[Ominous Music ]
[explosion sound]
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They call them
nature's mightiest forces.
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Powerful, violent, beautiful.
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[loud rushing wind sound]
From Vesuvius to Krakatoa,
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from Mt. Pelee in
Martinique in the Caribbean
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to Mt. St. Helens,
these maverick mountains
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have altered the
shape of the earth.
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They have made a
mockery of human achievement
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and they have disrupted,
without warning, the predictable
00:00:37.03\00:00:41.53
patterns of normal life.
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[Ominous Music]
Perhaps the 1883 eruption
00:00:44.43\00:00:52.26
of Krakatoa, a small,
volcanic island in Indonesia,
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between Java and
Sumatra, is the most famous
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of them all.
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Or perhaps that's Mt. Vesuvius
and its destruction of the roman
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city of Pompeii
in the year 79 AD.
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The force of Krakatoa's eruption
is estimated to have equaled
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that of 30 hydrogen bombs.
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The explosion was
heard 3,000 miles away
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in Madagascar.
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Tidal waves over 100 feet
tall devastated nearby islands
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and raced thousands of
miles across neighboring oceans.
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Islands more than 100 miles
away were hit by fiery boulders
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weighing 50 pounds or more.
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The cloud of ash deposited
by the eruption in the earth's
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atmosphere was seen in
cities throughout the world
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and did not
disappear for many months.
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[Ominous Music] Human
devices of various sorts
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have at times been found capable
of stopping or at least slowing
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the forces of nature.
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Man-made levies can at times
stall or mitigate the impact
00:02:06.20\00:02:09.76
of floods.
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Sea walls can blunt
the impact of a Tsunami.
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Storm shelters can offer
a measure of protection from
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hurricanes or tornadoes.
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But nothing has ever been found
capable of stopping a lava flow
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or impeding an ash
cloud from a volcano.
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In places like
Hawaii, even military bombs
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have been used to halt or
redirect the flow of magma
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during a volcanic
eruption, but to no avail.
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I am in Costa Rica, a
Central American country
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with a population of more
than 4 million, wedged between
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Nicaragua and Panama.
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Costa Rica is beautiful.
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It is known for its rain forests
and its amazing biodiversity.
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Costa Rica draws bird watchers
from all over the world.
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Even though Costa Rica is
smaller than West Virginia,
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it has more bird
species than the United States
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and Canada combined.
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But Costa Rica sits on
the Pacific Ring of Fire.
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The area circling the Pacific
Ocean characterized by seismic
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activity and volcanoes.
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If you start in New
Zealand and work your way up,
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you will see that there is
a continuous ring of volcanoes
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that goes up from New
Zealand to Papua New Guinea,
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then on to Indonesia
through the Philippines
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to Japan, on to
Russia and down from Alaska
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through the West
Coast of both Canada
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and the United States
and into Central America.
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And the Volcano Express makes
a stop right here in Costa Rica.
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There are six volcanoes in
Costa Rica which have erupted
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in the last 70 years.
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Poas Volcano National Park
is only 30 miles from San Jose,
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Costa Rica's capital.
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It erupted just a few years ago
and still gives evidence that it
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can't be entirely
trusted and anyone who has seen
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a volcano erupt knows just how
powerful these things can be.
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The eruption of Mt. St. Helens
in Washington State in 1981
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was 1600 times more powerful
than the atomic bomb dropped
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on Hiroshima in WWII.
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Fifty-seven people were killed.
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Hundreds of square miles of land
were devastated and the mountain
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lost 1300 feet in height.
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Now that's powerful.
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But it isn't the most
powerful force you'll ever
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have to deal with.
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There is something much
more powerful than a volcano.
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Perhaps there's no better
illustration than a volcano
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[volcano breathing and
huffing] of the agenda-altering,
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life-transforming
impact [volcano spitting]
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of the power of
God's Holy Spirit.
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Today we are going to consider
the extent and the potential
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of Holy Spirit power.
00:05:05.00\00:05:06.46
[Intro Music]
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It has stood the test of
time, God's book, the Bible,
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still relevant in
today's complex world.
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It Is Written,
sharing hope around the globe.
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Thanks for joining me
today on It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw and I
am at the Aranal volcano,
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one of Costa
Rica's many volcanoes
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and until recently,
a very active volcano.
