Sermon

Embracing the Unshakeable Kingdom: A Call to Shine

Highlife Church

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  1. That's a real privilege for me to share. You know, it's a humbling experience

  2. for me to share because, you know, I've been entrusted to deliver to you what

  3. God is saying to this church.

  4. And I think that's an awesome responsibility.

  5. You know, I'm excited with what God is doing in our church.

  6. I believe that each one of you, each one of us has been brought here for a purpose

  7. and for such a time as this.

  8. I really believe that. God is doing a beautiful thing in our church.

  9. I don't know if you all sense that and know that.

  10. But there's a love and a unity developing that I have not experienced in a very, very long time.

  11. So wonderful things are happening, and it's a privilege, as I say,

  12. for me to share what God is saying, because I've been waiting on the Lord for

  13. a while for this word, and I've been getting some major downloads.

  14. So what I'm going to share is, I think it's going to challenge you,

  15. it's going to challenge your faith,

  16. it's going to challenge your religious mindsets, and I think we all need that

  17. every now and again, to have our religious mindsets challenged,

  18. because we can get so caught up in religious thinking and natural thinking that

  19. we don't really do what God has called us to do.

  20. And, you know, time is short. And, you know, this thing about waiting on the

  21. Lord is an interesting thing because I heard a song just this last week where

  22. it says, you know, waiting on you, Lord, waiting, we wait on you.

  23. You are coming soon and we're waiting on you. And I thought,

  24. yes, he is coming soon, and yes, it is a place of waiting, but we're not waiting

  25. to be raptured out of here.

  26. We're waiting on the Lord to be strengthened, empowered, that we might touch

  27. a world that desperately needs to hear what, you know, really.

  28. So anyway, I'm going to share you some biblical truths. Most of what I'm going

  29. to share with you today is just straight Bible. So,

  30. It's going to challenge you, so don't get upset with me, but get upset with

  31. God because it's His Word, and, you know, sometimes we need it.

  32. Anyway, the title of my message is Christ in You, the Hope of Glory.

  33. Christ in You, the Hope of Glory. You know, God is amazing. You know,

  34. I just don't think we can begin to fully understand the greatness and the depths of God.

  35. You know, I don't know if you've had a good close look at a passion fruit flower.

  36. Amazing! The colors and the designs and the intricate, it all came out of a seed.

  37. You know, but what an incredible flower.

  38. And then you look at atomic structure. You know, you look at the vastness of

  39. the universe and God created with a word from his mouth.

  40. You know, our peanut brain can't even begin to understand the depths and the

  41. power and the majesty of our God. Really?

  42. Anyway, have a look. I just want to share a scripture with you.

  43. 1 Corinthians 2, verses 9 to 16. and you'll know it, and I've quoted it before,

    1 Corinthians 2:9–16

  44. but I love it because it's just amazing.

  45. 1 Corinthians 2, verse 9. I has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into

    1 Corinthians 2:9

  46. the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him. Wow.

  47. But God has revealed them to us through his Spirit.

  48. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

  49. For what man knows the things of a man except the Spirit of the man who is in him?

  50. Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

  51. Now we have received not the Spirit of the world,

  52. but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been

  53. freely given to us by God.

  54. Wow, that is amazing. You know, God is just so awesome and so powerful,

  55. and yet He has given us His Spirit to reveal the depths of what He has prepared for us.

  56. You know, He's prepared for us. You know, we can't even begin to understand

  57. the things that God has prepared for us,

  58. But we have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us to reveal these things

  59. to us and to open up these incredible things that God has prepared for us.

  60. Do you believe that? I hope you do because it's Bible.

  61. You know, nothing is impossible to them that believe.

  62. Nothing. Jesus said that himself. Nothing is impossible. So that means all things are possible.

  63. And that is amazing, really.

  64. You know, we are living in dark times. You know, when you have a look at what's

  65. going, you just have to look at the news and to see what's happening in our

  66. society and in our schools.

  67. You know, the more I hear, the more I think, wow, Jesus.

  68. Not Jesus come, but, you know, get us moving so that we can be a light to this world.

  69. Anyway look I really believe that

  70. even though the world is getting darker there

  71. is an expectation within the universal body of Christ that there is a major

  72. move of God coming I believe it I believe it and you know we all have a part

  73. God's called us to this body and each one of us we each have a part to play.

  74. We each have a part to contribute to what God is doing in this church and in our world.

  75. Jesus is the light of the world. He said so himself, and where there is light, there is hope.

  76. Even though the world is dark, there is hope, and Jesus is that hope.

  77. He said in John 8, 12, then Jesus spoke to them saying,

  78. I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness,

  79. but have the light of life.

