The answer to that question affects our attitudes, actions, responses and reactions to life’s circumstances. If we see ourselves as the helpless victim of Satan and his schemes, we will likely live like his victims and be in bondage to Satan’s lies. If we see ourselves as children of God, we will likely live like children of God. In order to live like a child of God, we need a firm grip on God’s Word. We need to understand who we are as a result of who God is and what he has done. The only way we can gain this understanding is to consider the work of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, also known as the Trinity.

There are many mysteries in the Christian faith, one of which has to do with the nature of God. How can we understand God who is described in the Bible as both the one true God and the God we know as Father, Son and Holy Spirit? Trinity Sunday, is the one Sunday when we consider this important part of the church’s doctrine, instead of considering a teaching or message from Jesus.

Believers are debtors who have to share the Gospel with the world and live righteous lives. They are responsible to live according to the Spirit instead of the flesh. No one can destroy the flesh in this life, but they can destroy the deeds of the flesh. The indwelling of the Spirit gives people the ability to kill the corrupt deeds that once defined them, thereby enabling them to taste a life that won’t perish.

Following the Holy Spirit’s leadership is proof that we are children of God. For believers, conviction of sin and a pattern of repentance are assurance of our salvation. Two effects confirm that someone has been released from fear into sonship: adoption and an ability to call God “Father.” The Spirit of adoption provides release from the spirit of bondage. Slavery to sin leads to fear. The Spirit delivers us from fear and does not take us back to it again.

God does not punish us for our fears. Instead, he redirects our attention to him. He wants us to turn from fear to faith. He wants us to turn away from anything that feeds our fears and focus on him. Paul invites us to imagine a life of courage, the courage of those who have been adopted by God and invited into the full measure of God’s blessing and riches.

Christ and fellow believers sanctify us, but we have to take an active role in battling sinful habits. We are freed from sin’s slavery and are adopted as children of Christ’s family. We do not have to fight this battle alone. The Holy Spirit will show us the way and give us the tools that we will need.

The Christian walk won’t be easy. Following Jesus won’t mean a life that is free from trouble. In fact, it will often lead to more problems and struggles. Some of the most committed Christians have lived some of the most difficult lives. Some of them paid a heavy price. Some of them even died because of their faith. The Bible even tells us to expect problems and to be joyful when we face them. With Christ, we can do that. Without Christ, we will fail.

We can learn from suffering. We must not be angry or bitter. We should look at our suffering as a way to become more intimate with Christ. We should use that time to sense his love and compassion. We should use the time to grow to trust him and grow closer to him.

Every time people pray and call God “Father,” the Holy Spirit does the same thing. That is dual evidence of sonship. Sonship does not rest alone on one’s changing spirit for affirmation. The affirmation of sonship rests on the unchanging testimony of the Holy Spirit.  The rewards of sonship are being children and heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. An heir has not yet received his inheritance, but expects to receive it in the future. The biblical idea of an heir implies possession and enjoyment in the future.

We are heirs of God’s kingdom, but that does not mean we will inherit it like we would inherit something when a loved one dies. Our heavenly inheritance means that we are in a privileged position as a result of our place in God’s family. Our hope for growth, meaning and fulfillment as a member of God’s family is based on our understanding of who we are as a member of God’s family. That understanding will greatly determine how we live our lives.

We have certain obligations as a member of God’s family, just like we have obligations in our earthly families. One of the obligations we have as a member of God’s family is to use his gifts to fulfill the Great Commission.  One day we will be judged for what we’ve done with what we’ve been given. If we use God’s gifts for God’s purposes, we will be rewarded for this choice.

The Holy Spirit is a gift from God for all of us. It can’t be bought or sold. Because the Spirit is in us and because we have access to the mind of God, we have an obligation to allow the Spirit to do good deeds on our behalf. We will become more like Jesus and share the blessings that are due him. We also gain practical benefits:

1. Everyday leading from God.
2. Fearless intimacy with God.
3. Assurance of belonging to God.
4. A continual reminder of our value before God.

All we have to do is let the Spirit be spiritual within us. When we do, we will start to understand God’s grace.

God is not a distant ruler. He is up close and personal; therefore, our unconditional faith in God the Father is taken seriously. That Spirit bears witness to our faith, and that faith is created when we accept Jesus (also known as God the Son) as our Lord and Saviour. God spared no expense to save us from a life of slavery to sin. God will stop at nothing to make us his own. He pursues us relentlessly until we are completely adopted into his family.

When we die with Christ, we are one with him in his death, but our sufferings are not meaningless. We suffer so that we can share his glory. The path to suffering is the path to glory. We must “mind” the things of the Spirit rather than those of the flesh. We must choose to walk with the Spirit instead of walking with the flesh.  This can be hard for us to do when we are not faced with difficulties that challenge us. We can become so comfortable with our lives that we don’t see the need to deepen our spiritual lives. Christ’s grace allows us to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to put to death our earthly, sin-filled lives.

Paul did not outline what the things of the flesh and the Spirit are, but it appears that he was thinking of the presence of the Spirit within the believer. When the believer constantly thinks of the Spirit, it impacts a believer’s thinking. If we think of the Spirit of truth constantly, it will take us exactly where we need to go and help us to reach our maximum potential in life. In Paul’s mind, Jesus’ radical message was that Christ’s love offered belonging and forgiveness, and goodness would flow from our new relationship with God because love creates love, not fear of disobedience. The doing of righteousness is a work of the Holy Spirit. God’s law is realized in the life of a believer through the direct and personal intervention of Christ.

We are proof of Christianity. We are proof that God saves lives and that the Spirit changes them completely. The Spirit lives in us and gives us faith when we don’t have any. We have a choice. We can accept the Spirit and live a new life in Christ, or we can continue living our sin-filled, earthly lives.

The power of sin dwelling within us prevents us from doing what is good and right in spite of our best intentions. The solution to this problem is the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. A mind that is set on our earthly lives separates us from God and his Spirit.  If we reject Christ, we condemn ourselves to an eternity in hell. If we accept Christ, we will be with him in heaven for eternity. Where would you prefer to live?

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, Dr. David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
2. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Rome (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)
3. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
4. Morris, L.: The Epistle to the Romans (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Erdmans; Inter-Varsity Press; 1988)
5. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
6. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2015)
7. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Fear Turned Into Sin.” Retrieved from my devotional@leadingtheway.org
8. Stephen Davey, “Evidence From Within.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
9. Neil Anderson, “Following our shepherd.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
10. Rick Renner, “Is the Holy Spirit ‘Tugging’ at Your Heart Today?” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
11. Exegesis for Romans 8:12-25. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
12. Steve Arterburn, “Struggle.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
13. Steve Arterburn, “Learning Through Suffering.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
14. Pastor Rick Warren, “The Power of Eternal Thinking.” Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com
15. Neil Anderson, “Understand Who You Are.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
16. Neil Anderson, “How We Perceive Ourselves.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
17. Neil Anderson, “A Solid Belief System.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
18. Pastor Dave Risendal, “The Feast of the Holy Trinity.” Retrieved from donotreply@wordpress.com
19. Audrey West, “Commentary on Romans 8:12-17”. Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1343
20. Elisabeth Johnson, “Commentary on Romans 8:12-17”. Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=321
21. William Loader, “First Thoughts on Year B Epistle Passages from the Lectionary: Trinity.” Retrieved from http://www.staff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/BEpTrinity.htm

Good morning boys and girls!

Who likes getting gifts? I certainly do.

Let me ask you this. Is something a gift if you have to pay for it? If you have to pay for it or do something for it, it isn’t a gift. When someone gives you a gift, it doesn’t cost you anything. All you have to do is accept it. What is the one thing you should not do when someone gives you a gift? The one thing you should never do is ask “How much did it cost?”

