0:09 Good morning family. >> Morning. >> Thank you. Um I was watching my daughter do uh this embroidery uh another day. Y'all can see it. 0:27 and she was working on this beautiful flower design um on a piece of cloth. If I flip it, right? Um you see the back side of this beautiful work. What is this? Is this beautiful to see 0:46 backside? For me, it looks messy, right? It's messy and uh all kind of knots, loose threads. It doesn't look beautiful compared to 1:03 this part of the front of the design. That's exactly how God God's work in our life looks. Sometimes from our perspective 1:21 we see all the messy threads, the difficulties and the struggles and the setbacks but God he sees the beautiful masterpiece he is creating on the other side. So before we dive into the message uh 1:41 the Lord has laid on my heart, let us pray and ask the Lord to help us to see the transformative power in the scriptures um to show 1:58 um through the Holy Spirit's interpretation in Luke chapter 24. The book of Luke, chapter 24. Hey there. Luke chapter 4 verse 13. Luke 2:40 chapter 24 verse 13. The last chapter in the book of Luke. We see two disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmas 2:56 about a 7 milesi journey and um it was typically it may take 2 to three hours. They were discouraged, confused, maybe even giving up 3:12 after witnessing Jesus crucifixion. But here is what's a beautiful thing you see here. Jesus joined them. Jesus joined on their journey though they didn't recognize him. 3:30 And what did he do? He took them through the scriptures from Genesis to Malachi, showing them how every scripture 3:47 pointing to Christ. It was until later when he broke the bread with them that their eyes were opened and they realized it. It was Jesus. It was Jesus who had been explaining 4:05 God's word to them all along. Dear brothers and sisters, as we heard during the singing time during Josh, brother Josh prayer, we need the Holy Spirit help. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to 4:25 open our understanding to see that transformative power in the scriptures. We need Jesus walking along outside to reveal himself through his word. 4:43 Please bow your head along with me and let us pray and ask the Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus Christ himself may help us to understand. Heavenly Father, just as you open the eyes of those disciples on the road of 5:02 Emas, we ask that you would open our hearts and minds this morning. Holy Spirit, help us to see Jesus clearly in your word, transform us through the truth of the scripture. 5:19 May what may what we hear today, Lord, not just to inform our minds, but to change our lives. We pray this in Jesus precious name. Amen. I have a a burden on my heart to share 5:38 with you the unchanging message. The unchanging message in the New Testament which is repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. 5:56 Please turn with me to the book of Mark. Mark chapter 1. Mark chapter 1 verse 4 7 and 8. I will read it. Please follow in 6:13 your Bible. John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Verse seven. And he was preaching, saying, 6:32 "After me, one is coming who is mightier than I. And I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will 6:47 baptize you with the Holy Spirit." When I first heard about repentance, I thought it was just meant to saying sorry. I was 19 years old at the time and had 7:05 done a lot of things I wasn't proud of. I actually reached out to several people including my parents and others to apologize. 7:21 I even wrote their names on a paper so I wouldn't forget anyone to ask for their forgiveness. But as I was kept walking with God, I realized 7:38 repentance is so much deeper than that. It's not just saying sorry. It's completely turning around and going in a different direction. I'll never forget when I was really 7:57 struggling with some serious sins in my life. I knew I had to make a hard decision. Many hard choices. I actually had to leave my old friends and move to another place. Leaving uh 8:17 the place I was living with with them. I had to reach out to the brothers and the church family who were helping me to find a place in my budget. So the Lord opened a place for me to pray uh 8:37 and con constantly to avoid being pulled into the same temptations. The Lord opened a door. It wasn't easy at all, but that's what real repentance looks like to me. Changing direction. 8:54 Not just saying sorry and feeling bad for a while, then falling back in the same cycle of falling and asking forgiveness over and over again. Instead, I had to actually stop. Stop going the wrong way and choose 9:14 God's way. That's the true repentance. The scripture portion what you are in right now, the book of Mark, it's a perfect example because John Mark was asked by the apostles and 9:31 he's a close relative of Barnabas and the early apostles Barnabas and Paul was going through their first mission trip. They asked him to come along and then he followed certain distance in midway at least. But maybe through the difficulties they 9:50 have to go through, hardships they have to go through, he dropped and he dropped and went back and the apostle of God has to 10:10 discipline him. And then he took discipline very seriously. He didn't just brush it off. He took it seriously. The proof is that the Lord Jesus Christ himself allowed him to write his scripture. The gospel of Mark. 10:28 This is the Peter's viewpoint of the Gospel of Lord Jesus Christ. If you see Acts 12 and:e 12, there was a group of people praying in a house 10:46 and the Peter was miraculously delivered from the jail. He was kept in a very protected security. But the Lord did a miracle because a group of people 11:03 praying for Peter. So when Peter was released, you know where did he go? How did he know where to go? He was married. We all know that one of the disciples was married. Peter was a married and he has a mother-in-law. He didn't go to 11:17 their house. He went to the house. Holy Spirit led him to go to the house. Whose house was that? That's John Mark's family's house. His mother Mary and the group of people are praying. And 11:36 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 13 it says Mark became so helpful to the Apostle Peter that in 1 Peter 5:13 11:51 Peter affectionately calls him my son my son Mark. This shows us that the genuine repentance doesn't just mean feeling sorry. It means changing direction and becoming useful to God's kingdom. 