  80. In John 12, 46, he said, I have come as a light into the world,

  81. that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness.

  82. You know, there is a spiritual kingdom of darkness, and it has had a major impact

  83. on our society, on our worlds, on our families. but Jesus is the light of the world.

  84. Jesus came to redeem mankind from the authority of darkness.

  85. In Colossians chapter 1 verses 13 and 14,

    Colossians 1:13

  86. it says, He has rescued us completely from the tyrannical rule of darkness and

  87. has translated us into the kingdom realm of His beloved Son.

  88. For in the son all our sins are

  89. cancelled and we have the release of redemption

  90. through his blood wow that's good

  91. news and in verses 19 to 20 for God is satisfied to have all his fullness dwelling

  92. in Christ and by the blood of his cross everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself,

  93. back to its original intent, restored to innocence again.

  94. We're talking about healing. You know, there's so much sickness and disease

  95. and hurt and poverty and pain in this world.

  96. You know, people suffer from what's happened to them in the past and are crippled

  97. emotionally, but there There was healing in Jesus.

  98. He came to set the captives free.

  99. He came to heal the blind and to set at free those that are captive.

  100. And he's come to bring healing by the power of the Spirit.

  101. You know, Jesus said to his disciples and to us who believe in Matthew 5.14, you are the light.

  102. That's talking about us. You are the light of the world.

  103. We are the light of the world.

  104. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and

  105. put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house.

  106. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

  107. We are the light of the world. And you know, our light needs to shine.

  108. It is a dark world, yes, but God's put his light on the inside of us,

  109. and we need to shine and touch our world and bring the light of the gospel to our world.

  110. I'm going to very quickly have a look at the ministry of Jesus.

  111. You know, as we know, he grew up in Nazareth, but he did nothing until the Holy Spirit came upon him.

  112. He didn't do any miracles at all.

  113. Now, the first miracle that he did was to change water into wine at the wedding

  114. feast in Cana in Galilee.

  115. And you can see this in John chapter 2. That was the first miracle that Jesus did.

    John 2 chapter mention

  116. Now, verse 11 says, this beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and

  117. manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

  118. Isn't that interesting? That miracle that he performed there,

  119. that was the start of miracles, and he manifested his glory.

  120. So glory is tied up in signs and wonders and miracles.

  121. Really. And to be honest with you, signs and wonders and miracles,

  122. as they are released into our world, wow, things are going to begin to happen.

  123. We are going to see the things that have been prophesied where God is going

  124. to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh.

  125. It's coming. I believe it. And I want to be a part of it. You want to be a part of it?

  126. Yes, I do. Okay, let's have a look at the Greek word for glory, doxa.

  127. It may not be the right pronunciation, Andrew, but it's D-O-X-A, doxa.

  128. And my study Bible says, The New Testament doxa becomes splendor,

  129. radiance, and majesty centered in Jesus.

  130. Here Doxa is the majestic absolute perfection residing in Jesus and evidenced

  131. by the miracles he performed.

  132. That's the glory of God.

  133. It's the release of his presence, the manifest presence of God that brings supernatural

  134. power, bringing healing and restoration.

  135. Jesus came to restore. So we really are talking about restoration.

  136. Let's have a look at the ministry of Jesus. Acts 10.38, how God anointed Jesus

  137. of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power who went about doing good and healing

  138. all who were oppressed by the devil.

  139. In Mark 4.23, it says, And Jesus went about all Galilee,

  140. teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing

  141. all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

  142. Then his fame went throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all sick people

  143. who were afflicted with various diseases and torments,

  144. and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics and paralytic, and he healed them.

  145. There was an open heaven over Jesus.

  146. How many of you know that's right? Everywhere he went,

  147. there was an open heaven over him that released the power of heaven and the

  148. kingdom of heaven into people's lives and into a dark world.

