WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:25.039 If you wouldn't mind, take your notes out, and I want you to write this sentence at the very top of your notes as we begin. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:28.480 All right, you got your notes? 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:29.679 Got your pen? 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:30.879 All right. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:32.000 Thank you, Mikel. 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:35.840 Here it is. 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:43.840 You have everything you need to be who God created you to be. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:46.399 Let me say it again. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:55.759 You have everything you need to be who God created you to be. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:58.560 You're not lacking in any way. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:22.879 You have everything right now, present tense, not one day, someday, or not used to be looking back of like those were the days, but right now, in this moment, you have everything you need to be who God made you, designed you, created, formed you to be. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:45.680 See, and I think the way we think about it is like, you know, if only I was a little bit taller, if only I was skinnier, if only I was more beautiful, if only I had X amount of followers, uh, if if only I made more money, if only I had a better career, if if only I had a spouse, like I'm looking for that significant someone, the better half. 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:47.439 I don't have the better half there. 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:50.000 And some of you are like, I need a different half. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:55.840 Uh, if I only had a different spouse, then I could be who I was created to be. 00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:00.879 If I only had this education or drove that. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:05.840 And we live with this lack mentality, like I lack this and I lack that. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:08.240 When I get this, then I will be. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:16.479 And the truth and the reality of the gospel right now for you, follower of Jesus, is you have everything. 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:27.520 You're not lacking anything to be who God created you to be. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:33.039 In fact, the apostle Peter would say it this way to a people who were scattered. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:42.000 Um, they many of them were scattered from Jerusalem, lost their home because they were followers of Jesus. 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:50.159 Uh, as they were scattered throughout the province, the Roman Empire, uh, they're trying to navigate um their way. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:55.439 Uh the Jews in the area were incredibly harsh to them. 00:02:55.759 --> 00:03:02.639 Um, the local uh authorities would um restrict their ability to make income. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:10.879 You know, because I think sometimes we think the circumstance, like if we had a better circumstance, then I could be who I was created to be. 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:17.280 They didn't have a good circumstance, and this is what Peter writes to these people in that moment. 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:24.319 And he says, his divine, say this word with me, the power. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:26.719 And we'll try that again. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:42.879 His divine power has given us, help me out, everything we need for a godly life through our true knowledge of him who's called us by his own goodness and glory. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:45.199 His power. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:46.080 Whose power? 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:49.840 Not your power, not your strength, not what you showed up with today. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:56.560 Not because you had a good night's sleep or you got your rim cycle and you had it all canceled out, and you're like, oh, this is a good day, I can work out more. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:02.400 Not because you just killed it in that meeting, or just because you're feeling like you're flailing. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:16.720 I don't care who showed up or what strength you have, his power, God's power, its divine, supernatural power has given you not some things, not certain things, not one-day, someday things. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:31.920 He's given you everything you need for godly life, for life and godliness, to be exactly who you were made and created to be. 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:46.000 You know, we um we went to Mexico this last summer with our high school uh ministry, and it was amazing. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:05:01.360 It was amazing to go down and I mean when you think about circumstances, we live in this incredibly affluent, highly educated, fast-paced, upwardly mobile, paychecks, they're big here. 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:09.600 And then you go down to Mexico into this community that we're serving with people that really had nothing. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:13.759 I mean, talk about upward mobility. 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:17.519 No, no, no, it's just trying to get by through the day. 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:24.639 We'd go into these neighborhoods, and these neighborhoods didn't have pavement, they were dirt. 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:35.680 Didn't have, I mean, even you know, never took um for granted or realized that we have trash uh men and women who come and pick up our trash. 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:36.639 Thank you if you do that. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:37.600 That's incredible. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:39.759 They don't have service like that. 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:43.519 Running water was this communities we're serving. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:52.240 You know one of the things that we walked away from that time with the people that we were working with? 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:57.199 We were amazed at their faith. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:02.800 See, that verse meant something to them. 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:13.040 And it wasn't that they their circumstances looked amazing, it was because of their circumstances, because of what looked around like, no, no, no, I need his power. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:20.480 In fact, I expect his power to work, I expect him to move, and today he's gonna give me everything I need. 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:27.600 And there was such faith and confidence that there is a God who's powerful and works, and so they take steps of faith. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:40.399 You know, the friends and people we're going out with, we'd go serve in this community, we'd just go to different houses and invite them to an event, or literally picked up trash to help them, uh, you know, and we'd just pray for them. 