1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,760 Friends, before we start, I'm going to ask Wendy to read the 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:09,360 scripture for us, if that's OK. Why? 3 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:11,560 Because she reads reads better than I do. 4 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:15,000 So Gilly, why don't you read the scripture for us? 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:17,880 Thank you, lovey. OK, we're reading out of Matthew 6 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:23,520 one, verse 18 to 25. Joseph accepts Jesus as his son. 7 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,160 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about. 8 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:31,600 His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before 9 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,280 they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the 10 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,120 Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was 11 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,760 faithful to the law and yet did not want to expose her to public 12 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,840 disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 13 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:46,960 But after he had considered this, an Angel of the Lord 14 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:51,120 appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, do 15 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,480 not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is 16 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,680 conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 17 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:00,240 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name 18 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,960 Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. 19 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,240 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through 20 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,800 the prophet. The Virgin will conceive and 21 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,360 give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which 22 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:17,080 means God with us. When Joseph woke up, he did what 23 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,160 the Angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home 24 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,480 as his wife. But he did not consummate their 25 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,120 marriage until she gave birth to a son and he gave him this name, 26 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:28,960 Jesus. Beautiful lovey. 27 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,720 Thank you, my lovey, beautiful. Let's just pray. 28 00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:41,000 Father, this is your word. We are your children. 29 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:44,600 Make your word alive within us today. 30 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,320 Jesus name, Amen. Amen. 31 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,360 Your friends, it is so good to be with you. 32 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,920 I'm excited for this morning and roar. 33 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,280 Thank you for the privilege of bringing God's word and trusting 34 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,280 us in the pulpit. This morning is a very special 35 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:09,680 time for me because one of my dearest friends is here from the 36 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:12,560 United States. I've seen hurt. 37 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:18,080 Yeah. 30, about 36 years ago, he was a pastor with my dad in 38 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,880 ministry. And this morning, friends, I've 39 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,440 gotten the same service. I've got the man that taught me 40 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,160 about the Holy Spirit, and I've got the man that taught me about 41 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,040 the Father of God in one service. 42 00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:34,400 Why don't we welcome Captain Jeanette with us this morning? 43 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:36,840 Thank you. Wow. 44 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,320 What a privilege to have you with us. 45 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,320 I will never forget my dad died. He was the one that taught me 46 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,520 about Jesus. And my dad died and I didn't 47 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:52,000 know where to go. And about 8 months after he died 48 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,880 I walked into Kat's office and I just sat and I asked him about 49 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,200 can can I do karate and can I do this and can I do that. 50 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:00,800 I don't even know if he remembers. 51 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,880 And he gave me some good advice but eventually I was so long 52 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:05,720 that he just carried on preparing his preach. 53 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,280 But I didn't want to leave because the room was filled with 54 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,520 the Spirit. I felt safe. 55 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,360 And I trust you feel safe here this morning. 56 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:19,880 This is a lounge, friends. It's just like you always says 57 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,000 to us. This is a fancy way I was to 58 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,240 keep the rain off our heads. The Holy Spirit is in each one 59 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:30,840 of us. I tell you, on Thursday, I had 60 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:32,720 one of the most remarkable meetings. 61 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,720 Wendy and I, we thought we're going to have brekkie with 62 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,400 friends of ours, Steve and Bernie Delggetti, they're from 63 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,760 Benoni, Kempton Park area, and we thought we're just going to 64 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:47,120 have a breaky. And Steve said to me after about 65 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:48,800 an hour, he said, you know, you're OK. 66 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:51,880 I said to you, yes, Steve, I'm OK. 67 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,440 So he looked into my eyes with his deep blue eyes and it was 68 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:57,640 like he's piercing right into my soul. 69 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:04,600 He says you're carrying burdens. Hey, I said Gee, Steve said I 70 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,880 am. I said. 71 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,960 I've done done about 3 funerals in two weeks. 