Jesus Remains

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Jesus Remains"

Church of the Highlands - Sunday Messages
Date: November 2, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode, titled "Jesus Remains," centers on the enduring presence of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Pastors Dino, Mark, and Blake weave stories of generosity, outreach, and personal growth into a biblical reflection on John 20—Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ—and the transformative role of the Holy Spirit in believers' lives. The episode concludes a sermon series on God's goodness, focusing on how Jesus not only reigns, forgives, calls, restores, grows, serves, weeps, and celebrates but crucially, remains with us always.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Generosity and Outreach

• Generosity as a Reflection of God’s Goodness:
  Early in the message, the pastors highlight the church’s collective outreach—feeding thousands, supporting veterans, responding to disasters in Jamaica, and partnering with organizations like Convoy of Hope (02:10) and Mercy Chefs.
• Impact Stories:
  • Story of a man touched by the church during a difficult time:
    “But your team came and brought us some [food], reminded us that God cares. They left with both groceries and hope.” (03:41)
  • Auburn campus packed 300+ blessing bags for veterans; a veteran shared, "I thought people forgot about us, but you didn't. Glory to God." (04:23)

2. The Message: "Jesus Remains"

• Transition from Jesus’ Physical Presence to the Holy Spirit:
  Pastor Dino likens frequently losing things (keys, wallets, even a rifle!) to the disciples experiencing loss after Jesus’ death (07:58–09:31). He recounts Mary Magdalene’s devotion and sorrow, visiting the tomb early because “she could not imagine life without him” (10:21).
• Mary’s Encounter with the Risen Jesus (John 20):
  • Mary clings to Jesus, but he tells her:
    “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father…” (13:03)
  • Pastor Dino explains:
    “Jesus was not being rude at all. He's giving her a revelation... I'm going to ascend so that my Spirit can be with you everywhere.” (14:10)
  • Key shift: Moving from holding onto Jesus to being held by Jesus through the Holy Spirit (14:47).

3. The Role of the Holy Spirit

• Jesus’ Promises about the Spirit:
  • John 14, 15, 16: "I will ask the Father… He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth." (15:20)
  • Pointed reminder: “It ain't like the Holy Spirit only comes to those who got a certain handshake. It ain't about all that… The Holy Spirit is the presence of God now in us, the power of God now through us, and the person of Jesus Christ now with us.” (18:45)
• What the Holy Spirit Does:
  1. Searches You:
     “He knows you fully. He searches you not to shame you... He searches you to heal you and to help you.” (21:51, 22:38)
  2. Sanctifies You:
     “If you will yield to him, he will bring transformation now, and he will bring transformation over time.” (23:05)
  3. Strengthens You:
     “He gives you self-control when you’re tempted… He, he strengthens you when I’m weak.” (23:50–23:57)
  4. Speaks to You:
     “When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth... The more time you spend with the Holy Spirit, the clearer his voice will become.” (24:17, 25:01)
  5. Seals You:
     “Let the Holy Spirit seal your past. Let the Holy Spirit seal your wound.” (25:54–26:12)
  6. Sends You:
     “He then makes you a carrier of his presence… you become a carrier of his presence, and he sends you.” (26:46)

4. Series Recap – Seeds of God’s Word

Pastors walk through previous messages—“Jesus reigns,” “Jesus forgives,” “Jesus calls,” “Jesus restores,” “Jesus grew,” “Jesus serves,” “Jesus wept,” “Jesus celebrates”—each one likened to a seed planted into listeners’ hearts (28:26–31:45).

• Pastor Blake notes: “These are messages from God that Jesus grew. He wants to move you forward. He wants you to take a next step.” (30:15)

5. “Never Walk Alone”

• The overarching assurance is that Jesus remains with believers—no matter the circumstance—through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
• “I remain in you. And you’ll never walk alone.” (32:53)

6. Action Steps for Listeners

• Learn More about the Holy Spirit: Search “Holy Spirit” on the Church of the Highlands website for teachings (27:21).
• Join a Freedom Group: Take next steps in spiritual community (27:36).
• Seek Prayer: Receive personal prayer for the Holy Spirit’s help after service (27:43).

