't hear, cool, you missed out. 00:23:11.169 --> 00:23:12.289 It was a fun Sunday. 00:23:12.450 --> 00:23:14.450 Uh, first time in three years, right? 00:23:14.529 --> 00:23:16.529 Some of us were like, whoa, that's a little weird. 00:23:16.609 --> 00:23:17.089 I'm out. 00:23:17.169 --> 00:23:18.849 Uh, some of us like, man, that's nothing. 00:23:18.929 --> 00:23:20.210 Like, I grew up Pentecostal. 00:23:20.289 --> 00:23:26.129 I saw people running around a church and hooping, hollering, and right, like we've kind of seen every spectrum. 00:23:27.169 --> 00:23:30.289 And so, why are we taking the time to have this conversation? 00:23:30.450 --> 00:23:32.849 Because my job is to shepherd our sheep. 00:23:33.970 --> 00:23:37.009 And if we don't understand it, we need to understand it. 00:23:37.329 --> 00:23:42.529 And I've heard some comments, I've heard people say, Man, there was a crazy interruption in church last week. 00:23:42.609 --> 00:23:43.889 What happened over there? 00:23:45.809 --> 00:23:47.490 Here's what happened. 00:23:47.730 --> 00:23:54.129 The Holy Spirit, right there from Scripture, gave a message and spoke to us as his people. 00:23:54.369 --> 00:23:59.889 That message, if you couldn't hear it, didn't know what it was, it was a pretty clear message. 00:24:00.210 --> 00:24:03.649 It says that God was speaking to us, letting us know that I'm here for you. 00:24:04.049 --> 00:24:07.809 Anybody ever have a moment when you just need to know that God's here and present in your life? 00:24:08.369 --> 00:24:09.009 I do. 00:24:09.250 --> 00:24:15.730 And he said, I want to take your hand, I want to guide you through the floods and the fires of life that we experience. 00:24:16.289 --> 00:24:19.250 That's a much calmer version than how it came out in that moment. 00:24:19.329 --> 00:24:22.529 Maybe the excitement and the energy freaked some people out. 00:24:24.529 --> 00:24:26.769 But that lines up with scripture. 00:24:26.849 --> 00:24:28.769 Go read Isaiah 43, 1 and 2. 00:24:28.849 --> 00:24:30.529 It's exactly what God promised. 00:24:30.849 --> 00:24:37.889 I can tell you there were multiple people after that service that reached out to me this week and said, Man, that was exactly what I needed to hear. 00:24:38.210 --> 00:24:45.889 God spoke something to me in a moment where I was desperate and I needed to know that he was here with me, guiding me. 00:24:46.210 --> 00:24:49.490 Is it a little weird if you've never experienced it before? 00:24:49.730 --> 00:24:50.529 For sure. 00:24:50.849 --> 00:24:51.490 It is. 00:24:52.929 --> 00:24:57.970 But just because we're not comfortable with it doesn't mean it's not from God. 00:25:00.049 --> 00:25:04.049 And so, how do we learn how to discern moments like that? 00:25:04.289 --> 00:25:06.210 We hear a message spoken. 00:25:07.009 --> 00:25:09.409 The play was called by God, so to speak. 00:25:09.569 --> 00:25:11.009 Does it line up with scripture? 00:25:11.169 --> 00:25:14.210 Go read Isaiah 43, 1 and 2 sometime if you want to. 00:25:14.529 --> 00:25:16.929 Lines up perfectly with God's scripture. 00:25:17.169 --> 00:25:25.250 And so it was a play God was calling from his playbook in a moment where some people in this church needed to hear from God and know he was there with them. 00:25:27.329 --> 00:25:34.369 And so here's the thing when it comes to God's gift, like if we think about some of these gifts we just talked about, we would be all for them. 00:25:34.690 --> 00:25:38.369 If God wanted to do a miracle in our life right now, praise God, right? 00:25:38.769 --> 00:25:42.210 If God would write me a seven-figure check, we'd go build a church right now. 00:25:42.289 --> 00:25:43.089 Woo, right? 00:25:43.250 --> 00:25:45.490 Give me the faith to believe in that miracle, Lord. 00:25:45.730 --> 00:25:47.089 We'd all for it. 00:25:47.329 --> 00:25:51.970 If somebody was in here and God healed them miraculously, boy, we'd have church. 00:25:52.049 --> 00:25:55.169 Like we'd be excited about God moving in our life, right? 