The Rock Family Sermon of the Week
The Rock Family Worship Center is a multi-cultural non denominational church led by Pastors Scott & Britt Silcox.
The Rock Family Sermon of the Week
The Purpose Of Pentecost - Pastor Leisa Nelson
Pastor Lisa Nelson introduces The Rock Family's new series "To Be Continued," exploring how the Holy Spirit's work didn't end with the book of Acts but continues powerfully today, focusing on unwrapping spiritual gifts.
• Holy Spirit is not an "it" but the third person of the Trinity—living, active, and essential
• The Trinity existed before Genesis 1, planning together for humanity's creation and redemption
• Jesus needed Holy Spirit's power to deal with the enemy and fulfill His ministry
• Holy Spirit comes both "in us" (giving eternal life) and "on us" (giving power)
• Understanding the spirit vs. flesh battle explains why Christians struggle with sin
• We release something everywhere we go—the question is what and from what source
• The gifts of the Spirit come with fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness
• Holy Spirit reveals areas needing change because He won't dwell where other things have Lordship
Welcome to the Rock Family Sermon of the Week. For more information about our church, please visit therockfamilytv Now. Join us for a message from Pastor Lisa Nelson.
Speaker 2:I am so excited about our new series. Last week, pastor Scott and Britt called me and they said we're kicking about our new series. Last week, pastor Scott and Britt called me and they said we're kicking off a new series. We want you to take this first Sunday because, for anybody who knows me, I've spent the last 26 years talking and teaching on Holy Spirit. The title of this new series is To Be Continued. I gave it a little subtitle, which is Unwrapping Spiritual Gifts, but To Be Continued.
Speaker 2:The reason that we have that title for this series is many denominations, many theologians. Many want to say that the acts of the apostles, that Holy Spirit's work, died out in acts. Well, let me just tell you, folks, this is a church who does not believe that he is still living. He is still active. Yes, he is. Can I get an amen this morning? Hallelujah, and so, uh, this morning pastor Scott was texting the team at all of our campuses and I just want to read this over you so that you know and understand the purpose behind this series and what our pastors want to see happen. What he wants to see at each campus is he wants us to experience increased hunger and a fresh oil burning All of us aflame. It's not just a catchy phrase saying we're all aflame. No, it is a daily pursuit of him. It's not earned in the traditional sense, but it's something that we aim our life towards. Can you all say I'm going to be present in this series? Amen.
Speaker 2:So as I began praying about this, I truly felt like what the Lord was saying was introduce me, introduce Holy spirit this morning. And this is what it felt like. As that came on me, I felt the fear of the Lord, and so I want you to get out your Bibles. If you're a note taker, take notes. You can go straight to the app. They have my notes on the app, because today these are not my words.
Speaker 2:I'm going to preach to you from Genesis to Revelation. We'll be finished about five o'clock. If Rusty can do it, I can do it, and sometimes, pastor Scott, listen. We're going to go from Genesis to Revelation and I'm going to show you this morning that Holy spirit is not an it, he's not a goose bump, he's not a song. He is the third person of the Trinity and he's living and he's active. And so I felt this fear of the Lord this morning. It was almost like somebody had called me and said hey, listen, we've got two guests. This there will be there this Sunday. Um, heaven is going to allow, uh, billy Graham and Dr Martin Luther King to come to the rock. We want you to introduce them. What would you say if you had had that job? Like, what do you say about two men who changed history for the kingdom of God? And that's what we get to do this morning.
Speaker 2:So I want to make a declaration to you today, and this is where we're going to begin. It's going to come out a little bit like a creep, but this is who we are. We believe in God's dream, his love being displayed by sending Jesus to redeem us. We believe Jesus promised us Holy Spirit's coming and he entrusted us to him. We believe Holy Spirit has been active in the Trinity since before Genesis 1, has been working throughout scripture. He paved the way for Jesus' arrival. He came with fire to ready the church and the bride. He makes us like Jesus. He's empowering us to change the world and he will ultimately be the one to take us to heaven.
Speaker 2:We are, if you've ever had any question in this room today, we are a spirit-filled, spirit-led house and we will be 100% dependent on the Spirit of God. We believe all the gifts are for today. They are still in action, are beneficial in the body of Christ and should be done in proper order. We believe Holy Spirit comes in us, but we also believe that he comes on us and he fills us with power, which is manifested Hear me this morning through many evidences. We never place the gifts of Holy Spirit above the giver, because he points us. He's the one who points us right back to Jesus, who honors the Father, and when we partner in unity, we are overcome by his presence. This morning, my prayer is to present to you who he is, where he is, why he is and what he does. If you notice, I didn't ask the question because there's not a question to answer, it's a declaration.
