WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:06.160 We've been talking about how we have been given the privilege of being called the temple of the Holy Spirit. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:08.000 Can you say temple of the Holy Spirit? 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:17.839 No longer temples made with human hands, but God has poured his spirit upon all flesh. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:19.199 Say all flesh. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:30.239 That means you and me, the person sitting next to you, the person sitting behind you, in front of you, all of us have the opportunity for the Spirit to really take a hold of our lives. 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:32.880 It's a privilege that we have been given. 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:38.079 An opportunity where now the Holy Spirit resides in his sons and his daughters. 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:41.520 We need to realize that this is a privilege. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:43.439 We were once sinners. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:45.200 We were wrapped in filth. 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:49.039 We were stuck in our mistakes, in our old pattern of living. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:55.759 And it doesn't mean that we're not susceptible to mistakes even today, but we are more than conquerors, as I have said. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:56.320 Why? 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:58.560 Because we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 00:00:58.640 --> 00:00:59.759 It's a privilege. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:06.400 Once God looked at us as a lost sheep who desperately needed to come back to the shepherd. 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:11.680 You realize outside of his pasture, all you find is selfishness. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:15.920 All you find is loneliness, and maybe you've experienced that. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:19.280 Outside of his pasture, you know what you experience? 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:20.239 Fear. 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:24.159 It can be really fearful outside of his pasture. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:32.319 And a life really amounting to meaningless, as Solomon says in Ecclesiastes, everything is meaningless. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:48.879 And so when you realize that, you realize that there was an opportunity in Christ, you ran to Christ, you surrendered your life to him, and in doing so, you traded your filth, you traded your shame, you traded all those burdens in for his righteousness. 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:50.079 Can you say amen? 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:55.760 And what he does is he puts his spirit back in you to revive you back to life. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:57.359 You were dead before. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:02.239 Stop walking around like you're a dead man walking because you're not. 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:05.760 Stop walking around like you're a dead man walking. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:06.640 You are alive. 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:10.400 If you're truly in Christ, you are alive in Christ. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:14.400 He has revived you back to life more abundantly again. 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:16.240 And what a privilege. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:17.520 What love. 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:30.879 God no longer looks at us as a sinner who has lost their way, but he looks at us as his child, his redeemed, he looks at us as the temple of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:32.159 Why do I say that? 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:36.560 And I had this conversation in one of our growth paths, the scripture memorization meaning. 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:37.840 So we were talking about it. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:48.400 When you actually get a glimpse of how God looks at you, a lot of times we we get caught up in the way that the world looks at us, or the way that we look at ourselves. 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:51.360 We think of ourselves as sinners. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:56.960 We think of ourselves as never really being who God wants us to be, always striving, always working. 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:00.400 Oh, one day I'll get there, I'll try, I'll do my best. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:04.400 But yet God looks at us in a completely different light. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:07.120 He looks at us as redeemed. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:09.599 He looks at us as saved. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:19.120 He looks at us as the temple that is that is prepared for the Holy Spirit to be moving and have and operating in our lives. 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:21.039 So what does that make you do? 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:24.000 Does that make you walk around with a sour puss on your head? 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:26.960 Oh, I'm just trying, doing my best. 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:32.560 Or does that make you say, God, if that's the way you see me, maybe I want to sit up a little straighter? 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:38.800 Maybe I want to start living out the way that God sees me and actually put it out. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:47.199 If you've talked to a kid, if you just say, Oh, you're a bad boy, you're a bad boy, you're a bad girl, you're a bad girl, they start to think that I'm just a bad boy, a bad girl. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:50.400 But when you start to speak life into them, I've said this before. 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:52.960 My dad, you know what my dad used to say to me all the time? 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:56.479 It'd be six, six years since he went home to be with the Lord. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:58.639 I can't believe it went by fast. 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:03.840 But one thing my dad used to say to me is he used to say, Stephen, you're so smart. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:05.360 That's what he said. 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:12.159 And I I mean I was smart, but the way that my dad would say it to me, he would say, Stephen, you're just a smart boy. 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:15.439 And I used to think, you know what, I am smart. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:19.839 And I used to try a little bit harder because I wanted to be smart. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.199 That was the way he saw me. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:24.639 I wanted to, I wanted to show that I was smart. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:30.959 When you can you when you see yourself through your father's eyes, it's a different way that you carry yourself. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:35.759 Amen. 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:41.199 What place does sin have in your life any longer? 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:51.759 Where does it fit as the word of God begins to sagurate my life and remove all that is contrary to the image of Christ? 