Beyond the Experience: Cultivating Character in the Spirit

• The Personhood of the Holy Spirit [00:51:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that the Holy Spirit is a person, not a force or emotion, citing John 14 and the use of 'He' rather than 'it' in scripture.
• Balance Between Scripture and Experience [00:51:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor warns against two extremes: emotionalism without scriptural grounding and ignorance of the Spirit's power, asserting that Pentecostals must pursue the Spirit revealed in Scripture.
• Evidence of the Spirit's Personhood [00:53:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor lists evidences such as the Spirit teaching, speaking, guiding, and being grieved (Ephesians 4:30), which are attributes of a person, not a force.
• Personhood of the Holy Spirit [00:53:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues the Holy Spirit is a person, not a force, citing His ability to teach, speak, guide, and be grieved, which necessitates a personal relationship rather than chasing experiences.
• Omnipresence vs. Physical Presence [00:57:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > Explains why Jesus had to leave: His physical presence was limited to one location, whereas the Holy Spirit is omnipresent, dwelling within every believer everywhere simultaneously.
• Fruit vs. Gifts [01:04:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > Contrasts the sudden appearance of spiritual gifts with the slow, gradual growth of spiritual fruit (character), warning that gifts without maturity lead to hypocrisy and damage the church's witness.
• Spiritual Maturity and Brokenness [01:07:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > Acknowledges that believers are 'broken vessels' who cannot love perfectly, but argues that brokenness is not an excuse for hurtful behavior; instead, it requires repentance and reliance on the Spirit for gradual transformation.
• Spiritual Gifts vs. Spiritual Fruit [01:10:30 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor distinguishes between gifts (for edifying the church/ministry) and fruit (evidence of character transformation and becoming like Jesus).
• Character Integrity [01:14:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > Character is defined as who you are when no one is looking, illustrated by personal anecdotes about honesty at Walmart and Sam's Club.
• Pentecostal Balance [01:18:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues for a balance where spiritual manifestations glorify Jesus and align with Scripture, rather than drawing attention to the individual.
• Daily Obedience and Guidance [01:22:04 ▶️ 📄]
  > The Holy Spirit leads through daily obedience and Scripture, not just dramatic prophecies; using the analogy of raising sails to catch the wind.
• Holy Spirit Empowerment [01:26:21 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that God empowers his people rather than just allowing them to survive, specifically through building a relationship with the Holy Spirit.
• Fruit vs. Gifts [01:26:48 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor distinguishes between the fruit of the Spirit (character) and spiritual gifts (service), noting they are different but work together, with fruit indicating spiritual standing and gifts intended for church edification.
• Glory to God [01:27:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor emphasizes that all actions and gifts should bring glory to God, not to the individual believer.

• Sermon Illustration [00:51:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of the Holy Spirit being treated as the 'red-headed stepchild' of the Trinity, where believers focus on the Father and Son but are unsure about the Spirit.
• Sermon Illustration [00:55:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references a personal anecdote where a pastor named Edgar approaches him wanting to chase an experience, illustrating the danger of pastors getting caught up in chasing experiences rather than knowing the person.
• Sermon Illustration [00:55:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about a pastor asking him to play the same song exactly as the previous Sunday to chase a specific emotional experience, illustrating the error of prioritizing experiences over relationship.
• Sermon Illustration [00:56:09 ▶️ 📄]
  > An analogy comparing the Holy Spirit to Wi-Fi: the connection is strong when plugged into God's Word and prayer, but weakens or 'buffers' when distracted by worldly concerns or self-reliance.
• Sermon Illustration [01:07:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > A rhetorical question about eating an apple from a worm-infested tree, illustrating that spiritual fruit reveals internal health; if the core is rotten (character issues), the fruit is compromised.
• Sermon Illustration [01:09:06 ▶️ 📄]
  > A personal story about a small apple tree in his backyard where impatient neighbors picked the apples before they were ready, illustrating that spiritual fruit takes time to develop, unlike sudden spiritual gifts.
• Sermon Illustration [01:15:17 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal story about being accused of stealing water at Sam's Club by a receipt checker nicknamed 'the Gestapo.' He insists on finding the item on the receipt to prove he paid for it, illustrating that character is defined by integrity when no one is watching.
• Sermon Illustration [01:23:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a sailboat: the Holy Spirit is like the wind, but believers must raise their 'sails' (daily obedience) to be directed; the Spirit cannot guide those who remain on the shore.
• Sermon Illustration [01:27:18 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses an analogy stating that God is not in the 'tree growing business' but in the 'fruit business' to illustrate that character (fruit) is the primary indicator of spiritual health, alongside the operational gifts.

• Pastoral Charge [00:55:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > Chase God and walk with the Holy Spirit daily.
• Pastoral Charge [01:05:49 ▶️ 📄]
  > Mature and grow in character alongside the pursuit of spiritual gifts.
• Pastoral Charge [01:24:07 ▶️ 📄]
  > Walk in daily obedience to God's Word and direction.
• Pastoral Charge [01:25:46 ▶️ 📄]
  > Allow the Holy Spirit to transform the believer's character.
• Pastoral Charge [01:28:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > Attend the upcoming Sunday service with anticipation and expectation for further teaching.

[00:00:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:00:48] Music. I just wanted to get deep in your heart. Good evening church and welcome to River of Life. It is good to see you tonight. Come on let's give it up for Jesus. God is good. Are you guys singing that song tonight? God is so so good. Probably not. But I know whatever they're singing it's going to be good because our God is a great God. Amen. Thank you and thank you for coming out tonight. It is our Wednesday night midweek service and I'm so glad that you're here. And
[00:14:31] we are so excited for everything that's going to be happening tonight amen so a couple of reminders don't forget that the youth are going off to camp in about a week's time and so they are so excited
[00:14:45] so let me hear you youth if you're excited to go I'm getting you broke in because you know when you get there they're going to have you guys you know jumping and screaming and shouting and but they're
[00:14:59] not going to have to make you you're going to want to do it because it's a good time so if you are still interested i had some people sunday asked me how do they donate or what do they do if they're
[00:15:10] still interested in donating to the youth even though the money has uh been sent off and stuff if you're still wanting to donate to the youth camp on your envelope just say youth camp and
[00:15:24] that will go directly into the youth ministry account. And, uh, it was awesome last year that not only did they raise enough money to go, but they also had money left over to help them this
[00:15:35] year. So that's always a good thing just to have a positive number in that account so that it can go move forward. Right? We love, we love giving and pressing forward, right? So that it's an
[00:15:45] exciting time that's coming up. Ladies, here we are. This is our week and I am so excited for Friday night and Saturday morning, June 12th and 13th. And we will kick off our conference, our first conference in a long, long time. So we're going to kick it off Friday night,
[00:16:06] 6 to 8 p.m. Get here early. We'll have tables set up. And Patricia is coming. And she is coming from Pueblo. And she has a couple of ladies coming to minister with her. And we are so excited to
[00:16:19] host her and to have you, each and every one of you beautiful ladies here. So come excited. Come expecting. Come ready to receive. Be praying. Of course, we had asked everybody, be praying, pray, pray, pray. Every day, every night, pray that the women that are coming would be touched. Their
[00:16:38] hearts would be open to receive everything that she has prepared. I know that you will not walk away disappointed. We had one hour with her and let me tell you, it was not enough. Okay. It was
[00:16:50] not enough. We wanted to stay. We just wanted to stay in that room for the rest of the conference, but she is going to be here two nights. I mean, two hours, Friday night, then we're going to come
[00:17:01] right back around Saturday morning. And the men have are preparing us some delicious burritos.