7. Real-Life Application – Being Sent

• Heartfelt story of Jeremiah, a barber who felt called by God to serve the homeless:
  “The Holy Spirit sent me here to do this.” (34:39)
• Listeners are encouraged that being sent may look different for everyone, but it is always a reflection of God's goodness (35:38).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jesus’ Enduring Presence:
  “Mary, don’t hold me. I plan on holding you. Jesus remains—to shift from holding Jesus to being held by Jesus.” — Pastor Dino (14:47)
• The Holy Spirit’s Availability:
  "It ain't like the Holy Spirit only comes to those who got a certain handshake… The Holy Spirit is the presence of God now in us, the power of God now through us, and the person of Jesus Christ now with us." — Pastor Dino (18:45)
• On Missed Loved Ones:
  “How many days have you wanted to call your dad? ... Jesus wept to give healing and hope for the hurts.” — Pastor Mark, referencing Pastor Blake’s loss (31:29)
• Commissioning Listeners:
  “He seals you, and he sends you.” — Pastor Dino (33:30)
• Everyday Mission:
  “You become a carrier of his presence, and he sends you.” — Pastor Mark (26:46)
• A Life Changed:
  “Now the Holy Spirit sends him to cut other people’s hair.” — Pastor Dino, about Jeremiah (34:39)

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Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Key Point | |-----------|------------------------------------------| | 02:10 | Outreach and Jamaica relief efforts | | 03:41 | Story: Groceries bringing hope | | 04:23 | Auburn campus Veterans’ outreach | | 07:58 | Pastor Dino’s lost keys story | | 11:18 | Mary Magdalene at the tomb (John 20) | | 13:03 | Jesus’ Resurrection encounter with Mary | | 14:47 | “Mary, don’t hold me…” | | 15:20 | Jesus promises the Holy Spirit | | 18:45 | The Spirit’s availability to everyone | | 21:51 | What the Holy Spirit does (breakdown) | | 25:54 | The sealing of the Spirit | | 26:46 | "He sends you"—life as God's ambassadors | | 28:26 | Visual Recap of Series Themes | | 31:29 | On grief—Jesus wept and healing | | 32:53 | Assurance: “You'll never walk alone” | | 34:39 | Jeremiah’s story—the Spirit sends |

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Final Takeaways

• Jesus’ presence is not limited by time or geography; through the Holy Spirit, He remains with every believer, guiding, comforting, empowering, and sending them into the world.
• The Holy Spirit does a multifaceted work: searching, sanctifying, strengthening, speaking, sealing, and sending each believer.
• Listeners are urged to plant the Word in their hearts, walk in community, and become carriers of Jesus’ presence, reflecting God’s goodness in their families, communities, and beyond.

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Transcript

[Pastor Dino]

Sam, what's going on? Church of the Islands. How many are fired up for at the movies? Come on, let's clap our hands right around the corner. It's gonna be an incredible time. I just love seeing you been sleeping all day long. Y' all know what I'm talking about.

[Pastor Mark]

Come on.

[Pastor Dino]

Got that extra hour. Y' all been awake all day long. So we ready to go? Let's go, let's go. But I couldn't wait to be with our church family today. Just love our church so much. I want to take a moment to welcome all those who who have joined us at one of our locations. I know the last several weeks I've been able to be at six of our different campuses. So we're one church in many locations. So having a blast there. And then also those watching online or on demand throughout the week or maybe right now online. Thank you so much for being a part. And then I just wanna give a big welcome to all those watching for one of our correctional facilities. And I just thank God. I know yesterday I was down at Woodlawn at the Birmingham Dream center, and I ran into a gentleman there who gave his life to Christ at one of our correctional facility services. And the last eight years has been a part of Woodlawn, been servant on the Dream Team. Doesn't miss a first Saturday serve. That's what it's all about. Come on, Grantsville, let's clap our hands for all those who have joined us. And what I love about those types of stories from Dream Teamers or those that are on the team, it's all a reflection of God's goodness. And it is so important in the world that we're living in right now with all that's happening around us, that we are the reflection of God's goodness to those that are walking through things, those that are hurting. And many of you saw Pastor Mark on socials or you know, how much he leads us in our response to those that are suffering right now, even in the Jamaica area. I was on the phone yesterday with.

[Pastor Mark]

Some of our partners.

[Pastor Dino]