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:55.439 1 Corinthians chapter 6, 19 through 20, our key verse. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:56.480 Read this with me. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:01.920 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you? 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:06.879 Whom you have from God and that you are not your own. 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:12.800 In our journey talking about the temple of the Holy Spirit, we realize these are some of the things we walk through. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:15.360 A change was made inside of you. 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:20.959 You are on your way to becoming the best version of yourself, but it begins now. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:24.879 You can walk in the best version of yourself right now. 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:27.759 We are no longer the same person we were before. 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:29.040 We've been made new. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:30.560 Can you say amen? 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:33.519 And we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:36.720 We begin to do greater things than we ever imagined. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:38.560 I think of Peter. 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:43.519 There was probably a time in his life where Peter, you know Peter, who I'm talking about. 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:44.560 Peter was what? 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:50.800 Before he encountered Christ, Peter was just a some of you are, was he a tax collector? 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:51.279 Was he this? 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:53.279 He was a fisherman. 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:55.439 Peter was a fisherman. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:04.160 And there was probably a time in Peter's life where he thought, this is who I am, this is all I'm going to be for the rest of my life. 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:05.920 I'm a fisherman. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:14.399 But something stirred in him when all of a sudden Jesus walks by and says, you know what, I'm going to make you a fisher of men. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:17.279 What in the world is he talking about? 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:24.800 Could a fisherman from Galilee be anything more than just a fisherman from Galilee? 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:38.639 But when you give Jesus control of your life and you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, and you open up when you open up his word and actually receive it and realize that this is bread, this is water, this is life. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:43.199 You find yourself walking on water. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:52.879 And like Peter, you can find your next pay day in the fish in a fit in a fish's mouth, if you know the story. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:56.560 That is the supernatural that God wants you to operate in. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:03.040 When you stop being stuck in the fisherman mentality and realize that God has so much more for you. 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:09.120 Imagine Jesus tells his disciples greater things they're going to do when the Holy Spirit is poured out. 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:14.879 No wonder why Peter, a fisherman from Galilee, is all of a sudden preaching to thousands. 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:18.000 This isn't a span of three years, people. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:26.160 I know there's people who've been serving the Lord for 15 years and they're in the same exact place that they were when they gave their life to Jesus Christ. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:40.720 But when you allow the Holy Spirit, you recognize who you are and what's going on, no wonder why a fisherman from Galilee is marching through persecution, getting the early church into motion, realizing my life is not my own. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:44.879 It's been bought with the price, and I'm just doing this until Jesus takes me home. 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:51.360 As a temple of the Holy Spirit, you haven't even begun to think of the things that God has in store for you. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:08:00.399 The Spirit of truth reveals the mysteries of God and the kingdom of God, brings discernment, it brings conviction, it brings direction. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:02.399 Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:05.120 Allow it to shape your life and your choices. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:08.560 In being the temple of the Holy Spirit, we walk in the peace of God. 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:10.800 You're not walking in your own peace. 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:16.000 It's a different peace that's operating in you, a whole new level of assurance. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:18.079 Bad things happen. 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:21.759 But your assurance isn't in the world. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:24.560 Your assurance isn't in your insurance. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:26.720 Your assurance is in God. 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:31.360 A whole new presence whenever you walk into a room. 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:38.399 The spirit of true peace who intends you intends to give you a sound mind and clarity as you walk through your assignment. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:41.279 Last time we talked about spiritual gifts. 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:45.600 Spiritual gifts like wisdom and knowledge and faith and healing and miracles. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:56.000 Can you imagine that all these gifts and prophecy and discernment and speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues, the source of all those things is already right inside of you? 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:57.279 Can you believe that? 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:04.639 These things that you feel like are so far out of your league, they're so, oh wow, I never thought that would happen. 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:05.679 Get real. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:08.559 The Holy Spirit is living inside of you. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:12.000 These things are actually right here. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:18.639 This gift that's waiting to be opened and allowing all these gifts to start pouring out of you. 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:26.240 When you begin to operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, you become more confident in who you are and who God is in you. 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:35.759 When you begin to speak God's word over your situation or somebody else's situation, when you begin to pray for healing or miracles and watch them unfold. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:40.000 You're past just expecting, you're just watching them unfold. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:10:02.240 When you begin to speak in tongues, as you begin to speak the words of the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit brings them to your heart, words that proclaim the mysteries in the heart of God, words that you may not understand, but bring glory to the Father, as you and I, temples of the Holy Spirit, allow we begin to move our mouths and to speak words of life. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:17.360 And not only does the Holy Spirit provide spiritual gifts, but in Galatians, and we're going to talk about this this morning, Paul writes this the fruit that should be growing from us as we reflect the Holy Spirit. 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:19.519 Read this with me, 22 and 23. 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:21.919 But the fruit of the Spirit is what? 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:31.519 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:34.799 Against such things, there is no law. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:35.919 Read it again. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:45.840 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:48.799 Against such things, there is no law. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:53.679 People of God, this shouldn't just be a Bible verse that you open up to and read. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:59.679 This is a part of the fullness of God's word that needs to be hidden in your heart. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:04.399 You need to know who you are and what you have been equipped with. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:14.399 A lot of the things I'll hear from a weekly and a daily basis of the complications that are going on in somebody's life, a lot of times they have to do with all of these things. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:21.679 Things that should be the fruit of the Holy Spirit operating inside them, but honestly, they don't even know this verse. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:28.080 They don't even know who they are as temples of the Holy Spirit and what should be pouring out of them. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:34.399 Being children of God means that we are recipients of the very best that God has to give. 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:40.159 The very best that God has to give, that's what belongs to me as a child of God. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:49.279 And as we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and walk in obedience to his direction, the fruit of the Holy Spirit becomes evident in our lives. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:12:00.000 And this fruit is not just for ourselves, but it allows God to reveal himself to all those around you. 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:03.279 Through love, joy, peace, read it with me. 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:22.000 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, we reflect the character of God and we point others to what he desires for his children to experience every single day and to display. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:34.399 After listing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, God goes on to say, or Paul goes on to say, that by operating in these gifts, we are allowing these gifts to shine through. 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:39.440 We are showing a life lived by the Spirit who follows after the Spirit. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:45.919 So after Paul in 22 and 23 lists out the fruit of the Spirit, he says this in verse 24. 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:47.919 Now those, can you put that up? 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:58.720 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh and its passions and desires, if we live by the Spirit, let's follow the Spirit as well. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:06.399 Everything that you used to be was traded out so that you could have the fruit of the Holy Spirit operating in you. 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:06.879 Why? 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:17.120 Because it identifies you as a temple of the Holy Spirit, as a child of God, and it means that you have that the flesh has been crucified with Christ. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:19.919 It's no longer a part of who you are. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:30.480 Living by the Spirit means that we no longer live the way we lived before we surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ. 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:38.159 Living by the Spirit means that we no longer live the way we did before surrendering our lives to Jesus. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:41.279 Pastor Stephen, what are you talking about living by the Spirit? 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.639 What does that mean? 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:46.799 Look at who you used to be and look at who you are. 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:52.480 Look at who you used to be and look at who the word tells you to be. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:55.279 That is what living by the Spirit is. 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:58.080 We no longer live the way that we did before. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:00.159 The old nature was crucified with Christ. 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:02.159 Say crucified with Christ. 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:05.759 And in its place, you what's the old nature? 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:07.679 You used to be a selfish person. 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.840 You used to only think about yourself. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.039 You know where you used to be? 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:13.360 You used to be rude and unkind. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:16.399 You used to be very possessive. 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:18.159 You didn't want to give anything away. 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:19.200 This is mine. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:25.519 I worked for this, and I'm going to make sure that I live the best life that I ever imagined for myself. 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:27.519 But you took all of that. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:30.080 When you gave your life to Christ, that was crucified. 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:31.120 That's gone. 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:45.360 And now the Holy Spirit is now producing new characteristics that bring life and reveal who you were meant to be created to be and reveal what the kingdom of God actually looks like. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:50.559 There was a time where you were unkind, you were impatient, you were selfish. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:52.320 Some say, Oh, I'm still impatient. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.600 Get rid of it. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:57.919 You forgot to throw that one on the cross, too. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:00.240 How about this? 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:03.919 Some of you say, Yeah, I still lack self-control. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:06.320 Knock it off in the name of Jesus. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:09.440 Where do you think you're gonna go in the kingdom of God? 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:17.759 How can God use you if you're just a guy or a girl who just keeps flying off the handle because you just can't handle it? 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:22.639 Yet Jesus gave his life so that you could cast your cares upon him. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:26.559 That's not who you are anymore. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:33.679 But through the work of the Holy Spirit, God is transforming you to reflect his character more and more each day. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:39.679 The Holy Spirit wants his fruit to become the most visible part of who you are. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:46.480 God wants, when he sees Donna, he wants to see the Holy Spirit. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:54.799 As Marisol walks throughout her daily, God wants to see the Holy Spirit. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:59.360 Ali Tatra, God wants to see the Holy Spirit. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:03.679 Sorry if I'm calling out, don't mean to make you uncomfortable. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:10.639 But realize that God wants to see the Holy Spirit, the fruit of it, shine. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:12.320 That's your identity. 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:14.879 That's who you are. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:34.559 Because when people see you, they should see the Spirit of God because when the fruit of the Holy Spirit is the loudest thing in your life, you become the most effective witness for Christ and better equipped to fulfill the mission he has given you through the Great Commission. 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:40.799 Who what is the loudest character in your life? 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:48.159 People are constantly seeing something reflected through our lives, and it can be good or bad. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:53.120 They see you react, they see the way you treat, they say that they see the way you respond. 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:59.039 I was at Lowe's the other day, and I went to Lowe's, and I had to get paint. 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:02.559 And a lot of stuff going on. 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:06.160 So I go into the paint counter, I'm waiting around. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:10.880 Finally, the people come and uh I order the paint and they mixing it. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:16.720 I get a phone call, I'm talking on the phone, and they give me the paint, and they're like, okay, anything else? 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:18.240 No, I'm all set, I'm all set. 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:21.680 And then I they give me the paint and I'm going and I'm walking. 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:27.440 And all of a sudden, I stop and I'm outside at my car. 00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:33.599 And I go, and I I hang up the phone and I go, did I even pay for this? 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:38.799 And I'm like looking, and I'm like, I'm looking for a receipt. 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:41.680 And I'm like, wait, maybe, because usually I say no receipt. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:43.440 And I'm like, did I I don't know. 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.160 Let me go check. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:51.119 So I I run back inside, and there's a few ladies talking at the self-checkout, and I said, Excuse me, yeah, can we help you? 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:53.279 I said, Did I pay for this? 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:55.680 And they're like, We don't know. 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:57.279 Do you have a receipt? 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:00.400 I said, No, I don't have a receipt, but sometimes I don't get a receipt. 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:01.279 I just don't know. 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:06.319 I was on the phone and I said, and they're like, Well, if you want to pay for it, go pay for it. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.599 And I'm like, okay. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:13.039 So then one lady goes, I can't believe that you came back inside. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:19.440 And in my mind, one lady said that, and the other lady said, You're so honest. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:22.880 And I thought in my mind, is there any other way to be? 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:26.480 What would have been the alternative? 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:28.720 That that was the way my mind was. 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:35.759 It hurt me that I had stepped out of there and that there was the potential that, you know, people were thinking this guy just ran out. 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:39.359 But I thought to myself, what is the alternative? 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:39.759 What? 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:40.880 I'm a thief? 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:44.480 I'm somebody who's trying to get away with something? 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:47.599 I'm somebody who's like, oh, they don't need it anyway. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.200 They're ripping me off all the time. 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:51.440 I might as well get my payday now. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:56.160 But I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:02.240 How could I just walk away when the Holy Spirit is operating inside of me? 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:05.680 When I know who I am, I'm the temple of the Holy Spirit. 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:08.400 See that flame that's going on in that gentleman there? 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:10.319 That's what's going on in here. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:14.000 The Holy Spirit is living inside of me. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:20.720 Each of us must choose what we will reflect, whether good fruit or bad fruit. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:25.839 The fruit displayed in our lives, it reveals the condition of our hearts. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:29.440 You need to write that down because that's important. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:40.720 And it's not just to your best friends or your family members, everyone that you are encountering, every person, even the Bible says, love your enemies. 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:41.920 Why? 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.839 Because it's a fruit of the Holy Spirit. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:56.160 And so I'm gonna say this the fruit displayed in our lives, it reveals the condition of our hearts, and it ultimately shows who or what we are following. 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:58.480 Is it something you saw on TV? 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:02.720 Is it something that mom or grandma, that's the way they handle these situations? 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:05.440 So this is the way that I handle these situations. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:07.200 I can't help it, I'm a favor. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:09.680 That's just how we act to these things. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:18.640 But yet I need to check the condition of my heart because the condition of my heart is the way that I'm going to be operating. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:29.839 The way we show up to work, the way we treat our family and friends, the way they respond to direction from our bosses, or even how we handle conflict or critique. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:37.279 Each situation provides an opportunity for us to represent ourselves as sons and daughters of God. 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:40.079 Sometimes it can be difficult to be patient. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.519 Have you ever been there? 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:49.599 Sometimes it can be difficult to exercise self-control when you're working with maniacs. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.119 How many have been there? 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:56.400 Some of those hands went a little too high. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:04.480 How do we exercise self-control when we're managing all of these schedules? 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:10.319 When our kids are getting ready for school in the morning, your day doesn't go as it planned or turn out the way you hoped. 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:19.200 Yet a person who is led by the Spirit allows the fruit of the Spirit to shine through regardless of the circumstances or the outcome. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:22.400 And yeah, that's easy to say. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:28.880 But God has equipped you to be able to accomplish and still gain the victory. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:38.160 In Matthew 5, 16, it says, read this with me, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.599 And what does that do? 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:43.200 It glorifies your Father which is in heaven. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:50.160 So as you are putting forth the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit, you know what you're doing? 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:52.720 You're bringing glory to the Father. 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:56.079 You're bringing glory to the Father. 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:59.759 When you display the fruit of the Spirit, we come. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:04.240 Create opportunities for others to experience the goodness of God for themselves. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:09.200 Imagine the impact of simply being faithful to your commitment. 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:13.519 Imagine just being on time for work, you're bringing glory to God. 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.000 Why? 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:15.759 Because that's faithfulness. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.640 You come into church, you're bringing glory to God. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:18.960 Why? 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:20.160 Because it's faithfulness. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:22.000 It's something that you committed to. 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:25.039 Faithfulness, you are showing God. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:28.079 When you show up late, you think God smiles. 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:33.440 And God understands, I'm not saying that. 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:36.480 Sometimes things happen and we're late. 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:42.720 But then there's some times where we just need to set the alarm a little bit earlier and get to work or school on time. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:46.400 Because it shows the condition of our heart. 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:55.519 Imagine the impact that we can make when we when we're just patient when things take a little longer than expected. 00:22:56.160 --> 00:23:00.319 Or kind when tensions are high or fly out of control. 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:05.119 I realized in Rhode Island, it's just funny to me, I said this to somebody the other day. 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:09.519 If you make a mistake driving in Rhode Island, you better watch out. 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:13.119 You're getting so many gestures, you're getting so many faces. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:20.400 One time I went just a little bit over the line at the stop line, and it's like an older lady or an older gentleman like, come on. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:23.200 It's like, whoa, you can't make mistakes. 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:27.039 But yet, when people make mistakes in front of me, I get it. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:28.799 We make mistakes. 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:33.440 I be patient, I try to be, you know, I get it. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.319 I don't know. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:38.240 I don't know if it's a Rhode Island thing or yeah, we agree. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.119 Good. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:45.680 But these small actions, although they seem small, they become powerful testimonies of what the temple. 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:51.279 When somebody's yelling at me out the car like this, I know what's, I know the condition of their heart. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:24:01.759 But when we do these small little things, the temple of the Holy Spirit, we're showing what a spirit-led life actually looks like. 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:06.400 If you look at the Apostle Paul, he didn't always find himself in the best situations. 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:11.680 We know that Brother Paul was shipwrecked, he was in prison, he was being run out of town. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:41.440 He even says there was a thorn in his side, but Paul knew what and who he was carrying, and it was his mission wherever he went to, in whatever circumstance he was, therewith to be content, but he was allowing the fruit of the Holy Spirit to shine through him throughout any and all situations, because it's not your presence itself that leads, that leaves the greatest impression, but the character you display through the process. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:43.200 I'm going to say that again. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:54.720 It's not the present, it's not your presence itself that leads, that leaves the greatest impression, but the character you display throughout the process. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:25:04.720 The little consistencies that we show become some of the greatest witnesses of Christ and have a lasting impact for the kingdom of God. 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.839 What do I mean by this? 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:08.000 I think of a mom or dad. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:18.240 A mom or dad who would live in a house and they raise their kids, sometimes for 18, 25, 35 years, they're raising their kids. 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:32.240 And although their presence was in the house for 18 years, 25 plus years, as the kids grow up, and those of you who have adult kids, you know what I'm talking about. 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:38.640 What they remember most is the character that you displayed while you were in that house with them. 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:43.759 They'll say things like, Mom and Dad was mad all the time. 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:47.200 They completely forget that you were in the house. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:55.519 And that you provided meals and that you were there, and that all they all they remember is the character that you displayed. 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:57.119 Mom was mad all the time. 