[00:17:07] give it up for the men and so you want to get here early get here by eight o'clock the conference starts at 9 a.m but you want to get here at eight so you can get a burrito and get something to
[00:17:20] drink and just visit with the ladies that are all coming we have to date i believe we have 71 ladies registered yeah it's exciting and those of course are ladies that you know there's always those that
[00:17:35] walk in that didn't get a chance to register, but that's okay. We'll make room. You are welcome.
[00:17:41] Everybody is going to be blessed this weekend. So ladies come out and be ready for that. So Saturday will be from nine to noon and you will be blessed. We'll send you off and we have lots
[00:17:56] of good goodies and surprises for you. So you don't, you do not want to miss out. Amen. So let's stand. Is there anything else, Jesse? Of course, I don't know. I think you guys know our food pantry
[00:18:08] has been closed for the month of June because we are giving some people a rest and we also are revamping a few things. So we do, do we still, where's pastor? Do we still have a lot of bread?
[00:18:20] No? Okay, good. All right. So we had a lot of bread on Sunday, but I'm glad that we were able to get it distributed. We send it all over the valley. And so we help the senior citizen home
[00:18:34] and just all different churches around the San Luis Valley. So that is good. But just know if you're talking to people, the reason that the pantry is closed right now is because, like I said, the workers, they need a vacation. They're here every Tuesday, every Thursday. And then also
[00:18:50] they're just revamping in and just getting some things um just current so that we can be a blessing to those once we open back up in july uh jesse anything else or is it fox up there today which
[00:19:04] one you guys both of you are doing a great job is there anything else that i missed that i need to announce i know the men will be getting together on the 20th is that correct 21st okay so man that
[00:19:18] is coming up for you and us ladies are going to have to return the favor at some point in time and make them burritos right so we will uh figure that all out but let's go before the lord i'm just
[00:19:30] excited that you're here i'm excited that i'm here um i'm just just ready to receive how many of you are just ready to receive i love wednesdays so that because i know sometimes you know we're
[00:19:44] growing through the week and the week gets tough and you're like oh but i have wednesday night i have wednesday night to get before the lord to get with my brother and sisters in the lord
[00:19:55] to help have have them help me raise up my arms and hold my arms up when i can't hold them up myself and that's what we're here for you missed a great prayer last night right it was good it was
[00:20:09] awesome. And God is so good. So if you get a chance, come Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. It's a great time. Father, we just praise you and we thank you, Lord. We give you glory and we give
[00:20:19] you honor tonight. I thank you, Heavenly Father, that you are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. I thank you, Father, that in your word it says, Father, that your grace and your mercy,
[00:20:30] Father God, is new every day in my life, that you consume us not, Father God. So even though, father god we may mess up and we may fail or fall that father god that you are not a god father that
[00:20:43] that just ignores us and moves on but you're a god that receives us back every time that we come back to you and say i'm sorry father so father i thank you for your grace and mercy and i do not take it
[00:20:55] lightly father god father that i will not abuse that grace or that mercy because i know that you sent your son to pay a great price for my eternal life. So, Father, I thank you this evening. I thank
[00:21:08] you, Lord. I pray for the service, Father God, that is coming up Friday and Saturday morning.
[00:21:14] I pray for Patricia and the ladies and her husband for traveling mercies. I pray, Father God, that you would just cover them, Father God. Lord, that I come against any attack upon them, Father God,
[00:21:25] personally or spiritually, Father God, that, Lord, that they would be able to come and they would be able to minister to each and every woman and father god that that patricia would be able to
[00:21:35] to just share what what god has done in her life and through her and the teaching that they that she has father god just began to or has been teaching and that it will turn around and it
[00:21:49] will bless each and every one of us ladies so father i thank you i give you glory and i give you honor. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen, church. Let's get excited.

[00:27:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:27:05] And my gosh, I was not happy.
[00:27:07] I'm not going to lie.
[00:27:08] I was not happy doing it.
[00:27:10] I was not happy by, like, you know, going up there.
[00:27:13] There is a rock there that was just, like, it was perfect.
[00:27:16] It was perfect, church.
[00:27:18] It was in the shade.
[00:27:20] It was flat.
[00:27:20] It was cold.
[00:27:21] And it was, like, only halfway there.
[00:27:24] And I told my uncle, just keep going.
[00:27:26] Just leave me here.
[00:27:27] I want to die here.
[00:27:29] This is my bed now, you know.
[00:27:31] And it was so comfortable, church, you know.
[00:27:33] and now it's a year later i feel like i'm a different man than i was a year ago you know and i feel like you know i can i can do that less than three hours 100 100 i feel i can do that like
[00:27:47] an hour and 30 tops but it's funny because i'm here telling y'all about a mountain that i climbed a year ago when they're like you know sometimes that's our battles you know that's our battles
[00:28:02] the battles that we did we went against a year ago we look at them now man that's easy that's cake work you know but you just gotta you know remind yourself god gives us the strength to do
[00:28:14] it you know that doesn't matter how big that mountain doesn't matter how big that giant that he is gonna do his thing he's gonna make you stronger even right now if you're feeling that you are going through this mountain and you're about to give up don't give up
[00:28:31] God is about to pull you through.
[00:28:33] He's guiding you through this mountain.
[00:28:35] He's making you stronger.
[00:28:37] You got to praise him while you're going through the mountain.
[00:28:40] You got to praise him while you're going through the dark, while you're going through the desert.
[00:28:45] You got to praise him.
[00:28:47] Even if you're about to give up, even if there's a nice rock right there, and you're like, just leave me here.
[00:28:53] Just leave me here.
[00:28:55] And trust me, God, he's not going to leave you there.
[00:28:58] He's going to raise you.
[00:28:59] He's going to bring you somewhere to where you don't even know.