  149. In John 1.51, it says, most assuredly, In fact, John 1.51 is just before John 2.

  150. In fact, it's the last verse in John 1, and then he goes and performs a miracle in Cana.

  151. Anyway, John 1.51 says, Most assuredly, I say to you, you shall see heaven open

  152. and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.

  153. Isn't that wonderful? That's the kingdom of heaven.

  154. Angels descending. you know angels are real people have seen angels I haven't

  155. seen one yet but I'm gonna you know,

  156. You know, angels are very, very real, and they are sent forth as ministering

  157. spirits, sent for the heirs of salvation. Who are the heirs of salvation?

  158. Yes, we are heirs of salvation.

  159. Angels have been sent forth to minister on our behalf. They are real, and they are coming.

  160. Especially as there is an open heaven over us, the angels will be ascending and descending upon us.

  161. We're talking about restoration. We're talking about the kingdom of heaven being released.

  162. And, you know, it pleased the Father that his fullness would be rested on Jesus.

  163. And it's the Father that did the works.

  164. Jesus didn't do the works. Jesus was a man.

  165. It's the Father that did the works by the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus.

  166. So he did the works. He released kingdom power. The Bible says that Jesus did

  167. nothing of his own initiative.

  168. Wow, that's going to shake a few religious thoughts and a few religious bones.

  169. But he did nothing of his own initiative. The Father did the works through him. Jesus said so himself.

  170. John 14.10, don't you believe that the Father is living in me and that I am living in the Father?

  171. Even my words are not my own. Amen.

  172. But come from my Father, for he lives in me and performs his miracles of power

  173. through me. Isn't that amazing?

  174. It's the Father doing the works by the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus.

  175. So we're talking about the Father, the Son,

  176. and the Spirit moving together, releasing the

  177. kingdom into the earth thy kingdom

  178. come he's talking about heaven's rule being released

  179. in the earth wow that's powerful stuff so God's

  180. love and compassion breaking the powers of darkness and releasing healing casting

  181. out demons raising the dead very very real the plan of redemption which was

  182. secret before the foundation of the world was being unfolded in Jesus' ministry.

  183. You know, the disciples were excited about this. They knew that this is the Messiah.

  184. The Messiah has come and, you know, we're working with him and we're living

  185. with him. They were excited.

  186. But look at what Jesus said in John 16, verse 7.

    John 16:7

  187. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away.

  188. I would have thought, they would have thought, what? No, you're the Messiah.

  189. You're here to turn things around here.

  190. For if I do not go away, the helper, the comforter will not come to you.

  191. But if I depart, I will send him to you.

  192. The promise of the Father you shared on Wednesday, Psalm 110.

  193. Then look at what Jesus said in John 14, 12. I tell you this timeless truth

  194. the person who follows me in faith believing in me that's us,

  195. will do the same miracles that I do.

  196. Not specially called healing evangelists. No, those who believe in me.

  197. The same miracles that I do, even greater miracles than these,

  198. because I go to be with my Father.

  199. In other words, each one of those who believe in him can do the same miracles

  200. and greater miracles than Jesus.

  201. Why? because he went to the Father.

  202. Acts chapter, sorry. And these are the final words that Jesus said to his disciples

  203. before he went to heaven.

  204. In Acts 1 verse 4. And being assembled together with them, he commanded them

    Acts 1:4

  205. not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father,

  206. which he said, you have heard from me.

  207. For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy

  208. Spirit not many days from now.

  209. So Jesus was saying, I am going to the Father.

  210. And when he was sitting at the right hand of the Father, he released the promise

  211. of the Father into the world, which is the Holy Spirit.

  212. Yeah, powerful stuff. So Jesus is no longer here physically,

  213. but he released the promise of the Father, which is the Holy Spirit.

  214. And then, of course, the day of Pentecost came.

  215. The promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit came. And they were all,

  216. all the 120 that were in the upper room, they were all filled.

  217. Not some of them, not most of them.

  218. No, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

  219. And the early church was birthed and changed the world forever.

  220. The world has not been the same since. and just those few people,

  221. by the power of the Holy Spirit, changed the world forever.

  222. And you know, the disciples ministered under the power of the Holy Spirit.

  223. They manifested the glory of God.

  224. Look at what Peter did in Acts 5, verses 12 to 16.

    Acts 5:12–16

  225. The apostles performed many signs, wonders,

  226. and miracles among the people, and the believers were wonderfully united as

  227. they met regularly in the temple courts in the area known as Solomon's porch.