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Very early in the
Bible we read about the power
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of the Holy Spirit.
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In the creation
story, Genesis 1:2,
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the Bible says, "And the Spirit
of the Lord moved upon the face
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of the waters."
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The Old Testament
narrative talks often about
00:06:11.70\00:06:14.20
the Holy Spirit.
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Samson, the
strongest man who ever lived.
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King Saul, Israel's first King.
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Both of these men received
the power of the Holy Spirit
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at pivotal times in their lives.
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David, who was rent with anguish
over his sin with Bathsheba,
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plead with God in Psalm 51.
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This is what he said: "Cast
me not away from thy presence
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and take not thy
Holy Spirit from me."
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And here is what Isaiah quoted
by Jesus of Nazareth in Luke 4:
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"The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me because he has anointed me
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to preach good
tidings unto the meek.
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He has sent me to bind up
the brokenhearted, to proclaim
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liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison
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to them that are bound."
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The Old Testament speaks
not only about the existence
00:07:01.76\00:07:04.63
of the Holy Spirit,
but also about the power
00:07:04.63\00:07:07.96
of the Holy Spirit.
00:07:07.96\00:07:09.76
So, it is rather
remarkable that when we get over
00:07:09.76\00:07:12.06
to the New Testament,
and we find Paul speaking
00:07:12.06\00:07:15.03
to certain believers at Ephesus,
that he had this exchange.
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He asked them whether they
had received the Holy Spirit
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and they responded to
him in Acts 19:2 by saying,
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"We have not even heard
that there is a Holy Spirit."
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Incredibly, they had somehow
missed this very important
00:07:31.20\00:07:34.76
biblical teaching.
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Now when we look through
the Bible, we discover that
00:07:36.70\00:07:39.53
the work of the Holy
Spirit has at least four
00:07:39.53\00:07:42.23
distinct functions.
00:07:42.23\00:07:44.30
One is guiding into truth.
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Jesus spoke of this in
John 16:13, when he said
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"howbeit when He, the Spirit
of Truth is coming, He will
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guide you into all truth."
00:07:55.96\00:07:58.90
This means that in order
for the Holy Spirit to change
00:07:58.90\00:08:01.70
us we must first
see our true condition
00:08:01.70\00:08:05.63
and the Bible makes it clear
that the Holy Spirit helps us
00:08:05.63\00:08:09.06
to understand our true condition
through the law of God.
00:08:09.06\00:08:13.03
Paul said in
Romans 3:20, "By the law
00:08:13.03\00:08:16.76
is the knowledge of sin."
00:08:16.76\00:08:18.66
And Galatians 3:24 says,
"the law was our schoolmaster
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to bring us to Christ that
we might be justified by faith.
00:08:23.03\00:08:28.10
The Spirit of God helps us
to see what we are really like
00:08:28.10\00:08:31.73
in relation to
the holiness of God.
00:08:31.73\00:08:35.20
Another work of the Holy Spirit
is to bring conviction of sin
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and righteousness.
00:08:38.93\00:08:41.13
Jesus was speaking in John
16:8 when he said that the Holy
00:08:41.13\00:08:45.26
Spirit would reprove the world
of sin and of righteousness
00:08:45.26\00:08:50.86
and of judgment.
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You see, it's not enough
for us just to be convinced
00:08:52.60\00:08:55.50
of what is truth.
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What God wants is for his
people to be convicted of their
00:08:56.60\00:09:00.76
need to grow in the
grace of God and that too
00:09:00.76\00:09:04.96
is the work of the Holy Spirit.
00:09:04.96\00:09:07.00
The Holy Spirit provide
us with power for obedience.
00:09:07.00\00:09:11.53
Once we have accepted
the conviction brought by
00:09:11.53\00:09:14.76
the Holy Spirit
regarding the need for change
00:09:14.76\00:09:17.63
in our lives, the Holy
Spirit gives us the ability
00:09:17.63\00:09:21.43
to obey God.
00:09:21.43\00:09:23.43
Now, the man with a drinking
problem probably knows that he
00:09:23.43\00:09:26.43
has a drinking problem.
00:09:26.43\00:09:27.86
Knowledge is not his problem.