And because. And I want to say this, you know what I love about our church is the stewardship and the financial integrity of all these years through the tithe and the offerings, when you're faithful and you give, it creates a storehouse so that we can respond immediately. And so already on the ground, giving meals out in Jamaica to those that are suffering with Convoy of Hope, Mercy Chefs, our very own Dennis Harris from Disaster Response is gonna be there in the next 48 hours watching those resources get to the ground to the people that are most affected by that. And then many of you know what's happening, of course, around the country, especially here in Alabama and Georgia with the food shortage. And I just wanna say you're responding and I thank God for all that you're doing. You know, this is legacy season and we're heading into Thanksgiving, Christmas. We do a lot during this time, but I know that through Pastor Mark. And of course you're giving, we're giving hundreds of thousands of pounds of food away this year. Even more. We've added even more during this time to respond to those that are in that situation. But you do this all the time. I mean, my goodness, every week you're feeding people. Yesterday we had our first Saturday serve at all of our locations. We did 71 different projects. And I found this out that 28 of those were food related projects. So 28 projects yesterday. 4600 people just yesterday, because of your giving, received groceries and the Gospels. Y' all know what I'm talking about. That's a good place to clap your hands right there. Brexit of generosity. People gave their life to Christ. Got to pray with many different people. I saw these two stories. One of is important because we are gonna be celebrating Veterans Day in a few days. It says this says during one of our outreaches, one of the person there, he said, man, we've not had any food in our home. We're running out of groceries. But your team came and brought us some, reminded us that God cares. They left with both groceries and hope, which I think is what it's all about. At the Auburn campus, our team packed more than 300 blessings bags for veterans and delivered them with handwritten notes. I want you to hear this church. One veteran said, I thought people forgot about us, but you didn't. Glory to God. That's what it's like. When you and I are the hands and feet of Jesus. People get to know that they are not forgotten. And that's what it's all about. And I thank you for showing the goodness of God. We're gonna be doing that even this Friday at our Grandview campus, our church, and of course, Highlands College comes together. We do our annual Veterans Day celebration. And so we know that freedom does not come without a price. And it's important to Pastor Mark and Pastor Chris and our college that we celebrate. We honor all the men and women who have served in the armed services and we just wanna thank God for you. You'll be there on Friday. Wanna Invite you out for that. Friday at 8 o' clock, we'll have our breakfast and then we'll do a celebration. Got a guest speaker there that will do a fantastic job. We just wanna honor you. We wanna bless you. If you have a veteran that's in your family, if you live near one, you wanna invite them out and be a part of that. Cause we want you to know that you matter and we want to make sure that you know you're important. Can we clap our hands for all the veterans? I know it's a little early, but we want to celebrate you. It's a big thing to our college and a big thing to our church. All of that is a reflection of the goodness of God. I don't want the Goodness of God series to end. I want us to be able to receive what God wants to say to us for a few minutes today. And then I want it to be. I want the goodness God to be sent in our life. And we're going to talk about it. And I want to talk for a few minutes around the idea of Jesus remains. Jesus remains. Let's all pray. Father, we love you. We thank you for what's happening. Speak to every single heart that's here. We need you, Lord. We need you more than ever. So Lord, I just pray right now through the power of your Holy Spirit that you would visit every heart.

[Pastor Mark]

Lord, help us.

[Pastor Dino]

We love you. We love you because Jesus remains in Jesus name.

[Pastor Mark]

And everybody said a good amen.

[Pastor Dino]

Turn to the person next to you and say, glad you made it to church today. Come on, won't you look at that other person? That was your second choice. Tell them. You look like you could use a little church, my friend. Let me start off with a question. Do you know or are you someone or do you know a child? Or do you have a spouse or a roommate or a parent or a friend or a co worker who loses things? Are you a person who loses things? Like a tendency to misplace stuff all the time? Like you sit it down and you forget where you laid it, like always in this state of separation. Well, for confession's sake, and to be honest with you, you're looking at a recovering misplacer. But I'm a recovering one. I'm a recovering misplacer. I used to be a constant victim of vanishing items. I've lost things. You. I've lost everything. I've lost wallets. I've lost dogs. Found them all, thank God. I've lost books and backpacks. I even lost and Nobody has lost this. I lost a.22 rifle in the woods while I was hunting. It's still out there for real. Lost my passport. Did I mention phones with an S? Oh my goodness. I have lost some phones. I've lost more clothes and more jackets and more shoes to fill up a church lost and found. I could fill up all the church lost and found. My biggest thing is I've been a great loser of keys. Brother, loose some keys now. To God be the glory for the airtag. Hallelujah saints for the air tag.

[Pastor Mark]

My goodness. Now if you have a child that loses things, guess what? He'll end up being a preacher at Churchill Hollows. Don't be too discouraged. It's going to come back around.

[Pastor Dino]

True story. After my dad had losing so many keys I'm leaving for Bible College. I'm 20 years old going 1,000 miles away. I'm going to Bible. I mean it's a big moment. My mom walks me outside. We're outside leaving in the afternoon. My mom walks me outside. She's kissing, she's hugging.

[Pastor Blake]

I love you so much.

[Pastor Dino]

Just sending me off. It's a big first time to leave home.

[Pastor Blake]

Oh yeah.

[Pastor Dino]

I'm waiting on my dad. My dad's not there. I'm like where's my dad? And this is a big moment. I'm leaving home. I'm breaking the harbor, going into the.

[Pastor Blake]

World to follow the will of the.

[Pastor Dino]

Lord and my dad's not there.

[Pastor Blake]

And so finally my dad walks out.

[Pastor Dino]

And you know, I'm waiting on these words, this Italian wisdom that I've been waiting on. Just finally he is here.

[Pastor Blake]

Dad, give me these words. I want to be sent by you.

[Pastor Dino]

He looks at me and he says.

[Pastor Blake]

Son, make me a promise. Yes, dad, I'll take care of mom. I'll hold the Rizzo name.

