Welcome to Faith
Chapel, I'm Dennis Smith,
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Pastor of the New
Haven, Connecticut,
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Seventh-day
Adventist Church. In First John
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we are told that those
ready to meet Jesus will
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be just like Jesus.
Is that your desire to be
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like Christ? Would you
like to have victory over
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every temptation
and sin in your life?
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Would you like to
have the power of God
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manifested through
you in your witness?
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Would you like to
have power and authority
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over Satan as Jesus said
that His followers would,
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if that's your
desire you definitely want
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to hear today's
message. Let us pray.
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Our gracious Father in heaven,
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I pray that you
would draw near as we open
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your word today. I
pray that you open our eyes
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and ears to hear
your word, you know just
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the blessing that we each need,
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and I pray Lord you
provide that blessing
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and I thank you for that
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promise in Jesus name, amen.
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What if you heard
that Jesus was going to be
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coming to your church
to spend 3 and half years.
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I'm sure that be a
rather exciting experience
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for every Christian.
Think of it, Jesus coming
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to your church to
minister in your community
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for 3 and half years
that what mean that every
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day you could go
and hear Jesus teach,
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you could sit at
the feet of Jesus.
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Also you would be
able to go out with Him
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and see Him minister
in your community and
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then besides that you
have opportunity to go out
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in the name of Jesus to
minister as well to others.
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I'm sure Christians
all of us would think that
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would be such a
wonderful experience,
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in fact if I could
just tell that experience
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I'm sure I would
become more like Jesus.
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Well, that very thing
happened 2000 years ago.
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Jesus came to this
earth and then He began
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a 3 and half year
ministry where he had called
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twelve disciples and
those disciples were very
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close to Jesus day
after day, in fact,
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there were three of
them that were especially
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close and sort of
the inner circle Peter,
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James and John,
those disciples would sit
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at the feet of Jesus.
They would hear the teaching
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of Jesus and they
could ask him afterwards
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what He meant at
times by his teaching.
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So they received
instruction directly from
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Jesus everyday,
also they went with Jesus
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on His missionary
journeys. They saw multitudes
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respond to the
ministry and teaching of Jesus.
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They saw Jesus healed the sick,
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cast out devils and
even raise the dead,
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and besides that
Jesus send them out in his
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name to preach the
gospel. And he saw men
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and women respond
to their preaching and
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teaching about
Jesus and they even in the
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name of Jesus were
able to heal the sick
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and cast out devils.
Well, you might think those
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disciples were
certainly ready to serve the
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Lord after that kind of
3 and half year ministry.
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Yet, on that
faithful Thursday night
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in the garden,
when the mob came,
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they all fled in
fear, and Peter who was one
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of the inner circle,
one of the ones that were
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closest to Jesus, who
made I say probably the most,
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some of the most
dramatic statements,
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affirmations of
his loyalty to Jesus.
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Peter, he lingered
outside the judgment hall for
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a while when they
took Jesus in for the mock
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trial as he was
standing and warming himself
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around the fire, a lady
came up to Him and said,
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certainly you're one of
those followers of Jesus,
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and Peter replied, I
don't know what you're
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talking about, surely
not me. I'm not one of those.
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A little later
some more time pass and
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a little later another
individual came and said,
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I know you must be one
of those followers of Jesus,
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and Peter said,
this time with an oath,
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I don't know the
man, and then it happened
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a third time. We
read of this incidence
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in Matthew chapter
26 verse 73, 74. And
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after a while came
unto him they that stood by,
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and said to Peter,
Surely you also are one of them;
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for your speech
betrays you. Then began he
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to curse and to swear saying,
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I know not the
man. And immediately the
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cock crew. Here we
see a third time Peter
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denying his Lord and
not only simply denying
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his Lord but denying
his Lord with a curse.
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How could such a thing
happen? Peter was weak.
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Peter had been
going on his own strength.
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This could have been
very, very discouraging
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for Jesus. He was at
the very end of His ministry
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and it could have
been discouraging thinking
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he knew he would be
crucified, resurrected,
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send back to the
father, and he personally
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would not be with him,
but Jesus knew something
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else was gonna
happen that would change
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things completely.
When we read in the book of
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Acts a few weeks
later we find that Peter and
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John are preaching
about Jesus and this time
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the authorities come
to them and they command
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them and threaten
them saying you must stop
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preaching about
Jesus. This time we find a
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different Peter
and a different John?
