Participants: Chris Shelton (Host), Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000008
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00:40 Hello friends and welcome to Behold
00:42 the Lamb Presents, I'm Chris Shelton 00:44 your host and my husband Pastor Kenny 00:47 Shelton will be delivering our 00:48 message today. It is the third in a five 00:51 part series that we have entitled 00:53 "Addressing the Power of the Holy Spirit." 00:56 Today's message is "Preparation to 00:59 Receive that Power." Friends, the Bible is 01:03 full of fascinating stories that reveal the 01:05 Holy Spirit's work for the salvation of mankind. 01:09 Many of which have been recorded dealing 01:11 with the man named Paul. Paul was first introduced 01:14 to us in scriptures as Saul. 01:16 A man who was feared by all the 01:19 Christian believers at that time, he was 01:22 ruthless in doing what he thought was God's will. 01:26 But just like many of us today we can be 01:28 jealous and sincere in our efforts to serve 01:31 God though we may find that through 01:34 further Bible study and prayer that we 01:36 have been sincerely wrong. 01:39 Paul found this out on the road to Damascus, 01:41 when Christ's voice was heard from 01:43 Heaven calling out to him, in a tremendous 01:46 bright light saying Saul, Saul, why 01:49 persecuted thou me? This was the beginning 01:53 of Paul's preparation to receive the true 01:57 Holy Spirit of God. And after truly dying 02:00 to self and living in Christ through much 02:02 study and prayer, we look again at Paul in 02:05 Acts chapter 19. This time he was asking 02:09 other disciples of Christ, if they had 02:11 received the Holy Ghost. Their answer, 02:14 well we have not so much as heard 02:16 whether there be any Holy Ghost. 02:19 You know friends, God has much to 02:21 teach his followers today just as he did 02:25 back then. Reading on in chapter 19 verses 02:28 11 and 12 we find And God wrought 02:31 special miracles by the hands of Paul. 02:35 So that from his body were brought unto the 02:37 sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the 02:40 diseases departed from them. 02:43 And evil spirits went out of them. 02:46 Wow, that is power and that same power 02:50 is promised to each and everyone of us today. 02:53 If we but prepare and claim it. 02:56 Pastor Kenny is going to lay before us today 02:59 steps in which we must take in the 03:01 preparation to receive that power. 03:04 But first we're blessed to go to 3ABN's 03:06 worship center and listen to my 03:08 sister-in-law Tammy Chance as she sings 03:12 "Drinking at the Springs of Living Water.' 03:27 I thirst in a barren land of sin and shame, 03:31 Nothing satisfying there I found; 03:35 But to the blessed cross of Christ one day I came, 03:39 Where springs of living water did abound. 03:44 Drinking at the springs of living water, 03:48 Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy; 03:52 I'm drinking at the springs of living water, 03:56 What a wonderful and bountiful supply. 04:03 Oh sinner, won't you come today to Calvary? 04:07 A fountain there is flowing deep and wide; 04:11 The Savior now invites you to the water free, 04:15 Where thirsting spirits can be satisfied. 04:20 Drinking at the springs of living water, 04:24 Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy; 04:28 I'm drinking at the springs of living water, 04:32 What a wonderful and bountiful supply. 04:37 Drinking at the springs of living water, 04:41 Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy; 04:45 I'm drinking at the springs of living water, 04:49 What a wonderful and bountiful supply. 04:54 Drinking at the springs of living water, 04:58 What a wonderful and bountiful supply. 05:02 What a wonderful and bountiful supply. 05:06 What a wonderful and bountiful supply. 05:15 Thank you for joining us today we're so 05:17 glad, by the way that we can come into 05:20 your home or wherever you might 05:21 be around the world today, to study the 05:23 word of God. By the way the subject is 05:25 "Preparation for Receiving that 05:27 Power" and I know you want that power. 05:30 But before we study the word as always 05:32 we go to the Lord in prayer. 05:33 So, why don't you join with me where 05:35 it's possible as we pray that the Holy 05:38 Spirit will take possession of our 05:39 hearts and our minds and lead us into all 05:42 truth and to give us that power that we 05:44 need, let's pray shall we together? 05:49 Merciful Father in Heaven, once again 05:51 we thank you for your love and your mercy, 05:54 we plead for the power of thy Holy 05:55 Spirit, we pray that you'll lead us into all truth. 05:59 Open the beautiful pages of scripture, 06:01 illuminate these truth that we maybe able to 06:03 understand what you have in mind in stored for us. 06:07 Thank you for your love, thank you for 06:09 Calvary, thank you for that blood that 06:11 cleanses us whiter than snow. 06:14 Once again we plead for the outpouring of 06:16 thy Spirit, bless now we say not our will 06:18 but thine be done, bless now we pray 06:21 each and everyone who views or who 06:23 listens wherever they might be around the world. 06:26 That in need maybe met in their heart in 06:28 life, and draw us closer to Jesus is my 06:30 prayer, in Jesus name, Amen. 06:36 Well, again we're glad that you're with us, 06:37 we thank you Tammy for that beautiful song 06:39 by the way. I know it's touched many, 06:41 many hearts and lives; and was drawing 06:43 people closer to Jesus and preparing their 06:45 hearts for this word. Now, we're gonna be 06:48 talking about the preparation for 06:50 receiving that power. The word preparation 06:54 by the way I believe is misunderstood 06:57 especially in the church, to be prepared 07:00 for something and we can use an illustration, 07:03 as you invite someone over and you say oh 07:04 I've prepared a meal for you and then when 07:07 people get there all of a sudden, you find 07:09 that all the preparations that was necessary 07:12 haven't taken place. Oh! You've forgotten 07:15 to warm this up, you forgot to get this and 07:17 so were you really prepared for that event. 07:21 And so preparation then denotes 07:24 something very special when we talk 07:26 about the coming of Jesus. When we speak about 07:29 receiving power from on high, there is a 07:33 preparation that is needful. 07:36 Why is there such a lack of power in our 07:39 individual lives or in the church, maybe as 07:42 the body of Christ? Why aren't we seeing 07:45 these miracles and these things taking 07:47 place as we look in the day of Pentecost 07:49 or the disciples or through scripture 07:52 where God work in many marvelous, 07:55 marvelous ways? Is there something 07:58 wrong, are we not really preparing for 08:01 that time? Are we really preparing for 08:04 the coming of Jesus? So, when it talks 08:06 about coming of Jesus preparing. 