1 00:00:01,190 --> 00:00:04,990 Eric: We're in a series because we love series at this church. 2 00:00:05,439 --> 00:00:09,350 Uh, I've learned this every time I'm up here it's a series. 3 00:00:10,010 --> 00:00:14,989 Um, and it's a series of Thanksgiving and so this time we are thankful for God and 4 00:00:15,340 --> 00:00:19,230 in today's lessons we're talking about being thankful for God for his spirit. 5 00:00:19,850 --> 00:00:22,970 And so we're looking at God's spirit and what he's done for us. 6 00:00:23,410 --> 00:00:25,250 And I've been thinking about this for a bit. 7 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,720 There's a lot of amazing people in the Bible, and I love studying out the 8 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:31,940 Bible and trying to learn from people. 9 00:00:32,270 --> 00:00:34,299 And I've always thought, what would I ask people? 10 00:00:35,469 --> 00:00:38,569 I was thinking about what I would ask people in the Bible when 11 00:00:38,569 --> 00:00:39,569 I got to see them in heaven. 12 00:00:40,140 --> 00:00:42,060 Like, what would I want to say to Moses? 13 00:00:42,099 --> 00:00:45,160 I go, Hey, Moses, what was it like seeing the burning bush? 14 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:46,559 What was that like? 15 00:00:47,239 --> 00:00:49,439 You know, what was it like seeing the presence of God? 16 00:00:50,559 --> 00:00:53,330 You know, what would it be like to talk to Elijah and go, when, when 17 00:00:53,330 --> 00:00:56,369 you, when you called down fire from heaven and God said it, were 18 00:00:56,369 --> 00:00:57,949 you like, I hope he sends it soon. 19 00:00:58,399 --> 00:01:00,500 You know, like, you know, like, you know, it's not going to work. 20 00:01:00,500 --> 00:01:03,469 Well, if it comes two days late, like what were you afraid? 21 00:01:03,470 --> 00:01:04,108 Were you nervous? 22 00:01:05,190 --> 00:01:09,800 Or if I asked David, when you faced Goliath, how tall was he actually? 23 00:01:10,109 --> 00:01:12,899 You know, and how short were you and, and what was that like? 24 00:01:13,020 --> 00:01:16,020 And how fearful were you in going out there? 25 00:01:17,369 --> 00:01:20,229 Well, what's interesting is I think they would have a question for all of 26 00:01:20,229 --> 00:01:25,580 us, and that would be this, what was it like to have the Holy Spirit in you? 27 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:27,929 What was that like? 28 00:01:28,889 --> 00:01:32,320 You know, what, how, how could you actually get to walk with God 29 00:01:32,350 --> 00:01:35,392 in dwelling God is raised in me. 30 00:01:35,392 --> 00:01:39,438 I don't want to be the one who's being killed. 31 00:01:39,438 --> 00:01:39,842 Don't. 32 00:01:39,842 --> 00:01:44,292 I don't want to be the one who's dying for you. 33 00:01:44,292 --> 00:01:48,337 I've been raised, I've been left by my own fault. 34 00:01:48,337 --> 00:01:53,596 Oh God, I'm sorry, I don't want to be the one who's dying. 35 00:01:53,596 --> 00:01:58,450 I'm sorry, I don't want to be the one who's dying father. 36 00:01:58,450 --> 00:01:59,259 for it. 37 00:02:00,289 --> 00:02:06,009 In Romans, it says God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the 38 00:02:06,009 --> 00:02:08,419 Holy Spirit, who's been given to us. 39 00:02:09,489 --> 00:02:14,260 And that word poured out, it's like an overflowing of it. 40 00:02:14,590 --> 00:02:20,410 God's love is overflowing in us through God's Spirit. 41 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,500 And I think, man, how often do I acknowledge that? 42 00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:29,369 that I get to live a life where God's Spirit lives in me. 43 00:02:30,850 --> 00:02:34,970 Recently the campus has been in a series because our church loves series. 44 00:02:36,799 --> 00:02:41,079 And the campus series has been, are you a fan or are you a follower of Christ? 45 00:02:41,668 --> 00:02:43,569 So that's what we've been studying out in the campus ministry. 46 00:02:43,699 --> 00:02:46,029 And the campus ministry is gone today, if you notice. 47 00:02:46,029 --> 00:02:48,409 They're, they're up serving South Orange County. 