12:10 And you know what gives me the hope for this? Many of you are very familiar about this verse. The first page of the New Testament, the first promise of the New Testament, 12:27 Matthew 1 21 reminds us that Jesus is not just a forgiver, he is a savior. He will save his people from their sins. John the Baptist was preparing the one 12:43 who wouldn't just wipe the slate clean but would actually rescue us and give us the power power to live for God. Jesus confirmed the pattern. If you read 13:03 along in the same Mark 1 verse 14 and 15. Now after John the John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God and saying 13:22 the time is fulfilled. The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in gospel. After John was arrested, Jesus picked up the same message. 13:39 Tells us that Jesus went into Galilee. He was proclaiming the same message. Repent, believe, believe the gospel and receive the Holy Spirit. And never forget some of the small victories Jesus started giving me right after I was 13:57 baptized. like he actually helped me to learn how to obey and respect the authorities he kept over me. To start with my professors and people he kept 14:13 over me at work and at church without compromising the truth. This is something I really struggled with before. He blessed my studies and my work in ways I never expected. I wasn't the 14:30 brightest student. But after my baptism, I could see God working even in my studies and then work. It was like he was showing me that when we surrender to him, he really does change everything, even our everyday stuff. But here is what really 14:50 challenged me and changed my direction. After joining a new covenant church about 10 years back, I started watching Jesus life, not the ministry, the life of Jesus Christ and 15:06 closely seeing the disciples how they are walking in this path. Not just Sunday but Monday through Saturday 15:21 living this life every single day. Matthew chapter 28 29-30. Please see that. Please turn to Matthew chapter 28 15:36 29 and 30. We had a a long study on this on this uh subject. Matthew 28 19 and 20. 16:03 Yeah, everybody is there. I know I'm the slowest. Go there. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father 16:20 and Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. His final command to his disciples was clear. Therefore, go and make disciples 16:39 of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Walk as Jesus disciples and make disciples. Honestly, facing my own failures in 16:58 living like Christ daily pushed me to pursue the power of the Holy Spirit. Many of us in this church know the scripture portion. Last week also brother Josh read and shared briefly on that. and uh John chapter 14 I'm not 17:17 going to there in the interest of time but you can meditate on these verses 15 don't stop at 15 please 16 17 and until 26 but the advocate the holy spirit whom the father will send in my name will 17:35 teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you and you know what he gave me a purpose and calling to live as a disciple and not just there what I need is 17:52 the spirit help and the fruit not to be discouraged and to be an encouraging rather it's one Corinthians chapter 14 and verse one we shouldn't we should eagerly desire spiritual gifts especially the prophecy 18:11 and I learned that pursuing prophecy isn't about passively waiting. It is an active pursuit and it's an intense pursuit but it must be grounded grounded in love. Love that is described in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. Not humanly 18:31 love, divine love, God's love. The base is the God's love. On top of it, we build it the body of Christ with the spiritual gift prophecy. I just want to go there. 1 Corinthians chapter 14. Pursue love, 18:56 but the gifts especially that you may prophecy. But the one who prophecies speaks to men for edification and exaltation and consolation, which is comfort. who prophecies edifies the church. 19:14 Verse 5, greater is one who prophecies than the one who speaks in tongues. Verse 12. Since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of 19:32 the church, not to show off, but rather to edify, to build, to comfort the church. Seek earnestly the gift of prophecy. Verse 19. In the church, I 19:47 desire to speak five words with my mind. This this is a this verse is about contrast. Seeking the um gift of tongues versus seeking the gift of prophecy. For me, that means actually looking the 20:06 ways to speak God's truth that builds people up. Starting up with my o my wife and children and the church encouraging them and bringing comfort with spiritled words. I have discovered that spiritual 20:23 gifts aren't meant to showcase how spiritual we are. They are meant to strengthen the body of Christ. Brothers and sisters, if you see, I want to bring up uh two 20:41 examples, couple of my heroes in the New Testament and I'm feel so proud of them and I want to bring those examples. This is not just an please uh you take your time. I'm just sharing my perspective 21:00 and may the Lord give you much more desire. go back and go to the scripture portions and if the Lord speaks with you one word and builds you up and my purpose is fulfilled, I'll be very thankful to you. So please turn to 21:17 the book of Acts. Book of Acts chapter 2. Book of Acts chapter 2 verse 37. Acts chapter 2 verse 37. 