When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you receive an immense gift-the unlimited power, guidance, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. However, many people have trouble understanding what the Holy Spirit is capable of doing in and through their lives. In this message, Dr. Stanley helps you realize that this wonderful blessing is available for you now. Order this sermon today: https://store.intouch.org/purchase/th…
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[Music]
with a message from God’s word here’s
Charles
Stanley once you and I have trusted the
Lord Jesus Christ as our savior we begin
to immediately learn some lessons or
some principles by which we learn to
live the Christian life but the big
mistake we make is this we learn those
principles we start out utilizing those
principles or abiding by them and after
a while we feel like we get a little
confident and things to go a sort of
going our way we feel little success in
our Christian Life next thing you know
we’ve had a big collapse or we’ve had a
falter or a fall in some fashion why is
it that somehow even though we start out
right often times we don’t end up right
well one of the primary reasons is the
fact that we drift away from the very
principles that make us a success in
whatever we’re doing and often times we
think that we’re practicing the same
thing but we’ve gotten so familiar with
it we’ve become so familiar with the
word of God with the principles with the
messages that we hear that the next
thing you know we are not practicing
them and then we are wondering what in
the world’s going on in our life so what
I’d like to do in this message I want to
deal with one of those very basic but
awesome powerful principles that will
make the difference in whether you live
the Christian Life victoriously or
whether you fail in it not only that but
whether you can fail or whether you
succeed in everything else you’re doing
in life because God has made it very
clear in his word word there is one
thing in this life that is so absolutely
essential it essential every single day
no matter what so I want you to turn if
you will to Luke chapter 24 and in this
particular passage right before Jesus
ascends he gives his disciples a very
specific command absolutely essential to
their whole future that simple
command Not only would determine whether
they succeeded in what they did but also
and how they lived so if you’ll notice
beginning in verse 44 of the 24th
chapter of Luke now he said to them
these are my words which I spoke to you
while I was still with you that all
things which are written about me in the
law of Moses and the prophets and the
Psalms must be fulfilled then he opened
their minds to understand the scriptures
and he said to them thus it is written
that the Christ should suffer and Rise
Again from the dead the third day and
that repentance for forgiveness of sin
should be
proclaimed in his name to all the
nations beginning from Jerusalem you
Witnesses of these things then notice
this next verse and behold I’m sending
forth the promise of my father upon you
but you are to stay in the city until
you’re clothed with power from on high
and he led them out as far as Bethany
and he lifted up his hands and blessed
them and it came about that while he was
blessing them he parted from them and
they returned to Jerusalem with great
joy and were content continually in the
temple praising God
now right before his departure Jesus
said one of the most important things he
could possibly have said he had prepared
them for this moment but now he said to
them I want you to sit down in the city
of Jerusalem until you be clothed with
power from on high what I want to talk
about in this message is the power of
the holy spirit in the life of the
believer now to many people there idea
of the power of the Holy Spirit is some
miraculous thing that God does uh
through some so-called healer or some
outstanding preacher or teacher and so
forth but what I want you to understand
in this message is this that the work
and the ministry and the power of the
holy spirit is not only available to
every single believer but is the will of
God for every single believer no matter
who you are and often times that is the
big hedge we have to get across because
so often people think well that’s for
missionaries and this is for teachers
and this is for preachers and certainly
this has nothing to do with me as a
businessman or me as a mother or me as a
student I’m a plumber I’m a preacher I’m
a carpenter uh I’m a secretary or I work
out here in the business world and I’m
ah head of this and ahead of that what
does the Holy Spirit have to do with any
of this well listen very carefully
because it is so very important you and
I understand that this message is not
limited to preachers and missionaries
and Bible teachers but God intends for
to be for every single person so what I
want to do first of all is to Define
what I mean by the power of the Holy
Spirit the power of the holy spirit is
that Divine Authority and energy which
God releases in the life of every single
one of his children in order that you
and I may live a Godly life and that we
may live a fruitful life the power of
the holy spirit is that Divine energy
and listen that Divine energy and
Authority that God releases in and
through every single believer in order
that we might live a Godly life and bear
a fruitful life so when he talks about
being clothed with power from on high
that’s the kind of power he’s talking
about
now let me just say this the Holy Spirit
cannot be manipulated you can’t make the
Holy Spirit do anything God has given us
the spirit therefore we don’t have to
try to manipulate him to do anything the
spirit of God once he comes into a
person’s life listens he energizes the
body he enlightens the mind to
understand truth and listen not only
that he
inflames our spirit with a passion of
Devotion to almighty God what I’d like
to do in this message is simply this I
want to give you a comprehensive view of
the Holy Spirit I want to start out with
something very simple and move it to the
more complex one thing I am certain if
you will listen carefully to this
message if you’ll be wise enough to take
some notes you will not only be
enlightened probably in some areas but
you’re going to be encouraged in your
life no matter what your vocation or
what God has called you to do so what
I’m going to do is I’m going to answer
five questions I’m going to ask you to
talk back to me I’m going to ask you to
give them back so don’t just sit there I
want you to be able to tell me back
because listen you need to be able to
tell someone else when they say well who
is this Holy Spirit where did he come
from what’s all this about I not only
want you to be able to answer the
question questions but I want you to be
able to answer them from an experience
that you have in your life as a result
of your relationship to God through his
son Jesus Christ and the indwelling
presence of the holy spirit in your life
question number one who is the Holy
Spirit Well it’s very clear in the Bible
who he is and the Bible says that the
Holy Spirit listen he is a person of the
Trinity go all the way back to Genesis
chapter 1 verses that we refer to often
but this is one of those truths that
often times Clips Right By Us in Genesis
1 look if you will in verse two we all
know what verse one says in the
beginning God created the heavens and
the Earth but notice verse two and the
Earth was formless and void and darkness
was over the surface of the deep and the
spirit of God was moving over the
surface of the waters verse 26 then God
said let us make man in our image
according to our likness and let them
rule over the fish of the sea over the
birds of the sky over the cattle and
over all the Earth and over every
creeping thing that creeps on the earth