00:09:27.86\00:09:29.86
But, his problem is:
Where does he find the strength,
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the ability to be able
to put down the bottle.
00:09:33.36\00:09:36.23
Most people who lose
their temper know they
00:09:36.23\00:09:38.50
shouldn't lose their temper.
00:09:38.50\00:09:40.03
This is not a
question of knowledge.
00:09:40.03\00:09:42.03
The question is how does
one find the power to break
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that cycle of
frustration and eruption?
00:09:46.16\00:09:49.90
This is where the Holy
Spirit's power comes in.
00:09:49.90\00:09:53.03
Now this is Paul, writing to
the church in Rome, "For what
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the law could not do in that
it was weak through the flesh,
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God, sending his own son in
the likeness of sinful flesh
00:10:00.40\00:10:04.30
and for sin condemned
sin in the flesh, that
00:10:04.30\00:10:08.33
the
righteousness of the law might
00:10:08.33\00:10:10.33
be fulfilled in us who
walk not after the flesh,
00:10:10.33\00:10:14.60
but after the Spirit."
00:10:14.60\00:10:15.60
Romans 8:3, 4.
00:10:15.60\00:10:16.96
Paul says this
later in the same chapter.
00:10:16.96\00:10:19.26
"For if ye live after
the flesh, ye shall die.
00:10:19.26\00:10:23.03
But if ye through the Spirit do
mortify the deeds of the body,
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ye shall live." Romans 8:13.
00:10:26.66\00:10:29.70
I want you to notice this.
00:10:29.70\00:10:31.93
The Bible promises you that
you don't need to stay stuck in
00:10:31.93\00:10:36.60
the sin that breaks your
heart and causes guilt and shame
00:10:36.60\00:10:40.23
and causes pain to others.
00:10:40.23\00:10:43.40
God promises you the Holy
Spirit so that the righteousness
00:10:43.40\00:10:47.50
of God can be
fulfilled in your life.
00:10:47.50\00:10:51.40
It's through the Holy
Spirit's power that the works
00:10:51.40\00:10:54.76
of the flesh are set aside.
00:10:54.76\00:10:57.60
Tragically, a lot of people
go their entire lives without
00:10:57.60\00:11:01.43
learning this profound
spiritual truth and that is
00:11:01.43\00:11:05.40
the Holy Spirit has the
ability to give a person
00:11:05.40\00:11:08.53
the power over themselves.
00:11:08.53\00:11:11.26
I never how clear this
came to me one day when a friend
00:11:11.26\00:11:14.03
of mine said, "John, I have
learned that the Holy Spirit
00:11:14.03\00:11:18.13
is more powerful than self."
00:11:18.13\00:11:21.03
That realization absolutely
changed that man's life.
00:11:21.03\00:11:25.16
You see, a person with a
dirty mind might not realize
00:11:25.16\00:11:28.46
but the Holy Spirit has
the ability to take that life
00:11:28.46\00:11:31.46
and remake that mind so
that from this moment on,
00:11:31.46\00:11:35.33
it's habitually pure and clean.
00:11:35.33\00:11:39.16
Another work of the Holy
Spirit is to give us power
00:11:39.16\00:11:42.46
for witnessing.
00:11:42.46\00:11:43.46
It is important
for us to understand.
00:11:43.46\00:11:46.36
In fact, it is
vital for us to understand
00:11:46.36\00:11:48.90
that the ability to share
Jesus with others comes to us
00:11:48.90\00:11:52.60
through the Holy Spirit.
00:11:52.60\00:11:55.13
Now, this is what the
Bible says in Acts 2:1.
00:11:55.13\00:11:58.40
It's the Jewish
feast of Pentecost.
00:11:58.40\00:12:01.03
The Bible says, "And
when the Day of Pentecost
00:12:01.03\00:12:04.06
was fully come, they
(that's the believers) were all
00:12:04.06\00:12:07.73
with one accord in one place.
00:12:07.73\00:12:11.56
Jesus had prayed for this kind
of unity among his followers
00:12:11.56\00:12:14.63
prior to his
suffering and death.
00:12:14.63\00:12:17.23
In John 17, we read these
words: "That they all may be one
00:12:17.23\00:12:23.43
as Thou Father art
in me and I in Thee.