What do you think is the greatest gift anyone can receive? It is the gift of eternal life. Jesus talks about this gift in John 3:1-17.

Now let me tell you a story that will explain why Jesus gives us the gift of salvation. It’s a story about Mia, Rafael and a dog. As Mia and Rafael walked down Main Street with their father, Rafael noticed an unusual display in a shop window. “Hey, Dad!” he exclaimed. “There’s a real dog in that cage!” Rafael stooped and looked at the small, brown dog. A large hand-lettered sign was attached to the cage.

Mia read it aloud. “Death row! Without your help, this animal will have one more day to live. Call the local animal shelter and make arrangements to adopt this puppy.” She looked at her father. “What does that sign mean, Dad?” she asked.

“It’s a new program the animal shelter is trying,” said Dad. “They can’t take care of all the stray animals they find, so by letting people know about the problem, they give the animals a better chance to be adopted out. If no one takes this dog, they’ll have to put it to sleep.” The kids stared in dismay at the little animal. “I’ve heard that the program is very successful,” Dad assured them. “I’m sure someone will claim this cute little puppy.”

“But, Dad! What if nobody does?” wailed Mia. “Can’t we take him home with us? Look-he likes us already. He’s wagging his tail!”

“Yeah, and he needs us, Dad!” Rafael pleaded.

“Well . . .” Dad hesitated. “Let’s wait till this evening, and I’ll call and check on him. If nobody rescues this little guy by then-and if Mom agrees and you kids promise to take care of him-we’ll come back and get him tomorrow. Okay?” Mia and Rafael nodded eagerly.

When Dad called the animal shelter, he learned that the dog was still waiting to be rescued. Since Mom had agreed, they went the next day to get the puppy. As they drove home, Mia looked up at Dad. “It’s kind of like what Jesus did, isn’t it, Dad?” she murmured.

“What do you mean?” Dad asked.

“When we had devotions yesterday, the verses you read from the Bible said that before Jesus saved us, we were condemned,” explained Mia. “In a way, that’s like being on death row, isn’t it? But Jesus died on the cross to take our punishment. When we trusted in Him, He rescued us-kind of like we rescued this puppy.”

Dad smiled. “Good thinking,” he approved.

“The puppy will be a reminder that we’ve been rescued by Jesus,” Rafael added.

Boys and girls, God loved us so much that he sent Jesus to earth to die on the cross so that we could have the gift of eternal life. Can you imagine how much Jesus loved us to be willing to die on the cross so that we can have eternal life in heaven? Jesus paid the price so we could receive the greatest gift of all.

Let’s bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for the greatest gift of all. Thank you for Jesus, who loved us so much that he paid the price for our sin to give us the gift of eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Bibliography

1. “The Greatest Gift of All.” Retrieved from www.Sermons4Kids.com
2. “Rescued.” Retrieved from newsletter@cbhministries.org.
3. Real Life Devotional Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz; 2008)

Hello boys and girls!

One of the most famous Bible verses is John 3:16:  “For God so loved the world.” Just how great is God’s love and how could we measure it?

Sometimes we use a measuring cup to measure things. If we make some cookies, we would use a measuring cup to make sure that we put in exactly the right amount of flour, sugar, and milk. Is there any way we can use a measuring cup to measure God’s love? In Psalm 23, the Bible says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want….my cup runneth over.” Well, if our cup runs over with God’s love, I don’t think we could use a measuring cup to measure it.

If we were building something, we might use a tape measure to measure the length, width, and height of different things. Can we use a tape measure to measure God’s love? In Psalm 108, the Bible tells us that God’s love is higher than the heavens.  If God’s love is higher than the heavens, I don’t think we could use a tape measure to measure it, could we?

We use a watch to measure time. I wonder if we could use a watch to measure how long God’s love will last. In Psalm 103, the Bible tells us that God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting. Wow! If God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting, I don’t think we could measure it with a watch.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” How do you measure a love like that? We can’t measure it — we don’t need to — but we do need to experience it.

My hope for you today is found in Ephesians 3:18-19:  “That you may understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience it, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.”

Let’s bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love — a love so great that you gave your one and only Son so that we could have eternal life. Amen.

Bibliography

1. “Measuring God’s Love.” Retrieved from www.Sermons4Kids.com

The minister gave his Sunday morning sermon, as usual, but this particular Sunday, it was considerably longer than normal. Later, at the door, shaking hands with parishioners as they moved out, one man said, “Your sermon, Pastor, was simply wonderful – so invigorating and inspiring and refreshing.” The minister of course, broke out in a big smile, only to hear the man say, “Why I felt like a new man when I woke up!”

Actually, I can understand if you do happen to fall asleep during this message (and hopefully you won’t!!!!!!!) because the topic is very “dry” and hard to understand. We’re doing something a little different today. Instead of talking about Jesus and his parables or teachings, we’re talking about one of the key doctrines or teachings of the Christian church. Why talk about doctrine? Simply put, the doctrine of the Christian church is the substance of our faith. If we do not show any interest in biblical doctrine, then we do not show any interest in our roots.

The Trinity is a difficult concept to understand let alone preach about, and part of the reason is because the Trinity is not specifically mentioned anywhere in the Scriptures, even though the concept of the Trinity is mentioned throughout the Bible. There is always a danger when a man-made concept is introduced into something God has created. The early church introduced the concept of the Trinity to explain how God works in our lives to restore our relationship with him.

In essence, the Trinity is the belief that God is one in essence, but distinct in person. In other words, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are somehow distinct from one another, yet at the same time they are completely united in essence, will and tasks. God has a life in which all three members of the Trinity relate to each other, give to each other, and love each other.

This is the concept behind the Nicene Creed and the Apostle’s Creed. The intention of the creeds was to affirm these three core beliefs:

1. The essential unity of God
2. The complete humanity and essential divinity of Jesus
3. The essential divinity of the Spirit.

Christians affirm the unity of all three members of the Godhead. We worship and glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The three members of the Trinity-God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit-are three unique “individuals” (for lack of a better word), but they are one in that they are part of God’s master plan to restore our relationship with him. God is dynamic and unpredictable, just like the wind, and just like the wind comes from all directions, sometimes God convicts us of our sin, sometimes God denounces us and our sinful nature, and other times God opens Christ to us, yet at all times God still loves us.

God created the plan of salvation, Jesus put the plan in place, and the Holy Spirit implements it in our daily lives. The Holy Spirit is the invisible force that allows us to accept Christ and what he did for us. The Holy Spirit allows us to walk with God along the straight and narrow path in our new relationship with God.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of what Jesus did on earth. It tells us what God is thinking. The Holy Spirit is infinite and indefinite. It can be everywhere and with everyone all of the time. In contrast, Jesus could only be with a few people in one place and at only one time because of his finite, human form. Only through his death on the cross does he disclose what it means for him to have been the mind and will of God in human form.

Like Christ, we have to suffer a form of death and resurrection when we allow God to enter our lives. When we do, we die to our own sinful nature and rise again into a new life that is energized by the Holy Spirit. To be born again means that we see things in a new and different light and in a way that is broader and deeper than we can understand now, and to be energized by God’s power-a power that is greater than ours. The only way we can gain this new insight into God’s kingdom is to be born again with the Holy Spirit through God’s grace and truth. We receive the Holy Spirit through baptism and acceptance of Christ in our lives. The water of baptism washes away our sinful nature and allows the Holy Spirit to enter and teach us all about what Jesus said about himself and God the Father.

