New Life Family Church
Sunday June 13, 2021 AM
- Graves Into Gardens
Ephesians 3:20–21nltNLT
- Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is
- Victory Ahead
- I Would Not Be Denied
- See A Victory
- Sermon in a Sentence: Jesus advanced the Kingdom of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, and we should do the same when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.Sermon Purpose: To see people empowered by the Holy Spirit to advance the kingdom of God.Text: Matthew 12:22-28, Acts 1:3-5, 8There Is a WarAs Jesus walked the earth He was always ready.Ready for anything, right Brother Darrell Crouch?Royal Rangers, the boys ministry of the AG encourages its members to be like that.Ready!Ready for anything! Ready to work, play, serve, worship, live, and obey God’s Word.Jesus lived in a constant state of readiness.He lived always ready to do the Father’s will.
John 4:34 NASB95 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.That readiness even included being confronted by a demon possessed man — a man, who because of the demon possessing him was blind and could not speak.Jesus was ready to do war against the devil and set this man free.That readiness included being ready to answer the arguments the Pharisees raised about the source of the demon-possessed man’s deliverance.Because Jesus lived ready He saw the opportunity and invaded the devil’s claimed territory — this blind and mute man — and set him free.He did it in the power of the Holy Spirit.In that same power He silenced the critics.Everything Jesus did, He did it all through the power of the Holy Spirit.Because His mission was set on fire by the Spirit.In verse 28 of our text He says very clearly, “casting the demons out of this man tells you the Kingdom of God has come through the power of the Holy Spirit.”How did the Kingdom of God come?Through the power of the Holy Spirit.How was the demon cast out of the man?Through the power of the Holy Spirit.Jesus burned with the fire of the Holy Spirit.He accomplished His mission on-fire with the Spirit.Jesus’ example tell us how WE should face our world.It is a world on-fire with evil.Every day we learn some new evil being forced upon us.We must fight fire with fire.This is one of those opportunities for someone to misquote me.That pastor was trying to get people to burn people’s property, to be violent towards other people.No.That was last summer.That was NOT a Christ-honoring, Christ-obedient group.When I talk about fighting fire with fire, I am talking about fighting the fire of evil with the fire of the Holy Spirit.The Holy Spirit does NOT call us to respond to the evil of this world with more evil.the Holy Spirit leads us to fight the evil of this world the same way Jesus did.With love, with good works, with kindness — standing against the devil and his strategies in demon-fighting, demon-casting out power.Because like Jesus in His day, we are at war.Right now, at THIS very moment and at EVERY moment, a cosmic war is taking place between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.We cannot afford to relax our vigilance for one single solitary moment.What Jesus said to His disciples is what He says to us:Mark 13:37 NASB95 37 “What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’ ”As we are on alert we are also clothed in the armor of God.We can’t afford to lay aside the armor of God that Sister Miranda Murr preached about last week.We must clothe ourselves in what Romans 13:12 calls “… the armor of light.”An armor burning brightly with the fire of God — the anointing of the Holy Spirit.On alert, clothed with the whole armor of God, and every day, taking up the sword of the Spirit, the Word of GodBecause as ...2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NASB95 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,As we do that, staying alert, always clothed in the full armor of God, the ARMOR OF LIGHT, taking up the Sword of the Spirit like we know how to use it, the kingdom of God will powerfully advance in spite of those who try to stop it (Mt 11:12 NIV).There is a mysterious verse in:Matthew 11:12 NASB95 12 “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.There are as many different theories on what this verse means as there are people trying to understand it.I like what Missionary Don Stamps said in the Fire Bible. He said:Following and serving Jesus takes spiritual courage, faithfulness, power and determination. It requires constantly seeking for or making ways for the gospel to go forth, knowing that it will face opposition. It involves maintaining driving strength in the mission to reach others for Christ. Fire Bible.In spite of all opposition, Jesus declared that the kingdom of Satan will not withstand the advance of the kingdom of God through the church (Mt 16:18).The church under the anointing of the fire of the Holy Spirit.The church without the Holy Spirit is useless — or worse a detriment, a reproach, a black-mark against the Kingdom.Ah, but IN ALIGNMENT with, under the ANOINTING of the Spirit, it is an unstoppable force!Jesus lived His life on this planet to advance the Kingdom.What about us?Is that OUR purpose for living?To advance the mission of the Kingdom through the fire of the Spirit?I. JESUS ADVANCED THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Mt 12:22-28).A. If we would be followers of Jesus, we will follow His example.Jesus often healed and delivered people who were under the power of demonic spirits.Jesus’ power over demons signified that the Kingdom of God was triumphing over the kingdom of Satan.B. Our text in Matthew is a significant example of Jesus advancing the kingdom of God.1. In this text Jesus made a declaration that revealed two important truths:C. First, Jesus revealed that the