when he says let us make man in our
image who is us God the Father God the
son God the Holy Spirit it is the spirit
of God that is brooding over the
creation so that the spirit of God was
certainly a part of the creation go back
if you will on over to John chapter 14
for a moment and you’ll recall in this
14th chapter of John when Jesus is
encouraging his disciples at a moment
which he knows is a Prelude to Great
discouragement here’s what what he says
in verse 16 to the 14th chapter I will
ask the father and he will give you
another helper that he not yet he may be
with you forever that is the spirit of
Truth whom the world cannot receive
because he does not Behold Him or know
him but you know him because he abides
with you and will be in you Jesus called
the Holy Spirit not an it but he called
him a person so when somebody says well
who is the Holy Spirit the holy spirit
is a person of the Trinity now
somebody says but wait a minute in
Romans chapter 8: 26 and you’re
absolutely correct if you have a King
James version of the Bible uh the Bible
refers uh in that 26th verse and speaks
of the Holy Spirit as it but that is a
translation of the third person singular
he she it that particular reference is
simply a translation of third person
singular when it should have been
something else now the spirit of the
Living God is not a force he’s somebody
he is somebody extr extremely important
to your daily life and mine if somebody
says well look tell me who is this Holy
Spirit what is the first thing you’re
going to say the holy spirit is a what a
person of the Trinity the holy spirit is
a person of the Trinity secondly the
holy spirit is a promise of the father
notice if you will back in this 24th
chapter what Jesus said behold I sending
forth the promise of my father and he
says you are to stay in the city until
you be clothed with power from on high
the spirit of the Living God God is Not
only listen he’s not only a person of
the Trinity but he is a promise of the
father Jesus promised that the father
would send the Holy Spirit he said he’ll
come and he’ll be a helper to you he’ll
be a comforter to you he says I’m
sending him therefore he is a promise of
the father and so he had been saying to
those disciples all along there’s going
to come a time when the Holy Spirit is
going to be in you with you and upon you
and at this moment when he was speaking
the Holy Spirit had not come upon the
church as he did later on at Pentecost
and so when somebody says well who is
this Holy Spirit he listen the holy
spirit is a person of the Trinity he is
the promise of the father but thirdly he
is the gift to every single believer
turn if you will to Acts chapter 2 for a
moment and you’ll recall that Peter has
preached that awesome sermon at
Pentecost and thousands of people are
being saved and lives are being changed
and what happens thereafter is certainly
evidence of the fact that something
awesome happened on that particular day
listen to what happens now verse 37 when
they heard this they were pierced to the
heart and they said to Peter and the
rest of the Apostles Brethren what shall
we do Peter said to them repent and let
every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the Forgiveness of
your sins and you shall receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit now so with that in
mind let’s think about it this way
somebody says well who is the Holy
Spirit the holy spirit is a person of
the Trinity he is the promise of the
father and he is the gift to every
single believer now once in a while
somebody will say well uh you’re a
Christian yes they’ll say to you well
have you got the Holy Ghost well first
of all let me talk about ghost the
proper translation is Spirit we think in
terms of ghost we think of some
Apparition out there somewhere we’re
talking about somebody who’s the person
of the Trinity the promise of the father
and he was not a ghost listen no person
of the Trinity God the Father God the
son God the holy spirit is a ghost in
terms of what we think in terms of ghost
He is a person of the Trinity he is the
spirit now when somebody says to you
well now wait a minute now tell me who
is this Holy Spirit first of all he is
the what come on all three of them he is
a person of the Trinity the promise of
the father and the gift to every single
believer he is the gift to every
believer so when somebody says do you
have the Holy Ghost you said to them
listen I not only have the Holy Ghost I
have the Holy Spirit forget the ghost
business I do have the Holy Spirit Well
when did you get him well I got him but
usually what they’re going to say to you
is when did you get it because there are
multitudes of Christians out there who
still refer to the Holy Spirit as it
when did you get it now why do they say
it instead of him here’s the reason
because their emphasis is not on his
personhood but their emphasis is on what
they think he does and so when they
think in terms of it they think in terms
of some miraculous act or they think in
terms of some healing or they think in
terms of some power some Force Jesus
emphasis of the Holy Spirit was not on
it Jesus emphasis of the Holy Spirit was
he is a helper whom the father is going
to send and so therefore when somebody
says well do you have it what you say is
look have what and they say have the
Holy Spirit well he’s not in it the holy
spirit is somebody well who is he well
he’s a person of the Trinity he’s the
promise of the father and he’s a gift to
every single believer well when did you
get him I got him when I was saved how
did you get him when you were saved
because that’s exactly what God says he
says he baptized us into Christ Jesus
I’m telling you there’s so much false
Doctrine so much erroneous doctrine that
goes on and if you were to ask this
person well do you believe that the holy
spirit is part of the Trinity oh yes I
do why are you calling him an it because
I’m telling you the emphasis of what
they’re talking about is what he does or
something that they have seen or they
have given to the Holy Spirit um uh some
uh reputation of doing this and doing
that and doing the other that’s got
folks all heed up and hooped up and
hollowed up and so forth they know
absolutely nothing about the present day
work of the Holy Spirit every single day
of their life absolutely essential in
our life but it’s very important you and
I understand who he is you believe in
Jesus you believe in God the Father you
believe in the holy spirit all three
persons of the Trinity which make up the
godhead and that is the godhead is one
listen three persons of the Trinity God
the Father God the son God the Holy
Spirit make up the godhead when he said
let us make man in our image God the
Father God the son God the Holy Spirit
not God the person of the father not God
the person of of Jesus and not God the
it of the spirit no he is a person
person of the Trinity and the reason
that’s so important is because of why
God sent him now so when somebody says
to you who is the Holy Spirit you’re
going to say the holy spirit is Person
of the Trinity promise of the father
gift to every single believer right now
why in the world did God send him why
did God send him well he says In this
passage now notice he says you are to
sit down in the city of Jerusalem until
you be endued with power from on high
here’s the first reason God s both of
these are equally important but I want
to put this one first God the Father
sent the Holy Spirit listen to enable us
to do the work God has called us to do
he sent the Holy Spirit to enable us to
do the work God has called us to do now
let’s clarify something right
fast often times we want to put that in
the category of Apostles preachers the
Apostle Paul Peter preachers that day
missionaries and so forth let me ask you
something let me talk to you mothers for
just a moment would you not agree that
