0600 Pursuit of Power

Pursuit of Power

New Testament is still new though it's 2k years old

Acts 8:20-24

Samaria is hungry for something that they are willing to leave anything

They followed Simon, but now they are following Philip

Crowd followed dead man, till they met with Jesus

Samaria is hungry but inconsistent they received Jesus before

Without Holy Spirit there would be no stability in life

Revival is knowing there is MORE

Baptism, healing, deliverance, Holy Spirit

John knew something is greater than water baptism

Daughters knew there is more than land but water

Simon wanted power, not Holy Spirit

1. Holy Spirit is PERSON not PRODUCT

Person you love, product you use. Person you talk to, product you pay for

Your reward for relationship is power. No relationship no power

PRAYER: Holy Spirit I want to know you as Person

2. Power is NOT for Sale!

We can't BUY power, but it can be RECEIVED

Salvation can't be bought, healing, deliverance and power!

- good works did not give you salvation, can't give power

- God does not give us power cause we will misuse it (CORINTH & SAMSON)

This is not excuse to sin but reason to zeal after gifts

"Race is not for the swift. Battle is not for the strong. God has chosen grace over works, there is room for the weak, all boasting is excluded"

"Best man in this world holds his integrity no longer than God upholds him in it"

PRAYER: Your mercy and your grace is all I need

3. HEART is the contact point with HOLY SPIRIT (Ilya)

I would rather have heart without words, than words without heart

Christian by confession but not such in heart

Confess with mouth, but the heart we believe --- GOLIATH

Professional actors. Acting impresses people, heart pleases God

PRAYER: Create within me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me

4. POISONED by BITTERNESS

Every person who is bitter has a reason to be bitter

(((11 years. Burglar killed his mother and stabbed him 39 times)))

Bitterness is acid that kills its container

Bitter is drinking rat poison and hoping for rat to die from it

It doesn't matter how good the reason is, it never makes sanctifies bitterness

Forgive because you must be forgiven

Forgiveness is the shovel that uproots the root of bitterness

A. People don't deserve it. Pharisees did not deserve it. You don't deserve to be controlled. Betrayal is what they do, bitterness is what you do!

B. Don't wait for apology. Jesus did not

C. Forgiving is not trust or reconciliation (girl who got kidnapped; Joseph)

D. Forgiveness is permission for God to use that evil for your good

E. Forgiveness does not change the past but enlarges your future

(((Nelson Mendela (1994-1999). 1962 sentenced to life but served 27 years. 1990 was released. 250 awards over 4 decades! One visitor, 1 letter every 6 months. 18 of July 67 minutes //// 93 years old)))

PRAYER: Forgive me Lord as I forgive those who sin against me

5. BOUND by SIN (Saul & servant of prophet undermined value of sin)

Sin is not  mistake, but disobedience (Apologize or REPENT - Sulamita)

Sin is not weakness. It kills. (prodigal son was not weak) - WORK ON IT

/// wages of sin is not weakness, Satan did not come to make you weak

Sin is not an issue, it's monster DEAL WITH IT OR KILL IT

It's not something you get, it's something that gets you (donkey, Samson, 3 Hebrew boys)

It's not having to get but something you are addicted to, habit, chain, BONDAGE

(football player killed his couch; couch sexually taking 46 accounts)

Sin is not an accident, it's slavery

PRAYER: Deliver me oh Lord from chain of sin

God will take care of my enemy....drown in Sea, burn in fire....dare to follow