48 00:02:48,539 --> 00:02:49,759 But this is what we've been looking at. 49 00:02:49,889 --> 00:02:53,859 Are you really a fan of Jesus or are you a follower of Jesus? 50 00:02:54,909 --> 00:02:59,009 And in this study, what we looked at in one of the topics was, are 51 00:02:59,009 --> 00:03:01,489 we empowered by the Holy Spirit? 52 00:03:02,159 --> 00:03:07,099 Are we living a life where the Holy Spirit is what's driving us versus ourselves? 53 00:03:09,899 --> 00:03:12,559 And I think some of us, this is what Christianity can 54 00:03:12,559 --> 00:03:13,869 feel like, paddling upstream. 55 00:03:15,269 --> 00:03:18,099 It's a constant just, oh, I'm gonna make it. 56 00:03:18,209 --> 00:03:18,909 I'm gonna get there. 57 00:03:18,949 --> 00:03:19,629 I'm gonna get there. 58 00:03:19,669 --> 00:03:20,239 I'm gonna do it. 59 00:03:20,259 --> 00:03:20,899 I'm gonna get it. 60 00:03:22,999 --> 00:03:24,469 Versus having the wind in our sails. 61 00:03:26,014 --> 00:03:28,374 It doesn't mean that we don't have rough seas at times. 62 00:03:29,904 --> 00:03:32,154 But it doesn't mean that we're doing it all on our own. 63 00:03:33,964 --> 00:03:36,174 And the way I was explaining it to them was the Holy Spirit's 64 00:03:36,174 --> 00:03:37,434 kind of like gas in a car. 65 00:03:38,434 --> 00:03:40,184 Without gas in the car, it's not gonna get much. 66 00:03:40,464 --> 00:03:43,254 But that doesn't mean you're not gonna go up hills and down valleys. 67 00:03:43,994 --> 00:03:45,644 It's not gonna get windy at times. 68 00:03:46,634 --> 00:03:48,364 But you're not having to go it alone. 69 00:03:48,864 --> 00:03:52,464 Versus some of us where it feels like this is every mile of our Christianity. 70 00:03:53,049 --> 00:03:54,349 And we're just pushing this along. 71 00:03:55,369 --> 00:03:56,820 And this is why we get worn out. 72 00:04:00,489 --> 00:04:07,349 Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord Almighty. 73 00:04:08,539 --> 00:04:12,529 And a lot of us, we try to do it by our power, and we try to do it by our might. 74 00:04:14,529 --> 00:04:18,709 And we miss the biggest component, God's spirit. 75 00:04:21,119 --> 00:04:22,469 I did an experiment with them. 76 00:04:23,224 --> 00:04:25,515 And I was going to do it with Marcel and Karina. 77 00:04:25,615 --> 00:04:28,495 I thought, Marcel called me up last week, I thought I'll do the same to him. 78 00:04:29,075 --> 00:04:30,395 But for the sake of time, I won't. 79 00:04:31,085 --> 00:04:35,425 But, what I had done, was I had given a weight, actually a 80 00:04:35,425 --> 00:04:37,895 couple, to a couple campus kids. 81 00:04:39,305 --> 00:04:41,545 One is a campus kid that works at all time, Lawrence. 82 00:04:41,545 --> 00:04:42,965 That kid's, that kid's a monster. 83 00:04:44,534 --> 00:04:48,094 And the other weight I gave, ten pounds, not much, was to Lorena. 84 00:04:48,385 --> 00:04:50,695 And I think ten pounds is probably like one tenth of her weight. 85 00:04:53,545 --> 00:04:56,715 And all I had them do was hold the weight out like this for as long as they could. 86 00:04:58,885 --> 00:04:59,715 Exactly. 87 00:05:00,705 --> 00:05:01,235 I know. 88 00:05:01,505 --> 00:05:02,404 I just did it for a moment. 89 00:05:02,405 --> 00:05:04,244 I'm like, ooh, shouldn't have done that. 90 00:05:04,245 --> 00:05:08,295 But, this is, I think, what are Christians like. 91 00:05:08,795 --> 00:05:11,594 You know, if you ask me to serve in kids kingdom once, got it. 92 00:05:11,804 --> 00:05:12,224 Not a problem. 93 00:05:12,335 --> 00:05:12,845 I can do that. 94 00:05:14,385 --> 00:05:17,365 You know, you ask me to come be in a Bible study, yep, I can do that. 95 00:05:19,524 --> 00:05:20,685 But the day to day. 96 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:21,800 Living it out. 97 00:05:22,690 --> 00:05:23,430 Starts to wear on us. 98 00:05:25,770 --> 00:05:26,690 Except there's a trick. 99 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,230 Because Lawrence was like this, struggling. 100 00:05:31,730 --> 00:05:33,169 But I was helping Lorraine to hold it. 101 00:05:34,900 --> 00:05:36,690 And Lawrence looked over like, Wait, that's cheating. 102 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:38,920 Right. 