[00:29:03] So when you look back in a year now, it's like, dang, God, I could go through that mountain pretty easy now.
[00:29:10] Because any weapon, anything that the devil tries is never nothing new.
[00:29:16] It's never nothing new.
[00:29:18] That we're going to have the victory.
[00:29:19] And while we sing this song, oh, man, it's such a great song.
[00:29:23] That we're going to see the victory.
[00:29:25] That it doesn't matter the weapon.
[00:29:28] God, he has us.
[00:29:29] not through our might not through what we can do through what god can do am i right church that we know that we have the victory so when are we seeing this song don't let it just be another
[00:29:41] wednesday i know some of y'all just got out of work but just praise him right now box if you turn down the lights yeah perfect just praise him right now praise him when you're going through
[00:29:57] the district because that's where you honor him when your life is gone and life is just hitting you and the enemy is attacking you but you do it with a smile praising him giving thanks to him
[00:30:12] and there's nothing more beautiful than that and god honors that god i just pray tonight that is your will that is your glory that we're every anybody that's here tonight that they hear like just go you know let them have a different experience tonight that this
[00:30:43] we sang this song so many times but let this be a new way that they see it a new experience with heart surrender to you god that we give it everything god we give everything to you god

[00:30:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:30:57] god will can we just thank him can we just thank him just just yes just right out of your lips

[00:37:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:37:52] just tell him thank you father that the battle belongs to you thank you father god what a good good god we serve amen what a good good god we serve father we praise you we thank you father
[00:38:04] god for your goodness and your mercy we thank you father god lord for all the things that are going on this week father god lord we just lift up father god the women's conference to you this
[00:38:14] weekend father god lord we lift up patricia and her team father god as they come father that no weapon formed against them shall prosper father lord i lift up each and every woman that is planning on attending father god lord i rebuke father god the devourer i come against the weapons
[00:38:31] that have been formed father god that would keep them from coming lord i praise you and i thank you father god and lord next tuesday father god as our our youth take off and go to camp father god
[00:38:41] lord you're going to guide guard and protect them father god that lord your presence your power is going to show up mighty on their behalf, Father God, that every person, young and old, Father God, is going to have an encounter with your Holy Spirit, Father God. Lord, this weekend,
[00:38:56] Father God, Lord, people are going to encounter you, Father God. Women are going to encounter you, Father God. I praise you and I thank you that it's going to be a new beginning, Father God.
[00:39:07] It's going to be a fresh start for some women, Father God. It's going to be a fresh start, Father God, for some youth and some adults, Father God. Lord, there's going to be callings, Father God, that you are going to call young people into ministry, Father God. Lord, you are
[00:39:20] going to touch their hearts, Father God, and minister to them, Father God. Lord, I praise you and I thank you for all that you're going to do this weekend, Father. Lord, we just praise you.
[00:39:30] We thank you. We give you honor. We give you glory, Father God. In Jesus' mighty name we pray.
[00:39:36] Amen and amen. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. You may be seated.
[00:39:46] um listen ladies i i know some of you signed up and are are ready to go uh i think there's still some that haven't and if you want to you still can uh just see uh either cory or stella
[00:40:06] and let them know that you want to be here um and and it's not a it's not a deal of where we're wanting to count but it's a deal of where they're trying to make it extra special so they need to
[00:40:17] know who's going to be here. Amen. And so I want to encourage you ladies, Friday night. Okay. Friday during the day, when your day starts to go South, when things start to go sideways, listen, I'm not
[00:40:32] being pessimistic. I'm being optimistic. Okay. So when it starts to go sideways Friday and the devil starts to come in and attack, cause he doesn't want you here Friday night, listen, battle with everything you got to be here. Do not allow circumstances, excuses, situations to keep you
[00:40:50] from being here Friday night. Because I know if you get here Friday night, you'll be here Saturday morning, amen? It'll be that good. So I just know it, and I praise God for it, amen? And then parents
[00:41:04] that are sending their kids to camp next Tuesday, praise God, we're excited. We had a church in the valley that loaned us their shuttle amen so we're going to be taking their shuttle and our van
[00:41:16] so which is plenty of room for everybody and uh and they'll be leaving here tuesday morning eight o'clock if you have questions uh get with osneth right wave at me osneth she's back there in the
[00:41:28] back okay if you miss the meeting sunday uh she's got some makeup work for you so you need to see her that you got to run 10 laps around the gym if you miss the meeting and i don't care about the
[00:41:40] why the why just you missed it you're gonna run no not really that's a joke i'm joking people with parents are like what amen uh so uh but listen i want to just encourage you church
[00:41:53] amen this is a powerful powerful week and week a weekend and and next week amen that god is gonna god's gonna meet with you you are going to encounter god if you will come friday night
[00:42:04] saturday morning and then kids going off to camp next tuesday amen uh it's gonna be good Amen. It's going to be good. And so I'm excited. Amen. I want to share something with you. I've
[00:42:16] gone back and forth. I received a contact through our website from, and some of you will know who this is, a gentleman by the name of Ron Elledge. How many of you know that name? Amen. Just one.
[00:42:31] that's it, Heather, kind of, sort of, right? You remember? I'm just messing. Ron Elledge was pastor of this church from 1987, I believe, to 1991, four years. And he reached out to me on email and he was telling me who he was and what he had done. But I want to read this part to you
[00:42:57] because it's just powerful.
[00:43:01] He says, thank you for your quick response.
[00:43:03] The reason I contacted you is because I found that I had disappeared from affiliation with Alamosa First Assembly of God online.
[00:43:13] Although my wife and I were only in Alamosa for four, in many ways, years, it was a highlight of our career.
[00:43:24] During this short period of time, my wife graduated from Adams State College, my daughter graduated from high school, and we had a wonderful time of ministry.
[00:43:34] In four years, we built and furnished the interior of the gymnasium complex, re-roofed the sanctuary, and remodeled several areas of the building.
[00:43:44] However, the best part was what took place in ministry.
[00:43:49] We spun off four AG future pastors, re-established the financial base of the church, and began a Christian school. And in 1988 and 89, we were one of the top 100 fastest growing churches in the U.S. We grew from the 60s to just under 400 in attendance. During that period, many are still
[00:44:13] at the church today, which is true. Terry, Vivian and Terry Balance, Terry Gonzalez, Several, several others were here at that time.
[00:44:27] In 1991, Reverend Robert Seitz, superintendent of the Arizona AG, contacted me to move to Phoenix to restore Phoenix Calvary Temple, a celebration church now.
[00:44:46] After much prayer, we felt it was the direction God was leading us, and we left Alamosa.
