WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.400 Welcome, everyone. Good morning. You with me? Good to see you. Welcome back. I hope you've had a great 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:15.939 summer for those of you who have managed to get away. And welcome to this new series. Always good 00:00:15.939 --> 00:00:20.620 starting a new series because you have an open book and you can preach everything that everybody's 00:00:20.620 --> 00:00:25.780 going to preach in the following weeks, which is always good to start with. So as we kick off this 00:00:25.780 --> 00:00:34.039 new series, we're focusing on this sense of the presence of God, the supernatural presence of God, 00:00:34.039 --> 00:00:44.719 but the presence of God in us. As Paul writes in his scripture this morning, there are two very clear 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:53.439 diametrically opposites here. Those who live in the flesh and have their minds set on what the flesh 00:00:53.439 --> 00:01:01.320 desires. And those who live in accordance with the spirit and have their minds set on what the spirit 00:01:01.320 --> 00:01:09.500 desires. The thing is, is Jesus is not remote. He is with us, but we have choices. Paul doesn't stop 00:01:09.500 --> 00:01:17.859 there. And he's very, very specific in this. Living according to the flesh is death. He doesn't hold 00:01:17.859 --> 00:01:25.640 back. Or the preferred option for us, those whose minds and lives are governed by the spirit, 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:36.579 have life and peace. Which life do we want to choose? Because it is a choice. Right back in the 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:43.659 Psalms, right back in Psalm 15, who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:52.599 lives and do what is right. Speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm 00:01:52.599 --> 00:01:59.359 their neighbours or speak evil of their friends. Those who lend money without charging interest and who 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:05.539 cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever. 00:02:05.540 --> 00:02:15.319 I think we've got to be honest that our life experience is this tug of war that is often part 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:21.939 of the human condition. Good and evil choices, bad choices, good choices. And I guess many people here 00:02:21.939 --> 00:02:28.259 listening and listening on the podcast would agree with that too. So much of this tug of war is about 00:02:28.259 --> 00:02:38.679 what Paul speaks of when he talks about our desires. And that's what it comes down to. What are our desires 00:02:38.679 --> 00:02:45.459 and how does it shape our lives? What is our desire in our every waking moment? 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:52.919 I often like to, I have this great thing, I love to observe people. I'm a great people watcher. 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:58.979 I don't know whether that's for you as well. My highlight is I don't get upset if I've got to 00:02:58.979 --> 00:03:08.479 wait for a train. I just love observing people. And when it comes to desires, I love to observe people 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:19.699 queuing for their lottery tickets. Because my question is, as you queue for your lottery ticket, 00:03:19.699 --> 00:03:26.500 what is your desire? What is your desire? What is your desire that you think this win will do 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:35.079 for you or for others? Maybe it goes something like this. We're in Tesco's. 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:41.219 Hello mate, how you doing? I see that you're queuing for your lottery ticket. 00:03:42.079 --> 00:03:43.979 Yeah, that's right mate, what's got to do with you? 00:03:43.979 --> 00:03:51.719 Well, actually, I'm just really interested to know what your desire is. What would you do if you won 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:57.780 that million? Well, I'll tell you what I'm going to do with it mate. I'm away from here mate. I'm off 00:03:57.780 --> 00:04:03.519 to another country. Take my family, nice island, no more troubles, no more worries in my life. 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:09.539 That's my desire mate. That's why I'm queuing for a lottery ticket. Oh, that's really helpful. 00:04:09.539 --> 00:04:12.219 Thanks very much. You're not from the unknown revenue, are you? 00:04:15.579 --> 00:04:19.860 Excuse me madam, I noticed that you're queuing for your lottery ticket. Oh yes, young man, 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:26.579 I queue for it every week. So, as you queue for your lottery ticket, what is your desire? 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:33.019 Well, my desire actually is to give it all away. Oh, that's just amazing. I know, I know. 00:04:33.019 --> 00:04:42.039 It won't be a choice for me. I stand at my window and I see these poor souls just wandering around 00:04:42.039 --> 00:04:48.439 and the noise that they make, I would give it all away. I said, that really encourages me, you know, 00:04:48.539 --> 00:04:58.599 your heart for people, for children and hunger. No dear, no not people, cats. I'm giving it all to cats. 00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:03.960 People, they've got enough, they've got social services. Cats, dear, cats. 00:05:06.900 --> 00:05:13.280 I know that's so nice to see. A little harsh, especially if you love cats. You can give to both. 00:05:13.860 --> 00:05:21.040 But these decisions that we have to make, the decisions that we have, the choices that we have 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:28.960 to make, what drives our desire. It's what Paul is talking about this morning. Our desires are a 00:05:28.960 --> 00:05:35.660 powerful thing. Paul hits a nerve with me and I hope with all of us as when he talks about the flesh, 00:05:35.700 --> 00:05:41.439 and he doesn't just mean the flesh, although all the physical temptations and we all know about those 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:47.900 as humans, although there are too many of which we are aware, but we have choices to make in those as 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:54.379 well. But it's about our nature. It's about our character, our desires to love the Lord your God 00:05:54.379 --> 00:06:01.139 with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, etc. You know that. It's about how we live 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:07.799 our lives with Jesus and his teaching, with his examples at the forefront of all that we do. Now 00:06:07.799 --> 00:06:12.879 there's a road that's interesting to travel down, isn't it, for us as Christians, because when we give, 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:23.600 when we share, when we sacrifice, when we worship, what is our motive? What is our desire and our motive 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:30.920 in doing that? And that's an acid test that Paul is probably getting to the heart of here. Jesus did a 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:37.719 bit of teaching about that, you know. Don't sort of make a big show if you're giving long-winded prayers 00:06:37.720 --> 00:06:43.980 of how good I am. It's not a spiritual competition about holiness, comparing ourselves with ourselves 00:06:43.980 --> 00:06:49.900 and judging others. In Jesus' encounter with the rich young ruler, he presses a button about desire. 