Speaker 2:Amen, in Luke, chapter 24,. I love this chapter because it's the chapter where Jesus has already been crucified, he's already been placed in the tomb Um the his disciples you know there were the 12, there were the 70, and then there were about 500 that he spoke to in at any given time. These people were distraught, they were broken, because the majority of them truly felt like that Jesus was going to come and set up his temple at that time. So you know the story. You know the two that are walking on the road to Emmaus. They, I think they just had to get out of town. They're like we're done, we're done, we are broken, we are devastated, we're out of here. That journey is about two hours and, if you know it, I got to really hurry. I love this story.
Speaker 2:All of a sudden, they're like devastated. They are devastated, they're talking about it, they are so sad. All of a sudden, somebody comes up next to them. They don't even. They're so devastated, they don't even recognize it, they don't even know it's him.
Speaker 2:In the midst of that key begins to talk to them about everything that they're talking about, and then it says they get, they get to where they're going. They say come and join us. They go in, they get some refreshment, they sit down and it says he breaks the bread and their eyes were open and in an instant he vanished. In an instant. Then, all of a sudden, they say did our hearts not say it out loud burn, say it out loud. Did our hearts not burn within us? They turned right back around and the scripture says they ran all the way back to the 11 and those with them and said guys, you're not going to believe it. You're not going to believe it.
Speaker 2:And right as they are declaring the testimony of a risen savior, he appears to them in the room and this is what he says. When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled. And then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures and he said yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be claimed with authority of his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem, that there is forgiveness of sins for all who repent. You are witnesses of all these things, and now I will send Holy Spirit, just as my father promised. But stay here in the city until Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven, john 14.
Speaker 2:I'm going to talk fast, so I need you to listen fast, john 14. I tell you the truth. Anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I'm going to the Father. You can ask for anything in my name and I will do it so that the Son can bring glory to the father. You can ask for anything in my name and I will do it so that the son can bring glory to the father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name and I'll do it. If you love me, obey my commands and I will ask the father and he will give you another advocate who will never leave you.
Speaker 2:He is Holy Spirit who leads you into all truth. The world cannot receive him because it's not looking for him and doesn't even recognize him. But you know him because he lives with you now and later he's going to be in you. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said the Holy Spirit is the living God. He's not some inactive, immovable, lifeless concept. He's the living God. We cannot begin this teaching this morning without understanding Holy Spirit, his work within us, his work in the church. The purpose is the work in the world and the spiritual gifts awaiting us. If we do not recognize that he is fully God, holy Spirit is not an it. We must have an understanding of the Trinity, the triune Godhead God the Father, jesus the Son and Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:Before Genesis 1, before Genesis 1,. Don't let this blow your mind, but they, the Godhead, have always been. Eternity began before Genesis 1. You and I, as the family of God, get to step into eternity when we have accepted him. Amen into eternity when we have accepted him Amen.
Speaker 2:So, before Genesis one, they had a dream. They made a decision. God acknowledged his desire to love and to be loved and up until that point there were only heavenly beings that had created, therefore worshipipped him and were an extension in eternity. God wanted a family Creation to love him with the same love that he was, because God is love. But they knew, before Genesis 1, that a created humanity, given choice, would need a savior, a redeemer, an advocate, a comforter and a teacher. So, in order to see this dream come to fruition, they decided, before the foundation of the world, that God the Father would oversee the plan, that God the Son would be slain and give his life for the sake of the plan. God Holy Spirit would make a way for the plan and empower those redeemed to carry out the fullness of the plan, that's you and me, when we say notice sin and we choose to be filled with the very Spirit of God.
Speaker 2:So who is he? From the beginning of creation in Genesis, to the end of times. In Revelation we see the ebb and the flow of the divine nature of Holy Spirit in Trinity throughout Scripture. In Genesis 1, the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. In Genesis 1, 26, god said let us us in unity make mankind humankind in our image. In John 1, 5, it says in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. He was from the beginning and through him all things were made. Without him, nothing was made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it yet. In the word Trinity it means try. It means three. Unity, meaning God is three distinct individuals God, the father, the son, jesus and Holy spirit. Here's just a portion of the definition. You can take a picture of the screen. They're going to have it back here.