[00:44:52] he finishes with this he says I tell you this because I'm so happy to find the river of life has a dedicated pastor who has longevity and is committed to the people of Alamosa it occupies a large space in my heart God bless amen give the Lord a hand clap amen
[00:45:13] I shared with him how much I appreciated him reaching out because I told him I said there's not a day that doesn't go by that I don't thank God for the men that came before me in order to
[00:45:26] provide this platform for me. I know that, you know what, other people did the work and made possible this platform for me to preach on, and I don't take that lightly, amen? And so I just
[00:45:38] thought that was interesting that he would reach out, and you know, it kind of put something in my brain that maybe we ought to find some of these older pastors that were pastors here and just have
[00:45:50] them come back and preach. Wouldn't you like to hear about them, hear from them? Amen. So, but I just thought I'd share that with you. We're going to release our children and youth. Amen. We fish
[00:45:59] nursery that way, upper elementary, middle school that way, fortress that way. They're going to have a good time in fortress tonight. And you guys enjoy as they prepare to get to go to camp.
[00:46:14] I love it. Amen. Open up your Bibles, if you would, to, we're going to be in John, the gospel of john chapter 16 amen the gospel of john chapter 16 amen praise god the gospel of john
[00:46:39] i'm going to be talking so i don't know if you realize this and maybe you maybe you haven't been with us uh so wednesday night i am teaching i am teaching expositorily based on what i'm preaching
[00:46:54] Sunday morning. Okay. So I shared this last week, um, is, and, and that's what I'm talking about tonight is, is understanding the work of the Holy spirit. Okay. Understanding the work of the Holy spirit. Um, before we seek his power, we must know him. Okay. Before we seek his power, we must know
[00:47:18] him it is so so important so John chapter 16 beginning with verse 7 and it says this it says nevertheless I tell you the truth it is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away
[00:47:38] the helper will not come to you but if I go I will send him to you and when he comes he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment concerning sin because they do not
[00:47:52] believe in me concerning righteousness because I go to the father and you will see me no longer concerning judgment because the ruler of this world is judged I still have many things to say to you but I cannot bear them now when the spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all the
[00:48:14] truth for he will not speak on his own authority but whatever he hears he will speak and he will declare to you the things that are to come he will glorify me for he will take what is mine
[00:48:26] and declare it to you all that the father has is mine therefore i said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you amen father we just praise you we thank you father god lord i'd ask
[00:48:40] right now, Father God, that you would just lead me and guide me through your Holy Spirit, Father.
[00:48:45] Lord, that you would just teach us about the Holy Spirit, Father, the third person of the Trinity, Father. That we would have an understanding tonight, Father God, of who he is and that we would begin to build a relationship with him, Father. So, Father, we praise you, we thank you,
[00:49:00] we give you honor, we give you glory, and we pray all of these things, Father, in Jesus' mighty name, amen and amen. So many believers, many believers desire the power of the Holy Spirit, but have never fully understood the person of the Holy Spirit, okay? I'm going to talk about
[00:49:21] the Holy Spirit tonight, and I want to teach you about him, amen, about him. But before we seek his power, we must know him, okay? We must know him. Through church history, people have tended
[00:49:35] to drift towards one of two extremes, okay? Between two, to one of two extremes. One extreme being they hear the name of the Holy Spirit and they get nervous, they get scared, or they focus so much
[00:49:50] on the Holy Spirit that it gets a little weird, okay?
[00:49:55] Both scenarios, both situations, right, create problems.
[00:50:04] Ignorance produces spiritual weakness.
[00:50:08] Emotionalism produces spiritual instability.
[00:50:11] Listen to what I'm saying here.
[00:50:13] This is why pastors in churches shy away, right, from people that come in and say, I operate only in the Holy Spirit, that we go to an extreme and it becomes emotional.
[00:50:26] It's the reason that a few weeks back, if you remember, on a Sunday morning, I led the people into the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
[00:50:32] It is not an emotional decision.
[00:50:35] It's not, okay?
[00:50:38] It's not.
[00:50:39] But at the same time, okay, we're not going to shy away from it.
[00:50:43] We're going to operate and move in the gifts of the Spirit, amen?
[00:50:47] I believe it's what God's called us.
[00:50:49] You see, God desires neither one of these.
[00:50:53] God desires for believers to know his word and experience his spirit.
[00:51:00] As Pentecostal believers, we do not pursue experience disconnected from scripture.
[00:51:06] I want you to hear that.
[00:51:08] We do not, you should not, okay?
[00:51:11] You should not pursue experience disconnected from scripture.
[00:51:17] They go hand in hand.
[00:51:20] We pursue the Spirit revealed in Scripture.
[00:51:24] We pursue the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity.
[00:51:29] So watch this.
[00:51:30] I want you to understand who is the Holy Spirit.
[00:51:35] Who is He?
[00:51:38] The Holy Spirit is a person, not a force, not goosebumps, not a chill down the spine.
[00:51:47] The Holy Spirit is a person.
[00:51:48] He is the third person of the Trinity.
[00:51:51] You see, in churches today, we relegate him kind of as the red-headed stepchild.
[00:51:56] God the Father, God the Son, we pray to the Father in Jesus' name.
[00:52:00] And who's this Holy Spirit?
[00:52:01] Well, we're just not really sure.
[00:52:03] No, no, no, no.
[00:52:04] He is a part.
[00:52:05] He is a co-part of God the Father, of God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
[00:52:11] Okay?
[00:52:12] We can't have the two without the one.
[00:52:15] It's a Trinity.
[00:52:17] So John chapter 14, verse 16 and 17 says, and I will ask the Father and he will give you another helper, helper to be with you forever.
[00:52:27] Even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him, listen what he says, nor knows him.
[00:52:37] You know him for he dwells with you and will be in you.
[00:52:41] Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as he, Not as it, right?
[00:52:49] The scripture never presents the Holy Spirit as an it.
[00:52:54] He's not an it.
[00:52:55] He is a person.
[00:52:57] The Holy Spirit is not a feeling.
[00:52:59] He's not an emotion.
[00:53:00] He's not a mystical energy.
[00:53:03] It's not a religious atmosphere.
[00:53:06] The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully God, co-equal with the Father, co-equal with the Son.
[00:53:13] now pastor why why why does that get confusing because all of these happen all of these things happen when the holy spirit shows up there's emotion right there's a change in the atmosphere right there's a feeling that comes over right that's why we get confused is because we think oh
[00:53:38] i want that feeling we get people to come into church and say i just want to feel the holy spirit right we need to be balanced in our approach we need to understand who he is we need to build a
[00:53:52] relationship with him right because he's co-equal with the father he's co-equal with the son he is the third person of the trinity so let's look at evidence of his personhood the holy spirit teaches john chapter 14 verse 26 but the helper the holy spirit whom the father will send in my name he
[00:54:13] will teach you all things and bring your remembrance that I have said to you. Their reliance on the Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit teaches. The Holy Spirit speaks. Acts chapter 13 and verse 2. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, set apart for
[00:54:33] me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. The Holy Spirit guides us. John 16, 13, when the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth for he will not speak on
[00:54:47] his own authority, but whatever he hears, he will speak and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He guides us. The Holy Spirit as a person can be grieved. Ephesians chapter four
[00:55:01] in verse 30, and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Only a person can be grieved, right? Only a person can be grieved. So you cannot have
[00:55:18] relationship with a force, right? You cannot have a relationship with a force. You can have relationship with a person. The goal of the spirit-filled living is not chasing experiences.