72 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:17,480 One of my mates died tragically doing another memorial service 73 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,399 on Friday and another one in January. 74 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,720 You see friends, this is not a preach preaching centre. 75 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,840 We passed this. We just care deeply, just care 76 00:04:26,840 --> 00:04:28,520 deeply. And we carry the loads you 77 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,880 carry. And I did weddings and we 78 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:37,280 celebrated 2 weddings and I, we celebrated with somebody that 79 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,400 their child gets born and expecting a child. 80 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,840 And so all these things plays up and, and he said, whoa, whoa, 81 00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:46,680 whoa, whoa. He said, let me just speak to 82 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:51,040 you about the Holy Spirit. And for 2 1/2 hours, he unpacked 83 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:55,640 the Holy Spirit to Wendy and I and everything he shared just 84 00:04:55,640 --> 00:05:00,480 it's like load after load after load after load after load, 85 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,480 lifting my shoulders. And if he's there, if there's 86 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,760 one prayer I've got this morning, it is this. 87 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:13,040 While we share on Emmanuel, God with us, He's still with us God 88 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:18,040 today that you lift load after load after load off your 89 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,920 shoulders, load after load. Prince, why? 90 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:25,040 Let's speak a little bit about the Holy Spirit. 91 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,320 So what am I aiming at this morning? 92 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:31,560 I'm just going to tell us about Jesus, who he was, where the 93 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,400 Holy Spirit was. Why did we receive the Holy 94 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,560 Spirit? How do we receive the Holy 95 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:38,760 Spirit? How do we get filled with the 96 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:40,120 Spirit? And what's the art working? 97 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:42,360 Is that all right? Easy. 98 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:43,880 It's not rocket science, friends. 99 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,840 So if we look at the book of Genesis, right in the beginning, 100 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,360 God says this. In the beginning, God created 101 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:56,160 the heavens and the earth and the earth was a little bit of a 102 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:00,520 mess and the and the Holy Spirit Harvard over the waters. 103 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:06,760 And then God said, let there be light and there was light and 104 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,000 there was day the first day and there was night the first night. 105 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:14,760 Genesis 1. Let's jump right across John 1. 106 00:06:15,840 --> 00:06:20,800 John one says this, in the beginning was the Word and the 107 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:26,840 Word was with God and the Word was God and nothing was created 108 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,920 without God. God spoke the Word in the 109 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,920 beginning so nothing was created without God speaking the Word. 110 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:37,000 And then verse 14 says and the word became flesh. 111 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,520 How did the word become flesh? Wendy just read it to us, 112 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:46,440 Matthew 1, The Holy Spirit, you see, Mary conceived through the 113 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,800 Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit was there in 114 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,240 the beginning, God was there in the beginning, Jesus was there 115 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,320 in the beginning. Everything was formed through 116 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,840 him. He came to earth, Emmanuel, God 117 00:06:55,840 --> 00:06:58,640 with us. And the Holy Spirit was 118 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:02,960 intertwined in all of that. Like Rory says, it's the 119 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,160 tapestry of God, this, this intertwine. 120 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:11,920 And Jesus was born. So, friends, with Emmanuel, God 121 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,360 with us. Everything was created through 122 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,480 Jesus. Jesus was born for us. 123 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:20,800 Jesus showed us how to live. Friends. 124 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,960 How did he show us how to live through the gospels? 125 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,320 Go and read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 126 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,600 Rory taught us so well in John one. 127 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,560 How did Jesus live? Came as the Son of God, the 128 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:35,760 Lamb. Came as the Lamb of God. 129 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:39,840 Came as the miracle worker, the great teacher, the great 130 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,840 evangelist, Friends, He came as the doctor. 131 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,080 If you you not well this morning, he's Yeah, he can heal 132 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:47,760 you. He's the doctor. 133 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,800 He's the bread of life. He's the water of life. 134 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:55,520 He's the defender of the weak. Friends, the lady was caught in 135 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:56,560 adultery. What did he do? 136 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,480 He defended her. It's the light of the world. 137 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,160 He's the Good Shepherd. He's the resurrection and the 138 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,320 life. He's the king. 139 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:07,080 He's the servant. He's the truth. 140 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,600 The way, the life. The only way to the Father. 