Last week we started looking at the subject we are looking at this term – Invading the Promised Land. We looked at how we can stay on the edge or move in to all that God has for us: in terms of fruit and gifts and blessing.
I’m convinced that the key to everything is the Holy Spirit
If we are to invade the promised land and take hold of all that Christ has for us we need the Holy Spirit. He is key to exploring new things, demolishing strongholds.
Paul said in Philippians 3:14 –
“ I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
In other words I am not going to settle.
How does he do that? By a life empowered by the Spirit. It’s the only way
Colossians 1:29 –
“For this I labour, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”
All the things in this diagram are what Christ has taken hold of you for – now you need to take hold of them with his power. Active not passive.
Let’s look into this Holy Spirit empowered life and trace it through
We may be familiar with it but freshen up. First – We know that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to his disciples
John 16:7 –”But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage/profitable/better for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you
The Helper is the holy spirit
So let’s take this at face value. It is better for them to have the holy spirit than Jesus
“If only Jesus was here” – but if we take these words seriously, it’s better to have the holy spirit than Jesus here bodily
John 14:12 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
To sum up – I need to go to the Father so I can send the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is not just power – he is a person.
You don’t have a relationship with power but you do have a relationship with a person.
But he brings power into a situation.
So now Jesus has died and raised from the dead but not yet ascended to heaven and he says this in
Luke 24:49 – “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
So in essence Jesus is repeating and amplifying what he has already said. But at this stage it’s closer to happening. Jesus return to his Father is imminent.
Jesus said you will be clothed with power
Clothed sometimes used literally, sometimes figuratively.
Eg John the Baptist clothed in camel hair.
John the Baptist clothed in camel hair. The believers clothed with power.
Are you clothed in power? Think about it. This is the promise. It’s a challenge. Do something about it.
So to sum up. Jesus died and is resurrected and ascends to heaven and then just as Jesus promised, at Pentecost the Holy Spirit is poured out–
It was also clear that it was not limited to just a few people – that’s what Peter preached –
Acts 2:17 “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people”
His saying it’s not just for us who were with him but all people
Acts 2:39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
So this HS which is for all people is for us. Those far off in geography and those far off in time.
Summary – This HS who is better to have than jesus bodily, who is to enable greater works than jesus, is for us. And when we receive him Jesus describes it as being clothed with power
Imagine what it would be like for you to be clothed in power.
But as I say its not just about power – Its all about greater relationship with HS
I’ve known it for years. The last 3 years – greater reality. Long way to go but I’m on the journey.
Are you on the journey?
I’m living with greater sensitivity to HS than I was. I’m good at thinking things through, weighing them up and coming to a good common sense decision. I need to rely less on that and more on listening to the Holy Spirit. Should we do this or that as a church?
I think I have a bit more credibility than I did.
Bill Johnson has credibility because he lives in it more than I do – that’s why I recommend his book.
Clothed with power
Heard last week someone in our church had prayed for someone with cancer. The latest news was that they were clear – do we rejoice or just think they may have got better anyway?
Prayed for chappy at Cockermouth. Sensed faith. Difficult surgery on brain. Recovered.
My prayers may have been decisive.
We’re not always good at focussing on the good. We focus on the negative. Pete Carter.
Why some healings? Maybe part of the answer is that we have more of the promised land to possess.
We encounter a massive setback and it knocks us for six.
My pupils. I tell them to remember all the good things they did not just the mistakes.
Let me tell you about my tooth.
Sensitive to the Holy Spirit
Sensitive to Holy Spirit means more not less. We think – won’t do it because we want to be sensitive to the holy Spirit.
When Israel came into the promised land they needed the empowering of God. The lord did not want them to have a method – he wanted their ongoing trust and reliance on him. Come to Jericho – this is what to do. Don’t settle – next city – don’t think you’re going to do the same thing again. It wont work. God’s plan was different. We should do things not because they worked last time but because its what the Holy Spirit is leading us in now.
God was always looking for their reliance on him.
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
In fact sometimes in their history God deliberately cut their numbers down so they would know it wasn’t their own strength that was bringing victory, but God’s
Judges 7:2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’
He wants us 100% reliant on him. 100% reliant on and sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
Churches and church activities can be like cars without fuel. The leaders are pushing this car really hard to make a little progress. Get the fuel in the car
We could have a mechanically perfect aerodynamic highly polished church but with no fuel it aint going anywhere fast.
There’s really no point polishing the car if its got no fuel in it. Too much polish not enough power.
Don’t put the wrong fuel in the car. Someone shared that story. I’ve done it.
Don’t fuel the car with disappointment
Don’t fuel it with tradition
Don’t fuel it with your past experience – good or bad.
Rather fuel it with the Holy Spirit