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:55.759 And my son told a story when we were leading worship a few weeks back of like something that just opened up his eyes, you know, as you see this older lady who had didn't have use of her hand, and it was like this, and she couldn't pick up anything. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:07:00.879 And I mean, you just can imagine how painful and hard it is to only have one hand. 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:03.360 And so he said, Can we pray for you? 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:12.399 Sure, to pray, and she didn't quite have it to keep praying, and then all of a sudden, God miraculously healed her hand. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:17.279 Yeah, thank God, yeah. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:23.600 See, here's something that's interesting. 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:33.680 Why is it that we think that verse was for back then one day in the New Testament, but not today? 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:43.040 Why is it that those who are in more third-world countries experiencing the power of God than we are in the Silicon Valley? 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:51.680 What if, think about this, what if there is divine power accessible to you today? 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:57.920 Why don't we experience that? 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:01.759 What would change? 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:06.879 What would change in your life and my life if you actually believed that verse? 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:11.360 And so then it changed the way you live. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:13.360 You know what's interesting? 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:16.399 150 years ago, there was this evangelist named D.L. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:16.879 Moody. 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:20.000 I actually went to a school that was founded by him. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:22.560 Uh that's where I got my training at. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:31.519 And listen to his commentary 150 years ago of what was happening, of the spiritual climate in the U.S. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:32.799 He says this. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:41.919 He says that God has got a good many children who have just barely got life, but not power for service. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:52.399 God's got a good many children who just barely got life, but no power for service. 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:58.320 Isn't that so true today that we got just this life and we're just kind of eeking by, but but where's the power? 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:00.559 What happened to the power, his divine power? 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:02.159 Where is that in our midst? 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:03.360 Where's that in your life? 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:05.200 Where's that in our communities? 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:35.039 He goes on to say, you might you might um safe say safely, I think without exaggeration, that 19 out of every 20 of professed Christians are of no earthly account so far as building up Christ's kingdom, but on the contrary, they are standing right in the way, and the reason is because they have just got life and settled down and have not sought power. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:37.519 What if? 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:43.279 What if there's actually power and resource available to you today? 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:58.320 What if you already have everything you need, regardless of your circumstance, regardless of your past, regardless of what's happening in your life, and how do we begin to experience his divine power in our life? 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:03.200 Well, today we're kicking off a brand new series called The Gifts of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:16.799 And we're going to be talking about over the next several weeks the spiritual gifts that God has given us, this divine enablement to do supernatural good around us to help build up his church and what he's doing here on the planet. 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:25.919 But before we dive into the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it's really important that we actually look at the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:28.559 Like the Holy Spirit himself. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:46.399 Because here's what I'd argue the reason we miss out on that divine power is in the church in America, especially, we really don't understand who the Holy Spirit is, what his activity is in our life, and how do we step in and experience his presence and power? 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:51.200 And so before we talk about the gifts, let's talk about the Holy Spirit Himself. 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:55.519 In fact, Jesus thought and said it this way: this is amazing. 00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:58.399 He said that think about this. 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:07.600 It's actually better for you, and he's talking to his first followers, it's actually better for you that I go away. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:10.639 Wait a second, we we're having this great time. 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:11.360 This is amazing. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:12.480 I love talking to you. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:14.960 Um, you make amazing fish, you know. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:19.919 He's like, No, it's actually better that I go. 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:20.320 Why? 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:24.240 Because I'm going to send in the Greek, it's called the Paraclete. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:26.720 It's the one who comes alongside. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:29.759 Different translations translate it, you know, a little bit differently. 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:39.519 It's a really tough word to in English: comforter, counselor, helper, uh, advocate, the spirit of truth. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:49.840 Like it's actually better that I go because then I'll send the spirit of truth that'll come alongside and work in ways that will not happen with me here. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:53.039 And then he said this to his disciples. 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:56.559 But you will receive, help me out. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:58.720 There's our word again. 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:09.600 By the way, this week, if you wouldn't mind, why don't you just go on like you know biblegateway.com and just type in power and see all the instances throughout the New Testament. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:17.679 You'll be surprised at how much this New Testament speaks of the power of God in the believer's life. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:26.399 But you'll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you'll be my witnesses. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:29.919 And so it's not power just for power's sake, it's power for a purpose. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:39.919 It's it's power to empower us to live out this life and bring the good news of the kingdom of Jesus Christ to a hurting and broken world. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:52.879 And so, with your time, here's what I want to do: I want to help us together know who is the Holy Spirit, what is his activity in our life, and then how do you actually experience his divine power? 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:53.440 Okay. 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:56.559 Yes means yes. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:00.000 This means no, and no is not an option. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:00.879 Okay, here we go. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:01.519 You ready? 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:02.639 Let's dive in. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:04.799 Who is the Holy Spirit? 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:06.720 Uh, in your notes, I gave you a definition. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:10.799 The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:16.720 First, I want you to recognize the Holy Spirit is not a force, intangible, impersonal force. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:18.000 The Holy Spirit is a person. 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:22.480 In fact, in Ephesians, uh the Apostle Paul would say, and do not grieve the Holy Spirit. 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:38.080 The Holy Spirit has emotions, because he's a person of the Trinity or the triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that there's one God that eternally exists as three distinct persons. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:40.639 And we'll talk a little bit more about that in a second. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:47.120 And so the Holy Spirit isn't like a lesser of a God or kind of god-like, or has the some of these stories. 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:51.759 The Holy Spirit is God and very God who gives new life. 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:55.200 Right next to new life, you can write the word regeneration. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:56.720 That's the theological term. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:14:02.399 Regeneration, meaning that Jesus doesn't want to like somehow make your old life just a little bit better. 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:04.480 He wants to give you a brand new life. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:07.519 He wants to transform you from the inside out. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:14.799 Uh, to so who alone gives you new life to the believer and empowers the believer to live out this new life. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:23.200 The theological term is sanctification that empowers you to gradually become more and more like Jesus. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:31.840 The Holy Spirit indwells or lives inside every follower of Jesus and testifies to our spirit that we are children of God. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:52.879 Now, I'm a picture, picture visual person, and so I for some I think this picture might be helpful of kind of understanding the Holy Spirit and the Trinity as we're talking about God, is that God, there's only one God that exists in three distinct persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all God, but the Son is not the Father. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:57.440 The Father is not the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is not the Son. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.360 They are all one God. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:06.879 And so what's something that's amazing about this is we're trying to even fathom and understand this, is like at some point we just have to utter mystery. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:08.639 Like, how does this work? 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:10.080 I don't know. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:18.159 Like, like, God is way bigger than us, so at some point we got to be able to go, we can't fully comprehend God. 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:25.039 The other part that's really amazing, though, is God has eternally existed in perfect community. 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:33.360 And so He's never in need of you or I, but love to be close in relationship with you and I. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:41.039 Also, what's the reality is you're made in the image of God, and so you're actually made for community and relationship. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:43.360 It's hardwired into your design. 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:50.159 Now, to spread our mind around this, sometimes we use pictures and they're helpful, but they're limited. 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:56.080 Uh, some people have used the picture of like the egg to like, how can there be three distinct persons, one God? 00:15:56.240 --> 00:16:03.919 Like, think about this: like, there's the shell of the egg, there's the yolk, and there's the white, and like, okay, that kind of helps, it breaks down. 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:18.559 Other people have used um water, you know, that water can be both a solid, a liquid, and a gas, and like it's three distinct things, but it's all water, and and yet because it changes, like, well, God doesn't change or adjust. 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:19.919 I did find this out. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.120 This is pretty fascinating. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:35.759 Did you know that there is a um uh a certain temperature and pressure upon which it's called triple point, where water or uh liquid, it can be all of the above at this very same time. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:42.320 So it can be gas, liquid, and um and ice all at the same time. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:51.279 In fact, it's uh 0.01 degrees Celsius, and I don't know what the pressure needs to be quite on that, where it's all of those things, those three elements all at the same time. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:55.360 It just kind of gives us this little picture of like, okay, how is there three and one? 00:16:55.519 --> 00:17:00.720 But this is who the Holy Spirit is, God and very God. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:03.679 Now, what is the activity of the Holy Spirit? 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:13.119 Well, first, the moment you believe in Jesus, the moment you put your faith and trust in Jesus, uh you receive the Holy Spirit of God. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:18.880 And so what happens is what Scripture says is that you're first baptized with the Holy Spirit. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:21.599 We're just talking about baptism, and let me explain. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:33.839 Uh Titus 3, 4 and 7 says this: But when the kindness and love of our God, our Savior, appeared, he saved us not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:51.759 He saved us through the washing of rebirth or baptism and the renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Lord, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs, having the hope of eternal life. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:53.680 That we're first baptized. 00:17:53.759 --> 00:18:01.279 And baptism is this picture, the word literally means to be submerged or immersed, uh, to cleanse and to wash. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:05.680 It's this picture of union and identification with Christ. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:14.079 And water baptism is the physical picture of the spiritual reality that takes place in the believer's life. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:25.039 The minute you receive Jesus as your Savior, the minute you believe in him, the minute you say, I believe that you're the Son of God, that you died for me, I long to be in relationship with you. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:27.680 Would you come into my life and make me new? 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:31.279 At that very moment, you're baptized by the Spirit of God. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:36.240 There's this washing, it's the regeneration, being brought into new life. 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:42.720 And that picture of water baptism is the same picture as what represented on the spiritual reality. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:52.000 And so here's what that picture means is your old life as you're standing in the waters of baptism, and then you're brought down into the water having died with Christ. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:19:03.759 And water always represents in the ancient day purity and purification, and so you're being washed clean, and then you're brought back to brand new life in Christ. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:08.880 In the ancient day, in the early church, the moment you believed, you were actually baptized. 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:15.279 Those things happened simultaneously, and so you'd believe, and then you but you'd get baptized, and you'd see that happen over and over. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:21.359 So so often you would see those two, water baptism and the baptism of the spirit, happen at the very same time. 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:30.640 We have a little bit of distance in our time, you know, you might believe, but then you're like, oh, I gotta wait for Awakening's birthday to get baptized there. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:41.519 But every believer is to be baptized, and you're baptized with the Holy Spirit, and then what happens is at that same time you are then sealed by the Holy Spirit. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:49.200 And the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as he comes upon you and you are regenerated, brought to new life, you're sealed with by the Holy Spirit. 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:53.839 And the sealing of the Spirit is the security for the believer. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:58.160 Some of you might be asking, well, can I lose the Holy Spirit? 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:06.559 Like he comes on and you get this baptism, this moment, can I ever, you know, lose the Holy Spirit or undo his work? 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:11.759 And the reality is, is you cannot undo what God has done. 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:26.799 Ephesians 1, 13 to 14 says, and you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, when you believed you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:29.279 It was promised back in the Old Testament. 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:42.160 Ezekiel promised it, Isaiah promised it, Jesus promised it, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of his glory. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.119 So we're sealed. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:54.880 So now the picture of seal, we don't get as much in our day today, but uh you would have this seal, it'd be a signet ring, and you would uh seal would represent three different things. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:21:08.000 It would represent authentication, uh, it would represent um power and security, uh, and then it would also represent um, let's see here, uh yeah, your uh ownership. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.440 And so think about this. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:21.920 So if you had a um like a document that you're sending, you would put your seal on that, and we we've seen that before, and it would authenticate that this is really from this person. 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:33.039 When you purchase a property in the ancient day, you would put your seal on the property that would authenticate this is your ownership, this is yours, don't mess with it. 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:44.000 Um, when somebody would carry the seal and they would be in uh their place of the person for the seal, they would actually have the security of that person's character. 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:48.640 So if you messed with them or broke that seal, you would have to deal with that person. 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:53.119 And Jesus says, like, you are sealed. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:59.359 My seal that's pressed upon your heart is the Holy Spirit. 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:02.799 You're authentically mine. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:05.119 You're secure. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:08.960 And anybody that messes with you gotta mess with me. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:14.480 And then it goes on to say, and deposit, guaranteeing. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:17.119 Now we know deposit a little bit more, right? 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:17.839 We use that. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:21.039 In fact, something exciting happened a couple weeks ago. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:24.720 Um, we we just bought a house. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.880 Yeah, thank you. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:33.839 Um and and it's amazing, and God showed up, and some family really helped for this to happen. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:37.839 We've been in the same house renting for 15 years, and uh man, we bought a house. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.880 It's so exciting. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:43.599 And I remember uh they needed a deposit, they call it earnest money, right? 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:54.240 And I and I remember like having to wire more money than I've ever wired in my entire life, and I'm like so nervous and anxious, and I'm like, did I get the routing number right? 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:57.359 And going over, I'm dyslexic, and so the numbers are hard too. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:08.799 So then like Jenny's helping me with the numbers uh there, and it's just like, oh my goodness, but why does do like banks and when you're purchasing a house have a deposit? 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:13.279 So that you don't just say, Oh, I'm gonna do that, but I'm gonna go back on my word. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.480 Right? 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:24.480 I put down a lot of money, apparently, a lot more's coming in a few more weeks, to say, we're serious, we're in, and we're gonna follow through. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:27.440 The Spirit is God's deposit on you. 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:31.680 He's serious, he's in, and he's gonna follow through. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:35.279 He said, I will return and restore and make all things right. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:40.240 He who began a good work in you, it will be faithful to complete it until the day of our Lord Jesus. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:47.519 His sign and seal and deposit of the Holy Spirit is saying, I'm going to do what I said I'm going to do. 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:51.279 You can count on it in you. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:53.920 What is the activities of the Holy Spirit? 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.839 You've been baptized by the Holy Spirit. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:58.799 His presence and power lives and dwells inside of you. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:02.640 You've been sealed, you can't undo what God has done. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:09.359 It is a work that only he can do, and then you are empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:12.240 Romans 8, 11. 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:13.359 Listen to this. 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:21.359 And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:47.119 This is what the apostle Paul is saying to you that the Holy Spirit is not like a secondary, second class, like whatever. 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:57.039 The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is indwelling every single believer of Christ of Jesus. 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.720 Like, think about this. 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:03.519 This is incredible resurrection power dwelling inside of you. 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:13.200 He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his spirit who lives in you. 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:18.240 Well, how does the Spirit, Holy Spirit, empower us? 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:25.920 The first one, and we won't dive fully into this because it's going to be the remainder of our series, but is through spiritual gifts. 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.599 Spiritual gifts. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.240 Like, think about this. 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:31.680 This is amazing. 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:45.039 God looked at you, saw your unique design, how he created you, and deposited a spiritual gift in you or gifts. 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:47.039 We'll talk about those. 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:53.039 That when you actively use them, they bring incredible joy to your life and supernatural good around you. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:57.440 Now, here's what's so hard. 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:03.599 In the church, we don't take time to really discover our spiritual gifts, do we? 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:20.160 I mean, I would imagine most of us know our Enneagram, your disc profile, your Myers Briggs, your Strength Finders, or whatever personality profile your company uses. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:24.960 But most of us don't know our spiritual gifts, right? 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:28.079 And that's okay. 00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:39.519 We're gonna learn about it, we're gonna grow in it, and how do we begin to operate in this together and begin to see God showing up in ways that we go like, oh, I had no idea he wanted to use me this way. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:43.440 Empowered by the Spirit of God, first in spiritual gifts. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:45.200 Second is guidance and counsel. 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:46.559 Guidance and counsel. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.920 Think about this. 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:53.200 The Spirit testifies to our spirit that we are children of God. 00:26:53.359 --> 00:27:17.920 Romans 8 says this, convicts us of sin, and so we know what's right and what's wrong, brings counsel and comfort, pours out God's love into our hearts, Romans 5, 5 through 6, uh, illuminates scripture so that as you're getting into God's word, it comes to life in ways where I'm like understanding, intercedes on our behalf, bringing guidance and counsel into our life. 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:23.680 That's the activity of the Spirit of God leading and guiding you. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:27.359 Then also the Spirit of God brings peace and hope. 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:31.359 If you have your Bibles, uh flip over to Romans 15, 13. 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:41.039 Romans 15, 13, it's actually a passage I've been just praying over certain friends actually this last week. 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:48.559 But 15, 13 says this may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:50.000 That's amazing. 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:53.920 When you pray that over your friends, pray that over your home. 00:27:54.079 --> 00:28:03.839 May the God of hope, that's who he is, fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.559 How? 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:08.079 By the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:12.799 There's our word again to give you peace and hope. 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:16.640 Strength and sanctification. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:22.480 Ephesians 3:13, if you want to flip there with me. 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.400 Says this. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:35.440 I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power. 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:40.720 There's our word again, through his spirit in your inner being. 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:43.279 I pray that he may strengthen you. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.880 Are you lacking strength today? 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:45.599 Are you tired? 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.480 Are you discouraged? 00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:48.000 Are you just trying to figure out how to show up? 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.960 How did you just get through? 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:52.319 He says, I pray that he, God, may strengthen you. 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:54.319 Like there's strength available. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:58.319 He wants to strengthen you, he wants to give you strength today. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.200 How? 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:07.279 Through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:16.079 Spiritual gifts, guidance and counsel, peace and hope, strength and sanctification, empowered by the Spirit of God. 