The transition to our new relationship with God can be painful and full of conflict. It involves letting go of our sinful earthly life, which can be difficult. After all, change can be uncomfortable. The status quo is like our favourite pair of shoes-it just feels so darn good! Change is sometimes necessary. We need to be shaken up if we want to walk with God. Just like we trade cars when they wear out, we have to trade in our old, sinful life for a new one modeled on the life of Christ. Faith heals our sinful nature when the Holy Spirit is born in us. It also heals the conflict that results from our change to our new life. It also heals our relationship with God, and relationships are the foundation of our lives.

God is so vast and so infinite that we can’t even begin to understand him on our own-the gap is simply too great. God bridged this gap by sending his son Jesus. In other words, God became human so that he could understand our human nature. Only by becoming human and by understanding our human nature could God bridge the gap between him and us and begin the process of restoring our relationship with him.

A good analogy is the trips our Canadian Prime Minister takes to visit foreign leaders who can’t speak English. When you see pictures of the two leaders sitting down and having a conversation, you often see more people with them, and one or more of these people are translators. They translate what our Prime Minister says in English into a language that the other leader understands and vice versa. When God became man, not only did he bridge the gap between him and us, he was able to translate the mind and will of God into terms that we can understand. That is also why Jesus often spoke in parables. He used ordinary experiences that his audience could understand to teach them about God.

We are never too old to accept the Trinity and what it offers. The Holy Spirit gives us a spiritual awakening. In John 3:1-17, Nicodemus thought that because he spent many years climbing to the top of the Jewish faith he could not change, but the encounter with Jesus changed him. How do we know this? It is because Nicodemus helped Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus’ body for burial after his crucifixion.

None of us can enter God’s Kingdom on our own, because we cannot measure up to God’s spiritual standards by ourselves. Why it that? It is because God’s spiritual standard is perfection. We need the help of all three members of the Trinity. We are and always will be sinners, but with the Trinity we become sinners saved by grace. Even though the Holy Spirit restores our relationship with God, and even though our sinful nature has been removed, we still have to accept the consequences of our past sins. God can’t overlook sin. Sin demands punishment. God took our punishment on himself as our substitute when he as Jesus died on the cross. When we accept him as our substitute, the Holy Spirit lives within us and reestablishes our relationship with God.

When we look upon the crucified Christ, like the Israelites who were bitten by serpents in Numbers 21 looked at the bronze serpent on the pole and lived, we are given a new life. In other words, we are born again. When we are born again, we receive the Holy Spirit. It encourages us to meet our needs in a way that honours God. It leads us to salvation, regenerates us, convicts us of our sinfulness, teaches us to live for Christ, and seals us for redemption. It also leads us in truth. The Spirit will guide us to remember the truth, reproduce the truth, receive the truth, act upon it and speak it.

God works at the highest levels of power and the greatest distance from us. He enters history uniquely identified with Jesus, who was fully human and fully God. God also personally encounters us in our ongoing history.

The most difficult truth for us to understand is that our sinful nature has made us spiritually dead to God. That is why we need to be reborn spiritually. Baptism is the sign of a new life in Christ. Baptism allows the Holy Spirit to enter us. Once the Spirit turns on the light in our souls, we can understand spiritual things. Our soul comes into union with God and gives us eternal life. God adopts us, makes us his own and promises to be with us forever. This is the heart of being born again.

When we re-establish our relationship with God, he becomes our Father by rebirth and adoption. God loves us because of his nature and he won’t stop loving us. The Spirit gives us rebirth and new life, and God gives us the Spirit because he loves us. God’s work in Jesus through the Holy Spirit is to save ourselves from our own foolishness and our destructive nature. In return, God uses the Holy Spirit through us as a voice of humanity in an inhumane world. We gain the confidence to speak out because the Holy Spirit has touched us like the fiery coal touched the lips of the servant in Isaiah 6:1-8. Life in the Spirit does not have the problems or temptations that exist in life in the world.

God is Father, Son and Spirit, co-equals united in mutual love and divine essence. When we remember this, we can understand what Jesus meant when he said that he and the Father and the Spirit are one. We can’t have one without the other. Jesus reveals God and reconciles us to God. He is the one through whom we are able to enter God’s kingdom, and the Spirit takes us there. The Holy Trinity is God (who is love) coming to us in whatever way we can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. As a result, we become new people who express God’s love in everything we do, say or think.

Bibliography

1. Lectionary Homiletics, Volume XXIII, No. 4 (St. Paul, MN: Luther Seminary; 2012; pp.1-9)
2. Craig Condon, “The Three Musketeers-Father, Son and Holy Spirit”. Sermon on John 16:12-15
3. Craig Condon, “No Greater Love”. Sermon on John 3:1-17
4. Alan Smith, “Both Born and Adopted”. Retrieved from thought-gor-the-day@hub.xc.org
5. Gerrit J. Bomhof, “Wind”. Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net
6. John Piper, “The Free Will of the Wind”. Retrieved from www.desiringgod.org
7. Richard Innes, “Do Good People Go Into Heaven, Part II”. Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
8. Dr. Charles Stanley, “Why Did Jesus Have to Die?” Retrieved from www.intouch.org
9. Steve Arterburn, “Never Too Late”. Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
10. Anne Graham Lotz, “A Spiritual Implant”. Retrieved from angelmin.info@angelministries.org
11. Pete Briscoe, “Is It About Your Behavior or Your Being?” retrieved from crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
12. The Rev. Dr. Fred R. Anderson, PCUSA, “The Threefold Nature of God”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
13. Exegesis for John 3:1-17. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
14. Dr. Charles Stanley, “Jesus Christ, the Seeking Savior”. Retrieved from In_Touch_With_Dr_Charles_Stanley@crosswalkmail.com
15. Jim Burns, “New Life”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
16. The Rev. Dr. David Lose, ELCA, “Like It or Not”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
17. Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package.
18. ESV Study Bible. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package.
19. Albert Mohler, “Does Doctrine Matter?” Retrieved from Jesus.org@crosswalkmail.com
20. C.H. Spurgeon, “Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle”. Retrieved from Biblegateway@lists.biblegateway.com
21. Daniel Clendenin, PhD, “The Infinite God as Truly Intimate”. Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net
22. Roland McGregor, “McGregorPage #820, Trinity Sunday, 6/3/12”. Retrieved from mcgregorpage-bounces@mcgregorpage.org
23. The Rev. Dr. Thomas G. Long, PCUSA, “The Start of the Trail”. Retrieved from www.day1.org/3832-the_start_of_the_trail.print
24. John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Year B, Season after Pentecost, Trinity Sunday. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod,org

Have you ever wondered why God allows bad things to happen to his people? Well, God uses all of our circumstances to work for our good when we have faith. In other words, when we are Christ-like, God can take the negative circumstances of our lives and use them for our good, especially if using them for good fulfills his will for our lives. It’s like an oyster taking a grain of sand-something that irritates the oyster-and turning it into something of great value-a pearl.

Take Joseph, for example. He was sold into slavery by his brothers and ended up in jail in Egypt, but God used all of these experiences to prepare Joseph for his ultimate role of saving his family and the people of Egypt from famine. While still in prison, Joseph correctly interpreted dreams for two of Pharaoh’s servants-his cupbearer and chief baker. As the dreams had predicted, the baker was executed and the cupbearer was restored to service.

Two years later, Pharaoh had two dreams that disturbed him, but no one could tell him what they meant. The cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him. Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who told him that God was warning that a famine was coming and that preparations had to be made. Joseph was released from prison and put in charge of the preparations.

When the famine came, it was widespread and affected Joseph’s family. The same brothers who sold Joseph into slavery came to Egypt to find food. Joseph still loved them and forgave them. He arranged for all of the family to move to Egypt. Pharaoh promised them the best of the land.