[Pastor Dino]

He says, son and he holds up a safety pin and he's taken a key, my extra car key and he sealed it to it. He says, son, look at me. Do not take this off until you get to your destination. Go to Bible college in the name of the Lord. Last thing he said to me right there. I just got in the car, drove. I mean I had a. I'm a grown man. I'm 20 years old. I. I had a key pinned to me the whole journey right there. Going gas stations, you know, show up Mississippi. What you got on you?

[Pastor Mark]

It's a key.

[Pastor Dino]

I will never forget it. For about five years I traveled with a key on me like for real. Just everywhere I went I felt this nervous Thing of I'm gonna lose my key and that's gonna happen, you know, I love in John, chapter 20, where we see the post cross, post resurrection interaction that Jesus has with Mary Magdalene. These are not good days to the disciples and to those that followed Christ. They were under the impression that Jesus was gone, that they had lost him, that all this had turned out bad. And during that moment, it was bad news. It was not a good moment. This was bad for his followers. And all they could think about is, he has gone and we're never going to find him, we're never going to have him. And you can see how important this is as they're still reeling from this loss in John 21. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, I mean, Mary had been up all night long. She got up thinking about Jesus and just wanted to be next to him, wanted to be near where they had buried him. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw the stone that had been removed from the entrance. I think one of the reasons why she got up so early and it was on her heart because Jesus had done so much for her. This is a woman that had been tormented. The Bible tells us that Jesus had prayed and had delivered her from seven demons that were in her now. She had become greatly devoted to Jesus. And you see this devotion. Early in the morning she went to be near where they had buried him because she wanted to be next to him. She could not imagine life without him. She could not imagine life alone without the person who had done so much in her life. We fast forward the scene because we know that Jesus is not there.

[Pastor Mark]

He is risen.

[Pastor Dino]

The power of God had showed up and our risen Savior was alive. It's resurrection. Morning, verse 11. Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting seated where Jesus body was, had been. And one of them at the head, the other at the foot. And they asked a woman, why are you crying? What do you think why I'm crying? Everything in my world has been taken away.

[Pastor Blake]

I've lost everything.

[Pastor Dino]

They have taken my Lord away and I don't know where they put him.

[Pastor Mark]

And she turned around, she saw Jesus standing there.

[Pastor Dino]

But she did not realize it was Jesus. He said, woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for? What are you looking for?

[Pastor Blake]

What have you lost?

[Pastor Dino]

Thinking he was a gardener, she said.

[Pastor Blake]

Sir, if you carried him away, tell.

[Pastor Dino]

Me where you put him.

[Pastor Blake]

I will go find him. I will go get him. This Little Mary said, I'll go pick him up.

[Pastor Dino]

I will carry him back here.

[Pastor Mark]

And Jesus said to her, mary changed everything.

[Pastor Dino]

Interesting how he said woman, and she didn't recognize him. But then he said, mary. And she turned and she cried out in Aramaic, rabbona, which means to.

[Pastor Blake]

And she couldn't help, as the Bible describes, to reach out and to grab.

[Pastor Dino]

Him because she had found what she was looking for.

[Pastor Mark]

Verse 17 is really the key text.

[Pastor Dino]

For this whole installment this weekend. Jesus said, do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them I am ascending to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God. Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. I have seen the Lord.

[Pastor Mark]

Glory to God.

[Pastor Dino]

I think it's so interesting. In verse 17, it sounds like, you know, when you hear that word, don't hold onto me, you think maybe it's a soft word, like, hey, back up a little. Give me some space. I need some operating room. No, no, no, no, no, no. That's not what happened. That word hold actually means to cling so tightly that you're pinching me.

[Pastor Mark]

Can you imagine that?

[Pastor Dino]

Have you ever grabbed ahold of someone and you're like, why are you grabbing me like that?

[Pastor Blake]

That hurts.

[Pastor Dino]

Literally, it means it hurts. Why are you grabbing me like that? Mary had become a clinger. Do you know a clinger in your life? Have you anybody in your life that clings to you all the time?

[Pastor Mark]

Delynn's sister, she said, when they were growing up, we always cling to her.

[Pastor Dino]

Mary wants to cling to the physical Jesus. He's all she's known. But now he tells her, no, don't hold onto me like that. Don't grab me like that. Don't cling to me like that. Jesus was not being rude at all. He's giving her a revelation from our risen Christ that I'm going to ascend so that my spirit can be with you everywhere.

[Pastor Mark]

Mary.

[Pastor Dino]

You'Re going to move from physical dependence to something that's even more divine, something that's even a great connection. There's gonna be a great communion that's gonna happen. You won't just have to be in one place. You won't just have to be standing beside me, because I'm gonna give you the Holy Spirit. And he's gonna hold on to you because he's gonna be in you. So, Mary, don't hold me. I plan on holding you. Jesus remains to shift from holding Jesus to being held By Jesus.