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They were changed men
and we read about this
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incidence in Acts
chapter 4 verse 18 to 20,
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"And they called
them, and commanded them not
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to speak at all nor
teach in the name of Jesus.
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But Peter and John
answered and said to them,
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whether it be right
in the sight of God to
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hearken unto you more
than to God judge you,
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for we cannot but
speak the things which
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we have seen and
heard." In this scripture we
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see that Peter and John
could not be intimidated,
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a few weeks before they
were easily intimidated,
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they were denying
their Lord. Peter was denying
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his Lord with a curse and oath.
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Now they stood the
ground what made the
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difference, only a few
weeks difference in time.
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What made the
difference in this men's life?
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Pentecost made the
difference. Before Jesus
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left he had commanded
his disciples to wait,
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he knew they were
not ready to go out and
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minister in his name.
He knew that they were
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still weak and they
needed something and that
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something was the
baptism of the Holy Spirit,
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and that's why
in Acts chapter 1,
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He had told the
disciples to wait, he said,
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you're not ready
yet, even though you have
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been with me for 3
and half years and even
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though you have
ministered in my name and you
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have even seen devils
cast out and the sick healed
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in my name you are
not ready to go forth
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and minister in
my name yet. He said,
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I want you to wait
and he said, I want you
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to wait because you
heard the promise of the
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Father that the Holy
Spirit would be poured out
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and you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit.
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Now the disciples knew
what that meant because
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Jesus says, you must
wait to receive the power.
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He said, after the Holy
Ghost has come upon you,
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you'll receive power
that's what they needed.
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Power to remain firm
and strong for the Lord,
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power for witnessing
and they knew what that
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meant, they knew the
waiting meant to wait
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and pray, and they
spent 10 days in prayer.
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They didn't quit
praying until they receive.
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They prayed one
day, two day, three days,
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they kept praying
and praying and claiming
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promise, committing
their life anew to Jesus,
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and at the end of the
10 day prayer meeting,
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the Holy Spirit was
poured out in power and
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these men and women
went forth from that upper
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room, no one
can intimidate them.
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The authorities
could threaten to cast them
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in prison, could even
threaten them with death
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and they would not back
down. They remained firm
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and strong and faithful
to the Lord because they
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were different men,
they were filled with the
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Holy Spirit. That
must be the same experience
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of those of us who live
in the last days because
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there will be
great intimidation, great
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intimidation as
God's people go through
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the great
crisis that lies ahead.
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Satan will do every
thing he can to discourage and
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to overwhelmed
and overcome them.
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He'll use temptations,
he'll use force, everything
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he can to get God's
people to back off and back
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down from completing
God's work that he's called
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them to do, and God's
people in these last days
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must be as spirit
filled as those disciples were
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on the day of
Pentecost, and that is why the
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baptism of the Holy
Spirit is essential,
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so important for those
living in the last days
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to be able to
finish God's work in power.
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Jesus is our example
in all things and we read
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about Jesus experience
concerning the Baptism
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of the Holy spirit. In
Luke chapter 3 verse 21
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and 22, we read of his
baptism, Now when all the
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people were baptized,
it came to pass that Jesus
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also being baptized,
and praying, the heaven was
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opened, and the
Holy Ghost descended
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in a bodily shape
like a dove upon him,
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and a voice came
from heaven, which said,
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Thou art my beloved Son;
in thee I'm well pleased.
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As we read the
scripture we find that when
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Jesus went to be
baptized in water He did
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something out when
He was being baptized
00:10:10.68\00:10:12.32
we are told in the
scripture He was praying,
00:10:12.92\00:10:14.45
what was He praying
for. The scripture tells us
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His prayer was
answered, the Holy Spirit was
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poured out from the
Father. He was baptized
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with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus knew that He must
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be baptized with the
Holy Spirit. He must be
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filled with Holy
Spirit. If He was to go forth
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and ministered in
the power of the spirit,
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to be victorious in
the power of the Spirit.
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The Holy Spirit was
necessary the infilling of
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the Holy Spirit was
necessary in life of Jesus
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for Him to be our example
and live as we are to live.
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It was necessary for
Him to be filled with the
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spirit in order to be
victorious over temptation
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because we read
in Matthew chapter 4
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verse 1 and 2, what
happened right after he was
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baptized in the
spirit, then was Jesus led up
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of the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted
00:11:00.00\00:11:02.12
of the devil. And when
he had fasted forty days
00:11:02.13\00:11:06.10
and forty nights, he
was afterward hungry.