103 00:05:40,729 --> 00:05:42,030 But that's the Holy Spirit for us. 104 00:05:42,220 --> 00:05:43,580 I still have to hold it. 105 00:05:45,090 --> 00:05:46,610 But the Spirit is helping us. 106 00:05:47,460 --> 00:05:48,280 It's a spotter. 107 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:53,580 And I think for many of us this is, can become, and I'm looking around, campus 108 00:05:53,590 --> 00:05:57,300 is gone, teens are gone, there's a mature crowd in this room, and I'm with you. 109 00:05:57,909 --> 00:06:01,179 I'm a few days away from being 30 years old a disciple, and so 110 00:06:01,179 --> 00:06:03,240 I know what it is to be here. 111 00:06:04,750 --> 00:06:07,869 Going, man, I gotta be righteous again today on the freeway? 112 00:06:07,959 --> 00:06:12,760 Oh, I mean, I could do it one day out of the week, but all five? 113 00:06:12,790 --> 00:06:13,390 Come on. 114 00:06:14,130 --> 00:06:16,660 You don't, these same drivers are there every week. 115 00:06:16,660 --> 00:06:17,190 I see them. 116 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:24,450 And this is what our Christianity tries to feel like and not like this Because we 117 00:06:24,450 --> 00:06:27,630 get worn out Why because it's by our power 118 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,940 It's by our might and we're not using a spirit 119 00:06:38,310 --> 00:06:44,280 Second Corinthians 4 8 through 9 we are hard pressed on every side But 120 00:06:44,950 --> 00:06:52,995 not crushed Perplexed but not in despair Persecuted, but not abandoned. 121 00:06:53,855 --> 00:06:56,685 Struck down, but not destroyed. 122 00:06:58,895 --> 00:07:02,474 Why were they able to endure so much? 123 00:07:04,475 --> 00:07:05,765 Because God's Spirit was with them. 124 00:07:07,145 --> 00:07:08,494 They relied on God's Spirit. 125 00:07:09,485 --> 00:07:15,054 And I think if we are trying to do this on our own, when we're pressed 126 00:07:15,054 --> 00:07:17,384 on every side, we get crushed. 127 00:07:19,774 --> 00:07:21,204 When we are perplexed, we get crushed. 128 00:07:21,815 --> 00:07:23,235 We start to become despaired. 129 00:07:24,665 --> 00:07:26,805 When we get persecuted, we feel abandoned. 130 00:07:28,995 --> 00:07:31,195 And unfortunately, for some of our brothers and sisters over 131 00:07:31,195 --> 00:07:34,475 the years, when they were struck down, they were destroyed. 132 00:07:36,195 --> 00:07:36,424 Why? 133 00:07:36,424 --> 00:07:39,964 Because they lost the thought of God's spirit is what gets us through. 134 00:07:41,244 --> 00:07:41,754 And that's it. 135 00:07:42,264 --> 00:07:44,005 It's always going to be God's spirit. 136 00:07:45,275 --> 00:07:49,365 If we're trying to do this alone, we're missing a big part of 137 00:07:49,365 --> 00:07:50,485 what God has called us to be. 138 00:07:51,095 --> 00:07:53,295 And this gift is just that. 139 00:07:53,595 --> 00:07:54,215 It's a gift. 140 00:07:55,705 --> 00:07:58,805 Jesus knows how hard Christianity is. 141 00:08:00,115 --> 00:08:01,305 Because he lived it to the fullest. 142 00:08:02,345 --> 00:08:03,555 But he didn't do it alone. 143 00:08:04,474 --> 00:08:07,224 He gave us the Spirit, and he said, when he was gone, I'll give you 144 00:08:07,224 --> 00:08:08,174 something even greater than me. 145 00:08:08,704 --> 00:08:09,675 The Advocate will come. 146 00:08:11,055 --> 00:08:12,055 I am the vine. 147 00:08:12,935 --> 00:08:14,115 You are the branches. 148 00:08:14,775 --> 00:08:17,925 If you remain in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit. 149 00:08:18,365 --> 00:08:19,925 Apart from me, you can do nothing. 150 00:08:21,545 --> 00:08:23,355 There's one very important word in there. 151 00:08:23,965 --> 00:08:24,315 If. 152 00:08:25,935 --> 00:08:26,365 If. 153 00:08:28,084 --> 00:08:29,385 One of the most powerful words in the Bible. 154 00:08:29,475 --> 00:08:30,945 If you remain in me. 155 00:08:32,385 --> 00:08:33,354 Well, how do I know? 156 00:08:33,515 --> 00:08:34,573 Am I really remaining? 157 00:08:34,614 --> 00:08:35,234 If. 158 00:08:37,933 --> 00:08:40,784 When hardship happens, where do you first turn? 159 00:08:43,034 --> 00:08:48,095 When that difficult moment comes, is it the first call to the spouse? 