The Sermon Pentecost by David McGee
May 24, 2015
Pentecost (31:57)
Referenced Scriptures: Acts 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:3-6; Matthew 28:19
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The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Acts 2:1-4
1) Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2) Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3) Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and it sat on each one of them.
4) They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
1 Corinthians 12:3-6
3) Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God‘s Spirit says, "Jesus is accursed." No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," but by the Holy Spirit.
4) Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5) There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.
6) There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.
Matthew 28:19
19) Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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OK I would like to speak to you about Pentecost. My off my own. OK so I'd like to speak to you about Pentecost and we're going to read from Acts chapter two verses one through four and I'm reading out of the N.I.V. so I will read it there when the day of Pentecost came they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and camped to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking or to speak in other tongues as a spirit enabled them. But it cost there are a lot of firsts with the coming of the Holy Spirit the coming of the Holy Spirit has always been there. We've always had the how and the Old Testament there were visitations of the spirit that is where we come upon different individuals empower them and they would prophesied or like Sampson great feats of strength would come upon him and he would be able to you know take the gates off the city walls and carry them up over the hill. He was quite an individual and quite a powerful person. But it was the spirit that came upon him that enabled him to do so. Well Penny cost means that the Holy Spirit doesn't come to visit divine visitation in the Holy Spirit has come to stay. That the power of the Holy Spirit the third person of the Trinity has come to be part of who we are part of our daily life. And so we then we then become the Oracle that wants us to be that at any moment at any time the Spirit of is there teaching and help. Being in directing and you know protecting and guiding you know sort of some of the things that the person of is there and of and the Holy Spirit to indwell our hearts and into all our lives and to give us strength and power and forgiveness and love and all these things that go on that are we attribute to is the Holy Spirit working in us. So Pentecost marks the day that the barrier was broken from the Old Testament visitation to the New Testament understanding of being with us always. So the redeeming work of Christ's the redemption that we have with Jesus Christ is made known to us by the Holy Spirit so Jesus' coming is called the Incarnation and it means in Flushing in Flushing. So to put 's word into a human form we know that Jesus came and then to express 's word in human terms is what we see in Christ and His teachings in the Scriptures and then to live out that word in our human life our life the Holy Spirit is come to empower us. So we're not alone in this. You're never alone you're never off on your own on some deserted island between you and It is it is an indwelling of 's presence. It is a. We desire or any enabling to work the work of And sometimes that work week we have with It's not the miraculous it's just the everyday things that we do this week we had a few and I had a funeral and another individual was there that I had was privileged to help them during their time of loss and and she came up to me I always give her a hug and she said to me you know when you hug me i feel like someone else is hugging me. Not just me but I feel you know like is there comforting her and I thought wow what a compliment because that's what we are. It isn't how great we are it's how much is there with us and that the confidence or the urance that we give in a handshake or in a word is not just from us it is we want to I wanted to be breathing and speaking in helping and it isn't fixing or correcting. You know we don't fix someone's life we don't fix our own life. You know what we are is we are allowing to work in us in the Holy Spirit is that power of working in us and making the Word of alive and active in quick and powerful it is. It divides into the bone marrow in the soul in the spirits of the Holy Spirit is there in our lines and as we are giving it it is making it real. It is touching and helping. So we don't have to stop and say well you know this is talking to you. If I have to tell you it's talking to you then it's probably just me. But if we allow to speak to us and you know and then as we proclaim the word to proclaim the message the Holy Spirit makes those things real to us. The Holy Spirit brings them back to our remembrance and so here we are in the midst of our life. We're living it and guess what Holy Spirit is here. Holy Spirit is working in every activity of your life. Every activity of your life. is there. Everything that we say and do. is there. If I go to the depths of the sea or the heights of the mountains of the heights of e to go to the ends of the world as far as the east is from the west. is there and so the whole. These spirit is here with us in our lives and he is empowering us. He's giving us the ability to see giving us the ability to hear giving us the