[00:55:35] we pastors we get caught up in this and we start to chase an experience you know how i know this because pastor walks in and says hey edgar i want you to play that same song that you played last
[00:55:50] sunday and i want you to play it just like you played last sunday why because we're chasing an experience god's not called us to chase experiences god's called us to chase him amen we got to be
[00:56:09] balanced it is walking with the holy spirit daily daily right many believers treat the holy spirit like they treat wi-fi when they're plugged in and open to god's word prayer and is leading the connection is strong but when we experience or and we experience clarity peace and guidance
[00:56:36] but whenever we wander out of range distracted by self-reliance anxiety and worldly concerns the signal weakens and we may feel disconnected confused or spiritually buffering come on now when you start to feel disconnected when you start to feel distance from God it's because you're not
[00:56:55] in touch you're not in relationship with the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit is our right he's our helper he's our guide why did Jesus say why did Jesus say it was better for him to leave right John 16 in
[00:57:12] Verse 7 says, nevertheless, I tell you the truth.
[00:57:15] It is to your advantage that I go away.
[00:57:18] For if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you.
[00:57:21] But if I go, I will send him to you.
[00:57:24] This statement probably shocked the disciples, right?
[00:57:28] And when does Jesus make the statement, right?
[00:57:31] He makes a statement after the resurrection, after he'd been raised for the dead.
[00:57:35] He's 40 days on earth, right?
[00:57:39] And they're like, they're living, right?
[00:57:41] This is the greatest thing ever.
[00:57:43] Right. Can can you imagine? Can you imagine? And the hundreds of people that saw Jesus after the crucifixion?
[00:57:52] Can you imagine the Roman guards that knew he was dead?
[00:57:57] Can you imagine the guard that pierced his side? Hello. Right.
[00:58:05] Is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Right. Jesus is alive. He's resurrected.
[00:58:10] Hey, we're going to sit on his throne. He's about to take over the world.
[00:58:14] and he's about to tear up the Roman occupancy and all of a sudden he comes in and he says, I gotta go.
[00:58:22] You gotta what?
[00:58:27] They don't understand that, right?
[00:58:30] So how could that possibly be true?
[00:58:32] We understand it on this side, right?
[00:58:34] We understand it because we've got the word of God, right?
[00:58:38] But the reason is because Jesus in his earthly ministry was limited to one physical location, right?
[00:58:47] Brother Sergio said this two Sundays ago.
[00:58:50] God is omnipresent and Jesus knew as long as he was here the Holy Spirit couldn't come and he was he could only be in one place at one time and when the Holy Spirit came not only did the Holy Spirit
[00:59:07] come and dwell on the inside of us but the Holy Spirit is omnipresent able to be everywhere you see the Holy Spirit's on the other side of the country right now ministering to somebody in the
[00:59:22] middle of the night when your little one's running a fever of 102 the Holy Spirit's there with you But he's also across town with an elderly person that's taken their last breath.
[00:59:33] He's there.
[00:59:35] That's why Jesus had to go.
[00:59:40] The Holy Spirit would dwell within every believer everywhere.
[00:59:43] So two things here, and I want to be clear here.
[00:59:47] So there is the Holy Spirit that comes at salvation, dwells and lives on the inside of me.
[00:59:54] But there is also the gift of the Holy Spirit.
[00:59:59] The gift, I want you to understand this.
[01:00:02] It's important that we receive when we ask God, right?
[01:00:07] As Pentecostals, as assembly of God, we believe that it comes, the evidence of the gift of the Holy Spirit is with speaking in other tongues, okay?
[01:00:21] But the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of us, right?
[01:00:25] Solomon said, God, how will it be that you will tabernacle with your people?
[01:00:30] He's like, how do you fit inside of people, amen?
[01:00:33] Isn't that powerful?
[01:00:37] Jesus beside them became the Holy Spirit within them, right?
[01:00:43] Jesus beside them became the Holy Spirit within them.
[01:00:47] You see, under the old covenant, the Spirit came upon people temporarily and certain people, the priests, right?
[01:01:00] Under the new covenant, the Spirit dwells within us permanently.
[01:01:06] This is one of the greatest blessings of salvation.
[01:01:10] God no longer dwells merely in temples.
[01:01:13] He dwells in his people.
[01:01:14] This, right, it's where I've been trying to take you.
[01:01:18] We are the church.
[01:01:22] And the Holy Spirit dwells on the inside of us.
[01:01:25] This building, yes, it's a church building.
[01:01:27] It's a tool that we use to preach the gospel.
[01:01:30] But we are the church.
[01:01:37] Many believers ask, where is God?
[01:01:39] For the New Testament believer, God has chosen to dwell within us through the Holy Spirit.
[01:01:46] The Holy Spirit bears witness on the inside of us, right?
[01:01:52] So the Holy Spirit's primary work is to, I'll let you finish that statement.
[01:02:02] What's the Holy Spirit's primary work?
[01:02:04] Anybody?
[01:02:08] Everybody's afraid.
[01:02:09] Say it again.
[01:02:10] Comfort, okay.
[01:02:12] Say that again.
[01:02:13] Counsel, okay.
[01:02:16] Say that again.
[01:02:17] Lead you in all truth, okay, good.
[01:02:20] and those are all correct answers but they all lead to one thing the Holy Spirit's primary job is to make us like Jesus I know it's kind of surprising because we think and I'll cover these other things
[01:02:36] and I'll put them in but the primary work of the Spirit is not producing spectacular moments even though they're awesome it's producing Christ-like people As we build a relationship with the Holy Spirit, we become more like Christ.
[01:03:00] Why?
[01:03:01] Because the Holy Spirit bears witness within us.
[01:03:04] The Holy Spirit brings and tells us what is to come.
[01:03:11] When the Holy Spirit is genuinely at work, Jesus becomes more central.
[01:03:18] Jesus becomes more beautiful.
[01:03:20] Jesus becomes more honored when we're building that relationship with the Holy Spirit.
[01:03:28] So let's talk about the fruit.