160 00:08:48,095 --> 00:08:48,175 If. 161 00:08:50,785 --> 00:08:51,895 It's the first call to God. 162 00:08:55,224 --> 00:08:57,564 When victories happen, where do you first turn? 163 00:08:59,614 --> 00:09:03,284 Is it the first moment to, I can't wait to celebrate, or is it, I 164 00:09:03,285 --> 00:09:05,194 can't wait to celebrate with God? 165 00:09:06,504 --> 00:09:07,184 Where do we turn? 166 00:09:11,714 --> 00:09:18,435 You will bear much fruit, but the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, 167 00:09:18,725 --> 00:09:21,545 peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness. 168 00:09:21,949 --> 00:09:24,290 Faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. 169 00:09:25,859 --> 00:09:26,370 This is the fruit. 170 00:09:27,510 --> 00:09:31,130 And if I look around and I see many of you, I've walked with many 171 00:09:31,130 --> 00:09:32,540 of you a long time in the faith. 172 00:09:33,719 --> 00:09:37,489 And I've seen you grow in your patience. 173 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,650 I've seen you grow in your joy. 174 00:09:41,209 --> 00:09:43,729 I've seen you grow in your forbearance. 175 00:09:43,910 --> 00:09:46,670 I've seen you grow in your gentleness and your self control. 176 00:09:48,380 --> 00:09:50,660 And if you're going, Man, yeah, but it's been hard. 177 00:09:50,974 --> 00:09:51,944 This is the gift. 178 00:09:53,224 --> 00:09:57,694 We've been given a gift, and that gift is being revealed in many of you. 179 00:10:01,305 --> 00:10:05,064 God is good, and he knows what we need. 180 00:10:07,985 --> 00:10:11,274 I was also thinking about this question here, is if you're not being led by the 181 00:10:11,285 --> 00:10:12,594 Holy Spirit, then what's leading you? 182 00:10:14,944 --> 00:10:15,814 What is leading you? 183 00:10:18,135 --> 00:10:21,515 And I think this is a popular book, Seven Rules of Self Reliance. 184 00:10:22,340 --> 00:10:23,080 This is our culture. 185 00:10:23,110 --> 00:10:25,170 And again, I work with your campus students. 186 00:10:25,190 --> 00:10:26,910 I know we all want them to be self reliant. 187 00:10:26,910 --> 00:10:28,970 I'm not saying we don't want them to all be self reliant. 188 00:10:29,980 --> 00:10:32,999 But, they should first be God reliant. 189 00:10:34,070 --> 00:10:34,640 First. 190 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:37,680 We should focus on that. 191 00:10:38,129 --> 00:10:40,960 How do we become God reliant and not just self reliant? 192 00:10:43,830 --> 00:10:45,390 So are we following the Spirit? 193 00:10:46,130 --> 00:10:47,960 Or are we the masters of our universe? 194 00:10:51,590 --> 00:10:54,950 And I think if you want to test that out, if you're Holy Spirit empowered, you will 195 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,980 see the fact that you constantly rely on God's strength to get you through things. 196 00:10:59,390 --> 00:11:00,250 You'll notice it. 197 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:01,450 You'll pray through it. 198 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:02,940 You'll wrestle with it. 199 00:11:04,500 --> 00:11:05,869 Versus just trying to rely on your own. 200 00:11:10,029 --> 00:11:12,300 If you're Holy Spirit empowered, you'll admit weakness. 201 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:17,500 You don't need to come every moment and go, man, I got it all under control. 202 00:11:18,329 --> 00:11:19,270 You can admit weakness. 203 00:11:19,270 --> 00:11:21,170 You can go, man, I'm, I'm struggling this. 204 00:11:21,290 --> 00:11:23,360 And I'm not saying back in the day we used to admit weakness, 205 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:24,870 like I'm terrible person. 206 00:11:24,870 --> 00:11:26,970 Just, I'm, you know, but look how awesome I am. 207 00:11:26,980 --> 00:11:30,860 No, you know, back in the day, I know that there was moments there where we 208 00:11:30,860 --> 00:11:34,429 would share like, man, I used to struggle with pride and you know, ha ha ha. 209 00:11:34,430 --> 00:11:36,210 No, we admit it, man. 210 00:11:36,230 --> 00:11:38,230 I struggle with this and I want help. 211 00:11:39,069 --> 00:11:39,560 I need help. 212 00:11:42,090 --> 00:11:45,579 First is the pride that can zoom in our lives and we act 213 00:11:45,579 --> 00:11:46,630 like we got all under control. 