ability to do and so we all have these qualities here seeing and doing. But there is a different level to those hearing and seeing and doing there is hearing the things that we sometimes would not catch when in a conversation or hearing that still small voice in our saying don't go that way or go that way. We hear that that voice on the inside that urance or that questioning or that stopping thing inside of us that that says Go stay wait. Believe you know it's all going to come together. It's all going to come. We know we can be distracted. It's easy to become distracted. Coming out of Perkins this morning there was a car over in the lot and its horn was going off. You know being a pain an eight you know so it's like what a distraction I was thinking you know coming out there what a distraction beside it was a car a red car. So I'm listening to the beeping and following the beeping and I go over to to open the red car. It wasn't mine. My car was down about four or five es I was so distracted by that we BEEP all I saw was a red car and when I got there I looked at the side of the aisle it looks like they were next to somebody that was mowing gr and I said I was a moaning gr ed my car's not thirty. This isn't my car. So they're pushing a on and you know I think I'm going to go get in but it was this this other car that was a distraction that got me to the wrong place. I took myself to the wrong place because I was distracted. Well life is like that. There we can become distracted by the events of life. We can become distracted by our feelings we can become distracted by our pain we can become distracted by our successes. We can become distracted by me you know where we're very easily distracted. Ever see a car commercial that the guy comes on and says OK what I want to do is focus on the screen. Don't take your eyes off of the screen and then he starts when these people come the sumo wrestler or whatever comes in are throwing these people down banging things off the wall and people are watching the screen they're watching the baby or whatever it is it comes on there. What happens is we become distracted and in our lives when we become distracted sometimes we forget to look to to keep our eyes on him to be able to see what he wants to do. So living in the spirit is to live out of 's word. You know they were used to be a watchword you know we're just living in the spirit. You know just being you know I got 's in writing and This is in the spirits this and you know we mistakenly equate spiritual gifts as spiritual understanding. And because people may have good things doesn't mean that they are smart. In the spirit. Well you know gives us gifts and he gives us fruit. He gives them to us for a purpose. They're not they're not the store in our spiritual bins that I got this gift that I got this quality and I got if we don't use it you don't got it. If we don't use it it doesn't have a purpose. As if you know if you haven't worn it in the last five years chances are you're not going to. So you see we can become like these things are ours and we got to keep them until the mobs eat them entirely you know instead of just little holes. Now we've got gifts and we've got things and it's only as we use them it's only as they are in use today continue to be there. doesn't give us gifts and fruits to stockpile. He gives them to us. So as we live in the spirit if the live out 's Word living out 's word when you feel alone you live out 's word by repeating the scripture. I'm not alone. is with me. When we feel like we are defeated what are we to do. Where to live out the word that I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. You see living out the word is using the word but again inspired by the Spirit. We're not being distracted by what is happening. We are being fulfilled by the Word of alive in us. You see I'm living out 's purpose. Whenever I smile at someone when I forgive them. Did you know whenever we p judgment when we p judgment. We have all ready put a screen up between us and that individual and we miss what is trying to do. You see has a purpose for every life and whenever we put a a judgment of criticism being critical of someone that. When we are critical of them. We've already established an outcome that is this is not what wants because isn't finished with him yet. isn't finished with us. So if we can be understanding of ourselves we can understand others will give him a chance give ourselves a chance give ourselves an opportunity by the Spirit and by the word to make a difference. So we're living in the spirit when we're living in the kitchen or in the garage or in the store in the workplace or in church in the family. We're living in the spirit as we live out the Word of and 's word is alive and active and very much growing in us. The controversy we have all the controversy over what intends for our life and it is something that is what intends for our life is freely given. It is not something rewarded you come to church three times in a row and you get points if you don't make it three Sundays in a row you lose points. That's why it doesn't work that way that it should you know know that but you see every time we come to you know this is important. Every time we come to church every time we are here you are your spirit indicator your spiritual level continues to grow and as we pray for our families and pray for our friends and pray for our loved ones and our neighbors where we are we're causing something good to happen in their life where we're setting up as it were a bank of blessings for them that you know when you pray a hedge about your children you pray a hedge about yourself