Speaker 2:Who is Holy spirit? The third person of the Trinity, who exercises the power of the Father and the Son in redemption, because Holy Spirit is the power by which believers come to Christ and see with new eyes faith. He is closer to us than we are to ourselves, like the eyes of the body through which we see physical things. He is the one through whom all else is seen in a new light. This explains to us why the relationship between the father and the son is so prominent throughout the gospels, because it is through the eyes and the lens of Holy Spirit he brings a person to new birth John 3, 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. It is the Spirit who gives us life John 6, 3. Holy Spirit becomes our paraclete, our helper, the one promised to come, the triune of the Father, son and Holy Spirit. They are unified.
Speaker 2:He is God, he's the Spirit of God, he's equal to God, he's eternal, he's omnipresent, he's omniscient, he's sovereign. He was involved in creation, he enabled and inspired the writing of the word of God. He helps us to recognize the glory of God. He enables us to call upon the name of Jesus and call him Lord. He is referred to as a person. He speaks, he witnesses, he searches, he can be grieved, he loves, he has a mind, he has intelligence, he can be tested, he can also be resisted and he has a will.
Speaker 2:Dr RT Kendall says he will not be limited by our own personal theology. Can I say that again, holy Spirit will not be limited by our personal theology. The Lord Jesus said of Holy Spirit he blows where. He will Never think of Holy Spirit as an it. I think we're wanting to get that message across to you. He's not an it, he's not an attitude, he's not an influence. He is a person and has very unique and definite ways. You can call them peculiar, you can call it eccentric or unique, if you like. He will have his way. He therefore moves in at will when we least expect it and sometimes, and I would say most of the time, when we are not deserving of it. Holy Spirit in us gives us eternal life. Holy Spirit on us gives us the power to live and to step into doing, exceedingly and abundantly far above. He's in us and he's on us which produces in us that, exceedingly and abundantly, the greater works that Jesus talked about. We, his kingdom people, stepping in to bring the kingdom message.
Speaker 2:Understanding stay with me, understanding the function of Holy Spirit and that he can be accessed, called upon, worshiped and learned from is vital for the Christian walk. We must know him and know him intimately. It's as simple as this. My name is Lisa, but I am a daughter, I am a wife, I am a mom, I am a Mimi, I am a sister and I am a friend. They can call me by my name, but my kids don't call me Lisa. They call me mom, because that's the part of me they want to access. When my grandkids pick up the phone and sweet little four and a half year old Grace has learned how to unlock her mom and dad's phone and I was getting on the airplane yesterday and she called me and she said hey, mimi, what are you doing? Listen to me right now. When my grandkids call me, mimi, you want my responses. What you want, baby. Hear me what I'm about to say. When we know the function and how to access the power of Holy Spirit and His promise to not just rest on us but, as the people of God, to be completely consumed, the act. You walk in a room and the atmosphere shifts. You walk in a room and conviction falls. That is the power of the function.
Speaker 2:If you have ever questioned why do we need the Holy spirit, I'm telling you right now. I'm telling you don't get caught up with the evidences, okay. Don't get caught up with tongues. Don't get caught up with the evidences. Okay, don't get caught up with tongues. Don't get caught up with people falling down. Do you know what that is? Sometimes people get so full of the Spirit of God they just can't stand up anymore. Don't let that freak you out. Just watch a football game or a baseball game or a soccer game and you watch how people can act a fool over their team Right, especially youth leagues. Listen to me, so don't tell me that when the promised power of holy spirit comes on us, that we cannot access who he is and operate in the power that he's given us. I totally took a left-hand turn. Do you still love me? Listen, listen quick, listen quick.
Speaker 2:Second Corinthians 13, 14. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of Holy Spirit. Don't miss this. The fellowship of Holy Spirit. That word fellowship in the Greek means that we choose to associate. It's intimacy, it's communion, it's joint participation, saying I can't live without you, I can't do this without you. I've got to have the power of Holy Spirit in my life. Colossians 2, 9 and 10,. For in Christ, all the fullness, all the fullness of the deity, the divine nature of the triune, godhead, lives in bodily form and in him and through him, you've been made complete. If you're born again, the fullness of the deity of the Godhead dwells in you.
