Sunday Sermon
A New Way Of Living
Date: September 9, 2007
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference:
Listen to Audio Sermon

Prelude
ACTS 2:43-47
43 And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers).
44 And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common;
45 And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need.
46 And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord’s Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts,
47 Constantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily those who were being saved [from spiritual death].

Chapter 37 Then he took hold of the man’s right hand with a firm grip and raised him up. And at once his feet and ankle bones became strong and steady,
8 And leaping forth he stood and pbegan to walk, and he went into the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking about and praising God,
10 And they recognized him as the man who usually sat [beggin

CHAPTER 4

8 Then Peter, [because he was] filled with [and controlled by] the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and members of the council (the Sanhedrin
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage.
CHAPTER 5
28 Saying, We definitely commanded and strictly charged you not to teach in or about this Name; yet here you have flooded Jerusalem with your doctrine and you intend to bring this vMan’s blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging

AND THE LIST AND ACCOUNTS GO ON ABOUT A CHURCH FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT AND BOLDNESS.

WHAT HAS HAPPEN TO THE CHURCH SINCE THOSE TIMES?
FOR THE MOST PART DEAD AND AFRAID TO GO FORTH WITH CERTAINTY THAT THE LORD WOULD CONTINUE HIS WORK IN HIS CHURCH.

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THE NEW WAY OF LIVING

Acts 19:1-7 (Amplified Bible)
1WHILE APOLLOS was in Corinth, Paul went through the upper inland districts and came down to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.
2And he asked them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed [on Jesus as the Christ]? And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.
3And he asked, Into what [baptism] then were you baptized? They said, Into John's baptism.
4And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, continually telling the people that they should believe in the One Who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus [having a conviction full of joyful trust that He is Christ, the Messiah, and being obedient to Him].
5On hearing this they were baptized [again, this time] in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6And as Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in [foreign, unknown] tongues (languages) and prophesied.
7There were about twelve of them in all.

WHY DID PAUL ASK THEM IF THEY HAD RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT? VERSE 1 SAYS THEY WERE DISCIPLES, AND VERSE 2 SAID THEY WERE BELIEVERS. WAS THERE SOMETHING MORE THEY NEEDED THAN JUST BEING A BELIEVER? WAS BEING A DISCIPLE GOOD ENOUGH?

PAUL KNEW THAT IN THEIR CHRISTIAN WALK THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME FIGHTING AGAINST SPIRITUAL POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES. RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART THEIR CHRISTIAN WALK AND CHARACTER. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WAS NOT TO BE A CAKEWALK. BELIEVERS HAD TO HAVE AN ADVANTAGE IF THEY WERE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

PAUL, HIMSELF, HAD RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT WHILE ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS TO KILL CHRISTIANS. THAT EXPERIENCE TRANSFORMED HIM INTO A NEW CREATURE WHO BECAME ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN CHRISTIANITY. WITH THAT LIFE TRANSFORMING EXPERIENCE, HE WAS ABLE TO BECOME THAT APOSTLE THAT GOD CALLED HIM TO BE. WHAT HAS GOD CALLED YOU TO BECOME? PAUL KNEW THAT THOSE DISCIPLES WOULD BECOME WHAT GOD CALLED THEM INTO, IF THEY HAD THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE KNEW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THE CHANGE THAT TOOK PLACE IN HIS LIFE.

LOOK AT WHAT HE TOLD THE CORINTHIANS IN 2 COR 5:17:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified Bible)
17Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

I BELIEVE HIS CHANGE FROM KILLER OF CHRISTIANS TO PROCLAIMER OF THE WORD PROMPTED HIM TO SAY THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO THAT NEW CREATION.
SOMETHING IS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE RECEIVE THAT HOLY SPIRIT. I DON?T JUST MEAN SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND PROPHESYING, ALTHOUGH THAT IS TRUE, BUT SOMETHING DEEPER HAPPENS THAT CHANGES THE WAY YOU THINK AND THE WAY YOU ACT.
I DON?T THINK THAT JESUS WENT TO THE CROSS TO PRODUCE A MEDIOCRE CHURCH OR ONE THAT WAS TO BE POWERLESS. THIS EXPERIENCE GIVES YOU A NEW WAY TO LIVE ON THIS EARTH THAT WILL CHANGE LIVES OF MANY.

TO WALK A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE, YOU NEED THE POWER THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES. DO YOU KNOW WHY? PAUL TELLS US IN EPHESIANS 6:12

Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified Bible)
12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

THERE IS A BATTLE AND CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, IT IS NOT WITH HUMAN BEINGS, BUT WITH DEADLY SPIRITS THAT ARE OUT TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY YOU. THAT IS THERE ULTIMATE GOAL, ARE YOU UNDERSTANDING THIS?

WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO WALK IN TIMIDITY ANY LONGER, BECAUSE WE ARE NEW CREATURES ACCORDING TO GOD?S WORD. YET, WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO BE DISINTERESTED IN THE THINGS OF GOD, ESPECIALLY THE WORKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. PEOPLE, EVEN MINIMAL BELIEVERS ARE BLINDED BY THE ENEMY OF GOD?S PEOPLE. LOOK AT 2 CORINTHIANS 4:3-4

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (Amplified Bible)
3But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing and obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying and veiled [only] to those who are lost.
4For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.

VERSE 3 SAYS, TO THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUAL DYING. MANY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST ARE SPIRITUALLY DYING. THEY DON?T KNOW MANY THINGS ABOUT THE SPIRIT AND DON?T WANT TO KNOW.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL THINGS HAS NO PRIORITY IN THEIR LIVES.

WHAT IS GOD'S OBJECTIVE IN ALL THESE THINGS? 1 COR 15:28

1 Corinthians 15:28 (Amplified Bible)
28However, when everything is subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also subject Himself to [the Father] Who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all [be everything to everyone, supreme, the indwelling and controlling factor of life].

GOD WANTS TO BE THE ALL IN ALL AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE WORD ALL. HE WANTS ALL OF YOU, YOU MUST GIVE UP ALL, YOU MUST LET HIM BE ALL THINGS TO YOU.

YOU PROCEEDED FROM HIM, HE WANTS TO LIVE HIS LIFE THROUGH YOU, AND HE WANTS YOU TO RETURN TO HIM WHEN IT IS ALL OVER. ARE YOU GETTING THIS? THAT'S WHY HE GIVES YOU SUPERNATURAL POWERS TO GET THROUGH THIS LIFE SUCCESSFULLY, BUT SOME DON'T PICK UP ON THAT! THEY CONTINUE TO LIVE MEDIOCRE LIVES.

WHAT THIS EQUATES TO IS JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT EQUALS A NEW WAY OF LIVING.
AS LONG AS THE AS THE ALL OF GOD, OF SIN, OF CHRIST, OF SURRENDER, OF THE SPIRIT AND OF FAITH IS NOT FULLY UNDERSTOOD BY THE CHURCH, THE SOUL CANNOT ENJOY ALL THAT GOD WOULD HAVE IT TO BE.
SUCCESS WILL ALWAYS BE LURKING IN THE SHADOWS AND NEVER UP FRONT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
AS WE ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TAKE FULL CONTROL AFTER THE PENTECOSTAL BLESSING, WE BEGIN TO SEE LIVES THAT ARE COMPLETELY VICTORIOUS.

FOR THREE YEARS THE APOSTLES WALKED WITH JESUS DURING HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY. HE ACTED AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THEM IN WHAT HE DID AND SPOKE. THEY SAW HOW JESUS CHANGED LIVES AND GAVE NEW BEGINNINGS TO PEOPLE. THEY SAW HOW HE HEALED AND DELIVERED. THEY EXPERIENCED HOW HE HAD COMMAND OVER NATURE SUCH AS THE CALMING OF THE SEA AND PRODUCING ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED 5000 PEOPLE OUT OF A SMALL BOYS LUNCH. YET, WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS, THEY ALL SCATTERED.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS THEY HAD EXPERIENCED JESUS OUTSIDE OF THEM BUT HE WAS NOT IN THEM UNTIL PENTECOST. THE INSIDE EPISODE DID NOT HAPPEN UNTIL THEY HAD COME TO AN END OF THEMSELVES.

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS OVER AND WENT BACK TO THEIR FISHING NETS, THEIR OLD LIFESTYLES. SOMETIMES WHEN WE DON?T SEE THE HAND OF GOD MOVING IN WHAT WE THINKS SHOULD HAPPEN, WE GO BACK TO OUR OLD LIVES AND GIVE UP ON GOD.

PETER SAID BOLDLY, ?I WILL GO TO THE DEATH WITH YOU IF I MUST.? HORS LATER, WHEN PUSH CAME TO SHOVE, PETER DENIED THE SAVIOR THREE TIME, EVEN WITH A CURSE. IT WASN?T UNTIL AFTER PETER CAME TO AN END OF HIMSELF THAT HE REALIZED, IT?S NOT GOING TO BE ME.
LOOK AT MATTHEW 26:75 ?

Matthew 26:75 (Amplified Bible)
75And Peter remembered Jesus' words, when He had said, Before a [a]single rooster crows, you will deny and disown Me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly.

THE WORD BITTERLY MEANS VIOLENTLY, AS PERTAINING TO BEING PIERCED. HE SAW HIMSELF FOR WHO HE REALLY WAS. HAVE YOU SEEN YOURSELF FOR WHO AND WHAT YOU REALLY ARE? DO YOU PUT ON YOUR CHURCH FACE WHEN YOU COME TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, BUT THE REST OF THE TIME YOUR LIKE A RELATIVE OF LUCIFER?