141 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,600 Only way. It's the giver of the Holy 142 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,200 Spirit, John 16 It's the great intercessor. 143 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:21,960 I miss 15 The true vine 16 The giver of the Holy Spirit 17. 144 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:26,280 He's the great intercessor. He showed us what it is to to 145 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:27,360 pray. If you're struggling to pray, 146 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,880 just go and read John 17. It's the model sufferer. 147 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:36,159 My friend had the suffering this morning. 148 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:43,559 He's been diagnosed with cancer and he came for operation and 149 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,520 when he told my heart broke that I send you a message. 150 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,680 I said, cat, I don't know why this happened, but you know 151 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:52,520 what? So Jesus knows he's the model 152 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,000 sufferer. Are you here this morning? 153 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:57,560 He's the model sufferer. He knows what you're going 154 00:08:57,560 --> 00:09:01,320 through, Geraldine. He knows what really he's going 155 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,160 through. He meets you where you at beck, 156 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,920 Becky, you just lost your dad. He knows you're, you're 157 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:10,200 suffering. He's the model sufferer. 158 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:14,200 Friends, just go to Jesus. He's the uplifted saviour. 159 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,640 He's the Conqueror of death and he's the restorer of broken 160 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:19,760 people. Friends, he restored Peter. 161 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,440 He can restore you and me. That's how Jesus lived. 162 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:28,480 That's how Jesus lived. Friends, Jesus died for us. 163 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:32,920 Jesus rose again for us. Jesus went to prepare a place 164 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:34,240 for us. John 14. 165 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:40,000 Jesus is coming back for us. Acts 1, Jesus is interceding for 166 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,320 us at this time while we're meeting here. 167 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:47,360 Jesus interceding, Romans 8 friends, while we were. 168 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:49,720 He's interceding for us while we are. 169 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:54,160 And then in John 16, He promised us the Holy Spirit. 170 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,880 Why? Why the Holy Spirit? 171 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,560 Because Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit. 172 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:02,760 He was full of the Holy Spirit. He knew. 173 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:06,880 Friends, if the Son of Almighty God cannot live without the Holy 174 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,560 Spirit, how can you and I live without the Holy Spirit? 175 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:12,440 We need the Holy Spirit, friends. 176 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,320 We need Him. See, the Holy Spirit was there 177 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:17,520 in the beginning. The Holy Spirit was there in the 178 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:19,400 birth. Jesus was full of the Holy 179 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,200 Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers us and 180 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:25,440 empowered him. And the Holy Spirit raised Jesus 181 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:27,640 from the dead. Roman says this. 182 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,080 The same Spirit, if the same spirit that throws crush from 183 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:34,680 the dead is in you, He that throws crush from the dead will 184 00:10:34,680 --> 00:10:39,360 also raise you from the dead, Our mortal bodies. 185 00:10:39,560 --> 00:10:42,080 He'll raise us from the dead. We can't raise ourselves, 186 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,280 friends. The Holy Spirit does that. 187 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:48,720 He does that. In fact, in X one verse 49, we 188 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,920 read that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. 189 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,480 How did he do that? He says go, don't leave 190 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,720 Jerusalem. Stay here and wait. 191 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,000 Wait for what? Wait for the gift. 192 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,480 My Father will send the Holy Spirit to do what? 193 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:06,760 To empower you. And you will be my witnesses in 194 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:10,200 Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and the uttermost parts of the 195 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:11,960 earth. Whether we're in the United 196 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,120 States, whether we're in South Africa, whether we're in 197 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:17,560 Randburg, whether we're in Benoni, and whether we go. 198 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:19,840 Yeah, doesn't matter where we come from. 199 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,600 We'll have power. The Holy Spirit gives us power. 200 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,840 Friends, we cannot do without the Holy Spirit. 201 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:33,120 What does the Holy Spirit do? So the Bible says Isaiah. 202 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,480 Wendy quoted from Isaiah this morning, Isaiah 7 verse 14. 203 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,800 The prophecy was and there'll be a Son, and he was born and he 204 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:44,160 was Emmanuel, God with us. He was called Emmanuel, God with 205 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:49,400 us, but his name was Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. 