  228. You know, that's one of the secrets of the power of the early church was their unity of spirit.

  229. And you know, God is bringing a unity into our church.

  230. You know, I believe it. I can see it.

  231. I can sense it. And so this is one of the powerful things that were happening in that early church.

  232. Verse 14 says, Continually more and more people believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

  233. When people knew Peter was going to walk by,

  234. they carried the sick out on the streets and laid them down on cots and mats,

  235. knowing the incredible power emanating from him would overshadow them and heal them.

  236. Great numbers of people swarmed into Jerusalem from nearby villages. Wonderful.

  237. They brought with them the sick and those troubled by demons,

  238. and everyone was healed.

  239. He didn't have to lay hands on them. Just his shadow.

  240. Now, that is a release of the glory of God.

  241. A release of the presence of God

  242. they carried the presence of God the disciples did and it was released in signs

  243. and wonders and miracles and people were healed physically emotionally and Jesus

  244. is the one that did the healing he's the one that did the healing.

  245. Have a look at John 14, 13 to 14.

  246. This is also an amazing scripture. John 14, 13 to 14.

  247. For I will do what, this is what Jesus said just before he went to heaven.

  248. I will do whatever you ask me to do when you ask in my name.

  249. And that is how the Son will show what the Father is really like and bring glory

  250. to him. Ask me anything in my name and I will do it for you.

  251. That's Jesus saying, ask me in my name and I will do it.

  252. Isn't that amazing? And you know, the apostles knew this. Have a look in Acts 9, 32 to 34.

  253. Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place and he came down to visit the

  254. believers in the town of Lydda.

  255. Then he met, there he met a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.

  256. Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you.

  257. You know, they didn't say they were going to heal him.

  258. No, Jesus Christ heals you.

  259. Get up and roll up your sleeping mat. And he was instantly healed.

  260. Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around and

  261. they turned to the Lord. Wow, the power of miracles.

  262. They all knew that this guy was bedridden.

  263. And when he started to walk around, it happened same as the people,

  264. you know, that bloke that was healed at the gate. Beautiful.

  265. The same thing. You know, people just, it was a power of miracles.

  266. But Jesus performed the miracle. You know, Jesus is alive and he's the same

  267. yesterday, today, and forever.

  268. And most churches don't understand that and don't believe it and don't live

  269. in the reality of Jesus being alive.

  270. But he is and he's the same yesterday today

  271. and forever and he does the same that

  272. he did when he walked the earth but he does it through you and me by the power

  273. of the holy spirit wow you know this is jumping ground he performed the miracles

  274. and you know we are called to share his kingdom and his glory.

  275. Now, there's a scripture here on 1 Thessalonians 2 verse 12.

    1 Thessalonians 2:12

  276. I've never seen this before, but it's an amazing scripture.

  277. We comforted and encouraged you and challenged you to adopt a lifestyle worthy

  278. of the Lord who invites you into his kingdom and glory.

  279. Isn't that amazing?

  280. God invites us into his kingdom and his glory to be a part of his glory released in the earth.

  281. Now, I'm going to share with you a scripture here in John 17, verse 20.

    John 17:20

  282. Now, this is Jesus' prayer just before he was taken up into heaven.

  283. How many of you know Jesus gets his prayers answered? God listens to him.

  284. Do you believe that? Yes? No?

  285. Okay, listen to this. This is John 17, verse 20.

    John 17:20

  286. And I will ask not only for these disciples, that's for the people that he was

  287. praying for, but also for those who will one day believe in me through their message.

  288. Is that us? Do we believe in that same message that the apostles preached?

  289. Yes. I pray for them all

  290. to be joined together as one

  291. even as you and I father

  292. are joined together as one remember Jesus

  293. did what he did through the father

  294. the father did his works did the miracles through Jesus and so he's saying here

  295. that just as you and I father are joined together as one I pray for them to become one with us,

  296. so that the world will recognize that you sent me.

  297. For the very glory you have given to me, I have given them.

  298. Can you hear that? The same glory that God gave Jesus and released through Jesus,

  299. he's given to those who believe in him through their message, and that's us.

  300. We have the glory of God living on the inside of us, whether you believe it or not,

  301. so that they may be joined together as one and experience the same unity that we enjoy. Wow!

