Acts Chapter 1:6-8

Seek the spirit convicts us as unbelievers to become believers in the spirit empowers us to go from being believers to be in witnesses and note the legal term witnesses doesn't say were supposed to be the jury doesn't say were specially the judge was to be witnesses, telling of what we've seen telling of what we know we need to change the world. That's what the Lord has told us the and say okay once you ran your hand on or about anybody else know go change the world go to hell. It's not the great suggestion called the great commission. I don't know about you but I need all the help I can get and I need the empowerment of the Lord to do welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today were so blessed to have with us on the program. One of David McGee's associate pastors DA Brown welcome brother Bob. This teaching is going to be a good once or do we have enough power to live for God. Let me change. Do you have enough power to live for God those listening right now. Do you have enough power to live God today. The teacher will talk about just that. Can we do it past today's new dive deep into this and accept the one I hope you buckled up you going to be blessed. Sounds great DA. Now here's David McGee with part two of his teaching. Talk about the Lord.

Acts chapter 1 verse six. Therefore, when they had come together, they asked and say Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel, the disciples they just encourage us at every turn. Don't that I mean here they are. After three years of intensive training. They've seen the crucifixion they sing the resurrection, and there still missing NASA question. Are you going to restore Israel now overthrew the Roman government. Don't miss this. They had been with Jesus and spent all this time with Jesus, but even after these intensive training of three years. They still didn't know what Jesus was doing. That should encourage you because you know what I don't know what Jesus is doing. Sometimes I'm a scary but know it is doing all times of the I'm sorry I don't mean reveal some things to me and and and quickens my heart about stuff stirs my heart amounts often been a lot of times I'll step out and stick my neck out and and got blessed so many times we think God I want you to use my life.

But here's what I need I need the Lord a three-year five-year tenure point need to spell it out. I does he tell me what you going to tell me what you require me to tell me all the interesting God is not bright like this. I remember early on in the church and in projecting out and planning and doing things.

Accordingly, by member we been in the ministry for like a year to the church at the start of we were just trying to hold on for dear life. You know, and then some guy came in to see what your five-year plan.

I probably shouldn't last she made some answer brother were just watching God work at some point we need to begin planning and were in that space in our planning out doing things praying about things, but if you've ever found yourself in the place where you're not sure what Jesus is doing okay she because nowhere in this book doesn't say they were supposed understand all things, the life lessons were not told to understand all things, but to give thanks in all things were not told to understand all things, but to give thanks in all things. Now I understand you're probably like me in some ways you want to know everything you think you don't want to know everything I have come to the point. I don't want to know everything. I'm okay not knowing everything because there's things I need to know there's things that you don't need to know you were not wired and created to know everything that your brain can hold everything to be okay with it because a lot of times this can cause a lot of discontent in our minds what we don't.

We don't know something, but there is this curiosity in us right meets mind is just so you mentioned that they don't know what happened was he doing she don't hear about. Also more engaged we need to know. Probably be okay not know why because there's so much that we don't need, and now they stop that Jesus was going to start a political revolution and Jesus was interesting so much more.

I hope you're not of the persuasion that you think Jesus is trying to start a political revolution. I don't think that the answers are found there. The founding Jesus got a goal you know the political analgesic Jesus like me in your sink into small changes or change the whole world revolutionize the way people think. See we get really myopic, and we think like these terms and lose the bigger picture wants to use us to change the world change the world is amazing and say that now, and people really good. You know what I'm saying that a few years ago people change the world. We can even find a proper church built in the media. But you know were doing it now were doing.

I mean to the website. We have many different countries people go to the website.

Listen to the teachings were doing stuff with radio was television. Why do we do that because we want to tell the world we want to change the world. Jesus also change the world they know what we think that we can do it through and if you think that there's things that God can't do your God is too small, your God is too small.

God is a big guy and conference do incredible things over seven and he said to them, Jesus is speaking to them.

It is not for you to know times are seasoned which the father has put in his own authority. I want to know something I want you to notice what Jesus does not say in replying to the question they say are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel at this time. He says no it's not for you to know the timing interesting know why he doesn't say I'm never going to restore Israel. He never says I'm not going to set up an earthly kingdom. He says you know what's not for you to know the timing my freedom. Notice he doesn't say.

Well now I'm finished with Israel. I'm done with Israel, all those promises. No one void and now the church has replaced Israel. Some of you may have been taught that God now is promises to Israel are now no one void and the church is replaced Israel so every time that you see the word Israel in the New Testament it applies to the church. That's bad teaching support teaching it's ripping the Bible out of its context because you have you ever known the Christian church to have 12 tribes not but it talks about Israel and the 12 tribes talk about the hundred 44,000 is amazing. This prophecy got about 144,000 read it tells you 12,000 from each tribe what it means.