206 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:53,280 Today He's still God with us, but he's through His Holy 207 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,320 Spirit. Friends, that's the first thing 208 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,200 that he, the Holy Spirit does. He is God with us. 209 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,840 Yes, John 16 tells us that He comes to convict of sin, 210 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,280 righteousness and judgement. He does that, He empowers us. 211 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,520 But there's two things that I want to concentrate this morning 212 00:12:08,680 --> 00:12:11,000 more a little bit more practical, what the Holy Spirit 213 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,520 does. Firstly, we're going to read 214 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:18,880 from John 14 verse 25, please. Alex says the Holy Spirit 215 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,160 reminds us of everything Jesus has said. 216 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,160 You see Jesus, when he walked this earth, he could only be at 217 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,760 one place at one time. When the Holy Spirit came, He 218 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:30,960 could be everywhere at the same time. 219 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:35,000 So it doesn't matter whether we meet here or whether Doxa meets 220 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,880 or where the CRC meets or where the Levant of Word meets the 221 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,000 Holy Spirit or choose life, the Holy Spirit's there, the Holy 222 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,240 Spirit's there. Let's read. 223 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:49,160 Is this OK, friends? Let's read from verse 26. 224 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,520 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will 225 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,920 send in my name will teach you. First thing you'll do, you'll 226 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:00,520 teach us. So those of you that heard Ross 227 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:02,880 speak in the past, you never lose your student cap. 228 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,400 Never. We've got people here today 229 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,640 that's got master's degrees and doctorates. 230 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,680 The reason why they have those degrees, they never lost their 231 00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:14,640 student cap. They never lost it. 232 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,920 Let's don't lose our student cap, friends. 233 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:21,000 How does he teach us? And he will remind you of 234 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:25,080 everything I have said to you. Jesus speaking here. 235 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,480 So the first thing that I want to emphasize is the Holy Spirit 236 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,400 will remind us of what Jesus said. 237 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:35,280 How will he remind us? We read in God's word. 238 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,840 And when a situation comes up, He reminds us, reminds us of 239 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:41,560 what we read. He reminds us of what Jesus said 240 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:45,080 and he says peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. 241 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,040 So not only the Holy Spirit, by through giving the Holy Spirit 242 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:50,080 we receive peace. Colossians 3. 243 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:53,120 I do not give us the world gifts. 244 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,160 Do not let your hearts be troubled. 245 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:57,680 Do not be afraid. If there's one person that 246 00:13:57,680 --> 00:14:01,640 walked the face of this earth, who knows what it was for, for a 247 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:03,680 heart to be troubled and to be afraid. 248 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:06,240 It was Jesus. And he says don't be afraid. 249 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:07,440 Don't let your heart be troubled. 250 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:09,480 Why? It was full of the Holy Spirit, 251 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:15,040 full of the Holy Spirit, friends, full of the Holy 252 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,720 Spirit. So he reminds us, let's briefly 253 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:21,160 look at what did Jesus say? So in Luke 3, we see that Jesus 254 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:25,000 got baptized. And when he got baptized, he 255 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,920 came up out of the water. And Luke's Luke put in this 256 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,080 phrase and he prayed. Jesus prayed. 257 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:34,640 And then the Holy Spirit comes in the in the form of a dove and 258 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:39,120 we hear a voice that says, this is my son whom I love in the 259 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,040 Imam world. Please, we know this, friends. 260 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,840 Why did we pray this morning when there was baptisms? 261 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:47,640 It's because it it happened in the Bible. 262 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:50,000 If it doesn't happen in the Bible, don't do it. 263 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,320 I mean, weddings, you get all sorts of requests. 264 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,760 It's just about the vows. Guys, don't go. 265 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:00,160 Don't string any anyway. Just don't go there. 266 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,160 I love you. But but you know what? 267 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:07,160 This morning Kyle got baptised. Squirrel. 268 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,040 She says squirrel when I go off track. 269 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:15,360 So we get we get baptized and then we get out and what do we 270 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,240 pray? Holy Spirit? 271 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:21,240 Won't you just fill Kyle? Won't you just fill? 272 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:23,440 Why? That's what Jesus did. 273 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,760 So from there, full of the Holy Spirit, we're going to go back 274 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,680 to Matthew now full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus went into the 275 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:31,800 wilderness. He was led by the Spirit into 276 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:33,280 the wilderness to be tempted. Why? 277 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,800 Because Jesus needed temptation. No, Jesus knew that you and I 278 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:41,240 will fight temptation and he wanted to teach us how to how to 279 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,400 handle that. So the first thing the enemy 280 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:48,560 comes and says, if you are the Son of God, tell these stones to 281 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,320 become bread. That's after 40 days, friends of 282 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,400 him not eating. I mean, you're hungry. 