Participants: Sebastien Braxton
Series Code: 11GYC
Program Code: 11GYC000013
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00:13 Good morning GYC. Good morning.
00:16 Good morning GYC. Good morning. 00:19 I thought this was a generation of youth. 00:22 You guys sound tired. 00:25 I was praying this morning 00:31 and the idea came to me to send a text message 00:35 to my mother and father. 00:38 And I said mommy, daddy 00:40 I'm speaking 10:30 this morning 00:45 and if you want to tune in you can watch. 00:49 I don't think my father has ever seen me preach before. 00:53 About 30 minutes later, my father text to me back 00:56 and he said, I'll be there. 00:58 Amen. Then my mom called me backstage 01:04 and she gave me a little talking, 01:06 we'll get into that later in the sermon. 01:08 You know, how mothers are? 01:11 And she said I'm gonna be praying for you 01:15 and she will be watching. 01:17 And so there's nothing more peaceful than 01:20 knowing that your mom is praying for you, amen. 01:22 Amen. And so my parents are watching 01:25 I just want to say hello, good morning and I love you. 01:28 And I'm thankful for your prayers and support. 01:32 Also, want to extend my thanks to my wife as well. 01:36 I know she is praying for me too. 01:40 We are on the verge of a new day. 01:50 And this is what I like to title 01:52 my message this morning, 'A New Day.' 01:59 Did you guys see the GYC Europe video last night? 02:02 How many guys saw that? 02:05 Where you blessed by that? Yes. 02:06 Are you excited? Yes. 02:08 I cannot tell you, how excited I was when I saw that video. 02:14 Tears almost started coming to my eyes 02:17 and it reminded me of a statement 02:19 I read in the book Ministry of Healing 02:22 where the statement says, 02:24 "If we are not developing the active graces of the spirit 02:30 the latter rain will be poured out 02:32 and falling all around us and we'll not know." 02:37 For many of you, you had no idea, 02:40 what was going on in Europe until last night. 02:44 And the spirit I can tell you firsthand 02:46 is falling upon youth in Europe. 02:50 I can tell you firsthand, 02:55 the spirit is falling upon Africa. 02:59 The spirit is falling upon Asia. 03:03 The spirit is falling upon South America. 03:06 But the question of GYC is 03:08 what's happening in North America. 03:11 Is the spirit falling upon North America? 03:16 And in having this conference 03:18 entrusting with the council of the Spirit of Prophecy 03:22 if there could be a convocation 03:24 of all the churches of the earth. 03:27 The object of their united Christ should be 03:29 for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 03:31 Here we come near and far 66 countries 03:35 represented at this very conference, 03:40 gathered together for one prayer 03:44 and then we also announced our theme for next year. 03:46 Do you guys remember what that theme was? 03:49 "Acts, The Revolution Continues." 03:53 I was also excited about that theme as well. 03:57 But when you say, Acts, The Revolution Continues, 04:02 you can only continue something if it has already begun. 04:08 And in order to understand that 04:09 Acts was the beginning of the revolution 04:12 this conference is about studying 04:13 the beginning of that revolution. 04:16 And that every single person in this room, 04:20 every single person watching at home 04:22 or live streaming anywhere 04:23 around the world or around the country 04:26 is a person that is saying fill us Lord 04:29 just like you filled the disciples, 04:31 so that we can continue the revolution. 04:33 However, we are not asking for more of this thing, 04:37 because whatever Peter and Paul and James 04:41 and Phillip and Steven did, it didn't end the word. 04:48 And so the need of the Holy Spirit 04:50 is not so that we can do what Peter did, 04:53 but is to do more than Peter did. 04:55 It's to do more than Luther, more than Wesley, 04:59 more than Zwingli, more than Wycliffe, 05:02 more than translators who have put the Bible 05:04 in over 200 languages by the moving of the Holy Spirit. 05:12 A new day is upon us. 05:20 Let's pray. 05:23 Father in heaven, you know, 05:28 that this man is but dust in your sight. 05:36 But it is our prayer that you would 05:38 breathe upon in breathe of God. 05:41 That you would fill him with life 05:45 and that from this quite place of audience with God. 05:51 You would send him forth only to speak your words. 05:58 That he would be captive to the word of God 06:01 and into the Holy Spirit. 06:03 May that sweet, sweet spirit of Jesus be upon each soul. 06:10 Carrying the word of God to the life, 06:16 we know that, spirit can even reach those 06:17 who watch by television or by website. 06:22 Ignite something on this earth 06:26 that will bring about a new day. 06:29 This is our prayer and we trust 06:32 that you'll help us to be our experience. 06:35 For we ask in Jesus, amen. 06:40 There are certain situations in life, 06:45 where adding something always makes a difference, 06:49 sometimes makes a difference or never makes a difference. 06:54 For example, I like to use food its clear, 06:57 everyone resonates with it, so it's simple. 07:01 I don't like watermelon. 07:05 And when I was growing up, 07:06 you know, my family began to check my DNA, 07:08 are you really black? 07:11 You don't like watermelon? 07:13 And, you know, sometimes people would say 07:16 it wasn't ripe enough 07:17 or you didn't get the right kind of watermelon 07:20 or you need to add salt to the watermelon 07:22 or you need to add sugar. 07:23 It doesn't matter whatever you add to it, 07:26 it will never be the same. 07:28 Are you with me? 07:30 But also I had another experience 07:32 where this is gonna just deepen the issue. 07:34 I also grew up and I completely dislike collard greens. 07:41 Now my family, Thanksgiving dinner, 07:44 every year I committed to my mom 07:46 and if she is watching she knows this is true. 07:49 God is my witness. 07:50 I only ate collard greens once a year 07:53 on Thanksgiving just to please my mom. 07:57 But I hate them. 08:00 And it was interesting that years later 08:02 I went to a friends house for Thanksgiving 08:05 and while we were there, they were asking me, 08:06 oh, you know, we're going to have collard greens, 08:08 I know, you loved collard greens--oh, no, I don't. 08:13 And they say, well I think the reason is 08:15 because there is vinegar in the collard greens. 08:19 I said, vinegar, why would you put 08:20 vinegar in the collard greens? 08:21 So it's just a tradition, I suspect that's probably 08:24 why you don't like collard greens. 