Speaker 2:Do you hear what I'm saying, matthew three, after being baptized, jesus came up immediately from the water and, behold, the heavens were opened. The heavens were opened. This is right before he began his ministry, hear me. Prior to this he was Jesus the carpenter, the son of Joseph and Mary. But this day, when he went to the water for his cousin to baptize him, it says the heavens were open and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove. You know what the Greek word dove there means A dove. But hear me, holy Spirit's not a bird. Don't get all caught. You gotta study, you gotta break it down. Let me read to you why it shows for that function in that moment. It descended because it was something physical and it was something supernatural. Because they also heard a voice from heaven say Because it was something physical and it was something supernatural. Because they also heard a voice from heaven saying this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.
Speaker 2:Let me talk to you about doves very quickly. Doves are known for their gentle, cooing sound. They are the most excellent of flyers strong, fast, swooping flight patterns. They choose one mate for life. They build simple nests. Doves forage for seeds and grains and they are known for their unique drinking behavior of sucking water without raising their heads but keeping their eyes fixed. Keeping their eyes fixed, doves are considered intelligent birds, capable of recognizing themselves in a mirror. Holy Spirit can and knows when he sees himself. I want to run right now, but I can't run yet.
Speaker 2:In Matthew, chapter four, immediately following this, the spirit led him into the wilderness where he fasted 40 days and he went to war with the devil. Through his hunger, he declared we don't live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God At the pinnacle. Through his hunger, he declared we don't live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. At the pinnacle of the temple, he declared don't you dare judge God's character, putting him to the test. On the mountain, viewing the world's kingdom, satan said I'll give you all that, you see, if you'll bow down before me. And Jesus' response was you will worship the Lord, your God, and serve him. Only Verse 17,. He immediately left there, went back home being filled with the Spirit of God and began to preach these words repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Speaker 2:Jesus' humanity needed Holy Spirit's power to deal with the enemy, to step into his ministry when the Spirit came on him. It's all about bringing kingdom to earth. Rabbi Joshua Ben Levi says this when a person filled with the spirit of Adonai walks along their road, a troop of angels marches before them, announcing in the spirit realm, make way for the image of the Holy One. When Holy Spirit is living and active in our lives, then the kingdom of God is what is within us. The kingdom of heaven is the culture we produce when we live it. Culture is shifting and changing. Can we all agree to that? But he changes not. If you want to know how you live and you survive in this tension, he changes not. Nothing should shake us.
Speaker 2:As Psalm 91 was read over us today. If he's reigning within you and me, then his kingdom not the world's kingdom is leading and directing our lives, is leading and directing our lives. It's being brought on earth because it's in us. If Holy Spirit is in us, then there should be a distinction that separates us from the world, because we're set apart and we must raise a standard equal to what is on the inside of us. Every one of us in this room are releasing something. Hear me, all of us are releasing something. We have to ask ourselves what and from what source are we releasing it? I could hang there, but I can't.
Speaker 2:Reverend Kenneth Hagin says this whatever God has called you to do, whatever he's gifted and endued you by the Holy Spirit to accomplish, he hasn't changed his mind. He hadn't changed his mind on what he's called you to do. Corrie ten Boom said this trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting and tedious work. But when you are filled with the Spirit of God, then the ministry of Jesus flows out of you. What does Holy Spirit do? He points you to Jesus. He reveals our sin and iniquity. I'm going to go past these. You can look on the app if you want all the scriptures. These are not my words. This is the Word's Word. He reveals our sin. He's our constant companion. He prays through us. I am going to read this one Romans 8. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans, and he who searches the heart knows the mind of the spirit, because the spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance to his will. I just want to pause right here, and then I'm going to keep moving.
Speaker 2:I don't know if any of you in this room have ever been at a place in your life where you're praying for a new job. You're praying for your finances. You're praying for your children when they're acting crazy. You're praying to survive the toddler years. You are praying for your boss because you have issues with him. Or maybe there's sometimes that tragedy strikes and you begin to pray and you run out of English words. Anybody ever been there? Have you ever had that cry that comes from the pit of your stomach, almost to the point you think you're going to throw up your stomach? Am I the only person? Have you ever been desperate for God to move that you run out of English words? I have, and that's when the spirit will pray through you.
Speaker 2:He's our teacher, he's the giver of revelation and truth. He's also the one who gives us the power to do his work, and he's promised us nine gifts with nine fruits. I'm not going to touch on that. Pastor Chris is going to be talking about that next week. I'm not going to steal his thunder, but there are nine gifts.