08:09 Does that really mean that we need to be 08:11 fully prepared, think about it? 08:15 Fully prepared and if Jesus says I'm going 08:20 to come again and I'm going to receive those 08:22 who are fully prepared, does he 08:25 mean really prepared for his coming. 08:27 And how do you and I take that, do we take 08:30 it as I'm fully prepared but I'm not 08:34 sure what all it really takes. 08:37 I want to be prepared but I'm not really sure 08:41 what the Lord has in store for me. 08:43 I want to be prepared but do I really need to 08:46 be fully prepared, because isn't Jesus 08:49 gonna make up where I, where I lack? 08:52 Some people's gonna say well I'm not really 08:54 worry about doing anything in 08:56 preparation because well Jesus has done it all. 08:58 I'll just wait till he, till he comes to get me, 09:02 is that really a preparation, what 09:04 does it all encompass as we talk about this. 09:08 You know a very, very important 09:09 passage of scripture found in John 14 09:12 verses 2 and 3 is very, very interesting oh! 09:14 It's one that you know by heart but yet its, 09:17 to me it's exciting John 14:2 and 3 Jesus 09:20 said that he's gone to prepare, in fact he 09:23 starts out: In my Father's house are 09:25 many mansions: And then he goes on to 09:29 tell us if it were not so I would have, 09:32 have told you and then he uses these 09:33 words that I want us to think about is 09:36 it says, if it were not so, I would have told 09:38 you, I go to prepare a place for you 09:43 and then in verse 3 he goes on and if I go on 09:46 or if I prepare a place for you, he says I will 09:50 come again and receive you. 09:51 So, he uses the word prepare, so how does 09:54 Jesus look at prepare, is he saying is I prepared 09:58 a place for you and does it really mean oh 10:01 I was going to prepare but I forgot. 10:05 Or did Jesus mean in here that I, it's gonna 10:09 be a few months yet, I'm gonna come and 10:12 get you, but it's gonna be a few months 10:13 before I get your place ready for you. 10:16 What is really being prepared, what does 10:19 it really mean, fully, entirely, partly? 10:24 Oh! This is very interesting when 10:26 you begin to study scripture, what does 10:27 Jesus really mean? In fact when he said 10:30 I prepare or that word there is interesting, 10:33 prepare means this. It means to make ready, 10:37 so when he says I've prepared a place for 10:40 you, he said I've made ready a place for you. 10:43 So, when Jesus uses the word prepare it's 10:45 I've got something ready for you and it 10:48 also denotes he's constructed something. 10:52 He has created something for us; 10:56 he's made it ready. These are words by 10:59 the way that Jesus left for his disciples, why? 11:03 Because he's getting ready to go away and 11:05 he, he wanted to bring comfort to them, 11:08 just as if you were leaving by the way 11:10 and you're gonna be gone for a while and 11:12 maybe you tried to comfort your children 11:14 or your companion and what do you say, 11:17 I'll be back in just a short time. 11:20 Jesus wanted the disciples to know 11:21 that he would not forget them and so 11:25 he uses the illustration and he uses also 11:28 the truth of the issue that I've gone and to 11:30 prepare a place for you. A place of abode 11:34 and I will come again. So to be prepared by 11:37 the way is to be what? Is to be ready, so we 11:43 have to be ready to receive the outpouring 11:46 of the Spirit, there is a preparation time, 11:50 what all takes place in that preparation. 11:55 By the way have you ever thought, you 11:56 know many people they talk about 11:58 weddings a lot? Now, what if we had, 12:01 there is going to be a wedding. 12:03 There, a lot of plans are supposed to go 12:05 into a wedding, people are planning 12:08 and all kind of different people are 12:09 doing different things but what of the 12:11 day of the wedding. Everybody came 12:13 together and they said oh by 12:15 the way who is the best man? 12:20 Did someone invite a photographer, 12:22 well I was gonna prepare but I, we forgot. 12:25 By the way where's the cake, 12:29 we forgot to order that too? 12:33 See in a wedding there's lot of 12:35 preparation to take place for when it is 12:38 time for it to take place. 12:41 And that means all things are ready, 12:45 its not when it's time for that wedding to 12:46 take place and all the sudden we begin 12:48 decide what we're going to do. 12:50 So, Jesus said I'm gonna be outpouring 12:51 of the Spirit, but I can only pour it on those 12:54 who have been preparing to receive 12:56 that power, have you been preparing to 12:58 receive that power. You say well I'm not 13:00 really sure we're going to learn that 13:02 from scripture today. Be prepared, Jesus 13:06 said this by the way in Luke 12 verse 40: 13:09 he said, be ye therefore ready, 13:13 now once again be ye therefore what? 13:15 Be ye therefore ready, ready also means to 13:18 be prepared for the son of man, the Bible 13:21 said cometh at an hour when you think not. 13:26 So, the Bible then tells us this important 13:29 fact that we are to be what? 13:33 Ready, ready means prepared. 13:36 How many are really prepared for the 13:38 coming of Jesus? Are you really prepared? 13:41 You may say I'm prepared but how 13:43 often have you said that in life? 13:46 How often have you said, oh! I'm prepared 13:48 for this event and when it comes down 13:51 for the time of that event. 13:53 You are not, you are not really ready for it, 13:57 you are not really prepared, you thought 13:58 that you were, but you really didn't check 14:01 everything out. Friend, Jesus said you 14:05 need to be ready, you need to be. 14:07 The Bible says prepared, now I want 14:09 you to think about that word with me, 14:13 the word means adjusted. To be ready means to 14:18 be adjusted, in this life we're going to 14:21 have to make some adjustments. 14:25 How many adjustments are you willing to 14:27 make, to make sure your life is ready so 14:29 that God can pour his spirit out upon you 14:32 and use you and use me, use the church to 14:34 finish the work. Because some of 14:36 these adjustments are very difficult in our 14:39 life, why? Because we fight it so much, 14:44 but that word I need to be, I can be 14:47 adjusted and another word I thought it was 14:50 very interesting was fitness. 14:54 Jesus said that we need to be ready, 14:57 we need to be adjusted, we need to be fit. 15:03 We need to be prepared also is what 15:06 that word means. You know I thought 15:08 about the story a little bit of a young man 15:11 who came out to play basketball one time, 15:14 and he said you know I love to play 15:17 basketball and so I'm not really a good, 15:19 good shot, so I'm not much on the offense, 15:21 but boy I'm, I'll be good on defense 15:26 and his words were these. The man that I guard 15:29 I will just dog him to death, 15:34 and in basketball lingo what might that mean. 15:37 It means he's not gonna give his hands 15:39 on the ball and when he does he's not 15:40 gonna be able to put it in the hoop. 15:43 Those very interesting within 3 to 5 minutes 15:47 of starting that game, the man who was 15:49 going dog this other individual, the man 15:51 that was going to prevent the other 15:53 one from shooting the basketball 15:54 by getting his hand. He was over on the 15:56 sideline with his head down sick as a dog, 16:00 why? 