you pray. Or that would protect him and watch and you know I think of this a lot that when job when when the Satan approaches and says you know I think you know there's a kind there's a conversation going on between between and Satan and Satan says well I can't touch him because you've got to hedge about him I can't touch him because you've got to hedge about you remove the hedge and he'll curse you. says OK you can test him in the trials. You see when we believe that is in charge that every trial that comes to our life is there by permission and that by permission is wanting to take us someplace that we wouldn't get there unless we went through this trial and Satan thinks he's trying to destroy us in a reality is using that difficulty to take us someplace even more more important or a greater impact upon our life and the fulfillment of what wants us to do. So we see that every time we're here every time we hear the Word of our faith increases. We are building storehouses and we're becoming more powerful in the spiritual realm. Because we understand and because we believe faith is the substance of things hoped for. Our faith is a substance it's very real it's very tangible. When I hear about David and when I hear about Jonah when I hear about Moses when I hear about Peter Paul and Mary when I was and they are in the Bible Peter Paul and Mary were there but when I hear about them what happens I'm getting pother strength coming into my soul there is strength there and I'm I'm becoming stronger and when the attacks come and things go wrong it's like a problem. is with me to give me wisdom of to give me understanding to give me strength to deal with this he'll give me help that you know as we faithfully study will bring back to our remembrance. I used to pray that all the time in school and college. I'm studying a paid attention here. You've got to help me on a test. So but things of that He gives to us are given freely freely because if they were earned we would receive a payment and payments are not what is after. wants to bestow gifts upon us. wants to bestow His blessings upon us and so it is freely given. See we look at our clay pictures our clay pots and we question well how could use a pot like this. And says Wow that's a great pot that's a great picture that I can pour things into and use. We're degrading and is is blessing it there is a story about the two pitchers two pots in the lady would carry them on or carry them on her shoulders and she would go down to the well and pick up the water but one pot had a crack in it and and she would carry this pot these pots on her shoulder and the pots were comparing themselves you know they're the ones carrying on the conversation of the two parts. So it's a crackpot and it's a pot. So so with a crackpot OK So where what she's carrying the cracked pot up the hill and the other one and a cracked pot is always complain oh I'm not good enough. You know she fills me up at the bottom. And by the time I get to the top I'm half empty and I'm not as good as the container that has no cracks in and no blemishes in it and I'm I'm not that good. Well the lady who is carrying the two vessels says to the cracked pot. Did you notice on your side of the path is where all my flowers are. And every time I carry water you water my flowers and beautified the path uses our vessels he uses us the way he sees fit. And no matter what we have even if we're all only neighbor if we're not cracked up to be what we ought to be. No matter what the crack is or the blemish. It's what they're for purpose. It's placed there for purpose for a purpose and will use our inabilities as well as he will use our abilities because can bless who we are entirely and whether it is I don't measure up or I am. I can excel it. takes who we are and his spirit then empowers that person to become this is what we are about doing a work in us to become what wants us to be. We have a purpose in Pentecost is saying has come to be with us. He has come to fill our hearts and our spirits in our minds. You know I say over and over again Christians should be the most creative people on the planet because we are full of the who created who spoke into existence the worlds in the solar system and we are giving our life to him and we're giving our minds to him and we're giving our heart to him. We're giving our bit. These to him and we want to him to empower them. The Holy Spirit to empower to quicken to give us and to take that which we have and make it greater than what it is. So Pentecost is with me in fleshing out the incarnation is with me. So here it is in flesh in flesh came as Christ and now one of the urances that we have that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. He says When I get to heaven when I ascended to the father I will send to you another comforter another in in the Greek States one just like myself another just equal to who I am. So the Holy Spirit comes and the coming of the Holy Spirit ures us that Jesus has accomplished his purpose he has come to die for our sins is now seated the right hand of the father he ever lives to make intercession for you. Jesus is praying for us and then the Holy Spirit is here helping us in filling our hearts and bringing us wisdom and understanding and knowledge in the gifts and the fruits of the Spirit are working in our lives that we might. Do our Father's will. The Holy Spirit moved upon Mary and she can see the Third Person of the Trinity. Jesus declared he would never leave us nor forsake us that we have the father we have the Son and we have the Holy Spirit each are the New Testament has over ninety references to the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. When the Spirit of Truth. Matthew twenty eight nineteen. Make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit in First Corinthians twelve three the King James has it. No man speaks by the by no man speaks by the Holy Spirit and calls Jesus a cursed when people it's easy for us to determine Well what do they think of Jesus when we're listening to people when we wonder what do they say about Jesus and whatever they say about Jesus determines what spirit is in their heart and their mind. No man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Spirit. The first of these gifts but the same spirit. Differences of administration but the same Lord and I have that New King James because that's where we're used to reading but in the Message Bible says 's various gifts are handed out everywhere. 