00:06:50.260 --> 00:06:54.900 You know, I want to be your follower. That's fine if you want to be my follower. I see you've done all 00:06:54.900 --> 00:07:01.400 of this, but I want you to give up this because I know that you're going to struggle with that. 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:08.560 But that's what you need to do if you're going to be a follower. What is your desire? Because if you 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:16.199 don't, your desire will always be about money and about looking after yourself. To allow the things 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:23.279 of the world to dominate life is, as Paul points out, is nothing short of death, self-extinction. And 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:30.159 William Barclay goes one step further and says it's spiritual suicide. Even in our worship, 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:37.460 it's about what is our desire as we come here this morning. I remember years and years ago, 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:43.540 there was a great conversation over there where a person said, I didn't get anything out of your 00:07:43.540 --> 00:07:51.640 worship this morning. Thanks very much. But what did you bring? What did you bring to worship? 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:59.139 Because if our desire is just to be a consumerist, as Paul clearly states here in our choices, 00:07:59.979 --> 00:08:09.759 that's probably not the right mindset. That's the bad news. The good news, the good news here is live 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:17.039 with God's presence in us. Live with God's presence to be filled with the Holy Spirit is totally 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:24.860 countercultural to death. And as Paul says, it's life and peace. And if you are searching for life 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:33.800 and peace, then Paul is very clear about how we do that in our desire and living for him. Paul is living 00:08:33.800 --> 00:08:40.560 and serving, sharing and teaching in the presence of God and his passion and desire. As he writes to the 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:47.319 church in Thessalonians, do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test them 00:08:47.319 --> 00:08:55.979 all. Hold on to what is good. Reject every kind of evil. And may God himself, the God of peace, 00:08:57.139 --> 00:09:03.919 sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit and body, your whole spirit and body, not just a bit 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:10.479 of it. Whole spirit and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus. Many people's response 00:09:10.479 --> 00:09:19.879 is, yes, Lord, that is my desire, but it's a tough call. And it is a tough call. But Paul ends with that 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:27.419 important line in Thessalonians, the one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. He will do it. 00:09:27.419 --> 00:09:35.740 I'm not alone here with those of us who have made tough choices in life. We do it probably every day. 00:09:36.719 --> 00:09:43.539 Do I do this? Do I do that? Being close to Jesus, being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:09:43.779 --> 00:09:50.339 having his presence with us, makes that possible. I love the rabbinic thing. It says, may you be covered 00:09:50.339 --> 00:09:57.399 by the dust of your rabbi. You walk so closely with Jesus that you're actually covered with the dust. 00:09:57.579 --> 00:10:02.899 You're so close listening to what he says, being in partnership with him, doing what he's doing, 00:10:03.340 --> 00:10:08.959 seeking to do what he does in the everyday. And as last week we said, do you trust him? 00:10:10.779 --> 00:10:18.879 This is what it boils down to. Do we trust in him and all that he can do in us and through us? 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:24.740 Living in the power of his spirit. Paul spells it out. That same spirit living in the believer 00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:32.799 is the same spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. You know, I may be a simple man, but that power that 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:40.000 can raise Jesus from the dead to life, he can do that in my life too. Time and time again, 00:10:40.680 --> 00:10:48.159 if I choose and make that my desire. What is my desire, Lord? 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:57.579 I called myself a Christian for years. It was a bit of a tick box exercise really, to be honest. 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:06.159 You know, I was born in a Christian family. Tick. You know, I went to church three times on a Sunday 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:14.179 as a chorister. Tick. I tried to live lots of ways in my decisions, didn't always get it right, but tick. 00:11:15.559 --> 00:11:22.100 When I got married, got married in church. Tick. Attended a home group regularly. Tick. Reading the 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:29.299 Bible, maybe not as often as I should, but tick. I prayed. My goodness, did I pray sometimes. Tick. 00:11:29.299 --> 00:11:39.439 Tick. But I knew something was missing. And as Paul says, something that had shaped my desire was 00:11:39.439 --> 00:11:46.299 missing in my life. I tried to live the life that I was reading about, talking, praying, teaching. 