Passionately Pursuing God

Sermon Series: “Keep It Simple - It Doesn’t Have to Be So Complicated”
March 21, 2021
Pastor Phil Chorlian

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For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. ²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. – Romans 1:21-25

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And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. —Matthew 16:18

I. True life is found

all that God has for us.

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules. —Matthew 15:8-9

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. —Romans 12:11

See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. —Isaiah 28:16

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. —I Corinthians 4:20

II. Receiving the

of the Holy Spirit

A. Three different

of baptism:

1 - Baptism into the

Reveal Answer

Reveal Answer

= Salvation

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. —Galatians 3:26-27

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. —I Corinthians 12:13

2 -

baptism = Public

Reveal Answer

of faith

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. —Acts 2:41

3 - Baptism in the Holy Spirit = Living a

Reveal Answer

life

Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there… But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. —Acts 8:5, 12

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. —Acts 8:14-17

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. ⁸ And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. —I John 5:7-8 (NKJV)

III. Why are some

?

A. Some are

.

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” —Acts 9:1-2

B. Some have grown

.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. —2 Timothy 1:6-7

C. Some are

.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. —James 1:17

IV. Let’s be

for all that God has

Reveal Answer

Reveal Answer

.

As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. —Ezekiel 47:3-5

There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. —Ezekiel 47:9