00:12:23.43\00:12:27.20
That they also may be one in us.
00:12:27.20\00:12:30.86
That the world may
believe that Thou has sent me."
00:12:30.86\00:12:36.20
But notice something.
00:12:36.20\00:12:37.66
Before Jesus had prayed
for unity, he said this.
00:12:37.66\00:12:42.40
"Sanctify them
through thy truth.
00:12:42.40\00:12:44.83
Thy word is truth.
00:12:44.83\00:12:47.23
And for their sakes, I sanctify
myself that they also might be
00:12:47.23\00:12:52.30
sanctified through the truth.
00:12:52.30\00:12:54.23
In other words, sanctification
through God's word of truth
00:12:54.23\00:12:58.66
is necessary before
true Christian unity
00:12:58.66\00:13:02.26
can take place.
00:13:02.26\00:13:03.93
You see, Jesus did not
die simply so that we could be
00:13:03.93\00:13:06.86
forgiven of our sins,
as important as that is.
00:13:06.86\00:13:10.30
In addition to forgiveness,
Jesus died so that we
00:13:10.30\00:13:13.96
could be changed.
00:13:13.96\00:13:16.00
He didn't die so we could stay
stuck in our sins, but so we
00:13:16.00\00:13:19.76
could experience
transformation through the power
00:13:19.76\00:13:23.50
of the Holy Spirit.
00:13:23.50\00:13:24.60
Now that's power.
00:13:24.60\00:13:25.76
It's a kind of a power that many
people have never experienced.
00:13:25.76\00:13:30.10
It's the sort of power
that far too many people
00:13:30.10\00:13:33.23
can't even imagine.
00:13:33.23\00:13:35.06
Jesus, through the Holy
Spirit accomplishes this work
00:13:35.06\00:13:38.70
in the lives of those
who believe in him and when
00:13:38.70\00:13:42.16
this work is done,
we'll see the type of mass
00:13:42.16\00:13:44.93
conversion that was
experienced at Pentecost.
00:13:44.93\00:13:48.66
Peter made it clear in the Book
of Acts that powerful witnessing
00:13:48.66\00:13:52.20
is given to those who
have received the Holy Spirit
00:13:52.20\00:13:55.43
for obedience and we are
his witnesses of these things
00:13:55.43\00:13:59.90
and so is the Holy Ghost
whom God hath given to them
00:13:59.90\00:14:03.66
that obey him.
00:14:03.66\00:14:05.40
It's a liberating Biblical
truth that when God gives
00:14:05.40\00:14:09.00
the gift of the Holy
Spirit, the Spirit of God brings
00:14:09.00\00:14:12.56
transformational power
into the life of a believer.
00:14:12.56\00:14:17.30
I'll be back with
more in just a moment.
00:14:17.30\00:14:20.30
In Matthew 4:4 the Word of God
says, "It is written, man shall
00:14:21.86\00:14:25.93
not live by bread alone but
by every word that proceeds from
00:14:25.93\00:14:30.03
the mouth of God.
00:14:30.03\00:14:30.96
Every Word is a one minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:14:30.96\00:14:34.60
presented by pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:14:34.60\00:14:38.26
especially for
busy people like you.
00:14:38.26\00:14:39.93
Look for Every Word on selected
networks or watch it on-line
00:14:39.93\00:14:43.33
everyday on our
website, itiswritten.com.
00:14:43.33\00:14:47.30
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:14:47.30\00:14:49.13
Watch Every Word.
00:14:49.13\00:14:50.56
You'll be glad you did.
00:14:50.56\00:14:52.13
Here's a sample.
00:14:52.13\00:14:54.76
[Music] It's easy to trust God
00:14:57.00\00:15:04.13
when it's a nice warm day
and all is well and you find
00:15:04.13\00:15:06.46
a parking place right
where you want one and people
00:15:06.46\00:15:09.03
are smiling...
00:15:09.03\00:15:10.03
But when things
are falling apart...?
00:15:10.03\00:15:12.10
Then it can be different.
00:15:12.10\00:15:13.73
What happens when a tornado
not only destroys a town,
00:15:13.73\00:15:16.20
but it destroys YOUR town?
00:15:16.20\00:15:18.00
Or YOUR home?
