The Holy Spirit

Walking with Jesus The Holy Spirit Do you believe you and I have the power to live just like Jesus? As you think about that, let me ask what you know about the Holy Spirit. Who do you believe He is? Have you encountered Him? What do you think is His role in your walk with Jesus? See how this story helps you understand the Holy Spirit and His work in the lives of those who walk with Jesus. You coward, you coward! Don’t back down! Don’t back down! Go get him! Punch him! Coward! Punch him! You’re a coward! Punch him! You’re a coward! Hit him! Punch him! Punch him! Hit him! Beat him! Hit him! Beat him up! Beat him up! Beat him up! Yeah! Punch him! Punch him! Punch him! (calling) Teacher! Teacher! What‘s the matter? Dauda’s fighting! Where? He’s fighting over there! Hit him! Punch him! Hit him! Hit him! Punch him! Punch him! Punch him! Hit him! Hit him! Punch him! You punch him! Come on! Fight him! Fight him back! Punch him! Yeah boys, that’s it! That’s it! Go for it. Dauda, I just don’t believe you’ve been fighting again. You promised you wouldn't. Anyway, let’s clean you up first, and put something on your bruises. And then, we’ll talk. Wait for me here I’ll be back. (angry) Dauda! Where are you coming from? You've gone to fight the Boy's War again? It's not the Boy's War mother. Lamin get us some water to clean him up. Dauda. I said it’s not the Boy’s War. Not the Boy’s War? Then how come all the bruises? I thought you said you won’t fight anymore. You keep fighting all the time. You said you have changed, but I see no difference. (in pain) They won’t leave me alone. (cry of pain when Mother washes his cut) Ah! They tease me all the time. Who, your friends? Not any more. Your father won’t be happy seeing all this. Put this on. (to himself) Why? Why do I keep on doing this? Dauda! Your friend is here. He wants to see you. I don't want to see him. He’s not my friend. They provoke me all the time. Your friend, the teacher. Teacher? Hello. Hello teacher. How are you? Fine thank you. Welcome. I’m sorry I left. I was wondering why. Was ashamed, unhappy with myself. I fought again. As a child of God, you’re not supposed to take part in such shameful fights, no matter what they do to you. They tease me all the time. I tried not to be provoked into a fight, but I failed. This is the fourth time in about ten days. The fourth time that you’ve been in a fight with someone or another. Teacher I've tried. I’ve tried not to be provoked into a fight but each and every single time I get so angry and I find myself throwing punches. I thought they were your friends. Yes, members of the same gang. We fought boys from the other villages. So what do you fight about? Different things; farm boundaries and girls. We called it the "Boy's War." Fierce fights, with charms and stones, even knives and daggers! And now they’ve decided to fight you. Yes, because I no longer belong to the gang and I never go for the "Boy’s War". So, they fight me. And you go along with it. I don't know why. I try not to fight, but I end up throwing punches at them! Each time they provoke you you fall into the temptation of fighting back. They are angry at me for accepting Jesus. They tease me all the time. Dauda, do you remember what Jesus said? No, love your enemies, and do good to them. And lend expecting nothing back. And then you will have a great reward, for you will be sons of the Most High God. For He is good to the ungrateful and to the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Save us, Jesus! Judge not and you will not be judged! Condemn not, and you will not be condemned! Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Lead us in Your path, Lord! Give, and it will be given to you. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back. You see Dauda, Jesus knew that your friends could hate you for accepting to follow Him, but he didn't say you should start fighting with them. I know Teacher. I don't know what I have to do to overcome this weakness. You can't do it on your own. You need the power of God, the power of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit? Who is the Holy Spirit? He is the Spirit of God who lives in every child of God. When you, allow him, he empowers you to live the way God wants you to. That’s what I want. I want to be a good Christian. I don't want to fight any more. Dauda, the Bible tells us there are two kinds of Christians, Dauda. Meaning? Well. The first kind likes to hold onto control of their lives. They keep on doing what they’re doing even when they know God wants them to do something else. They feel they’re in charge of their lives and that doesn’t please God. That’s me. I fight whenever I want to fight. I hate it. The second kind is empowered by the Holy Spirit. They acknowledge that they cannot live the Christian life by their own power, so they let Christ live the Christian life in and through them. That’s what I want. I can’t do this by my own power. Yes. Paul said in Galatians chapter two verse twenty “It is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” The second kind, lead their lives by faith. They listen to and obey God. And God empowers them to do things that are pleasing to him. That’s what I want. I want the power that will allow me to do things that God wants me to do. The second kind of Christian have surrendered their lives to God. They live according to his Word, by his power. I can believe. I want this power. I want to be able to live for God. Then, you need to be filled continually, with the Holy Spirit. How? Well, it’s almost like breathing. Breathing? What do you mean Teacher? Breathe out Dauda. What? I said breathe out. Good. Now breathe in. Good. That’s it. That’s what? That’s how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. First of all, you breathe out your own sinfulness by confessing your sins and letting the Holy Spirit take charge of your life. That’s breathing out, right? Right Then, you breathe in by inviting the Holy Spirit to take charge of your life. By faith you trust Him to help you to do his will. Now, I understand. At least I think I understand. Well, how often do you breathe in and out? It’s continuously. We live by breathing in and out. Exactly! For instance when you allowed yourself to be teased, by those boys, if you had been filled with the Holy Spirit, you would have had the power to resist them. Yes, Teacher. And, if you fail, as you did when you got into the fight then you need to breathe but, spiritually. Yes, I get it. You ask God to be filled with the Holy Spirit by faith. Ask God and He will do it Would you like to do so now? Yes, Teacher, yes. Let's pray then. Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and he who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to anyone who knocks. (laughing) Would any of you who are fathers give to your son a snake when he asks for a fish, or a scorpion when he asks for an egg? As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. You have seen that Dauda could not live like Jesus in his own strength. What has been your experience so far? Remember, you can only have victory in your walk with Jesus as you trust the Holy Spirit to control your life and help you live for Jesus. Why don’t you take some time now to confess your sins and ask the Holy Spirit to control your life? You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.