's various gifts are handed out everywhere so it isn't like well you know never gave it to me. Well put your hand got our hands behind our back. I can't I'm far sorry. never gave me anything. If he open our hands open our lives. hands out gifts everywhere. He's handing them out why. Because he wants to empower us. He wants to bless our lives and he let us be blessings but they all. No matter what gives no matter what gifts he bestows they all originate in 's Spirit 's various ministries are carried out everywhere. So we find out the various gifts are handed out everywhere and that the various ministries are carried out everywhere so gives us. As the gifts to carry out the ministry which is to do our work of service for So whatever we are doing whatever we are doing doesn't mean that we have to leave it. We just have to allow to be involved in it. They all originate in the Holy Spirit 's various expressions of power are in action everywhere so that everywhere comes up a lot of times in these first two verses. His various gifts are handed out everywhere the various ministries are carried out everywhere and 's various expressions of power are in action everywhere. How is that happening. It's happening in you. It's happening in me and each of us going about our daily routines going about our daily tasks. himself is behind it all. I've been trying to think of that about how that everything in my life everything that I do I'm trying to be to pause and to think that is here with me in this because sometimes we get carried up in all the things we do and interactions with people and things going right things going wrong people like in this and people not liking that and it's like that doesn't matter what matters is is with me and is helping me in this moment. Good bad or indifferent god is there and that every situation is a opportunity to touch that person's life. Every situation and every thing I do whether it's Mona Gras. Last with three different lawn mowers. Because my Lamar's broke I had to ride a John Deere an international and another John Deere. You know of course the John Deere was better but I mean how do you know it all came through. Even if they fixed it and brought it back I was inspecting it. They told me I'd be a month five weeks before I get back and here it is a little over a week in the back. That's a miracle it's a miracle. But you see her character character is you wanting to do things well you know I don't know what it is about knowing that I like to make sure my one is mowed a moment on what does that mean I don't know what does and what does it mean we see what is so important about mowing the gr or what is it that's so important about taking a bath. You know some people think taking a bath is overrated. But you can tell who they are. So maybe you can smell who they are. But you see part of our character is wanting to be approachable vulnerable being open that we allow to use whatever it is that we are to represent him and to be part of what his life is so each person is given something to do that shows who is. This is I think is like gr mowed in paths and patterns. I have no idea but everyone is given something to do that shows who is. Each of us is giving something to do to show who is. is Love is forgiveness. Got his grace is mercy. is power. is string. is creativity. is peace. You see every one of us has been given something to show who is and it's that person that if that power of the Spirit making this real to us that we are just a crackpot but that's exactly what is going to use to water his flowers on the path. That's exactly what wants. It's exactly who we are it's exactly what we need to be. doesn't want to change your personality. You know the good of your personality one bit. He wants to take it from where it is to where he needs it to be so that you can be a better crackpot. If the blemish isn't a problem. It's when the blemish stops us from being active that we've lost perspective and who we are is exactly who wants us to be or we would be different if I was supposed to be six foot tall. I would be if I was to be Billy Graham. I would have been if I was to be. You see if it is not the problem. Who I Am Who I Am The I am of the scripture is the I AM THAT I WANT TO BE I am voice I am 's presence I am. I'm 's love I'm 's forgiveness I am 's mercy I am 's blessing and we would say all that. But you see it isn't the I am of David. If the I am of the holy spirit alive in me in power to live life to touch the lives of others so that when you talk to someone when you give them a hug when you forgive them when you love them when you care for them it just feels like someone else is there hugging me with you. That was the greatest compliment I think I've ever had. And that's who we are. That's the holy spirit alive in us to talk to touch to heal. The