Joseph trusted God through many years of hardship, and God worked all of those painful circumstances for the good of Joseph, his family and God’s chosen people in the generations to come. His chosen people grew from a few to millions.

Satan is often called “the accuser,” but any charges Satan makes against us will never stand up because the Jesus who sanctifies us is also the Jesus who judges us. We are protected by Christ’s death and resurrection.  Anyone who would take away our salvation would have to be stronger than God, and since no one is stronger than God, we can never lose our salvation. God speaks of love as Christ’s love for his people. Christ’s love protects us from the trials of life. No one and nothing can separate us from God.

A believer can never be condemned by God because of Christ’s death and resurrection, Christ’s exalted position and his continual intercession for us. We are part of the body of Christ, and he loves us so much that nothing can separate us from him. God’s love is not human or normal. God loves us because of who we are-his children.

Paul affirms the incredible power of the love of Christ in Romans 8:26-39. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we can’t find the words to pray. When believers are hurting so much that they can’t mention their desires, the Holy Spirit intercedes with groans that words can’t express. Paul urges us to recognize the depths of our despair, but we must remember that we are not alone. God is always with us, even when we feel alienated, separated and alone.

When we are saved, God doesn’t stop with justification. He gave up his son, so he will freely give us everything we need for sanctification and glorification. When we are redeemed, we receive a new heart and we begin the lifelong process of transformation. Then we have to immerse ourselves in the Scriptures so that God can use his word to transform our minds.

God will take our negative experiences and use then to shape us and use us for his purposes. That doesn’t mean that God is pleased with all of our negative circumstances. He gets mad when people drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He is sad when we are persecuted for our faith. God loves us enough to be with us and walk with us when we face the storms of life.

God sees our sin and hates it. We need to repent for our own sake. We need to repent because we need to acknowledge that we do not want to keep on sinning. We have a duty to pray for ourselves and anyone who has been affected by our sin.

Sometimes we can only learn great lessons of faith when we face difficulties. God’s plans are not always our plans, because his plans carry a greater purpose. Sometimes he has to let bad things happen to us so that our lives and plans are realigned with his plans for our lives. God chips away at our lives like a sculptor chips away at a block of stone. In both cases, excess waste material is removed so we can become more like Christ.

We do not always know why God allows bad things to happen to us. It is enough for us to love him and know that he is there for us. God’s values and our values are not always the same. God speaks so that we may be made more like Jesus. When we trust in Christ, we are his forever. Because he paid the penalty for our sin on the cross, we are eternally secure. Nothing can take that away from us, and nothing can take us away from him. We gain the healing Spirit of God.

We are created in the image of God. The choices we make in life will either make us more Christ-like or more like the world. The key is how we choose to respond to our circumstances. We have to look at God’s promise that if he is there for us, nothing can be against us. Christ reversed our condemnation and enabled our salvation, and nothing and no one can undo his work. If Christ is our advocate, no one can win a judgment against us.

When we face times of trial, we can turn to God’s Word and ask him for help. God knows our needs. He won’t let anything happen to us without supplying the grace we need to turn the stumbling block into a stepping stone of faith. When God puts hard times together like a baker puts the ingredients for a cake together, they can work out for our good, including our failures and our hopelessness. God is at work in our lives. He undoes Satan’s messes and leads us where he wants us to go.

When our faith in Jesus operates in our lives, we are more than capable of handling whatever approaches us. He will give us the victory because of what he did for us on the cross. We can live happy, contented, joy-filled lives when we live in his goodness and with him in proper perspective.

When Christ returns, he will use the world’s destructive tools such as disaster, disease, death and decay as tools to accomplish his good will. As believers we will also be made into something good because we will be glorified. We can face life’s trials with the knowledge that God can use our trials for good and make us into something better than we can be on our own, and that is a life that is as Christ-like as possible. We can then be an example for others who are facing hardships. They can look at us and see that if faith can help us remain strong in the face of adversity, faith in God will help them as well. Our presence can sprinkle God’s healing love onto others wherever we go.

We must remember that when bad things happen, God is in control. He loves us and wants us to be saved. He allows events for his good purpose. People who love God and are called according to his purpose are assured that God will transform a bad situation to bring a good result. Our spiritual struggle will help us to move toward the greater good of salvation. Because God raised Jesus from the dead, our present experience of suffering and what we can expect of the future are changed. There will come a time when even the worst suffering we endure now will pale in comparison to the glory that will be revealed to us in heaven.

Bibliography

1. Anne Graham Lotz, “According to God’s Purpose.” Retrieved from www.angelministries.org
2. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)
4. Lucado, Max: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2010)
5. Dr. Neil Anderson, “Help from the Holy Spirit.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. Jim Burns, “God Knows What He is Doing!” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. Dr. Charles Stanley, “The Pathway of Spiritual Growth.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org
8. Dr. Ray Pritchard, “Can We Still Believe in Romans 8:28?” Retrieve from www.keepbelieveing.org
9. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2008)
10. Briscoe, D.S.  & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
11. Ron Moore, “I Am His Forever.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
12. Rick Warren, “The Wild Card: Your Choices.” Retrieved from www.purposedriven.com
13. Mary Southerland, “Can We Really Trust God?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
14. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Romans (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)
15. Dr. Charles Stanley, “Answers in Times of Great Disaster.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org
16. Exegesis for Romans 8:26-39. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
17. Jesse Gutsgell, “Bible Study, 7 Pentecost, Proper 12 (A).” Retrieved from http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
18. Daniel Clendenin, PhD, “Inseparable Love.” Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net
19. Paul S. Berge, “Commentary on Romans 8:26-29.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
20. Mary Hinkle Shore, “Commentary on Romans 8:26-39.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org

How many of you have seen the movie Saving Private Ryan?

It’s a war film set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II. The film is about U.S. Army Ranger Captain John H. Miller (who was played by Tom Hanks) and his squad as they search for Private First Class John Francis Ryan (who was played by Matt Damon). Private Ryan was the last surviving brother of four servicemen. Captain Miller lost several of his men in their search to find him. After finding him, Captain Miller himself was mortally wounded. As he laid dying, he told Private Ryan, “Earn this.”

Years later Private Ryan stood in front of Captain Miller’s grave and said, “Every day I think about what you told me that day on the bridge. I tried to live my life the best I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that, at least in your eyes, I’ve earned what all of you have done for me.” He turned to his wife and said, “tell me I have led a good life…. tell me I’m a good man.”

Private Ryan asked the same question many of us ask ourselves: “Have I done enough with this one and only life God has given me?” On our own we can’t answer that question, but with Jesus’ help the answer is clear. He died for us so that we don’t have to do anything. By his grace we can live lives that are satisfied with good things, as the writer of Psalm 104 tells us. The question then becomes “Is the work of Jesus enough to make me satisfied and significant?”, and the answer is always a resounding “Yes!”

All of God’s creation is subject to his authority, including the biggest sea creatures. All of creation must praise him. In return, he takes pleasure in everything he has created. They depend on him, and in return he is generous to them. They can rely on him. We are part of God’s creation, so we can also depend on him.

God gives life. He makes the world new again and again. Creation is God’s and it exists for him. He cares and provides for creation, and in return everything he has created gathers in what God gives them and returns a portion to him. This is what the term “tithing” means-giving back to God a portion of what he has given us. God’s spirit has touched all of us in amazing ways, and we must share what we have been given with others.

It’s almost impossible for us to understand creation. Even our best scientists have to regularly revise their theories to try to explain creation-and God puts all of his wisdom at their service and ours. What God has created is awesome beyond our ability to understand it.