Holy Spirit was the source of His power.1. In verse 28 Jesus says: “I drive out demons by the Spirit of God.”D. Through the incarnation Jesus became a man.3. But before the God-Man Jesus embarked on His mission to advance the Kingdom He received the anointing of the Holy Spirit.4. He was baptized in water — but then we read that the Holy Spirit came on the man Jesus and empowered Him for ministry (Lk 3:21-22; 4:1, 14-21).4. Everything Jesus did in ministry He did by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ac 10:38).Peter told Cornelius’ household:Acts 10:38 NASB95 38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.5. This is an important truth because Jesus is the ultimate example of how WE should serve God.E. Second, Jesus revealed in our text that the Kingdom of God advances ONLY in the power of the Holy Spirit.1. “If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”2. It is humanly impossible to overcome the power of Satan.3. Satan, however, cannot withstand the advance of the kingdom of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.II. LIKE JESUS, WE TOO CAN ADVANCE THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Ac 1:3-5, 8).A. Jesus promised His disciples—and us—the same power of the Holy Spirit that He used to advance the Kingdom of God.1. After the resurrection, Jesus continued to teach His disciples about the kingdom of God and how it advances (Ac 1:3).2. He emphasized that THEY would advance the kingdom of God ONLY through the power of the Holy Spirit (vv. 4-5, 8).Acts 1:8 NASB95 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”a. The Holy Spirit is so important that Jesus instructed them to wait until they had received Him (v. 4).b. He explained that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit by being baptized in the Spirit (v. 5,8).c. On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon them and they were filled with His presence and power just as Jesus had promised (Ac 2:1-4).d. The rest of the book of Acts shows how the early church advanced the kingdom of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.B. The promise of the Holy Spirit is for us today just as it was for the early disciples (Ac 2:38-39).1. We are still at war against demonic powers.2. Many are oppressed and in bondage to sin and the power of Satan.3. The world’s only hope is a church that is empowered by the Spirit and able to advance against Satan.4. We DESPERATELY NEED the anointing of the Holy Spirit TODAY!C. Today we must believe Christ’s promise and ask Him to fill us with the Spirit’s power to advance the kingdom of God.1. When we are filled with the Spirit, we can powerfully proclaim the gospel and see the kingdom of God come in power.2. If we will seek to be filled with the Spirit, God will work through us to set captives free and advance His kingdom just as He did through Jesus (Jn 14:12, 16-17).Conclusion and Altar CallLet me ask the same question the Apostle Paul asked the believers at Ephesus:Acts 19:1–2 (NASB95)It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” ...First, have you believed?Have you repented of your sins?Have you surrendered your life to Him?If not come forward and we will pray with you to be born again.Once you have been born again, immediately seek to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.You will know you have received because you will speak in a language you have not learned.Perhaps you say,Pastor , I am Born Again.I have been Baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.Then come in faith and commit yourself to advancing the kingdom of God.Come, let’s ask God to fill us with the power of His Spirit and enable us to advance His kingdom (Lk 11:9, 13).Luke 11:9–13 NASB95 9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 “Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” Matthew 12:22–28NASB95
Mark 13:37NLT
Matthew 11:12NLT
Acts 10:38NLT
Acts 1:8NLT
Acts 19:1–2NASB95
Luke 11:9–13NLT
- Here Again
- I. IntroductionA. Tomorrow is a day set aside for remembering those who have died defending freedom.The freedoms that so many people of the United States of America take for granted.Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, a free press, the freedom to bear arms — just to name a few.B. I served 3 years in the Army and I have had many family members who have served including both my father and my father-in-law who were both career military, 2 of my 3 younger sisters served and I have a nephew who is currently serving in the Navy.From that perspective, I am tremendously grateful for all those who as President Abraham Lincoln said in the Gettysburg address “gave the last full measure of devotion.”He admonished this nation by saying at the end of his speech:“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”I am an American, BUT first and foremost I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God, I and WE are commissioned not so much by any U.S. president, but by God Himself to be change-agents in this place where we live.Committed to the people around us experiencing “a new birth of freedom.”A new birth of Spiritual freedomThe freedom Jesus declared in: John 8:31–32, 36 (NASB95) [Jesus said…] “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.The only way — THE ONLY WAY — that we can help this nation gain that “new birth of freedom” is under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.An enduement of, an anointing of, a clothing with power and fire such as the 120 experienced on that first Pentecost 2000 years ago:On this Sunday following Pentecost Sunday, we continue to emphasize what happened that day 2000 years ago when a fire broke out among 120 Christ-followers who were seeking for that which Jesus had told them to wait — power from on high.