[Pastor Mark]

Because I'm going to live in you. And everywhere you go, my spirit is going to be with you. You'll never be alone. You'll never be lost. Because I'm going to be with you. And I'm going to be in you. See, Mary had forgotten all that Jesus had promised about the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit.

[Pastor Dino]

He had told her this day was gonna come. He had reminded them over and over again that I'm gonna go to the cross. I'm gonna send to my Father.

[Pastor Blake]

But I'm gonna send something to you.

[Pastor Dino]

That you're gonna be okay with. It's the power and the strength of the Holy Spirit. Jesus remains. John 14, 15, 17 is one of those promises. If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father and. And he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.

[Pastor Mark]

It's the spirit of truth.

[Pastor Dino]

And the world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows Him. But you know Him. For he lives with you and he lives in you.

[Pastor Mark]

It's the power of my spirit.

[Pastor Dino]

It's gonna shift. You wanna hold onto me right now, but you can't hold onto me. Cause I'm gonna give you my Holy Spirit. And it's gonna hold you. No matter what happens in your life, no matter what you deal with, it's.

[Pastor Mark]

Gonna be there for you. I love how he continues to say.

[Pastor Dino]

This in John 14, verse 25 and 26. All this I've spoken to you while still with you. But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send you in my name. He will teach you all things and.

[Pastor Mark]

Remind you of everything I've said to you. My Holy Spirit's gonna be with you. You don't have to worry, John.

[Pastor Dino]

I know I'm gonna go up, but my Holy Spirit's gonna come down. But more importantly, it's gonna come in you.

[Pastor Mark]

And no matter what you deal with, the Holy Spirit's gonna be there for you. He even says this in John 16, 7. I think this is so important for.

[Pastor Dino]

Us in the world that we're living in right now. In the thoughts that we think, in the battlefield of the mind that we go through, in the anxiety that we struggle with, in the unknown questions that we wrestle with. Jesus said this to disciples. Cause he knew there was gonna come a moment when where they were gonna.

[Pastor Mark]

Feel alone and they were gonna feel lost. And he says this. But verily, truly, I tell you, it is good for you that I'm going away.

[Pastor Dino]

Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you.

[Pastor Mark]

But if I go, I will send him to you. Can I have a good amen for God's word?

[Pastor Dino]

Wow.

[Pastor Mark]

The Holy Spirit. Jesus remains. How important is that? In the world that we're all navigating?

[Pastor Dino]

Jesus remains. Mary, don't grab me like that. Don't hold on to my physical presence. Cause I can only be right here with you. But when I said to my Father, the promise of the Holy Spirit is gonna come to you.

[Pastor Blake]

And no matter where you go, what you face, where, what you walk through.

[Pastor Dino]

I'm gonna send him to you. He's gonna lead you into all truth, and he's gonna be there for you. You never gonna be alone. You got me? Because I remain.

[Pastor Mark]

Through the Holy Spirit.

[Pastor Dino]

I wrote this in my journal about.

[Pastor Mark]

The availability of the Holy Spirit to each of us.

[Pastor Dino]

And I said, each of us. Let me say that again. Each of us. It ain't like the Holy Spirit only comes to those who got a certain handshake. It ain't about all that we get in this thought that the Holy Spirit is only gonna help those that are perfect. Just everything just gotta have, like a secret code, like a password that comes down from heaven, only comes to you, that you're the only.

[Pastor Blake]

No, no, no, no. It's not like that.

[Pastor Dino]

Not what Jesus promised. But I wrote this about the availability.

[Pastor Mark]

Of the Holy Spirit to each of us. The Holy Spirit is the presence of.

[Pastor Dino]

God now in us. The power of God now through us. And the person of Jesus Christ now with us.

[Pastor Mark]

Oh, come on.

[Pastor Dino]

You mean to tell me I got the presence of God now in me?

[Pastor Blake]

I got the power of God through me. I got the person of Jesus Christ now with me.

[Pastor Dino]

Okay.

[Pastor Blake]

I could walk through this season. I can navigate this pain. I could go into this meeting. I could work through this thought. I could see this. Oh, I feel like preaching right now. I could see my marriage mended. I could believe God for my kids. I could trust God through this moment. I can believe God for what's happening in my body. You mean to tell me I've got the power of God? I've got the presence of God and I got the person of Jesus Christ.

[Pastor Mark]

I'm good.

[Pastor Dino]

Turn to your neighbor and say, I'm good.

[Pastor Mark]

We done turned into a talking church. Acts 1:8 says this. But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

[Pastor Dino]

You will be my witness. You'll be my witness through giving hope. You'll be my witness on a first Saturday serve.

