WEBVTT 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:05.120 Welcome to the Celebration Church Orlando podcast. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:06.879 Thank you so much for listening today. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:09.519 We hope it encourages you and inspires you. 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:11.359 Here's today's message. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:16.399 Good morning church. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:18.239 Morning family. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:20.879 Good morning, you watching online. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:24.239 How you guys feeling? 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:25.760 Good? 00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:28.559 First row feels amazing, you know. 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:31.600 Are you happy with Jesus? 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:32.479 Yes. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:36.000 Is Jesus happy with you? 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:36.560 Yes. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:37.840 Oh nice. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:38.960 9 a.m. 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:43.119 was like you guys sounded more confident. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:44.159 I like that. 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:51.679 On behalf of our pastors Keith and Megan, I would love to welcome you to the house of the Lord. 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:53.119 My name is Vinnie. 00:00:53.280 --> 00:01:03.119 I am 34 years old, and I feel so privileged for being here this morning sharing with you all a little bit of God's word. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:06.719 I went to Jacksonville this past Thursday. 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:09.920 Alright, I was not alone as you can see. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:22.560 Um for a conference, and then on my way there, I believe uh God shared with me what he wanted me to be sharing with you this morning. 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:35.120 This is extremely, extremely simple, very, very, very, very, very simple. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:41.120 So simple that I ask him, are you sure about this? 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:44.319 Are you sure you want me to share this? 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:47.599 And he told me, Yes. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:54.879 They need to hear that, and you, Vini, you need to hear that. 00:01:56.239 --> 00:01:59.760 So I am not preaching to you this morning. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:03.439 God is preaching for us this morning. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:07.359 I need that as much as I believe you need that. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:21.919 I believe sometimes God He reveals something new and fresh for us, but I also believe sometimes He just reminds us of it of very important things. 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:23.439 Do you agree with that? 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.280 So are you ready to be reminded of something very simple? 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:30.000 Yes, okay. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:32.159 Parakletos. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:34.080 Can you repeat that after me? 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:45.919 Parakletos, that's the name of our series, even though Pastor Keith says parakletos, and Pastor Megan said it in a way that I've never heard before last week. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:54.240 Uh parakletos is how I say it, and parakletos is just one of the names of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament in Greek. 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:58.479 Parakletos means a comforter, advocate. 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:02.240 This is week six of our parakletos uh series. 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:05.039 We have talked about the Holy Spirit in the past weeks. 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:10.080 Pastor Keith unpacked this idea that the Holy Spirit empowers us. 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:16.960 He also talked a little bit about anointing, he preached about this concept of living water. 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:22.639 Last week, Pastor Megan unpacked about the fruit of the spirit. 00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:25.599 I think we all need to grow in that area, right? 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:29.919 And then last Wednesday we had our night of pursuit. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:31.199 It was amazing. 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:36.879 We spent like two hours together just talking about the gifts of the spirit. 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:38.560 It was amazing. 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:51.360 All of these messages and extra content, like after the message, and everything that was taught on night of pursuit, everything is and will be available in our YouTube channel. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:57.680 So you have great resources available to you to study more about paracleptus. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:03:58.639 Amen. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:18.319 Starting on the verse eleven. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:24.879 Very simple. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:48.079 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:53.120 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:58.560 All God's people here send their greetings. 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:10.480 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:21.199 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:32.160 If you are taking notes this morning, I have titled this message more than just an experience. 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:37.360 Let's pray. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:45.040 God, thank you so much for the great opportunity we have this morning. 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:51.120 Thank you, because we know your presence is here. 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:58.560 And we ask you, Holy Spirit, please, teach us and guide us. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:04.879 We open up ourselves, we open up our hearts and our minds. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:12.160 So you can do whatever you want to do this morning. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:13.920 That's our prayer. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:15.839 In Jesus' name. 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:17.600 Amen. 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:19.360 Amen. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:22.720 Thank you, friend. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:28.959 I consider myself a very imaginative person. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:35.759 Very often I catch myself thinking about unrealistic things. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:38.160 I don't know if you are like that. 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:40.959 Um, last week, I think it's a great example. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:47.360 Uh actually, not last week, three weeks ago, I went to Austin, Texas for this one-week conference. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:56.000 And then on Wednesday, out of the blue, someone said, Hey guys, I want you guys to pack your stuff. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:58.480 There is a bus waiting for you guys outside. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:05.839 I need you guys to jump into the bus and we're going to take you guys somewhere else to have an experience. 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:10.079 And then, of course, I was like, What do you mean? 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:12.000 This is exciting. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:13.759 Should I change? 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:15.040 Should I go like this? 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:16.319 Where are we going? 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:17.199 Right? 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:19.199 Very trying to figure out. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:20.879 And then I went, I went outside. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:22.639 The coach was there waiting for us. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:28.399 We got into the coach, and now they're driving around the city, and I'm very imaginative. 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:32.319 The very first thing I decided to do was call my wife. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:36.160 And then I called her, and then I said, I don't know where they're taking us. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:38.480 I don't know if I'm being kidnapped right now. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:41.759 But keep your eyes on your phone, I'll keep you posted. 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:48.959 And then 10 minutes later, I got a little bit more excited and optimistic, and then I thought, Oh, I know exactly what they're doing. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:56.240 They're taking us to this barbecue place called Franklin, which is very famous in Austin, so we're going there. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:07:59.040 It was not Franklin's. 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:05.279 And then I got very imaginative again, and then I was like, Oh, I know exactly I got it. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:14.319 They are going to give us Apple gift cards, and we're going to Apple, and we're going to use those gift cards to buy new gear for us. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:27.279 Um, and I know this will sound ridiculous, but at some point we were driving in front of this that Tesla store, and I thought, this is it, right? 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:32.879 We're going to stop right here and they're going to buy new cars for everybody. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:34.240 I promise you. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.000 I'm very imaginative. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:55.360 But one thing I think a lot about is if I had the opportunity of having coffee or dinner with someone I admire, or someone famous, or or someone very important, who that person would be? 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:57.600 Have you thought about that? 00:08:58.320 --> 00:08:58.799 Yeah? 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:02.159 Or I'm the only one, the only weird one here. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:05.039 Who that person would be? 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:07.600 Or what would we talk about? 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:10.879 Or what would I wear? 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:13.840 Or where would we where would we meet? 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:26.240 Well, if you ask me this question today, I think I would tell you that I would love to have coffee with this guy called Jacob Collier, which is a great musician. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:27.759 He's a genius. 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:31.519 I think I would love to have uh a coffee with him. 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:41.759 But I also know that if I ask for some of you, and I know your answer based on your Instagram, some of you would tell me, I would love to have coffee with Taylor Swift. 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:55.360 Some of us will be like, Vinny, John Lennon, I would love to have dinner with John Lennon or Freddie Mercury or Abraham Lincoln or Benjamin Franklin. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:10:18.879 And maybe you are very smart and you will be like, no, Vinny, hey, if I if I can choose someone, that would be Albert Einstein or Gandhi or Mandela or Queen Elizabeth, Leonardo da Vinci, Leonardo DiCaprio, Steve Jobs. 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:21.120 I I don't know. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:30.559 So many options, but someone that is always up there in my list is the Apostle Paul. 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:34.559 What an extraordinary man. 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:35.840 Come on. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:38.879 Paul had an encounter with Jesus. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:41.679 Before that, he was a killer. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:52.559 He used to kill believers, and now he had an encounter with Jesus, and now instead of killing them, they are he's blessing them. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:54.480 This is crazy. 00:10:55.120 --> 00:11:03.200 I would love to take Paul to Lineage Coffee right here and uh and ask him, hey Paul, tell me something here, brother. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:06.559 So you used to be a killer and then you became a missionary? 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:08.080 Tell me more about this. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:11.600 Can you share a little bit about your three missions trip? 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:21.519 Paul, tell me more when you got arrested and then you were in jail, and then at midnight, God did something amazing to get you out of there. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:26.799 Paul, can you tell me more about all the miracles you see? 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:30.559 Come on, I will take coffee with Paul. 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:35.759 He is the most important person in the New Testament after Jesus. 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:40.159 He preached the gospel for three continents. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:46.799 Not three cities, not winter, mere winter garden, Hamlin. 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:50.480 Three continents. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:55.120 He wrote half of the New Testament. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:59.759 His writings has influenced the entire globe. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:03.360 So, yes, I would love to have coffee with this man. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:17.840 And the verses we read a couple minutes ago are found in 2 Corinthians, and 2 Corinthians is one of the 13 letters Paul wrote, but 2 Corinthians is different than all of the others. 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:25.039 Because here in 2 Corinthians Corinthians, we we see a Paul being very friendly with that church. 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:33.120 He's not being a theologian, he's not he's very tender and open and vulnerable. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:38.240 The verses we read is the conclusion of the letter. 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:42.320 Verse 11 starts with finally, brothers and sisters. 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:45.360 So it's the conclusion of everything. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:51.840 So think like this: Paul is wrapping up this letter, Second Corinthians. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:13:04.799 So he chooses very carefully the words he wants to use, he wants them to pay attention on his final words, and I believe God wants us to do the same. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:19.919 So, what I'm talking is we have one of the most important men in the history of the world wrapping up one of his most important letters, and this is what he writes. 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:34.399 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:38.960 This is how he wraps up. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:48.320 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:55.039 I love the way he concludes his letter and the precious lessons we found here. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:14:00.240 Because his conclusion has three parts, as you can clearly see. 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:04.000 Part one is may the grace of the Lord, right? 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:16.000 Part two is in the love of God, and part three is in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.799 Three parts of his conclusion. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:27.919 And I can totally see someone reading the letter and thinking, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, okay, this is important. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.919 Let's stop here for a second. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:30.960 This is important. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:37.600 May the grace of the Lord, every time we talk about the grace, oh, this is very important. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:45.200 We are automatically reminded of Ephesians chapter 2, for it is by grace you have been saved. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:47.759 We all know without grace it is impossible. 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:50.240 The grace is the symbol of the new covenant. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:52.159 We sing songs about grace. 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:54.799 This is amazing, grace. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:15:04.799 Even our church, our celebration church, we had a um a series last year, Grace to You, just to talk about grace. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:11.919 So when someone is reading this and goes, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ they stop and then go, Oh, this is important. 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:21.679 And then someone is reading, and then he goes, May the love of God, and someone would say, Okay, this is important as well. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:25.039 Not only the grace, but the love. 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.879 This is very, very important. 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:30.240 We are automatically reminded of John 3:16. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:37.360 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.600 God loves me as I am. 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:41.679 We sing songs about it. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:44.000 It's extravagant. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.679 I love that one. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:48.159 It doesn't make sense. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:53.679 We'll never comprehend the way he loves us. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:56.080 We sing songs about that. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.360 This is very important. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:59.679 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, yes. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:16.399 The love of God, yes, and then now we're getting to the third part of his conclusion, and then he goes, made the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and whoever is reading this goes, whatever that is, is not that important as the other two. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:22.080 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, for sure, very important. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:32.320 The love of God, for sure, the fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we don't sing many songs about this. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:36.879 We don't hear lots of messages about this. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:45.039 Grace for sure, love for sure, fellowship of the Holy Spirit looks like it is in a different category. 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:54.159 I don't see Paul saying that grace and love is more important than the fellowship with the Holy Spirit. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:17:06.000 Actually, I believe he's trying to teach that the fellowship with the Holy Spirit is as important as the grace of Jesus and the love of God. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:09.200 The three things are equally important. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:15.119 Grace, love, fellowship with the Holy Spirit. 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:22.640 The word fellowship here in this verse is the Greek word koinonia. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:23.759 Can you say that? 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:24.880 Koinonia. 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:38.160 And it means relationship, partnership, it means intimate spiritual communion, it means commitment. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.000 Now think about this. 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:53.599 We are very, very familiarized with grace and love, but sometimes we forget that Paul is encouraging us to cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:56.240 So listen to this. 00:17:56.480 --> 00:18:12.880 One of the most important men in the Bible, this is what he's saying: that the understanding of the importance of having a relationship with the Holy Spirit can be compared with the understanding of God's love and grace. 