00:11:46.719 --> 00:11:51.079 The Holy Spirit and the presence of God, I had very little teaching on that at all. 00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:59.500 And I knew all the way through that my desires didn't match the character that I was living, 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:06.720 that I was hearing. To become a follower, a disciple of Jesus in everything that it could be. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:21.160 Glad to say in 1996, 1996, in my previous calling, I knew that something was missing from my life. 00:12:22.040 --> 00:12:29.000 I've done all the tick box of being a Christian, but I knew something was fundamentally missing from my life. 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:39.080 I've been working 16-hour shifts for 14 days on the trot. And it sort of worked out that this particular weekend, 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:45.419 that we were going with the children to Hill House to a Christian weekend. That was the plan. 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:52.120 All I wanted to do, frankly, was disappear in a duvet for 24 hours. 00:12:52.120 --> 00:13:00.919 You know, the last thing I probably wanted to be was in a community where I just wanted to go and sleep. 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:08.820 I was empty. Spiritually empty. We had one of those things. I think it's called negotiations 00:13:08.820 --> 00:13:17.039 in a marriage. Is that a polite word for it? Yeah? Mandy pointed out that I needed to be the father 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:21.860 that I needed to be, that my kids had waited for me and they'd all been looking forward to this weekend. 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:25.539 I came up with a compromise and I thought, I'll tell you what, there's a good compromise. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:30.139 I'll drop you off with the children and I'll go back and I'll sleep for 24 hours. 00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:34.460 And I'll come back and I'll be a much nicer person to live with. Was that a good deal? 00:13:35.060 --> 00:13:41.120 No. Not with God or with Mandy. Get that in the right order. 00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:49.740 And the thing was, is I arrived and there was a very dear friend of mine. You may know him, Murray Bennett. 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:58.639 Murray Bennett greeted me at the door. I get emotional just thinking about it. He obviously read and he read and he said, 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:03.919 how are you doing? I said, not good, Murray. I'm just whatever. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:13.299 Sensibly, he made a move prompted by the Holy Spirit and said, Clive, do you mind if I pray with you? 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:17.159 I'd hardly put the bags down, you know, just unloading the car. 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:24.759 To let you know, frankly, where I was at the time, I said, Murray, you can do what you like. 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:26.819 I was at that place. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:33.639 To which he laid his hand on my shoulder and said three amazing words that has changed my life. 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:35.879 Holy Spirit come. 00:14:37.939 --> 00:14:41.939 I remember just sinking to my knees and laying on my back. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:47.100 I can remember just seeing Mandy's face thinking, yes, yes. 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:50.200 Thank you, Lord. 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:54.580 It is as though I had slept for a month. 00:14:55.540 --> 00:14:58.180 All I remember was Murray just praying with me. 00:14:58.779 --> 00:14:59.980 I'd slept for a month. 00:15:00.920 --> 00:15:07.700 And I realised that actually my desire on this tick box, it had this huge thing missing, 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:13.700 which was I had desired the Holy Spirit and presence of God in me 24-7. 00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:15.660 It changed my life. 00:15:16.540 --> 00:15:17.840 It changed my life. 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:20.800 It changed me considerably. 00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:28.180 The encounter with the Spirit changed my desire for him and what I did for him, 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.879 to know him, to serve him. 00:15:30.180 --> 00:15:31.460 Be filled, says Paul. 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:32.500 Be filled. 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:36.460 Not filled once, but be filled again and again and again. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.040 That is the presence of God in us. 00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:43.639 It's a good place to start here because Paul says, 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:46.959 if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:50.299 the tough line is they do not belong to Christ. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:54.319 But if Christ is in you, 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:58.419 even though your body is subject to death because of sin, 00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:05.360 the Spirit gives life because the Spirit lives in you. 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:11.360 As we enter this new series of exploring the supernatural presence of God, 00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:14.180 I'll ask again, what is your desire this morning? 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:17.700 If you're listening on a podcast, if you're driving, 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:19.240 whatever you're doing now, 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:22.860 what is your desire as a Christian? 00:16:23.180 --> 00:16:25.919 Do you know the presence of God dwelling in you? 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.159 And if there is something missing, 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:31.860 and you may sense that as I did for a long time, 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:33.959 there is something missing. 00:16:35.079 --> 00:16:38.319 Is your desire to ask and receive more of him? 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:42.980 Jesus is with us. 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.699 I have not gone away. 00:16:45.339 --> 00:16:47.980 The presence of God in the power of the Spirit is with us. 