00:11:06.11\00:11:09.26
Jesus was not ready for
these greatest temptations
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in His life He was
filled with the Holy Spirit but
00:11:14.34\00:11:18.01
after He was filled
with the Holy Spirit He could
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stand firm under any
temptation that came,
00:11:20.02\00:11:22.24
and Satan could
not take Him down.
00:11:23.53\00:11:24.74
He remained
faithful to his Father.
00:11:25.60\00:11:26.83
The same is
true with you and me.
00:11:27.99\00:11:29.26
We as Jesus need to
seek the Baptism of the
00:11:30.32\00:11:33.62
Holy Spirit just like
Jesus did. We must experience
00:11:33.63\00:11:38.27
that in front of the
spirit because if we don't
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we will not be
empowered to gain the greatest
00:11:41.40\00:11:44.63
victories over
the temptations, the
00:11:44.64\00:11:47.46
victories that we must
have if we're to become
00:11:47.47\00:11:49.58
just like Jesus because
those ready to meet Jesus
00:11:50.14\00:11:52.47
we're told we will be
just like Him. Also we find
00:11:52.48\00:11:57.26
with Jesus ministry, He
was filled with the Holy Spirit
00:11:57.27\00:12:00.58
we read about that
now when you look at
00:12:00.59\00:12:02.49
our Luke chapter 4 verse 14,
00:12:02.50\00:12:04.34
"And Jesus
returned in the power of the
00:12:06.62\00:12:08.40
Spirit into Galilee:
and there went out a fame
00:12:08.41\00:12:13.05
of him through all
the region round about."
00:12:13.06\00:12:15.49
We see after Jesus was
filled the Holy Spirit,
00:12:17.17\00:12:18.96
He faces greatest
temptations now He
00:12:20.36\00:12:22.94
came forth from that
experience empowered by
00:12:22.95\00:12:25.95
the Holy Spirit,
filled the Holy Spirit and His
00:12:25.96\00:12:29.16
ministry was a
powerful ministry and His fame
00:12:29.17\00:12:31.87
went out all
throughout the region.
00:12:31.88\00:12:33.15
A powerful
ministry under the power,
00:12:34.05\00:12:36.67
direction of the
Holy Spirit, and Jesus
00:12:37.88\00:12:41.46
in His first sermon
spoke about this anointed
00:12:41.47\00:12:45.51
ministry that He had
given in Luke chapter 4
00:12:45.52\00:12:48.87
verse 18 and 19, we
read what Jesus said,
00:12:48.88\00:12:51.22
"The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me, because
00:12:53.22\00:12:56.30
he has anointed me to
preach gospel to the poor;
00:12:56.31\00:12:59.66
he has sent me to
heal the brokenhearted,
00:13:00.83\00:13:03.40
to preach
deliverance to the captives,
00:13:04.30\00:13:06.76
and recovering of
sight to the blind,
00:13:06.77\00:13:09.77
to set at liberty
them that are bruised,
00:13:10.85\00:13:12.90
To preach the
acceptable year of the Lord."
00:13:13.99\00:13:16.20
We see in these words
of Jesus that He recognized
00:13:19.01\00:13:22.30
very clearly that in
order to do His ministry
00:13:22.31\00:13:25.63
He had to
experience the anointing.
00:13:26.61\00:13:28.08
The anointing was the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit,
00:13:29.47\00:13:31.30
and as a result of
being baptized by Holy Spirit,
00:13:32.85\00:13:34.80
He would have the
anointing power to go forth
00:13:35.34\00:13:37.19
and do what he said
he would in those verses,
00:13:37.20\00:13:39.17
to preach the gospel,
to set the captive free,
00:13:40.31\00:13:42.38
to bring deliverance
to those that are pressed.
00:13:42.89\00:13:44.46
Satan is on the
prowl, men and women are
00:13:46.30\00:13:50.59
captives of Satan and he
does not want let them go.
00:13:50.60\00:13:52.88
It was the same in
Christ day as it is today,
00:13:53.64\00:13:54.95
and Jesus realized
that He was filled with the
00:13:55.97\00:13:58.35
Holy Spirit, He
could minister in the power
00:13:58.36\00:14:00.09
of the Holy Spirit
and through the power the
00:14:00.10\00:14:02.52
Holy Spirit he would
be able to deliver men
00:14:02.53\00:14:05.74
and women who are
captives of Satan and
00:14:05.75\00:14:09.33
he did over and over
again in his ministry.