I'm thinking he means 12,000 much rather be standing in front of God at the end of all this and go get I thought you meant what you said. I'm sorry that should then be in will I just knew the 12,000 about about three and a multiple of you, the church is not replaced as you can show me that in this book and I can show you many places in here the book of Romans. For instance, where it says tells us as believers, we don't support the roof.

The roof supports us weep in Grafton and I'm so grateful and again the 66 books in her 40 different authors. There's only one author that wasn't Jewish church is not replaced as God's promises to Israel still stand in place.

Why is that important to you if you're here this morning and not Jewish. Follow me on this if your mentality is God broke his promises to Israel because they did not try that your perception of God. That's the way you perceive your heavenly father to be manner you in trouble. What happens to you the first time you mess up all promises. No one void God's going to go out and find someone to replace you know that the God I serve. I'm so glad that you have messed up in God didn't replace me in his promises weren't null and void. He kept his promises. Do you have to understand because there are teachers, there's teachers out there. Quite honestly that I admire some of their teachings, but they believe in this replacement theology sat. There's a lot of very good biblical teachers that do not believe in replacement theology look over seven Jesus thing you know you don't need to know the time and into me that makes perfect because when you were teenager. If your parents ever went out of town and left you there at the house asking for a full confession or anything like that but things probably went on your parents didn't know about and you know that you know on Sunday night and many parents are sitting here going out with my kids alone bring about okay I'm to be home Sunday night at 8 o'clock.

You know you realize what happened Sunday night at like 7 PM. The vacuum comes out the cheese Nipsco you know they were all over the floor and all these different because they know the parents are going to be there and never came home early that sometimes a good scenario and many of you guys probably have parties when your parents were not me, but many of you guys probably didn't tell us why because we do the exact same thing him in a midnight goal. 1159 man, I'm gonna repent color church, will start serving didn't know my name.

Serving children lose everything. George is that's what we would Jesus not get back that day watches you back like that. I know that I would act like that. So Jesus is not for you, for you to know that when you see certain things going on. You can know that were getting close, but he says to him you know you need to take those small steps catches or care want to take this verse I want to go from a to B and we get to be in any shows us where C is we get to see. Then he shows us worthy, especially the Lord works with us and at times I may have been frustrated by Lepic.

Now, as I've grown in the Lord. I'm grateful for. I'm grateful for and notice what he saying to us were sitting. Don't be focused completely on when I'm returning on the task at hand. You're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com there's a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be saved. You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior. You need people to pray for him. You need someone to present God's word to him every day were present in God's word to them here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee.

We can pray for them as well. Just by simple going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button. All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love that needs know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost love ones. 1 Awesome Way to bring your love ones to Jesus. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. Hey, want to pray for a few cities in our listening audience right now.

Specifically, Seneca Falls Windsor, New York, and also Brown Summit Burlington Eden in Elizabeth city, North Carolina God, we thank you for the people turning in right now the cities we pray that you would pour your Holy Spirit out on.

We pray for those who are not listening but who live in those cities got up. Pray that they would trust in you Lord that they would hear your gospel and that they would say yes to Jesus we pray the people get plugged in Bible teaching churches. Hello, we pray for those in leadership positions in the cities that you give them wisdom and discernment and they also look to your Bible for answers on how to lead Lord please bless see cities and may there be revival in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse eight. Now again this is a key verse for the whole not just this chapter for the whole book is acts verse eight reads but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria to the end of the earth and what it verse we could spend weeks on this one. Worse were were not. But we could.

There's just so much that in here now this word power is the Greek word do nemesis where we get our word for dynamite a lot of power and he saying to wait and you will receive this power careful here. What is the power for so that they could be witnesses. This is where a lot of folks get off track with the Holy Spirit. We start time of the Holy Spirit realize what a lot of people begin to think they begin to think about the gifts what we believe about the gift we we believe this, we believe that what we believe about the gifts it's amazing to me. You know what these gifts aren't even mentioned in this verse Jesus said you need the Holy Spirit so you can have power to live for me now. Is there any one of us in this room right now that would say they don't need any more power to live for God… Got enough power always get it right, can any other say that if you can man pride comes before the fall. I need this power. I need this dude in this power to live for him. See here's the thing Donald G uses this analogy hello one reason North Carolina so you grown up with the tweets the on how many of you ever been the tweets you leave this place up in the hills is really cool and I guess is less coolish you get older but they got a steam engine. There and if you're standing right beside you, and then the whistle blows to whistle on the start you hear the whistle blow in this big impressive plume of steam rises from the whistle sitting beside the string you can think okay seems for the whistle stainless so that they can blow the whistle disdain is for in a steam engine.

