More Holy Spirit Power (355)

0:01 Thank you for listening in to the quality Christian living podcast. Once again, I am your host and David friend We're on a series of podcasts dealing with the Holy Spirit and today's podcast is entitled more Holy Spirit power podcast before this when we talked about basically an introduction of the power that the Holy Spirit brings into our life, but now we're gonna see what the Lord has to say for us in relationship to having more power due to the relationship that we have with the Holy Spirit, so how do we actually receive power from the Holy Spirit and a lot to cover today, but I believe the Holy Spirit is going to guide and direct us, so let's get into it right now. First, we need to pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for your goodness, your love, and for your kindness. I pray that you would bless this podcast today. I ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide and direct it. I surrender my will and my thoughts to you. Holy Spirit, do what only you can do. And for those who are listening in, I pray a very special blessing for those who are desiring a closer walk with the Lord and more of the Holy Spirit power in their life.

0:57 I pray you would bring this to pass now we pray Lord in Jesus name I pray amen well the Holy Spirit participated in raising Jesus from the dead now That's a pretty powerful statement. But in reality, it obviously is the moving of the Holy Spirit that brings power into our lives. And the Holy Spirit is the one who was living in Jesus. And of course, since the Holy Spirit is one of the triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, all three are one God, not multiple Gods. And the power of the Holy Spirit is that great that he actually participated in raising Jesus from his deathbed. The Holy Spirit will bring to us resurrection power and power from self and to know God's will and power to do things that we think are impossible and quite frankly many of those things are impossible without the help of God and the Holy Spirit.

1:49 Romans chapter 8 verses 11 through 15 in the New International Version says this, and if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead, wait a minute, That's kind of interesting. I know when I said that at the beginning of this, the Holy Spirit participated in raising Jesus from the dead, there's some people out there that are probably saying, wait a minute, how can that be? Well, that's why we jump right into this particular scripture. I'll read that word once again. It's in Romans 8, chapter 11, New International Version. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, that's the Holy Spirit Church, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life. to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you. So isn't that a jam -packed scripture that talks about in dealing with understanding how to have more power from the Holy Spirit.

2:38 You can't find greater power than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this scripture Paul is writing to the church in Rome and he's telling them the Holy Spirit has great power and he is the one who participated, as we say, in the raising of Jesus from the dead. And that power, that same power is living in each in every one of us today. So if we have that power in us, then we ought to be able to experience the great resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. Now everyone knows that Jesus had unlimited power while he served here on earth. Jesus, of course, he has unlimited power as he's in heaven now. Jesus knew when he was returning to the Father that his followers needed to have power. to continue to work, to continue the work, I should say, that Jesus started.

3:24 So Jesus said there needs to be help for these disciples. They need to have someone to... bring them through each day and carry them through the challenges of life and deal with the issues they're going to face with just like the things that we have to face with today trials and the challenges that we are faced with Jesus knew that we had to have it but he knew at that time especially that his followers needed to hear his word needed to know what he had to say and he knew that the Holy Spirit would remind the disciples of the words of Jesus so there's something recorded in John chapter 14 and verse 2 in the New International Version that I think is very appropriate for this particular podcast very truly I tell you whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father now these are obviously the words of the Lord Jesus Christ he's saying these words to give comfort and help and direction to his disciples he's also saying these words to give help comfort and direction for followers him of him today who will pick up the Word of God and read it and see that he had a plan a program in place where the Holy Spirit would come in and bring power more power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of his followers and so he basically is telling us that there is greater power more power to followers of the Lord Jesus Christ that the Holy Spirit has for each and every one of us that we can even imagine or think it's total unlimited power so we need to think about this personally we need to think about our relationship to the Lord our relationship to the Holy Spirit and our relationship to our

4:55 other Christian followers and our relationship with the word of God. All of these are things that we need to have in our life to operate in full force in order to operate with more power from the Holy Spirit. Everyone knows that Jesus had unlimited power. We all know that. We all know that that unlimited power was exhibited throughout the time that he was on earth and now it continues to be exhibited through the Holy Spirit who Jesus left for each and every one of us to have that strength. Everyone knows that Jesus knew we needed help and we know that we need help but he was thinking about us and planning to help us and putting up a plan in action to give us more strength and more power in our walk with God. Jesus also was aware that his disciples would question how they could do greater things. When he said, I'm going to read this again to you in John chapter 14 and verse 2. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things, greater things, he says, than these. So, Jesus knew that. and he knew that they would be able to have that available to them, but that didn't mean that the disciples just all accepted it immediately and said, oh yeah, great, no problem, we got this. No, they were basically wondering, how in the world was this gonna happen? Jesus knew the disciples would question and would wonder and try to examine themselves and say, how in the world can we do greater things than what the Lord Jesus Christ did? In John chapter 14, Jesus was telling his disciples, keep my command.

