Be A Living Sacrifice for Today's Church

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Today’s episode will help us move from self-reliance to Spirit-empowered living by embracing daily surrender and rediscovering the power of the Holy Spirit in our walk with Jesus.

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Empowering Every Believer: Activating the Priesthood of All Believers - Disciple Maker's Podcast Ep. 7

 

Unlocking the Power of the Holy Spirit: A Call to Bold Witness and Total Surrender

 

In this impactful episode, Josh Howard and Jason dive deep into the significance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. They discuss the challenges modern Christians face, including the startling statistic that 98% of Christians in America never share their faith outside of their immediate families. They highlight two main problems: the lack of witnessing and the often forgotten role of the Holy Spirit in many churches. Through scriptural examples, particularly from the Book of Acts, they showcase the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the necessity of full surrender and consecration to experience true spiritual empowerment. They argue that without daily dying to oneself and being filled afresh with the Spirit, believers cannot effectively witness or make disciples. The conversation underscores the critical need for revival and a personal challenge to be a true burnt offering for God’s glory. Join them in a heartfelt prayer of surrender, and take the first steps toward becoming a vessel for the Spirit’s power in your life.

 

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Key Takeaways 

 

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage

00:52 The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Church

03:01 The Power of Witnessing and the Holy Spirit

05:57 Daily Surrender and Empowerment

12:18 Living Sacrifice and Community Support

22:35 The Demands of Discipleship

23:14 The Reasonableness of Total Surrender

24:27 Living as a Burnt Offering

30:02 The Power of the Holy Spirit

32:17 A Call to Radical Transformation

37:42 Prayer of Surrender

45:00 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

 

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See Below for a longer description:

Podcast Recap: S3 Ep. 2 – Life in the Spirit

In this episode, Jason and Josh dive into a real, honest conversation about what it means to live a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. They go back and forth between light-hearted banter and weighty truths, creating a natural rhythm that feels both grounded and inspiring.

They kick things off with a laugh, joking about how hard it can be to start episodes smoothly—before easing into the heart of the conversation.

The big focus? The Church’s need to make more room for the Holy Spirit—not just in Sunday services, but in everyday life. Jason shares how some churches unintentionally sideline the Spirit, joking about the tendency to worship “God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Bible.” Josh jumps in to remind us that real power—boldness, witness, and transformation—comes from the Holy Spirit.

They unpack Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells His followers they’ll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes. Josh points out a sobering stat: 98% of American Christians never share their faith outside their family. The answer isn’t trying harder—it’s surrendering deeper.

Josh describes how the disciples went from hiding in fear to boldly preaching the gospel after being filled with the Spirit. He draws from Romans to say the same power that raised Jesus now lives in us—meaning we’re equipped for far more than we realize.

A key theme in the episode is daily surrender. Josh shares a vivid metaphor: believers “leak,” so we need to keep coming back for a fresh filling. They talk about how true revival starts when we lay ourselves down—day after day—like living sacrifices.

They also explore the idea that you can’t have Pentecost without Calvary. In other words, the power of the Spirit comes through death to self. Drawing on Old Testament sacrifices, they paint a picture of what it means to live fully surrendered—acknowledging our tendency, like a goat, to crawl off the altar.

Community plays a big role here too. Josh emphasizes how we need each other to keep living that surrendered life—through encouragement, accountability, and prayer.

Toward the end, they call out how the Western Church often gets caught up in debates and performance, losing sight of the simple, powerful truth: Jesus rose, and His Spirit lives in us. They warn against letting the flesh take the lead again and call for a return to Spirit-led living.

The episode wraps with lyrics from a Casting Crowns song that challenge superficial faith and call for genuine heart change. It’s a fitting close to a conversation all about real transformation—from the inside out.

Jason and Josh finish with a heartfelt prayer, asking for the Spirit’s guidance, power, and presence to shape every part of our lives.

Bottom line: If you’re hungry for deeper discipleship and lasting impact, it all starts with surrender—and the Holy Spirit is ready to lead the way.