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:22.720 And the Apostle Paul would use this image over and over in the New Testament when he's talking about the Spirit of God and the people of God. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:25.039 And that's the picture of temple. 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:37.759 Now, in the ancient day, uh, the temple, whether it was for the Jews and coming to worship Yahweh or for anyone who, you know, the temples of worshiping their pagan, you know, gods and goddesses and all the rest. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:43.200 The temple was the place where God's presence or the gods resided. 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:46.880 You would go to the temple to go meet with God. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.400 And so you would travel there. 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:52.720 And yes, you know, you if you're if you had gods and goddesses, you would have some idols. 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:55.519 Those idols kind of worked like walkie-talkies, you know what I mean? 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:58.160 And so you're like, hey, you there? 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:00.079 Um, not a clear signal. 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:05.359 You would go to the temple to get a clear signal and make your sacrifice. 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:13.119 And here's what Paul would say is that the temple is no longer the place where God's presence resides. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:15.519 It's no longer a place, it's now a people. 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:24.720 You're the temple of God, the place of his dwelling, of his presence. 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:31.680 And so, yes, as we gather, there's a special reality of his presence together. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:41.200 But you're his temple, and his presence is with you and indwelling you, and wherever you go and whatever you're doing, he's with you, empowering you, walking with you. 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:44.799 What is the activity of the Holy Spirit? 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:49.759 Well, also we'll see this of the sanctifying work that there is fruit of the Holy Spirit. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:52.640 What is the result of the Holy Spirit's work in our life? 00:30:52.880 --> 00:31:02.400 Galatians 5, 22, 23 says, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, or patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:05.359 I had to read it because I always miss one. 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:10.240 And then every time I read it now, I can't think help but think of the kids' song. 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:13.279 But the fruit of the spirit's not a coconut or something like that. 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.240 Anybody remember that? 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:15.839 Yeah, okay, right over there. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:19.599 Um by the way, that killed first service. 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:30.160 You they they knew they knew that song, you guys don't, and and so it fell real flat, except for Marnie, who used to lead our kids' ministry. 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:35.200 Like, think about this though. 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:41.039 Fruit is the product of something, the result of something. 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:46.640 And so often in our lives of wanting to see transformation, we flip it upside down. 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.759 Love, joy, peace. 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.720 I want more love in my life. 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.920 I'm gonna try to be more loving. 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:52.960 I want more joy in my life, I'm gonna, you know, do more fun things. 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.079 I want more peace. 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:56.559 I'm gonna create like a Zen-like atmosphere in my backyard. 00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:59.119 Woohoo! Um, I don't know what it is. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:07.839 The fruit or the result of a spirit-filled life is actually love. 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:20.400 The fruit or the result of a spirit-filled life is joy, is peace, is patience, is kindness, is goodness, self-control, faithfulness. 00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:22.240 I got them all, I think. 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:24.480 Gentle, I dang it. 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:28.960 Every time you think about this. 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:41.519 If you want to be more loving, patient, kind, it's a product of the Spirit of God and yielding your life to Him. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:46.240 Not somehow conjuring up and working hard to be more loving. 00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:52.480 The more I allow the activity and work of the Spirit of God in my life, the more loving I'll be. 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:58.160 And this brings us to our last point. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.599 The fruit of the Spirit. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:01.039 Well, how do you experience that fruit? 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:03.119 You gotta be filled by the Spirit. 00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:05.599 You gotta be filled by the Spirit. 00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:12.559 Uh Ephesians 4, 18 through 20 says, and do not get drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery. 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:15.200 Instead, be filled with the spirit. 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:17.440 Do not get drunk. 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:22.559 It's the only place in the New Testament where you have the clear command not to get drunk. 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:27.839 And you know what happens here is we focus on the alcohol portion of this. 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:29.920 I don't know why. 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:34.799 Um, and for some, it's like, well, I can drink, um, or I you shouldn't drink. 00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:38.400 See, right here, like, that's not the point of the passage. 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:42.160 Paul's making a connection. 00:33:42.480 --> 00:34:01.119 The same way someone, when they drink to being drunk, are no longer in control of their faculty and ability, but they're under the influence, that's how we say it in our day today, they're under the influence of that spirit or of that drink, and so that is now in control of their life. 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:06.160 He says, that same dynamic is what's supposed to happen to the spirit-filled life. 