6:28 You know, a lot of time we want the promises of God, we want the blessings of God, but we don't live up to the conditions on the promises of God. And Jesus is instructing his disciples saying, keep my commands. Now, since we're reading it today, those instructions are for us, the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. We're to keep his commands. And that's key, crucial to understand how we can have greater power through the Holy Spirit. We see in the words of Jesus that he's saying things like, I'm sending you help. I'm sending you another day help. with you. He lives in you and through his teachings throughout various books in the Bible and the teachings of the Apostle Paul, Jesus is telling us that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and that he told his disciples that he would be in them and with them. Now all of these comments and all these words that Jesus was speaking and Paul is speaking about tells us that we are being built up to be the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and that we're built up to be disciples, that doesn't mean we're built up in ourselves, in our own wisdom, our knowledge, and our understanding knowing. What it means is that the Holy Spirit will build us up to a greater power, a greater level of anointing, a greater level of power that will live in us and help us to be the hand of Jesus extended is really what the Holy Spirit is doing for Christians. As a Christian for many years, I've read a lot of different people make a lot of comments about the Holy Spirit, about the anointing, and I love the word manifestation.

7:54 When we hear the word the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Well, it's the manifestation of the Holy Spirit that anointed Jesus for his ministry. Remember, when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the dove came down, and that was the Holy Spirit come down and anointed him for his ministry here on earth. Well, see that same manifestation of the Holy Spirit to anoint Jesus anoints us with Holy Spirit power. Now, I want you to just take that in right now. I just want you to, whatever you're doing, unless you're riding a bike or driving a car, I don't want you to close your eyes, but just take a moment. listening in and close your eyes and invite the Holy Spirit to come and to manifest himself in you. That means to have him come forth with greater power and greater wisdom and greater direction and greater guidance and ask him to be manifested in your life in a greater way than ever before. Invite him in to do that and open up your heart and your mind to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest in you and do something greater than you've ever imagined before so that God would receive the glory and he she would receive all the honor and all the praise. You know, because of the Holy Spirit power that's in us. Now, once we become a Christian, as soon as we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the power of the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of us. Now, for a lot of us, I know for me for a while the Holy Spirit was there and His great power was there, but I didn't know how to call on Him.

9:12 I didn't know how to ask Him to manifest. I didn't know how to ask Him to anoint, to move in a special way and to use me and to speak to me and help me. I just kind of did one day after another. So therefore it took time in reading the Word of God and understanding that... Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit so then he could lead us into a new level of our walk with him. And so that's what I think Christians need to do. A lot of us have the tendency, and I have in the past too, just simply sit back and wait for God to do things when in reality we are to reach out to the Holy Spirit. We're to reach out to the Word of God and read it and see what the Holy Spirit is telling us to do and ask him to work in us and to use us for God's glory and to reach out and touch. our life and the lives of those that we're in contact with. You see, I was born a sinner, we all are, and I lived most of my life, the beginning of my life as someone not serving God. I grew up, went to high school, grade school, dated, got married, wound up in the army, wound up going to the military, going to Vietnam and serving in that war and coming back and spending several more years later. And all of a sudden I became a follower of Lord Jesus Christ because I finally yielded and turned my life over to Him and asked the Holy Spirit to come in and to fill me and take over my life, that I would surrender my will and that God would come in and be Lord and Savior of my life. When that took place, then I had to understand that I didn't deserve that. That's something that Christ did for me. He died on the cross and gave his life for me so that I could receive the power

10:44 of the Holy Spirit that would be left by him to the disciples who was now carried through to all of those followers of the Lord Jesus Christ who received Jesus. they receive the power of the Holy Spirit, receive an anointing to do great things, and they receive more power than they can even imagine or even think. They receive comfort greater than they ever thought. They receive peace and love and joy and kindness and gentleness and desire to reach out and help other people and a desire to serve Jesus and to follow him and to be an example of Christ living here on earth, and all that is led by the Holy Spirit. You see, our lives are all about ourselves at first. Before I became a Christian, I was just wrapped up in me. I don't know if that happened to you or not, but I was wrapped up in what I needed to do, and what I wanted to get done, and what I thought was important, and it was all about me, myself, and I. And so that's what led my life. And then all of a sudden one day I realized that I have kind of a shallow life.

