Transformed

Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham later in the program will tell you that you can get a copy of Dr. Graham's evangelism bundle. The first, here's the message transform your libels in turn with me to ask the second chapter. Two centuries ago, a group of believers led by 12 men armed with nothing but a simple yet powerful message of the gospel of Jesus Christ change the world. It was a small group of 120 people.

He began meeting in an upstairs room and praying and waiting on the promise that God the promise of the father. They had no human advantage.

They had no physical advantage. There was no media, there was no satellite technology. Certainly not computers the World Wide Web. There were no published materials or books. There were no financial resources. They had no magnificent facilities and yet these Christians not only survive but they why facing impossible odds. Even extreme persecution and opposition, and yet they delivered on the message of Christ and fulfill the mission of Jesus unless you think well these people were superchargers they were super saints, and they are like me. Well I beg to differ. Those 12 disciples and others who joined them were ordinarily ordinary. But something happened that engage them with God and with the gospel and with going into all the world. Something happened. Something change these ordinary man who had failed you know they lead at the cross.

They ran for their lot between the cross of the resurrection they were hiding in the shadows fearful of their life. Even after the resurrection. When they saw Christ, and certainly believe, yet they wonder about their own future.

They were living with some regrets because of their failure.

Simon Peter was a perfect example of that, there was confusion, lack of clarity but Jesus gathered them before his ascension and his last words to them was to go in all the world and preach the gospel, but he said I will not leave you abandon off and I will be with you and my very spirit, the Holy Spirit will empower you as you engage the world. Someone said that the Savior went up the spirit came down, the church went out and the lost came in and that's what happened on the day of Pentecost in acts chapter 2 that day.

A day that makes a difference in our lives to this very day takes place where you look at just the first portion of acts chapter 2, when he says 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 and divided tongues as of fire appeared to them, and rested on each one of them and they were all marked this filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. If you are an ordinary person and most of us are and think that God uses other people, but he can't use me.

I want to show you and God's word today how God can use you mightily forcibly powerfully in the world and this is normal Christian living is to live in obedience to Christ and his call, his commands upon our lives. Now when you think about it from a human perspective. This whole thing about spreading the gospel at the outset. Didn't make much sense it gathered these fishermen and tax collectors and he had given them.

He had placed in their hands. The future of the Christian faith. The future of the church was in the hands of these men. There was no plan B. He had no second-team backup squad. If these men fail.

No, he gave them the chart. He issued the call and they responded when the Holy Spirit fell they were transformed. Now, maybe you're wondering okay what does it mean to be transform. Well, that's what we see in the verses that we just read a moment ago how we are transform number one from emptiness to fullness.

These early believers had been with Christ and Christ admin within God was with us in the presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ but spiritually they were empty and they needed his presence to go forward with their lives and the future of the mission. No, Jesus incarnation was God with us. Calvary was God for but at the day of Pentecost. We now have God in because on that day, with accompanying signs and symbols in miracles and powerful manifestations. The spirit of God, the promise of the father was delivered and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Now of course when you read this passage, the subject of the baptism of the Spirit in the filling of the spirit comes up. Perhaps someone has asked you in the past.

Do you have the baptism of the Spirit have you been bad times with the spirit what what is the baptism of the Spirit the word baptism needs to immerse and so when you speak of the baptism of the Spirit means that we are not immersed when we are bad ties in water. We are identifying with Christ, his death, his burial, his resurrection, and so with the baptism, the spirit takes place we are now identified with Christ is a Windows this take place. Is there some activity.

Is there some action that takes place.

Subsequent to salvation, not at all. As a matter of fact, the baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place simultaneously instantaneously automatically when we are saved when we come to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. For example, in the same chapter 2 of acts. Look at verse 38, when many who heard the message of Christ can walk running up and wanting to know what to do in response.

Peter said to them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin, literally translated, because of the forgiveness of your sins and notice the sprays and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In other words, when you repent and you respond in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ to come to Milliam as your Lord and Savior, then you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit notice. This is not gifts of the spirit, but the gift of the spirit. In other words, God's Spirit now indwells God's spirit comes to live in and every Christian has received the Holy Spirit because of what happened on the day of Pentecost in the spirit of God arrived.

Now every believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit. When we receive Christ is a house so well. Listen to first Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 13.

You may want to mark this as a reference chapter 12 verse 13 first Corinthians 41 spirit we are all baptized, all baptized into one body, Jews and Greeks laser free and were all made to drink of one Spirit. So again I say the baptism of the Holy Spirit is something that God does for us. God gives to us when we come to know Christ. Did you know that if you don't have the Holy Spirit.

You're not a believer. That's what Romans chapter 8 verse nine says anyone who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him is impossible to say Jesus is Lord without the convincing convicting work and witness of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John chapter 16 that the Holy Spirit has come in the world to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and so he convicts us and he convinces us that Jesus is Lord and we respond because of the work of the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Spirit means that Christ is now in us his Spirit is living in us. We are no longer empty. We are no longer powerless to live a victorious life, a successful Christian life. We now have the power of his presence. This is the supernatural sovereign work of the Holy Spirit is the singular work of the Holy Spirit, never to be repeated work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He indwells us personally indwells us permanently. He witnesses within the witness of the Holy Spirit, assuring us that when we open God's word and we read God's word and we respond to the gospel, assuring us within that we belong to him.