[01:03:29] Galatians chapter 5 verse 21 through 24 says envy drunkenness orgies and and and things like these I warn you as I warned you before that those who just do such things do not inherit the kingdom
[01:03:46] of God I didn't intend to read that one but verse 22 but the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness self-control against such things there is no law and those who belong to christ jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and
[01:04:05] its desires you see paul doesn't begin with the gifts he begins with the fruit how do you know an apple tree is an apple tree because of the fruit right paul doesn't begin with the gifts
[01:04:31] he begins with fruit why why does paul begin with fruit because character sustains what gifting can attract. That's a powerful statement. Listen, character sustains what gifting can attract.
[01:04:52] You see, this is the disconnect in the church because we've got people that are immature running around with all these gifts. And listen, the word of God says that God's not a respecter of persons. If we are sincere in our seeking, God will give you the gift. And so we've got people
[01:05:12] with great giftings running around with no maturity, no integrity, no character, right?
[01:05:20] And this is where the stigmatism comes into the churches.
[01:05:23] The church is filled with a bunch of hypocrites.
[01:05:25] It's because somebody has gone off with a gift and ministered to people, but they had no maturity in their lives.
[01:05:32] They had no character.
[01:05:33] They had no fruit.
[01:05:36] And I'm not discouraging, okay?
[01:05:38] But I'm just telling you, there's gotta be fruit.
[01:05:42] A person may possess spiritual gifts while lacking spiritual maturity.
[01:05:49] Okay, we gotta mature, we gotta grow.
[01:05:52] Always, always, always alongside with the gifts, right?
[01:05:56] Did I say that?
[01:05:58] Gifts are given without repentance.
[01:06:01] Do you understand what that means?
[01:06:03] That means that if you have the gift of tongues and you backslide and fall back into the world, God doesn't take that gift from you.
[01:06:13] You can still speak in tongues and be drunk.
[01:06:19] That's messed up, pastor.
[01:06:20] That's how good God is.
[01:06:39] I'm thinking the same thing that you're thinking.
[01:06:42] I know.
[01:06:42] I saw the image.
[01:06:46] So the fruit reveals spiritual health.
[01:06:54] Fruit reveals spiritual health.
[01:06:59] You ever gone up to that same apple tree that is infested with worms and try to eat an apple off that tree?
[01:07:05] You're going to end up with some extra protein in your apple.
[01:07:09] Right?
[01:07:10] That's why you've heard this saying, rotten to the core.
[01:07:15] I don't know why it is, but the worms always go right to the core of the apple.
[01:07:19] I guess they're eating the seeds.
[01:07:20] I don't know.
[01:07:23] Fruit reveals spiritual health.
[01:07:27] Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
[01:07:33] It doesn't mean that we're perfect in all of these things.
[01:07:37] Because we're broken vessels.
[01:07:38] We're loving people from our brokenness.
[01:07:44] So we don't have the ability to love perfectly.
[01:07:48] That's not an excuse.
[01:07:52] That's why you struggle.
[01:07:53] It's because I'm broken.
[01:07:56] and I'm trying to love with a perfect love from a broken vessel.
[01:08:01] We're imperfect people trying to do a perfect work and we don't always get it right.
[01:08:07] But that's not an excuse.
[01:08:11] I can't say to Chris, Chris, I'm broken.
[01:08:12] So if I hurt you, that's just tough.
[01:08:16] No, that's why Matthew chapter 18 says, go, man, I hurt you and I'm sorry.
[01:08:26] But the hurt came out of my brokenness and I pray that you'd forgive me.
[01:08:33] You understand how that works?
[01:08:38] Impatient, long-suffering, gentleness.
[01:08:44] This is all fruit.
[01:08:47] You see, the fruit of the Spirit grows slowly.
[01:08:52] The gifts of the Spirit may appear suddenly.
[01:08:55] Hello.
[01:08:59] Right?
[01:08:59] I have a little bitty apple tree in my backyard.
[01:09:06] It's little bitty.
[01:09:09] And last year it put out some apples.
[01:09:12] And I was patiently waiting, patiently waiting.
[01:09:15] and somebody got to it before i did that weren't patient and my apples disappeared it takes time the fruit develops slowly even though the gifts can come very quickly the fruit of the spirit grows slowly daily the gifts of the spirit may appear suddenly many believers desire instant
[01:09:56] gifts right listen this is this is a false sign many believers believe i've got gifts so i'm okay no what's the fruit what's the fruit of your life that's going to tell you a lot about where you're
[01:10:14] at come on now we we we pentecostals we wear speaking in tongues like a badge i got my tongues badge you know on my little royal ranger sash speaking in tongues it says right there so i'm
[01:10:30] mature. I'm a grown Christian. I can tell you how you should live your life. No, you're not.
[01:10:37] Because what's the fruit that's coming out of your life? That's how you judge where you're at with God, not in the giftings. And I don't want to diminish the gifts. I don't want to draw back
[01:10:51] from the gifts. They're important. They're for the purpose of edifying the church. But many believers, right they desire and they think that when they get them they're done i'm good no no no no no you're
[01:11:06] just getting started god is equally concerned with gradual transformation gradual transformation so let's understand fruit and gifts let's understand fruit and gifts first corinthians chapter 12 beginning with verse 4 now there are varieties of gifts we talked about the fruit
[01:11:30] There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
[01:11:34] And there are varieties of service, but the same Lord.
[01:11:38] And there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
[01:11:45] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit of common good.
[01:11:50] For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit.
[01:11:58] to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another, the working of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another, various kinds of tongues, to another, the interpretation of tongues.
[01:12:16] All these are empowered by one in the same Spirit who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
[01:12:26] Those are gifts, okay?
[01:12:30] Those are gifts.
[01:12:35] One of the most common areas of confusion involves spiritual gifts.
[01:12:42] Spiritual fruit answers the question, am I becoming like Jesus?
[01:12:51] That's how you know.
[01:12:52] Am I headed in the right direction?
[01:12:54] Is there fruit in my life?
[01:12:56] When you look at yourself in the mirror, are you becoming like Jesus?
[01:13:00] Right?
[01:13:01] This is the thing I say about the test for dating relationships.
[01:13:06] Are you getting closer?
[01:13:08] Is that relationship bringing you closer to God, or is that relationship pulling you away from God?
[01:13:14] Is your life growing and you're becoming more like Jesus, or are you becoming less like him?
[01:13:20] Hear what I'm saying.
[01:13:23] So spiritual fruit answers the question, am I becoming like Jesus?
[01:13:30] Spiritual gifts answer the question, how does God use me to serve others?
[01:13:37] Hello.
[01:13:39] You see, the gifts are given for the edification of the church.
[01:13:44] Not so that you can say, I have this sash full of my badges.
[01:13:50] No, it is for the edification.