comfort that's got in us empowering us thinking doing speaking touching going is there. Never alone. Amen. It's all Stan. Father we are grateful for the message that you give to us is one that speaks to us of your power your presence your peace. Fill us to overflowing fill us overflowing with your spirit. Let our vessel be filled with Let our vessel be filled with the spirit to proclaim the message that makes a difference in other people's lives. We pray in Jesus' name and everybody said Amen. Now bless you. Pentecost OK I would like to speak to you about Pentecost. My off my own. OK so I'd like to speak to you about Pentecost and we're going to read from Acts chapter two verses one through four and I'm reading out of the N.I.V. so I will read it there when the day of Pentecost came they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and camped to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking or to speak in other tongues as a spirit enabled them. But it cost there are a lot of firsts with the coming of the Holy Spirit the coming of the Holy Spirit has always been there. We've always had the how and the Old Testament there were visitations of the spirit that is where we come upon different individuals empower them and they would prophesied or like Sampson great feats of strength would come upon him and he would be able to you know take the gates off the city walls and carry them up over the hill. He was quite an individual and quite a powerful person. But it was the spirit that came upon him that enabled him to do so. Well Penny cost means that the Holy Spirit doesn't come to visit divine visitation in the Holy Spirit has come to stay. That the power of the Holy Spirit the third person of the Trinity has come to be part of who we are part of our daily life. And so we then we then become the Oracle that wants us to be that at any moment at any time the Spirit of is there teaching and help. Being in directing and you know protecting and guiding you know sort of some of the things that the person of is there and of and the Holy Spirit to indwell our hearts and into all our lives and to give us strength and power and forgiveness and love and all these things that go on that are we attribute to is the Holy Spirit working in us. So Pentecost marks the day that the barrier was broken from the Old Testament visitation to the New Testament understanding of being with us always. So the redeeming work of Christ's the redemption that we have with Jesus Christ is made known to us by the Holy Spirit so Jesus' coming is called the Incarnation and it means in Flushing in Flushing. So to put 's word into a human form we know that Jesus came and then to express 's word in human terms is what we see in Christ and His teachings in the Scriptures and then to live out that word in our human life our life the Holy Spirit is come to empower us. So we're not alone in this. You're never alone you're never off on your own on some deserted island between you and It is it is an indwelling of 's presence. It is a. We desire or any enabling to work the work of And sometimes that work week we have with It's not the miraculous it's just the everyday things that we do this week we had a few and I had a funeral and another individual was there that I had was privileged to help them during their time of loss and and she came up to me I always give her a hug and she said to me you know when you hug me i feel like someone else is hugging me. Not just me but I feel you know like is there comforting her and I thought wow what a compliment because that's what we are. It isn't how great we are it's how much is there with us and that the confidence or the urance that we give in a handshake or in a word is not just from us it is we want to I wanted to be breathing and speaking in helping and it isn't fixing or correcting. You know we don't fix someone's life we don't fix our own life. You know what we are is we are allowing to work in us in the Holy Spirit is that power of working in us and making the Word of alive and active in quick and powerful it is. It divides into the bone marrow in the soul in the spirits of the Holy Spirit is there in our lines and as we are giving it it is making it real. It is touching and helping. So we don't have to stop and say well you know this is talking to you. If I have to tell you it's talking to you then it's probably just me. But if we allow to speak to us and you know and then as we proclaim the word to proclaim the message the Holy Spirit makes those things real to us. The Holy Spirit brings them back to our remembrance and so here we are in the midst of our life. We're living it and guess what Holy Spirit is here. Holy Spirit is working in every activity of your life. Every activity of your life. is there. Everything that we say and do. is there. If I go to the depths of the sea or the heights of the mountains of the heights of e to go to the ends of the world as far as the east is from the west. is there and so the whole. These spirit is here with us in our lives and he is empowering us. He's giving us the ability to see giving us the ability to hear giving us the ability to do and so we all have these qualities here seeing and doing. But there is a different level to those hearing and seeing and doing there is hearing the things that we sometimes would not catch when in a conversation or hearing that still small voice in our saying don't go that way or go that way. We hear that that voice on the inside that urance or that questioning or that stopping thing inside of us that that says Go stay wait. Believe you know it's all going to come together. It's all going to come. We know