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:17.279 This is very important. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:22.640 He's saying, live your life through the grace of Jesus for sure. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:28.160 He's saying, Accept the love of God for you for sure. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:40.480 But he's also saying let's invest time in a relationship with the Holy Spirit. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:43.279 Relationship. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:00.640 Vinny, why you're saying that? 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.000 You would you would ask me? 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:03.200 Well, I'll tell you. 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:11.759 Because sometimes I'm under the impression we are trading the relationship with the Holy Spirit for experiences with the Holy Spirit. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:20.079 We're trading relationship, fellowship, koinonia, what Paul is teaching us. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:25.359 We're trading that for just an experience with the Holy Spirit. 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:40.480 And then we live our lives understanding the love of God, we live our lives understanding the grace of Jesus, and we are going after experiences with the Holy Spirit instead of investing time in a relationship with the Holy Spirit. 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.119 Come on, Vinny, Pentecost Sunday. 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:46.319 That's next Sunday. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:51.440 I'm very excited about that because I'm gonna have an experience with the Holy Spirit. 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:59.680 Oh, Vinny, my church will have a retreat, and I'm very excited about that because if I go there, I'm going to have an experience with the Holy Spirit. 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:02.079 Oh, Vinny, worship night's coming. 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:06.880 I'm very excited for worship night because I'm gonna have an experience with the Holy Spirit. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:08.640 I love experiences as well. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:10.079 Don't get me wrong here. 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:15.440 I love experiences, I love to feel the Holy Spirit, I love to be impacted by Him. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:25.920 There's nothing wrong with that, but we cannot forget that what He has for us is way more than just an experience. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:29.759 Way more than just an experience. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:33.279 He wants a relationship. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:36.400 A relationship. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:47.920 The Holy Spirit is not an energy, the Holy Spirit is not a presence, the Holy Spirit is not a power for you to have an experience with. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:57.920 The Holy Spirit is a person, he is a part of the Trinity, and he wants a relationship with you. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:07.119 Enjoy all your experiences, but he has something deeper for you. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.119 A relationship. 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:17.920 I was ready to pay, and then the lady said, Mr. 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:25.839 Costa, we have we have something available to you, and I would love to tell you more about that. 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:28.000 And I was like, sure, tell me what it is. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:39.359 And they said, Well, if you come back here more often, um you will be able to take advantages of the different prices and services for you. 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:41.680 And then I was like, Oh, okay. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.759 Tell me more about that. 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:51.039 And then she gave me a card, and pretty much the card was like, Come here more often, and then you're gonna pay less. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:59.759 And then at the end of the card, there was a phrase like this we don't want you to have an experience with us, we want a relationship with you. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.720 And then I was like, preach for me right now. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.160 Yes. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:08.960 We all enjoy the experiences with the Holy Spirit. 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:12.400 I've had hundreds of those experiences. 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.680 I loved him. 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:16.720 But I cannot forget. 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:22.480 He has relationship available. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:24.160 And that's what he wants. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:26.319 For me and for you. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:29.119 Experience is for a moment. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.680 Relationship lasts. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:35.440 Experience is all about emotions. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:39.359 Relationship is all about devotion. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:42.480 Experience is important. 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:44.720 Relationship is vital. 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:50.240 Experience is all about what he can do for us. 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:53.920 Relationship is all about who he is. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:06.880 We cannot live our lives from experience to experience to experience to experience knowing he has something greater available. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:15.759 Today I celebrate 12,441 days alive. 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:43.839 Of course, when I was a baby, I was not eating two pounds. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:50.480 But when I was on my 20s, I was eating 22 pounds every meal, right? 00:23:51.119 --> 00:24:04.720 But on average, if I ate two pounds of food every day, today I'm getting close to 13 tons of food I have eaten. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.400 I am a machine. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:15.200 Half of that, Big Macs for sure. 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:18.960 Thirteen tons of food. 00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:20.960 That's a lot, guys. 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:24.319 But do you know something that is very interesting? 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:29.359 It doesn't matter how much I ate so far in my life. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:32.559 If I stop eating now, I'll die. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:37.200 The 13 tons doesn't matter. 