21:39 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, brethren, what shall we do? Before we move forward, I just want to give a glimpse. Who are they here? Who 21:59 are they? Flip one page back to the beginning of this chapter. Chapter 2. Chapter 2 verse 5 22:13 7 9 10 and 11. There were Jews living in Jerusalem. It means Jews, devote men from every nation under heaven like say 22:32 Gentiles who heard uh about God and converted into Judaism, Jewish uh I mean kind of like that. And then verse uh seven, they were amazed 22:51 and astonished about what? And they heard a strange noise. And they heard a strange noise. Verse three, they appeared to them tongues. And these disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit which was promised which was 23:11 promised by our Lord Jesus Christ. Chapter 1 verse 8. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem. They are in Jerusalem now and they got the power of the Holy 23:27 Spirit and they're speaking in tongues. And these people who are scholars and religious people, they were shocked and they were bewildered. Verse six. And they were bewildered because each one of them was 23:46 hearing them speak in their own language. They were amazed and astonished saying why are not all these who I'm sorry why are not all these who are speaking Galians so there is a thing these Galians who 24:05 are not that educated people like these scholars they were rural people they have an accent when they speak they can easily identified we read it in Matthew chapter 28:7 I I'll go there later after some They were they were easily identifiable. 24:23 They were not educated. They were uneducated people. Untrained people like these people. They didn't go to uh these schools ran by Galiel and other people. They were simple fishermen working like working class workingass 24:38 people. But when these people who came from because there is a big Pentecost feast is happening. This is also called the feast of harvest feast of weeks. People were came from all over all over weeks of the feast from Parththeians, Middayes 24:56 and Elites residents of Mesopotamia, Juda and Capadia, Pontis, Asia, Friia, Familia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Sirene and visitors from Rome both Jews and proelites 25:16 s uh cretins and Arabs who hear them, they are all hearing in their own languages what these simple people are speaking mighty deeds of God. What are they talking about? They are talking about the mighty deeds of God. 25:33 Now verse 14, huh? Peter taking his stand with the 11 raised his voice and declared to them. So I imagine your picture when I reading it, Peter was standing here speaking and then there other disciples, 11 disciples were 25:52 standing behind him. He picked up the voice and sharing their heart. That's what now we read it. Verse 38. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ 26:11 for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself." with many other words he 26:29 solemnly testified, kept on exalting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." Verse 41. So then those who had received the word were baptized, and that day they were added about 3,000 souls. I can continue. If you flip another 26:55 page, the same book of Acts, this is happened. This is happened in Jerusalem. And he didn't stop there. He goes on because he was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. That 27:13 changed brothers and sisters. The difference the same Peter. Now I wanted to go to that Matthew chapter 28. I just want to show the other angle of Peter. Okay, our hero. We'll see other angle. Matthew chapter 28. Matthew chapter 28. 27:42 Okay. 76. I'm sorry. I Matthew chapter 22. Sorry. I'm so sorry. 2276 I'm sorry for breaking you back again 226 76 oh my goodness 26 28:05 I lost 26 versus 69 now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard and a servant girl came to him and said you were with Jesus the Galilean but he denied it before all saying I don't know what you are talking about. And there is 28:23 another servant girl saw him and said to those who were there, this man was with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied it with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 A little later, the bystander came and said to Peter, "Surely 28:42 you two are one of them, for even the way you talk gives you way." Then he began to curse and swear, I do not know the man. And immediately a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered the word 29:00 which Jesus had said. Before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept. Wept bitterly. That's the repentance. I just put this picture together to give 29:18 a understanding uh what is Sanhadrin is Sanhadrin is equal to almost our supreme court acts chapter 2 back going back to acts chapter 2 and four I'm sorry acts chapter 4 29:34 he he was put in front of the 71 71 um kind of say big judges You see that uh who are the 71 member Jewish council uh combining religious 29:52 legislative and judicial power and a Roman oversight. He was talking this big under in front of this big crowd and what he was telling verse 4:8 Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them rulers and the elders of the people 30:12 if you are not on trial today for a benefit of done in to a sick man as to how this man has been made well and going in chapter uh verse 10 by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazareth whom you crucified, 30:30 whom God raised from the dead. By this