08:27 So she said I don't put vinegar in mine 08:29 you can taste it and if you don't like it 08:32 then so be you don't like collard greens. 08:34 So she cooked that part of collard greens, no vinegar. 08:38 I took one fork for GYC. 08:42 And I'm telling you it's the best flavor 08:43 I've ever had in my life. 08:46 There was nothing left in the pot after that. 08:48 I don't think I ate anything else except collard greens. 08:52 And I realized that if you add something, 08:55 if you take something away or sometimes it changes. 08:59 Watermelon it doesn't matter what you add to it for me, 09:02 it would never be the same. 09:04 For collard greens if you take out the vinegar 09:07 it's--its always gonna taste good to me. 09:10 But there's sometimes it changes things 09:14 and sometimes adding something does not. 09:18 And so in our prayer to be filled 09:21 with the Holy Spirit fill me earnestly. 09:24 I wanna go with you on a particular journey 09:27 this morning over three main topics 09:30 for those you've taken notes 09:31 and you like your stuff to be organized. 09:33 This is the lay of the land this is the trajectory. 09:36 This is kind of the sermonic cartography 09:39 of where we're going. 09:41 First of all we're gonna look at it's never the same. 09:45 It's never the same. 09:47 The second issue we look at is it's sometimes it's the same. 09:54 And thirdly we look at it's always the same. 09:59 So let's see if you got those. 10:00 The first one is what? It's never the same. 10:03 The second one is? Sometimes the same. 10:06 The third one is? Always the same. 10:09 Are you ready? Number one, 10:12 let's go to Acts Chapter 2 beginning in verse 1. 10:15 We're gonna be speeding through the Bible 10:17 and so you need you fingers very limber, 10:20 dexterous and ready to turn. 10:23 So if you have a phone you probably be left behind 10:26 Acts Chapter 2, beginning in verse 1. 10:29 When you're there you can say amen. Amen. 10:32 If you're not there say, have mercy. 10:36 Acts Chapter 2 beginning in verse 1, are you there. Amen. 10:39 Yes, the Bible says, this "When the day of Pentecost 10:43 had fully come they were all with one accord in one place. 10:48 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven 10:52 as of a rushing mighty wind. 10:54 And it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 10:58 Then there appeared to them divided tongues as a fire 11:02 and one sat upon each of them 11:04 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit 11:07 and began to speak with other tongue as the spirit did." 11:10 What? Gave utterance, 11:14 now I want you notice the elements 11:16 of this Pentecostal outpouring. 11:19 Number one, the day of Pentecost was fully come. 11:24 Number two, all of the church 11:26 was gathered into one place and was unified. 11:31 Number three, they heard the sound 11:34 as of a rushing mighty wind and fourthly 11:37 it divided among them tongues as of fire. 11:42 Now, oftentimes when we're talking about Pentecost 11:45 and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit we like lingo. 11:49 So we say things like, you know, 11:51 what do you praying for GYC, why you're excited. 11:53 I am hoping that when we get to Houston 11:55 the place is gonna be shaken, 11:57 there's gonna be a sound as of a rushing mighty wind. 11:59 Cloven tongues as of fire are gonna fall upon 12:02 the congregation in Houston. 12:08 And I wanna suggest to you there are certain elements 12:11 in this Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit 12:15 that are incidental 12:16 and there are certain elements that are essential. 12:20 So let me take you to the subsequent 12:23 outpourings of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts. 12:26 First of all let's go to Acts Chapter 4, Acts Chapter 4. 12:31 When you're there you can say, amen. Amen. 12:34 Acts Chapter 4, just a couple of chapters over. 12:37 The Bible says this in Acts Chapter 4, 12:39 the disciples where praying after persecution. 12:42 We're in verse 31, the Bible says 12:45 "For true when they had prayed, 12:48 the place where they were assembled together 12:51 was shaken, and they were." 12:53 How many filled? 12:54 "All filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God" 12:58 with what? "Boldness." 13:00 That's our theme text for this conference by the way. 13:03 It says when they had prayed. 13:05 Number one, in Acts Chapter 2, 13:07 when the disciples had the Holy Spirit come upon them. 13:10 The Bible says they were sitting. 13:12 They weren't praying. 13:14 Number two, the Bible says in verse 31 of Acts Chapter 4, 13:17 the place where they were assembled together was shaken. 13:21 What was the place? It was shaken. 13:24 Now, was the place shaken in Acts chapter 2, yes or no? 13:28 It's okay to talk to the preacher. 13:31 Was the place shaken in Acts Chapter 2? 13:33 No. It was not. 13:36 So we see they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, 13:39 but the elements of this outpouring were not the same. 13:43 Do you see that in the text yes or no. Yes. 13:45 Let's look at another one. Let's go to Acts Chapter 8. 13:49 Acts Chapter 8 and verse 14. 13:54 Are you there, say amen. Amen. 13:56 The Bible says "When the apostles 13:58 who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria 14:01 had received the word of God. 14:04 They sent Peter and John to them. 14:06 Who when they had come down prayed for them 14:09 that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 14:12 For as yet he had fallen upon, how many of them? 14:15 None of them, they had only been baptized 14:18 in the name of the Lord Jesus. 14:21 Then they laid hands on them 14:23 and they received the Holy Spirit." 14:26 I want you to notice here again. 14:28 Did you see anything shaking in this verse? Yes or no. 14:32 Did you hear a sound as of a rushing mighty wind? 14:34 Yes or no. No. 14:36 Did you see any divided tongues of fire? 14:38 Yes or no. No. 14:41 So now, we go to one more place in the Book of Acts, 14:44 just 2 Chapters over, Acts Chapter 10, 14:47 we look that this for our church service yesterday. 14:50 Acts Chapter 10, we're gonna be looking in verse 44. 14:57 Are you there, say amen. Amen. 14:59 All right, the Bible says this 15:01 "While Peter was still speaking these words 15:06 the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. 15:11 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished 15:15 as many as came with Peter 15:16 because the gift of the Holy Spirit 15:18 had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 15:22 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. 