In Sync with the Spirit

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 hears the message in sync with the spirit take God's word and that turned to the eighth chapter of the book of acts asked chapter 8 and that the last time we were together we spoke of Philip in and we met him here this eighth chapter of acts, and Philip was a godly begin a layman who was mightily used of God serving and sharing the love of Christ within the congregation but he had the heart of an evangelist, and so Philip was engaged in personal evangelism.

First up in Samaria where he was involved in a great work of Christ in that place.

The spirit of God was moving in a mighty way. Many lives were being changed and miracles were taking place within something very unusual happened as Philip was led by the spirit out into the desert. It didn't make sense at the time to leave all the action at Samaria where the presence of God was so thick you could cut it with a knife and to go out into the desert out into a kind of unknown zone, but Philip without question obey God. And there he met one person and the entourage of this individual and an Ethiopian man who was an associate to the Queen of Ethiopia returning from Jerusalem having worship are tempted to worship God there and get going back empty and it was there that God connected because Philip listened to the spirit and because the spirit was also working in the life of this Ethiopian man that God connected them and Philip was able to leave this man to Christ and the interesting thing is that history tells us Christian tradition tells us that this man that Philip led to Christ they are in the desert went back to Ethiopia.

God mightily used him to preach the gospel and to share the gospel with all of North Africa, so you never know what can happen if you simply stay in seek with the spirit in your life.

In verse 26 of chapter 8.

I would just point the three verses out of this really is a follow-up to the message that you heard last time, but there are three verses one verse 26 now an angel of the Lord said to Philip rise and go to the south of the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.

This was an angelic being an angel of the Lord, prompted by the spirit of the Lord to go and Philip was listening and therefore he was led by the spirit and then down in verse 39 and when they came out of the water. The spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more.

Earlier we are told that the spirit told him to go join himself to the chariot. Look at verse 29 and the spirit said to Philip go over and join the chariot so on three occasions.

Philip was led by God. He was prompted by the spirit.

So the question I believe we should answer today is does God still do that today. Does God still leave is prompt us to urge us to move by his spirit.

I believe the answer is yes, that God spirit certainly speaks through his word objectively. Personally and there's so much leaning of course and the word of God because God word is what Marie out by the Holy Spirit. So when you read God's word.

You are listening to the spirit.

But beyond that, in addition to that there is this inner voice. This interleaving of the spirit you say is this thing on audible voice of God knows louder than that this interleaving weight, which is much more than just gut instinct or human intuition or intuitiveness. This is something that God does when we are in step with him when we are in sync with that. God spirit provides motivation and inspiration wisdom as we walked with him. So the question is how do we hear from God today asked the question I want us to ask and answer because I'm certain that most of you listening to me right now want to do God's will. I mean if you had the choice you really want to do what God wants you to do what you just need to be certain that God is leading you need to know his plans and his purposes for your life there so many decisions that we have to make today decisions regarding your career decisions regarding your children. Decisions regarding your relationship. Your marriage should I marry this person or not.

Mary, this person decisions regarding your ministry. What involvement, what kind of ministry will I get involved in and at decisions regarding what I'm going to share my faith with those are all decisions that matter most in their many others.

We need to know that we are hearing from God and doing what God wants us to do.

So how do we do that I will mention several weights that you can hear from God number one. Begin by offering your life to Christ every single day. The key word there is often I'm talking about yielding your life to Christ on a daily basis to me of the state that the will of God has something to do with fate case Arras or whatever will be will be that we have become a sense in one sense fatalist that what's going to happen is going to happen. We can change it or we can corrected in any way that's not the view of the Bible.

Certainly God providentially leaves us, but we are not fatalist in the will of God is not just a matter of fate, nor is it a matter of fortune is not good luck or bad luck in the will of God is not the fortuitous conjunction of circumstances in our lives things that just happened will of God is not faith is not fortune, nor is it a formula I can't stand up here and give you six ways that absolutely you can know the will of God in your life are in this circumstance is not a formula, it is following Christ day by day is seeking first his kingdom putting Jesus first in our line and following him. That's where the will of God begins. It begins every day by turning your life over to Christ and trusting in him, knowing that if you trust in him and acknowledge him in all your ways. He will direct your path – Proverbs 3, five and six.

So when we talk about offering our lives to God on a daily basis you say.

Well I did that a long time ago I gave my life to follow Christ's well that's like the fellow's wife was complaining that he/she he never told her that he loved her anymore and he said look I told you I loved you when I marriage, if anything changes I'll let you know don't try that at home because every relationship must be renewed constantly. Of course, and and certainly our relationship with Christ our love relationship with Christ. Each day should be renewed as we open our hearts and yield our lives to him. What is the Scripture say in Romans chapter 12 verse one that we are to offer ourselves present ourselves as living sacrifices under God course you know the problem with a living sacrifice know you problem with a living sacrifice, is that a living sacrifice keeps crawling off the altar, and therefore we have to bring ourselves back to the altar back to that place of surrender and sacrifice that we might live for Christ that is an offering of your life when you wake up in the morning. What are your first thoughts so often we think that we can know God's will and live in, under the leadership of the spirit on the run, but that is impossible.