'Cause he had not made the 16:03 necessary adjustments, he thought he was 16:07 prepared for the game. He thought he was fit 16:12 for the game, fitness. But was he? 16:17 No, but if you ask him, he'd say oh! 16:19 I'm prepared for it, but look what 16:23 happened to him. Are we really prepared? 16:26 Are we really fit? Are we really making 16:28 the adjustments? Jesus promise 16:34 to send the comforter, 16:39 and when he said I send the comforter, 16:40 you know what the comforter? 16:41 It's going to be Jesus said I'm going to send 16:43 one like me, a comforter that Jesus was a comforter. 16:48 I'm gonna send that comforter to you 16:51 and it's very interesting because you remember, 16:53 you remember a Peter you see. 16:56 But Jesus was always trying to help us in 17:00 our hour of need, he always sought to 17:03 prepare, get the word, to prepare his people 17:07 for the storms that were coming their way. 17:11 And again you remember Peter, 17:12 he's always you know quick with the tongue 17:14 and so on and so forth. In Luke 22 verse 31 17:18 through 32, when he was very quick with 17:21 the tongue and well he is, Jesus said to 17:22 Peter look Peter, "Satan hath desired to 17:25 have you, that he may sift you as wheat." 17:30 Peter thought he was prepared, he was 17:33 prepared to walk the wall, he was prepared 17:36 to do the work and the commission 17:38 that Jesus has given. He thought he was 17:40 and Jesus stopped him in his track he said 17:42 Peter the devil desires to have you, but you 17:45 know this is the good news Jesus said Peter, 17:47 I've prayed for you. There is something 17:51 about this word prayer as you're 17:54 desiring the Holy Spirit power to come 17:57 into your life. Jesus said I've prayed for you. 18:04 Friend, as I know Jesus is praying 18:05 for me you see, are you praying for that 18:08 Holy Spirit? Are you praying for Jesus 18:10 to come into your life? Its interesting 18:14 Jesus promised to send the comforter 18:20 and as we look at scripture by the way 18:22 in John 14 verse 16 this is, this is very 18:25 interesting. Jesus prayed for the Holy 18:28 Spirit to be given, why would Jesus pray 18:33 for the Holy Spirit to be given to us, 18:37 this would be where maybe we would start 18:39 and say number one down here that if 18:41 we're looking for the preparation to receive 18:44 the power of the Holy Spirit, we need 18:45 to do some praying. We need to get down 18:48 on our knees and labor with God; 18:50 we need to be praying for that power. 18:54 Preparation to receive the Holy Spirit. 18:57 By the way, why did Jesus want us to 18:59 receive the Holy Spirit? By the way just some 19:02 quick functions of the Spirit, 19:03 the Holy Spirit exhorts us. 19:06 The Holy Spirit by the way teaches us. 19:11 Do we need to be taught today? 19:12 Absolutely. The Holy Spirit brings all things 19:16 to remembrance, are you forgetful? 19:20 Yes, sometime we're forgetful of the good 19:22 things, but the Holy Spirit has been 19:24 promised to us that he will bring to 19:26 remember those things that we need at 19:28 a time that we need them. 19:32 Bible says the Holy Spirit will testify of 19:34 Jesus Christ, will make it clear to us 19:38 of Jesus, of who he is and his mission and 19:40 what he did and by the way the Holy Spirit, 19:43 the Bible says going to reprove the world of sin. 19:47 The Holy Spirit is going to guide us into 19:50 all truth is what the Bible said. 19:53 Now, can you see why Jesus is saying 19:55 you need to be prepared because 19:56 when you receive this power some changes 19:59 are going to take place in your life. 20:02 Some big changes in your life, guide us 20:05 into all truth; the Holy Spirit's going to show 20:07 us things what? Things to come, 20:11 the Holy Spirit is going to glorify Jesus Christ. 20:17 So, that means that the Holy Spirit is 20:18 living in you and living in to me, 20:21 living in me, how about when you go to 20:24 teach the word. How about bringing 20:27 these things to remembrance? 20:29 How about us testifying of Jesus Christ? 20:33 So, the first thing the Bible says we need 20:35 to pray and we need to repent of our sins if 20:39 we're going to be in this preparation mode 20:42 to receive the power that we have to have 20:44 to live in the time that we live in and then 20:47 the time to come, in order to make it to heaven. 20:52 So, you see how vital this subject is. 20:54 You're not going to make it, I'm not going 20:56 to make it unless we receive that latter rain, 20:58 unless we receive the power of the Holy Spirit. 21:01 But the Holy Spirit cannot come upon 21:03 you or upon me with sin in our life, 21:06 just can't do it. Sin's going to have to 21:09 go and so that's why as we read in the book 21:12 of Acts chapter 3 verse 19 it says: 21:16 Repent ye therefore, and be, what's the word? 21:19 Good, converted, repent as you repent 21:23 leads to what? To converted right, 21:26 conversion, that your sins may be blotted 21:28 out when the times of refreshing shall 21:31 come from the Lord. Dear friends, do you 21:33 need to be refresh, do you need a new start, 21:36 this is where it really begins here when we 21:39 cry out to God and began to repent of our 21:42 sins and friend, don't be sitting back and 21:46 say oh well you know I don't really have 21:48 anything to repent at all, you're guilty. 21:52 And we call it guilty as sin and the Bible 21:56 says do you want to receive this power. 21:58 First thing we're going to have to do, 21:59 we're gonna have to start praying, 22:00 we're gonna have to start repenting of our 22:02 sins and we need to be well converted. 22:05 See there are some bold words that was 22:07 spoken by, by Peter and he spoke them, 22:09 I want you to listen carefully, to Jews, 22:12 he spoke them to the priests, to the 22:14 Sadducees, oh what boldness that he had. 22:19 He called them to repent, sometime 22:24 religious leaders think they have any 22:26 problems they don't need to repent, 22:28 pastors, teachers oh! We're all fine, 22:31 yes the people how they're spiritually may 22:33 tell oh! We're fine that means they're 22:35 prepared then doesn't it? In reality their life 22:39 is showing something different, 22:45 when you'd ask, this priest and the Jews, 22:47 and the Sadducee oh! Everything is fine 22:50 they would say, but Peter boldly began 22:53 to speak to them in Acts chapter 3 verse 22:56 14 he said listen you denied the Holy one. 23:03 In other words when Jesus came to this 23:04 earth what did they do? They denied the 23:07 holy one, in verse 15 there he says: 23:10 You killed the prince of life, you see that's 23:13 take boldness to stand up in the face 23:17 of religious leaders and say look you're 23:18 responsible for killing the prince of life. 23:22 You denied the holy one when he came 23:24 here on this earth, you denied him and 23:27 you desired a murderer in his place. 