15:25 Then Peter answered can anyone forbid water 15:28 that these should not be baptized 15:30 who have received the Holy Spirit 15:32 just as we have. 15:34 And he commended them to be baptized 15:36 in the name of the Lord 15:37 then they asked him to stay a few days." 15:40 Now I want you to notice a huge difference here. 15:43 In Acts Chapter 2, we have 15:45 day of Pentecost has fully come. 15:47 Sound as of a rushing mighty wind. 15:49 Then we go forward and see the dividing cloven, 15:51 cloven tongues the fire lighting upon each of them. 15:55 Acts Chapter 4 the place is shaken. 15:57 Acts Chapter 8 there is nothing shaking, 16:00 no wind, no fire, we go to Acts chapter 10. 16:03 It's while the word is being preached 16:06 and then top of that we find that Cornelius 16:08 and his household received the Holy Spirit before baptism. 16:13 When in Acts Chapter 8 the Samaritans 16:16 had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 16:20 Every filling is not the same. In fact it's never the same. 16:28 So the question is, what are we looking for 16:30 in this conference to take place. 16:34 What are we expecting to happen in this auditorium 16:37 that when the Holy Spirit comes down, 16:41 does the place need to be shaken? 16:43 Does there need to be sound of a rushing might wind? 16:47 Does there need to be cloven tongues of fire 16:49 dividing upon every forehead in this auditorium? 16:51 Yes or no? No, I wanna suggest to you 16:54 that these elements of Pentecost 16:56 were incidental, not essential. 17:03 And let me share with you in each situation 17:06 what were those essential components 17:11 of every filling of the Holy Spirit. 17:17 Number one, I'm gonna give you three quick points 17:20 and then we got to rush on. 17:23 Number one, in every outpouring of the Holy Spirit 17:29 there was a acceptance and a reception 17:32 of the life and the ministry, 17:34 the death, the resurrection 17:36 and the placement of Jesus Christ. 17:39 That was accepted, it was received 17:41 and they were surrendered to that every single time. 17:45 You see Jesus was exalted as the only means of salvation. 17:49 Can you say, amen? Amen. 17:51 Is Jesus the only way, yes or no? Yes. 17:53 Is Jesus the only means out of sin, yes or no? Yes. 17:57 Yes and as Jesus was exalted, 17:59 as Jesus was put forth the multitude said 18:02 yes, we accept Christ. 18:05 And as they accepted Christ work 18:07 in his behalf in their behalf. 18:12 The next element we find is there's prayer every time. 18:17 Ellen White reminds us we need not expect revival 18:20 except in answer to prayer. 18:23 There is no way to experience revival without prayer. 18:27 No way to get the Holy Spirit unless we ask. 18:29 Jesus is very clear that our heavenly Father 18:35 is more willing to give us the Holy Spirit 18:39 than evil parents are to give good gifts to their children. 18:45 To give to those who ask Him. 18:50 Number three, 18:52 there was an entire surrender to Jesus. 18:59 It is unfortunate that sometimes in the church 19:03 we do not apply the test of discipleship 19:06 upon those for candidates for baptism 19:08 as much as we should. 19:11 You see we find ourselves arguing over doctrines 19:14 we have already accepted, 19:16 because people before they came in 19:18 were not fully surrendered to Jesus Christ. 19:22 So you see that the bottom line issue is 19:25 if every soul was committed to the life 19:28 and the teachings of Jesus, would be no argument, 19:31 because Christ words would settle it. 19:33 And in fact we are told once again for all intends 19:36 and purposes Jesus was a Seventh-day Adventist. Amen. 19:40 That's a weak amen. Amen. Amen. 19:44 For all intends and purposes every doctrine 19:47 we hold can be found in the gospels. Amen. 19:53 And yet in this sense we come 19:55 and we say man you know this person came in 19:57 and we baptized because you got information 20:00 but you haven't surrendered, is Jesus Lord is the question. 20:05 Before you come in Christ is the head of the church 20:09 and if we are not submitted to the head then what. 20:14 The test and this is also the line 20:20 before we can receive the spirit of God. 20:24 And I'm wondering in this auditorium 20:26 is Jesus really Lord. 20:31 Have we really submitted entirely to Christ? 20:36 It does not take an individual to have to come 20:39 all the way to Houston to find it. 20:41 I was reading right before I came to GYC. 20:44 She says our camp meetings will be more powerful 20:47 if our members found Jesus at home before they came. 20:53 But individuals come looking for Christ and praise God, 20:55 Jesus is preached, amen. 20:58 Not against that but how much more powerful 21:02 would it have been that everyone went 21:03 to this auditorium said, 21:04 I already found Christ in my living room. 21:07 I was already in my room bowing before the Lord, 21:10 saying Lord is there anything left that I haven't given. 21:14 It's yours, it's yours. 21:18 This is what heaven is waiting for, 21:20 that when that third coming happens 21:23 and the millennium is over she says 21:26 there is Christ exalted on his throne, 21:29 all the wicked, all the righteous 21:31 are standing there watching the seeds 21:32 of the crucifixion in panorama view. 21:37 And every knee will bow including Lucifer 21:42 and will say Christ is Lord. Amen. 21:50 We will say at one way or the other. 21:56 But if we want to be filled we have to always remember. 22:03 We must accept what Jesus has done. 22:06 We must pray and we must be completely surrendered. 22:10 You see when we say be filled with the Holy Spirit, 22:13 we think of a vessel, do we not. 22:16 We think of this bottle of water or this cup, 22:19 we want to put water and fill this cup. 22:22 And we are saying, Lord, fill my cup, 22:24 Lord fill this vessel, but you see its misleading. 22:28 Being filled with the Holy Spirit 22:29 is not so much about him coming into fill us 22:32 and so we can go forward. 22:34 It's about how much of the Holy Spirit has us? 22:38 Not much how much of the Holy Spirit do we have. 22:40 We don't have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God. 22:46 We don't possess Him, He possesses us. 22:49 And therefore we will have as much of the Holy Spirit 22:53 as much as he has of us. 22:55 Can you say amen? Amen. 22:58 This is the critical component. 23:01 Time is leaving me, I cannot linger. 