If we're going to hear the still small voice, the inner voice of the spirit that means taking time out in time away to listen to him and so to offer yourself to God.

Each day is to simply come before him and say Lord I don't know what's ahead of me in this day exactly I have a schedule but I want to be on your schedule. I will walk with you but I give myself to live under your Lordship.

I surrender myself to stay in step with you. I will follow after you and he will began each day just simply offering your life. Once again, for Christ giving your day to him. It opens up a new world of possibilities and potential for your life to listen to the spirit of God to his promptings to his nudging to the open to the opportunity that are around us each day. Listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and today's message in sync with the spirit of a 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 letter of the gospel and share it with others. This evangelism bundle includes three of Pastor Jack Graham's books the help of Easter life Buck and God's promises for doubt filled days. This evangelism bundle is our thanks for your gift today and thanks to a generous matching grant your gift today will be doubled. So call now to request your evangelism bundle when you get: 800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627. You 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.Margie Ellis get back today's message in sync with the spirit not only offering your life to Christ each day.

But opening your heart to new possibilities opening up to new possibilities and potentials each day of your life is what happened to Philip because Philip was sensitive and in step in sync with the spirit of the Lord God led him to another person, and an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life and you will get up every day and offer yourself to God and then stay in step with him open to new possibilities in your life. Each step like the dawning of the day in the sun gets brighter and brighter and brighter throughout the day so will your life as you follow here are some questions that I believe the spirit of God can use in your life to help you detect, discern, and then do the will of God for your life. Perhaps the spirit of God with every decision or choice that you make number one would ask you is this, in accordance is this an alignment with the moral will of God for my life. Let me tell you what I mean by that the moral will of God is this an alignment with the moral will of God in my life.

First Thessalonians 43 says, for this is the will of God for you. Even your sanctification. Sanctification is a long word which means to be set apart and site location is the process in which the spirit of God enables us to be more like Christ. Each day, so of course if that's the purpose of the spirit if the spirit of God if this is will to make me more like Christ that I need to always be asking myself with every decision I am making is this in alignment with God's moral will to make me more like Christ.

So that's the first thing the spirit is going to ask us secondly is what I'm about to do in harmony with the commands the truths the principles of the word of God, God will never lead us beyond what he is already revealed to us in his word, and so the Scripture says in verse two of Romans 12 be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God. Our minds are renewed in the Scriptures, and of course God would never lead us to do anything that would be in defiance of what he is already revealed in his word. Thirdly, have I saw godly advice keyword. There godly advice because there many people who have opinion and there many dispensers of advice, but when you have a decision to make. You should make it in concert with people you can trust to know and love God and the wisdom of God that the Scripture says that in a multitude of counselors there is safety. You certainly ought to ask for godly advice. Then the Holy Spirit would ask is this decision fulfill the great Commandment and the great commission in my life. Does it help me fulfill the great Commandment and the great commission. The great commandment is what love the Lord your God with all your heart mind soul and strength in your neighbor as yourself. The great commission is to go into all the world and make disciples in all these two planks.

We walk each day. So if I'm making a decision. We should ask is this helping me is it moving me expeditiously down the track in fulfilling the commandment to love God with all my heart.

A lot of people my neighbors as myself and to assist me in sharing my faith with others.

Every decision we make in line should consider that consequence. Next, how will this decision affect my immediate relationship Ephesians 533 says let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. So one you quote that works because that's right on the heels of understanding what the will of God is be filled with the spirit so any immediate relationships whether husbands or wives, fathers and sons mothers and children and so on should always make decisions based on what is best, not just for me but those that I love is immediate relationship around has a gun affect my children if I did this as a going to strengthen our marriage. If we make this decision and so on. Next, will the ultimate outcome of my decision bring glory to God. First Thessalonians 518 says that it is the will of God that we give thanks am I doing something for which I can give thanks to God. The Bible says whatever you do in word or indeed whatever you eat whatever you drink. This is first Corinthians 1031 do it all to the glory of God. So if there's something I'm considering a choice that I am to make. I need to know is the ultimate outcome of this going to bring glory to God when it magnify Christ in my life. Will it be cause for Thanksgiving in our family. Next will result in the result of my decision been keeping with my priorities of giving my best energy. My gifts my talents my energies in other words, if I make this decision. Is it compatible with my gifts with my talents with my abilities. The energies that I have Matthew 633 but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added on to you so if I do make a decision. Is this in keeping with that ultimate priority in the priorities in the energies of my life and the next what is my motivation for making this decision, the Bible speaks of doing the will of God from the heart. Is this a heart decision. Is this something that I know I can do with all of my heart was the motive in this is this all about me is my motive, just more money is my motive, just more famous my motive just more stop is my moat.