to raise up Godly children teenagers for
example today in an ungodly world going
into ungodly schools with all the
ungodly influence and temptations around
them would you not agree mom would you
not agree dad that one of the most
awesome responsibilities one of the
toughest jobs today is to raise up Godly
children who believe the word of God who
stand for what they believe who will not
yield to Temptation who will not succumb
to peer pressure and who will stand
strong in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ among their PE would you not
agree that is one of the most difficult
tasks today amen well let me ask you if
you feel very adequate in doing that
yourself as a mother father please say
Amen right dead silence you have to
listen carefully you see now so what’s
the Holy Spirit have to do with that
because God knew and it has always been
true that it’s difficult to raise Godly
families and amidst Godly societies when
Paul wrote to the Corinthians and these
other cities the church churches there
they were just as Godless and often
times more so than anything that we can
think of today and so the work of the
holy spirit is not limited to preachers
and teachers and missionaries but to
every single facet for example you’re a
businessman out there in the world
you’ve got all kind of Temptations and
trials around you and all kinds of
things that you have to face and
decisions you have to make would you not
agree that you need somebody wiser than
you to help you strengthen you enable
you to make wise decisions to live above
Temptations live a Godly life in a Godly
Society with all the greed and the
competition and all the rest how do you
not get mixed up and absolutely
overwhelmed it and after a while drift
into the same principles of greed and
selfishness and self-centeredness and
going to have more and more and more and
becoming materialistic and secularised
absolutely if you let yourself drift
you’ll be right in the middle of it and
before long you’ll be out of church you
know why God said wait in the city of
Jerusalem until you be end du with
powerful on high for the simple reason
he knew what had happened in in his own
life he knew what was going to happen in
in their lives for example let’s go back
to Luke chapter 4 for a moment Luke
chapter 4 concerning the life of the
Lord Jesus here’s what happens he’s been
baptized you recall that the Holy Spirit
came upon him in a very special way at
his baptism and then chapter 4 of Luke
beginning in verse one
says and Jesus full of the Holy Spirit
returned from the Jordan and was led by
the spirit Into the Wilderness now look
if you will in verse in verse 14 so he
without that being tempted after the
Temptation the Bible says listen and
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power
of the Holy Spirit and news about him
spread throughout all the surrounding
districts and he began teaching in the
synagogues and praising was praised by
all goes to the synagogue they hand him
the scroll here’s what happens Verse 18
he opens the book and he reads the
spirit of the Lord is upon me because he
anointed me to preach the gospel of the
poor sent me to Proclaim release to the
captives recovery of her sight to the
blind set free those who are downtrod to
proclaim the favorable year of the lord
it’s interesting that his emphasis here
is on the work of the holy spirit in the
life of Jesus Christ before he began his
ministry remember he was out there as a
carpenter then he came down to John the
Baptist and he was baptized and the
spirit of God Came Upon him and uh then
he’s out there in the wilderness he
comes back full of the Holy Spirit full
of the Holy Spirit to do what the father
had called him to do go if you will to
ask chapter 9 for a moment you recall in
Acts chapter 9 this is the account of
the Apostle Paul’s uh conversion
experience well uh he’s carried to uh
someone’s home here and notice if you
will in verse 17 and verse 17 of this
n9th chapter and ananas departed and
entered the house and after laying his
hands on him on Saul he said brother
Saul the Lord Jesus who appeared to you
on the road by which you were coming has
sent me also that you may regain your
sight and be filled with the Holy
Spirit why so quickly why did he say
gain your sight be filled with the Holy
Spirit here’s the reason immediately
there fell from his eyes something like
scales he regained his sight Rose and
was baptized he took food and was
strengthened now for several days he was
with the disciples who were at Damascus
and immediately he began to Proclaim
Jesus in the synagogue saying he is the
Son of God they were amazed they said
this is a man who’s destroyed us and
bound us and now here he comes preaching
and teaching the scripture says in that
same chapter that he was absolutely
baffling the minds of the Pharisees and
the Sadducees in fact he was so
absolutely persuasive that they were
trying to kill him they tried to
assassinate him thereafter he gets sa
listen somebody says well I got saved
and things got worse joined the crowd
the Apostle Paul got saved got filled
with the Holy Spirit next thing you know
they’re trying to kill him and for the
rest of his days in the ministry they’re
trying to kill him all of his ministry
they’re trying to kill him why because
he is speaking the truth of God and the
power and the anointing of the holy
spirit of God now think about this if
Jesus began his ministry following the
spirit of God coming upon him in a
special way for his work if the Apostle
Paul began his ministry following the
power of the Holy Spirit coming upon him
being baptized there and if Jesus said
to his Apostles you walk with me you
watch Miracles you’ve seen me you’ve
heard me you have experienced uh casting
out demons and all the rest but you’re
not ready to do the work that I’ve
called you to do because it is a
supernatural work you can’t do it in the
natural because it’s a supernatural work
you got to have Supernatural power what
is that Supernatural power it is the
Divine Authority and energy released in
a person’s life and through a person’s
life in order to enable them to live a
Godly life and to live a fruitful life
so he said to them you wait until the
spirit of God comes remember he said you
shall receive power after that the Holy
Ghost has come upon you you should be
witnesses to me both in Jerusalem Judea
Samaria the uttermost parts of the earth
one of the primary reasons he came is to
equip us for the work that God has
called called us to do now that work may
be one of a variety of things as we
mentioned a few moments ago and so often
people listen to a message on the Holy
Spirit and they relegate it to something
else I’m here to tell you listen he
would not have indwelt you every single
believer he would not have indwelt you
if he had not intended for you to do
something in your life and him to do
something through your life that you
would need the spirit of God living and
working within you I believe any person
who listen no matter what you vocation
no matter where you are in school no
matter what the situation may be if
you’re full of the Holy Spirit listen
you have the supernatural power and
authority within you to enable you to
succeed at whatever God has called you
to do and so therefore he said to them
you to wait Supernatural work done what
in Supernatural power Jesus the apostles
and all the rest now why is it for
example that so many churches are just
sort of dead I mean you go in the
music’s dead and the preaching’s dead
there’s nothing going on I’ll tell you
why you show me a church where the
spirit of God is neglected where there’s
no emphasis on the Holy Spirit no
emphasis on the blood of Jesus no
emphasis on the cross and I’ll show you
that there’s something dreadfully
missing you show me a person who
understands the work of the holy spirit
in their life and a person who’s