11:41 I'm working, my career is going well at the bank, things are going and married, have a wonderful wife and have a wonderful little baby boy. And my wife was expecting our second baby who was a little girl. And all that was taking place in my life. And all of a sudden one day the Holy Spirit spoke to me and basically said, not an audible voice, but impressed me to ask this question, what is life all about? My wife and I sit on the side of the bed before we're going to go to church that day. And I said, why are we doing this? Why are we going? We get up, we go through this motion, we go to church. What's it all about? I don't understand it. And I had never surrendered my life to Jesus. And my wife was in the same space. She was wondering also, what are we doing? Why are we going to church? What's the purpose in it? What's the reason for doing this? And the Holy Spirit revealed Himself to us. My wife received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior before I did. But I did later on, you know, a short time after that. And we both became followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Holy Spirit gave us a hunger, an absolute, just unending hunger to get more of God's Word in us. and be around Christian people and go to the church every time the doors are open and reach out to other people and invite people to church and talk to people about our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and everything just changed dramatically. That's because that when the power of the Holy Spirit comes inside to dwell in his followers that they become new people. They become a new creation. All things change. The old passes away and all things become new. We will have at that time the Holy Spirit's power in us and that power can just greater and greater as we

13:13 surrender to Him and deny our self and allow our self and our self -desires and our own desires for what we want in life to be secondary to what God wants in our life and seek the leading and the guiding of the Holy Spirit for everything that we do. That doesn't mean we're perfect. That doesn't mean that when we become Christians that all of a sudden, okay, everything's wonderful and it's perfect and we're never going to say something wrong or do something wrong or make a mistake. No, just the opposite. The Apostle Paul talked about his life after he became a follower. He said, sometimes I don't understand that I do things that I shouldn't do and while I'm doing the things that I'm doing, I know I shouldn't be doing them. but I do them anyways. I mean, that was the Apostle Paul. Matter of fact, when I read that, it helps me to understand that Paul wasn't perfect either. He had his challenges that he faced with, but he always turned his life around in the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he did that by following the Holy Spirit's leading and the anointing of the Holy Spirit in his life to see miraculous things take place. And I want that to take place in the lives of each and every one of us, that we can see a greater experience with the Holy Spirit, that we can receive more power Holy Spirit than we actually would think is possible. Now once again I want to say that there's no limit to the power in us that's the Holy Spirit power because it is not about us it's about the Holy Spirit of God living in us. The Holy Spirit power helps us to understand God's Word and to help others understand. You know, have you ever read the Bible and read a few verses and you just don't quite get it and you're going, I'm not sure I know what that's about. I know I have. And when

14:44 I stop and I say, Holy Spirit, would you help me? And would you help and clarify this? And I get a Bible that is easy for me to read. I don't read the Old King James much anymore. It's a wonderful Bible, very powerful, but I don't speak like that. That's not the words that I use. And so that's why it's wonderful that many, many new translations are out. Now, you got to be careful the translations that you read. I like particularly the New Living Translation. I like the New International Version. I like the New King James Version. And, you know, I like the American Standard Version. Those are all ones that I enjoy and that I read. So be careful. You don't just grab some Bible written by somebody that you don't know what their background is or their experiences are. So find a good...

15:27 Bible with a great translation. I recommend any of those that I mentioned. And when you read that, it'll be speaking in language that more relates to us today and how we speak. And a lot of people, new Christians, need to have a Bible that's easier to read and easier to comprehend and understand and then ask the Holy Spirit to help clarify what that means. We need to stop when we're reading the Word of God and ask for clarification of the Holy Spirit and ask the Holy Spirit to do that. I can't tell you the number of times that that has happened when I'm preparing a sermon. preparing a talk or preparing a podcast is when I stop and say, now, Holy Spirit, would you help me have clarity and understand exactly what that means? And many times the thought comes in, that's the Holy Spirit. Or other times I'll read a few more verses down and see clarity.