What is my motive. I need to know that my motive is to do the will of God with a pure heart, and then next and I totally committed to whatever whenever, wherever God leads me as I seeking in my willing to say Lord your will, anywhere, anytime, anyplace, because if I'm not, why should God show me his will and his wife are my life. If I'm going if I'm not willing to do it at the outset. This is an multiple-choice Lord, show me what to do and I'll decide what I want to do it now if you really want to know what God wants you to do. Then you start with this site. Lord, wherever what ever Winamp you lead me to do.

I will do by your grace and your power exactly that and then finally if you're making a decision listening to the spirit in your life. The spirit of God will ask you, do you have true peace in this decision is that sense of well-being. Knowing that what you're about to do is pleasing to God.

Colossians 110 walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him.

I love what the psalmist said in Psalm 23 in verse two he leads me where besides what Stillwater and so when we are walking with him. There will be a lot of noise and a lot of turbulence in and distractions. There will be that since that we are walking by still waters. In the stillness of the soul as we are walking with God that will be evident. There will be genuine, true peace and Allah. So is the Holy Spirit leading very quickly.

There's one final word and that is if you want to hear from God not only offer yourself every day and open your life up in your heart to the work of the Holy Spirit in you, but obey the will of God that you know and then wait on the rest.

Most of us know more the will of God in the ways of God in our life and were doing right now, and often the Holy Spirit prompts us to do something and we choose not to do it and therefore we are in disobedience to God. How can I expect God to lead me if I'm not willing to obey him, God will not leave you one step farther than the measure of your obedience to him and your willingness to obey and often the spirit of God prompts us to do something in that means that we have the choice to obey or not to believe or not to believe so many times the spirit of God may bring up a name in my mind.

I don't think that's just an accident because so many times I'll think of someone I may pick up the phone and call that person and that person so Jack you'll never know what this call means to me because I've just been going through such and such in my life and your call is a godsend. Or maybe the spirit of God prompts you to write a note or send that email you something just occurs and reoccurs in your mind and in your heart that you want to reach out to that person. Or maybe, is that that person down the hall at school are are cross the island work or whatever and in God's prompting you to speak to that person going bike that person the church go get that person a gospel tract or are by that person a Bible and give them to. I don't know what the spirit of God may be prompting you to do, but if you are listening, not just the big things about careers and callings in consequences, but in choices that we make every day. I can't tell you how many times I make.

I may get up in the pulpit and the spirit of God may prompt me to say something that wasn't planned, necessarily, but I believe prompted by the spirit and inevitably somebody walk up to me and point out that one Scripture that one verse of that one idea and say have you been reading my mail because that was for me. God was speaking to me.

I'm telling you, God still leaves his dear children, along and if we will obey him use I will pastor I made mistakes and missteps in my life and miss the will of God. There was a time when I dreams and desire to do the will of God that I'm out of it now. Well, let me assure you that God can even take your mistakes and your missteps and according to Romans 828 calls all of that to work together for the good to those who love the Lord and who are fitting into his purpose for their life. God takes the good and the bad and the ugly. And by the chemistry of the cross mixes it all together for his perfect will. And where God doesn't ruin your life he will over if you listen to your listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and today's message increasing this. 3.2 billion people in our world still have no access to the good news of Jesus, and we must do what ever it takes to reach the lost, with the hope of Christ. That's why were excited to tell you about a matching grant that will double what ever you get 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 grahams books Tempe share the gospel right where you are. This evangelism bundle includes the help of Easter life and God's promises for doubt filled days so call now 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 to 59789 that's PowerPoint to 59789 and don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop our E store. Give the gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional our website again is Jack Graham not a large pastor. What is your PowerPoint for today. It really is possible sync with the spirit every day of your life. But as we talked about in today's program being in sync with the spirit is more than just responding to some gut feeling or heating your own human intuition. It comes about as you really abide or stay connected to Christ every day.

Jesus said abide in me and I in you. So let me ask you an honest question.

How often do you think about the Lord Jesus throughout your day. I think one of the biggest problems among Christians today is that there are a lot of us who do the God thing on Sunday morning and then we live the rest of the week without giving Christ our lives, our desires, our hopes are ambitions we don't think much about Jesus, but the living step and in sync with God and to know his will for our lives every day. We need to learn how to focus on him. Proverbs 3, five and six says trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.

Now I know that your life is extremely busy. I know that there are many diversions and distractions every single day, but I really want to challenge you to start giving Jesus the first thoughts of every morning and that you would think of him throughout the day and throughout your week when your feet hit the floor in the morning again praying and thanking God and committing your day to him when you walk into immediate work.

Ask God to guide your speech and your thoughts and to give you wisdom as you make decisions when you are leaving your children or parenting your children ask God to give you what it takes to be the right kind of parent and the best example to your children when you lay your head down on your pillow at night.

Thank God that you've lived another day and breathed a prayer of appreciation and thanksgiving for the opportunity to live for Jesus and as you begin focusing more and more on God every day and throughout your day.

You're going to see how he is leaving 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 Joyce again next time. Dr. Graham brings a message about how to seize the most opportunities God sends your way.

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