My Response is My Responsibility

Welcome

Wonderful weather we’re having. The kind of weather that will let you plant corn today and eat it off the cob tomorrow!

Next Sunday: Baby Anna LaRue dedication. The following Sunday: Craig Adams preaching.

I want us to have some prayer this morning.

We need to be very open to whatever the Holy Ghost may say or do today, because I believe that we find ourselves in a pivotal moment. I say again, This is a pivotal moment.

We need to pray a prayer of selfless, open-mindedness for growth. “Lord, however you want me to change or grow today, I am open to it. And I desire growth more than comfort.”

Text

1 Thessalonians 5:14–22 NKJV

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

Intro

I want to present something inspired by Pastor’s preaching last Wednesday night on Spiritual Demonstration. What we heard was a masterful explanation of authority in the spiritual realm. It was said that the only way we are going to stand against spiritual wickedness in high places is: SPIRITUAL DEMONSTRATION. We need the Holy Ghost moving and working and we need people who are willing to step out and be used in this way.

And I remember telling a few people after that service, “This is a shift.”

This morning I’m choosing the title: My Response is My Responsibility.

What I want to do today is to speak about equipping us and readying us for Spiritual Demonstration. And I’m going to make a series of important statements, some of which may be somewhat uncomfortable yet necessary.

Because it’s not enough to say, “Well, I desire God to move and work through me today.” And it’s certainly not enough to simply walk through life like every other person, step into church, sit on the pew, and expect that something big will happen without any of our own effort. No, we can’t afford to be that way.

If we really want revival, then we have to be ready to do all we can on our part to make this happen. And this is what I am talking about today. There are three different areas that I am going to address:

Creating An Atmosphere

Being Available

How To Respond

And I am going to be about as practical in my teaching as I have ever been. I’ll offer things you need to write down as, “This is something I am GOING to do, because I want to see revival.”

These are things that we need to get to. It’s part of growth.

It aught not be that we stand pat and never do these things.

Apostolic maturity means doing these things.

And if I were to sum up the things that I’m about to say, I would just give you a quote from Pastor LaRue on Wednesday night:

“We’ve got to have a relationship with Jesus, and we’ve got to learn to rely on the Holy Ghost. This is the only way that we will see a national and worldwide revival.”

Pastor Phil LaRue

Exhortation To Improve

Paul Gave a Push

I want you to notice that Paul, in our text, was giving a push.

In this chapter from 1 Thessalonians, Paul was giving his points for improvement within the church assembly. So we can say, for certain, that it is not only the desire of God for His Church to improve, it must be our desire for His Church to improve.

And during these instructions for improvement, Paul turns in a new and stronger set of brief commands that begin with, “And we urge you, brothers.” “We urge” is more authoritative than Paul’s previous “we ask” in other places of scripture. And now Paul was turning away from just speaking to ministry - he was talking to the whole church in saying “brethren”.

And he says such things as:

1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 NKJV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

The Opposite of Quenching the Spirit

I want to just point out that scripture that simply says, “Do not quench the Spirit.” I don’t know about you, but I find this to be a compelling, strong piece of instruction from the Apostle.

It’s only five words, but it seems to me that there is a lot wrapped up in those five words.

From my studying on this verse, it might be more literally translated as, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” And while Paul was most precisely pointing toward people who would try to stop the gifts of the spirit being loosed and allowed to work, I want to talk about this in a little broader sense...

The Spirit (The Holy Ghost) is a very powerful, wonderful thing. But here, in scripture, we are told that WE - us, humanity - can quench it. Quench, meaning “extinguish, or put out”. This Demonstration of the Spirit that we are desiring to see, that we want so badly, that is a MUST for revival and spiritual warfare… if we are not careful, we can cause it not to be at all.

I have walked into churches at times, in which I found that there was either an intentional or unintentional QUENCHING of the Spirit that was taking place. You can just feel it taking place in the spiritual realm if you have any sort of discernment at all. The reason and the need for welcoming the Spirit in was clearly there, but there was a resistance that was overwhelming, causing there to be a sort of a lull, if you will.

Some had allowed the Spirit to be quenched personally in their own lives. And what they didn’t realize is - LISTEN - their acceptance of a quenched Spirit in their own lives was spilling over into lives in the Church around them.

… and it makes… for DEAD CHURCH.