214 00:11:49,435 --> 00:11:52,175 When we're Holy Spirit empowered, we surrender to God. 215 00:11:53,874 --> 00:11:56,915 Not by my will, but by yours. 216 00:11:58,264 --> 00:12:00,144 God, I'll let you take control. 217 00:12:02,825 --> 00:12:04,214 Versus me trying to do it myself. 218 00:12:06,855 --> 00:12:09,046 You know, someone's not doing well, I'll handle it. 219 00:12:09,046 --> 00:12:10,134 Versus, let me pray. 220 00:12:10,134 --> 00:12:13,939 One of the best lessons I ever learned, one of the first people I 221 00:12:13,939 --> 00:12:17,744 ever mentored in the faith, was a guy by the name of Kazunori Anazawa. 222 00:12:17,745 --> 00:12:17,975 Thank you. 223 00:12:19,855 --> 00:12:20,465 Love Kos. 224 00:12:21,175 --> 00:12:21,865 Love Kos. 225 00:12:23,635 --> 00:12:24,425 We started the Bible with him. 226 00:12:24,435 --> 00:12:26,764 He only spoke Japanese, very little English. 227 00:12:27,574 --> 00:12:31,465 Almost every other word we were looking up in a Japanese to English dictionary. 228 00:12:31,975 --> 00:12:34,024 They were the longest studies I've ever been a part of. 229 00:12:35,545 --> 00:12:39,694 And I remember going and praying with him, and he would go to pray, and he's like, 230 00:12:39,744 --> 00:12:41,275 hey, do you mind if I pray in Japanese? 231 00:12:41,285 --> 00:12:41,935 And what am I gonna say? 232 00:12:41,935 --> 00:12:42,375 No. 233 00:12:43,245 --> 00:12:47,385 God only speaks English, you know, Of course, pray Japanese, but he would 234 00:12:47,385 --> 00:12:50,585 start praying in Japanese, and I'm like, I have no idea what he's talking about. 235 00:12:51,565 --> 00:12:52,595 I have no idea what he's saying. 236 00:12:52,605 --> 00:12:53,595 How am I going to help him? 237 00:12:54,235 --> 00:12:56,395 And he would just pray in Japanese, and he would get done. 238 00:12:56,405 --> 00:12:57,405 He goes, that was so much better. 239 00:12:57,435 --> 00:12:57,974 I feel good. 240 00:12:59,655 --> 00:13:00,035 Amen. 241 00:13:01,444 --> 00:13:02,304 See you next week. 242 00:13:04,014 --> 00:13:05,295 It was such a learning curve. 243 00:13:05,714 --> 00:13:07,385 It's not an issue of, I've got to take care of it. 244 00:13:08,355 --> 00:13:09,405 I've just got to lead him to God. 245 00:13:10,015 --> 00:13:10,645 And let God do it. 246 00:13:12,814 --> 00:13:15,395 When you're Holy Spirit empowered, there's a confidence in God. 247 00:13:17,390 --> 00:13:19,040 There's, God's going to handle this. 248 00:13:19,610 --> 00:13:20,810 We just had an election. 249 00:13:21,850 --> 00:13:24,180 And people are, some people are celebrating and some 250 00:13:24,180 --> 00:13:25,180 people are in despair. 251 00:13:27,209 --> 00:13:28,129 But we're Christians. 252 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:30,170 We have a confidence in God. 253 00:13:30,939 --> 00:13:32,400 It doesn't matter which side won. 254 00:13:33,039 --> 00:13:34,699 Because we already know the side that has won. 255 00:13:35,420 --> 00:13:35,930 God has. 256 00:13:37,709 --> 00:13:38,180 God's won. 257 00:13:40,230 --> 00:13:41,060 It doesn't matter. 258 00:13:41,660 --> 00:13:42,400 The political party. 259 00:13:42,410 --> 00:13:42,470 Thank you. 260 00:13:42,550 --> 00:13:45,680 It matters who our faith is in. 261 00:13:47,089 --> 00:13:49,000 Versus that fear of failure that we can have. 262 00:13:50,329 --> 00:13:52,579 Ooh, should I, should I go out and take a step of faith? 263 00:13:52,599 --> 00:13:54,140 Ah, but what if I mess up? 264 00:13:55,479 --> 00:13:56,919 What if I can't succeed? 265 00:13:58,900 --> 00:13:59,599 Who are you trusting in? 266 00:14:02,469 --> 00:14:06,010 There's a peace and perseverance when you see people who are Holy Spirit empowered. 267 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:08,709 They might be going through the most difficult moments. 268 00:14:10,089 --> 00:14:13,339 But there's something about someone who's really in touch with God's spirit. 