Pastor Jon Burgess
May 28, 2017 - W1722

Life Hacks are “Simple Spirit-Led Solutions To Everyday Struggles.” We will use Life Hacks as an analogy of how practical the Holy Spirit is in our lives in solving everyday problems so that we can move from a life of emptiness to a life of complete fruitfulness. All we must do is to follow God’s lead because every solution to the problem we are facing is already found in the person of the Holy Spirit. He will lead from emptiness to fruitfulness! 

2 Peter 1:3, 5-8 NIV says, “His divine (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit/Trinity) power (dunamis or dynamite when Holy Spirit comes upon you—empowerment for living) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness… For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive (unfruitful) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Have you been trying to do Christianity by your own strength and are you worn out? Then, you need more of the Holy Spirit. You are the container—let the Holy Spirit fill you. When you are Spirit-filled, you are Spirit-led, and when you are Spirit-led you have an endless supply of solutions for every single problem, for every single person!

Pray for …

1. Spirit-Led Sight. Holy Spirit will cause you to see what you had not seen before.

Acts 3:2-6 says, “Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ So the man gave them his attention expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’”

Peter knew this man because he had passed by him everyday for many years, so what’s the difference this time? In Acts chapter 2 on the Day of Pentecost, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit—he went from being “Peter empty” to “Peter filled with Holy Spirit.” This time he looked straight at the lame man as though he had never seen him before! (We are creatures of habit and we often automatically put on blinders and don’t see what Holy Spirit wants us to see.) Peter didn’t have silver or gold to give the man but he gave the man what he needed most—healing and restoration! When we are filled and led by Holy Spirit, we will receive spiritual sight and when we ask, “Holy Spirit, what do you see here?” that question will lead you into an adventure of faith like you’ve never been in before! You will begin to see people, situations, and circumstances the way the Holy Spirit sees them. Pastor Wayne says, “You have to see reality through Jesus’ eyes.” Let Him define reality for you.

Pray for …

2. Spirit-Led Speech. Peter is an example of how the Holy Spirit will show you exactly what to say. Before Peter was filled with Holy Spirit, he said to Jesus, “You’re the Son of the living God, you're the Messiah,” and the next minute says, “You can't go to the cross, Jesus.” And Jesus says, “Get behind me Satan!” One minute Peter says, “I'll die for you, Jesus,” and the next minute he's cursing as though he doesn't know who Jesus is at all!But notice the change in Peter’s speech after he is filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:8-10 says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit (our speech changes when we are led by the Holy Spirit; things will come to our mind that we never would have thought of on our own), said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.’”

Peter is now speaking with authority. He knows exactly who he is and why he is there. This is not a speech of a fisherman. This is a man who has been filled with Holy Spirit and his speech has literally changed! In Acts 4 the members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the scriptures; they also recognized that they had been with Jesus.

You honor the leadership of the Holy Spirit in every conversation when you ask, “Holy Spirit, what do you see here? What do you want to say to this person, or to my kid that I want to chew out for arguing and being disrespectful to me, to my employee who has shown up late again and seems to be really dragging and handing in assignments late, what do you want to say to this person, Holy Spirit?"

Also, when you feel like saying, “I want to give this person a piece of my mind,” but instead think, “Maybe I should give them the Holy Spirit's mind, or maybe the Holy Spirit has something He wants to speak into this situation that I haven't even thought of yet!” Whenever you invite Holy Spirit’s leadership into every conversation, you will give an impression as Peter did and people will know that you have been with Jesus and that this did not come from you.

It's amazing that the “life hacks of God” are meant to operate where most of us spend our time.

Pray for …

3. Spirit-Led Steps. Holy Spirit wants to be intimately involved in the direction for your life.

Acts 10:19-20, 23, 24 says, “While Peter was still thinking about the vision (God told Peter three times to eat all kinds of unclean animals that Jews did not eat and three times Peter said no), the Spirit said to him, ‘Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them…’ Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.”

Here was Peter a devout Jew surrounded by Gentiles! The Jews did not associate with Gentiles and they did not go to their homes—that just wasn’t done! But Peter was no longer ordering his own steps; he was allowing the Holy Spirit to lead. Christianity is an adventure! The minute you no longer control your own steps but allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, you will find yourself in situations as Peter did—he saw things that he didn’t know were possible, such as the Holy Spirit being poured out on Gentiles!

Are you wondering where God wants to lead you? Make this your prayer and see what happens: “Holy Spirit, what are you doing here?” You will find that Holy Spirit has already been moving in that situation before you get there. It’s extraordinary! He is simply saying I want to involve you in what I am already doing. Remember, God was already moving in Cornelius and the Gentiles before Peter got there. He just needed Peter to be a catalyst. You and I are sitting here filled with Holy Spirit because Peter let God order his steps and it opened the door for the rest of us!

I wonder what you will open a door to. Who is outside that you will invite in because you desire to be led by the Holy Spirit of God and are dependent upon Him? Find out by asking, "Holy Spirit, what are you doing here?"

Peter was still mulling over the vision he had about the unclean animals, and the Holy Spirit told him to go with those men.

You might find yourself at Costco getting gas in your car or at school or just hanging out at the beach. Just allow the Holy Spirit to lead your steps and watch what happens. It will be extraordinary because the Holy Spirit is already moving in the situation before you even get there! He's simply saying, “I want to involve you in what I'm already doing.”

I believe God wants you to be a part of a spirit?led movement right here on the island. How does that work? You just allow Holy Spirit to fill you right now. Just bring the container (that’s you) and a straw (that's our willingness) to say: “I'm going to pray and invite you, Lord, into every situation in my life.” Jesus does the filling; Holy Spirit does the leading; God does all the heavy lifting and that's so great!

This is your prayer for the week:

“I’m seeking to be filled completely,

To drink deeply and to obey quickly

Holy Spirit’s quiet leading.”

Study Questions:

1. What is the meaning of Life Hacks?

2. Share a time when God opened your eyes and you saw something different than the ordinary.

3. Share a time when you were sharing Jesus and you said something profound that you had not thought about (probably you asked, “Where did that come from?”).

4. Share a time when you thought you made a wrong turn but it turned out to be a right turn and something awesome happened!