Being Filled with the Holy Spirit [Part 1]

Pastor mother and Bible teacher Alan Wright.

I don't know what to say. For I don't know much too little one drive for some of lifelong personal privileges. What can I truly understand about the plight of those who are hurt by systemic racism want to be a part of the answer. I want to contribute more than words. And though I may not know how I can learn that's pastor Alan another message of good news that will help you see your life in a whole new light. I'm Daniel excited for you to hear the teaching today. In the series limited as presented at renewal, the church, North Carolina. If you're not able to stay with the entire program to make sure you know how to get our special resource right now could be yours for your donation this month to Alan Wright strings as you listen to today's message go deeper as we send you today's special offer.

Contact us@pastoralan.org Pastor Alan.org or call 877-544-4860 that's 877-544-4860. More on this later in the program right now. Let's get started with today's teaching here is Alan Wright are you ready for some good news. Anyone can be filled with the spirit of the living God. Any believer anywhere can be filled regardless of age, social background, religious heritage, gender, nationality, or color of skin. Anyone can be filled with the spirit we are in a brand-new series. It is on the book of acts we called it unlimited and today we look at the beginning of acts chapter 2 starting at verse one. When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting in divided tongues as of fire appeared to them, and rested on each one of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews develop men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound of the multitude came together, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

They were amazed and astonished, saying, are not all these who are speaking Galileans and how is it that we hear each of us in his own native language Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to serene and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God and all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another. What does this mean the fact that the living God equally unreservedly comprehensively delights to fill any believer with his own holy presence proves more than any other evidence that every human is equally cherished and valued by God. When Christians are together filled by the same spirit, the spirit of Jesus himself. Barriers fall weight and supernatural love arises, the killing of George Floyd has grieved me as so many of you in an unprecedented way.

Perhaps it is the undeniable clarity of the video or the pitiful plea I can't breeze symbol of the white man's knee on a black man's neck for no reason. Maybe it's a combination of all these things, but I I like many of you have been undone and I don't know what to say.

For I don't know much. I know too little. What can I a person of lifelong personal privilege.

What can I truly understand about the plight of those who are hurt by systemic racism.

I want to be a part of the answer. I want to contribute more than words.

And though I may not know how I can learn. When I was a youth I worked at Wright's clothing store on Elm St. in Greensboro across the street from Woolworths where the citizens that became part of the foundation of the civil rights movement took place. I walked across the street and at lunch. There's a teenager I I had lunch and I sat and that will worth over and over but I I didn't really understand it. Six historic significance. I was really blessed that my parents to the best of my recollection never uttered a word that I can remember is racist.

In fact, as I've shared before my father gave me a precious gift.

One day as we are leaving the field. After one of my peewee football games. The football fields were adjacent to a city park and as we approach the parking lot.

We saw a middle-aged African-American man is sitting at a picnic table reading a book and as did most people in my home city. The man at the park table recognize my TV news man father and spoke to that was humble. He never acted like a celebrity. I like that about him. My father politely stopped to talk the man at the picnic table explained that he gone back to school and that he was learning to read. I want to be better than Martin Luther King. The barely literate man said as we walked to the car.

I unthinkingly mocked the man half said he can barely read and he wants to be better than Martin Luther King. I guess expecting my dad to join into the mockery. Never forget that day, instead of joining in my mockery.

My father said solemnly. I think that's a very noble goal for him. Son, so we walked silently to the car. Other than the memories of my dad given me the rapid towel treatment that he called the drying machine after my bath when I was a preschooler or the spy stories that he will for us at bedtime. I think I date the city park where my father blessed a black man and corrected me is probably my favorite memory of my dad and to my knowledge, to my knowledge, I never mocked in word or deed, a disenfranchised person ever again nearly 24 years ago when I came to be, pastor of Renaldo. Several churches had joined for an Easter sunrise service that year and for some reason that event didn't get scheduled again but Bishop JC hash of St. Peter's Church and world outreach Center and I very much want to continue.

And so we did and for 23 years. The first face other than my life that I've seen on Easter day for the last 23 years is the glowing face of pastor JC hash Bishop hash took over leadership of St. Peter's in 1987 after his father's death in 33 years of leadership he led that fellowship into becoming one of the largest churches in our region nationally sought preacher. He developed an extensive ministerial alliance and he's helped shape a generation in our community for Christ.

But when Anna and I began to spend some time with JC is why joy we just considered a high honor and we fell in love with them. They are deeply spiritual and they're just fun to be around. If you've ever worshiped it St. Peter's you will know what I know it's a community of love and joy will have joy and faith and a great sense of honor as our nation is reeling from the George Floyd killing. I asked Bishop hash if he would sit down with me for conversation on camera that might shed some light and some love. I want you to see our conversation and it's part of my message today and I hope that it will help you understand more than you do now and regardless of the color your scan to take next steps in letting go of any form of prejudice and so want you to enjoy this conversation at this very important moment in the history of our nation and when we come back from the conversation I want to show you from acts chapter 2 some beautiful truths about the infilling of the Holy Spirit and how anyone anyone can be filled with the spirit of been friends for 23 years and I would Rob should have our lives out here with you that a joy and there are two peas in a pod and a lot of a lot of similarity.

You have a lot in common with the bed with a labor. They love the Lord is and and they're both a force of nature themselves as a way you enjoy the Mary 607 for the right right there.

We got a long way to go and I just celebrate 35 enjoy have sure modeled for all of us marriage in and what marriage in the Lord wasn't at your family and your church and Alice was reflecting back how we became friends.

We been doing a son Easter sunrise service like that together for 23 years and I met you write off when we got here and 96 and I just thought bus Are somewhat different with you have what you been 33 years at St. this Saturday and and your leadership is been this amazing extraordinary but friendships important and I link so off enterprise thinking about will what are the right things to say and how we do that and when we been friends. I don't honestly I don't think that that's that that's my African-American pastor Fran adjustment will Princeton friends you know I think that's the difference.

Alan natural people focus on the natural things to people focus upon spiritual thing is by the spirit that we are able to come together and lock ourselves into one another because we are now in the perfect will of God or something when you move in the will of God. When you move when flashed in the flesh UK make things happen you can force it.

Would you make a mess, but when the spirit is in it. Thanks for several in the auto nearly half of where the same in the spirit and I and you know that we know that when we worship together in talent right will have more teaching moment from today's important series and ready for a new year and this is the year you start planning on dreaming friends raking here right ministries has for just a beautiful, inspiring love calendar with