practicing that you show me a church
where they understand what the ministry
of the holy spirit is all about listen
their singing is going to be better
there’s going to be joy in their heart
there’s going to be a smile upon their
face there’s going to be something alive
and so therefore Jesus said you to wait
until you be endued with power from on
high what is that power Divine energy
and divine Authority that comes in the
presence of the holy spirit so therefore
think about this you can’t ever say to
God when he called you to do something
you can’t ever tell him well I can’t do
that you know why when he sent the Holy
Spirit to indwell you listen that
eliminated all excuses forever in your
life of saying to him I can’t do it
first of all would god listen would he
call you to do something he wouldn’t
equip you to do no he would not would he
require of you something that he himself
would not do through you no he would not
therefore whatever God called you to do
listen my friend the only right thing
for you to do is to say yes to him
because you say well I don’t feel
adequate who does feel adequate listen
the key to relying upon the holy spirit
is feeling personal inadequacy that
drives us to do what first of all to
recognize our need of him second to rely
upon him and thirdly to trust him to do
and to be in US everything we need him
to be there’s not a single one of us who
can do the work that God has call us to
do and do it well and do it successfully
and endure the difficulty and the
hardship and the pain and the suffering
and the criticism and all the rest AP
part from the work of the Holy Spirit
now you’re going to see some folks out
there who are doing seemingly pretty
well in their life but you know what
there are some folks who can do pretty
well in the flesh you say well isn’t
that enough no it’s not enough why is it
not enough because listen God has given
to every single one of us a potential
none of us know what our potential is
here’s the question you have to ask
yourself am I willing to go through my
life living just half P size am I
willing just to do pretty well when I
could do a whole lot better am I willing
to give it just some of my energy give
it all listen one thing I know for
certain there’s no such thing as a
Spirit-filled person doing a sloppy job
there’s no such thing as a Spirit-filled
person being calloused toward others and
careless in their work indifferent to
their responsibility listen if every
Christian in America was full of the
Holy Spirit you know what would happen
to our economy our economy would
absolutely explode internationally in
such a fashion there’d be no human
explanation for it if every believer got
up every single morning full of the Holy
Spirit and went to work doing their best
giving it all they have with the right
motivation and an absolute total
dependence upon God their work would be
better their attitude would be better
their Spirit would be better there’d be
a joy in their heart and besides that
more than likely they make more
money that’s what most folks are after
is more money you know what and when you
see people who are very callous in in
their attitudes and very careless in
what they do indifferent they don’t want
to give it their their best they say you
know why should I do it when somebody
else can do it let me tell you something
if that’s your attitude in the in the
Working World you could not be full of
the Holy Spirit the spirit of God listen
you know what he’s going to do what do
we say we say he does what he energizes
the body he enlightens the mind and he
inflames this passion within us to do
what in our devotion and love and
obedience to almighty God we want to do
our best we want to give it our best
listen we don’t we don’t want to work 6
and a half hours hours a day when we
ought to be working eight we don’t want
to check out 30 minutes ahead of time we
want to be able to do everything that
God requires of us and one thing for
certain he will never require of you
more than you can do in the presence and
the power of the Holy Spirit now when
you and I get in the flesh we get in our
own energy and I’ve certainly been there
at times when I absolutely could not do
all that I thought I ought to be doing
which some of which certainly was not
what God was up to and sometimes we have
expectations of ourselves more than what
God does but what he’s promised to do is
enable us and to equip us both in wisdom
and understanding and knowledge and
energy to do what he has required of us
what he has called us to do and he will
make you a success and whatever you’re
doing when your Reliance is upon the
spirit of God because what you’re doing
you’re looking to him depending upon him
waiting upon Him trusting him to give
you guidance and Direction and energy
and strength and wisdom to do the job
there’s not a single person every single
solitary believer has the right to claim
the presid pres and the power of the
spirit of God in their life for whatever
God has called you to
do well I meet folks sometimes they down
in the dumps and they’re having a hard
time and things are not going so good
when I begin to ask them some questions
I know exactly not always but exactly
most of the time what’s going on you
know what they’re trusting in their
strength their energy what are they
trusting in their knowhow their
experience they’re trusting in what
somebody else says and besides that
they’re trusting in somebody else to get
them along in life listen don’t trust
someone else to get you along in Life
Trust almighty God who created you and
has equipped you and has enabled you to
do and become what he has enabled and
equipped you to do let rely upon him and
see what he can do for you somebody says
well I’m looking for a promotion and U
you know I’m I’m doing my best to
convince and persuade and I hope they
see my good work you know what you ought
to do just be sure God sees your good
work when God sees your good work he
knows how to motivate people to promote
you to wherever he wants you and listen
you do a good job down here in a small
place God put you where he wants you
know why because you’ve proven to be
trustworthy to almighty God wherever you
are he says you sit in the city of
Jerusalem until you be endued with power
from on high if you don’t like the way
things are going in your life you don’t
like the way things are going in your
job listen then you get full of the Holy
Spirit and then just say God all right
here’s my life and I’m going to come to
that in a few moments I now I want to
see what you do I see what I do Lord
what a mess I’ve made of things now I
want to see what you do and my friends
you’ll be absolutely amazed at what God
will do in your life I don’t care how
old old you are how young you are what
your vocation what your motivation out
there is God will begin to work in your
life in a very unusual way remember what
we said that the power of the holy
spirit is God’s Divine energy and
Authority listen and authority to do
what we need to do for example let’s say
that uh your uh teenage son comes in and
U uh he’s giving you a little lip about
something and uh you say what’s that got
to do with the Holy Spirit here’s what
it’s got to do with it are you listening
Say Amen amen parents can speak lovingly
but listen in the authority of almighty
God to their children now remember this
your son or your daughter as a Believer
you know what the spirit of God’s going
to do the spirit of God’s going to
convict that child that listen not only
have I heard from my mother or my daddy
I believe God’s trying to say something
to me you see don’t relegate the work of
the spirit just out that preaching and
teaching he wants them to be involved in
every single aspect of your life no
matter what it is you come to some
financial decision you listen to this
one that one and the other one why don’t