283 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,440 You you're literally hungry after 40 days. 284 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,680 And what does Jesus say? First of all, he sets the record 285 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:04,320 straight. He says God, man, will not live 286 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:08,280 of bread alone, but of every word that comes out of the mouth 287 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,600 of God. Who was in the beginning God? 288 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:16,440 What did he speak the Word? What did the Word do in the book 289 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:18,000 of John? Became flesh? 290 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,520 How did it become flesh in the book of Matthew? 291 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:25,680 So Jesus says you will live by every word you quote to John 6. 292 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:30,640 He's the bread of life. So what will we live of Jesus? 293 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:33,520 So he just set the record straight. 294 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:37,760 He said, hey, listen, Satan, I was there right in the 295 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:39,720 beginning. Everything was created for me. 296 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,360 Don't come with this nonsense that I'm not the son of God. 297 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,920 If I'm the son of God, my identity is set. 298 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:47,560 I am the son of God. This is my son. 299 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:54,040 This is my son identity whom I love affection in him. 300 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:57,280 I'm well pleased affirmation. So let's just get the record 301 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:00,080 straight. The second thing that Jesus does 302 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,280 there, he says don't focus on the temporary. 303 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:04,440 It's not just about the bread here. 304 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,160 Now please friends, don't go on a 40 day fast. 305 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:11,119 Jesus did it because he wanted us to get the lesson. 306 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,800 The lesson is this, when you're heart pressed, when you're 307 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,599 tired, you're the most vulnerable, you'll go for the 308 00:17:17,599 --> 00:17:20,040 first thing insight. Don't go for the first thing 309 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:23,000 insight. Let's rely on the Holy Spirit, 310 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:26,720 let's rely on the Holy Spirit, Let's rely on eternity. 311 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:30,080 Let's eat of the bread of life. If we eat from the bread of 312 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:34,000 life, we will have the bread of of the temporary, but we eat of 313 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:36,320 the bread of eternal. First thing Jesus said. 314 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:40,200 So that's how we respond. The second thing that happened 315 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,720 is the enemy took him to this temple and put him at the 316 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,200 highest point and say to him, throw yourself off. 317 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,560 And then he quotes Psalm 91, but he quotes it a little bit 318 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,280 manipulative, you know, a little bit wonky. 319 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:57,600 And, and, and, and, and Jesus said to him, no, it is written. 320 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:01,840 It is written. Do not put the Lord your God to 321 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:04,840 the test. You know what, friends? 322 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,320 He set the, he set the record straight again. 323 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:13,360 Let's don't put God to the test. Let's don't take things into our 324 00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:15,720 own hands. That's what he's saying there. 325 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,080 Let's don't, let's then make our own plans. 326 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,320 Let's don't bend things just to fit into our profile. 327 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:23,240 Sometimes guys in the church will come. 328 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,880 Why did you think he stood it on the stood on the temple, on, on, 329 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,120 on the highest point in the temple sometimes comes from 330 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:31,880 internal factors, sometimes external factors. 331 00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:35,560 We just got to know the word of God, just got to know the words 332 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:38,400 that Jesus used. Don't put the Lord your God to 333 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:42,360 the test. God gives and God takes away. 334 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:47,560 How do we bend it? We change the words God gives 335 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:51,760 and God makes away because we can't deal with God takes away 336 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:54,520 theologically. We we battled to explain it. 337 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:57,360 So no God gives and God takes away. 338 00:18:57,360 --> 00:18:59,400 We don't take things into our own hands, friends. 339 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:06,560 And then lastly, last example, I want to use what God Jesus said 340 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,280 took him to our place. He says, listen, if you bow 341 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,960 before me, shout him all the kingdoms of the earth. 342 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:15,720 If you bow before me, I'll give it all to you because it's been 343 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:20,200 given to me and Jesus says to him away from me, Satan, you 344 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:25,320 will serve the Lord your God and him alone and him alone. 345 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:28,960 You will worship him alone. You'll worship him alone. 346 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,520 Why does God says why does Jesus say that? 347 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,720 You know what the temptations that come our way Those days was 348 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:37,120 big kingdoms and all those things. 