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:39.759 If I stop eating, I will die. 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:43.759 In our spiritual life, it's exactly like that. 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:57.359 We're going after experiences every three months, six months, two times a year, three times a year, and then we think we can survive having only two spiritual meals a year. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.160 Is that it? 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:06.319 Two experiences with God, two experiences with the Holy Spirit? 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:15.359 When Paul is telling us, hey, hey, it's way more than this, it's a relationship. 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:19.920 Relationship available. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:46.240 Francis Chang, he said in his book titled Forgotten God, he said, if I were Satan and my ultimate goal was to thwart God's kingdom and purposes, one of my main strategies would be to get churchgoers to ignore the Holy Spirit. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.200 Ignore Him. 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:56.400 For sure. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.359 Yes. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:59.599 It talks about that. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:07.519 But we need to understand today that the Bible always talks about having an experience with the Holy Spirit, but not stopping there. 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.920 Not stopping there. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:13.599 And then wait until you get your second experience. 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:16.720 And then wait until you get your third experience. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:18.480 That's not what the Bible says. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:20.400 The Bible has relationship. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:25.279 And I would love to show it to you on the Bible. 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:29.519 Ephesians chapter 4, verse 30. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:31.359 Very interesting verse. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.880 This is what Paul says. 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:34.400 Ephesians 4 30. 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:40.960 He says, and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, but seek to please him. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:47.200 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, but seek to please him. 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:49.839 Do not grieve him, seek him. 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:53.920 Do you think the Bible is talking about an experience or a relationship here? 00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:57.519 It's a relationship. 00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:01.359 What about James chapter 4, verse 4? 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:02.960 I love this. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:08.240 I would love to have 25 more minutes for us to unpack this. 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:18.160 But James chapter 4, it says, Don't you realize that making friends with God's enemy, the evil pleasures of this world, makes you an enemy of God? 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:28.400 I say it again that if your aim is to enjoy the evil pleasure of the unsaved world, you cannot also be a friend of God. 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:40.319 Or what do you think the scripture means when it says that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, watches over us with tender jealousy? 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:55.599 What the Bible is saying is when you invest in your relationship with the world, the Holy Spirit inside of you, he feels this divine feeling that the Bible puts here as jealous. 00:27:56.480 --> 00:28:01.519 Do you think this is a characteristic of an experience or a relationship? 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:07.839 What about First Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 19? 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:09.839 We know this one very well. 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:14.720 Paul says like this do not quench the Holy Spirit. 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:18.559 Do not quench the Holy Spirit. 00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:30.799 There is no spiritual button you press to quench the Holy Spirit. 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:39.119 But what Paul is teaching us here is it is only possible to quench the Holy Spirit if you do that in your life. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:42.000 In your life. 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:49.599 So when Paul says, do not quench the Holy Spirit, do you think he's talking about an experience or a relationship? 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:54.240 What about John chapter 14? 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:58.799 Come on, we are church, we need to study the Bible, right? 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:00.240 We're here for this. 00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:07.680 John chapter 14, this is what Jesus says, I have told you these things while I'm still with you. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:27.599 But the paraclatus, the helper, the comforter, the advocate, the intercessor, the counselor, the strengthener, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, in my place, to represent me and act on my behalf. 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:37.039 He will teach you all things, and he will help you remember everything that I have told you. 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:39.920 Pay attention in what Jesus is saying here. 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:46.319 He's saying, I'm going to the Father, and God is going to send the Holy Spirit in my place. 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.799 Now think about this. 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:53.119 With Jesus, do you have an experience or a relationship? 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.480 Relationship, right? 00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:00.880 Now Jesus is with God and the Holy Spirit is with us. 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:06.079 Do you think God expects us to have with him an experience or a relationship? 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:13.839 Now Jesus is with God and the Holy Spirit is here doing what Jesus said he would do. 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.960 It's in a verse. 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:18.720 Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach us all things. 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:25.440 In order for whom the Holy Spirit teach us all things, do you think it requires experience or relationship? 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.160 Yeah. 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:32.000 He's helping us to remember all Jesus' teaching. 