we can be distracted. It's easy to become distracted. Coming out of Perkins this morning there was a car over in the lot and its horn was going off. You know being a pain an eight you know so it's like what a distraction I was thinking you know coming out there what a distraction beside it was a car a red car. So I'm listening to the beeping and following the beeping and I go over to to open the red car. It wasn't mine. My car was down about four or five es I was so distracted by that we BEEP all I saw was a red car and when I got there I looked at the side of the aisle it looks like they were next to somebody that was mowing gr and I said I was a moaning gr ed my car's not thirty. This isn't my car. So they're pushing a on and you know I think I'm going to go get in but it was this this other car that was a distraction that got me to the wrong place. I took myself to the wrong place because I was distracted. Well life is like that. There we can become distracted by the events of life. We can become distracted by our feelings we can become distracted by our pain we can become distracted by our successes. We can become distracted by me you know where we're very easily distracted. Ever see a car commercial that the guy comes on and says OK what I want to do is focus on the screen. Don't take your eyes off of the screen and then he starts when these people come the sumo wrestler or whatever comes in are throwing these people down banging things off the wall and people are watching the screen they're watching the baby or whatever it is it comes on there. What happens is we become distracted and in our lives when we become distracted sometimes we forget to look to to keep our eyes on him to be able to see what he wants to do. So living in the spirit is to live out of 's word. You know they were used to be a watchword you know we're just living in the spirit. You know just being you know I got 's in writing and This is in the spirits this and you know we mistakenly equate spiritual gifts as spiritual understanding. And because people may have good things doesn't mean that they are smart. In the spirit. Well you know gives us gifts and he gives us fruit. He gives them to us for a purpose. They're not they're not the store in our spiritual bins that I got this gift that I got this quality and I got if we don't use it you don't got it. If we don't use it it doesn't have a purpose. As if you know if you haven't worn it in the last five years chances are you're not going to. So you see we can become like these things are ours and we got to keep them until the mobs eat them entirely you know instead of just little holes. Now we've got gifts and we've got things and it's only as we use them it's only as they are in use today continue to be there. doesn't give us gifts and fruits to stockpile. He gives them to us. So as we live in the spirit if the live out 's Word living out 's word when you feel alone you live out 's word by repeating the scripture. I'm not alone. is with me. When we feel like we are defeated what are we to do. Where to live out the word that I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. You see living out the word is using the word but again inspired by the Spirit. We're not being distracted by what is happening. We are being fulfilled by the Word of alive in us. You see I'm living out 's purpose. Whenever I smile at someone when I forgive them. Did you know whenever we p judgment when we p judgment. We have all ready put a screen up between us and that individual and we miss what is trying to do. You see has a purpose for every life and whenever we put a a judgment of criticism being critical of someone that. When we are critical of them. We've already established an outcome that is this is not what wants because isn't finished with him yet. isn't finished with us. So if we can be understanding of ourselves we can understand others will give him a chance give ourselves a chance give ourselves an opportunity by the Spirit and by the word to make a difference. So we're living in the spirit when we're living in the kitchen or in the garage or in the store in the workplace or in church in the family. We're living in the spirit as we live out the Word of and 's word is alive and active and very much growing in us. The controversy we have all the controversy over what intends for our life and it is something that is what intends for our life is freely given. It is not something rewarded you come to church three times in a row and you get points if you don't make it three Sundays in a row you lose points. That's why it doesn't work that way that it should you know know that but you see every time we come to you know this is important. Every time we come to church every time we are here you are your spirit indicator your spiritual level continues to grow and as we pray for our families and pray for our friends and pray for our loved ones and our neighbors where we are we're causing something good to happen in their life where we're setting up as it were a bank of blessings for them that you know when you pray a hedge about your children you pray a hedge about yourself you pray. Or that would protect him and watch and you know I think of this a lot that when job when when the Satan approaches and says you know I think you know there's a kind there's a conversation going on between between and Satan and Satan says well I can't touch him because you've got to hedge about him I can't touch him because you've got to hedge about you remove the hedge and he'll curse you. says OK you can test him in the trials. You see when we believe that is in charge that every trial that comes to our