John has been talking about our life in the spirit and i thought I would continue that theme today.

The other week “ John The Revelator” posed for me didn’t he and invited me to draw so I thought i would share this drawing with you. In effect John was saying we are all revelators to the worlds we live in.

This sermon is a follow on from that session,
And hopefully sharing some personal insights about living in the Holy Spirit for me has been for over 50 years. I am not bragging here but just stating a fact and hopefully can share something that will help you on your living with Jesus thus far!

Let me tell you a story about my bike. Some of you know I ride not an ordinary bike but an electric one, its great i can go up hills and take roundabouts with ease. But as I was riding it one day last week a picture of how the holy spirit emerge about the bike being a picture of the holy spirt and how he operates in our lives.

First of all , you have to get on the bike. Its useless if i just look at it. Nothing is going to happen. Same way with the Holy Spirit . I need to ask for it.

So you get on the bike - and start pedalling. The power will not cut in until a few seconds have gone by. Likewise in the Spirit we need to step out in faith for God to work.

So I have a choice. I could continue to pedal, especially if I have not switched the power on. But switching the power on makes a big difference especially if i was to climb a hill, or negotiate a roundabout or traffic lights where a fast getaway is an advantage. And it becomes easy!

Same with the Holy Spirit. When I use his power i can overcome difficult hills and mountains in my life and negotiate personal obstacles and setbacks without fear or worries. Stay in my own strength such things are a slog and a drag.

I am in control of my direction and destination. I decide the journey. But if I listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit I might take a useful direction. How does promptings work? Once i had a part in Christian musical and i rode my bike to the event with no time to spare. I had only been to the venue once before and so had no clear idea of turns. So whenever i reach a turn I asked God for the direction . He said left....right. And I arrived just 15 mins before the performance i was an actor in was to start. Amazing! Actively seek a direction and listen for an inner response or a sign that is obviously God at work. Look for the green light . “It’s a go!”

Another aspect is how teachable are you?
Are you submissive to leadership?
Are you able to take orders and do them?

Or do you question everything and everyone? Judge sermons and only interested in what church can do for you,

Being teachable is an important attitude. It’s a willingness to serve. And to love others .

There is security and assurance in knowing that you are walking in obedience and in truth. Jesus displayed it. We reflect him and his Holy Spirit explains his ways and methods, often contrary and even nonsense to the world.

This famous quote sums it up. So many christians go to church like a club whereas the truth is the opposite we go to church to give not to get. Blessing is not the goal but the by product of an attitude that goes to church to give and share what God is giving them to build up the body.

We are a work in progress and the Holy Spirit is the force at work in doing what this verse is talking about, but notice we need to play our part.....

By not causing division or gossiping. Not that i think you do here at Good News! But the christian church in general where people see the church more as their club rather than their family.

The Holy Spirit again is not mentioned here but it is the power behind this verse in the process of renewing your mind.

Thinking spiritually means

- seeing life from God’s point of view
- seeing others better than yourself!
- seeing the will of God being worked out in your life and the life of those around you which is wonderful and to be applauded as if it were you!

This is a good tip for receiving from God. Overthinking will lead to:-

- stopping God working in you
- make you indecisive as you over concentrate on the outcomes of living for God,

The Holy Spirit has the goal of getting you better acquainted with God. A key to this is asking for wisdom and revelation which is stated as being the Spirit of God.

The world sees wisdom like this, the acquistion of knowledge by study and books. But in reality it is much, much more than this,

The bible says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. So it brings us back to dependence on God , seeking his wisdom which he says he will give to those who ask liberally and freely.

“If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask of God who will give it to you.”

And another Holy Spirit operation is the Spirit of Revelation which you experienced when you became a Christian and is the only way we can communicate the gospel to unbelievers . The story of Nicodemus bears witness to this . A man with knowledge but no revelation to understand what Jesus was saying to make a transformative life change. Being born again was nonsense and incomprehensible to Nicodemus,

We need to be agents of change operating with the gifts of discernment and courage to share it with all the love that God has for the person you are sharing this with. Timing is everything, let the Holy Spirit prompt you so that you don’t go in to a person’s life with all the subtleness of a hob nail boot! This has turned so many unbelievers off! Where Christians have put others off by not timing it with the Holy Spirit, all i am saying is consult with him first and if you get a green light go for it!

And when you take the brave step to share with someone then know Jesus is right beside you willing it along with you, WAHOOOO!

It’s not easy! It does mean this - look how much it cost Jesus on our behalf! But that’s the neat thing. He has done the difficult bit and we need to have the confidence and authority to know that we are doing it for him, with him, and through him.

“Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:27-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We cannot loose if we are fully committed to Jesus as these verses we read yesterday tells us .

What does it mean the first shall be last and the last shall be first? Jesus, i believe is saying that those who push themselves forward will be last and those who are humble go first. Looking at the context of the chapter its all about those who consider themselves being important not able to make it and those who recognise their sin making it. In this room I would say we all emulate and ascribed to the humble category rather than the proud. To be sure ... remember whose side you are on and you will know the truth of being in a win win situation.

Finally, there may be someone here who doesn’t have the baptism of the Holy Spirit . They would like to be able to operate in the gifts but don’t know how they should get it. Then we are here to help you and pray with you for you to receive the gift . If you are walking in obedience and truth the you qualify. There many expressions of the Holy Spirit, tongues, healings, even gifts of administration, but there is ONE spirit just as there is ONE Jesus who is the author and perfector of our faith. Hallelujah. Let’s pray!!