Wild & Free: Into The Wild

June 27th, 2021/Riverside & Lookout

Pray:

Title: Into The Wild

Unfortunately for many of us we have experienced churches with extremes related to the activity of the Holy Spirit. Some are too comfortable to step into the wild while others are too extravagant to get rooted in the Word.

John 4:24 says “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.” I’ve heard it said that some people would rather live in misery than mystery. There’s something scary about the unknown and supernatural, but there’s also something dangerous about the comfortable. I want to step into the wild!

In 2nd Corinthians 3:17 it says “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Paul is talking about the freedom of seeing the Lord with the veil taken away. Here’s how I’d apply that: we believe that as we step into the wild, unknown, and supernatural, there is freedom on the other side. We want to walk in the Spirit, be guided and led by the Spirit, so that we can experience Freedom in our lives!

Backstory: Growing up afraid to step into the wild. Feeling the presence and power of God, but never experiencing the permission to embrace the supernatural. I want to be a part of a supernatural move of the Holy Spirit.

Main Points: 3 realities of the Holy Spirit in our lives

1. You can have a relationship with the Holy Spirit

   1. 16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? - 1 Corinthians 3:16
   2. Paul wrote that to the whole church together, and it is true of each believer too (1 Corinthians 6:19). You will never develop a personal relationship with someone you don’t see as a person!

   3. The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity

      1. God the Father - Provider (John 3:16)
      2. God the Son - Savior (Romans 5:8)
      3. God the Holy Spirit - Helper (John 14:16)
      4. One God - Three Persons. Co-equal, but distinct.

2. The Holy Spirit is omniscient (infinite understanding), omnipresent (everywhere at the same time), omnipotent (unlimited power), and eternal (not bound by time and matter)

3. He creates, comforts, guides, leads, regenerates, brings about rebirth, sanctifies through conviction of our sins, and is in tune with every detail of our lives!

4. He sealed our salvation, he fills us to serve and carry out the mission of God, and He empowers us to live a Spirit filled life!

5. Application: How to build a relationship with Him?

   1. Talk to Him
   2. Listen to Him
   3. Yield to Him
   4. Obey Him
   5. And watch Him work!

6. The Holy Spirit illuminates the truths of God

   1. Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God… 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13

   2. The Holy Spirit Illuminates God’s Word & God’s purposes to God’s people.

      1. Here at Pinewood we believe that the Word of God, illuminated by the Spirit of God, is enough to produce the people of God.
      2. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, - Ephesians 1:17-18

      3. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. - John 16:13

         3. The illuminated Word of God leads us to repentance by faith and sustains us through sanctification.

      4. If we want to let the Spirit light the way we have to get out of the way. We have to yield, submit, and surrender to Him.

      5. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live a supernatural life
         1. Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3

7. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit will speak to the truth of who Jesus is and will bring about true and genuine repentance for those that say “Jesus is Lord”.

   1. “I don't want the world to define God for me. I want the Holy Spirit to reveal God to me.” AW Tozer
   2. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: - 1 Corinthians 12:7

   3. Our giftings, ministries, and activities can all be different and the Trinity is very active in the diversity and creativity of them all!

   4. Verses 8-11 of 1 Corinthians 12 gives a list of 9 spiritual gifts, these gifts we can receive from the Holy Spirit for the good of the body and for glorifying God.

   5. Unity, diversity, and love are anchors in your life if you desire to live a Spirit filled and Spirit led life.

   6. Each gift or supernatural ability is unique, but they all have the same source, the Spirit of God.

   7. He decides who gets what and when. Therefore, our posture is simply to pursue and desire the gifts, yield to His Spirit, and activate the gifts in our lives.

   8. A spiritual gift is a Spirit-given and empowered ability to serve Him in ways that benefit others and point to Jesus.
   9. “Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless.” - Charles Spurgeon
   10. Application: We can know our gifts through prayer, reading the Word, worship, service, and community.

8. Understanding Prophecy

9. “Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.” - 1 Corinthians 14:1

10. Question: What do you think of when you think of prophecy?

    1. Prophecy is primarily someone who has immersed themselves in the Word of God, and they’ve prayed and asked the Spirit how the Word speaks to people in specific circumstances.
    2. So biblical prophecy can be both foretelling and forthtelling.
    3. Prophets see into the future as they speak into the present.
    4. Forthtelling can be defined as speaking out God's Word to those God intended to hear it for strengthening, encouraging, and bringing comfort.
    5. Foretelling is telling what will happen before it happens for the purpose of strengthening, encouraging, and bringing comfort.
    6. When activated and enabled through the Holy Spirit it can speak to things in the future.
    7. 3 Prophetic Truths:

    8. All are called to pursue the gift of prophecy (Accessibility/Permission)

       1. This is not for your benefit or for your glory, but for the building up and edification of the church.
       2. “On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.” 1 Corinthians 14:3

       3. What a gift to be able to minister to someone through the Holy Spirit speaking through you.

          2. A prophetic word must be tested (Accountability/Protection)

       4. “Don’t despise prophecies, 21 but test all things. Hold on to what is good.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 CSB

       5. Question: Why would he tell us to not despise prophecies?
       6. Because sometimes people get it wrong. That’s why it’s important that we examine everything carefully
       7. Story: Vous Church Prophecy
       8. Be cautious of “God told me…” or “Thus sayeth the Lord…”
       9. While this may be true and not wrong to say, it can come across as you trying to legitimize something that otherwise might not be necessary. Other ways to say that could be “I felt the Spirit say…” or “As I was praying I sensed that…”
       10. Remember, the receiver has more power than the giver, you decide if someone that is giving you a word resonates or not. And either reject it, or receive it by faith. (*Ray)
       11. “The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,” - Romans 8:16
       12. Prophecy should be discerned in the context of community.

       13. “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. 30 But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. 32 And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets,” - 1 Corinthians 14:29-32

           3. Prophecy is unique in how it is given and received (Diversity/Powerful)

       14. It could be a word, image, direction, etc.

       15. It could be foretelling or forthtelling.
       16. It could be given to a stranger or close friend.
       17. Next steps for activating the gift in your life. (*Ray)

    9. Learn about the gift (pursue and desire it)

    10. Understanding the purpose (1 Corinthians 14:3)

        1. Strengthen
        2. Encourage
        3. Comfort
           3. Activate hearing, seeing, sensing, and perceiving the Holy Spirit in your everyday life.
        4. Prophecy Definition: Spirit-guided speaking that is inspired by God’s word and that makes the message specifically relevant to people’s lives or to the life of a church community. - Tim Mackie

Closing: Stories of prophecy, gifts, and the supernatural.