00:15:18.00\00:15:19.16
Tragedy
'usually' strikes others.
00:15:19.16\00:15:21.80
What happens if it strikes you?
00:15:21.80\00:15:24.33
Even the children of the most
faithful believers get cancer,
00:15:24.33\00:15:26.96
even faithful
believers get Alzheimer's.
00:15:26.96\00:15:29.83
Job was faithful and he
suffered terribly, but he was
00:15:29.83\00:15:32.70
able to say in Job
13:15, "Though He slay me,
00:15:32.70\00:15:37.33
yet will I trust Him."
00:15:37.33\00:15:38.83
There's the key.
00:15:38.83\00:15:39.83
There's no question God exists
and that He is good and loving.
00:15:39.83\00:15:42.66
But we don't always understand
what He permits, or why.
00:15:42.66\00:15:45.46
But if you can TRUST Him
today, He'll get you through
00:15:45.46\00:15:48.33
life's dark times.
00:15:48.33\00:15:50.50
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:15:50.50\00:15:52.50
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:15:52.50\00:15:55.83
It is written is
dedicated to sharing the gospel
00:15:55.83\00:15:58.40
around the world.
00:15:58.40\00:15:59.53
To discover more about
It Is Written, I invite you
00:15:59.53\00:16:02.03
to visit our
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00:16:02.03\00:16:04.56
and browse the dozens of
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00:16:04.56\00:16:08.03
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00:16:08.03\00:16:09.03
Let's get to know
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00:16:09.03\00:16:11.26
Visit our website:
itiswritten.com today.
00:16:11.26\00:16:14.36
Thanks for joining me
today on It Is Written.
00:16:16.93\00:16:19.20
Today, the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:16:19.20\00:16:22.30
I'd like to take a
moment to consider with you
00:16:22.30\00:16:24.36
what the Holy Spirit
did in the lives of Jesus'
00:16:24.36\00:16:28.10
disciples.
00:16:28.10\00:16:29.10
It's a remarkable story.
00:16:29.10\00:16:31.13
This once motley band of
tax collectors and fishermen
00:16:31.13\00:16:35.83
and malcontents, many of
them from less than savory
00:16:35.83\00:16:39.50
backgrounds, they
gather together in a small room
00:16:39.50\00:16:42.93
up above
Jerusalem's crowded streets.
00:16:42.93\00:16:46.06
Just a few days have
passed since their Lord
00:16:46.06\00:16:48.53
was taken to heaven.
00:16:48.53\00:16:50.10
Just a few weeks have passed
since they were in that same
00:16:50.10\00:16:53.56
place eating with
Jesus just before he died.
00:16:53.56\00:16:57.70
But what a difference
those few weeks have made.
00:16:57.70\00:17:01.33
What a difference between those
who are leaders now and those
00:17:01.33\00:17:05.00
who wanted to be leaders then.
00:17:05.00\00:17:07.90
Now 11 of the 12 looked just
the same as they looked those
00:17:07.90\00:17:11.26
few weeks ago but their joy
and their tone and their spirit
00:17:11.26\00:17:17.43
are radically different.
00:17:17.43\00:17:19.46
The strife for position,
the craving for authority
00:17:19.46\00:17:23.26
and revenge and the suspicion
of each other's motives
00:17:23.26\00:17:26.50
are all gone.
00:17:26.50\00:17:28.70
In the place of
discontent and power grabbing,
00:17:28.70\00:17:31.63
there is
heartfelt confession of sin.
00:17:31.63\00:17:34.43
Songs of praise and testimonies
of deliverance are now heard.
00:17:34.43\00:17:39.50
You see, the prayer
of their master for their
00:17:39.50\00:17:41.90
sanctification has been answered
and what could have done this?
00:17:41.90\00:17:47.16
What could have brought
about this kind of change
00:17:47.16\00:17:49.60
in transformation
of the disciples lives?
00:17:49.60\00:17:52.16
Just one thing: The
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:17:52.16\00:17:55.90
Acts 2:2 says, "and suddenly
there came a sound from heaven
00:17:55.90\00:18:00.70
as of a rushing, mighty
wind and it filled all the house
00:18:00.70\00:18:04.60
where they were sitting.
00:18:04.60\00:18:06.43
And we know the
rest of the story.