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:21.599 And so you surrender your life and your will and your way to the spirit, and as you allow him to have control in your life and have influence, be under his influence, you'll see love, joy, peace, patience, guidance, goodness. 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:28.719 Galatians would say it this way in 522, walk in step with the Holy Spirit. 00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:30.079 Same idea. 00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:33.519 Being filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:42.159 Now, I think the reality is, is we're really trying to figure out, okay, well, how do I get more of the power or the presence of God, right? 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:46.480 Like Ryan, you started off saying, you have everything you need. 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:47.440 I don't feel it. 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:49.360 How do I get more of that? 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:58.559 And actually, the question isn't how do you isn't how do you get more of the spirit, but how do you allow the spirit to have more of you? 00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:02.800 You already have everything you need. 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:05.280 He's poured out his spirit lavishly on you. 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:07.280 He is indwelled inside of you. 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:10.000 There isn't you are not lacking in any way. 00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:16.800 It has everything to do with my awareness and yielding of my life to the spirit. 00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:24.400 Um, several months ago, some dear friends of ours, um, they decided they're praying. 00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:26.719 My buddy, he loves Mustangs. 00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:30.159 He got this Mustang, and then he was gonna upgrade and get a brand new one. 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:33.840 And they're praying, like, who to give, uh, like what are they supposed to do with it? 00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:41.760 And they're like, hey, we think your, you know, boys, your boys love this, and you know, we'd love for you to have the Mustang. 00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:48.639 Like, oh my gosh, how generous, how incredible! And by the way, uh, my 15-year-old son is incredibly excited about the Mustang. 00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:53.280 And um, sometimes requests just pick me up in the Mustang. 00:35:53.440 --> 00:36:01.440 Um, because I'm a Mustang owner doesn't mean I really know anything about Mustangs. 00:36:01.760 --> 00:36:03.519 I'm not a car guy. 00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:13.119 And yet I feel this obligation because I'll pull up maybe at a gas station or somewhere, and someone inevitably I've had this question so many times now that I I drive a Mustang. 00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:16.880 What's it got in it? 00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:21.840 I I don't know. 00:36:23.760 --> 00:36:25.119 Engine, I think. 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:29.360 Yeah, I bet it's got a 4.2. 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:32.880 Probably. 00:36:33.360 --> 00:36:36.400 I mean, I can't even make up the words in front of you. 00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:41.679 I like to research to try to say the words, and I'm like, I don't even understand it. 00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:45.760 How fast does it go from zero to sixty? 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:47.920 I haven't tried. 00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:50.320 I don't know. 00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.840 What's the exhaust? 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:59.119 Um this is this incredible. 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:01.440 It's called a muscle car. 00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:05.119 It's got incredible power. 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:15.280 Now, I don't need to get more of the Mustang in order to harness and understand and utilize the power. 00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:16.239 I own it. 00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:19.039 It's in my driveway, it's right there. 00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:25.920 I actually need to understand the Mustang and then begin to cooperate with how it's designed in my life. 00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:30.880 See, the reality is, is for so many of us, we think that it's somewhere out here. 00:37:31.199 --> 00:37:35.840 No, you already have the spirit of God in your life. 00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:40.159 And it's not like how do I try to work harder to get that and make it? 00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:45.920 No, how do you allow the spirit of God to have more of you? 00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:52.639 And so, what if you're not experiencing his power and presence? 00:37:52.719 --> 00:37:53.440 What do you do? 00:37:53.840 --> 00:38:05.599 As we close, let me just give you three kind of diagnostic questions as we take steps to experiencing the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. 00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:11.440 The first one, am I in a relationship with God or am I merely caught up in religion? 00:38:11.760 --> 00:38:16.559 Am I in a relationship with God or am I merely caught up in religion? 00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:21.119 Paul would be talking to Timothy and he would be warning him. 00:38:21.360 --> 00:38:23.760 He warned him, he said, watch out. 00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:36.320 There are those that have a form of godliness that deny the power of God, have nothing to do with them. 00:38:38.239 --> 00:38:40.960 Am I in a relationship with God? 00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:43.199 Or am I just caught up in religion? 00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:46.719 Maybe you grew up in the church, you never really surrendered your life to Jesus. 00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:52.400 You just think, man, if I'm a good person, and you're kind of like, how do I level up? 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:53.840 How do I level up? 00:38:54.320 --> 00:39:06.000 But you're not in a relationship and experiencing his grace and power, and you would say today, Jesus, I want to be in a relationship, I want to experience your presence and walk in step with you. 00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:09.280 Would you come into my life and make me new today? 00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:16.960 Or I think for many, like the gospel is turned into like self-actualization. 00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:20.400 How does Jesus make your life better? 00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:23.679 And so, how do I add a little bit of Jesus? 00:39:23.920 --> 00:39:28.239 And so you're not, you're not in a relationship, you're in the religion of me. 00:39:28.719 --> 00:39:33.920 Because it's about you and it's about me, and you're just like, how do I add a little bit of Jesus to make my life better? 00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:36.480 And then you're wondering why it isn't working. 