  302. We can enjoy that same unity that Jesus enjoyed with his Father.

  303. Verse 23, you live fully in me, now I live fully in them.

  304. You live fully in me, and now I live fully in them, so that they will experience

  305. perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent me,

  306. for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love

  307. that you have for me. Wow.

  308. The same love that the Father has for Jesus is the same love that he has for us.

  309. We mustn't water it down.

  310. You know, We have trouble believing that, but it's true.

  311. Father, I ask that you allow everyone that you have given to me to be with me where I am. Where is he?

  312. He's at the right hand of the Father.

  313. And he's not saying that, you know, that we are to be there when we die and go to heaven.

  314. No, here and now we can be with Jesus in his glory.

  315. They will see my full glory.

  316. The very splendor you have placed

  317. upon me because you have loved me even before the beginning of time.

  318. You are my righteous father, but the unbelieving world will never know you in

  319. the perfect way that I know you.

  320. They're unbelieving ones. And all those who believe in me also know that you have sent me.

  321. I have revealed to them who you are. And now listen to this. This blew me away.

  322. I have revealed to them who you are, and I will continue to make you even more real to them. Wow.

  323. Remember, we talked about the fullness and the incredible power and majesty of God,

  324. and yet he has prepared something for us that our eye has not seen nor ear heard,

  325. neither can it enter into the hearts of man the things that God has prepared for us.

  326. But I will continue to make you even more real to them.

  327. So Jesus is going to make the Father even more real to us.

  328. Oh, I like that. I like that. So that, now this is why he's going to do that,

  329. so that they may experience the same endless love that you have for me,

  330. and your love will now live in them even as I live in them. Wow.

  331. That's good stuff. Isn't that good?

  332. And okay, now have a look at Colossians 1.27.

  333. And I'm sure you all know the scripture, but living within you is the Christ.

  334. Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory.

  335. This mystery of Christ embedded within us becomes a heavenly treasure chest

  336. of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people and God wants everyone to know it.

  337. Jesus lives within us by the power of the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father.

  338. 1 Peter 2.9 says, and this is to the believers in the dispersion,

  339. you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people,

  340. that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

  341. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood.

  342. And you know, Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

  343. He is our high priest, the high priest of the new covenant, of the kingdom of

  344. God, of the order of Melchizedek.

  345. You shared that on Wednesday, Brad, and it really spoke to me.

  346. He is a supernatural high priest.

  347. You know, he had nothing to do with the Levitical priesthood.

  348. He was a priest of the most high God, a supernatural kingdom.

  349. And we are seated with him.

  350. You see, Jesus being our high priest, the high priest was supposed to take the

  351. blood of sheep and goats and put it on the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies.

  352. Now, Jesus took his own blood and sprinkled it on the mercy seat in heaven.

  353. Yes, he is our heavenly high priest. He's our high priest, and we are his priests

  354. to declare his glory into a dark world.

  355. Look what it says in Ephesians 2, verse 6.

    Ephesians 2:6

  356. He raised us up with Christ, the exalted one, and we ascended with him into

  357. the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm.

  358. For we are now co-seated as one with Christ.

  359. We are seated with him, not when we die and go to heaven. No, now.

  360. Obviously, not naturally, although that would be a nice place to be.

  361. And one day we will be in heaven.

  362. But, you know, there's too much to be done.

  363. You know, God's called us to share his glory to this world.

  364. But we are seated with him now, spiritually. It's a supernatural kingdom that we're a part of.

  365. The problem is it's our natural thinking that holds us back.

  366. So, you know, I'm going to share a scripture here, which again, it blows me away.

  367. In Hebrews chapter 12, verses 22 to 29.

    Hebrews 12:22–29

  368. I'm sure you all know this, Hebrews chapter 12, 22 to 29.

    Hebrews 12 chapter mention

  369. Now, listen to this. This is amazing. You know, this is talking about the supernatural

  370. kingdom that we're a part of. Yes, we're part of the local body,

  371. but spiritually, we are part of a supernatural kingdom.

  372. So, verse 22, by contrast, we have all, now this is past tense,

  373. we have already come near to God in a totally different realm, the Zion realm.

  374. For we have entered the city of the living God, which is the new Jerusalem in heaven.

  375. Past tense. We've been called into

  376. the new Jerusalem to be a part of that spiritual, supernatural kingdom.