23:31 How often have we made that choice 23:33 that we denied Jesus and we've chosen a 23:37 murderer or maybe we denied Jesus and 23:39 we've chosen an earthly friend, 23:41 we denied Jesus about not going to some 23:43 place and what? Taking the enemy's 23:45 side and we went, we've denied him. 23:48 We've chosen a murderer, you say 23:51 well I don't have a friend that's a 23:52 murderer. Listen the devil is a lair 23:54 and a thief, he's a murderer and we 23:56 sometimes we've chosen his side. 24:00 In Acts 3 verse 17 scripture becomes 24:02 clear it says: I want you to know, 24:06 see Peter got bold he said listen I want you 24:09 to know, I want you to see, I want you to 24:14 consider what you did. Now, listen this word 24:17 in ignorance see they thought 24:19 they were prepared. Prepared to receive, 24:22 they were receiving they thought, 24:25 but Peter said I want you to see, I want you 24:27 to consider what you did in ignorance. 24:29 Now notice this word because some of you 24:30 say oh! That's good because I'm ignorant 24:32 of this, I didn't know this thing. 24:34 I want you to see a difference here in 24:36 willful ignorance and just ignore or not 24:39 knowing because you haven't had the 24:40 opportunity. Peter made it very, very 24:44 clear to them and ignorance here Peter 24:47 says because you, notice this, because 24:50 you ignored. Because you ignored or you 24:56 were not inclined or you were unwilling, 25:02 see this is the kind of ignorance does not 25:05 excuse what they did. Because they 25:08 comeback, Peter would say, well you 25:10 were ignorant of this thing but the 25:11 ignorance that they had was because 25:13 they were willingly ignored. 25:15 You say, well how were they willingly 25:17 ignored and how were they not excused 25:19 because some instance in the Bible. 25:21 It says ignorance you know God linked that, 25:23 we'll look at that in just a moment. 25:24 But this here's you can't ignore it 25:29 why? Because they had great light, 25:35 they had all kind of light, they had Jesus 25:38 walking among them. They had the Prophets 25:40 among them. Then Peter continues 25:43 by the way in Acts chapter 3:20 through 25:45 26, we won't read all of those but I want 25:47 you to do a little homework and 25:48 read those verses. Because they'll do 25:51 you some good, as he begin to expand them 25:56 why that they should know? 25:58 Why, he, because let paraphrase it, 26:00 let's get it down in the bottom line here. 26:02 He says because they had strong evidences, 26:06 there were strong evidence on which 26:08 to base their faith. And sometime that's 26:10 all God gives you, you want direct 26:13 answers to prayer, you wanna see 26:14 everything. You wanna understand 26:16 everything and know everything. 26:20 Many times God just gives you strong 26:23 evidences of faith on which to, which to 26:26 base maybe your decision. 26:30 And here's what took place, they chose just 26:33 like you, just like me, just like majority of 26:36 the world today. Lets get down on it, 26:38 shall we? They chose not to study, 26:43 they chose not to search, they chose not 26:47 to pray for truth. Therefore you say 26:51 well I really didn't know but you had the 26:53 opportunity, you didn't wanna search, 26:56 you didn't wanna, listen you didn't 26:57 wanna go to church. You didn't wanna 26:58 study the lesson; you didn't wanna take 27:01 time to pray. Well, I, I didn't know, 27:05 no but you had the opportunity and 27:06 you're accountable for that time. 27:09 Peter was letting the individuals know that 27:12 they were accountable to God 27:16 and then the verse that we alluded to a 27:18 moment ago in Acts chapter 17 verse 30 27:22 he said: Times of this ignorance God winks 27:25 at; but now here is the key, but now he has 27:29 commanded all men to do what? 27:32 To repent. He's commanded us to 27:35 repent, repent of what? To repent of our sins, 27:40 to repent of our neglect and ignorance 27:44 you remember, it starts out with what? 27:46 Ignore, ignoring the things of God, 27:49 ignoring our responsibility, 27:51 ignoring our church, ignoring what's going 27:54 on in the religious world today. 27:57 What we should be involved with, the 27:58 message that we should be giving, 28:00 just ignore it, let somebody else do it. 28:03 That's not what God said; don't worry 28:04 about what somebody else is doing. 28:05 God's calling you to do a specific work, 28:08 you cannot ignore that calling and be right 28:11 with God that's an impossibility. 28:14 Oh! Somebody else's doing it, it doesn't 28:16 matter, it doesn't exclude you from 28:18 doing what God has called you to do. 28:21 See in order to receive this power, 28:22 in preparation for this power we must be 28:25 under the control of the Holy Spirit, 28:28 as we've repentant and as we begin to 28:31 pray and plead with God because again 28:32 Jesus set the example. He prayed for the 28:35 comforter, you need to be praying for the 28:37 comforter, we need to spend more time 28:40 pleading and begging with God. 28:42 But you know what our life must be under 28:44 the control of the Holy Spirit. 28:47 Let me just read a paragraph in a little 28:50 precious book called First Selected 28:52 Messages page 165. Just list a little small 28:55 quote, you stay with me and listen very 28:56 carefully: Self, here's the problem once 29:00 again, it's a problem with you. 29:02 It's a problem with me, it's a problem 29:04 with every person who's ever lived on 29:07 the face of this earth. Self is the culprit and 29:12 here inspiration tells us that self needs to 29:16 be humbled, is that what the Bible 29:17 teaches through and through, yes it is. 29:20 Self must be humbled, you meet a person by 29:22 the way that's not humble that means 29:24 they're not teachable. You meet a person 29:27 who is, who is not humble that means 29:28 they're proud, they're not gonna listen to anyone. 29:31 They're hard to work with, but Jesus says 29:35 here that self in the Bible needs to be, 29:39 Spirit of prophesy, self needs to be 29:41 humbled and brought under the control of 29:44 the Holy Spirit. The Lord calls upon 29:48 those of us who have great light to be 29:51 converted daily, moment by moment 29:54 in fact isn't it? Those of us who've 29:57 had great light, do you feel like 29:59 you've had great light? Many, many 30:01 people in different religious backgrounds 30:04 and you know Adventist, oh! I know, I know 30:09 what the truth is, oh I've been in it all my 30:11 life I understand it, I know, I know, 30:14 you're saying I'm prepared, 30:15 I'm prepared, I'm prepared when 30:17 maybe we are not prepared. 