you listen to God unless you say well
how do I listen to God you know how how
you can listen to him you ask him God I
don’t want I don’t understand exactly
how to do this would you send somebody
in my life who is full of the spirit who
is led by your principles and guided by
your principle to help me understand and
to make a wise decision that is exactly
what God will do there are godly people
in every field full of the Holy Spirit
ready and willing to help other godly
people who want to know what to do and
how to do it listen this is a
supernatural life that you and I have
and so therefore he says to them you
wait till you be IND du with power from
on high so every single one of us
indwelt by the Holy Spirit every single
one of us has the right to claim and to
call upon the spirit of God to enable us
to do whatever he’s called us to do so
the first reason that God sent the Holy
Spirit was number one what to enable us
to do the work God has called us to do
now does that leave out any believers no
it does not every single believer now
the second Reason Not in necessarily in
this order second reason is to enable us
to live the life he’s called us to live
do the work he’s called us to do enable
us to live the life he’s called us to
live well what kind of life is
that he’s called us to live a holy life
oh I can’t do that well let’s wait a
minute let’s just find out what a holy
life
is does he not say in First Peter that
he says we to be holy even as he is Holy
does that mean
sinless well if that means sinless I
give up and quit all the rest of was
going to have to also living a holy life
does not mean a sinless life why do I
know that because God listen God knows
how absolutely human every single one of
us is none of his disciples lived a
perfect life none of his disciples lived
a sinless life if you don’t believe that
you look in Romans chapter 7 Paul says
what I don’t want to do I find myself
doing what I want to do I found myself
not doing until he came to the eth
chapter and he talked about the victory
that he discovered in his relationship
to Christ and the Holy Spirit now
the holy life is not a sinless life what
is a holy life a holy life is a life
having trusted Jesus Christ his personal
savior that is bent toward god with a
devotion and desire for God and a hunger
and thirst to live for him that does not
mean we’re not going to make mistakes
because we all came in this world with a
sinful nature now you who are
grandparents and uh you go to see your
grandson your granddaughter and that
sweet little thing and and you say well
and and sometimes they’ll say well how
in the world could somebody as sweet and
as pretty as that act like that way how
could they act that way real simple
sinful nature just like the one we all
came in the world with and so we all
came in the world with one now we either
live by it and let it Rule and dominate
our life all of our lives and reckon on
our lives or we have an experience with
Jesus Christ by which we saved an
experience with the Holy Spirit by which
we live in the power of the spirit of
the Living God who is within us
therefore person says well you know I’ve
tried my best to live the Christian Life
and I’ve met people over the years many
people whove said well you know what
I’ve tried it doesn’t work yes it does
work well I tried and it didn’t work
don’t tell me it works because it
doesn’t work yes it does what is it
about it it doesn’t work well I tried it
you know what the problem is I tried and
I tried and I tried and I tried In My
Own Strength and my own energy now I
recognize a lot of people I grow up in
churches where when you get saved here’s
what they say and you must do the
following things you need to read the
Ten Commandments obey the Ten
Commandments read The Sermon on the
Mount obey The Sermon on the Mount need
to come to church Sunday morning Sunday
night Wednesday night read your Bible
pray tithe income by the time they get
through that whole list you
say how can I do all of that you know
what you can read your Bible and you can
pray and you can give and you can go to
church and backslide all over yourself
you know why because that be I can do
all that in my energy but listen walking
in the spirit walking in obedience to
God I cannot do in the flesh now the
Bible says we have one of two Lifestyles
we have a lifestyle In the Flesh I’m
going to Define that in a moment or we
have a lifestyle in the spirit the Bible
says we to walk in the spirit not in the
flesh what in the world does he mean by
flesh that’s Paul’s word for walking in
our sinful nature and to the believer we
have a new spirit and a new nature but
you know what we still have our
naturalness I would would been wonderful
if God had taken all of our naturalness
away but he didn’t so therefore we still
have the capacity to sin against God
anytime we choose to if I walk in the
spirit and the spirit of God is
controlling my life then surely there’s
going to be a different kind of
Lifestyle if I’m walking in the flesh in
our naturalness a carnality as the Bible
calls it whether it’s flesh carnality or
naturalness that’s that’s all the same
and you’ve heard people say well you
know what I do is just natural sure it
is it’s natural for a lost man if he
wants to drink or carry on and carouse
and mess up his or her life that is the
natural way because Paul said in
Ephesians chapter 2 verse one therefore
he says now in times past we walked
according to the course of this age the
Natural Life lifestyle of this age which
is what seeking after hungering after
thirsting after lusting after anything
all things everything that will satisfy
this big open Gap in my heart and you
see the truth is God’s made a place in
our life only that for Jesus only he can
fill it and therefore people live their
lives they become discouraged they say
I’ve tried to live a Christian Life I
Can’t well let me ask you a question
what part did the Holy Spirit have in
you living your life when you were
failing and having difficulty in
hardship doesn’t mean you’re not going
to have any hardship in your life but
God sent the Holy Spirit to enable you
and me to live a life we cannot live in
the flesh we can’t live it in our own
strength and I think one of the most
awesome moments as I look back in my own
life the night that I realized for the
first time that I could not live the
Christian Life God did not intend for me
to live the Christian life but my trying
begging praying pleading fasting and all
the things that I tried to do to live a
Godly life and felt like an absolute
failure over and over and over again
when I read one single chapter the first
first chapter of the little book they
found the secret about Hudson Taylor and
recognized what Jesus meant when he said
I am the vine you are the branch the
branch abides in the vine he said I’m
abiding in you and you’re abiding in me
the branch does not bear fruit of itself
listen you’ve never seen branches that
they go trying to bear fruit but the
branch just lives off the vine the sep
that runs in the vine runs in the branch
and that sep that comes in the stem and
produces delicious grapes here’s what I
did for a long time I’m over here going
trying to get the fruit and you know
what I fa just like everybody else fail
the night that I recognize what Jesus
meant when he said I’m abiding in you
and you’re abiding in me it is his life
in us his life through us the Christian
Life listen the Christian Life is this
it is Christ Living his life in and
through Us in the power and the presence
and the person of the Holy Spirit of the
Living God listen you can’t do do the
work God’s called you to do apart from
the Holy Spirit you can’t live the life
that God has called you to live apart
from the Holy Spirit listen it is a
supernatural work Supernatural power
Supernatural life Supernatural power and
the reason there’s so much failure I