name, this man stands here before you in good health. Now, you compare these two pictures, brothers and sisters. Before he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he could not defend his faith. He could not 30:47 defend his own Lord in front of a servant girl. Now, he has to stand in front of this big crowd. Look at that. He you imagine like he was standing there the black coat and these 31:06 are the leaders rulers he was testifying about. Verse 13. Acts 4:13. Now, as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated, 31:25 untrained men, they were amazed and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. So, this is what I want to emphasize. we have when we receive the power of the Holy Spirit um 31:45 isn't just a one-time experience. You have and then move on daily being filled with the Holy Spirit and the spirit continues to work in our daily life flowing through every area in our personal walk with God raising a godly 32:02 family. The Holy Spirit helps to love my wife how Christ loved the church. Raising the children with the discipline and instruction. Holy Spirit helps us to be obedient and sincere workers to build a pure church. The other person I want to share about 32:28 Steven. Stephen Acts chapter 6. Who is Steven? you can read it. Um, and I want to go to chapter 7 briefly few verses. What I want to tell about Steven is uh, Acts 6:5. And they chose Steven, a man full of 32:50 faith and of the Holy Spirit. for what these apostles elected uh are chosen uh Steven was to serve food to widows. There was a complaint for from 33:08 Henistic Jews versus the native Hebrew Jews. There was a dispute. So apostles decided, hey, we have to focus on preaching the gospel. So they had to choose seven men. One among them was this man Steven who was faithful, 33:28 full of faith and the full of holy spirit. So he was also um standing up standing up and sharing um what is this what is the Lord Jesus Christ has done how the Holy Spirit 33:47 changed his life verse 5 chapter 7 Acts chapter 7 verse 55 but being full of the Holy Spirit it. He gazed intently into heaven and saw the 34:07 glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the son of man standing at the right hand of God." So Jesus was 34:27 standing in many scriptures portions you may read it. Jesus son of God was standing next to the Lord God. But here Jesus was standing. Steven has a love for the people even while speaking the hard truths 34:45 really challenged me. I remember a time when I had to speak some difficult truth to my mom. I realized my heart wasn't like Stevens at all. I was angry not loving our trials will not be go in vain 35:05 brothers and sisters you know what came out of Steven's persecution one of the blessings there were many one of the blessings Paul was raised up from there and Acts 11 19 Acts 11:E 19 so then those 35:24 who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Steven made their way to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. Verse 25, 35:40 Paul and Barnabas goes to this church planted by the apostles. In verse 26, when he heard when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch and for an entire year they met with the church. Paul and 35:59 Barnabas one year they spent and built the church there. This is the first time we hear church in the New Testament and taught considerable numbers and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Where it started? It started 36:15 with Stephen's persecution and the Paul and other disciples raised to build the church. And Paul also says in Romans chapter 6 verse 3-4, don't you know that all of us who were 36:34 baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death also? We were therefore buried with him through baptism in death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father we too may live a new life. This 36:54 verse beautifully shows Paul's teaching the same pattern. Repent. Repentance dying to sin and to our old life. baptism, burial and resurrection with Christ and the new life beginning with the baptism and living in the 37:13 living in this new life in Holy Spirit's power. Paul's Paul puts it so clearly. Baptism is just a ritual or getting wet. It's a burial and a resurrection. Galatians 1:10, I am a bond servant of 37:31 God, not a people pleaser. It's a completely a new life. Paul confirms that in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone. The new is here. 37:50 So, trust the process. Trust the artist. He's not finished with us yet. God is working something beautiful. We need a genuine longing and earnest desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit's power daily and seek the power 38:08 of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives to be his bold witnesses and testimony. Again I'm repeating Acts 1:8 to be his witnesses at home in at work and other places where the Lord allowed us to go 38:26 to be his bold witnesses and to be his witnesses at church. He has given resources to be his bondervants to be his disciples and to make disciples earnestly. Seek the gift of 38:44 the prophecy brothers and sisters in your small groups gatherings in your daytoday meeting with other brothers and sisters. Seek seek the gift of the prophecy. A prophetic word will go a long way. They may forget the food you 39:00 served, but the prophetic word can last for years and seek that gift of prophecy to build a pure church for the glory of God. He sees the finished masterpiece and he is going to complete what he started with 39:18 us. From John the Baptist to Steven and to Paul, the message remains unchanged. Repent. Be baptized. and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. That is God's pattern for transformation and it's 39:35 available to each of us. Amen. [Music] If we had to summarize uh the