349 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:40,200 Today it's material things. What are you living for? 350 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:43,960 I'm, I'm, I'm a little bit of a cyclist. 351 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:53,240 No, I am a little bit. And I aim for these big races. 352 00:19:54,320 --> 00:20:00,040 And then I fall sick and I become ill and I get very upset 353 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:06,080 because I can't do these races. And it became my Kingdom, became 354 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:11,080 my identity. I'm not saying you become sick 355 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,640 because God, please don't hear what I'm not saying. 356 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,480 In my case, I have to put Jesus on the throne. 357 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,360 He's the king. I go for his Kingdom. 358 00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:22,120 I'm not. I'm not going for things that 359 00:20:22,120 --> 00:20:26,240 when moth and rust can destroy. You don't aim for the next car. 360 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:29,400 You don't aim for the next race to race, to race to race the 361 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,680 next house. We don't serve those things, 362 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:33,440 friends. Why are they corruption? 363 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,520 Because people are vulnerable and they serve earthly kingdoms. 364 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,120 Why is there bribery? Because we serve earthly 365 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:44,080 kingdoms. No, we're coming in for a 366 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:48,080 landing, friends. OK, so the first thing, the Holy 367 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:50,000 Spirit reminds us of what Jesus has said. 368 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:51,920 The second thing is the second verse. 369 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:55,400 Please, Nicole, it's so good to have you, Nicole, all the way 370 00:20:55,400 --> 00:21:02,000 from Stellenbosch. OK, John, I think it's John 16 371 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:07,800 says I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 372 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,040 But when the spirit of truth comes. 373 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:14,040 So when you do something, just ask if it's truth, OK, not 374 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,520 rocket science comes. He will guide you into all 375 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:19,880 truth. He will not speak on his own, He 376 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:23,560 will only He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell 377 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,240 you what is yet to come. He will glorify me. 378 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:31,040 So when you do something, just ask Jesus, does this glorify 379 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,680 you? If I serve one another, if I 380 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:39,360 take a meal, if I write policies for work, does this glorify you? 381 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,600 Am I doing it well to the best of my ability? 382 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:46,840 When you're an employee, do you steal time from your employer? 383 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,440 Are we doing it well? You know we serve. 384 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:56,680 You serve our heavenly Master. Is it glorifying to God because 385 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:59,200 it is from me? He will receive what we will 386 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,120 make known to you. All that belongs to the Father 387 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:04,560 is mine. That is why I said the Spirit. 388 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:10,600 You receive from me what He will, the Spirit will receive 389 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:14,120 from me what he will make known to you friends, you, you know 390 00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:17,800 what sometimes we, we, we think when we get the, the Holy 391 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,200 Spirit, we get weird. The the Holy Spirit is is there 392 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,600 for us to hear God's voice and for practical application. 393 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:26,920 Yes, there is speaking in tongues. 394 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,040 Yes, there is the gifts. We know those things. 395 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:33,000 Those are art workings, but practical application, it's to 396 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:35,800 lead us and to guide us and to remind us of what Jesus has 397 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:37,600 said. How do I receive the Holy 398 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,840 Spirit? Firstly, at salvation. 399 00:22:42,120 --> 00:22:45,280 We cannot receive Jesus without the Holy Spirit. 400 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,560 When you hear His voice today, open up your hearts, do not 401 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:51,280 harden your hearts. So we receive it at salvation. 402 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:55,840 Romans 815 says this. The Spirit we receive capital S 403 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:03,440 sets us free from fear and Son, but gave us brought about the 404 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,680 spirit of adoption brought about. 405 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:10,000 So when I receive Jesus, I am being adopted. 406 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,880 You are my son in your whom I love you are well in him. 407 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:19,240 I'm well pleased I become his child. 1 John 3 verse one those 408 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:22,560 that accepted Christ to them they have given the privilege to 409 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:26,120 be called children of God. So we receive the Holy Spirit 410 00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:27,520 then. So if you wonder if you've got 411 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:31,800 the Holy Spirit, just ask do you have you put your faith in 412 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:34,840 Jesus? If you say yes, I have put my 413 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,080 faith in Jesus. That's the only question I ask 414 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:41,200 Kyle, did you accept Jesus Christ as your only Lord and 415 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,720 Savior and never you put your faith in him And he said, yes, I 416 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,320 said we can baptize you. It's the only requirement, 417 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,120 friends, not how not do I live perfect? 