23:04 Point number two, it's sometimes the same. 23:08 So we see that certain things are incidental, 23:11 certain things are essential, 23:12 but sometimes even though the Holy Spirit comes down, 23:16 things are the same. 23:18 I am gonna give you seven points. 23:21 Go to Acts Chapter 2, verse 41. 23:26 When you are there say, amen. Amen. 23:29 Acts Chapter 2 and verse 41, are you there? Amen. 23:36 The Bible says this. 23:38 "Then those who gladly received His word were baptized." 23:46 And that day about how many souls? 23:49 How many souls? 23:51 Come on GYC, I know you are excited 23:53 about the word of God, yes or no? Yes. 23:55 How many souls? 3000. Amen. 23:59 Three thousand souls were baptized. 24:00 But point number one, just because you are filled 24:03 with the spirit doesn't mean everyone will accept. 24:06 Three thousand were baptized, not all. 24:10 Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, yes or no? 24:13 Yes, were thousands brought in, yes or no? Yes. 24:16 Was that all? No. 24:18 You see some of us are coming here and saying, 24:20 Lord, I haven't felt power in my ministry. 24:23 I have a mother at home. I have a brother at home. 24:26 I have a classmate. 24:27 I have a professor, staunch into atheism, 24:29 in evolutionary biology. 24:31 Someone I am trying to reach at home, 24:33 someone I am trying to reach, maybe even in this auditorium. 24:39 I am trying to reach them Lord 24:40 and we think if we come here 24:41 and we get the feeling of the Holy Spirit 24:43 then now the person will accept the gospel. 24:46 But we see what Peter is preaching, 24:48 many came but not all. 24:51 And there is some things that is just the same. 24:54 It doesn't mean because you go home 24:56 and you witness to your brother, or your mother, 24:58 or your friend and they don't accept, 25:00 it doesn't mean you aren't filled with the spirit. 25:03 Are you following what I am saying? Amen. 25:05 We can easily go back and become discouraged, 25:08 yes or no? Amen. 25:09 We can easily go back and say am I really filled? 25:13 I was wrestling for a young man 25:15 just two nights ago in this conference 25:16 while you were listening to a message. 25:18 I was wrestling with a young soul. 25:21 Conversation after conversation, 25:23 word after word, phrase after phrase, 25:26 back and forth, back and forth and he still was resisting. 25:31 And at the end of the conversation, 25:32 I have to walk away and my heart was breaking inside 25:35 and I am thinking Lord, am I not filled? 25:39 Do I not have the spirit? 25:41 And the Bible is saying no Sebastian, 25:44 no brother and sister out there at GYC. 25:46 You can be filled and go home 25:48 and people would still not accept. 25:51 Christ was filled with the Holy Spirit, yes or no? Yes. 25:54 Did the rich young ruler walk away, yes or no? Yes. 25:59 To walk away from Jesus, who was filled? 26:06 Point number two, Acts Chapter 5. 26:11 Acts Chapter 5. 26:16 The Bible says, "But a certain man named Ananias, 26:20 with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 26:25 and he kept back part of the proceeds, 26:28 his wife also being aware of it, 26:31 and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 26:36 But Peter said 'Ananias, why has Satan," done what? 26:40 Why has Satan done what? 26:42 Filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit 26:49 and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 26:52 While it remained, was it not your own? 26:54 After it was sold, was it not in your own control? 26:58 Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? 27:01 You have not lied to men but to God.' 27:05 Then Ananias, hearing these words, 27:07 fell down and breathed his last. 27:10 So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 27:14 Did you know in the time of the spirit filled church, 27:17 there was still a need for fear at this particular time? 27:22 Point number two, being filled with the Holy Spirit 27:26 does not mean there is no hypocrisy. 27:29 There is going to be some individuals 27:31 like Ananias and Sapphira 27:33 who are gonna sense the feeling of the Holy Spirit, 27:35 who are gonna be moved like they are going to say 27:37 you know what, I am gonna sell all my possessions. 27:39 I am gonna sell it and bring it to the apostles' feet, 27:42 so that they can distribute it to those who have need. 27:45 But privately what was happening 27:47 in Ananias's home was completely different. 27:53 And Ellen White tells us, 27:54 "God dealt harshly to show his distaste for hypocrisy." 28:02 You see being filled with the Holy Spirit 28:05 does not mean that all of a sudden our community 28:08 we are gonna be completely authentic 100 percent 28:12 sold out Christians for Christ. 28:14 Ananias was still able to be filled by Satan 28:19 to conceive something in his heart 28:21 even though he felt the unction of the Holy Spirit. 28:24 And it's important that you and I recognize this. 28:26 This is the spirit filled church 28:28 encountering all these kind of issues. 28:33 And we are saying, Lord, how in the world, 28:34 this is the church that's filled with the Holy Spirit. 28:37 This is the church that received Pentecost. 28:39 The answer is, yes. 28:42 It is some things are still the same. 28:48 It sometimes just the same. 28:52 As before we added the Holy Spirit. 28:58 Point number three, quickly. 29:01 Acts Chapter 6, verse 1, we get internal issues. 29:08 The Bible says "Now in those days, 29:10 when the number of the disciples was multiplying, 29:12 there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, 29:17 because their widows were neglected 29:19 in the daily distribution. 29:21 Then the twelve summoned 29:22 the multitude of the disciples and said, 29:24 'It is not desirable that we should 29:27 leave the word of God and serve tables.'" 29:30 Number three, still internal issues 29:33 after the church was filled. 29:35 How in the world can you be filled 29:36 but you are neglecting people because they are Greek Jews. 29:40 It still happens. 29:42 And this is the church that was filled. 29:43 We saw Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit 29:46 still unwilling to go minister to Gentiles. 29:50 God had to give him a vision but he was filled. 29:56 It doesn't make a difference right away, 30:02 but if we continue to surrender to the Holy Spirit, 30:07 it will make a difference. 30:10 Are you still with me, yes or no. Yes. 30:16 I got to rush on. 30:19 You can write these things in your notes. 30:21 In Acts Chapter 10, we see that the spirit filled churches 30:25 as we said with Peter still had skewed understandings, 30:30 subject to culture. 