BUT WHEN PETER BECAME THE NEW CREATURE WHEN HE PREACHED A SERMON WHERE 3,000 PEOPLE WERE SAVED. THEY ALL UNDERSTOOD THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WAS UPON THEM AND SURRENDERED THEIR LIVES AS MARTYRS. CAN YOU SENSE THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT IS ON YOU AND ARE YOU READY TO GIVE UP YOUR LIFE FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM? ARE YOU READY TO STEP INTO THIS NEW WAY OF LIVING?

THE REASON HE WANTS US TO BE EMPOWERED IS TO BE ABLE TO DO IMPOSSIBLE THINGS, THE GREAT WORKS THAT JESUS SPOKE OF IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 14:12

John 14:12 (Amplified Bible)
12I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.

BUT DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH WHO SEE NOTHING DESIRABLE IN THIS FULLNESS.
FOR SOME, IT?S THE TRINITY IN NAME ONLY AND THEY ARE OPERATING WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT.
LOOK AT WHAT PAUL TELLS US IN EPHESIANS 3:14-19

Ephesians 3:14-19 (Amplified Bible)
14For this reason [[a]seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].

16May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
17May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
18That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];
19[That you may really come] to know [practically, [b]through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses [c]mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] [d]unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and [e]become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

IT'S NOT JUST SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND PROPHESYING BUT:

1. A STRENGTHENING WITH MIGHT THROUGH HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN. THE REAL YOU BECOMES THE NEW CREATION

2. THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS BY FAITH TO DO THE SUPERNATURAL WORKS THAT BRING GLORY TO THE FATHER.

3. THAT YOU WOULD BE ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE. THIS IS THE BASIC FOUNDATION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.

1 John 4:8 (Amplified Bible)
8He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

POSSESSING THAT TYPE OF LOVE CANNOT BE TAUGHT IT MUST BE IMPARTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

4. BEING FILLED WITH THE FULLNESS OF GOD. THIS GIVES YOU THE CHARACTER POWER OF CHRIST SO THAT YOU CAN DO WHAT JESUS SPOKE OF IN JOHN 14:12 GREATER WORKS

GOD'S GREAT WORK IN REDEMPTION IS TO REVEAL HIS SON IN US THAT OUR LIVES WOULD BE A VISIBLE EXPRESSION OF THE LIFE OF JESUS.

GOD IS NOT SUPPOSE TO LIVE IN OUR HEARTS AS A TENANT. HIS INDWELLING IS A POSSESSION, A TREMENDOUS METAMORPHOSIS OF OUR LIFESTYLE. IT MAKES OUR HEART LIKE THE HEART OF JESUS AS IT BOWS BEFORE THE FATHER IN HUMILITY AND SURRENDER. WE SEEK ONLY HIS HONOR. OUR WHOLE SOUL THRILLS WITH DESIRE AND LOVE FOR JESUS. THIS INWARD RENEWAL MAKES THE HEART FIT TO BE A DWELLING PLACE.

THIS DEVINE PURPOSE HAS BEEN FRUSTRATED BY MAN?S SELFISHNESS AND AN INWARD DESIRE TO RULE HIMSELF. INSTEAD OF BEING FULL OF GOD, MAN HAS BECOME FULL OF HIMSELF. SIN CAN BLIND US SO MUCH THAT IT CAN APPEAR THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE FULL OF GOD. LET?S TAKE THE WORDS OF EPHESIANS 3:19

Ephesians 3:19 (Amplified Bible)
19[That you may really come] to know [practically, [a]through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses [b]mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] [c]unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and [d]become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

LET'S TAKE THESE WORDS IN HUMILITY AND FAITH AS A PURPOSE AND WATCHWORD FOR LIFE. I BELIEVE THAT IF WE DO THIS IT WILL BRING THAT NEW CREATION IN YOU ALIVE.
LETS CLOSE WITH EZELIEL 36:25-27

Ezekiel 36:25-27 (Amplified Bible)
25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness; and from all your idols will I cleanse you.
26A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them.

WHO IN HERE WANTS THIS TO BE FULFILLED IN YOU? FOR SOME IT HAS NOT HAPPENED, YOU STILL HAVE TOO MUCH OF YOU INSIDE. THE FULL PENTECOSTAL EXPERIENCE, SPOKE OF IN VERSE 27, IS FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD. LOOK AT ROMANS 8:14 ?

Romans 8:14 (Amplified Bible)
14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

GOD DOES NOT GIVE HALF PORTIONS TO ANY ONE OF HIS CHILDREN. WHAT HE TELLS HIS KIDS IS WHAT HE SAID IN THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON IN LUKE 15:31

Luke 15:31 (Amplified Bible)
31And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

HOW MANY BELIEVE THAT JESUS WOULD SAY THAT TO YOU TODAY? ALL THAT IS HIS IS YOURS. THAT'S POWERFUL!
HE THAT RECEIVES HIM RECEIVES HIM IN ALL HIS FULLNESS. EVERY CHRISTIAN IS DESTINED BY GOD AND IS ACTUALLY CALLED TO BE FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT.

UNTIL EACH ONE RECEIVES THAT FULLNESS WE CAN REMAIN IN NEUTRAL.