30:19 Because with that attitude it shows us 30:21 you're not prepared, because if we are we 30:25 would be humbled, we would be denying self. 30:29 We would be brought under the control of 30:31 the Holy Spirit; do you ever see the Holy 30:33 Spirit has self in it? No. 30:39 Where the Holy Spirit is present is there pride? No. 30:43 Where the Holy Spirit is present is 30:44 there contention? No. Where the Holy Spirit 30:48 is present is there backbiting and 30:50 arguing and fussing and discontentment 30:53 and church falling apart and people 30:55 going their separate way, wearing their 30:57 feelings on their shoulders? No. 31:02 Scripture's clear, inspiration is clear. 31:07 We dear friend who have had light, 31:12 great light we're to be converted daily to 31:15 Jesus Christ, these you see are 31:18 conditions. Preparation points on receiving 31:22 that power that God wants to give us, 31:25 you see I want that power, I need that power. 31:30 And I want to prepare for that power and 31:32 I want you to be prepared too. 31:34 And in preparation to receive this power. 31:37 Jesus told his disciples something 31:39 I thought was very, very interesting. 31:42 Now, notice what he told them to begin 31:44 with, now he said if you wanna receive 31:46 this power in Acts chapter 1 verse 4. 31:50 Here's what he told the disciples, he said 31:53 there's two things I want you to pay 31:54 attention to, he said: I want you to wait in 31:58 Jerusalem for the promise of the 32:02 outpouring of the Spirit, what were the 32:04 two things come on, I can't hear you? 32:07 What were the two things? 32:09 Good, Jesus said what, I want you to 32:12 wait and I want you to wait in Jerusalem. 32:17 Now, with those two things in mind, 32:21 can we be disobedient to maybe one of them. 32:26 And still receive he said those of you who 32:28 want to receive the power you're going to 32:30 have to do two things, what are those two things? 32:32 You're gonna have to wait and where I want 32:35 you to wait is in Jerusalem. 32:38 Some of you say, oh! Well okay, 32:40 I'm gonna wait for the pour, outpouring 32:42 of the Spirit and but I'm gonna go over 32:45 here to another part of the country and I'll wait. 32:49 Not if Jesus says specifically as he did 32:51 here, I want you to wait in Jerusalem, 32:53 I believe this if the disciples had 32:55 disobeyed God, do you know they said 32:57 they were waiting, disobeyed him and 32:59 went to another place. And waited for the 33:01 Spirit to come down, that Spirit would not 33:03 have come down to them, whew 33:05 that's pretty bold isn't it. 33:09 Because here at preparation for that 33:11 outpouring of the Spirit has to do also 33:13 with what, obedient. Being obedient to 33:16 what God says, whether you think it 33:18 needs to be so or not. Whether you wanna 33:21 follow it or not? Whether I wanna 33:22 follow it or not? It's what God says, 33:25 our willingness to be obedient. 33:28 Now what did they do? Well they just sat 33:31 down and gotten their recliners and boy they 33:33 went out and they said oh! Boy this is good, 33:35 I'm just gonna sit, he said to wait here and 33:37 rest a little until the Spirit comes. 33:40 Listen, the disciples did not just sit down 33:42 and do nothing while they were waiting for 33:44 the Spirit of God, the outpouring of the Spirit. 33:47 The Bible is very clear in Luke chapter 33:49 24 verse 53 the Bible says: They were continually, 33:54 listen, continually in the temple, praising 33:58 and blessing God, while they were 34:00 waiting for the outpouring of the 34:02 spirit or for the time which the spirit 34:04 would be poured out. What were these 34:06 people doing, they were in the temple 34:09 may I be bold enough to say if you're 34:10 wanting that Holy Spirit power 34:12 you need to be in church. 34:15 Bible says you know in the last days that 34:17 you know we need to not forsake the 34:19 assembling of our self together as we see the 34:21 day approaching. As that power was 34:24 poured out. It was poured out on those 34:26 who were in the temple, those who 34:28 were may I say attending church. 34:31 Those who were praying the Bible 34:33 said, those who were praising God, 34:36 very difficult to have a praying session 34:39 sometime in the church, it seems like 34:40 no one has anything to praise God, but why? 34:45 Is it that we've grown so cold that we don't 34:47 understand the blessings that are 34:49 flowing from heaven, every breath that we 34:51 take, everything is his. He's loaned it to us, 34:54 our home, our car whatever we might 34:55 have food, shelter, clothes, children 34:57 everything, everything living is, is a blessing 35:00 that God has given to us. And yet come time to 35:04 go to Church and you ask for praise, no one 35:06 can praise, no wonder we're void of the 35:08 Spirit at times. No one's blessing God 35:11 I thought what is he talking about, 35:13 continually in the temple, continually 35:16 where there in the Greek means well 35:18 they were in front of as they were. 35:20 They were in front of, or they were present, 35:24 they were before the temple. 35:29 Are you before the temple? Are you continually 35:32 there, maybe not physically but in the 35:34 spirit, is that where your mind and heart 35:36 is because you know of God's presence. 35:39 Are you praising? Dear friend, we need 35:42 to be praising, praising means we 35:45 need to be testifying. Will somebody stand 35:48 up and give a testimony, everybody looks 35:51 down at the floor. Been twiddling our 35:55 thumbs, will somebody praise God, 35:58 will somebody lift up in the name of Jesus. 36:02 Will somebody bless God, have you ever 36:03 heard that, bless God simply means what? 36:06 To thank him for what he's done for us. 36:10 By the way, he's talking about when 36:12 you're blessing God that means you listen, 36:14 you are speaking well of God. 36:19 Oh! How long has it been since you 36:22 spoke well of God. How long has it been 36:25 since you've spend sometime praising 36:29 him, testifying of his goodness? 36:34 How long has it been since some of you 36:37 been in the church, you haven't 36:42 been through the doors lately. 36:46 Friend, I'm afraid that we can't miss any 36:48 of these points and plan on receiving the 36:51 power that we need to see us through, 36:53 power to win souls, power to gain victory. 36:56 See to understand truth and be able to 36:58 really be filled with the Spirit of God to 36:59 finish the work. It can never happen 37:03 until we fulfill what God has said here in his word. 37:08 The disciples dear friends, they must, 37:09 they were doing what? They were following 37:12 the master, they were following him. 37:19 How long has it been since you've been 37:21 following the master? And in following the 37:25 master simply means this, they were 37:27 praying, they were waiting, they were 37:32 watching and they were working. 37:35 See when you mention to work for 37:36 somebody, oh! Boy there is trouble. 37:39 When you mention oh they were waiting. 