Today’s message summary of September 29, 2019 from Pastor Gus Brown:
The Holy Spirit is in control. It can be hard to see this or figure out, but often we may not see it unless we see the end result of whatever it is that we experience.
In our lives, we recognize that God gives us minds in order to discern His presence and seek after His will. This is something that must be experienced and it does not happen automatically.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are revealed by the manifestation of the Spirit. It is only as the Spirit wills.
We are told not to lean on our own understanding, but to acknowledge Him, and He will give direction (Proverbs 3:5-6).
1 Corinthians 12:7
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
The common good is for the church, and even more, for the body of Christ. We are given the Spirit for the purpose of living within Him and to build each other up.
1 Corinthians 12:11
All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
We are all at different levels and planes of understanding.
Not all of us are able to teach. A baby is unable to teach an adult, but we need to take into account that spiritual maturity has nothing to do with one’s age. It has to do with the working of the Holy Spirit and how the person is trained to serve and impart God’s wisdom.
All of us are born with talents of some sort. The Holy Spirit provides gifts that help to bring out even more for a person that can be imagined.
God is able to give you the ability to live in a world where people need to see love and friendliness. What you discover is that what you are accomplishing through the Spirit is all about His power. His power enables the believer to go beyond what is seen and what we believe we can accomplish.
The Holy Spirit, by His sovereignty decides upon the gifts which we have need of for a given situation or ministry in which he assigns us. He gives according to His will and purpose.
He gives in spite of what you perceive need of. It may go beyond your own reasoning and understanding. He demonstrates His gifts through us.
If we decide to work or live under the obedience of the Holy Spirit, he will then provide the gifts, abilities, power necessary, for you and I to perform whatever He assigns to us.
Now, we need to understand that we were not given free will for the purpose of doing whatever God wants us to do. We have a choice to follow Him in obedience or to live according to our flesh.
1 Thessalonians 5:19
Do not quench the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Make no mistake about this: God will accomplish what He desires to do whether you are with Him or not. What you can miss out on is the joy of serving and living for Him.
Don’t grieve the Spirit. He is more than able to provide His gifts for you.
God calls according to your willingness to serve Him and in your desire to serve Him.
Avoid a false confidence in your own abilities.
Philippians 3:3-7
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh–though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Many of us have been zealous for whatever it is that has operated within our flesh. We need to see that the flesh works in opposition to God.
If you put your trust in yourself, you will not see the Spirit working in your life. You will not experience the “manifestation of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
When you understand your position in life, you recognize that it is the power of the Holy Spirit that overcomes your flesh in order that you may live for the glory of God.
Romans 7:21
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
The Lord wants you to be of service through His gifts of the Spirit. He wants you to be informed of this. (Many churches are guilty of a lack of information as to how we are to live for Christ.)
1 Corinthians 12:1-3
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
As Christ teaches us through His living Word, He gives us wisdom and knowledge that will prevent us from being tricked.
Ignorance: not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication, to ignore, not understand.
Hosea 4:6a
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
God would not have you to be an ignorant Christian. Dig into His Word for yourself. The Holy Spirit can take you much further that anyone who is preaching and teaching you. You’re the one that has to go after it.
Avoid these things:
- Reluctance: a lack of enthusiasm
- Unwillingness: refusal, to learn in order to give your best.
- Opposition: resistance, something that gets in the way.
You have to decide what you want to follow.
Confidence in the Spirit is what you want to achieve.
As one of God’s children, He will never leave us nor forsake us. You may not have a lot, but you have what you need to keep you going.
You have much more in Jesus Christ.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 