00:18:06.43\00:18:08.43
Apart from the bodily
resurrection of Jesus,
00:18:08.43\00:18:10.73
what happens next is the
most glorious narrative in the
00:18:10.73\00:18:14.93
history of the Christian church.
00:18:14.93\00:18:16.93
Thousands were
converted in a day.
00:18:16.93\00:18:19.63
Miracles were wrought.
00:18:19.63\00:18:21.06
Generous gifts were
brought into the treasury.
00:18:21.06\00:18:23.30
The needs of the
less fortunate were met.
00:18:23.30\00:18:26.93
And the world has
never been the same since.
00:18:26.93\00:18:30.06
[Music]
00:18:30.06\00:18:32.30
The Holy Spirit brings a
revival into a person's life
00:18:55.00\00:18:58.93
that produces dramatic,
radical change in that person's
00:18:58.93\00:19:03.80
thinking and even lifestyle.
00:19:03.80\00:19:06.03
Yes, it can be
difficult for a human heart
00:19:06.03\00:19:09.13
to give up or let go of
long, cherished sins and ideas.
00:19:09.13\00:19:13.63
Old habits really do die hard.
00:19:13.63\00:19:15.93
But this is what the Holy Spirit
can do in a person's life.
00:19:15.93\00:19:20.03
Now, it's good, very good,
that the Holy Spirit produces
00:19:20.03\00:19:23.36
passionate worship
and growing churches.
00:19:23.36\00:19:26.16
But even better is
that the Holy Spirit focuses
00:19:26.16\00:19:30.30
the attention of a believer
in Jesus onto the Word of God.
00:19:30.30\00:19:34.80
It brings conviction and
victory and that is real power,
00:19:34.80\00:19:40.83
more powerful than the
volcanoes of Costa Rica.
00:19:40.83\00:19:48.96
The Holy Spirit of the Bible
takes robber, like John Bunyan,
00:19:48.96\00:19:53.16
and turns him into a
passionate communicator
00:19:53.16\00:19:55.36
of the Redemption Story.
00:19:55.36\00:19:57.26
The Holy Spirit takes a cruel
slave trader like John Newton
00:19:57.26\00:20:01.26
and transforms him into
an advocate for human justice
00:20:01.26\00:20:04.20
and the abolition
of the slave trade.
00:20:04.20\00:20:06.86
Whenever a smoker is
given the power by God to break
00:20:06.86\00:20:11.06
that habit, whenever an
addict is set free from whatever
00:20:11.06\00:20:14.43
it is that binds him or her,
whenever a racist is given love
00:20:14.43\00:20:19.83
for those he or she
used to despise, it's then
00:20:19.83\00:20:22.93
that we see the power
of the Holy Spirit at work.
00:20:22.93\00:20:25.86
The Bible isn't like
so many other ancient
00:20:25.86\00:20:29.70
historical accounts.
00:20:29.70\00:20:30.63
The Bible tells us
about the faults of some of
00:20:30.63\00:20:34.43
the heroes of the Bible.
00:20:34.43\00:20:35.53
In fact, it tells us about some
of their most grievous mistakes.
00:20:35.53\00:20:39.56
It talks about Moses and
how Moses, raised in privilege
00:20:39.56\00:20:43.73
under the blessing of God, flew
into a rage and murdered a man.
00:20:43.73\00:20:48.60
But then it talks about how God
lead Moses into Midian and how
00:20:48.60\00:20:53.20
Moses submitted to the gentle
discipline of the Holy Spirit.
00:20:53.20\00:20:56.63
God was then able to use this
great man of God to lead his
00:20:56.63\00:20:59.96
people out of Egypt and
on towards the promised land.
00:20:59.96\00:21:04.70
The Bible talks to us about
King David once called a man
00:21:04.70\00:21:07.66
after God's own heart.
00:21:07.66\00:21:09.36
But this same David committed
adultery and then murder.
00:21:09.36\00:21:12.66
But then, David was transformed
by the Holy Spirit of God
00:21:12.66\00:21:18.76
and became the sort of
man that God could use again.
00:21:18.76\00:21:22.66
And we read about
the disciples of Jesus.
00:21:22.66\00:21:24.66
These men, with their faults,
their tempers, their jealousy,
00:21:24.66\00:21:28.13
their rivalry, their
desire for greatness.