00:14:09.34\00:14:11.71
We certainly need the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:14:14.14\00:14:16.53
for this very,
very same reasons.
00:14:16.54\00:14:18.36
Jesus our example in
all things, and as He
00:14:19.70\00:14:24.03
needed that experience,
we need that experience,
00:14:24.04\00:14:26.33
we need the same
experience if we want
00:14:27.50\00:14:29.29
to have complete
victory over temptation and sin.
00:14:29.30\00:14:32.59
And let me tell you,
the crisis that's coming
00:14:34.08\00:14:36.32
is no easy difficult
time or crisis or tribulation
00:14:38.17\00:14:43.12
to get through. Satan
will put all the pressure
00:14:43.13\00:14:45.72
on that he can to get
God's children to give up
00:14:45.73\00:14:47.44
the faith. And as
Jesus was victorious through
00:14:47.45\00:14:51.62
being filled with
God's spirit, so we must also
00:14:51.63\00:14:54.77
have that same
experience if we're going
00:14:54.78\00:14:57.15
to make it through that
final crisis. Ellen White
00:14:57.16\00:15:00.41
in Desire of
Ages, page 173 makes the
00:15:00.42\00:15:03.17
statement of the
current showing this,
00:15:03.18\00:15:04.51
"when the Spirit of
God takes possession
00:15:05.52\00:15:07.54
of the heart, it
transforms the life.
00:15:07.55\00:15:10.63
Sinful thoughts are put away,
00:15:12.60\00:15:13.89
Evil deeds are
renounced; love, humility,
00:15:15.07\00:15:18.48
and peace take the place
of anger, envy, and strife.
00:15:19.25\00:15:24.68
Joy takes the
place of sadness, and the
00:15:26.27\00:15:29.12
countenance reflects
the light of heaven."
00:15:29.13\00:15:31.55
That's a very
beautiful statement isn't it?
00:15:33.86\00:15:35.50
And that tell us very
clearly the experience
00:15:36.37\00:15:37.97
that God wants us
to have, to have the
00:15:37.98\00:15:41.42
peace of heaven in
our heart. We need the
00:15:41.43\00:15:46.38
Baptism of the Holy
Spirit to become just
00:15:46.39\00:15:47.83
like Jesus to have
his character, just like
00:15:47.84\00:15:50.89
Ellen White
described in that statement and
00:15:50.90\00:15:54.34
we find in Second
Corinthians chapter 3
00:15:54.35\00:15:56.38
verse 3, another statement
from scripture on this,
00:15:56.39\00:15:59.10
"for as much as ye
are manifestly declared
00:16:00.07\00:16:02.72
to be the epistle of
Christ, ministered by us,
00:16:02.73\00:16:05.83
written not with
ink, but with the Spirit
00:16:06.42\00:16:08.91
of the living God; not
in tables of stones but
00:16:08.92\00:16:13.33
in the fleshy
tables of the heart."
00:16:13.34\00:16:15.37
You see the new
covenant promise is to write
00:16:17.13\00:16:18.87
God's law on our
heart and the way that takes
00:16:18.88\00:16:22.71
place according
to what we just read.
00:16:22.72\00:16:24.57
That takes place by the
power of the Holy Spirit
00:16:26.29\00:16:28.30
and I find it
interesting when you compare the
00:16:29.13\00:16:32.47
writing of the Ten
Commandments on stone
00:16:32.48\00:16:34.47
with the writing in
the commandments on our
00:16:35.29\00:16:36.49
heart it's very similar
because we know that the
00:16:36.50\00:16:39.41
commandments were
written on stone by
00:16:39.42\00:16:40.94
the finger of God and
if you compare a couple
00:16:40.95\00:16:43.43
of scriptures in the
gospel where Jesus says,
00:16:43.44\00:16:45.58
I with the finger of
God cast out the devil and
00:16:45.59\00:16:48.49
a parallel scriptures
says I will the spirit of God
00:16:48.50\00:16:51.14
cast out the devil
that indicates that really
00:16:51.15\00:16:54.60
the finger of God and
the spirit of God referring
00:16:54.61\00:16:56.46
to the same thing.