think often times is most people are
totally ignorant of the fact that the
spirit of God is an essential part of my
life every single solitary
day so you’ve heard us talk about
putting on the whole armor of God for
example in Ephesians chapter 6 and what
is he talking about he says put on the
helmet of salvation and I know how he
says but I start from the top to the
bottom that’s where I put it on helmet
of salvation do what protect my thinking
breastplate of righteousness protect my
emotions girl of Truth to be sure I’m
walking in it sandals of peace because I
want to be a peacemaker sword of the
spirit defensive and offensive weapon
and above all taking the shield of Faith
to quench all the fiery darts of the
devil well let me add something to that
when you wake up tomorrow morning here’s
what you do you say I Want to Thank You
Lord first of all I realize that I’m
absolutely Ely dependent upon the holy
spirit to enable me today to live the
life you want me to live do the work
you’ve called me to do secondly now do I
recognize that but I choose to rely upon
the spirit to give me direction and
guidance during this day thirdly Lord
I’m going to trust you I’m going to
accept is done your guidance and your
direction for me this day and you know
what happens when you get up with a full
armor on and when you just when you go
ahead and confess it right up front I am
absolutely totally dependent upon you
today you know the problem with that
most people want to be in control most
people want to be in charge most people
want to feel adequate when I think about
all these success books and all these
success seminars and and things that are
out there and people talking about being
successful in life and being able to
have self-confidence and there is a
Godly kind of confidence being
self-confident you can do it you can do
it you can do it you can do it the
scripture says no you can’t do it so you
have to decide who you’re going to
believe you’re going to believe God of
them now listen what you have to ask for
listen you have to ask for what do you
want do I want want life at its fullest
then that’s one way do I just want what
the world has to offer More Money More
Prestige more promess more position more
this getting this and having my security
wrapped up in things that I could lose
in a split second or do I want life at
its best now if I just want what the
world has to offer I can do some of
those things in My Own Strength but
listen if I want something that counts
and as I said to someone yesterday who
said to me they said you know uh I said
well how you doing well he said um uh I
have joy but I’m not very happy my
circumstance listen you know you don’t
have to be happy in your circumstance
they’re all things but probably
something about all of our Lives we
would like to change that we think would
make us happier the truth is we can have
a joy whether we have real happiness or
not that Joy overrides the difficulty
the hardship the trial the tribulations
and all the things we have and we don’t
have there’s something about a
relationship with Christ there’s a joy
on the inside of us this intimacy we can
have with him what is that that’s the
work of the spirit of God doing with
drawing us to him my prayer daily many
times a day is God draw me to yourself
draw me to yourself draw me to yourself
because I know that intimacy is the key
to a deep sense of abiding joy that
nothing in this world can destroy no
matter what God desires that you and I
daily recognize our dependence Upon Our
need of our desperate need so often of
the power of the holy spirit in our life
affirming that to be true in our life
relying upon him and watching to see
what he does listen all all of us have
made messes of certain areas of our life
but you know what when you depend upon
him and see what he does it’s amazing
what he can do and even no matter what
you’re going through he will sustain you
through that no matter what two reasons
he sent him number one he sent the Holy
Spirit in order to do what to enable us
to do the work God called us to do and
secondly to do what enable us to live
the life he’s called us to live what I’d
like to do is to give you a list of um
listen to this now I’m going to give you
a list of the works of the holy spirit
in your life and mine most of these go
on daily now I want you to see what they
are and I want you to understand how
very important it is that we understand
this is something that God is in the
process or desires to do in your life
and mind every day does make what you’re
facing in
life so let’s think about the work of
the spirit and what I’ll do is I’ll give
you the uh work of the spirit and then I
will give you the chapter because I
don’t want you to just read one verse I
want you to read what’s what’s in the
context of it
now when you think about the work of the
spirit we said first of all when we talk
about the power of the holy spirit this
is divine energy and listen Divine
energy that God places in our life to
physically and emotionally enable us to
do what he’s called us to do and so God
is in a a very practical way working in
our life Moment by moment day by day
with that comes the authority with that
Authority there there’s a sense of
confidence but listen it isn’t human
natural confidence it’s confidence based
on a relationship confidence based on
what he says the holy spirit will do in
our life a sense of author we can speak
with authority because we are absolutely
certain and sure of what God is saying
now think about this I’m going to give
you all these jot them down and I’m
going going to come back for just a
moment first of all the first work of
the holy spirit is that he convicts us
of sin that’s how we got saved his
conviction of our sin in uh John chapter
16 he regenerates us that is he brings
about the salvation experience as a
result of that conviction in John
chapter 3 then the Bible says he
indwells us he lives on the inside in
our spirit in Romans chapter 8 he seals
us forever as a child of God in
Ephesians chapter 1 that is once we’re
saved by the grace of God we have him
indwelling us and the Bible says that he
is God’s earnest money he is God’s down
payment so to speak that we belong to
him and that all that God has promised
for us in heaven he has for us not only
that the Bible says in the 14th chapter
of John he is our teacher I may speak
words but the spirit of God must teach
you the truth he’s our teacher not only
that he is the one who reminds us same
chapter there he’s the one who reminds
us of things that we know things that
we’ve been taught when we need to be
remember not only that he says he is our
guide in the 16th chapter of John he’s
our guide he’s the one who will guide us
into all truth not only that he says in
the same chapter he’s the one who
reveals truth to us and when we need
understanding of the truth the scripture
says that he is also our comforter in
that 14th chapter of John the scripture
says he’s not only that but he’s the the
one who gives us spiritual gifts in 1
Corinthians chapter 12 uh he’s the one
who not only gives us spiritual gifts
but he’s the one who fills us uh with
the Holy Spirit he’s the one who listen
who does what he’s the one who bears
fruit through Us in Galatians chapter 5
he’s the one who empowers Us in this
24th chapter of Luke as well as the
first chapter of Acts now I want you to
think about something every single area
of your life and my life in which we are
inadequate within ourselves the spirit
of God is committed to working in your
life in mind in that area now let’s
think about this for a
moment this person of the Holy Spirit
now think about this person of the Holy
Spirit he’s the one who not only
convicted us of sin to begin with and
brought us to Salvation regenerated us
but he’s the one who convicts us now of
sin he is the one who indwells us he’s
the one who has baptized us into Christ