Speaker 2:The Holy Spirit is the giver of gifts words of knowledge, words, words of wisdom, gifts of prophecy, gift of faith, gift of healing, the working of miracles, discerning spirits, tongues that's not my word, it's in the scripture the interpretation of tongues. Don't get all freaked out about that, because let me talk to you about what your evidence should be. It's called fruit. I've known people that prophesied, that had discerning of spirits, and they were the most arrogant, mean people I've ever met in my life. The fruit is this. What's the first one? Love, joy. They're happy, they're not bad. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness. Against such, there is no law of mankind. I got to keep going.
Speaker 2:The entire work of Holy Spirit is related to his divine purpose of bringing home the bride of Christ. Did you know? You're the bride of Christ. Guys, I'm so sorry You've heard us say this for years. If I've got to learn to be a son of God, y'all go starch that white wedding gown. Listen to me, you gotta understand sonship, but you have to understand the church is the pride that Jesus paid for. He didn't just come to simply help us cope with life or to bless us with spiritual gifts, although it's true. Holy Spirit became our divine comforter and and that is not his ultimate purpose in our lives, every manifestation of himself, every divine touch we feel in our lives is intended to reveal Christ in us, so that we will reveal his kingdom in the earth. You hear me? I'm going to say that again. His purpose is to reveal Christ in us, so that we turn around and reveal his kingdom purpose on and in earth. I don't have time to go into where he is. You can go on the app. I have scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. The work of the spirit has been from one book to the other where he filled men with the spirit of God in order to do his purposes. I'm almost done. If the team would come help me and, leaders, if you'd go ahead and take your place.
Speaker 2:Ephesians, chapter one. It says you were included in Christ Jesus. Don't be distracted. Listen, read the scripture on the screen. You were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit who is a deposit in you guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession. Until the redemption of those who are God's possession.
Speaker 2:1 Thessalonians, chapter 4 says For God did not call us to be impure, but for us to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. Galatians, chapter 5,. It says so. I say to you walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify, fulfill or follow through to completion the desires and the lust of the flesh, for the flesh desires what is contrary and is completely opposite to the spirit. They are at war and in conflict with each other.
Speaker 2:Leonard Ravenhill said this there are three persons living in each of us. There's the one we think we are, there's the one other people think we are and there's the one God knows we are, because he sees all and he knows all. But in order to understand the war that takes place in your life, for you not to be who God's called you to be, to keep you pressed down in chains of the past, do you know why some people do not experience freedom? Because the scripture says where the what of the Lord is, where the what of the Lord is, where the what? Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Where the spirit of the Lord is, you are free. But here's what happens. This is that war, and it's because of this I am a spirit, I have a soul and I live in a body, in the garden with Adam and Eve.
Speaker 2:Prior to sin, the spirit and the soul was not two separate things. When sin entered in a bale of flesh, separated the two. With your spirit, that's your inner man, it's the heart, it's the part of us. It's why we have to be born again, born again by spirit. It's not of the flesh I read that scripture early. It's by the spirit. I have a soul early. It's by the spirit. I have a soul. That's my mind, that's my will, my emotions, the intellect, the flesh that wants to operate independently. That's why Paul talks so much about us crucifying the flesh, because there is a war Between the spirit and the flesh and both of them live in a body. When our spirits are not in control and completely filled with him, your flesh will win every time when the spirit is in control.
Speaker 2:This is the access that produces the supernatural to flow out of your life wherever you are. It's going to happen this morning. But it can happen today when you eat at the restaurant. It can happen when you go to work tomorrow morning. It can happen when you're checking out at Walmart. It can happen while you're pumping gas.
Speaker 2:If we are the living, breathing access of the kingdom of God being brought to the earth, we have got to be prepared for the spirit of God to flow through us at any given time, because it's not for you, it's not for you to feel puffed up, it's not for you to go print business cards to say I operate in the gift of discernment. That's not what it's for. It's so that we can show who he is to a world that needs him. Only the Holy Spirit can bring you to the realization of the things that need to change in your life. Stop right there and I am closing. Only have only have one more page, will you hang with me? It's not even 12.