This is testimony when the spirit came that day they were transformed from emptiness to fullness or listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham in the message transformed even for God-given calling to take the gospel to the world. That's why we put together a special bundle of resources to help you grow in your love of the gospel and share it with others. This evangelism bundle includes three of Pastor Jack Graham's books the help of Easter life and God's promises for doubtful days. This evangelism bundle is our thanks for your gift today and thanks to a generous matching grant gift today will be dabbled so call now to request your evangelism bundle when you give call 1-800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627.

He can also text the word PowerPoint to 59789 and don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop our E store. Give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional our website again is Jack Graham.award pellets get back today's message transformed.

Elsa took place that day they were transformed from senior to courage beginning to believe that men like Simon Peter and these others who ran at the cross on then the same people who are standing and praising God and proclaiming Christ in the city streets what happened.

What made the difference. What changed these Christians from cowardly to courageous hiding in the shadows to running in the streets and proclaiming the gospel is only one explanation.

The arrival and the anointing of the Holy Spirit that when the Holy Spirit came there were powerful demonstrations of his power and his presence. For example, there was a mighty rushing wind, then an explosive ball of fire. According to the verses we just read and separating and lighting upon the heads of believers. They became as human candle says as of five. They were now fired up, propel, and the baptism of the Spirit as they receive that that witness a network in the spirit that day they spoke languages that they've never learned the purpose of this message is not to discuss the gift of ponds or languages, but I can tell you for sure when you read this passage of Scripture. You don't have to be. You have to wonder about this.

There is one thing for sure when you read this passage when the Holy Spirit came and baptize them with fire and they spoke with with other tongues, they spoke with the languages that they had never learn genuine languages, authentic languages that work was heard and understood by the people to gather the day of Pentecost is great Jewish feast from all over the world and so the miracle of Pentecost was a miracle of sound.

There was the sound of the mighty rushing wind. There was a miracle of sight. It appeared upon them as defining tongues of fire and there was the miracle of speech as now these are proclaiming with praises to God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

All of the symbols of what takes place in our lives as well.

The sound of the mighty rushing wind, the word for wind here is the same word which we when we read our Bibles for breath. The New Testament word for the spirit is breath in the Hebrew language. It is really is breath God. We thought adamantly, they became living souls. Now they have been briefed upon with life and power. What Ezekiel the prophet saw a vision of the valley of dry bones. These skeletons had been slain in battle and nothing was left but a bone here in a bone. There, but then the sinews came together in the bones were connected but they were still lifeless and powerless and then God please enter these skeletons into these bodies and they became alive, and that's the picture of what happens when we were dead in our trespasses and sins, and now we are made alive in Christ. And now the Spirit of God lives in us and believes them sent, of course, the wind is invisible. You can't see it, you can only feel it. Some people wonder about faith, about the Christian life and can you believe in faith and you believe that your faith is real. Can you believe in God by faith because you can't see faith in you can see God, Jesus, that is like the wind blows where it will. You can't see it but you can see the impact and the influence of the wind and then of course fire is a symbol of God and his presence. When God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush is that I'm the great I am. Our God is a consuming fire and the fire of God's presence is now within us.

Fire cleanses fire consumed these men and women are now consumed by the work of the Holy Spirit and now they are communicating the word of God. This is what happens when the spirit of Christ comes to live in us. We are now emboldened and in blaze to stand up for Christ to share Christ to shine as lights in the world.

So what happened when they were transformed they moved from emptiness to fullness the spirit of God is now living in that they moved from failure and fear to courage and they moved to boldness and confidence in that faith. Acts chapter 2, verse 40 and with many other words he bore witness and continue to exhort them, saying, save yourselves from this crooked generation who is this week this assignment. St. Peter, he denied Jesus now renewed by Christ himself restored in the love of God. He is now filled with the Holy Spirit and he is confidently courageously sharing Christ. Chapter 4 of acts, verse 13 later when Peter and John were arrested and beaten within an inch of their lives were sharing their faith and were told never to speak the name of Jesus again, but those who watch them. Those who observe them said even though they were uneducated and common man they were astonished when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, how can you be courageous today. The biggest problem we have for the most part in living for Christ serving sharing our faith is fear.

The fear of rejection the fear of mocking the fear of laughter fear that someone is going to call you a religious freak Jesus freak a fanatic whenever the fear were all filled with fear of various kinds of various levels were recalcitrant and reluctant to go public with our faith. So how we going to be courageous by adding a theological degree are going to the next latest and greatest conference on evangelism more by some emotional esoteric experience in which we get zapped and all the sudden start speaking the word of God. Not at all, but rather when we are filled with the spirit of God, can we live in obedience to his commands and the boldness that God gives us is real.