And so, when God wrote
00:16:56.47\00:16:59.10
the Ten Commandments
on the tables of stone
00:16:59.72\00:17:01.06
it was really the Holy
Spirit during that writing
00:17:01.84\00:17:03.31
and the same is
today that as we receive
00:17:03.85\00:17:06.13
the baptism of the
Holy Spirit, God began
00:17:06.14\00:17:08.30
writing his Ten
Commandment law on our
00:17:08.31\00:17:10.97
heart by the
Holy Spirit. You see,
00:17:10.98\00:17:14.08
the Ten Commandments
is a transcript of God's
00:17:14.68\00:17:16.82
character. Jesus
came to reveal the glory,
00:17:16.83\00:17:20.89
the character of the
Father and that is how
00:17:20.90\00:17:23.65
we become like
Jesus that we are filled
00:17:23.66\00:17:25.41
with the Holy Spirit
and God begins writing
00:17:25.42\00:17:28.03
his law on our heart
and we begin developing
00:17:28.04\00:17:30.60
the character of Jesus Christ.
00:17:30.61\00:17:32.84
And one thing I
want to make clear here
00:17:33.78\00:17:34.96
sometimes as
Christian we confuse our will,
00:17:34.97\00:17:38.25
giving our will to
God versus will power.
00:17:38.26\00:17:40.38
We often thing well
I have got to use my
00:17:41.77\00:17:44.21
will power to be
victorious over temptation.
00:17:44.22\00:17:47.02
We don't have the power in us,
00:17:48.00\00:17:49.40
in fact in John
chapter 1, we are told that
00:17:50.32\00:17:52.76
as many are to
receive Jesus, God gave them
00:17:52.77\00:17:55.55
the power to
become the Sons of God.
00:17:55.56\00:17:57.40
So when we accept
Jesus and then accept and
00:17:58.22\00:18:02.18
receive the infilling
of Holy Spirit that's where
00:18:02.19\00:18:03.93
we receive the
power. You see it's God that
00:18:03.94\00:18:07.13
comes into our life
and gives us the power
00:18:07.14\00:18:08.82
to change we simply
say Lord change me and
00:18:08.83\00:18:11.64
then we corporate
with God by simply choosing
00:18:11.65\00:18:14.11
to let Him come into
our life and change us.
00:18:15.01\00:18:18.07
If there's a
temptation we choose to let God
00:18:18.08\00:18:20.94
give us the power to
be victorious over that
00:18:20.95\00:18:24.28
temptation. We look
to God for the victory
00:18:24.29\00:18:26.79
it's not a matter
of strong will power,
00:18:27.33\00:18:29.08
some may think it is but
I tell you this I learned
00:18:30.22\00:18:32.84
through experience
those that struggle with
00:18:32.85\00:18:34.54
strong will power
they maybe to a degree
00:18:34.55\00:18:36.52
get some victories but
not in the long run and
00:18:36.53\00:18:39.12
not the great
victories. There is only one way
00:18:39.13\00:18:41.44
to have the true
victory in Jesus Christ is to
00:18:41.45\00:18:44.15
receive the power of
God through the Holy Spirit,
00:18:44.16\00:18:47.20
and so God wants
to write those laws on
00:18:48.94\00:18:50.78
our heart and the
character of Jesus that
00:18:50.79\00:18:54.54
character of Jesus
in the New Testament is
00:18:54.55\00:18:56.79
also called the
fruit of the spirit.
00:18:56.80\00:18:58.20
We read about that
in Galatians chapter
00:18:59.56\00:19:00.94
5 verse 22 and 23,
"But the fruit of the spirit
00:19:00.95\00:19:05.94
is love, joy, peace,
long suffering, gentleness,
00:19:06.71\00:19:12.13
goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance,
00:19:12.86\00:19:16.78
against such there is no law."
00:19:17.76\00:19:19.76
As we allow the Holy
Spirit to write the law
00:19:21.59\00:19:23.87
of God in our heart, we
start becoming like Jesus,
00:19:23.88\00:19:27.03
we start of
obeying God from the heart,
00:19:27.04\00:19:28.70
internal motivation
to obey not just the
00:19:28.71\00:19:31.84
external because
the law says, obey.
00:19:31.85\00:19:33.47
We start wanting
to obey from within,
00:19:34.10\00:19:36.09
a deep desire in our
heart and so God begins
00:19:37.19\00:19:39.76
putting with in us
what we just read here
00:19:39.77\00:19:41.94
in Galatians the
fruit of the spirit,
00:19:41.95\00:19:43.83
it's a singular fruit.
All of them are available
00:19:43.84\00:19:47.56
to us and when he
begins with the fruit
00:19:47.57\00:19:50.46
of love that's
where we have the primary
00:19:50.47\00:19:53.12
fruit because if we
have love we will have
00:19:53.13\00:19:57.25
joy and we will
have peace and the rest.