00:21:28.13\00:21:31.90
But about how they were
transformed by the Holy Spirit
00:21:31.90\00:21:35.56
and became
champions for their master.
00:21:35.56\00:21:39.46
Most people associate volcanoes
with the power to destroy.
00:21:39.46\00:21:43.30
But inherent in that
destructive power is the power
00:21:43.30\00:21:47.90
to create anew.
00:21:47.90\00:21:50.86
If you've seen volcanic soil,
they you know that volcanic soil
00:21:50.86\00:21:54.33
is some of the richest
soil that you can possibly find.
00:21:54.33\00:21:57.93
A lava flow devastates
everything in its path
00:21:57.93\00:22:01.36
but out of that devastation
ultimately springs new life
00:22:01.36\00:22:05.93
that grows lush and rich.
00:22:05.93\00:22:08.96
It's a great metaphor for
the work of the Holy Spirit.
00:22:08.96\00:22:12.76
Just like a volcano
consumes everything in its path,
00:22:12.76\00:22:16.10
just like a volcano will
take the hardest rocks and turn
00:22:16.10\00:22:19.16
them into liquid,
the Holy Spirit is able
00:22:19.16\00:22:22.03
to take our heart of stone
and melt it and make it into
00:22:22.03\00:22:25.46
something that we could
never make it ourselves.
00:22:25.46\00:22:29.33
And when the work
of the volcano is done,
00:22:29.33\00:22:31.93
vegetation appears.
00:22:31.93\00:22:33.36
When the work of the Holy Spirit
is done, where once it seemed
00:22:33.36\00:22:37.16
bleak and devastated,
now there is new life.
00:22:37.16\00:22:40.76
Now there is a new
person made through the power
00:22:40.76\00:22:44.40
of the Holy Spirit.
00:22:44.40\00:22:46.86
You know, so many people
come to the place in their lives
00:22:46.86\00:22:49.10
where they say, "after all I've
done, after all of the mistakes
00:22:49.10\00:22:52.30
I've made, after all of
the mess ups, how can God
00:22:52.30\00:22:56.86
even have any use for me now?
00:22:56.86\00:22:59.10
People look at their
sins, very real sins.
00:22:59.10\00:23:01.50
They look at their mistakes,
their egregious errors, the way
00:23:01.50\00:23:06.63
they have treated other people
and the way they have let down
00:23:06.63\00:23:09.36
not only God, but
those that they love.
00:23:09.36\00:23:13.10
And they say surely
now, there is no hope for me.
00:23:13.10\00:23:17.46
Well, I want to
tell you something.
00:23:17.46\00:23:19.46
There is hope because
the Holy Spirit gives hope.
00:23:19.46\00:23:23.43
The Holy Spirit is the answer.
00:23:23.43\00:23:27.33
What a sinner needs is power,
forgiving power and cleansing
00:23:27.33\00:23:31.83
power.
00:23:31.83\00:23:32.83
And we receive that
through the Holy Spirit.
00:23:32.83\00:23:35.36
And we receive the Holy
Spirit through the Word of God.
00:23:35.36\00:23:39.06
In fact, Jesus
said in Luke 11:12 -
00:23:39.06\00:23:41.70
"If you then, being evil,
know how to give good gifts
00:23:41.70\00:23:45.76
to your children, how much
more will your heavenly Father
00:23:45.76\00:23:49.93
give the Holy
Spirit to them that ask.
00:23:49.93\00:23:53.76
So all we need to do is ask.
00:23:53.76\00:23:57.43
And elsewhere, Jesus said
"Ask and you shall receive.
00:23:57.43\00:24:02.36
When we ask for the Holy Spirit
of God, we know the Holy Spirit
00:24:02.36\00:24:05.63
is given.
00:24:05.63\00:24:06.96
And when the Spirit of God
comes into our life, we become
00:24:06.96\00:24:10.16
the recipients of or
the channels of the same
00:24:10.16\00:24:14.26
power that brought
the world into existence.
00:24:14.26\00:24:17.56
Remember in the Psalms,
"for He spake and it was done.
00:24:17.56\00:24:20.66
He commanded and it stood fast."