placed as into him he’s the one who has
sealed us to the day of redemption he’s
the one who guides us and teaches us and
brings things to our remembrance and
reveals truth through us he’s the one
who is our comforter he’s the one who
gives us spiritual gifts he’s the one
who Bears the fruit through us he’s the
one who fills us he’s the one who
empowers us now listen anyone who does
those 12 or 13 things for me daily
except for saving me because that happen
once and for all I need him I want him I
must rely upon him and I have a reason
to wake W up every single morning
absolutely confident confident of what
that but in the power of the presence of
the Holy Spirit by the fact that he has
sent been sent to live on the inside of
me I can know for certain today that I’m
not going to waste my time if I will
walk in his power that is in his Divine
energy in his authority if my heart is
bent toward him and my Hunger is to know
him I’m going to be able to come home at
night being able to thank God and praise
him no matter what I may have faced and
been through in life this has been a
good day and God has blessed me today
why because the spirit of God was doing
his Supernatural work in my life in that
day in that moment now listen tell me
give me a good reason to get up down in
the
dumps
anybody give me a good reason to get now
I I know that sometimes a person can be
emotionally depressed over certain
things that have to do with chemical
things in life I I understand that but
you know a lot of depression is it’s
just down and out gloomy gloomy gloomy
you know why because not trusting God
now think about this for on I believe I
could give you enough facts that could
happen in your life to give you a
nervous breakdown before you walk out of
here you know where most people are
living here’s where they’re living
they’re living In Their Own Strength
they’re living in their own energy
they’re facing a wicked vile world that
could BL listen there are already enough
atomic bombs out there out there
floating around among many nations to
destroy the whole world four
times how do you you go to bed thinking
about that some people do you’re driving
down the expressway 60 M hour 70 M hour
and somebody’s 3T from you all they got
to do is take one wrong turn it’s over
you worry about that every day you know
the economy could collapse you could get
ill health all kind thousand things
could happen to us is a Believer
supposed to get up every morning
thinking oh God I’m going to make it
today Lord I think about all these
things I could lose my job could lose
this could lose that no listen what
Jesus said how in the world could he say
this apart from the Holy Spirit living
inside of you here’s what he
said my peace I give unto you not as the
world giveth give onto you let not your
heart be troubled neither Let It Be
Afraid why because there’s somebody
living on the inside of you who has
sealed you forever as a child of God you
know what a lady said to me on their way
out this morning she
said she said I’m almost there I’m on
the verge I’m I’m right on the verge
Verge what I’m on the verge of of
believing in eternal
security so lady I want to push you over
right
now because if listen if you don’t
believe you’re eternally secure where in
the world are
you this is where you are maybe I did
maybe I didn’t did I live up did I live
up to no you can’t live up to it this is
why Paul said he says I’ve been
crucified with Christ nevertheless I
live yet not I Christ is living in me in
the power of the Holy Spirit and the
life which I now live I live with the
faith of the Son of God who loved me and
gave himself for
me now would you not agree that the holy
spirit is the person of the Trinity
promise of the father and what’s the
last
one gift to every single believer that
he came to enable us do the work that
God has called to do live us live the
life that God has called us to live and
we named about 12 or 13 things that that
he does in our life almost all of them
every single day if we’ll allow him now
how the big question how how do I become
full of the Holy Spirit how do I walk in
the spirit listen carefully listen and
say amen
amen it’s so simple and you know what I
like so many other people try to make it
so complex because I grew up in a
situation where it appeared to be
complex you had to walk down the aisle
get on your knees pray beg plead cry I
hope something’s going to hit you I hope
you could hold on or or something or see
something in order to get full of the
Holy Spirit now I’m not being critical
because that’s where those folks were
and I understand that the problem is it
was a real difficult for me because I
expected something I kept thinking well
what’s going to hit me what am I going
to hold on to what am I going to have to
do other words it’s all these things I
went through what kind of spiritual gift
am I going to get you know what you want
to be full of the holy spirit it’s just
this simple having trusted Jesus Christ
as your personal Savior by placing your
trust in him and what he did at the
cross of Calvary and receiving him as
your savior by faith here’s what you
do first of all you’ve got to recognize
you need you’ve got to recognize your
need of the power of the holy spirit in
your life if you don’t you’ll never be
foed you know what you’ll do you’ll do
it in your energy you know one of the
most uh uh probably the most difficult
things for people to deal with in their
life if they’re talented skilled gifted
or good-look or whatever it might be all
the things they put together that some
people got seemingly have it all
together you know what all of that is a
detriment
why they trust in their looks they trust
in their skill they trust in their
ability they trust in their talents they
trust in everything else but God you
know what they don’t they why do I need
God if you’re one of those persons who
feels inadequate thank God for it if
you’re one of those persons who thinks
oh God I I I feel so inadequate thank
God for that let me tell you something
friend I’m inadequate every single day I
now listen I don’t just feel that I know
that to be true you said well how could
you be inadequate I’ll tell you why
because I’m human just like everybody
else and you know what we are all
inadequate some of us just smart enough
to know we are and some of us smart
enough not to don’t know it first of all
recognize my absolute need of the Holy
Spirit his fullness in my life secondly
I must desire to be filled if you don’t
have a desire to be full of the holy
spirit it’s not going to happen now I’m
going to explain just a second what that
means but I want you to get these words
down first first of all having been
saved recognize my need secondly desire
and thirdly I must be willing listen I
must be willing to repent of sin I must
be willing to repent of sin in my life
whatever God brings to my mind I have to
deal with it the fourth thing I have to
surrender my life to the Holy Spirit now
listen carefully when somebody says what
does it mean to walk in the spirit
here’s what it means it means to
walk
surrendered
to the control listen surrender to the
control of the holy spirit in my life
what do you want me to do father what
would you have me to do willing to live
under his control willing to submit to
his control if I’m not willing to submit
to his control then I’m not going to be
filled with the holy spirit because
fullness of the spirit speaks of the
control of the spirit if I’m full of the
holy spirit that means I’ve surrendered
my will to him to say not my will but
yours be done so step number one recog
ize my need step number two have a
desire step number three deal with any
sin that that hinders me step number
four what’s step number
four surrender my life to him which
means listen walking in voluntary
submission to the holy spirit in my life
allowing him to control and what’s the