[Pastor Mark]

You'll be my witness in junior high. You'll be my witness when you send that text. You'll be my witness through that moment, both in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, even to the ends of the earth. Can I encourage you today that Jesus remains in the person, in the presence, in the power of the Holy Spirit. That is the goodness of God. Today, Jesus remains the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit. He's the comforter. He's the counselor. He's the advocate. He's the helper. The Bible says he's the wind and the water and the fire. He is the breath. How about this? He's the fresh air we breathe. We know a little bit about fresh air around here. He's the teacher. He's the dove.

[Pastor Dino]

He's the Great Revealer. And I thank the Lord for this.

[Pastor Mark]

He's the holy filter. See, y' all ain't giving me enough Amens, cuz some of y' all need a little holy filter.

[Pastor Blake]

Hey.

[Pastor Mark]

He's our guide. And he is the gift from God Almighty to you. Jesus remains. Well, Dino, what does he do? What will he do for me?

[Pastor Blake]

What does he do?

[Pastor Mark]

I'll tell you what he does.

[Pastor Dino]

I'm glad you asked.

[Pastor Mark]

I'm gonna tell you what the Holy Spirit does. Here's the first thing. The Holy spirit searches you. 2 Corinthians 2:10. These are the things of God, they.

[Pastor Dino]

Revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things. He knows you fully. He knows what is hidden. He knows the hurts and all the hangups. And he searches you not to shame you. That's the enemy that's trying to shame you. It ain't the Holy Spirit. He never searches you to shame you. He searches you to heal you and to help you. That's why I love a freedom group.

[Pastor Blake]

That's why I love a small group. That's why I love being on a team. That's why I love taking the next step.

[Pastor Mark]

All that.

[Pastor Blake]

I need help. I need help.

[Pastor Mark]

What does he do? He searches you.

[Pastor Dino]

The other thing he does is he sanctifies you. Corinthians says that this is what some of you were. You were this. You're no longer this. You were washed. You were sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Spirit of God. He changes you from the inside out. And if you will yield to him, he will bring transformation now, and he will bring transformation over time.

[Pastor Blake]

I need it now. But I've also seen him work over time. Thank God for the positional miracle. But thank God for the progressive miracle. The Holy Spirit Will work with you. He will set you apart right now.

[Pastor Dino]

Freedom from addiction, freedom from doubt.

[Pastor Blake]

But then what I love about the Holy Spirit. He's your comforter. He's your guide. He will help you along time. As time and world and seasons and conditions change.

[Pastor Dino]

The Holy Spirit helps you across your timeline.

[Pastor Mark]

He searches you. He sanctifies you. 2 Timothy says, for the Spirit of God, guess what? Does it give me that fear?

[Pastor Dino]

Does it make me timid? He gives me power, love and self discipline.

[Pastor Mark]

He, he strengthens you when I'm weak.

[Pastor Dino]

When I want to quit, when I.

[Pastor Mark]

Want to give up, when I want to give in. He gives you self control when you're tempted. So we rely on Him. He searches you.

[Pastor Dino]

He sanctifies you.

[Pastor Mark]

He strengthens you. What does the Holy Spirit do? He will speak to you. I love this.

[Pastor Dino]

This is so important in the world that we're living in today with so many voices. When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak of his own. He will speak only what he hears. And he will tell you what is yet to come. Prayer, Bible worship.

[Pastor Mark]

The keys.

[Pastor Dino]

We hear the voice of God in.

[Pastor Blake]

A world of conflicted voices.

[Pastor Mark]

And he speaks with Jesus. Speaks, speaks.

[Pastor Dino]

And it always lines up with the word of God.

[Pastor Mark]

I was at a confusing time my.

[Pastor Dino]

Sophomore year of Bible college. Couldn't make a decision.

[Pastor Mark]

Went and saw a great college professor. He looked at me and said, dino.

[Pastor Dino]

The more time you spend with the.

[Pastor Mark]

Holy Spirit, the more time you spend with God in His word, the clearer his voice will become. Searches, sanctify, strength and speaks. And then I love this. It says this in Ephesians 1:13. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of the truth, the gospel of your salvation.

[Pastor Dino]

When you believed you were marked in.

[Pastor Mark]

Him with the seal, the promise of the Holy Spirit. He will seal you world trying to.

[Pastor Dino]

Hey, when you get hurt or there's a cut or there's a wound, world tries to get in that tries to make you bitter. Life, just everything, just things that happen. Every day we watch on the news, we hear from others. All those things will cut us and wound us. And the world tries to get in there.

[Pastor Blake]

Sin tries to get all these things.

[Pastor Dino]

Try to get in there. But God Almighty says, no, no, no.

[Pastor Blake]

Let the Holy Spirit seal your past. Let the Holy Spirit seal your wound. Let the Holy Spirit seal your disappointment. Let the Holy Spirit seal your worst day.

[Pastor Mark]

Don't let your past stick to you.

[Pastor Blake]

Let the Holy Spirit seal you.