All of creation is supposed to show the majesty of God, including Jesus. He was the shekinah, or the visible sign of the invisible God. According to the Old Testament, the shekinah was a radiant cloud or a brilliant light within a cloud that showed the immediate presence of God. That same cloud led the Israelites by day in the desert. That same cloud also appeared at Jesus’ baptism and his transfiguration.

On the other hand, sinners and the unchurched are those who reject God’s rule and rebel against him. They are a blemish on the world, and God will remove that blemish in due time. The purpose of Psalm 104 is to foster hatred of sin. Its purpose is not to foster hatred against sinners. On the contrary, we are to love them. For example, Pope Francis’ statements a few years ago to the Roman Catholic Church about how homosexuality and divorce are to be treated show compassion and love instead of hatred.

Our prayerful response to God’s love is to worship him and care for creation, but unfortunately our modern world has selfishly neglected to care for creation. The only way to prevent an ecological disaster is for humanity to treat God’s creation with respect. For example, I recently found out that one of our former rectors is currently in Malaysia working to save the elephant population.

Those who bless and praise God want to see the day when sinful men have been removed from the earth and the curse of sin removed. Throughout the Old Testament there are stories of how God used creation itself to destroy evil and rebuild the world. The prime example is the story of the Great Flood. There is a destructive power in nature. God’s world contains forces that are beyond our wildest dreams, so we would be wise to respect both the forces of nature and the forces of God. We can’t challenge God’s truth and justice, because they are both swift and just. God wields his power with love and compassion.

If we take time to develop the habit of seeing God in our lives, we will be able to withstand the most trying times in our lives. I have been developing the habit of seeing God in my life, and it helps me to persevere when the situation is tough. When the Holy Spirit breathes new life into us, we can expect that it will be consistent with the character of Christ even though we might not be able to anticipate everything it will mean.

Our Christian life with God is like a song that is ready to be written. He loves to hear our praise. He will put a song in our hearts that will be the sweetest melody that we can enjoy for the rest of our lives. Just like the angels sang “Glory to God” at Christ’s birth, we are to give God glory in every circumstance in our lives. We don’t have to be a great singer to sing praise to God as long as we praise him every day. We can praise him when we do our household chores or serve others behind the scenes. When we show that Jesus is in our lives and reflect his character to those around us, we will make God happy.

Bibliography

1. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
2. Dr. R.C. Sproul, “Witnessing His Glory.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
3. Williams, D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 14: Psalms 73-150 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1989: pp. 239-242)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. “Sing to Me.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
7. Carol A. Solovitz, “God Pause for Tues., June 3, 2014.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu
8. Ron Moore, “Beyond the Last Note.” Retrieved from www.ronmore.org
9. Ron Moore, “Significant in Christ.” Retrieved from www.ronmoore.org
10. Joni Eareckson Tada, “What Makes God Happy?” Retrieved from communications@joniandfriends.org
11. Alan Brehm, “The Waking Dreamer.” Retrieved from http://thewakingdreamer.blogspot.ca/2010/06/breath-of-god-acts-21-21-ps.html
12. Matthew Stith, “Commentary on Psalm 104:24-34,35b.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=320

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Church

Happy Birthday to you!

On Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the birth of the church. On the day of Pentecost over 2,000 years ago, the Holy Spirit came to the disciples, and through the Holy Spirit the church was born. It is a time when the church traditionally concentrates on the gift of the Holy Spirit and the ways in which it strengthens the church. It is a time to consider how the Spirit has created and sustained faith in our lives. It is a time to explore how the Spirit empowers our witness so that others might have faith.

The power of the Holy Spirit ignited the disciples. Peter was ignited and gave one of the most powerful sermons in history. It included both the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy and a strong rebuke/accusation. The effect was remarkable. The message pierced the hearts of the people, and as a result more than 3,000 people were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. When these new converts returned home, they spread the message, and thus the church was born.

This would not have been possible without the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not an impersonal force. It is a person. It possesses the mind of God, emotions and will—because it is God. It performs the actions of God. It has the attributes of God.

As a result of the Holy Spirit, the church opened its hearts to fellowship. It opened its hands to care for each and every member. Members opened their homes to each other, especially for worship. They devoted themselves to prayer. As a result of all of this, the church grew and found favour with other people-both inside and outside the church.

The term “Spirit” describes wind or breath. The Pentecost wind is no wind of destruction. It blows where it will and fires up people with faith and spiritual power. The church did not come alive until after God breathed the Holy Spirit. The wind was an outward sign of what was happening within the disciples. The Holy Spirit came like a rushing wind on the first Pentecost, and it still comes like a rushing wind today. We can’t control the wind, and we can’t control the Holy Spirit no matter how hard we try. We try to control what it tells us to do or who it wants us to allow into our churches. Many Christians want just enough religion to be comfortable, to be respected, to feel good about themselves, but not so much that it shakes up their routines and changes their way of living. Many Christians want the benefits of the Holy Spirit without having to experience much of the Spirit.

Differences can enrich and enliven our worship experiences. Differences force us to reach across what divides us. Differences and diversity force us to rely on the Holy Spirit in order to remain faithful to the Gospel of Jesus in more creative and dynamic mission efforts. We are called on to share the Good News with others and welcome them to find love of each other and the love of God. If we do not share the Good News, it is wasted. The Holy Spirit calls on us to share our gifts and love with those who are different from us.

God gave the disciples supernatural ability to speak the languages of all those who had gathered in Jerusalem from around the known world at that time. The Spirit’s presence signified their baptism into the spiritual body of the church. This gift was the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit so the disciples could preach the Gospel to all the people.

God does the same thing today. He speaks through both chosen people and simple people like you and me. This message of being somebody again through God alone is communicated. Why? So that it might get through to everyone. As people who have received God’s grace we get to be a bridge of that good news to people we know and love.

Part of the Jewish liturgy involved reciting one of the great acts of God in their history. When the Holy Spirit came they all worshipped and rehearsed his wonderful works. Bystanders understood them because of the Jewish liturgy. When the Holy Spirit comes to fill a Christian, he/she speaks and acts in ways that weren’t possible before. Christians live supernaturally because the Spirit of God within them controls them.

For example, just a few days before Pentecost, Peter was too scared to admit he knew Jesus. Now, filled with the Holy Spirit, God changed him. In Acts 2:16-21, Peter quoted Joel 2:28-33, which was Joel’s prophecy of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the last days. On that first Pentecost, the Spirit came to people in a new, more powerful way that signalled the beginning of the new covenant age, which runs from the time of Christ’s death until he returns at some time in the future. These are the last days in that the coming of the Messiah, which was foretold in the Old Testament, have now occurred. His saving death and resurrection have been accomplished, and now the Holy Spirit has to build the church before Christ returns.

Acts 2:1-21 is the marching orders for the church. The coming of the Holy Spirit was an awe-inspiring moment that changed the world. It was a tipping point when history was changed. We have to go with the flow. It asks us to go beyond our comfort zone. God’s dream was one where all believers would gather together in unity and faith. Gold calls on us to love one another. That love changes us. It allows us to show grace to everyone.

Sometimes we wonder if what happened at Pentecost can happen today. We wonder if we can gain a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit and experience its transforming strength. We want to deal with our own feelings of spiritual inadequacy. God answers these questions and other questions people are really asking. People want something more than ordinary, dull religion. They want the power and intimacy of the Holy Spirit. It changes us. We were created for union and communication with the Holy Spirit. The greatest need for both society and the church today is for a contemporary Pentecost. We, like the disciples, must be ready for the miracle of the supernatural endowment of the Holy Spirit’s power.