The Holy Spirit helps us and enables us and empowers us. Jesus said I will give you a helper and he will be with you, even the spirit of true, just as the father sent Jesus, he is now sent the Spirit to live within us. So I ask you today, are you living a transform. Have you moved from fear to courage from failure and defeat the victory and success in your Christian life you move from being a weakling in a web charger public faith goes to being a warrior for God to witness for Christ. In other words, are you transform should I ask your wife or your husband or your kids should ask the people you work with are you transform for you see, while every believer possesses the spirit.

Not every Christian is full and processed by the spirit, the spirit you have all the spirit. You don't get the spirit in liquid portions of parts. But the question is does the Holy Spirit have you the spirit of God resides in you, but does he preside he is resident is he present I heard someone say a long time ago that many Christians have been to Calvary for pardon, but they'd never been to Pentecost the power while we can never repeat this day. This historical day of Pentecost. This was a once and for all powerful event in history. Christian history that inaugurated the birth of the church and baptized believers into his family forever why we don't attempt to to pray for another Pentecost. We will and pray for another Pentecost anymore than we would pray for another Calvary or another Bethlehem. These are historical acts of God, but some of us need to pray for a personal Pentecost in the sense that we ask the spirit of the living God in us to fill us. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and while there is one bad-ism of the spirit. There are many feelings and did you know this is a command of the word of God to be filled with the Holy Spirit will talk about that in another message and what that means but to be filled with the Holy Spirit means that your controlled by the spirit of God, who is living in you.

That means you will be transformed. Some have the spirit of God, and you will understand who you have and what you have and therefore you're trying to do everything that you do try to pray, try to witness trying to worship. Try to be a good husband try to be a good father try to be a good person you're trying to do all this in the strength of your humanity, and it doesn't work that way. God has given us power I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Christ is living in you and the greatest spiritual lesson I ever learned since the day I came to know faith in Jesus Christ was the salvation that is in Christ, that we are not only saved by his death, but we are saved by his life, his spirit now indwells us and infuses us with spiritual power so that we can win life's greatest battle so that we can overcome temptation so that we can defeat the enemy. Knowing the greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. We can overcome opposition against all odds. Even though we don't have every advantage. We know that the message of Jesus Christ can change the world through us. Imagine what could happen if on that day, 120 were engaged by the spirit of God and without turn the world upside down.

Imagine what can happen if believers today were all filled with the spirit of God and went out as flaming on fire witnesses for the Lord Jesus. Just imagine what you need to pray today for personal in that the spirit of God would fill you in huge take the message of his love and grace. So shop will there listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham in the message transformed 3.2 billion people in our world still no access to the good news of Jesus, and we must do what ever it takes to reach the lost, but the hope of Christ. That's why we're excited to tell you about a matching grant that will double when ever you give today to help reach more people to PowerPoint your support will help broadcast the gospel into some of the most spiritually dark corners of the earth will say thanks for your gift by sending you three of Pastor Graham's books County share the gospel right where you are.

This evangelism bundle includes the help of Easter life and God's promises for doubt filled days some countdown to have your gift doubled by the max and request your evangelism bundle: 800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627. You can also text the word PowerPoint 59789 that's PowerPoint to 59789 and don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop our E store. Give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional our website again is Jack Graham.Margie*what is your PowerPoint for today… Take a moment to talk about our lives and maybe words that so often, unfortunately describe our lives. Try the word empty or what about the were defeated or even the word fearful of these the kinds of words that describe your life or to the words fulfilled faithful courageous describe you only life is being transformed by the spirit of God can be described as fulfilled faithful and courageous. And if you're like me, I know you want your life to be described in these ways, yet so often we get hung up on our past. How we fail God how we send, but think about those first Christians, one denied Jesus three times the night before the Lord was crucified. Another had a huge anger problem at all but one deserted Jesus when it came time for him to die on the cross. They all had reasons to beat themselves up and even disqualify themselves from God service but wait a minute that's not how God operates God renewed, restored, and use those early disciples because he filled them with his spirit. They could be restored and again use mightily of God in our remaining moments together today. Let me ask you is there something in your past that is keeping you on the bench spiritually. I just think about this for a moment you have disqualified yourself in your out of the game right now because you think God no longer can use you maybe is more than one thing that you've done. Maybe us many things that you have done. Let me assure you as a child of God, of what the Scripture says to you in Romans 81 there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ.

Satan wants you to believe the exact opposite and know how easy it is to listen to his lies.

But remember this is a follower of Jesus, you are not to live in condemnation over your sins, no matter how many are how bad they may be crushed and him turn from your sins, repent and receive his forgiveness and the fullness of the spirit and God will use you in amazing ways. You will just be prepared and that is today's remember when you give a gift to PowerPoint your gift will be doubled by a matching grant call one 800-7954 627-1800 795467. You can also text the word PowerPoint 259789.

Join us again next time. Dr. Graham brings a message about how you can boldly share the only message that can transform the world. That's next time find PowerPoint with Jack Graham PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint ministries