next one simply this believing him just
believe that he’ll do what he promised
to do what did Paul say he said be ye
being filled with the Holy SP Spirit now
listen carefully God would not ask me or
require me to do something if he
wouldn’t do it now here’s where I had my
biggest struggle it took me years to get
through this one I kept thinking okay
repented prayed cried begged fasted I
mean and kept expecting something to
happen it was one Friday afternoon
somewhere around
4:00 when for some reason I don’t know
how it took me so long to get to this
place write this scripture down 1 John 5
5: 14 and 15 what does it say listen to
this this is the confidence that we have
in him in God that if we ask anything
according to his will he hears us now to
be filled with the Holy Spirit is
certainly according to his will so he
heard me if we ask anything according to
his will he hears us and if we know that
he hears us we know we have at that
moment we have the petition that we
desired of him did you know I’d struggle
for years about how how would I know
this that and the other the moment I
accepted that verse is real from that
moment for the first time in my life I
knew what it meant to be filled with the
holy spirit of
God so what have we said there must be
an listen awareness of the need a desire
a confession repentance of sin and
asking him trusting him having
surrendered the best I know how
everything trusting him and seeing what
he’ll
do now what can you expect if you ask
the Holy Spirit to fill
you number one is Joy he says in that
fifth chapter fifth chapter of Ephesians
when he’s talking about U when he’s
talking about the Holy Spirit and being
filled do not be do not be drunk with
wine where is an excess but he says you
and I to be filled with the Holy Spirit
listen to what he
says he says speaking to one another in
Psalms and hymns and spirit spiritual
songs singing and making Mel in your
heart to the Lord you know what you get
full of the spirit you going to have joy
in your life does that mean everything
around you is going to straighten out
not necessarily it just means that
you’re going to be able to have a peace
in the midst of all that no matter what
first of all there’s joy secondly
there’s going to be fruit there’s no
such thing as a spirit filled Christian
who is a spectator a spirit filled
Christian is involved in some fashion in
somebody or some people’s lives or in
some work of ministry somehow
Spirit-filled Christian
are not those who are spectators the
third thing is your faith is going to
become stronger and stronger continually
as you walk in the spirit walk in
submission you know why it’s going to
become stronger here’s why because God’s
going to begin to do things in your life
and through your life that’s going to
amaze you you’re going to be standing
back and say didn’t know that well Lord
why is it taking me so long when you and
I come to the last breath in our life we
probably going to be saying the same
thing Lord why did it take me so long to
learn such awesome truths in life and so
I want to say to all of you young people
who sit here week after week after week
listen do not take what you he for
granted what I wouldn’t have given if
somebody had started me out at the age
of 12 and taught me what I have
attempted to teach through the power of
the Holy Spirit the kids in this church
over all these years my my my if I have
just learned all that but you know what
years go by we begin to understand more
and more the truth of God’s word and and
all of us get blessed as he keeps
teaching us the truth listen there’s
going to be Joy there’s going to be
fruitfulness in your life there’s going
to be a strength in your faith now
somebody says now wait a minute now I
want to ask one last
question how long does that does that
last forever is that just a one time
thing that you get full of the spirit no
so all right what I want to know is how
long can I walk in the spirit you listen
and say Amen this is how long you can
walk in the spirit you can walk in the
spirit that is you can walk in the
spirit in his power just as long as you
are willing to submit to his control in
your life this decision that decision
this decision that decision this
decision says well does that mean I can
walk in the spirit a long time
absolutely you say okay now suppose I
choose to take control suppose I decided
I know that’s what God wants here is
what I want suppose I just downright sin
against
God then what listen carefully here’s
what you confess it you repent of it you
thank God for his forgiveness somebody
says well that’s all easy wait a
minute the crucifixion of Jesus was not
easy my friend listen to me carefully
this is what Grace of God’s all about
the grace of God is his forgiveness
purchased for you and me through listen
the atoning death of his his son on the
cross the only reason you and I can
confess and repent of sin and
instantaneously experience forgiveness
is because of the awesome awful price
Jesus Paid on the cross when he died and
took your sin Deb in mine in full almost
2,000 years ago that’s the reason it
appears to be simple but it is not
simple what do you do you confess it you
repent of it you thank him for your
forgiveness and you move on now here’s
what the devil’s going to do aha see
there I knew you couldn’t live it mhm so
what does he do he gets you in one of
these pity parties well you know I I
just don’t know what I’m going to do I
tried I did my best I tried God I guess
it’s just not working for me and I guess
I just can’t walk in the spirit that is
purely
satanic listen pity parties are not
allowable in the child of God why
because there’s no reason for it the
spirit of God doesn’t leave you because
you sin against him the spirit of God
convict you doesn’t the spirit of God
doesn’t say he’s going to convict me and
then leave me if I don’t straighten out
no you know what he’s going to do he’s
going to turn up the heat that’s what
he’s going to do he doesn’t leave us he
turns up the heat why does he turn up
the heat because he loves us the spirit
of God listen the spirit of God has
sealed us listen to this now the spirit
of God’s already sealed you under the
day of redemption listen you and I are
his purchased possession he’s not
leaving us he’s taking us all the way
and some of us are probably go Kicking
and Screaming but he’s going to get us
there all the way no matter
what but you know what life at its best
is like surrendering our life to him and
and just watching to see what almighty
God can do in your life now you got two
choices you can either keep living your
life the way you live
it or you can make the most awesome
discovery of finding out what God will
do in your life in every aspect of your
life if you
will recognize your need of the Holy
Spirit
having recognized that need you have a
strong desire for change in your
life you confess whatever sin God brings
to your mind you just lay down control
and tell him that you want him to
Prevail in the control of your life and
then you just thank him for filling you
with the Holy Spirit and you know what
your life won’t be the same that’s the
other choice the best choice the wisest
choice you could possibly make and
father how grateful we are that you are
so good to
us that in your patience and love for us
you just wait years for us to finally
realize what it’s all about but it’s my
prayer today that you cut that time
short for everybody who listens to this
message sink it deep in our hearts let
it roll over in our minds Let It Be
inescapable in its effect let it make an
impact over and over and over again it
is my prayer that those who are
listening to this
message would accept the
challenge and stand back and watch what
an awesome work you can do in their
life which is what you desire to do for
every single one of us and we thank you
for it in Jesus name
amen