life is there by permission and that by permission is wanting to take us someplace that we wouldn't get there unless we went through this trial and Satan thinks he's trying to destroy us in a reality is using that difficulty to take us someplace even more more important or a greater impact upon our life and the fulfillment of what wants us to do. So we see that every time we're here every time we hear the Word of our faith increases. We are building storehouses and we're becoming more powerful in the spiritual realm. Because we understand and because we believe faith is the substance of things hoped for. Our faith is a substance it's very real it's very tangible. When I hear about David and when I hear about Jonah when I hear about Moses when I hear about Peter Paul and Mary when I was and they are in the Bible Peter Paul and Mary were there but when I hear about them what happens I'm getting pother strength coming into my soul there is strength there and I'm I'm becoming stronger and when the attacks come and things go wrong it's like a problem. is with me to give me wisdom of to give me understanding to give me strength to deal with this he'll give me help that you know as we faithfully study will bring back to our remembrance. I used to pray that all the time in school and college. I'm studying a paid attention here. You've got to help me on a test. So but things of that He gives to us are given freely freely because if they were earned we would receive a payment and payments are not what is after. wants to bestow gifts upon us. wants to bestow His blessings upon us and so it is freely given. See we look at our clay pictures our clay pots and we question well how could use a pot like this. And says Wow that's a great pot that's a great picture that I can pour things into and use. We're degrading and is is blessing it there is a story about the two pitchers two pots in the lady would carry them on or carry them on her shoulders and she would go down to the well and pick up the water but one pot had a crack in it and and she would carry this pot these pots on her shoulder and the pots were comparing themselves you know they're the ones carrying on the conversation of the two parts. So it's a crackpot and it's a pot. So so with a crackpot OK So where what she's carrying the cracked pot up the hill and the other one and a cracked pot is always complain oh I'm not good enough. You know she fills me up at the bottom. And by the time I get to the top I'm half empty and I'm not as good as the container that has no cracks in and no blemishes in it and I'm I'm not that good. Well the lady who is carrying the two vessels says to the cracked pot. Did you notice on your side of the path is where all my flowers are. And every time I carry water you water my flowers and beautified the path uses our vessels he uses us the way he sees fit. And no matter what we have even if we're all only neighbor if we're not cracked up to be what we ought to be. No matter what the crack is or the blemish. It's what they're for purpose. It's placed there for purpose for a purpose and will use our inabilities as well as he will use our abilities because can bless who we are entirely and whether it is I don't measure up or I am. I can excel it. takes who we are and his spirit then empowers that person to become this is what we are about doing a work in us to become what wants us to be. We have a purpose in Pentecost is saying has come to be with us. He has come to fill our hearts and our spirits in our minds. You know I say over and over again Christians should be the most creative people on the planet because we are full of the who created who spoke into existence the worlds in the solar system and we are giving our life to him and we're giving our minds to him and we're giving our heart to him. We're giving our bit. These to him and we want to him to empower them. The Holy Spirit to empower to quicken to give us and to take that which we have and make it greater than what it is. So Pentecost is with me in fleshing out the incarnation is with me. So here it is in flesh in flesh came as Christ and now one of the urances that we have that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. He says When I get to heaven when I ascended to the father I will send to you another comforter another in in the Greek States one just like myself another just equal to who I am. So the Holy Spirit comes and the coming of the Holy Spirit ures us that Jesus has accomplished his purpose he has come to die for our sins is now seated the right hand of the father he ever lives to make intercession for you. Jesus is praying for us and then the Holy Spirit is here helping us in filling our hearts and bringing us wisdom and understanding and knowledge in the gifts and the fruits of the Spirit are working in our lives that we might. Do our Father's will. The Holy Spirit moved upon Mary and she can see the Third Person of the Trinity. Jesus declared he would never leave us nor forsake us that we have the father we have the Son and we have the Holy Spirit each are the New Testament has over ninety references to the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. When the Spirit of Truth. Matthew twenty eight nineteen. Make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit in First Corinthians twelve three the King James has it. No man speaks by the by no man speaks by the Holy Spirit and calls Jesus a cursed when people it's easy for us to determine Well what do they think of Jesus when we're listening to people when we wonder what do they say about Jesus and whatever they say about Jesus determines what spirit is in their heart and their mind. No man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Spirit. The first of these gifts but the same spirit. Differences of administration but the same Lord and I have that New King James because that's where we're used to reading but in the Message Bible says 's various gifts are handed out everywhere. 