00:19:57.26\00:20:00.34
So the key to
becoming like Jesus is to allow
00:20:01.01\00:20:06.55
the Holy Spirit to
bring the fruit of the spirit
00:20:06.56\00:20:09.14
in our life and
this fruit again is not
00:20:09.15\00:20:12.48
something we
conjure up, we can't make
00:20:12.49\00:20:14.21
ourselves joyful,
we can't make ourselves
00:20:14.22\00:20:16.87
at peace because
if you recall in the
00:20:16.88\00:20:19.78
gospel Jesus said,
my joy I give to you,
00:20:19.79\00:20:23.28
my peace I give
to you. In Romans 5,
00:20:24.17\00:20:28.04
it says the love
of God is shed abroad
00:20:28.05\00:20:30.35
in our hearts
by the Holy Spirit.
00:20:30.36\00:20:32.23
So it is the love,
the joy, the peace,
00:20:32.24\00:20:35.89
the faith and the
rest of the list the fruit
00:20:35.90\00:20:39.45
of the spirit of
Jesus because it's Jesus
00:20:39.46\00:20:42.52
living in us,
manifesting those fruit
00:20:42.53\00:20:45.02
of the spirit, and
Satan would do everything
00:20:45.03\00:20:48.03
he can to take you
down on this matter
00:20:48.04\00:20:50.15
because He would
try to take your joy,
00:20:50.16\00:20:52.21
and what he's after
there is your strength
00:20:54.09\00:20:56.08
because the Bible
says, the joy of the Lord is
00:20:56.09\00:20:58.52
my strength and so if
we try going on our own joy
00:20:58.53\00:21:02.52
and own inner
strength we can do it,
00:21:02.53\00:21:05.58
and we will go
down but if we seek
00:21:05.59\00:21:07.80
the daily infilling
of God's Holy Spirit
00:21:07.81\00:21:09.81
the fruit of the
spirit will contain to be
00:21:09.82\00:21:11.06
manifest and it
is a growing process,
00:21:11.07\00:21:13.46
we'll become
stronger and stronger
00:21:13.47\00:21:15.16
in the Lord and
the fruit of the spirit
00:21:15.17\00:21:18.05
become more and more
manifest in our life.
00:21:18.06\00:21:20.40
I like the way
Ellen White states
00:21:21.77\00:21:24.00
what happens
within us as Christians,
00:21:24.01\00:21:25.96
as we're filled
with God's spirit
00:21:25.97\00:21:27.40
in Desire of Ages, page 668,
00:21:27.41\00:21:29.74
"All true obedience
come from the heart.
00:21:30.67\00:21:34.56
It was heart work with Christ.
00:21:35.44\00:21:37.26
And if we consent, He
will so identify Himself
00:21:38.55\00:21:42.22
with our thoughts
and aims, so blend our
00:21:42.23\00:21:45.58
hearts and minds into
conformity to His will,
00:21:45.59\00:21:50.23
that when
obeying Him we shall be
00:21:50.24\00:21:53.29
but carrying out
our own impulses.
00:21:53.30\00:21:55.95
The will,
refined and sanctified,
00:21:57.28\00:21:59.32
will find it's
highest delight in doing
00:21:59.33\00:22:01.91
His service. When we know God,
00:22:01.92\00:22:04.72
as it is our
privilege to known Him,
00:22:04.73\00:22:07.46
our life will be a
life of continual obedience,
00:22:08.19\00:22:11.32
Through an
appreciation of the character of
00:22:12.34\00:22:14.54
Christ, through
communion with God,
00:22:14.55\00:22:17.33
sin will become hateful to us,
00:22:17.34\00:22:19.63
How clear that is.
"Through the baptism of
00:22:20.41\00:22:24.52
the Holy Spirit
we will experience
00:22:24.53\00:22:27.43
that inner change
and our life will be a,
00:22:27.44\00:22:29.62
become a life of
continual obedience to
00:22:29.63\00:22:31.55
God. And it's a
progress of experience."
00:22:31.56\00:22:34.14
In Second
Corinthians chapter 3 verse 18,
00:22:34.15\00:22:37.08
we read what Paul
says along these lines,
00:22:37.09\00:22:38.79
"But we all, with
open face beholding
00:22:38.80\00:22:42.30
as in a glass the
glory of the Lord are changed
00:22:42.31\00:22:45.87
into the same image
from glory to glory,
00:22:45.88\00:22:48.73
even as by the
Spirit of the Lord."
