The Power to Live Life

The Fulfilled Life

John 10:10 NKJV

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus himself says that he came and did what he did to give us an abundance of Life

That means a lot of life. A Rich Life. A life lacking nothing.

A fulfilled life.

How many are living that all the time? How many wake up every day and experience the fulfilled life?

If you weren’t able to raise your hand, I think I know why.

And if you were able to raise your hand, I can tell you how to make it even better.

The Way It Was!

Genesis 3:8-

Genesis 3:8–24 NKJV

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” 16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” 17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” 20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. 22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Adam and Eve had full communication with God.

Every day he would walk with them through the garden that he had made for them

Every day they spoke as friends, as I am speaking to you right now

They had conversation

They had communion

They had relationship

They understood as God did

They only thought good things

They only did good things

They were totally innocent

Until - Temptation - Rebellion and Sin

And that brought death

Mooth, Mooth - Spiritual death and finally physical death

No more walks with God - in fact, they are thrown out of the garden

No more relationship with God - they are spirit dead

That part of them that conversed and understood as him is now dead in them.

And that has followed down the line through every human being born into their lineage - We are born in sin, we are born spiritually dead.

But what If I were to tell you this morning that there is away for your spirit to be more alive than ever?

I’m not just talking about salvation. (yes that is a big part of it) but I’m speaking of something that Jesus will do in you that will not only bring your spirit to life, but bring your spirit back to where it should be. Like Adam and Eve first had

Would you want that?

What If I could show you today a way in which you can walk with God all day long.

That you can talk with him and understand him and have communion with him. EVERY DAY!

How many would want that? Raise your hands. Great.

Exodus 31:1–11 NKJV

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, 5 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship. 6 “And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 the tabernacle of meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furniture of the tabernacle— 8 the table and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base— 10 the garments of ministry, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place. According to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”

Exodus 31:

God gave Moses the directions and blue prints for his tent of meeting. The tabernacle.

The place where God would reside to be in the center of his peoples lives and with (among) them wherever they went.

Remember, Israel was to be a theocracy - A God ruled people.

And I’m sure that as Moses gets these directions, there is some feeling of being overwhelmed.

If you read these directions, God is very particular. Measurements have to be exact, things have to look a certain way, and up until this time, these people were in Egypt and all that they knew were masonry and shepherding.

They made bricks and built things for Pharoah while maintaining their livestock while they were at home

And God is talking about material and sewing and hammered out gold work. Bronze work, gem work, clothing for the priests.

And then God says don’t worry Moses. I’ve place my Holy Spirit in certain men so that they can do the task.

In other words, the Holy Spirit came upon them so that they could get the job done.

What if God could do that today?

What if I told you that you can become better, even good at those things that you are failing at today?

What if I could show you a way that you could learn things quicker and better and that you could apply those things to your life?

Is there any body would would want that today? Great. We are getting there.

I’d run out of time if I showed all of these today.

But let’s look at

Numbers 24:1–9 NKJV

1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 Then he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened, 4 The utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open: 5 “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! 6 Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the Lord, Like cedars beside the waters. 7 He shall pour water from his buckets, And his seed shall be in many waters. “His king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted. 8 “God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones And pierce them with his arrows. 9 ‘He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’ “Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you.”

Numbers 24:1

Balak is the king of Moab. The Moabites are scared to death of the people of Israel because of the way that the Lord had allowed them to overcome the Amorites and they know that they are next

So Balak commissions a prophet Balaam to curse Israel.

Balaam knows better, but on his way he has some weird stuff happen

Donkey story

And then we come to this. His third of four blessings that God gives him to pronounce over his people at the cost of a very angry King Balak.

Look at verse 2 - and the spirit of the Lord came upon him

That’s the Holy spirit

and what does he do, He knows the right things to say over God’s people.

He blesses them and speaks Gods own words over them.

What if that could happen in your life today?

What if in work or at home when there is a situation that is so far beyond you and yet you could have a word or a suggestion that would solve it. I mean all the time. Would you want that today?

What if you had the ability to walk up to someone, anyone, whom you know or don’t and prophesy over them. Or give them the Word that God wants them to know at that moment in their situation. Would you want that today? Wouldn’t that make life better

What if you could hear from God all the time, his word for you, or for your loved ones or your co-workers?

Who would want that today? Raise your hand - great. we are getting there.

Can you give me a little bit of time for just one more today?

I promise it will be worth your while.

1 Samuel 16:10-

1 Samuel 16:10–23 NKJV

10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.” 17 So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18 Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.” 19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20 And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul. 21 So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer. 22 Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

God sends Samuel to anoint a new King. Saul has blown it and God is removing him. God wants a King that will honor him before the people and lead the people into his presence.

That king will be David.

Jesse has all 7 of his sons go before Samuel, but none of them are it

And then he asks, do you have another?

David is brought in from the field and anointed and look at verse 13

And the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward

But what happened to the other King almost simultaneously?

The spirit of the Lord departed from Saul

It would seem like the Holy Spirit has a special anointing for people in leadership doesn’t it?

And that Holy Spirit on David had a way to calm down and speak to (or here sing) angry spirits and people who were being driven by other spirits than the Holy Spirit.

Wow, think about that. There are others in the Old Testament where it says that the Holy Spirit was in them or upon them for long periods of time, but I think that David is the best example.

That Holy Spirit upon David gave him the ability to lead - and to this day his is known as the best king that Israel ever had. Even in his mess ups

That Holy Spirit upon David gave him the ability to know how to defeat his enemies and to have the power to do so.

Look the little kid against Goliath.

That Holy Spirit upon David gave him the ability to trust God in everything, and David is such a great example, because he asks God about everything. And God gives him the answer.

Wow, what if I could show you a way for that to happen in your life today?

What if you could have the power to beat your addiction today?

What if you could have the power to overcome your fear today?

What if you could have the power and wisdom to defeat the enemy in your life today and in your home today and in your marriage today and at your job today? Would anybody want that?

What if you could have the power to calm nasty situations? Would you want that?

Who would want that today? Raise your hands.

Turn with me to

Acts 1:4–7 NKJV

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

Jesus’ disciples are chomping at the bit.

They want to go.

They have seen him crucified, and their spirits were low

But now they have seen him resurrected

They have a great story that world needs to know

They need to get going.

This is what he has called them to

This is what they were created for. Do you remember the feeling that you had when you first asked Jesus into your heart?

You were going to tell everyone.

Remember I told you in the beginning of this that I would tell you why you aren’t living the fulfilled life? It’s right here

Jesus is telling his disciples the same thing right here.

He says, whoa, wait. Yeah, you are hyped right now.

You are newly saved. You have an excitement in you

You have a zeal. But those things can wear out and this world that you are going into will tear you up....

UNLESS - You have the Holy Spirit in you. Not just on you, but in you.

So wait until it comes, because I am going to baptize you in Him

And you will receive power and you will be my witnesses.

Let me ask you how do we become witnesses for Christ?

We do exactly what Christ did. AMEN?

If I tell you that Jesus is here today, how will you know that?

You will know that as Jesus moves in this place just as he did in the Bible.

So Jesus says, wait until you receive the Holy Spirit in you as I did.

Luke 4:18 NKJV

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

Jesus told the people.

I’ve been baptized me, and the Holy Spirit has come upon me

And now I will do these things.

And we’ll pick it up there next week.

PRAY