269 00:14:14,589 --> 00:14:15,120 You see it. 270 00:14:16,099 --> 00:14:19,240 They might be going through some of the most heartache, but they're 271 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:20,930 persevere and they're at peace. 272 00:14:21,829 --> 00:14:24,259 Because they have a faith in God and God's spirit's taking 273 00:14:24,259 --> 00:14:26,209 them versus anxiety and burnout. 274 00:14:27,909 --> 00:14:29,929 And I've definitely been on both sides of this. 275 00:14:31,519 --> 00:14:33,719 Where I just feel like man, I can't go another step. 276 00:14:34,780 --> 00:14:38,579 But that's because I'm trying to walk alone and not with, not with God. 277 00:14:42,194 --> 00:14:44,385 Holy Spirit, lasting impact. 278 00:14:45,395 --> 00:14:45,964 Life long. 279 00:14:48,454 --> 00:14:51,334 You know, I, I, I was doing Kids Kingdom. 280 00:14:51,884 --> 00:14:54,164 And John Orr walks in and, and, you know, I'm doing Kids Kingdom 281 00:14:54,164 --> 00:14:55,074 with him and I'm giving him a hug. 282 00:14:55,754 --> 00:14:59,014 Uh, John Orr was one of the first people I ever reached out to that got baptized. 283 00:15:00,434 --> 00:15:01,104 And he's still here today. 284 00:15:02,484 --> 00:15:05,444 And many of us have had lasting impact on lives. 285 00:15:07,214 --> 00:15:08,724 Because God's Spirit has enabled that. 286 00:15:11,094 --> 00:15:15,044 Versus the temporary benefits of not doing it. 287 00:15:16,594 --> 00:15:17,444 Of living in the world. 288 00:15:18,824 --> 00:15:21,444 And finally, I thought of this, an eternal perspective. 289 00:15:22,244 --> 00:15:25,584 When you are Holy Spirit empowered, you have an eternal perspective. 290 00:15:26,314 --> 00:15:28,864 You see past the momentary troubles. 291 00:15:30,204 --> 00:15:33,334 Where death is not the end, but a beginning. 292 00:15:35,699 --> 00:15:38,420 Versus just that temporary, short term perspective. 293 00:15:38,430 --> 00:15:40,849 We have to put the quarter in, you see it for a moment, and then it's gone. 294 00:15:41,969 --> 00:15:43,439 But we can see greater depths. 295 00:15:45,570 --> 00:15:48,220 Thank God for His Spirit. 296 00:15:49,049 --> 00:15:52,440 Thank God that He enables us to live this life. 297 00:15:52,490 --> 00:15:55,130 Because we cannot do it alone. 298 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:57,110 And we were never meant to. 299 00:16:00,750 --> 00:16:01,370 I am the vine. 300 00:16:02,620 --> 00:16:03,800 You are the branches. 301 00:16:04,170 --> 00:16:07,910 If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. 302 00:16:08,340 --> 00:16:11,339 Apart from me, you can do nothing. 303 00:16:12,660 --> 00:16:18,200 And I think for us, as we look at God's spirit, are we really living that? 304 00:16:19,130 --> 00:16:20,660 Or are we attending a church? 305 00:16:21,660 --> 00:16:25,240 And then we just feel burnout from all the things, all the functions 306 00:16:25,330 --> 00:16:29,510 of a church versus living a life as a Christian in God's kingdom. 307 00:16:30,404 --> 00:16:31,724 And I think those are two different things. 308 00:16:32,935 --> 00:16:36,034 I've attended church many a times before becoming a disciple. 309 00:16:36,524 --> 00:16:40,194 I've gone to many church functions many a times before I was a disciple. 310 00:16:42,004 --> 00:16:45,574 I want to be a part of God's kingdom, not a part of a church. 311 00:16:46,314 --> 00:16:48,004 I don't want to go to a church function. 312 00:16:48,764 --> 00:16:50,824 I want to have a lasting impact on people's lives. 313 00:16:52,264 --> 00:16:53,425 That is done through God's Spirit. 314 00:16:55,814 --> 00:16:57,124 So how do we cultivate this? 315 00:16:59,300 --> 00:16:59,980 Basics. 316 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,750 Let's start with daily surrender through prayer and his word. 317 00:17:03,900 --> 00:17:04,589 Basics. 318 00:17:05,260 --> 00:17:07,859 If you're like, man, I feel like I've been out of touch a little bit. 319 00:17:07,990 --> 00:17:09,789 I feel like I've just been kind of going through the motions. 320 00:17:09,789 --> 00:17:11,659 I feel like I'm just kind of working through it. 321 00:17:11,810 --> 00:17:13,789 And again, I'm looking at a mature crowd. 