GOD DON’T LIKE DEAD CHURCH.

You ought to just get the Holy Ghost on you and find someone and tell them that right now.

I was in a church once (somewhere north, south, east, and west of here). And I felt just this sort of thing. A lull. And not only that, you could sense exactly where it was coming from. There was a brother sitting halfway back in the middle section. And his attitude and body language toward what was happening in this service was just like a virus. You could not have been more dead, bitter, careless. It was plaguing everyone around him, because they had followed him in this church to this point. He took the lead. And his leading was to be absent from what the Holy Ghost wanted to do.

And the pastor got up to take prayer requests and the man finally moved a bit. He waved his hand and when he was called on, said, “Yeah, I just want to pray that we could see God move here again.” And in my mind, all I could think was, “Brother, the move of God you wish to see involves NOT being a bump on a log.”

God does not like dead church!

Which is why I would like to bring up the fact that IF the Spirit can, in fact, be quenched (as the scripture says), then that implies that the Spirit can also be kindled!

IF SOMEONE CAN SPIRITUALLY POUR WATER ON THE SPIRIT, THEN SOMEONE CAN ALSO COME ALONG AND SPIRITUALLY POUR GASOLINE ON THE SPIRIT!!!

Let me tell you what the Bible says...

2 Timothy 1:6–8 NKJV

6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

I believe that God would like nothing more than for someone who is open and attentive to what He can do, to take about a 50-gallon drum of gasoline and drop it on the fire of his spirit!

And this needs to be our attitude about it. If you come to church or attempt to pray and truthfully, you are always entirely absent-minded or couldn’t care less what takes place, you are likely not going to see much at all happen. But if you are intentional, if there is a fire and a passion still in your heart for God, then you will naturally do things that will kindle the flames of the Holy Ghost!

New Members, Visitors, Family Need to See a Demonstration of the Spirit

And this is no small thing that I’m talking about today...

Our new members, visitors, family that comes in - they NEED to see a demonstration of the Spirit! It can’t be optional! It can’t be something left to chance!

When someone sees the burning bush or tongues like as of fire on heads, like mentioned in scripture, they are bound to be changed forever! You’ve seen something supernatural, unexplainable, and powerful!

And when they come in here, maybe it is that they see it and never turn to God and be open to Him after that, but it won’t be because I quenched the Spirit! I’m going to be sure that I entertain the burning bush! That I entertain the flames of fire on heads! Because if they never see it - they’ll never turn to it! I’m at least going to make sure they see it!

That’s why MY RESPONSE IS MY RESPONSIBILITY! My response is not Pastor’s responsibility! It’s not the worship team’s responsibility! I have a responsibility TO RESPOND! To respond to the preached word! To respond to the Holy Ghost! To respond to what He has done in my life!

Tell someone next to you: MY RESPONSE IS MY RESPONSIBILITY!!!

So the points that I’m about to give right now are how we pour gasoline on the fire of the Spirit. The 50-gallon drum I mentioned? I’m about to hand it to you with these points.

And these points are true. I know because I’ve tested them and seen, myself.

Creating An Atmosphere

You can create an atmosphere where God is welcomed, and the Holy Ghost can freely work, unquenched.

Expectation

Last Sunday, I said that we are waiting on an expectation.

Expectation shows faith. Faith that God can do something.

It’s easy to have an expectation going to Camp Meeting. It’s easy to have an expectation going to Ladies or Mens Conference. But the same God that works there… WORKS HERE!

And He does on Sunday Morning, Tuesday Prayer, Wednesday Night, and any other time or place in my life!

We need to have an expectation! Today! Tomorrow! When Bro. Adams preaches here! God is going to move! When Bro. March preaches in a moment - I am expecting something special in the Holy Ghost!

I must expect miracles!

It creates an ATMOSPHERE!

Pre-service Prayer

Get in touch with God early.

It is more difficult when we begin service and start from there. But if you are already in touch with God, praying toward the service, things flow much easier.

Praying before the moment is like setting the ball on the tee that God can then hit a homerun off of. But it’s not something that can be done without some discipline.

I want to say that I appreciate the step that Pastor and Sister LaRue have taken in praying as often as they are. And I think it is only right that we follow in behind their leadership and commitment. Tonight, our staff meeting is going to involve a conversation about pulling prayer to the forefront and making it an intentional, pre-service item, structured. It’s part of that 50-gallon drum I mentioned - AND IT WORKS!!!