message 40:12 for today, what would it be? In one sentence, we heard a lot of things, a lot of things this morning. It would be for me it would be repent 40:31 and be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It can't be any simpler. Um the Bible is not complex. It's not something to be studied to get a PhD. It's not something to get a seminary 40:50 degree. But it's a way of life. Um, but it won't make any sense. Especially when I was a child, it didn't make any sense to me like those disciples who were confused trying to make things figure things out. When Jesus, the one they've been 41:07 following, has just died. They were confused. But when he appeared again, their eyes open. And when they're filled with the Holy Spirit, then it makes sense. To get there though, the first step is 41:24 to repent. And I think most of us are there. The children who are growing up in the faith must go through that narrow gate repentance. Why is repentance so important? Why is it such a Because most people who do not know 41:41 Christ don't know it. Repentance is that gate that acknowledging my sin that I fall short of the glory of God and that I acknowledge God who is bigger exists and he's sent his son Jesus 42:00 Christ as a savior for me. That is the gate that I have to first go through repentance. That is a narrow gate and beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. fearing, accepting that there is one that bigger than me. And then as we walk in this 42:16 faith, the Lord also promises in the the New Testament that he will fill us with the Holy Spirit. He's more eager to give us the Holy Spirit. The Christian life is difficult, if not impossible, without the filling of the Holy Spirit 42:36 in the new covenant. And we must long for it as we have heard so many times. And you know it's almost impossible to explain the work of the Holy Spirit in a message until you experience it. The only thing only goal for us if we're sharing 42:55 anything is to create a hunger, a desire for the Holy Spirit. Here's some um but here's one sign that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit as we saw in 43:13 Steven this is something to look forward to um in Acts chapter 8 7 as he's being stoned to death being misunderstood by the Jews and they began nashing their teeth at 43:32 In verse 55, chapter 7 verse 55, being full of the Holy Spirit, here's one thing that I can learn. If you're full of the Holy Spirit, where are my eyes? If you're not full of the Holy Spirit, I know where my eyes will be. Trying to dodge those rocks or maybe 43:50 going at him with my full force trying to punch them. But if you're full of the Holy Spirit, here's a sign that you're filled with the Holy Spirit. I look instead of my enemies into heaven and then what can I see? My eyes are 44:05 open just like the disciples walking at MS Emmas they eyes are open the eyes of the heart and they see the glory of God if you're full of the Holy Spirit you will see the glory of God and what else do you see Jesus standing at the right hand of God 44:22 his sovereign at the most probably the worst time of his life being executed being stoned to death his reality is different the one who was filled with holy spirit. It's the most glorious time that because he can see and he says, "Behold, I see the heavens 44:41 open, the son of man standing at the right hand of God." He is overfilled with the glory of God. But here's the reality. When you see him, his enemies are shouting with loud voices and cover their ears and rushed at him with one mind to kill him. Right? 44:58 And when they driven him out of the city, they began stoning him. With the witness laid aside, the cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. There he is stoning him, Steven. And Steven knows that it's the time appointed for him, the last day of his 45:13 life, the last moment. He says, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And then here's another sign that when we're filled with the Holy Spirit, he can do. Then he fell on his head knees and cried out with a loud voice. 45:30 These are the last words of a dying man being executed wrongfully. He says, Stephven says, "Lord, do not hold this sin against him. Having said this, he fell asleep." That's a Holy Spiritfilled man. He can 45:48 forgive. wrongfully accused, wrongfully executed, but he can forgive with this love that he received. It's irrational love the Lord gives us because he demonstrated to us on the cross by sending his uh son Jesus Christ. 46:08 Um brothers and sisters, let us long for the Holy Spirit. And it may not make sense to the world what is so great about this. You're just dying. But for us who have hope in the eternal life, not our hope on this earth, the short 46:25 time that we have here makes so much sense to us the value uh of eternity with Jesus. So I hope we all have that longing. If you have not experienced meeting with the Holy Spirit, let us continue to be filled. Let's go to the Lord together in 46:43 prayer. Our heavenly father, we thank you Lord for opening our eyes and the promise that when we repent and repentance not only once that we we sin without even knowing that we sin. We 47:00 want to repent of all our sins and we want to hunger and ask for you to fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we may see you and your glory in this world. that our eyes may be glued onto you. Not on our enemies, not on our surroundings, 47:19 not our situations, not our trials, but on you standing at the right hand of throne of God. Lord, that's whom we want to see. That we can you pour us and we can um with the love that you display to us, 47:37 Lord, and that we can forgive others our enemies, Lord. That's what we need in this church. Lord, help us. Thank you, Lord. Pray in Jesus name. Amen. [Music]