418 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,400 Have I accepted Christ? If you put your faith in Jesus, 419 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:56,440 you have the Holy Spirit. That's firstly so we receive the 420 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:58,880 Holy Spirit then, but then there's also in filling of the 421 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:02,240 Holy Spirit, a fullness of the Holy Spirit and that there 422 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:05,440 friends is ongoing. It's not a once off event. 423 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:08,840 It's not the day I, I, I get baptized with the Holy Spirit 424 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:11,400 and speaking in tongues. You know, I was eight years old 425 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:13,560 when the Holy Spirit fooled me supernaturally. 426 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:17,320 I just started speaking in tongues supernaturally. 2 weeks 427 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:18,680 later, there's a little chocolate key. 428 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:22,480 I was sitting on a drum and, and my dad got some guys to work in 429 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:25,080 his garden. I sat on the drum and I preached 430 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:26,920 the gospel. I was, I've been brought up 431 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,800 Afrikaans, but I preached in English, believe it or not. 432 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:33,400 I don't know where I got the words from or very deliciously, 433 00:24:34,120 --> 00:24:43,320 but he thought I was so but, and I was sitting on this drum and I 434 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:45,240 gave an altar call because that's what you do. 435 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:51,440 So I have 20 guys working there, 1 old Gray man, great great aid 436 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:55,560 man, came forward, knelt in front of the drum and I prayed 437 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:57,240 with him. I don't know if he understood or 438 00:24:57,240 --> 00:25:01,040 didn't understand, I don't care. I just know he accepted Jesus 439 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,440 because they were peace. I just know that when the Holy 440 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:09,800 Spirit comes on your friends, you'll do things differently and 441 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,920 continue to be filled. But then along the way you get 442 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:16,200 burdened down again and then you meet with a guy like Steve and, 443 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:19,880 and, and Bernie Del Getty and he explains to you the Holy Spirit 444 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:23,200 again and you get filled up again and you speak about the 445 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:27,160 Spirit or you meet heart and Jeanette and they impart and, 446 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:28,840 and we build one another up friends. 447 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:30,240 That's what the Holy Spirit does. 448 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:36,480 So the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit, we, we, we get filled 449 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:41,320 ongoingly with the Holy Spirit. How how do I get filled with the 450 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:44,280 Spirit? Well, Jesus said he, we saw 451 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:47,960 Jesus prayed. So sometimes we just pray. 452 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:53,200 We saw Jesus said go and wait, don't leave Jerusalem. 453 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:55,320 Wait. Sometimes we just wait. 454 00:25:56,080 --> 00:26:00,200 And you know what we'll see now? Sometimes we just have faith 455 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:05,040 because Stephen and Barnabas was men of faith and full of the 456 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:07,760 Holy Spirit. Sometimes we just have faith. 457 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:11,960 You know, sometimes I'm in the gym and, and, and I just, I just 458 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:15,800 felt God, I need your presence. And I close my eyes, I run on 459 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:21,920 the treadmill and I just feel his peace and I feel his warmth. 460 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:24,480 And sometimes I speak in tongues. 461 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,040 Sometimes I'm driving, sometimes, you know, I'm in a 462 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:29,000 meeting and I didn't know which way to turn to. 463 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,400 And, and suddenly the Holy Spirit reminds me of a 464 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:33,360 scripture. Put courage in my heart, 465 00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:38,200 friends, not rocket science, not rocket science full of the Holy 466 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:39,240 Spirit. Just ask. 467 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:42,280 Sometimes pray, sometimes wait, sometimes sit, sometimes 468 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:44,960 devotion and sometimes just faith. 469 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:47,720 What's the art working of the Spirit? 470 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:50,360 And I'm, I'm closing with this. What's the art working of the 471 00:26:50,360 --> 00:26:53,000 Spirit? Well, Jesus was filled with joy 472 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:57,320 through the Holy Spirit. So he was known as a friend of 473 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:01,400 sinners, which is drunkards and tax collectors and everybody in 474 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,360 between. And, and you know what, when 475 00:27:04,360 --> 00:27:07,280 you, when you're visiting a drunkard, he's got a lot of joy. 476 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,480 Sometimes there's a lot of tears, but that comes later. 477 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:21,440 And yeah, so let's, let's stop there and squirrel and and and 478 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:25,760 and you know what they got their joy from temporary things. 479 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:29,600 You get your joy from money. You get your joy from alcohol. 480 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:31,200 You get your joy from earthly gifts. 481 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:33,360 You get your. But Jesus got his joy from the 482 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:37,400 Holy Spirit, lasting joy. Jesus could laugh louder than 483 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:41,600 glory. Dyer louder, louder. 484 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:47,360 No way. You know what, friends, I 485 00:27:47,360 --> 00:27:49,240 sometimes laugh, but I don't have joy. 486 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:55,800 Joy, true joy. It's not just laughter. 