[01:13:52] It is for serving the church.
[01:13:55] So the gifts answer the question, how does God use me to serve others?
[01:14:06] Every single one of us, we should be serving others.
[01:14:10] Every opportunity we get, there's always an opportunity to serve.
[01:14:16] Fruit concerns character, gifts concern ministry.
[01:14:26] I'm giving you these differences because if you'll grab hold of them, you'll understand the difference between the two.
[01:14:34] Let me give that to you again.
[01:14:36] Fruit concerns character, gifts concern ministry.
[01:14:44] So what my character is, how do we define character?
[01:14:47] Character is defined by who you are when nobody's looking.
[01:14:52] That's your character.
[01:14:56] You walk out of Walmart, and the checkout lady forgets to get the case of water under your basket, and you walk out praising God.
[01:15:03] God, just bless me.
[01:15:04] No, that's not a blessing.
[01:15:05] That's a test of your character, right?
[01:15:10] One time we were in, I don't know if I shared this with you, we were in Sam's, and we were checking out.
[01:15:17] Not checking out, but we were going out the door, and I had nicknamed the lady that was checking the receipts, you know.
[01:15:24] I had nicknamed her the Gestapo Because she was checking everything And I'm good with it I just I don't like it when people Accuse me of something And I felt like she was always accusing me
[01:15:40] So anyway she's looking through our stuff And there was one item That she couldn't find She couldn't find it on the receipt She couldn't find it And she said oh well I guess you got it for free
[01:15:51] And I said no ma'am I don't operate that way She had already held me up for a half hour and there was a line behind me, but I wasn't going to walk out with that. I walked over to
[01:16:01] customer service and I said, would you please find this item on this receipt? She scanned the receipt, she scanned the item and she circled it. I said, thank you very much. I walked back over to the
[01:16:10] lady. I said, here's my receipt and there's the item. There's the item it was paid for. Why?
[01:16:19] Because it's a test of my character, right? If you know you didn't pay for it. Now it's a whole another thing if you go back and they say, hey, don't worry about it, right? Character. Who are
[01:16:39] you when nobody's looking? You can justify it all you want. That's their problem. She missed it. No, I'm going back, right? And I've done that several times, right? Why this matters? Why does this matter? Because some churches emphasize gifts while neglecting character. Others emphasize
[01:17:10] is character while ignoring gifts.
[01:17:18] We can't go off the deep end in either.
[01:17:22] We've got to be right down the middle.
[01:17:27] A healthy, Spirit-filled church should display Christ-like character and Spirit-empowered ministry.
[01:17:35] A healthy, Pentecostal church should display and should see the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating in the altar, operating in service, but at the same time, The people that are operating are people of character and integrity.
[01:17:59] You see, it takes a lifetime.
[01:18:01] It takes a lifetime to build character.
[01:18:05] But it only takes one mistake to remove it all.
[01:18:13] Understand that?
[01:18:14] I had a pastor that taught me that at a young age in my walk with God.
[01:18:19] And that has stuck with me.
[01:18:22] That when I tell people I am a man of character and integrity, I've worked all of my life to maintain that.
[01:18:31] And some lady standing at the door is not going to remove that from me because I told her, I said, if I made a mistake and I didn't pay for that, then I'm going to pay for it.
[01:18:51] Pentecostal balance.
[01:18:52] We celebrate spiritual gifts.
[01:18:55] We welcome the operation of the spirit.
[01:18:57] But every manifestation must ultimately glorify Jesus and align with scripture.
[01:19:03] And this is listen, church.
[01:19:05] This is where Pentecostal churches and Pentecostal pastors get weird.
[01:19:08] because somebody will jump up in the aisle and they'll be dancing in the spirit and I don't have a problem with that.
[01:19:17] But the problem that I have with that is when the attention is all of a sudden taken from God and what God is doing in the house to being focused on them.
[01:19:26] When they're dancing in the spirit because they want people to look at them.
[01:19:30] When they're running around the sanctuary because they want people to look at them.
[01:19:35] That's out of balance, right?
[01:19:38] Have I seen people run the aisles?
[01:19:41] Absolutely, I have.
[01:19:42] Have I seen it done right?
[01:19:43] Absolutely, I have.
[01:19:45] Have I seen it done wrong?
[01:19:46] Absolutely, I have.
[01:19:49] Okay?
[01:19:50] We welcome the operation of the Spirit, but every manifestation must ultimately glorify Jesus and align with Scripture.
[01:19:58] The Holy Spirit leads believers today.
[01:20:05] Today.
[01:20:07] Romans 8, 14.
[01:20:09] And listen, I'm just going to say this.
[01:20:10] There are those that would say that the gift of the Holy Spirit is not for our dispensation.
[01:20:15] It still is.
[01:20:17] Don't believe that.
[01:20:19] Until Jesus comes back, people will be baptized in the Holy Spirit, and they will speak in tongues.
[01:20:25] People say that when the last disciple or last apostle died is when tongues ceased.
[01:20:31] That's not true.
[01:20:32] There's nothing in your Bible that says that.
[01:20:35] It is still alive and well.
[01:20:38] Jesus is still a miracle-working God, and it is not a deal of if Jesus will heal you.
[01:20:45] It's a deal of you are healed.
[01:20:49] He's already done it.
[01:20:50] Romans chapter 8 verse 14 for all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God the Holy Spirit's ministry extends beyond church services that's powerful right we need to be out there out there's where we do the work of the ministry this is where we come in and we're
[01:21:14] equipped and we celebrate what God is doing out there we've got to get church beyond the four walls of the building we got to have church in the streets right so I love wearing my Jesus
[01:21:25] in the streets shirt. People, I get comments all the time. Had an elderly man say, Jesus in the streets. I said, yes, sir. He said, that's a good thing. I said, yes, it is. Amen. I love wearing my
[01:21:43] Jesus is my superhero or prayer is my superpower, right? I get two reactions. I either get people that look at it and read it and put their head down and walk away, or I get people that read it
[01:21:56] and they just kind of look at me like, yeah, I love it.
[01:22:04] God desires to guide believers, or the Holy Spirit desires to guide believers daily.
[01:22:10] How does he lead?
[01:22:14] Through scripture, through conviction, through wisdom, through prayer, through godly counsels.
[01:22:21] You see, we talked about this.
[01:22:22] I said, what is the main job of the Holy Spirit?
[01:22:25] We talked about counselor.
[01:22:26] We talked about comforter.
[01:22:29] That's not his main priority, but that's what he does.
[01:22:33] Okay?
[01:22:33] that's how he leads. Many believers are waiting for a dramatic direction while ignoring daily obedience. That is so powerful. They're waiting for the prophecy to come forth. I need a prophecy.