16:11 And so we can call upon the Holy Spirit anytime, anytime for anything. He's living and dwelling inside of us, so therefore we need to understand that and know that He's ready, willing to help us. Holy Spirit power helps us to understand God's Word and the Holy Spirit power. is able to help us understand the word so that we're able to explain to others what that word means. Now if you run into a wall and you're having a problem understanding what a certain scripture means then you need to find someone, a good mentor, someone in your church that you attend to, your pastor or one of the other associate pastors or get into a good church Bible study that your pastor would support. I want you to be careful before you jump into a Bible study. Make sure that it's underneath the covering of a local church, a church that has pastor has approved that teaching and approved that class that doesn't mean the pastor has to be there it just simply means that he is in agreement with those that are teaching and you're sitting there listening and hearing the right instructions that's so important and as you're doing that allow the Holy Spirit to help you and to clarify thoughts and questions that you might have now let me give you a word another word of caution that I think it's so important that when you when you're speaking to people about the Holy Spirit there's a lot of people that have a lot of different ideas about what the Holy Spirit does, who He is, His relationship and all that stuff. And I would be very, very careful if you get into teachings on the Holy Spirit. Just the other day, I had a call from someone who told me they went to a Bible class and someone was talking

17:41 about the Holy Spirit and said the Holy Spirit does this and the Holy Spirit does that. And they just wanted to ask me what I thought of that. And so I said, well, I don't know who this person is, but I don't agree with that. That's not what the Holy Spirit's all about. And I had to help this this individual. And it really felt good to be able to have someone who was seeking help and guidance and direction on understanding how the Holy Spirit operates. So I would encourage you to be careful in Bible studies, be careful in who you sit under, in any type of teaching on the Holy Spirit or on the Word of God. I suggest always suggest that you find someone else that you have confidence in, that you know, that they're underneath the covering of a good local church, a good pastor, or the pastor himself, and you should listen to those instructions and heed them. You know, just make an additional comment here. As pastor for many years, I would often tell the congregation there's a book that I recommend that they read. I knew that it was something that was appropriate. I knew about the author.

18:38 I had read it myself and knew exactly what it was saying, and I would encourage them to read it, and I would also I also tell them before you just pick up any book and just want to start reading about the Holy Spirit, about your walk with God, about Christianity, whatever, just come to me or come to one of our pastors who has at one time six or seven other pastors in addition to me and go to each to one of us and find us and be sure that they understand what you're reading and just get some covering there and some direction on what you're reading because quite frankly there's a lot of stuff out there that's being written that's kind of marginal. Some of it is not intended for good. Others, they're trying to do good and do well, but it's really not being taught according to what I believe the Holy Spirit wants to teach us in this. So just be careful. Just to wrap that part of it, just be careful who you listen to and what you're reading and make sure that someone else that you have confidence and trust in is a solid person and understanding the Word of God can help you with the instructions that you need. The Holy Spirit has power to direct our steps. Now that's power. I talked about having more power. Well, the power to direct our steps and guide our thoughts is something that the Holy Spirit has and we need to yield to Him. In Proverbs chapter 16 verse 9, New International Version, it says here, in their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Another translation says, man plans his ways, but the Lord guides or directs their steps. They both basically mean the same thing. So we need to understand that if we have a plan in our life, we need to get confirmation that it's It's properly lining up

20:08 with the Word of God. We need to understand that if we have any plans that we should ask the Holy Spirit to help us and that's what that scripture's saying. It says, but the Lord establishes these steps. He guides them and he helps us. The Holy Spirit gives us power through the gifts of the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, I went through all of those in prior podcasts. I really don't think in this podcast I need to get into those, but those are the power gifts. Those are gifts that a lot of people always ask me right up front is, what are miracles? healings and and what is faith and what is tongues and interpretation of tongues and prophecy and all those things well those those gifts are explained in other podcasts I've taken entire podcasts and just worked on just maybe one or two of the gifts of the Spirit but for your reference just get the Word of God get 1st Corinthians in chapter 12 and read it and listen to the wonderful gifts that are available to believers now remember it's the Holy Spirit that that gives the gifts and it's according to him alone he makes the final decision on who gets what gifts and when they get those gifts. And so it's important to understand that. Do read 1 Corinthians chapter 12. I suggest the New Living Translation, the New International Version, or the American Standard.

