Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Pentecost Matters – Part 2


Deuteronomy 26:1-11“And it shall be, when you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. And you shall go to the one who is priest in those days, and say to him, ‘I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the country which the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.’ “Then the priest shall take the basket out of your hand and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God. And you shall answer and say before the Lord your God: ‘My father was a Syrian, about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. But the Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and laid hard bondage on us. Then we cried out to the Lord God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression. So, the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, “a land flowing with milk and honey”; and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which you, O Lord, have given me.’ “Then you shall set it before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God. So, you shall rejoice in every good thing which the Lord your God has given to you and your house.”

Continuing Pastor Kyle’s message on Pentecost Sunday. The OT Jewish nation knew of the Holy Spirit, but just came to specific individuals at specific times for a specific purpose. On Pentecost Sunday, during the Passover festival, the promised indwelling Holy Spirit was made available to everyone. For today’s Christians, Pentecost is an opportunity to (re)examine how God want s to use our spiritual gifts (in our current life season). Every Christian has been given supernatural spiritual gifts by God to use in the context of ministry (that Ecclesiastical function; service of the body of Christ ministering the gospel in the modern church). Pentecost is a reminder of our need for the perpetual filling of the Holy Spirit. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and be refilled with the Holy Spirit. We all need a reset now and then. 

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

Five quick things that every Christian needs to know about the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. (1) The Holy Spirit is God – the third member of the Trinity (1X1X1=1) – the provider of spiritual knowledge and power. (2) We receive the indwelling Holy Spirit when we become a born-again Believer and disciple (student/follower) of Jesus Christ. (3) Sometimes, the Holy Spirit moves and speaks spectacularly and sometimes He moves and specks subtly. This side of eternity, we have sin in our lives, so do not hear everything properly. The Holy Spirit speaks by confirming moments. (4) The Holy Spirit’s power is most evident by our love and obedience. Actions without love and obedience is just a bunch of noise. Who and/or what do we love and are obedient to?

This is the era of the Holy Spirit at work in the world, transforming hearts, minds and souls. The child of God is on mission, empowered by the same Holy Spirit, for God’s purposes in ministry and the glory of Almighty God, in both seasons of strength and weakness. Activate your calling.

In Christ, Brian

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