30:34 Point number five, we see in Acts Chapter 12, 30:36 when Peter is released from prison, 30:38 and he is going and knocking at the gate 30:40 and a girl name Rhoda is there at the gate. 30:42 And she sees Peter and she is so surprised 30:45 because Peter was in jail 30:46 the church is praying for Peter. 30:47 Lord, please free this apostle. 30:50 Peter is at the door and they say 30:52 you're beside yourself. 30:54 So we see here we have the spirit filled church 30:56 still struggling with faith. 30:59 Here you are praying and you don't believe 31:01 that the apostle came out of jail. 31:05 But this was the church that was filled. 31:11 And in Acts 15, the spirit filled church 31:16 still needed to counsel together. 31:20 It is very dangerous when a person thinks 31:22 because I am filled with the Holy Spirit, 31:24 I have nothing left to learn. 31:26 That I don't need to counsel with my brethren 31:29 experience another voice. 31:32 Paul was filled, James was filled, 31:34 Peter was filled but in Acts 15, 31:37 when they had that counsel in Jerusalem they still, 31:40 all spirit filled said, we need to counsel together. 31:43 This is a spirit filled church. 31:45 But many of us think, 31:46 oh yeah once I get the Holy Spirit, 31:48 I am lead by the spirit. 31:49 I don't need to counsel with my brother, 31:51 I don't need to counsel with my sister. 31:53 Yes we do. Amen. 31:55 James, Peter, Paul, Barnabas 31:58 all filled with the Holy Spirit said, 32:00 we need to come together and counsel. 32:02 Ask God, what do we do with this matter? 32:09 Now, let's get to the good stuff. 32:13 Point number three, it's always the same. 32:19 The disciples before and after Pentecost. 32:25 I want to give you a few observations 32:26 as I go into these final points and the gospel 32:31 as we know that the disciples 32:32 were struggling with being obsessed 32:34 with Christ setting up in earthly kingdom 32:37 or heavenly kingdom. Earthly. 32:38 An earthly kingdom. 32:41 So you have the disciples are like 32:42 Lord, when you're going to set it up. 32:43 In Acts Chapter 1, let's turn there, 32:46 Acts Chapter 1, the Bible says, listen. 32:52 "As Christ commands them to wait 32:55 for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 32:58 In verse 6 of Acts Chapter 1, they said, 33:00 "Therefore when they had come together 33:02 they asked Him saying, 33:04 'Lord, will you at this time 33:07 restore the kingdom to Israel?'" 33:11 But after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, 33:13 does this ever come up again? 33:15 It does not in the book of Acts. 33:17 Never again do you find the disciple saying 33:19 we are trying to setup an earthly kingdom. 33:21 Number two, in the gospel, 33:23 we see the disciples cowardly and avoiding the cross. 33:28 And yet after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, 33:31 we see the disciples embracing suffering and persecution. 33:36 Before in the gospels 33:38 the disciples asked all the questions. 33:41 In the Book of Acts, 33:42 the disciples were answering them. 33:45 All you see is the disciples 33:46 Lord, what do you mean You manifest yourself to us 33:49 and not to the world, how is that possible? 33:52 Lord, why can I not follow you? 33:54 All you hear is the Lord with the question. 33:56 You go into the Book of Acts, 33:58 the disciples are answering them. 34:00 In the gospels, we see the disciples 34:02 struggling to pray, you're with Jesus 34:05 on the mountain transfiguration, 34:08 falling asleep. 34:11 And yet here we go in the Book of Acts, 34:13 we see the disciples have no problem with it. 34:16 Peter is on the rooftop taking his own personal time 34:21 and the church is always in prayer in the Book of Acts. 34:29 Now, let's deal with the specifics 34:33 as we head towards the finish line. 34:38 In Acts Chapter 2, 34:44 I am gonna go through these very quickly. 34:48 In Acts Chapter 2, the Bible says in verse 1, 34:52 "When the day of Pentecost had fully come, 34:56 they will all with one accord in one place." 35:01 Now you can't gather 35:02 all the church into one place anymore. 35:05 The closest thing you have is the general conference 35:07 and they're still not everyone in the church, 35:09 40 million or 70 million, whatever is the number is now. 35:14 So we can't get all in one physical place, 35:16 but the Bible does say, there was unity, 35:21 this is always the same. 35:23 In order for the spirit to be poured out, 35:25 there must be unity. 35:27 There must be what? Unity. Unity. 35:30 The Bible says they were all in one accord. 35:33 It's this Greek word that's often times 35:35 associated with music, harmonies, 35:38 yes you have different notes but strung together 35:40 they make a beautiful music. 35:41 Did you appreciate that music yesterday? 35:43 Yes, deeply blessed. 35:47 But he was saying like this orchestra concept 35:49 in Greek to say look all these things 35:51 in ten out of the twelve times 35:54 this word is used in the New Testament, 35:56 its in the Book of Acts. 35:59 That the spirit filled church was about unity. 36:01 You see, my father used to have this saying. 36:04 I am the oldest of seven children. 36:06 And my father used to say as he sat us down, 36:11 the strength of the wolf is the pack 36:15 and the strength of the pack is the wolf. 36:20 And he would sit us down and say listen 36:24 why is that a pack of wolves can eat. 36:26 Number one, the strength of the wolf is the pack. 36:28 A wolf by himself cannot catch anything. 36:31 He will run and run and run, 36:32 I don't know if you have seen that Planet Earth DVD 36:35 and you see the wolf chasing down the gazelle 36:37 just forever in the mountains. 36:39 And it says as long as though you know, 36:41 the little gazelle doesn't lose its footing, 36:43 the wolf will never catch it. 36:45 And so this is why wolves hunt alone, 36:48 I mean they don't hunt alone, sorry. 36:53 This is why wolves don't hunt alone, 36:56 because the wolf understands in a pack 36:58 we will almost always eat because we hunt together. 37:03 But at the same time, the strength of the pack 37:05 is the individual wolf because the one wolf decides 37:08 hey you know we are running along 37:10 and as the wolves are hunting hey we see it, 37:12 you go left, I go right, and the person 37:14 who goes right says he is running right to catch 37:17 just to make sure the deer doesn't come off 37:19 and he says, wow, look at that sunset. 37:24 And as the wolf pulls over, 37:25 looks at the sunset what happens? 