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:59.440 Dad was always stressed out. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:06.240 Or they'll say things like, Mom and Dad, I remember they were they were patient with me. 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:09.279 I was a rough kid, but they were patient. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.799 My mom was kind. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:13.680 My dad, my grandma was kind. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:21.920 They remember more her, more who you were than whether or not you were just there. 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.680 Do you understand? 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.279 Why? 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:27.359 Because it's the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:33.119 You leave a bigger impression with the character that you're showing than just your presence. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:36.640 As people of God, we need to be intentional. 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:38.319 Say intentional. 00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:41.279 Intentional about allowing the Holy Spirit. 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:44.079 What am I going to reflect today? 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:49.680 What fruit of the Holy Spirit is going to shine the brightest in my life today? 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:51.200 I know I got a busy day. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.880 I know it's a hectic schedule. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:54.960 I know I got meetings on the calendar. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:59.599 What fruit of the Holy Spirit is going to ring the loudest in my life today? 00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:05.519 When you walk into a room, we've said this, you carry the Holy Spirit with you. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:16.160 And in that revelation, realize if the Holy Spirit, see, that flame is inside of me, you have the power to change the atmosphere. 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:21.039 Through the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.799 Guess what? 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:25.920 You walk into the room, you can bring the peace. 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:30.480 I've told you, I've said in a sermon, I brought the peace to a hospital room. 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:33.519 I just carried it with me. 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.960 You can bring kindness. 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:38.240 I've watched that. 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:46.480 Somebody who just walks in and all of a sudden the room fills with kindness because one person is just so tangible. 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:56.000 You can transform the room with love, shining the light of Christ, even in the darkest places. 00:27:56.160 --> 00:28:07.759 The greatest witness you could ever be is showing people what it looks like, what God looks like through your actions, your attitude, and the way that you live each and every day. 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:20.640 And when we find ourselves, let's be real, slipping back into our old habits or responding the way that we did before we encountered Christ, we need to check the condition of our hearts. 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:22.160 God, what's going on in my heart? 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:24.000 Have I been in your word lately? 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:26.240 God, have I been in prayer lately? 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:29.119 Have I lacked on my devotional time with you, God? 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:34.880 Have I been absent from fellowship and church and checking in with my brothers and sisters in the Lord? 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:37.519 What is the condition of my heart, God? 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:41.839 And you're gonna find the Spirit's gonna say, Yeah, yeah. 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:49.119 You've allowed all these other things to get in the way, and now the fruit of the Holy Spirit is starting to grow a little bit dim. 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:58.000 We need to realize and remember that we are no longer led by the flesh, but we're led by the Holy Spirit. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:06.880 And we need to choose to allow his lead to take charge and allow the fruit to be evident in our lives. 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:10.720 I want to ask two questions this morning. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:14.799 What is the condition of my heart? 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:18.160 What is the condition of my heart? 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:24.400 Because the condition of your heart determines what is going to come out of you. 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:29.359 Is it the old man? 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:32.960 Or is it the new creation? 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:35.119 What is the temple? 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:37.839 What is the condition of my heart? 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:49.519 God, does my heart look like somebody who is just angry and upset and miserable? 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:57.839 Or do I realize that I'm the temple of the Holy Spirit? 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:01.920 So I'll sing that chorus. 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:05.920 I'll just sing it a cappella. 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:08.480 Change my heart, oh God. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:12.559 Make it ever true. 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.720 Change my heart, oh God. 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:18.160 Change my heart, oh God. 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:20.559 May I be like you. 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:23.200 May I be like you. 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.880 Make you prayer this morning. 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:26.240 Change my heart. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:29.519 Change my heart, oh God. 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:32.000 Make it ever true. 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:35.279 Make it ever true. 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:37.359 Change my heart. 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:40.880 Change my heart, oh God. 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:43.440 May I be like you. 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:46.480 May I be like you. 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:47.680 And then it goes like this. 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.880 You don't have to sing it. 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:50.079 Unless you know it. 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:52.960 For you are the potter. 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:56.559 I am the clay. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:01.039 Mold me and make me. 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:05.680 This is what I pray. 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:08.480 Change my heart, oh God. 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:12.079 Change my heart, oh God. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.720