Acts 2:1–4 NASB95 1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.D. So many living around us in our neighborhoods,So many in our families, who go to the schools we attend, who work in the same places we do are living in bondage.Bondage to the devilBondage to his agenda to steal, kill and destroyMay God himself anoint OUR tongues with fire of the Holy Spirit to proclaim a “new birth of freedom.”E. Even more important than the sacrifice of all those who have given this nation freedom for the past 245 years are the many martyrs who have died proclaiming, defending the freedom of Jesus over the past 2 millennia.The freedom from sin that comes through JesusThe freedom from the hell we deserve because Jesus suffered and died in our place.C. These martyrs died speaking with tongues set on fire by the Holy Spirit.Speaking prophetic words that illuminated the darkest corners of human depravitySpeaking fiery words that burned up arguments set against the truth of God.Speaking unassailable words, irrefutable words of light, life, and libertyD. Like Stephen of old:He spoke in the wisdom and anointing of the Holy SpiritIrresistible speech Acts 6:10Acts 6:10 CEV 10 But they were no match for Stephen, who spoke with the great wisdom that the Spirit gave him.With his tongue set on fire with the Holy Spirit Stephen spoke words that cut to the quick (Acts 7:54)Acts 7:54 NASB95 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.Speech that flowed out of a fresh revelation of Jesus (Acts 7:55-56)Like the disciples who stood in front of the religious council in ...Acts 4:13 NASB95 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.Being with Jesus, walking in the power and fire of the Holy Spirit — that’s what set the disciples apart from all other pretenders.Stephen too, one of the first deacons, spoke with a tongue set on fire by the Holy Spirit because he too had a revelation of JesusActs 7:55–56 NASB95 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”Stephen paid for his fiery speech with his life.He gave his life for freedom’s cause.Church, may we speak with tongues set on fire by the Holy Spirit.the alternative is to speak with tongues set on fire by hell:James 3:5–6 NASB95 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.God has given us free-will.We get to choose our speech.Proverbs 18:20-21 (Passion Translation) Sharing words of wisdom is satisfying to your inner being. It encourages you to know that you’ve changed someone else’s life. 21 Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life, and the talkative person will reap the consequences.We get to choose whether we will speak words that kill or give lifeMoses stood before Israel and said:Deuteronomy 30:19 NASB95 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,He was talking about obedience to God commands, but included in those commands are guidelines for speaking words that bring blessing and life — may we choose blessing and life!The words we speak will ultimately come from our hearts:Jesus said in:Luke 6:45 NASB95 “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.Jesus, speaking to the Pharisees said in:Matthew 12:34–37 NASB95 “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”D. There are so many people outside and even inside the church who have been touched by horrible, devastating things.E. They’ve been touched by:1. Violence,2. Verbal, physical and sexual abuse3. Divorce4. Discrimination5. Abortion6. Depression7. And so many other devastating, destructive forces.F. Folks, we live in a hurting world, are we willing to speak words that lead to freedom and life?Words set on fire with the anointing of the Holy Spirit?And may we BE SURE we are speaking the words of the Spirit?ESPECIALLY if we purport to be speaking for God by making such a statement as, “God told me to tell you...”We are a Pentecostal church, we believe in the gifts of the Spirit which include many gifts that use language.May we be careful to ONLY speak that which comes from the Holy Spirit when we manifest such gifts?We not only encourage the Gifts to operate, but we also judge the gifts:1 Corinthians 14:27–29 NASB95 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.Let those who are likewise gifted in the Holy Spirit judge what is said by the standard of the Word of God.No prophetic utterance, no Word of knowledge or Word of Wisdom will contradict the Word of God — it will line up with it and validate it.G. So, will we touch our world for Jesus?1.Will we speak His words?2. Will we be His hands?This world needs the gentle, loving, compassionate touch and words of people who belong to the King of Love — Jesus.Words of love and compassion such as the King of Love gave to the prostitute, the leper, the tax collector, the sinner, the cripple, the sickH. Not a word or touch that condones or endorses their sin, but a word that says things like that old hymn:1. I came to Jesus weary, worn and sad,2. He took my sins away, He took my sins away.3. And now His love has made my heart so glad,4. He took my sins away.That’s OUR testimony to a world that needs the message of hope, the message of life.I. The last verse gives the message that our lost world needs to hear:1. If you will come to Jesus Christ today,2. He’ll take your sins away, He’ll take your sins away.3. And keep you happy in His love each day,4. He’ll take your sins away.But before we speak, let’s surrender our tongues to Jesus.Let’s ask that the fire of the Holy Spirit burns away the dross.Burns away anything NOT of God.As we sang Wednesday night:Holy Spirit fall like fire Burn away everything not of YouIX. CloseWhat about us this morning?Will WE allow the Holy Spirit to anoint our tongues?An anointing that cannot be withstood?The anointing of fire that will bring a “new birth of freedom” for this country?Will we, like Stephen of old, like the Apostles of old, walk in a FRESH vision of Jesus?Will people take note of us that WE have been with Jesus?NOT that we have any certain degree from a university or NO degree from a university — just that we have been with Jesus.After we have experienced a vision of Jesus, will we respond to His call?Will we GO into all the world?Will we touch our world for Jesus?Will we teach those we win to Jesus, obedience to His commands?Will we speak with words set on fire by hell or set on fire by the Holy Spirit?Dick Brogden said in his devotional Missionary God, Missionary Bible:There is a vicious war for the glory of God being waged, and it is a war of words. Christians and missionaries have a stewardship duty to sharpen their weapons, to practice with them, and to use them wisely. As our words are so precious, so finite in number, let’s commit them all to the King and His gospel. Let our words be few and focused, pure and piercing, prophetic and loving, anointed and fearless.X. AltarA. Salvation call.
New Life Family Church
(706) 781-6142
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