The flames represented the purity and power with which the disciples would speak as they proclaimed what God had done. The fire of the Holy Spirit burns away anything that will keep us from being the people God wants us to be. It convinces us that God loves us unconditionally and that we can love others unconditionally. It gives us the ability to love others deeply. The Holy Spirit releases us so that we can praise others. That praise becomes very effective proclamation. It frees us from self-concern and to Spirit-consciousness. We are free to praise God and to receive what he will do.

When people hear a minister preach on a Biblical text with the power of the Holy Spirit, and the people have been prepared by the Holy Spirit, the result is conviction, faith and changed lives. In contrast to the baptism with the Spirit, which is the one-time act by which God places believers into His body, the filling is a repeated reality of Spirit-controlled behaviour that God commands believers to maintain. The work of the Holy Spirit in the church today is to dwell with believers so they will look like Christ and be empowered to continue his ministry here on earth.

How does the Holy Spirit work in the church today?

1. He convicts us of our sin, shows us that none of us can live up to the righteousness of Jesus, and reveals to us the judgment that is coming to those who die without faith in Christ.
2. He immerses us into the family of God.
3. He encourages and comforts us when we are hurting or discouraged.
4. We work with him to maintain unity among Christians.
5. He brings peace in the midst of life’s storms.
6. He pours out the power for victorious living.
7. He helps us to study and understand the truths of the Bible.
8. He intercedes for us when we can’t put our feelings into words.
9. He gives us power for evangelism.
10. He distributes spiritual gifts as he deems best throughout the Body of Christ.

A life in Christ is God’s will for his people. God’s plan can’t be stopped. Pentecost is a taste of what will happen in God’s kingdom when the Spirit is poured out on all people. The Holy Spirit will live in all believers.

The Holy Spirit is more than a tool to help us overcome life’s challenges, but much of what we are asked to do is far beyond what we are called to do. On our own, we are never enough. The outpouring of the Spirit is far greater than anyone expects. It will be poured out on all flesh and everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved. The Spirit will give us the strength we need to do God’s work in our world.

In return, we are called on to be wanderers. We aren’t meant to be too settled, rooted or rigid. Our spiritual lives are meant to be a pilgrimage. The dangerous place is the place that gets too comfortable or stagnant. We are to be on the move, and our churches are meant to be on the move as well.

Pentecost is the day when we remember the eruption in which the Church came to birth. It is also the day when we remember the countless ways in which the Holy Spirit shapes the Church as an institution and ourselves as individuals. It is also the day when we are reminded that once we have received the Holy Spirit, we are required and enabled to take a stand for good and against evil in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. The Holy Spirit will teach us to love God and neighbour-and he will reward us by giving us a life worth living. That life won’t be easy or trouble-free, but it will be worth living and dying for-and that is the greatest birthday gift of all.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, Dr. David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
3. George Hermanson, “All You Need Is Love.” Retrieved from www.holyscriptures.com
4. David McGee, “Grace for Life.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
5. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983)
6. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
7. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
8. Rev. Gregory Seltz, “That’s Just Who God Is.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
9. Dr. Roger Barrier, “What is the Role of the Holy Spirit in the Church Today?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
10. The Rev. Dr. Charles Reeb, “Controlling the Wind.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
11. Pastor Dave Risendal, “The Holy Spirit Has Called Me.” Retrieved from donotreply@wordpress.com
12. Jacob Myers, “Commentary on Acts 2:1-21.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1296
13. Rick Morley, “Wanderlust-a Reflection on Pentecost.” Retrieved from http://www.rickmorley.com/archives
14. Jeremiah, Dr. David: AD: The Bible Continues: The Revolution that Changed the World (Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.; 2015, pgs. 39-56)

In the passage we heard from John’s Gospel, Jesus addressed His disciples. They heard His words while He was with them, and they were with him from the beginning of His ministry. Jesus’ speech took place on the night before He was crucified. The disciples were so concerned about their own future that they weren’t the least bit curious about Jesus’ immediate future. Jesus knew about their concern and encouraged them with a wonderful truth. The Holy Spirit would be far superior to Jesus because the Spirit could be everywhere at once, whereas Jesus could only be in one place at a time. The disciples and all future believers would always be in communion with God.

The Spirit continues to guide us and the church today. Our circumstances change daily thanks to new technologies and politics, but the Holy Spirit is ready to help us relate God’s truth to new situations. In every new circumstance, the same Holy Spirit guides us to re-learn old, faithful truths and to apply those old truths in new and faithful ways.

Jesus’ abrupt mentioning of the Holy Spirit had a purpose. The Spirit’s role in the life of a believer is to provide courage in the face of persecution. In addition, suffering often brings doubt. The Holy Spirit will testify to the truth of Jesus within believers and through believers to those who persecute them and others who witness the persecution.

Jesus knew the disciples would not understand what He said in this passage. They did not understand why He was going to die. At the appropriate time, they would remember His words and understand why they were being persecuted.

One day the apostles would need to communicate their experiences of Jesus, both while He was alive and after His resurrection. For this overwhelming task, they would need help. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would testify through the oral and written testimony of the apostles. The New Testament is no random compilation of thoughts but a carefully composed set of documents superintended by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ death would remind the disciples of everything He taught them. The Holy Spirit would remind them of His teachings-teachings the disciples would apply as they fulfilled their part of God’s plan for salvation. In tough times, remembering the things that Jesus warned of will keep believers from stumbling.

Jesus warned the disciples that they would face trials and persecution, but He didn’t tell them about the nature and sources of their trials. He didn’t clearly tell them that the Holy Spirit would come and give them comfort. He didn’t have to do these things because He was with them and would teach them these things gradually. He also didn’t tell them these things because He would go before them and suffer the same trials they would face later. Also, He taught them what the Holy Spirit would be and do after His ascension.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Holy Spirit did not dwell in His followers but selectively empowered them for specific acts of ministry. At the moment of Christ’s ascension, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to serve as a constant presence, comforter and counselor for His people. The Holy Spirit couldn’t come and do his part of God’s plan for salvation until Jesus completed His part of the plan and left the earth. The Holy Spirit is under the authority of Jesus and will only reveal the truth that is in Him.

Most of us understand sin to be about behaviour, but the Holy Spirit knows sin is really about unbelief. Sometimes the most difficult thing to accept is that we’ve been wrong all along. That’s because we have a natural tendency to defend our decisions at all cost. But when the time comes, and we’re confronted with the truth, accepting it can be so hard. That’s why it’s so hard for people to accept Christ as their Saviour. Doing so would mean that everything they have believed in up to now is wrong. We have to be humble enough to admit what’s true when we’re faced with it, even if it means we’re wrong. It’s better to be late to the truth than to live a lie!

The Holy Spirit not only convicts believers but guides them into all truth and points them to Christ, glorifying Him. His witness can be trusted. He will apply God’s truth to man’s own minds and convince them that they are sinners. If we are convicted of sin and receive the Holy Spirit, our natural tendency will be to accept Christ as our Saviour. The Holy Spirit will show us our need for Jesus and reveal the loveliness of His character and the fitness of His work to our wants.

The Holy Spirit will guide us. He will not control us. We keep our ability to choose to follow His leading. We are always responsible for our words and actions. He will help us determine what is true and what is not, what is wise and what is foolish, what is best and what is simply okay. He will guide us through the details of everyday life. He will give us the discernment we need to make both big and small decisions. When we accept Christ, God seals us with the Holy Spirit. When the devil tries to snatch us from God, the seal of the Holy Spirit turns him away. He bought us with Jesus’ death and resurrection. He owns and protects us. The Father takes all things that are the Son’s-wisdom and truth for all His people-and pours them out through the Holy Spirit that Jesus may be glorified. Here we see the eternal living intimacy with God through His ministry.