487 00:27:56,400 --> 00:28:01,040 It'll sustain you. The salvation, the joy of my 488 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:02,960 salvation. That's why we put on the helmet 489 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:06,000 of salvation, where the joy, Jesus was full of joy, the 490 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:08,840 disciples was full of joy. X13. 491 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,960 It gives us power. We have power to witness. 492 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:15,720 That's the artworking. And then there's a practical 493 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:21,880 issue, a very, very practical issue in, in X6, the widows were 494 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:25,040 overlooked and the people came to the apostles and say, listen, 495 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:28,840 our widows are being overlooked. And I can just see the, the 496 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:32,440 apostles just scuttering a little bit looking for my cell 497 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:34,080 phone. OK, MTN doesn't work. 498 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:37,480 Let's try Vodacom and and, and did they find the operation 499 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:40,880 managers that they find the logistic managers that they find 500 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:43,720 the warehouse managers or the procurement managers that they 501 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:47,360 find the chief operating officers to come and sort this 502 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,360 out? No they didn't. 503 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:53,360 They just picked 7 men full of the Holy Spirit. 504 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:59,520 The only place some of those names friends that's in in X6. 505 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,880 Go and read it. Some of those names is only 506 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:05,080 written there. You never read anywhere else of 507 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:07,680 them, only there. But all we know about them, they 508 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:09,160 were men full of the Holy Spirit. 509 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,520 Imagine, friend, in government we had seven men full of the 510 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:15,320 Holy Spirit. Imagine in our peace force we 511 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:17,000 had seven men full of the Holy Spirit. 512 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:20,320 Imagine in the classroom we had seven teachers full of the Holy 513 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,880 Spirit. In our churches, 7 ministers 514 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,920 full of the Holy Spirit, 7 life group leaders full of the Holy 515 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:27,480 Spirit. You know what, friends, will 516 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:31,440 change this world. There'll be no corruption. 517 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:34,240 There'll be no fraud. Why? 518 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:38,320 He's the spirit of truth. I tell you, he's the spirit of 519 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:42,520 truth. Barnabas was a man full of the 520 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:44,480 Holy Spirit. How do they know that? 521 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:47,400 When he came to the church, he was a man of encouragement. 522 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:50,240 That's what his name means, Son of encouragement. 523 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,480 You cannot encourage truly without the Holy Spirit, because 524 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:55,240 the Holy Spirit's our encouragement. 525 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:57,680 Full of the Holy Spirit. Encouragement. 526 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:02,320 Last example, Stephen prayed when he got stoned. 527 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:05,760 Bible says he was full of the Holy Spirit and he says, Father, 528 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:09,640 do not keep this sin against them. 529 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:12,760 Lord, don't count this sin against them. 530 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:15,520 The Holy Spirit helps us to forgive. 531 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:20,600 The Holy Spirit was the greatest gift that the Father and Jesus 532 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:23,920 could ever send us. The greatest gift that we could 533 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:26,720 probably share with one another at this time is the gift of 534 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,600 forgiveness. Let's just share the gift of 535 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:31,360 forgiveness. Why? 536 00:30:31,360 --> 00:30:33,400 Because Jesus forgave us, friends. 537 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:37,040 He forgave us. You know, we said it in the 538 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:40,000 past, but just for those who didn't hear it, when Stephen 539 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:44,560 prayed and said Lord, don't keep the sin against them, Saul was 540 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:46,120 there. He gave approval for Stephen 541 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:53,200 Stoning and Saul went from there to go and persecute the church. 542 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:58,080 And he met Christ radically and his name changed. 543 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:02,040 He became Paul. And when he accepted Jesus 544 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:04,200 Christ, the Lord and Savior, Lord who? 545 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:07,000 Who are you, Lord? He recognized him. 546 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:08,840 He accepted him when he came to faith. 547 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:11,520 Jesus did not keep his sin against him. 548 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:14,960 What did Stephen pray? Lord, don't keep the sin against 549 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:16,480 him. Who's praying for you? 550 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:20,080 And when you surrender to Christ, he won't keep your sin 551 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,520 against him. Some guys are praying, Lord, 552 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:26,200 don't keep the sin against him. And Jesus hears those prayers, 553 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:32,840 the gift of forgiveness. Friends at this time, be full of 554 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:37,440 the Holy Spirit and you'll remind us of the person of 555 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:43,160 Christmas, Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, Amen.