[Pastor Mark]

Searches, sanctifies, strengthens speaks seals. Well, what does the Holy Spirit do? Here's what he loves to do. He sends you. John 20. And again, Jesus said, peace be with you. As the father has sent me, I am sending you.

[Pastor Dino]

And with that, he breathed on them and said, receive the Holy Spirit.

[Pastor Mark]

He will send you. He then makes you a carrier of his presence. When you go into that dorm, when you go into that workplace, when you go into that classroom, when you go into that meeting, when you get ready to live out living hope, or you go bring groceries to somebody, or you bring your legacy gift to the church, or you invite someone to Veterans Day, you become a carrier of his presence, and he sends you. It's the goodness of God. Every day of our life. You say, well, Dina, I want to.

[Pastor Dino]

Know more about the Holy Spirit.

[Pastor Mark]

There's three action steps. Guess what? You could go online and search Holy Spirit on Church of the Highlands website and you can see incredible message by our pastor, Pastor Mark. And Pastor Chris has taught series on the go do that. See, I need to know more about the Holy Spirit.

[Pastor Dino]

How about this?

[Pastor Mark]

Start a freedom group in February. That's an action step. I'm going to freedom group.

[Pastor Dino]

If you say, well, Dan, I need something immediate.

[Pastor Mark]

And this happens at every one of our campuses. Then after service, don't run to the car. If you need the help of the Holy Spirit, you come forward to the prayer team.

[Pastor Dino]

They will pray for you and they.

[Pastor Mark]

Will believe for the visitation of the Holy Spirit in your life. Action steps. I thought about this series. I think this has been a super important series.

[Pastor Dino]

I thought about a visual.

[Pastor Mark]

I'm going to ask Pastor Blake to come help me with this visual. Come on. Why don't we clap our hands for.

[Pastor Dino]

None other than Pastor Blake. Lindsay, I want to show you how.

[Pastor Mark]

God uses a series like this, because.

[Pastor Dino]

I do not believe, Pastor Blake, that this has just been just some series. His sermon. Just throw some sermons out. We did some talks. God bless you. Go eat chicken.

[Pastor Mark]

Glory.

[Pastor Dino]

That's not the heart of our pastor.

[Pastor Blake]

It's not the heart of our church. It's not how God's word works. It's just an event. It's like a little appetizer sampler. Got a little appetizer. I'm good. No, no, no, no, no. We've heard messages from God, and God says it's like a seed. And I want to plant this series of the goodness of God. Just not a series. It's a moment in God. I believe it's been one of the most impactful messages we've ever had. I believe it's a series that is a landmark series for all of our life.

[Pastor Mark]

So God speaks and the word gets planted. So we started off with Jesus reigns. Jesus reigns. You know, the salvation during this time, you've given your life to Christ. Salvation.

[Pastor Dino]

And then I love this one of.

[Pastor Mark]

The other number two, the second one we had was Jesus forgives. But put that right over your heart because how many knows we need forgiveness. Yeah, great.

[Pastor Blake]

These are messages. These are moments in God. It's not one and done.

[Pastor Dino]

It's a word from God that says salvation.

[Pastor Mark]

Jesus forgives. That's freedom. Then we heard a message. I mean a word from the Lord that Jesus calls. Jesus calls. Hey, we sense him inviting during these moments. There's an invitation. Then I was able to share this thought. Hey, Jesus restores revival in our life.

[Pastor Dino]

Word of the Lord. Word of the Lord.

[Pastor Blake]

Then we heard another message. These are messages from God that Jesus grew.

[Pastor Dino]

How important. Hey, the advancing of the gospel in your life. Yeah. He wants to move you forward.

[Pastor Mark]

He wants you to take a next step. How important was that in your life? To take a next step?

[Pastor Dino]

Oh, vital. The entire entire life, every day there's.

[Pastor Mark]

A next step to take.

[Pastor Dino]

It's very important. It's just not one and done. Not one and done. Consistent.

[Pastor Mark]

You know, it's interesting. The Bible talks about the parable, the sower, and he plants the word like this one. Jesus serves. Jam. Did a great job on that. How he serves. And he plants it in our heart.

[Pastor Dino]

The enemy tries to come get it right. You know that parable, the cares of the world, the troubles, the problems.

[Pastor Blake]

The devil tries to come get it.

[Pastor Dino]

Constantly trying to come get.

[Pastor Blake]

But the Bible says that I plant.

[Pastor Dino]

The word in my heart. So Psalms 119.

[Pastor Blake]

Why?

[Pastor Dino]

So I might not sin against thee.

[Pastor Mark]

The Word is planted in our heart. This is important. Jesus wept. Healing. I think about your mother right now is sick. When did your father pass away?

[Pastor Dino]

Almost 10 years ago.

[Pastor Mark]

You wept. Those had to be dark days. Yep. And now you have your wife and four kids. And you lead them now without your dad.

[Pastor Blake]

Yep.