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:50.379 Our bodies are the dwelling places. 00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:54.379 They are his temple in the everyday. 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:56.220 Are you filled? 00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:58.879 Do you want to be filled? 00:16:59.660 --> 00:17:02.779 Do you want to know his presence in every circumstance 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:05.819 that we are facing, that you may be facing, 00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:09.779 to be that encouragement for other people? 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.539 To be that beacon. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.019 To be Jesus. 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:19.000 To be him in the presence of the communities that we serve. 00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:21.160 And if that is your desire, 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:23.200 to grow more and more into the likeness of Christ, 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:26.140 to encounter his presence, his power, his peace, 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:27.180 be filled. 00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:29.779 Ask. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.259 Ask now. 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.759 You don't have to go to Hill House. 00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:38.200 You don't have to have an experience. 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:39.839 Do it now. 00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:41.779 Do it wherever it is. 00:17:41.860 --> 00:17:42.779 Do it when you go home. 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:43.860 Do it over lunch. 00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:45.660 Do it here now, wherever it is. 00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:47.339 Lord, you are faithful. 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.259 You will do it. 00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:49.799 I desire your presence. 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:51.919 I actively seek you. 00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:54.759 Holy Spirit, would you come, 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:58.839 and would I know your presence more and more in my life? 00:18:01.159 --> 00:18:02.079 Would you like that? 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.319 Seeing people nodding. 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:10.480 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh, 00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:12.559 but in the realm of the spirit. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:17.439 Shall we just pray before we sing again? 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.519 Thanks. 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:18.539 Thanks. 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:29.059 If you have sensed that sense of something missing, 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:31.500 of something more, 00:18:32.840 --> 00:18:34.600 then ask, 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:36.379 Lord, 00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:38.740 more of your presence in me. 00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:52.000 There's been an issue where maybe life has given you choices that has made you doubt. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.000 Lord, 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.000 Lord, 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.559 Holy Spirit, 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:56.220 would you come into that place 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:59.259 and renew and refresh us? 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.259 Lord, 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:04.480 in that place where we need reassurance 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:06.700 and we need your comfort, 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.319 comforter, 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.599 Holy Spirit, 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:12.640 come into those places 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:14.980 of bereavement and need 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:18.299 and fill us afresh. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:25.000 Where we are seeking you to make choices at this time, 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.220 Holy Spirit, 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:28.500 would you come and meet us in those places 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:30.880 and fill us afresh. 00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:37.980 For those for whom have ticked the boxes for years 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:41.900 and for whom the zeal 00:19:41.900 --> 00:19:44.940 has just withered away to a routine, 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:47.039 Holy Spirit, 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:49.819 come and bring new life. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:56.859 For those of us, 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:57.180 Lord, 00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.160 for those 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:00.900 who don't know you, 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:04.299 who feel we're not in a relationship with you, 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:06.440 for whom it feels remote, 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:09.059 come this moment, 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:09.980 Holy Spirit, 00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:11.559 come into our lives 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:13.579 that we would know you 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:15.400 and experience you 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:17.980 in the power 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:19.440 and love 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:21.840 of your Holy Spirit. 00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:24.240 In Jesus' name, 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.240 Amen.