No us to drive the train for the whistle whistles like outside. I exactly Holy Spirit is to drive the train is the power to live for God. Don't get lost on thinking about the whistle from the battles and all these other things but to realize that everyone of us needs the power of the Holy Spirit to live for the Lord's life lesson here Holy Spirit gives us power to live for God gives us power to live for God. You know and understand many of you in here of scene excesses having to do with the Holy Spirit people do some crazy things and they blame it on God Holy Spirit had me do that.

Didn't do that I seen so much ridiculous stuff that had nothing to do with the Bible so masculine you look again to what we need is a solid biblical knowledge of the Holy Spirit and we need God's power in our life. And if you're trying to live the Christian life in your own steam be fairly frustrated right I want God's power mode and need God's power my life will only get the Holy Spirit the moment we asked the Lord to forgive us of our sense, I don't think so.

That's not what the Bible teaches.

And this is where we begin to get into some of the details that maybe some of us agree on. Maybe some of us disagree but see there's there's an interesting thing understand talk about the Holy Spirit, especially if you're new here you go. One of those churches.

We believe the Bible would teach the Bible nor politics is what we believe it's in here. We want to do it. It's not in here but on Jesus somehow knew that we would be fearful when it came to this and he spoke to this in Luke chapter 11 verse 11. This is your father's if your children ask for a fish to give them a snake instead or they asked for an actor you give them a scorpion, of course not if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him some of you for the first number live in a diverse and going never saw it. I ask these are my words. These are the words of Jesus, and Jesus says yeah if you asked heavenly father. He will give you the Holy Spirit that tells us a couple things number one you got 1/2 were supposed to ask and that if we ask they'll do it and that there's nothing to be afraid of actually heard some people say would you ask the Holy Spirit in your life you'll do really weird things will make you do weird things and and and demons are coming is such nonsense.

You think my heavenly father invested heavily product will you give me the always where we you fill me with the Holy Spirit is demanding. What can I God, are you following her deep flag and I had a neighbor every time I talked about the Holy Spirit around me is like to just twitch you know why the Holy Spirit why what's up with that patient will working with a start time to me about the Holy Spirit and he said he went to this meeting and he went up and he asked to be filled with the spirit back over and he was paralyzed for like an hour couldn't stand could move, he felt like some I had control over him and hold his arms when he told me it didn't sound like Holy Spirit sealant than selling to Holy Spirit them either and I see no biblical example for the was what a sad thing that here's a man and man love the Lord, but he rejected the ministry of the Holy Spirit because one person's un-biblical excessive example please don't find yourself in that place don't find yourself in that place.

A lot of times we do every week we talk about spirit filled churches is interesting thing spirit filled church you will use that phrase you know a lot of people mean when they say spirit filled church that means somebody at some point in the service is going to get up and run around spiritual church or somebody and ability to stand up and start yellow spiritual church. There's four earmarks of a spiritual church and in these are probably going to catch some of you totally off guard.

Number one, it's an evangelizing church when the Holy Spirit comes and empowers us to be witnesses. We begin to be witnesses lesson them when earmark of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives of inner spirit filled church and maintained. None of the foregoing to be the gifts were attire about the gifts later on.

The second thing is it's a reproducing church. It's a reproducing church. What I mean. But it grows see a currently living things grow, so a church that grows is what God intended. It's not that, in this latter day.

We got all confused with mega-churches now 3000 people are going to get saved in a couple chapters. That's a bunch of people. The third thing as people are being changed.

People are being changed.

We see it here. Lives are being changed hearts are being changed.

People are going from thing it's all about them the knowing that it's all about Jesus before thing is changing the world change in the world see the spirit convicts us as unbelievers to become believers in the spirit empowers us to go from being believers to be in witnesses and note the legal term witnesses doesn't say were supposed to be the jury doesn't say were specially the judge was to be witnesses, telling of what we've seen telling of what we know we need to change the world. That's what the Lord has told us to do and say okay once you ran your hand on or about anybody else not go change the world go to hell. It's not the great suggestion called the great commission.

I don't know about you but I need all the help I can get and I need the empowerment of the Lord to do again. It starts from a place of realizing that Jesus died for your sins, wants to forgive you of your sins starts from there. And if you've never done that in just a moment and to give you an opportunity to do that, but that's not where it's Dobson ends. Are you engaged in the kingdom.

Are you serving the kingdom. Are you serving the king. That's the plan to live for the king and the Lord said you would go out and with you will be witnesses something you are as you follow the Lord and you live for the king you live in for the king and are you fully are and empower do you know Brenda you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again, congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make.

God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading plan and thought to meditate on throughout your day.

From the heart.

David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the book of acts