37:41 Oh! There's trouble. You mention praying, 37:42 oh! There's trouble. Praying, waiting, 37:46 watching and working for the master as 37:49 we're waiting for the outpouring of the 37:50 Spirit of God we need to have these things 37:53 operating in our life. Beautiful little article 37:57 that I read in Review and Herald on March 38:00 22 in 1892, let me just read that to you. 38:04 Pray that it'll be a Blessing, because it's 38:05 talking about the disciples here. 38:07 Now, notice they, the disciples were 38:10 to be representatives to the world of the 38:13 character of Christ. The disciples were to 38:16 be what? Who is the disciple, can we be 38:19 his disciples today? Are we his disciples? 38:21 Yes we are and so we too are to be his 38:24 representatives. We are to represent him 38:28 to the world, represent the character of Christ. 38:33 Now notice this, here's the bomb 38:35 shelter and we're gonna have to get in 38:37 because the bomb's getting ready to drop 38:38 on some of us. But here's the bomb: 38:42 That which was essential for a 38:45 successful Christian experience in the days 38:48 of the disciple, is essential in our day. 38:53 A little too much for us, need to repeated, 38:56 well lets repeat it. That which was what? 38:59 Essential for the disciples that which 39:02 took place, what took place for them to 39:05 prepare for the outpouring of the 39:06 Spirit, we need to be preparing the same way? 39:10 It's essential for us, that means it's a must, 39:14 so we have to look at the life of Jesus, 39:16 look at the life of disciples. 39:18 See what they were doing, what they were up to? 39:20 What was taking place in their life? 39:23 And if we do that and follow that example 39:25 we too will be ready for that pouring, 39:28 for that power. Wouldn't you like to 39:30 see the church just explode with that kind 39:32 of power? Wouldn't you like see people 39:33 pray for the sick and they be healed. 39:36 Wouldn't you like to be able to pray in the 39:37 church get on fire? Wouldn't you like to 39:39 be able to preach a message and bring 39:40 conviction on the hearts and on the lives 39:42 of countless individuals and they just surrender 39:45 their life to Jesus right then and there? 39:47 They may have never heard about Jesus, 39:49 but is this preaching the power and the 39:52 wisdom of God, the Holy Spirit just 39:53 takes full manifestation upon that individual, 39:56 just consumes that person. Their heart is broken, 40:00 they wanna confess, they wanna change 40:01 their life. We have too many dry sermons, 40:05 too many dry teaching. Too much of I do, 40:09 I don't, we will, they will, you know what 40:11 I'm talking about, brother then there is 40:14 power that's waiting for us. 40:16 Wanting to bestow upon Jesus, so I'm 40:18 gonna pour it out on you. I've often said not to 40:22 sprinkle it, not just give you a little tease 40:25 with it. He said I wanna dash you 40:27 with it, I want you saturated in it. 40:29 I don't wanna let one part of you body, 40:31 soul, mind, any part left that's not is wet 40:35 with the Holy Spirit if you follow me. 40:38 It's here for us, what? What is it? 40:41 He's telling us exactly how to go about it. 40:46 And all we have to do is what? 40:47 Follow what the disciples did as they 40:48 were praying together, as they were preparing 40:51 for the outpouring of the Spirit of God. 40:55 Jesus said when you do. Oh! I love this passage 40:57 in Acts chapter 1 verse 8, the Bible says: 41:01 But ye shall receive what? 41:03 I need somebody to tell me, here's 41:06 somebody out there. He says, you shall 41:08 receive power, now when the Bible says 41:11 power that's exactly what it means. 41:14 It didn't say weak vacillating Christians 41:16 in there, some of you can't even 41:18 find your way to Church. 41:23 You miss two or three weeks and you give 41:25 flimsy excuses, I was tired, I needed to rest. 41:29 You have to stand before God one of 41:30 these days dear friends, why were you 41:32 so tired, why was you need to rest? 41:35 What is it that's keeping you away 41:37 from the house of God, what is it? 41:42 Is it a lack of love for him, a lack of 41:44 commitment, there is something that is wrong. 41:47 When we say oh! Well, I, I need to rest 41:49 you know on the Sabbath or go to 41:51 church I'm tired, I worn out. 41:53 And I say this, if your job is wearing you out 41:55 get another one. You can't afford 41:58 that dear friend, you can't love the world 42:00 and things in the world. It just, you 42:02 can't do it, we have to be willing it said here 42:05 what, to deny self. Let self be under the 42:08 control of the Holy Spirit of God, 42:11 that's all the time. As a man was talking 42:14 the other day you know I need to gain a 42:16 victory in this area. I need to gain a 42:18 victory in this area. You know he was 42:20 talking about maybe things he was taking 42:22 into his body. You know I reminded him 42:24 what the Bible said, Jesus said you know 42:26 if your right hand offends you cut it off. 42:30 Can't control your eyes, better to pluck it 42:32 out better to enter the kingdom blind 42:34 than not in the kingdom, that was 42:37 Jesus saying whatever it takes to gain that 42:40 victory, whatever you need to do, the effort 42:42 that you put forward. You're going to have 42:44 to put an effort and you must have power 42:46 of the Holy Spirit to do what you cannot 42:49 do for yourself, hope that makes sense to you. 42:53 Nothing about what we have inside us, 42:54 it's about what? That supernatural that 42:56 comes inside after you have done your 42:58 part, no one needs to ever tell me oh 43:02 I wanna quit drinking and at the same time 43:04 your taking the cap off and your swigging 43:06 down a shut and say I'd love the 43:07 gain the victory. No, you don't. 43:13 I wanna quit smoking oh I tell you I want to 43:14 quit smoking so bad, what are you buying 43:16 them for? What are you lighting them up for? 43:20 He never made you smoke it? 43:21 He never made you buy them oh I wanna 43:23 gain the victory, give me a pack of 43:25 Marlboro's over here. Listen, lets stop this, 43:29 you're desecrating heaven, you're 43:30 desecrating the power of God. 43:32 When you can take that from you right 43:34 there, when you become willing to do 43:36 whatever it takes to gain that victory. 43:38 If you have to shut yourself away for 43:39 several weeks, dear friends do it, if you 43:42 have to commit yourself somewhere 43:43 to gain that victory do it. 43:47 Heavens wanting to be store some power 43:49 on you and on me today but we have to 43:51 gain these victories. Jesus said but after 43:56 Acts 1:8: Ye shall receive power after 43:59 the Holy Spirit is what? After the Holy Spirit 44:03 has come upon you, there is no power, 44:06 set up church all you want, set up shop all 44:08 you want, have all the studies you want, 44:10 without the power of the Holy Spirit you 44:12 have nothing that's what the Bible. 