00:22:48.74\00:22:52.13
So I want to make
it very clear to you,
00:22:53.07\00:22:54.92
don't get discouraged
if you find that you're
00:22:54.93\00:22:56.89
not immediately change
into the image of Jesus
00:22:56.90\00:22:59.80
and having
victory after victory.
00:22:59.81\00:23:01.56
It is a growing
process, remember we are
00:23:01.57\00:23:03.89
coming out of the
Laodicea condition.
00:23:03.90\00:23:05.63
God is calling us
out, and I like to look
00:23:05.64\00:23:08.29
at it this way,
it's like a big glass of
00:23:08.30\00:23:10.13
water here and let's
say there's rocks in it
00:23:10.14\00:23:12.91
and the water
represents the Holy Spirit.
00:23:12.92\00:23:15.23
When we seek the baptism of the
00:23:16.06\00:23:17.73
Holy Spirit, the
Holy Spirit does come in
00:23:17.74\00:23:19.57
and what the Holy
Spirit starts doing
00:23:19.58\00:23:21.83
and lets let these
rocks represent self stuff
00:23:21.84\00:23:24.19
that's in our life
that needs to get out.
00:23:24.20\00:23:25.57
The Holy Spirit
begins moving in our life
00:23:25.58\00:23:27.74
and taking those rocks out.
00:23:27.75\00:23:28.90
He moves into
this room in our life
00:23:28.91\00:23:31.25
and that room in our
life and as the rocks
00:23:31.26\00:23:33.14
come out, as more and
more self is overcome,
00:23:33.15\00:23:35.66
more of the
spirit comes into fill,
00:23:35.67\00:23:38.05
so it is a process.
It's a growing process
00:23:38.06\00:23:40.99
and that's why it's
so urgent that we respond
00:23:41.00\00:23:44.14
to the call of God
today to be filled with
00:23:44.15\00:23:45.93
his Holy Spirit
because it's necessary for us
00:23:45.94\00:23:49.35
to begin that
process, so we can grow into
00:23:49.36\00:23:52.53
the fullness of
Jesus. So we'll be ready
00:23:52.54\00:23:55.51
for the final crisis
and Christ second coming.
00:23:55.52\00:23:58.96
In First John chapter 3 verse 2,
00:24:00.89\00:24:03.31
this verse again
describes those ready to
00:24:03.32\00:24:05.81
meet Jesus.
"Beloved, now are we the Sons
00:24:05.82\00:24:10.73
of God, and it
does not yet appear
00:24:10.74\00:24:13.20
what we shall
be, but we know that
00:24:13.21\00:24:15.69
when he shall appear,
we should be like him;
00:24:15.70\00:24:18.44
for we shall see him as he is."
00:24:18.45\00:24:21.53
That's the call to
become just like Jesus.
00:24:23.26\00:24:26.14
We are to receive
the character of Jesus,
00:24:28.64\00:24:30.96
we are to receive
the same power Jesus
00:24:31.87\00:24:33.77
received for
witnessing, we are to receive
00:24:33.78\00:24:37.30
power to defeat Satan
just like Jesus received
00:24:37.31\00:24:40.57
that power. In
fact, in John chapter 14
00:24:40.58\00:24:43.19
verse 12, Jesus told
us about the minister
00:24:43.20\00:24:45.88
we are do, he
said, "Verily, verily,
00:24:45.89\00:24:47.28
I say to you, He
that believes on me,
00:24:47.29\00:24:50.20
the works that I
do he shall do also;
00:24:50.21\00:24:52.75
and greater works
than these because
00:24:52.76\00:24:55.54
than I do
because I go the Father."
00:24:55.55\00:24:57.88
Here we see very
clearly Jesus says,
00:24:59.28\00:25:01.47
we were in order do
the works he did because
00:25:01.48\00:25:04.62
he went to the
Father, what that had to do
00:25:04.63\00:25:06.12
with it because when
he went to the Father,
00:25:06.13\00:25:07.98
the Holy Spirit be
poured out and made
00:25:07.99\00:25:10.03
available to us, and
we are to do the same
00:25:10.04\00:25:12.19
ministry he did. And
over in Luke chapter 10
00:25:12.20\00:25:15.71
verse 17, we read,
"And the seventy returned
00:25:15.72\00:25:20.32
again with joy,
saying, Lord, even the devils
00:25:20.33\00:25:22.55
are subject to us
through you name."
