GHOST STORIES GHOST STORIES #1 Pastor Dennis Clanton

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GHOST STORIES GHOST STORIES #1 Pastor Dennis Clanton Sunday, October 15, 2017 “Instead, the longer I’ve talked, the sadder you’ve become. So let me say it again, this truth: It’s better for you that I leave. If I don’t leave, the Friend won’t come. But if I go, I’ll send him to you. “When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.” (John 16:6–11, Message) “Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” (Acts 1:4–11, NLT) THE APOSTLE’S CREED I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; (He descended into hell;) The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; The communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

“At the time GOD made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground—GOD hadn’t yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)—GOD formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul!” (Genesis 2:5–7, Message) “But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth.” (Psalm 104:29–30, NLT) “And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” (Romans 8:2, NLT) “As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came to meet him, shouting in triumph. And then the Spirit of GOD came on him with great power. The ropes on his arms fell apart like flax on fire; the thongs slipped off his hands. He spotted a fresh donkey jawbone, reached down and grabbed it, and with it killed the whole company. And Samson said, With a donkey’s jawbone I made heaps of donkeys of them. With a donkey’s jawbone I killed an entire company. When he finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone. He named that place Ramath Lehi (Jawbone Hill).” (Judges 15:14–17, The Message)

1. ACKNOWLEDGE THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8, NLT) 2. ALIGN MYSELF WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30, NLT) a. Stop, listen, and repent. “Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19, NIV)

b. Respond promptly. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16, 25, NIV) c. Ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s power. “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28–29, NIV) “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” (Ephesians 3:16, NIV)