322 00:17:13,839 --> 00:17:15,419 I know that season of life. 323 00:17:16,689 --> 00:17:17,128 I know it. 324 00:17:17,420 --> 00:17:17,940 I've been there. 325 00:17:18,819 --> 00:17:21,060 We're just, week after week, I'm just kind of getting it up. 326 00:17:21,069 --> 00:17:21,790 What am I doing now? 327 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:22,880 Going back. 328 00:17:22,980 --> 00:17:26,880 That daily surrender through prayer and his word, not just daily reading. 329 00:17:27,250 --> 00:17:29,170 Not just daily prayer, daily surrender. 330 00:17:29,500 --> 00:17:30,630 God, what do you want from me today? 331 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:32,390 What do you want me to learn? 332 00:17:35,169 --> 00:17:36,179 Obey the Spirit. 333 00:17:37,749 --> 00:17:38,239 Obey it. 334 00:17:39,179 --> 00:17:39,939 We've all been there. 335 00:17:39,939 --> 00:17:42,159 We're walking by and someone's passing us and we're like, 336 00:17:42,319 --> 00:17:43,339 Oh, I should share my faith. 337 00:17:43,529 --> 00:17:45,080 Ah, but I got a bunch of other things to do. 338 00:17:46,149 --> 00:17:49,049 When those moments come, treat it as God's Spirit. 339 00:17:50,139 --> 00:17:50,619 Say something. 340 00:17:50,619 --> 00:17:54,429 Hey, you know, I just, I just, for some reason I feel like I need to talk to you. 341 00:17:55,550 --> 00:17:58,379 Take those opportunities, stop passing them over. 342 00:17:59,260 --> 00:18:01,690 When those temptations come, fight to resist. 343 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:03,139 Obey God's spirit. 344 00:18:03,330 --> 00:18:05,190 God's spirit is telling you, hey, don't go there. 345 00:18:06,879 --> 00:18:07,389 Don't give in. 346 00:18:08,889 --> 00:18:10,259 Confess and repent. 347 00:18:11,460 --> 00:18:14,040 I'm sure there's many of us that have sat there and go, no, I got something 348 00:18:14,129 --> 00:18:17,790 that I've kind of been holding onto maybe with another brother and sister 349 00:18:17,790 --> 00:18:22,585 in this, in this fellowship, maybe with someone in the family, Or maybe 350 00:18:22,585 --> 00:18:24,375 it's just something you're internally going through, that you're just 351 00:18:24,375 --> 00:18:25,815 trying to work through on your own. 352 00:18:27,315 --> 00:18:28,045 No, confess it. 353 00:18:29,215 --> 00:18:29,945 And work to repent. 354 00:18:31,385 --> 00:18:31,945 Serve. 355 00:18:33,454 --> 00:18:34,575 Find ways to serve. 356 00:18:37,414 --> 00:18:38,725 And then take bold steps. 357 00:18:41,034 --> 00:18:42,284 Obey God's Spirit. 358 00:18:42,285 --> 00:18:46,405 We were never spent, we were never expected to just sit in a pew. 359 00:18:46,915 --> 00:18:47,735 Or sit in an aisle. 360 00:18:48,025 --> 00:18:49,005 Take bold steps of faith. 361 00:18:50,905 --> 00:18:53,095 And lastly, stay unified with the Christian church. 362 00:18:54,695 --> 00:18:56,425 Stay unified with the Christian community. 363 00:18:56,515 --> 00:19:00,825 God's spirit enables us to be unified together. 364 00:19:02,964 --> 00:19:05,585 It allows us to function together. 365 00:19:07,514 --> 00:19:08,885 We weren't meant to walk this alone. 366 00:19:12,005 --> 00:19:14,225 As we head into communion, I want you to think of a couple 367 00:19:14,225 --> 00:19:15,455 of scriptures in Corinthians. 368 00:19:16,685 --> 00:19:17,035 It says, 369 00:19:20,605 --> 00:19:24,335 But all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 370 00:19:24,925 --> 00:19:30,955 For we were all baptized by one spirit, so as to form one body. 371 00:19:31,735 --> 00:19:39,644 Whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free, we were all given one spirit to drink. 372 00:19:40,624 --> 00:19:41,224 One spirit. 373 00:19:42,564 --> 00:19:45,855 We all are here unified by God's spirit. 374 00:19:45,855 --> 00:19:47,434 One spirit. 375 00:19:47,434 --> 00:19:48,175 One body. 376 00:19:48,865 --> 00:19:49,704 His church. 377 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:50,670 Together. 378 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:57,180 We sit very separate, but we're actually one. 379 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:03,309 And when we drink, the one spirit to drink. 