I wonder if I can get 10-15 people to commit with me that we are going to take that step with Pastor! We are going to pray into services and pray over services and kindle that fire!!!

Hey - if we’re going to get where we are going, prayer is going to increase!

Worship

Make your worship like gasoline to a fire! Don’t let the fire become quenched!

Bro. Gaddy told a story at Camp Meeting about a church that he went to and he was asked to preach Saturday night and Sunday night. And during service Saturday, he noticed that there was such a level of worship in this church. It was natural to them. No pride at all! Worship to God! Lifted hands, shouting!

After the service, he went into the pastors office and said, “Pastor, I just have to tell you, your church is a mighty, worshiping church and I’m blown away.” And the pastor said, “Well I’m thankful you feel that way, but, our Best Worshiper wasn’t even here tonight.” And he thought, Best worshiper? I’ve never thought that way about people in church. But the Pastor said, “Our Best Worshiper wasn’t even here tonight, but he will be tomorrow night.”

So obviously, Bro. Gaddy couldn’t wait to see this man. He arrived early Sunday night. And here the man was. No one had to point him out - it was clear. He wasn’t necessarily completely out of control or anything like that. But you could most definitely tell: he was the Best Worshiper. But after a while, his attention was catched away… there were two twin boys, just off to the side. And what was interesting is that they were dressed JUST LIKE the Best Worshiper. Suit, white shirt, ties. And they… were… GETTIN’ IT! You know little boys are worshiping when they reach up and grab that tie and loosen it!

And when he was in the office with the Pastor again after service, the Pastor asked, “Well, can you tell who the Best Worshiper was?” “Oh yes! It was the man there on the front row.” “Yeah, that’s him.” “But I have to ask about the two twin boys who were worshiping there… what about them?” And the Pastor looked at him, almost offended at the question. He looked at him like he had fallen out of a tree. “Are you serious? You’re asking me who those twin boys are??? …THOSE TWIN BOYS ARE THE SONS OF THE BEST WORSHIPER!!!”

We’ve got to make it up in our mind - WE’RE GOING TO PRAISE HIM LIKE NOBODY’S GOING TO PRAISE HIM! BECAUSE I’VE GOT TO PASS IT ON!!!

Worship isn’t about telling someone what to due during service. It’s about giving God what He’s worthy of, every time, without having to be prompted to do it!

Being Available

Be Available to be Used by God

If I were to take a poll in the room today and asked “Who would like to be used by God?”, I would venture to say that most everyone, if not everyone would raise their hand. And that’s because everyone would like to be used by Him, but not everyone makes themselves available to be used by Him.

We have to be sure that we are actually willing to follow through with being used by Him, to the point where when the moment comes, we’re not found in the dugout - we step up to the plate!!!

1 Peter 3:15 KJV 1900

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

You better be available! You better be ready! Available to God!

And I’m not just speaking about witnessing… when tongues go forth, we need to be praying and making ourselves available.

I have a question: when someone new (or a long-time saint, for that matter) comes down to the altar, who’s going to be available to meet them down here? It has to be someone!

When there’s an opportunity to reach for someone in great emotional pain on your job, are you going to be available with a reason of the hope?

I’ve told the story several times of Bishop Paul Mooney’s famous message in which he had a beautiful meal prepared, sitting in front of the pulpit during his preaching. And he offered to allow anyone who would come to eat it. Yes, it would be uncomfortable. Yes, it would be before others. But the blessing that would come from it is far more valuable than going with the pride that holds you back.

You Cannot Be Available Without Being Faithful

God looks for people who have committed themselves to Him, to use for His glory.

If you remember the message I preached about Nahash, “the serpent”, when they came looking for help to fight back, they found Saul, the king, in the field. He was working in the field. THE KING!

Because when God goes looking for the person to use (the available one), He goes to the fields of the faithful. Yes, He does! He goes looking for the man who brings his family to church every opportunity the doors are open. He goes looking for the woman who pays her tithes and reads her bible! He goes looking for the man who knows how to pray!

You want to be available, you got to be faithful.

God Called You - Don’t Refuse Him

I want to say something else: God wants to use you. Don’t tell Him whether He should or shouldn’t. He knows what He’s doing.