37:27 The deer gets away. 37:28 How many of wolves starve? All of them. 37:32 Because the strength of the pack is the what? Wolf. 37:35 It's no different within the church. 37:38 You see, we have an individual responsibility 37:43 and this is why I love what Cameron was saying. 37:46 "Righteousness is not just about my purity, 37:48 it's easy to be holy in my room. 37:51 It's easy to be holy when I got my own diet 37:54 and I am cooking my own food. 37:55 It's different when you come to potluck, amen. 38:00 And here is the issue. 38:01 How do I live a righteous life with a community, 38:04 is a whole new level of righteousness. 38:07 And I want to tell you, 38:08 I am completely supportive of exhibits, 38:11 I am completely supportive of the ministries 38:13 that are going on, but one of my concerns, 38:16 one of my prayers and I believe Christ as well, 38:19 too much individually pushing our ministry. 38:22 You see at the day of Pentecost 38:24 it wasn't just the lower people 38:26 the layette that was praying, it was the leaders. 38:30 The individuals that were powerful, 38:32 you have a church to Paul, Apollos, Peter. 38:37 And can you imagine if you take Amazing Facts, 38:40 you take Light Bearers and Arise, 38:42 you take Life, you take Campus, 38:44 you take Strive, you take Mission College 38:47 and all these people come together 38:48 and are praying under one passion, 38:51 which is to see the Lord come. 38:53 No longer fighting over recruits. 38:55 no longer the term well, why should I go to Arise? 38:58 Why should I go to Campus? 38:59 Just go, get training. Amen. Amen. 39:06 And it's turned to this divine hour is commercial hour. 39:10 Something is happening its commercial hour. 39:13 When in reality, the church was unified. 39:15 I am happy if a young person goes to Arise 39:18 as an employee of Campus. 39:19 I am happy that a soul goes to AFCO. 39:22 I am happy that some one goes to Peace. 39:25 As long as that soul is saying Lord, you are with me. 39:29 If you are praying Lord, how can I do something 39:32 to hasten the second coming of Jesus, we are the same. 39:35 Amen. There should have been a stronger, amen. 39:38 Amen. And the question is what are we exhibiting in that room? 39:47 The church was unified. 39:51 And some of the hardest people 39:52 to get to work together are ministry leaders. 39:57 I'm speaking as a ministry leader. 39:59 We're opinionated, we're strong, 40:02 we know the Bible, we've read, we have studied, 40:04 we have our methodologies, we have our systems, 40:07 but we need to sit down and come together. 40:10 And say, listen, what can AFCO, 40:12 Light Bearers, Arise, Campus, 40:13 the Department of Youth, whatever 40:15 we all come to the table and say, 40:16 what can we do to move all these thousands of young people 40:21 to send them forth into meaningful action for Christ? 40:24 GYC, we need to be upon a new day, 40:30 not just a new year. 40:31 Yes, it's January 1st, 2012. 40:34 We don't need a new year, we need a new day. 40:39 A time where all the sudden 40:40 and people can look back and say, 40:41 you know, it was hard before, 40:44 but now all these ministries are coming together 40:46 to say under one purpose, we're not exalting any speaker, 40:50 we're not exalting any individual, 40:52 we're just exalting Christ, 40:53 we're just exalting His mission. 40:55 And I'm willing to follow any man, 40:57 any women who says I'm ready to see the Lord come. 41:01 I don't care if my budget is low. 41:03 We'll bring all material goods to the apostles' feet. 41:07 So, that each ministry has what they need. 41:14 Unity always was the same before the spirit came. 41:22 The spirit didn't produce unity, 41:25 it was there before he came. 41:29 And it doesn't just apply to ministries, 41:31 it applies to each of you and your local church. 41:35 It applies to each of you at your academies 41:37 or your colleges or your high schools. 41:39 We all have people we don't sit next to in church. 41:42 We all have individuals we don't like to talk to 41:45 or hangout with or that person is just weird and strange 41:48 or that girl just talks too much 41:50 or she smells funny or we've all these weird things 41:52 that we want to say about people, 41:54 as to why we're separated from them? 41:55 But does the person love Christ? 41:59 Have they surrendered to the Holy Spirit? 42:01 Do they want to see Jesus come? 42:03 Then we're the same. Amen. 42:05 Bible based and as long as we experience 42:11 that division it will never come. 42:15 It will never come. 42:17 We're doing our little thing 42:18 somewhere in some part of the world. 42:20 And we may do our thing in that part of the world. 42:24 But when we're willing to come and sit down 42:27 and say, you know what, I can put some opinions aside. 42:30 I can put some things aside, 42:35 that was essential it was always the same. 42:41 Number two, we see a sense of boldness. 42:46 Go to Acts Chapter 4, verse 13. 42:51 I've to hurry up to my conclusion. 42:54 Acts, Chapter 4 and verse 13, the Bible says now, 42:59 "When they saw the," What? 43:01 "The boldness of Peter and John and perceived 43:06 that they were uneducated and untrained men. 43:10 They marveled and they realized that they had been" What? 43:14 They had been with whom? "Jesus." 43:16 Now I want you to understand one of the elements 43:19 that always accompanies 43:20 the filling of the Holy Spirit is boldness. 43:22 What is it? Boldness, 43:24 you know, I remember a few years ago at GYC, 43:29 Justin was preaching and I was sitting in the audience 43:33 listening to Justin's opening address 43:35 and I remember as Justin was preaching 43:37 that's when 3ABN had cameras on the stage. 43:40 And camera kind of walked up on Justin he was really close 43:43 and while Justin was there in the middle of his speech 43:46 he was making a powerful point and he says can you backup. 43:51 And I remember thinking in my mind this brother is bold. 43:56 He just told a cameraman on camera on live, 43:59 can you just backup? 44:02 Now I wanna say this is that to me 44:05 that's the kind of boldness we need, that unashamedness. 44:08 Are you following what I am saying? 44:10 Now that's just a nice okay, kind of story 44:13 but we needed in reality. 44:15 Not just in times of hey that makes me 44:17 personally uncomfortable. 44:18 We need it because it makes Jesus uncomfortable. Amen. 44:21 Are you understanding what I am saying, yes or no. Yes. 44:26 Boldness. And notice what the Bible says. 44:30 It says when they saw the boldness of Peter and John. 44:35 And that they perceived that they were uneducated 44:39 and untrained men, they marveled 44:41 and they realized that they had been with Jesus. 