Fuel for the Road
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Introduction
Illustration: Road Trip from Springfield, MO to Los Angeles.
I wanted to drive from college to home straight through.
At 1:30 a.m. in New Mexico, my car broke down.
I prayed and then started walking. Within ten seconds, a car stopped and gave me a ride a a service station.
It had a carburetor issue and sometimes when through a lot of fuel. I HAD RAN OUT OF FUEL in the middle of nowhere!
On Empty
On Empty
Sometimes, as believers, we feel that we are out of fuel.
We can feel powerless over the situation we are facing.
We feel like we are going nowhere—no spiritual progress in our lives.
We feel lost in the desert: we struggle with hopelessness and deep frustration.
Did we miss God? Do God forget about us? What can happen to restore my joy?
On the eve of Jesus’ death, he gathered his disciples together.
He knew that they were going to feel a big blow to their lives the next few days.
They would battle hopelessness and helplessness. Their whole world was going to come crashing down on them: Their savior was to die, fear would rule their heart—they would feel alone.
One of the most difficult emotions and experiences we can go through is the feeling of being alone, abandoned, misunderstood, and rejected.
But God has a PROMISE for you! As Jesus told this to his disciples, he also tells it to you:
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
This promise from God is the Holy Spirit.
It was Jesus who commanded His followers to receive the empowerment of the Spirit in order to fulfill God’s plan to “make disciples of all nations.”
So his followers did just what he instructed.
On the day of Pentecost (a Jewish Feast Day), Jesus’ followers were filled with the Holy Spirit.
After the infilling of the Holy Spirit, Peter preached to the many people and made this declaration:
39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
This promise (of the Holy Spirit) is for all of us today!
QUESTION: Why do we need the Holy Spirit? Why is it so important that we as believers know the work of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit points us in the right direction.
The Holy Spirit points us in the right direction.
The Holy Spirit is like a sign post—giving us clear understanding of where we are and what our next step should be.
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus. The Spirit draws us toward the teaching and example of Jesus Christ.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
The Holy Spirit identifies those things that hinder our spiritual life.
The Holy Spirit identifies those things that hinder our spiritual life.
He is like the car mechanic, revealing those things that need repair or adjustment.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
When the Counsellor proves the world wrong ‘in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment’ it could lead either to repentance and salvation or hardening of heart and condemnation.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to serve.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to serve.
The Holy Spirit fuels us with His power.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
We have a purpose to fulfill. The Holy Spirit empowers our faith the believe and trust in God’s authority to advance His Kingdom purpose.
The Holy Spirit is our Paraclete.
The Holy Spirit is our Paraclete.
The Holy Spirit comes along side us.
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
We do not go through life alone. The Holy Spirit is with us.
Everything Changes
Everything Changes
When you know that the Holy Spirit is at work in you, everything changes!
Your perception changes.
The people around you change.
Your attitude changes.
Your alignment changes.
Your confidence changes.
The words of Jesus:
14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus—leading you to worship Christ and to live by Christ’s teachings.
When you follow the Holy Spirit who points you to Jesus, the struggles, the insecurities, the frustrations and disappointments of life begin to change.
22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
The Joy in Surrendering to the Lord
The Joy in Surrendering to the Lord
Joy comes into our life when we stop resisting the work of the Holy Spirit—but you yield and surrender to the Spirit and His activity in our life.
Road Trip
Road Trip
Altar Call
We need the Holy Spirit to live life God’s way.
We need to be aware of His presence.
We need to be obedience to His leading.
We need to be saturated with His power.
We need to be receptive to His gifts.
The starting point is putting your trust and faith in Christ! Jesus died for us—to take the death penalty of our sins and dying for us.