God called you - so don’t refuse Him!

When He comes along and He’s wanting to use someone in a moment, He needs you to say, “Yes! I will, Lord!”

And I’m not speaking on just big things like answering a call to ministry. I’m talking about when you feel that ever-so-light prompt in the Holy Ghost to take some small action. As small as it seems, it is under the direction of God! And this one small action, it’s like a person playing a saxophone well. Alone, it sounds good. That person knows their part. But you understand, God has an orchestra He is directing. If He can only get one or two to play the part, it’s good. But if He can add this man and this woman here and them over there… have you ever been to a great band concert? One where everyone is doing their part well? The more you add, the more beautiful and moving it becomes!

God has an orchestra, and He’s handing out the parts. That one small move you make during service or at home or at the store… it adds to a symphony!

And some people worry about and question as to whether what they are feeling to do is of God or whether Pastor will be alright with it. Most likely, it’s perfectly fine. But if it seems like it’s out of the norm or something, run it by Pastor. He’ll be sure to keep things in godly order.

Being Apostolic Requires A Holy Boldness

When I read about the New Testament church, I don’t read about people who were on the fence about whether they were going to go pray for someone or not. I don’t read about people who were timid in their worship or how they talked about their God.

What I read about is the following:

Acts 3:1–8 NKJV

1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.

Here was another bold move:

Acts 16:25 NKJV

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Let me ask you: If you were placed in jail today, and tonight (according to the scripture, others were asleep), with many other prisoners around you, you began singing I’ll Fly Away (it says hymns, right?), initially in your mind how do you think that will go over? We initially think it will go bad. Our pride starts to get in the way. We start backing up. But the results speak for themselves… God tends to work through boldness...

Acts 16:26 NKJV

26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

And then, of course, the keeper of the prison was preparing to commit suicide. And Paul stopped him and began preaching Jesus to him. And they won his whole family. What a boldness!

The Apostles actually prayed a prayer for boldness in the book of Acts. The heading in my Bible reads “Prayer for Boldness”:

Acts 4:29–31 NKJV

29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Responding

We have a responsibility to respond to the Lord.

Say “Amen!”

One way we can respond, is that when we hear truth, we say “Amen!”

Nehemiah 8:5–6 NKJV

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

“Amen” simply means, “so be it.”

When the preacher preaches truth, we say, “Amen!” When we hear a word from the Lord, our answer should be, “Amen!” That response, as little as it seems, affirms what the Lord is doing in the house, and makes it more welcome to His Spirit being at work.

Think: “How Can I Change?”

When Peter got done with his preaching, what happened?

Acts 2:37 NKJV

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

These were some unchurched people. They weren’t used to hearing such preaching. Yet they knew in hearing it that something in them needed to change.

At any time we hear a word, we need to be asking ourselves the question, “How can I change?” “What needs to happen in me?” At times, there may be a strong conviction that hits, and the thought like that doesn’t even come to your mind. But even when you don’t feel that strong conviction, ask yourself the question, “What needs to happen in me now?”

And then, when you hit the altar, you’ll already know what you need to do.

Meet God at an Altar, Unprompted

And that brings me to this big point that Pastor touched on Wednesday night. We need to be able to meet God at an altar. And it can’t always be prompted.

In the Old Testament, they would build altars, not because someone told them to, but because it was what they were feeling to do at the time.

When you feel God moving, you feel conviction, a push to pray, a push to touch heaven, whatever… whether it’s during preaching or in the middle of a song out of the book… you absolutely should hit the altar. Your step of faith might be exactly what the person in the back contemplating suicide needed to witness in order to give their life to God!

It aught to be unprompted. Now, we will do that from time to time. But we aught to have a response such that we don’t need to be told. We just do it.

And not only this, we have to come with purpose. We can’t afford to just find a rut. We have to become loosed, instead of boxed in. Let God move and work!

Bring Your Family to the Altar

Your family needs time in the altar! Oh, what this does when you can get your spouse, kids, even parents to experience the Lord with you!

Before Kierstin and I ever got engages, we prayed together in altars!

The Freedom of Worship

“If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always see what we’ve always seen.”

Conclusion

My Response is My Responsibility!

Let’s commit to kindling the flames of the Spirit!

We have evangelists scheduled, revival in progress - we need a demonstration of the Spirit!