Empowered by the Spirit
The Power Within • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Worship:
After song 1. Release Sparkz
Sng 2 & 3
Emanuel Closes worship, unless cierra feels she can.
Role annoucement video/ Bumper Video.
Transition to no/Media slides.
Sermon Series Title Slide: The Power Within
Sermon Title: Empowered by the Spirit
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Many have this sensation day to day of being over worked and undervalued. IN one article titled Solving the mysteries of Millenial and Gen Z job hobbers this description is given.
“Millennials don’t seem to like staying in one place for too long. They get a bad rap for lack of concentration, skipping songs on playlists, switching between apps and browser tabs, and juggling multiple mobile devices.”
( https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7012-millennial-job-hopping.html )
This article continued to go on about how people job hop in order to explore different career opportunities, even searching for a small part in something larger, wanting to be impactful, and yet another reason is because people dont feel appreciated at Jobs.
This in itself has shifted where the emploeer needs to go out of their way’s these days to make sure the employees know they are appreciated. But even that doesnt change the dynamic of how long a person stays with a specific career.
We live in a generation whom is always searching. and i wont tell this generation its unique, because its human nature. To always to searching.
Not particularlly searching for a bigger experience, or the best benefits in a work place, just searching, wondering around in the desert honestly aimlessly.
Millenials have already changed the world, they way the work place has evolved, the way wages are distributed, social and cultural dynamics all because of the little work many people have done, but those people come and go. which produces lack of sustainabliity in those arenas of change.
Begin to explain the illustration used through this message:
This cylinder here is you, and me. This is how we start off, empty, transparent, have you met a kid recently? They are as transparent as you can possibly be, the childrens church teachers know more then i do in this church, because those kids!
We start off empty, just like each generation is always striving to search to be a part of something bigger, we too, each of us are, we at least long for that, we search for it. This is the longing to be filled.
Jesus Revolution started with that same search, likewise every revival there ever was started with that same search, the need for something more, no more mundane tuesdays, and same ole same ole church, people longed for something more, Searching far and wide.
This is the search in peoples life, not only to be filled but to fulfill.
No gardner plants a seed and purposefully over waters it, or plants a seed and tills it up immediately. no instead they plant the seed and want to see the fulfillment of that flower, tree, or bush. They want to see the product being produced.
The same with God. upon salvation, new life. God wants to see growth.
I once had a bonzai tree. It was growing well, i watered it, trimmed it back,, gave it this special food. until one day, one of the branches started turning brown. I spent alot of money on it, so i researched and researcged, attempted to get it back right. But it still died.
Christians face this same dilemma. They grow they grow, produce and produce, But there is something that keeps many from walking in the authority of Jesus.
This series is meant to root out the reasons why…so that we too dont get sick, and began to fade away from our walk with Christ.
this builds a question for me, What does it mean to operate in the Power of God, and 2 What is keeping us away from doing so?
this builds a question for me, What does it mean to operate in the Power of God, and 2 What is keeping us away from doing so?
We will answer these two questions today within scriptures. Luke 4 1-14. If you can flip there with me, we see a story of Jesus, whom was just baptized by John, and in this baptism something happen, mind you, something that has happened and is still happening in the church today. When we die to self under the proclimation to live for God, the Power of the Holy Spirit fills the believer.
See in this process of filling ourselfs with purpose and plans along the journey we have an enemy attempting to decieve us of our true identity.
If the enemy can steal our identity by munipulating us through seduction, envy, and personal enjoyment, Then he can make us second guess the idenity God the Father has made us in.
You all know God made us in His image, right!?
Lets read this story with the big idea being, The authority in us is greater then our enemy!
Come on look to your neighbor and Say.
Jesus’ Authority is greater than our enemy!
Jesus’ Authority is greater than our enemy!
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.
10 For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
First thing we should answer is
What does it mean to operate in the Power of God?
What is keeping us from operating in the Power?
So what does this mean? If I can work this in I think it would be great. So what. We know what it means, we know what stops us, but why would we want to do it? Things should get real here. This is where the real world interacts with our Faith.
Sermon:
Sermon:
Let’s look at different ways the enemy will attempt to run you to the ground and get you when you are tired, or feeling undervalued.
Big Idea: Point of Illustration:
1. Cravings: taking control to satisfy one’s needs: hungry come get this bread
2. Oh Shiny: comparison : Show & Tell
3. Can’t we just have a little fun : throw yourself down: don’t we do this, we throw ourselves out into our form of fun and test the level of grace for God. Oh he will rescue me from this mess.