44:15 That you will receive power after the Holy 44:18 Spirit has come upon you and after the 44:21 Holy Spirit has come upon you, the Bible 44:22 says then you're gonna be my witness 44:25 or some of you are trying to witness 44:26 without that power. Some of you are 44:27 trying to witness without, you know, 44:29 without the power of the Holy Spirit you 44:31 know going before, opening the way, 44:34 talking to the hearts and the lives, 44:36 you can't even be a witness for Jesus 44:39 without this power. I cannot be a witness, 44:43 things that I say, things that I do, 44:44 I mess them up but the Holy Spirit never 44:47 messes up. God's looking for sincere 44:50 men and women today and children. 44:53 Who will take this message and to go 44:55 into all of the world by faith that God will 44:57 honor what he said that he would do. 45:01 He said that word will not return void, 45:03 I'm banking on it, I'm counting on it. 45:07 The blessings of God he says I'm gonna 45:09 give you power after the Holy Spirit has 45:12 come upon you and when the Spirit has 45:14 come upon you. Then you can be my 45:16 witnesses, quit trying to be his witness 45:18 without the Holy Spirit, quit trying to 45:20 do the work of the Holy Spirit, it's an 45:22 impossibility, even though some people 45:24 say, well I've got a little bit of success 45:26 over here, we've done a little bit. 45:29 Devil doesn't mind if we've had a little bit 45:30 of success, he's afraid of that power, 45:33 I can tell you that right now. 45:36 And by the way he says when you just 45:37 see that power, you're gonna be what 45:39 my witnesses to the outermost 45:41 parts of the world. That's going where? 45:43 Into all the world to preach the Gospel. 45:47 You see Jesus kept this most important fact. 45:52 He kept this fact before the disciples. 45:57 He always kept it before them, 45:58 I want to keep it before you today and 46:01 I wanna keep it my heart and my life. 46:04 Jesus said to his disciples over and 46:06 over, you are one with me in this work. 46:13 Wow! You are one with me in this work. 46:18 You are to help recover the world 46:22 from the bondage of sin, can you possibly 46:28 let that go through your mind, just please 46:30 just a little bit Jesus said you're one with 46:33 me, you're doing, and you're doing my 46:35 work, you working along the side with me. 46:38 I'm giving you the power to do it, but 46:40 keep this in mind you're job and my job 46:43 is to help rid sin from the world. 46:48 The bondage, sin is bondage listen the 46:52 word of God is never bondage it's freedom, 46:55 here a lot people say oh! Bondage, 46:57 bondage, bondage, no that's freedom. 47:00 Sin is bondage, it binds you to this 47:04 world, doesn't let you be what God 47:06 wants you to be. You know what and 47:08 some of you are wasting your hours of 47:09 probation right now, I just sense it in my heart. 47:13 You're wasting the probationary time that 47:16 you have on this earth, by putting off 47:18 what you should do today you're gonna 47:20 put it off till tomorrow and 47:21 tomorrow you don't have. 47:24 We can never put off these things. 47:27 We're to be one with Jesus Christ, as he 47:29 talked to the disciples, we're to help recover, 47:34 why? Because we've been knocked down, 47:36 beat down by sin, almost literally 47:38 destroyed because of sin, God says I've got 47:41 a people that's gonna, listen I'm gonna, 47:43 they're gonna recover from this bondage. 47:49 Oh remember Jesus said, he sent out the 47:54 twelve, then he sent out the seventh day. 47:59 Jesus sent them out, what were they to 48:02 proclaim, they were to proclaim the kingdom 48:05 of God. God is sending you out, 48:08 sending me out today to do what? 48:10 To proclaim the soon eminent return of 48:13 Jesus Christ in the clouds of glory, 48:15 probation is closing, Jesus is coming, 48:17 is your life in order. Are you preparing for 48:19 the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, is your 48:21 life so right with God that he can pour that 48:23 Spirit out upon you without consuming you. 48:28 Oh! Friend, we need to be desperately 48:29 beseeching God's face. 48:32 In preparation we talked about, starting 48:34 out with a prayer and confession and 48:36 pleading with God to give us that power 48:39 and being obedient to every word that 48:41 proceeds out of the mouth of God. 48:46 Jesus said for his disciples is one with 48:48 him, he said the same time you're gonna to 48:50 go about teaching. But you're gonna 48:53 teach the things that I taught you, 48:56 you're gonna be doing the things that I did, 48:59 that's what Jesus said. You're gonna 49:01 tell the world of the good news, 49:06 why because Jesus was going to die 49:09 and then he would rise again and he 49:11 would go back to his heavenly Father. 49:14 But Jesus said you're going to be here and 49:16 you get to tell the good news and the 49:18 plan of salvation. The cross of Calvary, 49:20 the power that is available to us, 49:24 you're gonna be able to tell that Christ 49:27 alone, in Christ alone is salvation. 49:31 There is no other name friend; 49:34 you see the disciples were preparing 49:37 for the power, that Holy Spirit power. 49:41 My question to you is, are you preparing, 49:44 as we read they said they were continually 49:46 in the temple praising God. 49:49 They were working and they were praying 49:51 and you know as they did, just notice what 49:53 happened what? They're preparing for 49:55 this outpouring as they prayed, as they 49:58 worked, as they were watching, their faith 50:02 grow stronger and stronger. 50:06 Their love for God begin to grow and 50:09 when the love for God begin to grow. 50:11 Friend, this is for us today as 50:13 their love for God. How their love for 50:15 God began to grow because they were 50:17 studying and they were praying and they 50:19 were witnessing and as their love for God 50:21 began to grow what happened? 50:23 Their love for their fellowman also began 50:25 to grow; they began to see a need for the 50:30 service of Jesus Christ. For the saving of the 50:33 lost, they began see that they had help in 50:38 their time of need. They had a savior 50:42 that sat on, sits on the right hand of God, 50:46 they begin to understand as the 50:47 book of Romans chapter 8 verse 34 50:50 says: That Jesus, he ever liveth to 50:53 make intercession for them, 50:59 think about he ever liveth. 51:02 So, the disciples began to see that 51:03 Jesus was with, even though he was in heaven. 51:06 He left the promises and he said, I'm with 51:08 you always even to the end, you're gonna 51:10 receive power, you're gonna, things that 51:13 I did, you're gonna do even greater things 51:15 and why aren't we seeing him in the 51:17 church, is it because there is too much 51:18 selfishness, too much sin, too much desire 51:21 of the world, too many things that so 51:23 easily beseeches us now days. 51:25 There is something wrong, 51:29 we should ever long been in the kingdom, 51:32 we should have been home by now. 51:39 But the world is sifting the church, 51:42 rather than opposite, oh friend, as the 51:48 disciples waited for that power, 51:52 they humbled their heart in true 51:55 repentance the Bible says. 51:57 They even confessed their unbelief, 52:00 you see they were going, going closer to 52:02 one and another why? Because before them 52:04 they were buying for what? 52:05 For a position, see selfishness had to go 52:08 before the power can come. 52:11 What occupied the highest position had 52:13 to go, love for souls had to be there, 52:18 if you didn't love the soul, you see, you 52:20 asked God, help me to love those souls. 