  377. We're a part of that now. Hey?

  378. Wow. We have joined the festal gathering of myriads of angels in their joyous celebration.

  379. You know, we talked about angels. We talked about an open heaven.

  380. We talked about angels ascending and descending.

  381. And this is, you know, we have joined with the angels.

  382. And as members of the church of the firstborn of all, all our names have been

  383. legally registered as citizens of heaven. Oh, that's good news.

  384. And we have come before God who judges all and who lives among the spirits of

  385. the righteous who have been made perfect in his eyes.

  386. And we have come to Jesus, who established a new covenant with his blood,

  387. sprinkled upon the mercy seat,

  388. blood that continues to speak from heaven forgiveness, a better message than

  389. Abel's blood that cries from the earth justice.

  390. Make very sure that you never refuse to listen to God when he speaks.

  391. For the God who spoke on earth from Sinai is the same God who now speaks from heaven.

  392. Those who heard him speak his living word on the earth, found nowhere to hide.

  393. So what chance is there for us to escape if we turn our backs on God and refuse

  394. to hear his warnings as he speaks from heaven?

  395. The earth was rocked at the sound of his voice from the mountain,

  396. but now he has promised, once and for all, I will not only shake the system

  397. of the world, but also the unseen powers in the heavenly realm.

  398. Now, this phrase, once and for all, clearly indicates the final removal of things

  399. that are shaking, that is, the old order.

  400. So only what is unshakable will remain, Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakable kingdom,

  401. we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights

  402. his heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe,

  403. for our God is a holy devouring fire.

  404. Wow! A supernatural kingdom.

  405. And we're a part of it. How many of you know that the kingdoms of this world

  406. are shaking even now as we speak?

  407. The religious systems of this world are shaking now, and that's a good thing.

  408. And so that the real kingdom of heaven will remain, and you and I are a part

  409. of that. So knowing this.

  410. You know, sometimes we think that they are specially called people.

  411. And, you know, thank God in the Old Covenant, people were especially called

  412. and anointed for special tasks.

  413. But really, you know, each one of us has been called to this.

  414. Jesus said, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

  415. for they shall be filled.

  416. You know, we think that they are specially gifted people. But no,

  417. God is no respecter of persons.

  418. It says in 2 Chronicles 16, 9, The eyes of the Lord searched the whole earth

  419. in order to show himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully committed

  420. to him or loyal or completely his.

  421. He's looking for people whose hearts are committed to Him, and that's you and

  422. I. If we're committed to him, God is looking for that so that he can release

  423. his power and his glory through us.

  424. You know, we're hampered by our old thinking, by our old religious ideas.

  425. So what do we do from now? I'm going to wrap up very, very soon.

  426. Colossians 3, verses 1 to 4.

    Colossians 3:1–4

  427. Christ's resurrection is your resurrection too.

  428. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above.

  429. For that is where Christ is, sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority.

  430. Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts

  431. with heavenly realities and not with the distractions of the natural realm.

  432. Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life and now your true

  433. life is hidden away in God, in Christ.

  434. As Christ himself is seen for who he really is, who you really are will also

  435. be revealed, for you are now one with him in his glory. Wow.

  436. You know, it's all a matter of our heart. It's all a matter of our hunger.

  437. It's all a matter of us changing our thinking in line with the Word of God.

  438. Who are you? Who are we?

  439. And then getting hunger, and then obviously spending time in His presence.

  440. I'll close with the Scripture.

  441. We need to draw near to Him, because as we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.

  442. We need to become more aware of the greater One who lives within us.

  443. 2 Corinthians 3 verse 16 to 18

    2 Corinthians 3:16–18

  444. the moment one turns to the

  445. Lord with an open heart the veil over

  446. their hearts is lifted and they see now

  447. the Lord I'm referring to is the Holy Spirit and wherever he is Lord there is

  448. freedom we can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces and

  449. with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect.

  450. Glory of the Lord Jesus, we are being transfigured or transformed into the very

  451. image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another.

  452. And this glorious transformation comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

  453. It says in Romans 8 that we are destined to be conformed to his image and to

  454. become channels for his light and his glory and his power in the world in which we live.