The power of the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to achieve God’s purpose for our lives. He gives us abundant joy. He prepares us for everlasting life unhampered by sin. He wants us to use His power for His kingdom. He will equip us with the Holy Spirit to guide our steps as we accomplish the tasks God calls us to do. That power will elude us as long as we are deceived and mesmerized by worldly power.

The world we live in is full of sin. All of us have been preyed on by the devil. He lied to Adam and Eve. He has seduced us and influenced us. We think that by lying, fighting and seeking more power and money that we can be happier. We think this because we have been lied to by the world, the flesh and the devil. The apostle Paul says that these lies are opposed to the Holy Spirit.

It seems that lying, or stretching the truth, has become a national pastime. We lie about everything from our age to our resume to our mother-in-law’s cooking. God hates all sin-including lying. He hates sin because He is a truthful God, a transformed God. When we lie, we are acting contrary to His character. God will never prompt us to lie or sin. The Holy Spirit will always lead us to tell the truth, but only if we follow Jesus.

The problem is not that the Spirit has stopped moving, but more likely that we have stopped listening for it, even for just a bit. How do we get better at listening to the Spirit? Scripture gives us some clear lessons on how to start:

1. We need space. We have to find the time to listen to God, and we have to get rid of everything that keeps us from listening to God, and that includes material goods.
2. We need community. We need to have fellowship with fellow believers, and that includes worshipping with them.
3. We need to get out. We have to get out and share the Gospel with the world.

So how does the Holy Spirit guide us? He does it through our reading of the Bible, deep impressions or nudges from our consciences, and other people who are under the Holy Spirit. The latter item can only be done by worshipping with other believers through attending church and Bible studies. When God’s Word tells us that our lives are not as they should be and that we need to change, that’s the Holy Spirit intervening for our sakes.

It’s inevitable that one day we, like the disciples, will face persecution for our faith. We have to prepare ourselves and Jesus tells us how:

1. Rely on the Holy Spirit to supply wisdom, ability and courage.
2. Faithfully proclaim divine truth and stand firm.
3. Don’t get trapped by evil.
4. Remember that persecution and the rise of evil are inevitable.

The power that fell on the disciples on the Day of Pentecost is at work in and among us all the time, even if we aren’t aware of it. It gives us the power to perform acts of kindness, witness to others and give faithful service both within the church and in the community.

Are we willing to let the Spirit do His work? Are we open to His power to convict us of our own sinfulness and show us our need for a Saviour? We need the Spirit to help us understand the eternal hole we’ve dug for ourselves. We need to see our need for righteousness for life itself. We need to understand that Jesus came to deal with it all, to face the judgment of God in our place, to execute justice and mercy for our own good. Thank God that He sent a helper, because we have made a mess of the things that matter the most in our lives.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1469-1470)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Fredrikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 233-237
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
6. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
7. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “True Power.” Retrieved from mydevotional@ltw.org
8. Pastor Ed Young, “Throttle Back.” Retrieved form Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
9. “Convicting and Convincing.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
10. Pastor Rick Warren, “Truth Guide by Steps.” Retrieved from newsletter@connect.purposedriven.com
11. Reginald Smith, “Spirit of Truth.” Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net
12. Dr. Neil Anderson, “The Spirit of Truth.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
13. Anne Graham Lotz, “The Spirit of Truth.” Retrieved from angelmin.info@angelministries.org
14. Rev. Gregory Seltz, “Spirit Help in Time of Need.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
15. Dr. Chuck F. Betters, “Meditation and Illumination.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
16. “What to Do When You Discover You’re Wrong.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
17. Dr. Charles Stanley, “The Nature of Conviction.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
18. Jamy Whitaker, “Did You Feel That?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
19. Pastor Jack Hibbs, “Onward Christian Soldiers.” Retrieved from devotion@reallifewithjackhibbs.org
20. Amy Boucher Pye, “The Advocate.” Retrieved from donotreply@email.rbc.org
21. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for John 16:12-15.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
22. T.M. Moore, “A Work of God’s Spirit.” Retrieved from noreply@ailbe.org
23. Pastor Ken Klaus, “What a Ride!” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
24. Dr. David Jeremiah, “I Don’t Need to be Saved.” Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org
25. Rick Boxx, “Spirit of Truth.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
26. Samantha Haycock, “Bible Study, Trinity Sunday ( C ).” Retrieved from www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
27. Os Hillman, “Faithfulness to Convict.” Retrieved from tgif@marketplaceleaders.org
28. Chris Clow, “Pentecost (B): What are we Celebrating?” Retrieved from comment-reply@wordpress.com
29. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on John (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010; pp. 270-277)
30. Judith Jones, “Commentary on John 15:26-27; John 16:4-15.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3663)
31. Dr. Fred Anderson, “The Church’s Hope.” Retrieved from http://day1.org/1257-the_churchs_hope.pring
32. Fr. Lawrence Lew, “Donum Dei Altissimi!” Retrieved from https://www.english.op.org/torch/donum-dei-altissimi

A few years ago, I preached and led worship at a church in a community near where I live. During the children’s talk I mentioned that Jesus told his disciples that he would be returning to the Father, but that they would receive the Holy Spirit. I compared the Holy Spirit to the batteries in a flashlight.

Light is amazing. Without it, we would not be able to read and discover the world around us. Just like we need physical light to see the world around us, we need spiritual light to see and understand God. Jesus is that spiritual light, and we see in Luke 24:44-53 how he shined a spiritual light on the disciples before his ascension. He helped the disciples to see that shining a light on sin helps those who have lost their way to see him, and he helps us to see the same thing today. He also shined a light on the Old Testament prophecies about his death and resurrection. Luke reminds us that Jesus came to satisfy all of the prophecies made about him in the Old Testament.

The disciples heard the Lord preach many times. They watched him perform miracles for at least three years. They saw him crucified and now they stood in his resurrected presence, but until the Lord opened their minds to understand the Scriptures they did not truly understand everything.  Spiritual understanding comes through the Holy Spirit, or it doesn’t come at all. True understanding of the Scriptures is a gift from God. It allows us to understand how all of the parts of God’s plan of salvation fit together. Part of that plan includes Jesus’ death and resurrection. The disciples and other followers, including modern-day followers, would gain further understanding through the work of the Holy Spirit. In return, they would be able to fulfill their commission as Jesus’ witnesses.

In order for the Holy Spirit to come and continue Christ’s work, Jesus had to leave and return to the Father. Jesus in human form could only be in one place at a time, but the Holy Spirit can be everywhere all of the time. When Jesus blessed the disciples before his ascension, he probably showed gratitude to those who chose to walk with him. If we walk with him today, we will hear the Holy Spirit use similar words.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of how much Christ loves us and the sacrifice he made so that we could regain fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit guides and strengthens us. It steers us away from danger and toward truth. When the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are healed, changed, freed and sent on missions because God lives in us. It opens our minds to receive God’s truth. It enables us to withstand all of life’s challenges. Without it, we will be defeated by the world.  

Even after the disciples believed that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead, they did not become effective witnesses until the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Spirit came and filled them with his power and authority. Knowledge and conviction aren’t enough. The Christian mission depends on the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit for its success.

The disciples learned that it takes time and prayer to find one’s mission. Mission is based on taking time to assess the needs and what our strengths are. God wants us to have a heart for him and a vision for the world. He wants us to know, obey and share him. God entrusts us to live and teach the Gospel in spite of our faults and failures.