52:23 Help me to be a witness and as the 52:27 power of the Spirit, in Acts 2 verse 38 52:32 when it says repent and be baptisted for 52:35 the remission of sin then what? 52:39 You'll see the, receive the gift of the Spirit, 52:43 what's the Bible say once again over and 52:44 over, repent be Baptisized 52:50 for what? For the remission of sin, 52:53 then you receive, notice this you'll 52:55 receive the gift, get in line for that gift. 52:59 Line up your life with the word of God, 53:01 get ready for that gift, get ready for a change 53:04 in your life. The things that you once 53:05 hate you now love, the things that you 53:07 love you now hate. That's not happening 53:10 in your life because you're not converted 53:11 dear friends, disciples as that Spirit was 53:16 poured out let's talk just for few moments here. 53:19 The disciples were sorry for their life 53:22 with Jesus Christ. Oh! How they wish, 53:26 listen carefully, they could change, 53:29 they could have back those three, three 53:31 and half years they had with Jesus. 53:35 Oh! If they could just have these and live 53:37 them over again, if only they could see 53:39 him again. If only they could have the 53:41 opportunity to live obedient to every 53:44 word that came out of his mouth, 53:46 oh! If they could only seen again they would 53:48 show him how much they loved him. 53:53 It grieved their hearts, the power of the Holy 53:56 Spirit you see that brings us to 53:58 obedience, because they said you know 54:02 we are never by God's grace ever going to 54:04 entertain doubt again, how can we, 54:09 how can we atone for all these wrong and 54:12 you know what they came in agreement to 54:14 say you know what we can do. 54:16 We can confess Jesus before the world; 54:19 we can confess him before the world. 54:23 So, they decided look I'm just gonna lift up 54:25 Jesus, I'm gonna talk about Jesus how 54:27 about you talking about Jesus rather 54:29 than your neighbor? How about you 54:30 talking about Jesus rather than the 54:31 church member? How about you are 54:33 talking about Jesus rather than gossiping 54:34 all around town. You spend a little 54:36 less time here and there and more time 54:38 with God, this what, if you wanna receive, 54:41 this is preparation to receive. 54:46 In order to receive by the way to the head to 54:48 put away all differences, 54:51 oh! What a challenge, to put away all 54:54 differences, if we receive that power 54:58 we're going to have to put away some differences. 55:02 Put away as we talked about that desire for 55:05 supremacy where are we going to sat. 55:09 But we're going to be the greatest instead 55:12 to be a humble follower of Jesus 55:14 Christ, they drew near to God. 55:19 They drew nearer to each other and their 55:22 fellowmen there was deep heart searching 55:27 going on. Preparation for the outpouring, 55:30 have you really searched your heart, 55:33 Bible says: Deceitful above all things, 55:35 who can know it, but have you really 55:36 searched it openly and honestly rather than 55:38 say oh! Yeah, I'm prepared, well if Jesus 55:40 comes today, I'm ready to go. 55:42 Friend, are you like Jesus, if you're not 55:43 like Jesus you're not ready to go, 55:46 if you got any unconfessed sins in 55:47 your life, you're not gonna receive the 55:48 power of the latter rain. You're not going 55:52 anyway, I'm not going anyway 55:53 we have our sins confessed up, 55:55 we have to be seeking for the Spirit of God. 55:56 We have to be seeking for that 55:57 power, we have to want that power, 55:59 we have to desire that power, we have to 56:01 know that we want it, that we need it to 56:04 finish the work and prepare us to meet Jesus. 56:06 Oh! Friend, I want to meet Jesus when he 56:08 comes in the clouds of glory. 56:11 I don't want to miss it, if you miss it, you've 56:14 missed everything, there is no reason for 56:17 you and me to be here other than what? 56:20 Good. To repopulate Heaven and once we 56:23 begin to understand this, we will see that 56:25 this gospel, this good news must be carried 56:29 in all the world and then the end is going 56:31 to come. When His character is not fully 56:34 reproduced in us, He will come. 56:38 Friend, what do you say, lets ask the Holy 56:41 Spirit because it's given to those by the 56:42 way Acts 5:32 says to those that obey him, 56:46 are you obeying him today? Quickly let's just go 56:49 over, lets preparation for this power is what? 56:52 We need to repent of our sin, self needs to 56:55 be under the control of what? 56:56 Of the Holy Spirit, we need to pray earnestly for. 56:59 We need to seek God, we need to hunger 57:01 and thirst after righteousness and 57:04 we must be willing to obey every word that 57:06 proceeds out of the mouth of God. 57:09 And you know how God develops his 57:11 power in us, to test and through trials 57:15 and he allows us circumstances to 57:17 come into our life. Friend, why don't 57:19 we pray about it right now, you can say to 57:21 me, right me, I want that Holy Spirit 57:23 power, I desire it, I need it, I want it, 57:26 I'm gonna pray for it with you right now 57:27 shall we pray together? Good, let's do that. 57:31 Merciful Father in Heaven, we thank you 57:33 for your word today, we thank you for the 57:34 promise that you're gonna give us power. 57:37 After the power is going to be given to 57:39 us, that's power of the Holy Spirit to change 57:41 our hearts and our lives and draw 57:43 us closer and much closer to Jesus Christ. 57:46 Help us to be ready for that great 57:47 day in Jesus name Amen. 57:52 Until next time by the way keep 57:54 in the word, I'll see you then. 57:58 Oh! Friends, I know that this message was 58:00 an inspiration and a blessing to each and 58:03 everyone of you today. How do I know this? 58:06 Because it was for us here at Behold the 58:08 Lamb Ministries. Therefore we are 58:11 making this five part series that we've 58:13 entitled "Addressing the Power of the Holy Spirit." 58:16 Available to you, to purchase just for a 58:19 love gift of thirty five dollars or more, 58:22 that sermons in this series are, 58:24 "Does Your Church Need More Power?" 58:26 The second one "You Have to Want that Power," 58:30 third "Preparation to Receive that Power," 58:33 fourth "How We Receive that Power" 58:35 and finally "Witnessing with Power". 58:38 You want to contact us today with your 58:40 request; you can contact us at Behold 58:43 the Lamb Ministries that's Po Box 2030, 58:46 Herrin, IL 62948 or call us at 618-942-5044. 58:55 May the Lord continue to richly bless you and yours. |
Revised 2014-12-17