[01:22:49] I need a prophecy. But they're negating daily obedience to God. You can't. It doesn't work that way. We've got people that chase prophetic words. We have an evangelist come in and he's a prophet, and everybody comes to church because they want a word. I need a word. Give me a word.
[01:23:15] Well, your word is do what your Bible says every day. Be obedient to that. They don't want to hear that, right? Pastor Shane said this. He said, everybody loves a new sermon, but nobody loves
[01:23:31] a new system. A sailboat cannot be directed if the sails are down. The wind may be blowing, but the sails must be raised.
[01:23:48] Likewise, the Holy Spirit guides believers who are willing to obey.
[01:23:55] The Spirit was never intended to be admired from the shore.
[01:24:00] He fills the sails of obedient believers.
[01:24:04] Obedience is where it's at, church.
[01:24:07] Obedience.
[01:24:09] Every day, every day walking in obedience to what the Word of God says, to what God is telling me to do.
[01:24:15] I'm being obedient to that every single day of my life.
[01:24:19] And I'm growing.
[01:24:20] I'm growing and growing, and the fruit is coming, right?
[01:24:25] The apple tree is sagging because there's so much fruit on it, right?
[01:24:31] So the Holy Spirit is not merely a doctrine of the assemblies of God.
[01:24:37] He is not merely an experience.
[01:24:41] He is God living within people, God the Holy Spirit.
[01:24:46] And he teaches, he guides, he convicts, he confronts, he comforts, he empowers, and most importantly, he transforms us into the image of Christ.
[01:25:00] I am becoming more like Christ, right?
[01:25:02] Because we ask this question, how do we live in this world?
[01:25:06] How do I do it?
[01:25:07] How do I get through day after day after day, right?
[01:25:12] By engaging and encountering the Holy Spirit every single day in my life and following and letting him transform us, right?
[01:25:26] So before we seek his power, we must know his person.
[01:25:29] We got to build a relationship.
[01:25:31] We got to get to know him.
[01:25:34] Before we desire his gifts, we must surrender to his leadership.
[01:25:39] Before we ask him to use us, we must allow him to change us.
[01:25:45] Amen.
[01:25:46] We must allow him to change us.
[01:25:50] Now watch this.
[01:25:51] I'm going to shift gears just a little bit.
[01:25:53] So this Sunday, we're going to explore how the Holy Spirit empowers ordinary believers for extraordinary mission.
[01:26:06] Hear what I'm saying?
[01:26:07] Because I said to you Sunday, right?
[01:26:12] How do we live?
[01:26:14] How do we live in this world that's unstable?
[01:26:16] How do we as Christians live a stable life?
[01:26:21] Because one of the things that I said to you is that God empowers his people.
[01:26:26] He doesn't just allow us to survive.
[01:26:28] God just doesn't want you to just survive.
[01:26:30] God wants you to be empowered. He wants you to be empowered. How am I empowered? I am empowered by building a relationship with the Holy Spirit. That's how I'm empowered, by living in the fruit
[01:26:48] and by operating and serving the church in the gifts. So they're not one and the same.
[01:26:57] They're two different things, but they work hand in hand. And if we have an understanding of it, then we can gauge our life and where we're at with God.
[01:27:10] Judge the fruit in your life.
[01:27:14] Focus on being fruitful.
[01:27:17] I've said this before.
[01:27:18] God's not in the tree growing business.
[01:27:20] God's in the fruit business.
[01:27:26] God's not in the tree growing business.
[01:27:28] God is in the fruit business.
[01:27:30] So there should be fruit coming out of your life alongside the gifts that God has given.
[01:27:37] The fruit, right, shows us where we are.
[01:27:42] Character.
[01:27:44] The gifts are for the edification of the church to serve, not to bring glory to you.
[01:27:50] Everything that you do and every gift that you operate in should bring glory to God.
[01:27:56] So tonight we learned who he is.
[01:28:00] Sunday we'll focus on what he does through surrendered believers.
[01:28:05] What does the Holy Spirit do when I surrender?
[01:28:08] I'll tell you about that Sunday.
[01:28:12] So come expecting.
[01:28:14] Come expecting.
[01:28:15] It's the reason that I'm doing what I'm doing with these five weeks.
[01:28:18] And then I'm teaching you step by step about the Holy Spirit.
[01:28:23] And then Sunday, I'm going to preach it.
[01:28:27] That when we surrender and we're living a Spirit-led life, what does that look like?
[01:28:34] Right?
[01:28:35] Amen?
[01:28:37] Stand with me if you would.
[01:28:39] Say, man, Pastor, that was quick.
[01:28:41] Yeah.
[01:28:42] It doesn't have to take 45 minutes.
[01:28:44] I've given you the material.
[01:28:46] I've given you the resources.
[01:28:50] So, Father, we praise you.
[01:28:51] We thank you tonight, Father, for your word.
[01:28:53] I thank you, Father God, for your truth, Father.
[01:28:55] Lord, I ask that you would just minister to each and every person here tonight, Father.
[01:29:00] That you would guide them.
[01:29:01] That you would lead them.
[01:29:05] I thank you, Father.
[01:29:09] I praise you, Father, for your word.
[01:29:13] I thank you, Father God, for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
[01:29:20] I thank you, Father, that you're teaching us to know him more deeply.
[01:29:25] Help us, Father God, tonight to move beyond the misconceptions, beyond the extremes, Father.
[01:29:31] and help us to be balanced in our walk.
[01:29:34] Help us to understand the importance of the fruit, Father.
[01:29:38] Help us to be people of character and integrity, Father.
[01:29:43] But Lord, give us the freedom to operate in the gifts.
[01:29:48] Give us the freedom, Father, that when we do operate as we're serving the church, that you, Father God, receive all the glory, not us, not in what we've done, not in the gift that we have,
[01:29:59] but in how we use that gift for you, Father.
[01:30:06] Lord, prepare our hearts for Sunday.
[01:30:08] prepare our hearts for Sunday Lord I just lift up once again Friday night with Patricia McNutt Father Lord I just pray over her right now Lord that you've put a word she's been diligent Father God she's been
[01:30:31] obedient she's been faithful Lord let your Holy Spirit bring out of her what you desire to do in river of life what you desire to do Father in the San Luis Valley lives that are going to be changed
[01:30:47] and transform women that are going to be set free. I pray over her. I pray over her team.
[01:30:56] I pray over her husband and her marriage, Father, that you would use them in a mighty way, Father God. And so, Father, I give you all the honor. I give you all the glory, Father God. And we pray
[01:31:12] all of these things, Father, in Jesus mighty name. Amen and amen. I know that your youth are not going to be done. They had a lot to do tonight. So be patient with them if you would. And I'm done
[01:31:26] early. So God bless you. Be blessed.