[Pastor Mark]

How many days have you wanted to call your dad? Oh, every girl. Daughter gets her license, son hits a home run. Jesus wept to give healing and hope for the hurts.

[Pastor Dino]

Yep.

[Pastor Mark]

And he's done it for you. He has. I love this. When Jesus celebrates. That's good. My goodness. Firm. Appreciate it. But there's hope. Thomas celebrates.

[Pastor Dino]

All this is in my life. We say yes to all these things. But then Jesus remains. You're not gonna deal with this all by yourself. You don't have to keep trying to do this better. No, no, no, no, no. Jesus remains. So what happens? He says, I'm gonna send you the Holy Spirit and it's gonna be in you so you're not alone.

[Pastor Blake]

And I'm gonna seal that in you. The healing and the hope and the. The new beginning. All the pain, it's in you now. I remain in you. I remain in you. And you'll never walk alone.

[Pastor Mark]

Amen.

[Pastor Dino]

Blake.

[Pastor Blake]

You'll never be by yourself.

[Pastor Dino]

Right.

[Pastor Mark]

Because Jesus remains. And then when he seals you. I love that he seals you. Then you know what he does? He sends you, Blake.

[Pastor Dino]

He seals you.

[Pastor Mark]

And he sends you in the name of the Lord. You can go to the side stage. Glory to God.

[Pastor Dino]

Clap your hands as he's being sent in the name of the Lord.

[Pastor Blake]

Aren't you glad for the Holy Spirit? Aren't you glad for the Holy Spirit? Aren't you glad for the Holy Spirit?

[Pastor Dino]

He seals you and he sends you. I got up yesterday morning. I was praying for our time together carrying this word. The honor to be in this amazing.

[Pastor Mark]

Church and humility of being able to communicate with people like Pastor Mark Pettis and Pastor Chris and others ended up down at the Birmingham Dream Center. We were giving out food. Our motion grants meal. Kids were partnered up there giving out at Woodlong today. We're giving out food at Wilong today. Today during church. Cause that's what you do. And we're cooking breakfast.

[Pastor Dino]

Man. I got in.

[Pastor Mark]

I was slinging pancreas bacon.

[Pastor Dino]

Church of Highlands on the streets, feed people on the streets.

[Pastor Mark]

I was all up in that middle. And I was standing there and Dr. Record and Coach Dave and Demetri K said, I want you to meet this young man named Jeremiah. Jeremiah, Tell him why you here? There's a picture of me of Jeremiah, my new best friend. Jeremiah said, God woke me up, told me to come help the homeless. I looked over there, about 30 minutes later, he's cutting hair.

[Pastor Dino]

He's a barber. He works construction.

[Pastor Mark]

Also does.

[Pastor Blake]

Has two jobs.

[Pastor Mark]

Goes our Woodlawn campus. Said, chairman, what are you doing? The Holy Spirit sent me here to do this. The Holy Spirit will send you. You know what his story is? He said, I remember growing up and my mama didn't have money to get my hair cut. But now the Holy Spirit sends him to cut other people's hair. He's sending you may not be to cut somebody's hair. It may be to bring somebody to veterans celebration could bring to invite somebody to at the movies. Could be to walk across the street and give a meal. Could bring to bring a gift to legacy. Or send you to be a blessing in the workplace to notice somebody.

[Pastor Dino]

Thought.

[Pastor Mark]

Wow, he seals you and then he.

[Pastor Dino]

Sends you, Lord.

[Pastor Mark]

Send me, send me, send me. Amen. Let's bow our heads. Let's pray together.

[Pastor Dino]

Father, we thank you for the seal.

[Pastor Mark]

Of the Holy Spirit upon this series. I pray the seal of the Holy Spirit upon this series. Now. Send us in the goodness of God. Send us out in the goodness of God.

[Pastor Dino]

Through pain and trial and storms, send.

[Pastor Mark]

Us in the goodness of God. Maybe you're here. Today, our campus pastors are joining me on stage. You say, dino, I feel far from God. I need a new beginning. I need fresh air. I need a helper. I need a comforter. I need Jesus Christ, my savior. As our CPS are joining us on the stage, I'm not gonna have you stand or embarrass you, but I want to ask you right now, if you're here, you say, dino, I need to accept. I want to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior. If that's you, can you lift up your hand? Thank you. I see hands going up all around this room. Pray this prayer out of your heart because I'm praying that Jesus will visit you in the power of the Holy Spirit right where you're sitting at right now. Just pray this out of your heart. Say, jesus, be my Lord, be my savior, be my everything. Forgive me of my sins. Give me a new beginning.

[Pastor Dino]

Give me a fresh start.

[Pastor Mark]

Be my seal, be my savior and send me in Jesus name.

[Pastor Dino]

Amen.

[Pastor Mark]

Let's clap our hands for all those.

[Pastor Dino]

Who made a decision today.