00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:44.880 And we said earlier, he doesn't want to take your old life and make it just a little bit better. 00:39:45.039 --> 00:39:49.119 He wants to give you a brand new life in Christ. 00:39:49.280 --> 00:39:53.119 Am I in a relationship with God or merely caught up in a religion? 00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:54.639 Second question. 00:39:55.360 --> 00:39:59.280 Have you quenched the work of the Holy Spirit in your life? 00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:03.360 Thessalonians would say it this way, and do not quench the Holy Spirit. 00:40:03.599 --> 00:40:04.400 Have you quenched? 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:05.360 Think about quenching. 00:40:05.440 --> 00:40:12.239 Uh think like a hose that's running and flowing, and you know when you kink the hose, like it just cuts off the flow. 00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:19.760 Like there's things that we can do in our life that just simply quench or cut off the flow of the Spirit of God in our life. 00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:21.519 Let me give you a couple. 00:40:21.840 --> 00:40:24.239 First one is uh habitual sin. 00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:30.079 Habitual sin means just sin that you're in the habit of doing regularly and consistently and unrepentantly. 00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:35.519 Can I tell you like the one that God's been convicting me of the most lately? 00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:38.639 Of course, you're like, yes, I would love to hear that. 00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:41.760 Bitterness. 00:40:43.679 --> 00:40:44.719 Bitterness. 00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:48.400 I don't think of myself as a bitter person. 00:40:49.280 --> 00:41:00.559 Something over the last three to four years, and there's certain things and people that like I've oh, you hurt me, you did this, and then you did it again. 00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:12.960 I can forgive you once, I can forgive you the second time, third time, fourth time, and then I realize that part of part of the thing that Jesus is confronting in me is bitterness and holding grudges and not forgiving. 00:41:14.719 --> 00:41:17.039 It quenches the work of the spirit. 00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:29.920 Gossip, if I'm cons constantly gossiping, cutting corners, living without integrity, what are habitual sins? 00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:33.599 That's quenching the work of the spirit. 00:41:33.760 --> 00:41:37.920 You know, one of the things that quenches the work of the spirit is a lack of obedience. 00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:39.519 You ever get that prompting? 00:41:39.599 --> 00:41:46.079 Some of you had that, that prompting of the spirit to do something, to say something, it's for other people's good, and it might be a little embarrassing to you. 00:41:46.239 --> 00:41:52.960 When you obey that, you get to see him show up and you get to like he then like expands and you just experience more of him. 00:41:53.199 --> 00:41:59.199 When we disobey that, it's just like we stop hearing the voice of God. 00:42:00.880 --> 00:42:04.960 You know another thing that quenches busyness. 00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:07.440 Just busy. 00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:16.880 Just so busy in a hurry that he got no time to hear the voice of God. 00:42:18.320 --> 00:42:21.440 Am I in a relationship with God or caught up in a religion? 00:42:21.679 --> 00:42:25.840 Am I quenching, have I quenched the Spirit of God? 00:42:26.320 --> 00:42:27.599 Final question. 00:42:29.039 --> 00:42:31.119 Am I in a season of pruning? 00:42:31.599 --> 00:42:39.920 John 15 talks about pruning, and pruning is this picture of cutting back that which is actually growing so that you'll have greater fruitfulness. 00:42:40.159 --> 00:42:42.559 It's cutting back and it can be hard. 00:42:42.800 --> 00:42:44.400 Am I in a season of pruning? 00:42:44.480 --> 00:42:48.239 Because God is so concerned, more concerned with your character than your comfort. 00:42:48.400 --> 00:43:04.400 He is so concerned with who you become than far more than what you'll ever do, that he will then prune back or cut back and even sometimes withdraw his presence so that you will not become so enamored with the gift, rather, you'll fall in love with the giver of the gift. 00:43:05.840 --> 00:43:17.679 You know, when my kids were young, I they're old, older now, 18, 15, and 12, when they're little and we're teaching them to potty train, uh, we threw parties for them, right? 00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:18.880 Any parents know that? 00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:21.840 I mean, you give them MMs and I'd eat some too. 00:43:22.079 --> 00:43:29.920 Um, but you know, the minute they would use the bathroom on the potty, we're like, whoa, yes, celebrate. 00:43:31.679 --> 00:43:34.400 We don't throw parties for them anymore. 00:43:36.400 --> 00:43:37.039 Why? 00:43:37.760 --> 00:43:39.440 Because that'd be weird. 00:43:41.280 --> 00:43:47.360 See, there's times where God's celebrating you as a newer baby Christian, and you're like, whoa, and then you're like, what happened? 00:43:47.440 --> 00:43:48.480 Why isn't he celebrating? 00:43:48.639 --> 00:43:50.639 Because you're growing up, friends. 00:43:50.880 --> 00:43:54.480 You're maturing, and he's celebrating other things. 00:43:54.800 --> 00:43:57.519 And then you're so concerned and over here, and you're like, whoa, it's me. 00:43:57.760 --> 00:43:59.039 Like, no, no. 00:43:59.360 --> 00:44:03.599 You might be in a season of pruning and growing for greater fruitfulness. 00:44:04.559 --> 00:44:11.679 He's like, No, I'm actually going to celebrate other things over here because you're growing and maturing, and I'm so proud of you. 00:44:12.400 --> 00:44:16.880 But we don't celebrate and we don't throw parties for potty anymore. 00:44:17.599 --> 00:44:18.880 Maybe we'll today. 00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:21.280 I'm just to surprise them, why not? 00:44:24.159 --> 00:44:35.360 His divine power has given you everything you need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who's called us by his own glory and goodness. 00:44:35.840 --> 00:44:38.639 Right now, in this moment, you lack nothing. 00:44:38.719 --> 00:44:54.320 And I know that's hard to hear because we're not trained that way, but you have everything you need to be who God made you to be by the Holy Spirit indwelling you right now in this moment. 00:44:54.800 --> 00:44:59.199 Heavenly Father, I pray for my friends as we wrestle with this truth. 00:45:05.599 --> 00:45:08.880 Would you help us to have the wisdom to know what to do? 00:45:09.199 --> 00:45:23.039 As you're drawing, as you're wooing, as there's convicting, as there is encouragement to draw near to you, to come with open hands for you to fill the empty spaces. 00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:33.440 God, may we be a people of your presence, a people of your spirit, aware of your work in us and around us and through us. 00:45:35.760 --> 00:45:42.719 May we be a people defined by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control. 00:45:44.239 --> 00:45:46.400 Because we're people of your spirit. 00:45:47.440 --> 00:45:48.639 In Jesus' name. 00:45:49.599 --> 00:45:50.079 Amen. 00:45:51.840 --> 00:45:54.079 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:45:54.320 --> 00:45:58.719 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:45:58.880 --> 00:46:00.960 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:46:01.119 --> 00:46:07.119 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.