44:44 You see are there're not certain attributes 44:47 that you can tell that someone has been 44:48 with someone else, yes or no? 44:51 You see as a preacher, I am always very sensitive 44:55 to other preachers and their idiosyncrasies. 44:57 And you know you can tell that certain preacher 45:00 that you know I love pastor Asscherick, 45:01 you know, the Lord used him to bring me into the church. 45:04 But you know he has mannerisms right. 45:06 You know, he likes to across the stage 45:10 where his hand kind of goes like this sometimes 45:12 when he's talking and he's so interesting 45:14 that I go somewhere else and I see someone preaching 45:16 and I see them doing what I see pastor Asscherick doing. 45:20 Or I like Mark Finley, one of my favorite preachers as well. 45:23 And sometimes, you know, that Finley 45:24 is preaching his leg kind of moves. 45:25 You've ever seen that before and he's kind of bouncing 45:28 and his leg is moving and I've seen somebody preach 45:31 and their leg was moving. 45:33 And you say when I see this person their leg is moving 45:36 or I see them you know walking across the stage 45:38 like pastor Asscherick I take note of them 45:40 that they have been with pastor Asscherick 45:43 or Mark Finley are you with me. 45:45 You see when they see boldness. They're saying listen. 45:51 We took note that these men must have been with Jesus 45:54 because of the boldness that they're speaking to us. 45:57 Are you understanding when they saw the boldness 46:01 he didn't say when they saw you know, 46:02 they speak so eloquently. 46:04 They're so kind. 46:06 You know, they're kind of these people 46:08 that are that are you know very patience 46:10 and all those things are associated with Christ 46:13 and I am not downing that. 46:14 But the Book of Acts highlights the fact 46:16 that what was needed in an environment 46:18 that was polemically against the gospel required boldness. 46:24 If people in this secular world can be bold, we can be bold. 46:28 I remember before I became a Christian 46:31 I get on the bus to go somewhere, 46:33 I am rocking my hip hop music super loud. 46:36 Not only is it super loud, I am also singing it out loud. 46:40 And you got to-- and do it on the bus 46:43 or you're driving up to a stoplight. 46:44 I know this has happened to you. 46:46 And you're waiting at the stoplight 46:48 and a car pulls up and his music is 46:49 so loud you rollup your windows 46:52 and you can still hear his music. 46:55 And it's shaking your whole car. 47:00 They're bold. So guess what I do. 47:02 When I walk up to the light he's bumping his music 47:05 I'll say okay let me put in my "How Great Thou Art." 47:09 And I turned it up, why can't we be bold? Amen. 47:15 Why can I get on the bus and sing Amazing grace. 47:18 How sweet the sound. Amen. 47:21 I am not ashamed. 47:23 And Peter, says, I've had an experience with Jesus 47:26 you can't keep me quite. 47:28 You can't make me stop singing hymns for God 47:30 because I'm on a bus. 47:32 Not saying being obnoxious. 47:35 I am not saying be overwhelming or steamrolling people. 47:37 Are you understanding? Amen. 47:38 Don't leave this conference to get on Delta Airlines 47:41 and start singing when the lady is 47:43 trying to do the security check. 47:46 Talking about I am bold. 47:48 No that's not we were talking about. 47:53 We're saying when you're ready for takeoff 47:55 and you're up in the air. 47:56 Put down your iPad games 47:57 put down iPhone games open up your Bible. Amen. 48:02 Why we're so afraid to just study our Bibles in the air. 48:08 Tell you a quick story. 48:10 Got on an airline and as I was flying 48:16 I get nervous just like you. 48:19 You don't know who's gonna sit next to you. 48:21 So, like, are they gonna be like 48:22 one of those super angry atheist people? 48:24 So, I take my Bible kind of put it next to my leg. 48:27 Then I talked to them first just to see were they are 48:29 before I bring out my Bible. 48:32 Yes, even preaches have moments. 48:34 So I'm sitting there and I'm like Lord, 48:37 what's wrong with me? 48:39 Sebastian why you're afraid? 48:42 Some say, you know, what I gonna pull my Bible out. 48:45 So I pull on my tray table crack my Bible open 48:47 and turn on the lamp and I'm there in the word. 48:50 The guy comes in he says excuse me he sits down 48:53 before you know and he looks on my Bible. 48:56 He says, oh so you're a Christian, 48:57 I say yes, he says you know, I was so, he said, 49:00 I am so impressed because I've never seen 49:03 a person stepped on the plane and be so comfortable 49:06 and unashamed with the fact 49:07 that they wanted to study the Bible. 49:10 Before you know, we were in our conversation with the fact 49:12 that his wife was divorcing him 49:14 because he got she got into some spiritualism 49:16 and her spiritual guide told him. 49:19 Hey, you know, it's that time 49:21 for you to divorce your husband. 49:23 He's like what, you listen to a spiritual guide, 49:25 we've been married for 20 years. 49:27 And she's into spirit and he says, Sebastian, 49:28 I don't know what to do? 49:30 The tears start coming in his eyes 49:31 and he says these women keep coming to me 49:33 on this business trips. 49:34 Saying hey, look I will be with you, I love you, 49:36 I'll wait for you to settle your divorce with your wife 49:39 and he says I love my wife, 49:40 I believe God can save my family. 49:42 Even his children said dad, 49:45 if you stay with mom you're a fool. 49:48 And he says but I wanna be faithful 49:49 to what I've vowed before God. 49:52 So we started studying how to deal with temptation. 49:55 How to deal with the fact that these are women are coming. 49:57 I say listen brother there has no temptation taking you 50:00 but such as common to man, amen. 50:03 It's not uncommon it's not unusual but God is faithful. 50:08 He's not gonna allow you to be tempted 50:10 above which you're able. 50:12 So the guy started getting encouraged 50:14 we started having prayer on the plane, 50:16 we're landing we're still praying. 50:19 And they're like ladies and gentlemen, 50:20 thank you for flying with us etcetera, etcetera. 50:22 He gives me his card and he says you have no idea 50:27 how much I needed this conversation. 50:29 All because I was willing to take out my Bible. 50:41 I have to end very, very soon. 50:50 Let me give you these very quickly. 50:56 We said boldness, we said power of their words. 