  455. Okay, look, I'm just going to read one short.

  456. Hey, I've only presented half of this message, but I'm just going to read this last one to you.

  457. This was given by Wayne Gwilliam, and it's just a wonderful summary of what we've been saying.

  458. True Holy Ghost preaching and the ministry of the gifts are not the result of

  459. intellectual study or human reasoning.

  460. They do not originate from the knowledge of good and evil, which operates through

  461. the five senses, what we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.

  462. Instead, they are the supernatural outflow of a life rooted in the spirit,

  463. drawing from the tree of life rather than the natural mind.

  464. The manifestations of the Holy Ghost are not accessed through mental philosophies

  465. or theological concepts alone.

  466. They are the fruit of.

  467. Intimacy with God, cultivated in

  468. the secret place where the spirit of man connects with the spirit of God.

  469. This divine flow is not dependent on human effort, intellect,

  470. or natural abilities, but is released through surrendered vessels who yield

  471. to the leading of the spirit.

  472. The realm of The senses is limited to the natural, but the realm of the spirit

  473. operates beyond human understanding.

  474. When a believer walks in communion with the Holy Ghost, they move beyond the

  475. limitations of logic and enter into the supernatural reality where miracles,

  476. signs and wonders become a natural overflow.

  477. A church built on intellectual reasoning will always be bound to human limitations,

  478. but a church built on the power and presence of the Holy Ghost will manifest

  479. the kingdom of God in tangible ways.

  480. It is not about knowing doctrine, but about knowing Him.

  481. True ministry is not a result of learning about God, but of living in Him,

  482. allowing his presence to transform, empower and flow through us.

  483. The Holy Ghost does not manifest through the wisdom of men but through yielded

  484. hearts that have been set apart in his presence.

  485. It is through intimacy, not intellect, that the spiritual is birthed.

  486. Let us not settle for a ministry based on head knowledge but pursue a life that

  487. overflows with the reality of God's Spirit walking in the power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost.

  488. Music.

  489. Amen.

  490. Father, I thank you for the reality and truth of who you are and who we are.

  491. I thank you for the truth of your word. And I pray that, Lord,

  492. this truth, that this word would burn deep within each one of our hearts and

  493. that we would rise up and be the people that you've called us to be in.

  494. Music.

  495. The ark to save his whole family. And we're going to see that.

  496. I believe all of us are going to see and experience the grace of God,

  497. that he builds us up in our most holy faith so that we can be vessels of honor

  498. and that we are people that we can take the glory of God, the presence of God to others,

  499. to our homes, to our families, to our business places,

  500. to all those places where they need to see that same hope that same hope that's been given to us,

  501. so Father we do thank you, thank you for your word that is strong that your

  502. word that was delivered to us that we are a people,

  503. that stand in your presence and as we've been learning just recently with John

  504. V about drawing near to him that we do draw near and Father we thank you that we can draw near.

  505. Music.

  506. So Father we thank you today We'll pray for Tim and Johnny Pray for a safe journey

  507. back home Enjoy their day I pray Father for all those sitting here That the blessings,

  508. Will come upon you And upon your homes And Father we thank you That you're strengthening

  509. us And you're raising up a people That love you with all their heart With all

  510. their mind With all their soul So Father we thank you.

  511. Music.

  512. So let us go today enjoy our time that we've had here and the encouragement from the word and,

  513. be blessed enjoy some fellowship some coffee and some snacks.

  514. Music.

  515. But, you know, it's not about what we know in our head because we're always

  516. going to think we know more than we know.

  517. And it's not about how long you've been at Bible college. It's not about how

  518. much of the Bible you read every day.

  519. It's about yielding to the Holy Spirit.

  520. And unless we learn to yield to the Holy Spirit, we can't walk in that glory

  521. that the Lord has given us.

  522. It's rising up. And the yielding, that's something you have to practice.

  523. It's like that's something that comes

  524. through a deep humility in your own spirit, but we all need to yield.

  525. And then all those other things are going to follow.

  526. And we want to be that church. I want to be that church, Peter read about,

  527. where the glory of God is here. It rises.

  528. It's in each and every one of us. Christ is within us.

  529. So we already have that. But can I encourage you in your quiet times to yield to the Holy Spirit?

  530. So you've got to put down every preconceived idea about what you think and who

  531. you think God is and yield to the Father.

  532. And that's all I wanted to say. Amen.