Luke makes it clear that the message of Christ must include a focus on repentance and remission of sins. One without the other is incomplete. Jesus shone the light on the need to repent. The same light allows us to take in the Scriptures and feast on the Word. In return, we are to preach repentance and remission of sins in Jesus’ name to all nations.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1436)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Dr. Charles Stanley, “The Holy Spirit: An Absolute.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
4. “Use Even Me.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
5. “Where Thou Art.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
6. Larsen, B. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 26: Luke (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983, pp. 356-357)
7. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
8. Dr. Charles Stanley, “The Power of the Holy Spirit.”  Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
9. “This Little Light of Mine.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
10. “A Total Life Change.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
11. “What is Written.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
12. Jill Carattini, “A Sign of Relief.” Retrieved from www.sliceofinifity.org
13. Aaron Coyle-Carr, “He Ascended with Scars.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
14. Baptist Bible Hour, “Evangelism.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com
15. George Hermanson, “Discernment.” Retrieved from www.georgehermanson.com
16. Dr. Charles Stanley, “A Heart for God-A Vision for the World.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org
17. “The Heart of Worship.” Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net
18. Exegesis for Luke 24:44-53. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
19. Craig Condon, “The Light of the Holy Spirit.” Children’s Talk delivered during the weekly Worship Service at Bridgewater United Church, Bridgewater, NS on Sun., May 1, 2016. Sermon available from the author’s personal library or online at http://sermonsfrommyheart.blogspot.ca/2016/04/john-1423-29-light-of-holy-spirit.html

What’s one of the hardest things you have ever had to do? For most of us, the answer is waiting, especially if we are sitting in a doctor’s waiting room. Frustration soon sets in. The disciples felt the same way, especially when Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem for the power He said would be coming to them. This was especially frustrating for Peter, who preferred to be doing something instead of waiting. Waiting is so frustrating because it means someone else or something else is in charge, not us. Being out of control and subject to the control of others reminds us of our finiteness and vulnerability.

The disciples wondered what type of power would be coming. Many people believed Jesus was going to bring a literal kingdom on earth. The disciples believed that this power would enable them to drive out the Romans and establish a Jewish kingdom. The disciples were not about to act on their own. They had the wisdom to wait and pray for guidance and leadership.

Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question took their focus off their timetables and put it on to what they needed to do to spread the Gospel to the world. Along with focusing on when Christ will return, believers should also concentrate on witnessing to a dying world. Jesus will fulfill all the Old Testament promises in the future. When God fulfills His promises, He always exceeds our expectations.

Jesus told the disciples how the gospel would spread. The Holy Spirit gave the early Christians power so that their accomplishments were supernatural. The Great Commission appears in all four gospels as well as in Acts 1:6-14. Jesus promised that the disciples would receive the power of the Holy Spirit. This power would enable the disciples to do great things and be great witnesses for Jesus.

Jesus promised to send a guide and comforter. He sends the same guide and comforter to everyone-the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave the disciples the same power it gives to everyone-the power of speaking, preaching the gospel, enduring life’s trials, etc. This power will be given to people who can accept Jesus’ authority over timing. God does things in his own time and in his own way. His concept of time is different from ours.

God wants to bless us with the power of the Holy Spirit. This starts with prayer and reconciled relationships with ourselves and the people in our lives. The process begins again and again throughout all our lives. When we receive this power, we can change lives and change the world.

When Alfred Nobel discovered an explosive element that was stronger than anything the world had known at the time, he asked a friend and Greek scholar for a word that conveyed the meaning of explosive power. The Greek word was dunamis, and Nobel named his invention “dynamite.” Dunamis is the same word that Jesus used when He told His disciples that they would receive dynamite power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

When we get the power, we have a choice. God has chosen us to be His light of hope in a world that has been darkened by sin. We must choose to use that power by surrendering our lives to Him. We should not be like the Scottish lady at the turn of the 19^th century. She lived alone in a house on the west coast of Scotland. She was traditional and frugal. Her neighbours were shocked when she announced her plans to have electricity installed in her home.

Within a few weeks, the power lines were up and she had electric power, but the company noticed that she was not using the power. A company representative decided to visit her and find out why she wasn’t using any power.

He explained to her, “Your meter shows you’ve had power for three months, but you have scarcely used it.” She replied, “Oh, you see, I don’t use very much of it. Every evening when the sun sets, I turn the electric lamps on long enough to see that I can light my candle, and then I turn it off again!”

If we choose to live life in our own power, we will only accomplish normal things. If we choose to live life in God’s power, following His leading, our lives will be marked by the activity of God which can’t be explained by our own abilities.

God calls us to be His ambassadors in this world. He wants us to introduce Christ’s love and grace to people. We can only do this with the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s so easy to be mesmerized by the amazing power and miracles of God that we can become mere observers instead of active participants in what He wants us to do. God wants us to act, just like the angels told the disciples to act.

Christ’s work of salvation rests primarily on four pillars of truth: His birth, His crucifixion, His Resurrection and His ascension. The ascension was the exclamation point. It completely and finally demonstrated that His atonement had forever solved the problem that sin created. As believers, we are to be witnesses to His saving work, and like the original disciples, we are called by Jesus to spread the Good News to a world that desperately needs to hear His message.

Jesus did not want the disciples to be confused or discouraged by His ascension, so He sent the two angels to comfort them and order them to “get moving.” With the declaration in verse 11, the angels confirmed that the second person of the Trinity was then, and forever would be, God and Man. Just as He left, so would He return-in His glorified body. This is part of every Christian’s hope! Christ was the first fruit of the resurrection, meaning that when all things are made new, His followers will be made like Him.

When the disciples returned to Jerusalem, they were constantly grappling with the shock and emotions of what they had just seen and heard. They were embarking on a new chapter in history. So, what did they do? They prayed and drew strength from God as they went forward in faith to serve Him. The great preacher Harry Ironside once said that, “When God is going to do some great thing, He moves the hearts of people to pray. He stirs them up to pray in view of that which He is about to do.” The disciples needed that time of preparation, prayer and self-examination so they would be ready for the power to change the world.

The patience of the disciples was rewarded when, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit arrived and touched them. The Holy Spirit gave them the power to accomplish many things, including the ability to preach to the members of the crowd in their own languages.

The events in Acts 1:6-14 are all part of God’s plan for redeeming the world. We are a part of His plan. We don’t know when the kingdom will come, but we do know that we are called to spread the Good News. We can do this by being in contact with people and infusing them with the Gospel. When we do, the power of the Holy Spirit in us will be released.

It’s our duty to tell others what we experienced when we met Jesus, and it is a duty that we should perform joyfully. For us the focus of our mission is at home in life’s most intimate relationships. It’s where people really know us. It has a focus at work and in the community where the consistency of our life and witness can be observed. How can we keep the gift of salvation quiet and not share it with others?

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1486-1487)
2. Jeremiah, David: A.D.: The Revolution that Changed the World (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers; 2015; pp. 40-44)
3. Jeremiah, David: Acts: The Church in Action, Vol. 1 (San Diego, CA: Turning Point for God;2006,2015; pp. 13-36
4. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
5. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983, pp. 36-48)
6. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
7. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
8. “Devoted to Prayer.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmaillcom
9. “Power to Proclaim.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmaillcom
10. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Our Calling.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org
11. Pastor Greg Laurie, “The Explosive Power of Pentecost.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org
12. Pastor Ken Klaus, “An Unstoppable Message.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
13. T.M. Moore, “Kingdom Power.” Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org
14. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, The Ascension of the Lord (A).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
15. Richard Neill Donovan, “Exegesis for Acts 1:6-14.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
16. Pastor Ed Young, “The Joy of Witnessing.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com
17. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “The Joy of Witnessing.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org
18. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Acts (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.; 2016; pp. 20-26)