21:17 Those are all good translations. Now before I close, I really believe it's important to define the word power. The Holy Spirit does not give us power to manipulate others or control them. Power is a great word. It really is. But it can also hurt others. God power is good power. Good power always lifts up others and blesses them. people and helps them, and directs them. Now, it might correct them, but it's to bless them. It's not to correct them to get even with them. It's not to correct them to show yet, you're wrong and I'm right, and those types of things. No. Power, Holy Spirit power, is to bless and to build up Christians and be believers, even if it is in a form of correction. Evil or manipulative power rejects God's Word, and it's a violation of God's plan for us. So be sure and be aware of that. That's very important to lay that out there before I wrap this particular podcast up today. Holy Spirit power always brings truth.

22:14 The Holy Spirit is the truth of God. It's He is the Spirit of truth. Now, I truly believe, I believe with all my heart that if we know anybody who is looking for truth, they're saying, I'm just trying to find the truth. I'm just trying to find out what's really true in life. Just get the word of God out that tells them that the Holy Spirit is truth. of truth and if people are truly looking for truth they will eventually find the Holy Spirit they'll find Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ was the only truth that lived on this earth everything else falls far below what Jesus has to offer so people truly looking for truth will eventually be experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit and that power of the Holy Spirit will lead them to a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ so let me just wrap this up by praying for you and just kind of asking the Holy Spirit to kind of bring this together so that we can receive exactly what he had intended for each and every one of us. Heavenly Father, once again I thank you for the opportunity I have and I pray that you would bless those listening in. I pray for those who are seeking the Holy Spirit that they'll not just seek the power but they'll seek the Spirit who delivers the power.

23:22 That if they need something in their lives they'll not seek that thing, that item, but they'll seek the deliverer of those items, the one who provides it, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ our Lord and God the Father, they are the ones that we should be seeking and looking for guidance and direction in. Heavenly Father, that the Holy Spirit would take this podcast and have it make a lot of sense to a lot of people who may have some confusion or questions about it. I pray that people who are seeking truth about the Holy Spirit will get good counsel and find someone to help them and sit under them. If those who are listening haven't heard all of this series, this is almost the 40th podcast on the Holy Spirit. that they would go and I'll explain how a little later go to my podcast and download all those and listen to the teachings that the Holy Spirit has given me on all these areas dealing with a relationship with the Holy Spirit. So Father, I pray you would bless them and help them and I pray Lord that each and every one of us would draw closer to the Holy Spirit and seek his help in his direction and receive his comfort when he offers it, receive his love when it's offered and receive his joy when he brings it because that's all he brings us. is love joy and peace.

24:32 Truly I understand he corrects us and we need that correction but Lord I pray Lord that when we receive that correction from the Holy Spirit they will understand that's God's plan that's God's will and Father that will surrender and submit to that leading in that direction of the Holy Spirit. Thank you once again for being with us I pray in Jesus name amen. Well I hope that you've been blessed by this I kind of overlapped a little bit with the message before this. Looking at the two podcasts this one I was happy with with but I the one I did on the one before this podcast number 354 if you want to go back and look that one up that kind of introduced more of the mechanics of the gifts of the Spirit and also the power of the Holy Spirit and shows the teachings of Paul in it so I hope that'll be a blessing to you so if you'd like to know though more about quality Christian living that's our podcast you can go to my webpage at davidcfriendauthor .com and when you get there pull up my front page and you'll see a link to the podcast and on that link you'll find currently a about 40 messages alone just on the Holy Spirit. You'll also find teaching on finances, on health, on miracles, on the gifts of the Spirit. You'll find teachings on health for veterans who are struggling with things like PTSD and various things like that. Just a list of topics. I hope that you will go there and pick that up. In addition to that, if you'd like to subscribe to my podcast, you can do that by going to cpnshows .com or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Now I do want to thank you for listening and if you enjoyed this podcast, I'd like you to take a moment to rate it and give us a review. It really is beneficial

26:03 to others and also to this podcast. You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music or Charisma Podcast Network or give us a star rating on Spotify. However you choose to support us, we certainly would appreciate that and we're very thankful for that. So I once again ask you to seek the leading and the guiding of the Holy Spirit. We're going to continue this series on the Holy Spirit and go into a as the Lord leads us and directs us and guides us but so I don't have a title for the next podcast yet and so I'm gonna have to defer from giving you the next title but I can tell you it will be on understanding have a greater understanding of how to operate with the Holy Spirit and how he can help and guide and direct us so once again I want to thank you so much for listening to Quality Christian Living I am your host David Friend I pray that you'll come back and listen once again thank you for being a part of this podcast and may God bless you and may the Holy Spirit fill you with His power.