Speaker 2:Listen to me, only, holy Spirit, and I don't want to embarrass anybody, but if I ask you the question in this room, do you want more of Him or do you want just a little bit? Do you want all of him, all that that produces? Jesus died and was raised from the dead. When that happened. The veil in the temple that had separated mankind from his presence was torn in two, which gave you and I an open access to live and walk in the presence of God, to be used by him to be set ablaze and on fire. But Holy Spirit is the one that will point his finger in the things in your life Because, let me tell you something, he won't dwell where you've given other things Lordship, he will not. What we watch, what we read, what we hear, what we listen to, where our feet allow us to go, holy Spirit is the one that will lead you and guide you. Be thankful for his convicting power that turns you from darkness into light. The Holy Spirit is not just an illumination or inspiration. He is a person who himself knows the things of God and reveals them to us. Acts, chapter two.
Speaker 2:Now, when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord, in one place. Now, hear me. Over 500 had been invited. Only 120 went to the upper room. They were all together, in unity, and suddenly there came a sound from heaven, a roaring, mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting In unity the Holy Spirit, and begin to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance and there were dwelling in Jerusalem certain Jews, devout men from every nation and every tongue, and when this sound occurred, the multitude came together. They were confused because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. They were amazed and marveled, saying look, are not all of these who speak Galileans? We hear these people speaking in our own language about the wonderful things of God. How can this be? Others laughed, ridiculed, made fun of them and mocked, saying I think they're just all drunk.
Speaker 2:Peter stood up, standing with the 11. He raised his voice and he said listen carefully, let this be known to you and heed my words and make no mistake about this. These are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day, which is nine o'clock in the morning. This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel in the Old Testament and it shall come to pass. In the last days says God that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams, and on my men's servants and on my maid's servants I will pour out my spirit in those days. So they will prophesy.
Speaker 2:Here's the altar call today. It's three things. If you have never received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, if you want boldness, if you want to stand in the authority, if you want the power and the might and the Holy Spirit, if you want boldness, if you want to stand in the authority, if you want the power and the might and the confidence to stand and declare the message of the gospel of Jesus, this is for you. If you haven't prayed in your prayer language, maybe ever. If you're seeking God for that, don't seek tongues, seek, seek him. You're seeking him today. And thirdly, if you need healing this morning in the supernatural, because it is living and it is active today to explain being filled with the spirit. It's just a little bit something like this I was raised in a house.
Speaker 2:We're all the way back to my dad's mom. She was a little intercessor, about 4'11 and full of the Holy Ghost, full of the Holy Ghost. Rusty and I, both similarly, our dads similarly have the same story. Both of their Methodist churches got hit with a revival where people were being filled with the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and both of you, in two different decades, got kicked out of the Methodist church and the story. I had to look back at my sisters who are here this morning. I wanted to make sure I'm telling you the story right.
Speaker 2:My sweet little mother didn't want any. She was raised Methodist. A true Southern woman was not going to talk in tongues, was not going to raise her hands. Every hair was in place. She looked the part.
Speaker 2:But she was on the phone one day ironing on a Saturday morning in the middle of the revival in Florence, alabama, at Monumental United Methodist Church. She didn't want it herself, but she wanted everybody else to have it. So she's talking to the lady on the phone and she starts talking to this lady about Holy Spirit, about who he is, and she started quoting Acts, chapter 2. And in the middle of ironing and talking about him, she couldn't talk in English anymore. Holy Spirit, the very thing that she said she did not want, came on her. Hear me To explain being filled with the Holy Spirit. It's a little something like this here's all you do. It's a gift. It's a gift. It's like I had a huge package up here and I said to you there's some car keys in this package up here, a brand new car, but all you to do is come, pick up the box, open the lid and take the keys.
Speaker 2:I can't talk about God, the father, seated on the throne of honor and justice and authority, without worship and honor coming out of my spirit. I can't talk about the son Jesus without thanksgiving and gratefulness flowing from my lips in worship because he rescued me, he redeemed me. I can't talk about Holy Spirit without realizing he has been there all along, every single moment of my life, every moment From creation to me being shaped and formed in my mother's womb, carrying me Le, leading me to Jesus, giving me life, comforting me, correcting me, teaching me and giving me life and breath. I'm 60, and as I sprint into my 90s and into my 100s in the name of Jesus, I realize that every breath, every single breath when I reach 90, that will be over 800 million times my lungs have taken in oxygen he has been right there, right there for every moment of your life, leading you to Him right now.
Speaker 1:We hope and pray this message was encouraging and impactful. Join us live on our website or Facebook on Sundays at 9 and 11 am. You can stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram at the Rock Family. Have a Jesus-filled week.