A few ways the enemy will attempt to run you to the ground.
1.Cravings
1.Cravings
Luke 4:2–3 (NIV)
2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
- Temptation brings the ability to self-identify oneself, contrasting us from who God says, into who we feel we are.
Put a few balls into identity,
We tend to identify who we are based off our cravings.
People say they like girls, guys, people like both, past liking, people can identify themselves off of relationships. Relationships isnt a sin, but because one’s identity is in physical connection it can lead them to fornication, lust,adultery, lewdness.
People crave attention, we can identify, pride, foolishness, selfishness.
People crave all shorts of thing, the craving isnt the sin. The partaking of is the sin.
temptations for each person are different but similar among all people. Temptations are not sin, but the pulling towards sin.
Temptations place old & new idols in our path to replace that which God has already taken care of.
No temptation can over take you, but giving into sin will undo you.
Not unding the Work of God, but rather taking you from relationship with Him.
Matthew 15:11 (NIV)
11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2. Oh Shiny
2. Oh Shiny
Luke 4:5–6 (NIV)
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
- You know THAT there is something worst then temptation, see temptation comes from the whispers of the devil, but this is worst then even that.
Its comparison: temptation seduces you to commit sins, comparison leads you to committing sins faster then temptation will.
In comparing myself to what somebody else has that I lack, I internalize separation.
Comparison makes us speak to OURSELVES .
Oh I don’t have that calling, I must be distant from God,
oh I’m not able to do that for my spouse, this must be my punishment.
Comparison says oh I still have this issue the Spirit must not be in me,
Oh my prayers aren’t being answered God must not be hearing me,
producing shame, guilt, which in turn makes our minds focus on the failures rather then the presence.
Comparisson makes you vulnerable to sin, and creates insecurities, envy, and brings forth jealousy. Gal 6 4-10
4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,
5 for each one should carry their own load.
Comparisson brings sinful motives into our hearts,
We must be careful of this sleeper attack, one that doesnt seem so bad at first, but then comes into our lives like the sweeping of night, fast approaching,
Instead we should cry out
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
The third test we can find ourselves battling is the little question…..
3. Cant’ we just have a little fun
3. Cant’ we just have a little fun
Luke 4:9 (NIV)
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.
1A. The devil will find what you crave and bundle it up with a bow and tie and tell you to come get it.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Are you Ready to be Empowered by the Spirit
Are you Ready to be Empowered by the Spirit
Conclusion:
The other day Friday night it was, i was watching some basketball, Iowa went up to shoot a free throw, everyone got lined up and there alone on the free throw line was one girl, by her self, millions of people watching, the average ticket cost $413 dollars, just to see there team win. quiet room, iowa is down 3 points, late into the 3rd quarter. Ref passes her the ball, she dribbles, once and then again shoot, nothing but net. boom one point. She high fives her team mates on the court but its not over she has another shot, the stakes arent any higher they are the same, this time ref bounces her the ball, and her eyes looked not at the net but the distance between her and the bottom of the basket, she dribbles once, and then a second time. both dribbles shes looking at the bottom of the net, before she shot that ball i knew, a bystander, one of the millions sitting in there pj’s on thier couch, with a dog on my leg, a laptop on my lap and no care in the world, but i knew, what was going to happen when she bent her arms up looked up for the first time and shot that ball, she missed.
She focused on the spot she may have to go to in order to retrieve her rebound.
Our focus in high intense moments like that matter.
Later just a few back and forths of both teams, the same girl would have the same opportunitie; fouled got the ball the first time looking at the goal, she shot, swoosh. second time, she paid attention to the ref, dribbling her the ball, before she dribbles the first time she stared at the goal, dribbled a second time eyes focused, im in my same position. nothing new for me, but i knew, this one was going in. She bent her arms up eyes focused on the goal shot….and she made it!
Where our focus is matters.
God is our focus.
Maybe youre like me, you dont play basketball.
So you dont have the opportunity to shoot from the free throw line with millions of viewers. But there are eyes locked on you. Watching over you, waiting in eager expectation. Jesus died on the cross and send The Holy Spirit, bounced that ball right into our lives.
The Holy Spirit in you isnt the focus, but the authority you have now because the ball is in your court is everything.
If you are bold enough, brave enough to keep your eyes on the goal, instead of getting your focus on the opposing team whispering or even yelling at you the distracting you with moments of