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:33.279 That's what the Bible says. 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:38.079 Do you think that requires experience or relationship? 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:43.440 He strengths and guides you. 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.920 He comforts you. 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:51.039 He teaches teaches you about Jesus and the Bible. 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:53.039 He prays for you. 00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:54.720 That's what the Bible says. 00:30:55.359 --> 00:31:03.200 He helps you to be a better husband, a better wife, a better son, a better daughter, a better employee. 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:11.119 He helps you to overcome traumas, anxiety, emotions, feelings. 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:15.920 He teaches you how to be a better leader, a better Christian. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:19.680 He helps us to be generous and to forgive. 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:25.119 But he does not want to do that through experiences here and there. 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:28.880 He wants to do that through a relationship. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:32.240 Don't get it twisted, my friends. 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:34.799 I love the experiences as well. 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:42.400 But I cannot forget that what he has for me is a relationship with him. 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:49.200 And then as I wrap up, you would ask me God, I got it. 00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:50.720 Experience is important. 00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:53.039 But relationship? 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:57.279 That's the real deal. 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:02.640 How do I invest in my relationship with the Holy Spirit? 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.480 How do we do this? 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:10.799 And I think I would love you to walk out of this with something really simple but really practical. 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:20.640 I remember when uh it's been a while, but December December 8, 2006. 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:28.480 That's when I when I went to my father-in-law's house to ask him if I could date Juliana. 00:32:28.880 --> 00:32:30.319 Which easy, I know. 00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:34.160 But that's what we used to do back then. 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:45.359 And then I asked him, and I almost did like a PowerPoint presentation why she he should said yeah, he should say yes. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:54.000 And he was looking at me very jealous, and it was my first time doing that, his first time doing that. 00:32:54.319 --> 00:33:02.480 And then after a long presentation, he said, Yeah, okay, I'm okay with that, but I have a couple of rules. 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:09.599 And then I said, Of course, sir, you tell me what it is, and we will do exactly as you tell us. 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:15.359 And then he goes, Rule number one I don't want you guys to spend time with each other during the week. 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:21.279 I don't want you guys to call each other during the week, and the only day you're gonna see each other is Saturday for two hours. 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:24.160 And then I told him, Never mind. 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:26.240 I promise you. 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:28.240 I told him, I don't want this. 00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:30.240 No, sorry. 00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:41.839 If I cannot spend time with her, I won't be able to build a relationship with her, and of course he knew that, but he was just being a dad. 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:45.599 Do you want a relationship with the Holy Spirit? 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:46.880 Spend time with him. 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:48.960 As simple as that. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.720 Spend time with him. 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:53.200 Lindsay is one of my best friends. 00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:59.920 I didn't wake up one day thinking, oh I have a new best friend, Lindsay. 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:15.119 It took hundreds, maybe thousands of text messages and calls and meetings and sharing and feedbacks for us to become friends. 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:25.119 Spend time with your with Holy with the Holy Spirit, talk with him and learn how to listen to his voice and obey. 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:30.480 Make room for him to speak to you. 00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:36.079 Have you noticed that sometimes we go to the presence of God and we go, that's what I need. 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:39.440 And then we go in Jesus' name, amen. 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:43.440 And then the Holy Spirit's like, wait, you're done. 00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:47.039 I was I wanted to say something here. 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:50.639 Would you please shut up? 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:52.159 That's my Holy Spirit. 00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:54.639 He's a little bit harsh. 00:34:58.719 --> 00:34:59.920 Do you know what I'm saying? 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:04.880 Sometimes we speak, speak, speak, speak, speak, and he's like, okay, may I? 00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:08.320 And then we just go, Yeah, thank you. 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:10.559 So do you want to have a relationship with him? 00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:12.719 Make room so he can speak. 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:16.880 Prayer is not talking with God. 00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:18.960 No. 00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:23.840 Prayer is it's communicate with God. 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:28.159 It means speaking and listening. 00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:31.119 So make room so he can speak. 00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:34.800 Have a spiritual meal every day. 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:38.159 Do you want to have a relationship with him? 00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:41.119 Make him a part of your decisions. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:44.559 Big and small. 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:47.760 Can I share something with you? 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:49.440 This is personal. 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:51.599 This is not in the Bible. 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:53.760