51:03 Is the next one we see that 51:05 when Peter preached it cut to the heart. 51:09 The 15 years they had a great delight in prayer. 51:13 Number six, they had a passionate love for scripture. 51:17 Just type in the word 'word' 51:19 and look for it in the Book of Acts. 51:21 Every time the word is preached people are baptized. 51:25 This is what it's about, Bible based ministry. Amen. 51:28 You don't need any extra gimmicks, nothing else to add. 51:32 I love the words in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus 51:36 where he says no Abraham 51:38 if you send back Lazarus to my family 51:41 they will believe and he says no. 51:43 They have Moses 51:44 and the prophets led them hear them. 51:47 And that is the message of GYC. 51:50 Let the young people hear the word of God. 51:53 Take away--it doesn't take all the stuff 51:55 it doesn't take someone coming back from the dead. 51:57 Let them hear the word of God. Let them hear it preached. 52:00 Let them see in its clarity. 52:02 Let them see it in its Christ centeredness. 52:04 Let them see it in its prophetic significance. 52:09 Passionate love for scripture. 52:13 This is where I am going to end. 52:14 Acts Chapter 13. 52:22 Acts Chapter 13 52:29 beginning in verse 1, 52:36 Bible says "Now in the church that was at Antioch 52:40 there were certain prophets and teachers. 52:43 Barnabas and Simian who was called Niger, 52:47 Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up 52:51 with Herod the tetrarch and Saul. 52:53 And as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, 52:58 the Holy Spirit said now." When? 53:02 "Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul 53:06 for the work to which I had called them. 53:09 Then having fasted and prayed 53:11 and laid hands on them they sent them away. 53:14 Saul being sent out by the Holy Spirit. 53:17 They went down to Seleucia 53:19 and from there they sail to Cyprus." 53:21 The last point to make is when the Holy Spirit 53:24 is poured out the ministry extends into un-entered fields. 53:30 He says listen yes Peter has gone he visited Cornelius, 53:34 but I want you to separate me said the Holy Spirit. 53:39 Separate me Saul and Barnabas 53:41 that they may do the work that I called them to do. 53:45 And if there is one thing brothers and sisters 53:49 that definitely was happening 53:51 in the Book of Acts was an extension 53:53 of the work to other fields, to other parts of the world. 54:04 You see GYC, we are upon the edge of a new day. 54:13 We're upon the edge of a new day 54:18 of young people that have a passionate love for scripture. 54:23 We're upon the new day all over the world 54:26 who our young people will take a great delight in prayer. 54:30 We're upon a new day that young people say 54:32 look we're above unity. 54:34 We don't care about black and white conference. 54:36 We don't care about what country you're from, 54:38 we don't care--all we care about is, 54:40 do you love the word of God? 54:41 Do you love Jesus? 54:43 Do you wanna see Him come in your lifetime 54:45 and are you willing to die trying? 54:48 That's what this is about. 54:51 And we cannot be here another ten years. 54:54 We can't be coming back with cycling themes. 54:57 All yeah, we gonna change it around, 54:58 now fill me empty me Lord. 55:02 And I don't even say this to be funny, 55:05 because it will break my heart 55:07 if I've to walk in another convention centre 55:11 only to say, oh, we're celebrating 55:13 our 20th anniversary of GYC. 55:16 It is not a celebration. 55:20 Because it means these points 55:21 in the Books of Acts have been lost. 55:23 They were the ones who took the gospel to their known world 55:28 and it began with being filled with the Holy Spirit. 55:37 But the danger is that we will resist. 55:42 A new day GYC Europe, 55:46 a new day young people got to GYC by faith. 55:51 Drove down and colportered for money 55:54 to get to GYC to come by faith. 55:57 One tank of gas all the way from California 56:02 when young people allover the world 56:03 are starting movements in various countries. 56:07 When you have young people in even in Guam, 56:11 trying to raise money and creating videos 56:13 so that they can be at this conference. 56:15 What is it in a young persons heart who's 12, 13, 14 says, 56:19 I want $3000 to go to this conference 56:22 because I wanna be filled with a Holy Spirit. 56:25 Don't tell me God is not preparing the people. 56:28 The question is, are we a part of that? 56:32 You see it is time we dawn upon a new day 56:36 where people leave GYC and realize 56:38 the revolution continues in 2012 in Seattle 56:42 but it begins January 1st in Houston. Amen. 56:47 The world must know we're upon a new day. 56:50 No longer do we go back just to our local churches 56:52 praise God for Cameron's appeal last night. 56:55 We're not going back to our local churches 56:57 for more of the same. 56:58 Just to be fitting in the back 56:59 complaining about a boring sermon. 57:01 We're going back to say Lord we're gonna get involved. 57:04 This is Christ church and I am Christ 57:06 and I'll be involved. Amen. 57:08 That's why we're going back. 57:11 We're going back to say no, no, no, 57:12 the church is upon a new day in South America. 57:15 The church is on a new day in the Middle East. 57:18 The church is dawning upon a new day in Europe. 57:23 It's dawning upon a new day in Africa. 57:26 Where all the sudden no longer GYC 57:29 if I ask many of you, I said are you a part of GYC? 57:33 Many of you would say no. 57:34 That's Justin McNeilus, that's Amy Shepherd, 57:37 that's here Yamil Rosario, that's Natasha Nebblett. 57:40 And I'm telling you no, we need a new day. 57:42 GYC is a generation. It is not an income. 57:48 You don't attend GYC you are a part of it. 57:51 If you're generation that says look 57:53 when someone asks does there exists 57:56 an army of young people who desire to be rightly trained, 57:59 filled with a Holy Spirit to take the gospel 58:02 to all the world in this generation, 58:04 what is your answer? Yes. 58:06 If you're that generation then you are GYC. Amen. 58:10 Then you're the generation of Youth for Christ. 58:15 Success in any line demands a definite aim. 58:19 And he who would achieve true success in life 58:22 must keep his aims steadily in view. 58:25 And such an aim has been set before the youth of our day. 58:32 The heaven appointed purpose 58:35 of taking the gospel 58:37 to all the world in this generation. 58:41 It is the most noble aim 58:44 that can appeal to any human being. |
Revised 2014-12-17