00:25:22.56\00:25:24.56
The seventy were so
excited when they saw
00:25:26.63\00:25:29.39
in the name of
Jesus, he thought they had
00:25:29.40\00:25:31.69
over Satan and
Jesus clarified even more
00:25:31.70\00:25:34.79
clearly the
authority they would have in
00:25:34.80\00:25:36.53
Jesus. We read
about that, in verse 19
00:25:36.54\00:25:39.39
of the same
chapter, "Behold, I give unto
00:25:39.40\00:25:42.00
you power to tread on
serpents and scorpions,
00:25:42.01\00:25:44.42
and over all the
power of the enemy,
00:25:44.43\00:25:46.38
and nothing shall
by any means hurt you."
00:25:46.39\00:25:48.58
In this scripture we
see the Jesus is saying
00:25:49.51\00:25:52.34
very clearly that the
disciples in the name of
00:25:52.35\00:25:54.86
Jesus would have
power over Satan.
00:25:54.87\00:25:56.40
I used to think that
it was more or less God
00:25:56.41\00:25:59.08
and the devil and
me. I knew God was over
00:25:59.09\00:26:01.79
the devil but the
devil seemed to have a
00:26:01.80\00:26:03.06
lot of power in
my life but what I've
00:26:03.07\00:26:05.43
discovered
through the baptism of the
00:26:05.44\00:26:06.60
Holy Spirit and
understand the authority
00:26:06.61\00:26:08.26
we have in
Jesus, that it is God,
00:26:08.27\00:26:10.32
me and the devil. It
is God, you and the devil.
00:26:10.33\00:26:13.78
The devil is under
you when you're in Jesus.
00:26:13.79\00:26:15.84
Because Jesus says, I
give you power to tread
00:26:15.85\00:26:18.59
on serpents and scorpions.
00:26:18.60\00:26:19.73
How many times you
might feel you're being
00:26:19.74\00:26:21.67
run over by the
devil. You don't have to be
00:26:21.68\00:26:23.87
if you are
filled with God's spirit
00:26:23.88\00:26:25.90
and you understand the
principles in God's word
00:26:25.91\00:26:30.77
of how to be free.
That is God's desire for you
00:26:30.78\00:26:34.91
and me, and I
have seen, you know
00:26:34.92\00:26:37.35
there was a time
when I doubted the power
00:26:37.36\00:26:40.01
of the God's power,
I never told anybody
00:26:40.02\00:26:42.01
I was a Pastor
but I didn't see it.
00:26:42.02\00:26:43.85
I know it was
supposed to be there
00:26:43.86\00:26:45.47
but I didn't see
it. But praise God
00:26:45.48\00:26:48.15
I can tell you, I've seen it.
00:26:48.16\00:26:50.03
I've seen men and
women who have accepted
00:26:51.06\00:26:53.78
Jesus and who were
shrugging their life,
00:26:53.79\00:26:55.82
able to be free
from the oppressions
00:26:55.83\00:26:58.74
of the enemy in their
life. God wants to free
00:26:58.75\00:27:01.81
you and me from
every oppression, attack,
00:27:01.82\00:27:05.46
temptation of Satan in our life.
00:27:05.47\00:27:08.13
He wants to free
us from addictions,
00:27:08.14\00:27:10.01
from any and every stronghold
00:27:10.02\00:27:11.78
that's within us,
and through the baptism
00:27:11.79\00:27:14.24
of the Holy Spirit
that freedom can begin.
00:27:14.25\00:27:17.03
It can begin in no other way.
00:27:17.04\00:27:18.95
It is only
through the baptism of the
00:27:18.96\00:27:20.81
Holy Spirit that we
truly become like Jesus,
00:27:20.82\00:27:24.10
empowered as Jesus
was to overcome all
00:27:24.11\00:27:28.52
temptations,
empowered like Jesus
00:27:28.53\00:27:30.95
was to minister unto
the anointing of the spirit
00:27:30.96\00:27:34.72
to lead men and
women to accept Jesus.
00:27:34.73\00:27:36.85
Empowered to
become just like Jesus.
00:27:36.86\00:27:40.99
That is why God's
given that call today
00:27:41.00\00:27:43.90
to come out of
Laodicea, be filled with
00:27:43.91\00:27:48.84
the spirit
become just like Jesus,
00:27:48.85\00:27:51.04
and I pray you
will accept that call
00:27:51.05\00:27:53.38
that God is
giving to you this day.
00:27:53.39\00:27:55.40