380 00:20:05,649 --> 00:20:09,860 It reflects this, is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks 381 00:20:09,860 --> 00:20:11,870 a participation in the blood of Christ. 382 00:20:12,300 --> 00:20:15,760 It is not the bread that we break, a participation in the body of 383 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:17,860 Christ, because there is one love. 384 00:20:18,404 --> 00:20:24,344 Because who, uh, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one loaf. 385 00:20:25,294 --> 00:20:28,164 When we take communion, we, we feel like we all take it a little separately, we 386 00:20:28,164 --> 00:20:30,064 all open a little cup, all drink it. 387 00:20:30,114 --> 00:20:31,974 But in reality, we drink it together. 388 00:20:32,985 --> 00:20:34,804 And we eat it together. 389 00:20:36,045 --> 00:20:36,245 Why? 390 00:20:36,245 --> 00:20:38,614 Because we're living this Christian life together. 391 00:20:39,904 --> 00:20:44,654 The ups and downs, the goods and the bads, we share them together. 392 00:20:46,104 --> 00:20:47,644 And it was always meant to be that way. 393 00:20:48,629 --> 00:20:50,879 Because we've been given God's Spirit. 394 00:20:52,529 --> 00:20:53,929 God has never been alone. 395 00:20:55,759 --> 00:20:56,610 It's a concept to think about. 396 00:20:56,639 --> 00:20:57,479 God's never been alone. 397 00:20:58,649 --> 00:20:59,870 He's a triune God. 398 00:21:01,939 --> 00:21:03,549 He doesn't expect us to be alone either. 399 00:21:05,709 --> 00:21:08,749 We're here in a community, and we have God's Spirit. 400 00:21:09,789 --> 00:21:14,105 So as we take communion, And we think of this time of what to be grateful for. 401 00:21:14,264 --> 00:21:16,014 Be grateful that God said, you know what? 402 00:21:16,054 --> 00:21:16,905 I love you so much. 403 00:21:16,935 --> 00:21:21,894 I want a part of myself living in you because that's how much I love you. 404 00:21:23,224 --> 00:21:26,654 Cause I'm going to walk with you forever and someday you'll be 405 00:21:26,655 --> 00:21:29,724 reunited with me again for eternity. 406 00:21:31,094 --> 00:21:31,524 Let's pray. 407 00:21:34,064 --> 00:21:38,314 Father, as we come before you, we are grateful to know 408 00:21:38,314 --> 00:21:41,165 that you love us so, so much. 409 00:21:41,779 --> 00:21:44,389 So much that you've given us a part of yourself. 410 00:21:44,979 --> 00:21:48,479 That Jesus himself says, uh, one will come greater than me. 411 00:21:49,429 --> 00:21:51,509 And that is your spirit that lives inside of us. 412 00:21:52,749 --> 00:21:55,179 And that, God, we are not to do this Christian life alone. 413 00:21:56,189 --> 00:21:57,039 We're not meant to. 414 00:21:58,789 --> 00:22:00,789 But here we are with our brothers and sisters. 415 00:22:01,849 --> 00:22:04,249 And you say, with two or more gathered, there you are. 416 00:22:04,479 --> 00:22:05,610 And here you are, God. 417 00:22:06,169 --> 00:22:07,059 You're with all of us. 418 00:22:07,749 --> 00:22:09,309 Because you love us so much. 419 00:22:09,310 --> 00:22:09,369 so much. 420 00:22:11,770 --> 00:22:17,460 Thank you, God, that the spirit we drink is the one that unites us and doesn't 421 00:22:17,460 --> 00:22:22,840 divide us, is the one that helps us propel us forward and doesn't hold us back. 422 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:30,070 It's the spirit that ultimately unites us with you and allows us to have 423 00:22:30,070 --> 00:22:35,169 your love poured out into us because we are so precious in your sight. 424 00:22:37,330 --> 00:22:38,510 Help us live this out. 425 00:22:38,970 --> 00:22:43,240 Day to day as we, as we push through knowing God that we might be 426 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:48,050 perplexed, we might feel persecuted, but we will never be destroyed 427 00:22:48,949 --> 00:22:50,559 because God, we walk with you. 428 00:22:52,770 --> 00:22:56,379 Father, thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your body and 429 00:22:56,380 --> 00:23:01,970 your blood to sacrifice, but most importantly to rise again. 430 00:23:02,940 --> 00:23:04,310 And we thank you in your son's name. 431 00:23:04,470 --> 00:23:04,780 Amen.