00:25:57.089 --> 00:26:03.970 But whoa, the moment God does something in the other ways that he speaks to us because we're not comfortable with it. 00:26:04.609 --> 00:26:14.210 Then maybe we need to grow and experience some uncomfortable things because they line up with God's word and ask what he's trying to say and do through us in these moments. 00:26:15.730 --> 00:26:18.769 That's my invitation to you to consider. 00:26:19.409 --> 00:26:23.169 I think for some of us we've neglected these gifts to our own demise. 00:26:23.329 --> 00:26:25.809 We need a discerning spirit in today's world. 00:26:25.970 --> 00:26:28.369 The enemy is out to kill, still, and destroy you. 00:26:29.009 --> 00:26:29.730 Hear me. 00:26:29.889 --> 00:26:37.730 And the only way he makes a lie believable is because he takes a measure of truth and connects it to a lie so that you will believe it. 00:26:40.450 --> 00:26:43.970 The other thing the enemy will do, I'm just gonna be really honest with you again. 00:26:44.129 --> 00:26:44.849 I'm sorry. 00:26:45.089 --> 00:26:50.369 Listen, the enemy knows he can't defeat God's truth. 00:26:50.849 --> 00:26:55.409 So if the enemy can't destroy God's truth, he will do one of two other things. 00:26:55.649 --> 00:27:01.169 He will try to discredit the person God is using, or he will try to discredit the way God is working. 00:27:04.129 --> 00:27:05.089 Every time. 00:27:07.329 --> 00:27:08.929 So people are like, man, that's weird stuff. 00:27:09.089 --> 00:27:09.649 I don't like it. 00:27:09.809 --> 00:27:12.210 That church over there, they've gone crazy, they're weird, whatever. 00:27:12.289 --> 00:27:12.849 Take pay. 00:27:12.929 --> 00:27:13.169 Why? 00:27:13.329 --> 00:27:19.889 Because the enemy wants to discredit the person or the work of God because he knows he can't defeat the truth of God. 00:27:22.049 --> 00:27:23.970 That's his play from his playbook. 00:27:24.049 --> 00:27:25.409 And how do we know he plays that way? 00:27:25.569 --> 00:27:27.730 Because we're not wrestling against flesh and blood. 00:27:27.889 --> 00:27:30.049 We just read that at the beginning of this. 00:27:31.009 --> 00:27:35.409 There is a real enemy that wants to keep you from walking in the victory that God has for you. 00:27:35.569 --> 00:27:41.970 And as your pastor, if I'm going to preach the entire counsel of God's word, I can't take out the pieces that we're uncomfortable with. 00:27:42.129 --> 00:27:45.329 We got to have it all and wrestle with that uncomfortability. 00:27:45.649 --> 00:27:46.049 Why? 00:27:46.289 --> 00:27:47.329 Because I love you. 00:27:47.649 --> 00:27:48.129 One. 00:27:48.369 --> 00:27:48.769 Why? 00:27:49.009 --> 00:27:55.089 Because I've watched people try to navigate through life and try to, I don't know why I'm so emotional right now. 00:27:55.250 --> 00:27:59.649 Try to face things that you can't find a way to be in your own power. 00:27:59.809 --> 00:28:09.089 And we've left people vulnerable to the enemy and what he's trying to do because we're discrediting and taking away the very power of God that could help us find victory. 00:28:09.730 --> 00:28:11.889 I'm not gonna do that for you. 00:28:13.169 --> 00:28:15.329 I love you too much, too. 00:28:18.049 --> 00:28:20.450 God wants you to win in this life. 00:28:20.929 --> 00:28:25.250 Yes, we'll win on the other side of this life, but victory is not when we get to heaven. 00:28:25.409 --> 00:28:27.490 Victory is for now until we get there. 00:28:27.730 --> 00:28:29.569 And it follows us to heaven. 00:28:30.369 --> 00:28:32.529 He wants victory for your marriage. 00:28:33.250 --> 00:28:35.009 He wants victory for your family. 00:28:35.250 --> 00:28:37.889 He wants victory for your children that are running from him. 00:28:38.129 --> 00:28:41.809 He wants victory for your family members that are running away from God. 00:28:42.369 --> 00:28:46.210 He wants victory for you if you're facing a physical sickness. 00:28:46.369 --> 00:28:49.169 He wants victory for you in your finances. 00:28:51.089 --> 00:28:56.929