's various gifts are handed out everywhere so it isn't like well you know never gave it to me. Well put your hand got our hands behind our back. I can't I'm far sorry. never gave me anything. If he open our hands open our lives. hands out gifts everywhere. He's handing them out why. Because he wants to empower us. He wants to bless our lives and he let us be blessings but they all. No matter what gives no matter what gifts he bestows they all originate in 's Spirit 's various ministries are carried out everywhere. So we find out the various gifts are handed out everywhere and that the various ministries are carried out everywhere so gives us. As the gifts to carry out the ministry which is to do our work of service for So whatever we are doing whatever we are doing doesn't mean that we have to leave it. We just have to allow to be involved in it. They all originate in the Holy Spirit 's various expressions of power are in action everywhere so that everywhere comes up a lot of times in these first two verses. His various gifts are handed out everywhere the various ministries are carried out everywhere and 's various expressions of power are in action everywhere. How is that happening. It's happening in you. It's happening in me and each of us going about our daily routines going about our daily tasks. himself is behind it all. I've been trying to think of that about how that everything in my life everything that I do I'm trying to be to pause and to think that is here with me in this because sometimes we get carried up in all the things we do and interactions with people and things going right things going wrong people like in this and people not liking that and it's like that doesn't matter what matters is is with me and is helping me in this moment. Good bad or indifferent god is there and that every situation is a opportunity to touch that person's life. Every situation and every thing I do whether it's Mona Gras. Last with three different lawn mowers. Because my Lamar's broke I had to ride a John Deere an international and another John Deere. You know of course the John Deere was better but I mean how do you know it all came through. Even if they fixed it and brought it back I was inspecting it. They told me I'd be a month five weeks before I get back and here it is a little over a week in the back. That's a miracle it's a miracle. But you see her character character is you wanting to do things well you know I don't know what it is about knowing that I like to make sure my one is mowed a moment on what does that mean I don't know what does and what does it mean we see what is so important about mowing the gr or what is it that's so important about taking a bath. You know some people think taking a bath is overrated. But you can tell who they are. So maybe you can smell who they are. But you see part of our character is wanting to be approachable vulnerable being open that we allow to use whatever it is that we are to represent him and to be part of what his life is so each person is given something to do that shows who is. This is I think is like gr mowed in paths and patterns. I have no idea but everyone is given something to do that shows who is. Each of us is giving something to do to show who is. is Love is forgiveness. Got his grace is mercy. is power. is string. is creativity. is peace. You see every one of us has been given something to show who is and it's that person that if that power of the Spirit making this real to us that we are just a crackpot but that's exactly what is going to use to water his flowers on the path. That's exactly what wants. It's exactly who we are it's exactly what we need to be. doesn't want to change your personality. You know the good of your personality one bit. He wants to take it from where it is to where he needs it to be so that you can be a better crackpot. If the blemish isn't a problem. It's when the blemish stops us from being active that we've lost perspective and who we are is exactly who wants us to be or we would be different if I was supposed to be six foot tall. I would be if I was to be Billy Graham. I would have been if I was to be. You see if it is not the problem. Who I Am Who I Am The I am of the scripture is the I AM THAT I WANT TO BE I am voice I am 's presence I am. I'm 's love I'm 's forgiveness I am 's mercy I am 's blessing and we would say all that. But you see it isn't the I am of David. If the I am of the holy spirit alive in me in power to live life to touch the lives of others so that when you talk to someone when you give them a hug when you forgive them when you love them when you care for them it just feels like someone else is there hugging me with you. That was the greatest compliment I think I've ever had. And that's who we are. That's the holy spirit alive in us to talk to touch to heal. The comfort that's got in us empowering us thinking doing speaking touching going is there. Never alone. Amen. It's all Stan. Father we are grateful for the message that you give to us is one that speaks to us of your power your presence your peace. Fill us to overflowing fill us overflowing with your spirit. Let our vessel be filled with Let our vessel be filled with the spirit to proclaim the message that makes a difference in other people's lives. We pray in Jesus' name and everybody said Amen. Now bless you. Pentecost