00:24:20.66\00:24:23.20
The Holy Spirit brings
into your life creation power.
00:24:23.20\00:24:27.10
In fact, in the case of a
sinner, re-creation power.
00:24:27.10\00:24:31.40
You can
experience that power now.
00:24:31.40\00:24:34.13
You can claim the promise
of the Holy Spirit of God
00:24:34.13\00:24:37.43
as yours.
00:24:37.43\00:24:38.73
And know that because he
has promised, God will give you
00:24:38.73\00:24:42.83
the Holy Spirit of God.
00:24:42.83\00:24:45.70
Just like volcanoes
around the world, when they
00:24:45.70\00:24:49.20
are unleashed,
they are unstoppable.
00:24:49.20\00:24:52.96
The Holy Spirit
brings that same power
00:24:52.96\00:24:55.03
but in an
infinitely greater measure.
00:24:55.03\00:24:57.23
When the Holy Spirit
is unleashed in your life,
00:24:57.23\00:25:01.06
you will experience
truly the power of God.
00:25:01.06\00:25:05.43
Promises of Power is
our free offer for today.
00:25:07.53\00:25:10.90
This book by Pastor
John Bradshaw is a collection
00:25:10.90\00:25:13.93
of the most powerful
promises found in the Bible.
00:25:13.93\00:25:17.00
Just call 1.800.253.3000
and ask for Promises of Power.
00:25:17.00\00:25:22.46
There's no cost or obligation.
00:25:22.46\00:25:24.53
It's absolutely free.
00:25:24.53\00:25:25.53
You can call 24 hours a day.
00:25:25.53\00:25:27.46
If the line is
busy, please keep trying.
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You may also request
Promises of Power by writing to
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It Is Written, Box O,
Thousand Oaks, California 91359
00:25:33.53\00:25:38.70
and we will mail a copy to
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00:25:38.70\00:25:42.36
Please note this free
book is limited to the supply
00:25:42.36\00:25:44.93
on hand.
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For immediate access, you
can download a free electronic
00:25:45.93\00:25:49.56
version of the book Promises
of Power from our website,
00:25:49.56\00:25:54.20
itiswritten.com.
00:25:54.20\00:25:55.20
It Is Written is a faith-based
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00:25:55.20\00:25:57.33
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Thank you for your letters
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00:26:09.40\00:26:11.90
Our toll-free number is
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00:26:11.90\00:26:17.16
address is itiswritten.com.
00:26:17.16\00:26:20.16
I'd like to pray with you right
now and rather than asking God
00:26:22.46\00:26:25.70
to give us his Holy Spirit,
let's thank him because he has
00:26:25.70\00:26:29.33
given us the
greatest of all gifts.
00:26:29.33\00:26:32.56
Let's pray.
00:26:32.56\00:26:33.70
Our father in heaven, I
thank you today that you gave us
00:26:33.70\00:26:39.56
Jesus who lived, and died,
and resurrected and is now in
00:26:39.56\00:26:44.03
heaven
interceding in our behalf.
00:26:44.03\00:26:46.56
And I thank you that he is
represented in this world by
00:26:46.56\00:26:49.13
the Holy Spirit.
00:26:49.13\00:26:52.33
The transforming powerful,
enabling gracious Holy Spirit
00:26:52.33\00:26:57.83
of God.
00:26:57.83\00:26:59.43
Thank you for giving us
this gift, for forgiving us,
00:26:59.90\00:27:03.00
cleansing us and keeping
us through the great power
00:27:03.00\00:27:09.20
of the Holy Spirit of God.
00:27:09.20\00:27:11.80
We thank you today.
00:27:11.80\00:27:13.40
We claim that promise you have
promised to give so we claim
00:27:13.40\00:27:16.43
that promise.
00:27:16.43\00:27:18.00
We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
00:27:18.00\00:27:22.23
From the Aranal volcano in
Costa Rica, thanks for joining
00:27:40.80\00:27:45.03
me today.
00:27:45.03\00:27:46.23
I look forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:46.23\00:27:47.73
Until then,
remember it is written,
00:27:47.73\00:27:49.80
man shall not live by
bread alone but by every word
00:27:49.80\00:27:54.60
that proceeds
from the mouth of God.
00:27:54.60\00:27:59.00