This past Sunday Pastor Tony talked about the Holy Spirit. We understand that all believers receive the Holy Spirit when they first receive Christ as their Savior. But is there more?
Pastor Tony did a great job presenting the importance of a believer experiencing both the ministry of God’s Word as well as the work and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. As I took notes on Sunday, here are some interesting statements that Pastor Tony made that stood out to me:
* Jesus: I give you the Holy Spirit, now wait for the Holy Spirit.
* We are not as effective as we could be in ministry because we do not know how to wait on God for the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
* On the Day of Pentecost after the people complained that the disciples were drunk, 3000 people got saved and were added to the church.
* God is asking us to surrender our lives to the “Mysterious One.”
* The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, but that does not mean that He is always going to make us feel comfortable.
* Many people are comfortable with consistent, written, instructions, but struggle waiting on the Holy Spirit to direct and guide them.
* God never intended the church to be a buffet where we get to select what we want.
* The Holy Spirit connects the Life of God to the Word of God.
Some of the above statements might not make sense out of the context of the sermon that Pastor Tony taught on Sunday. If you were not in church to hear his sermon, or would like to refresh in your mind what Pastor Tony said, click here to listen to his sermon or review his notes.
What statements, truths, or ideas spoke to your heart? What did you take away from the Pastor Tony’s sermon?
Concerning the statement: " Many people are
ReplyDeletecomfortable with consistent, written instructions,
but struggle waiting on Holy Spirit to correct and guide them. " I believe the problem is a control issue. Fear of the unknown, unbelief, and insecurity will keep people from experiencing the fullness of God. In recorded history Awakenings were rightly known as "Moves of God" not " Moves of Man ". It is said that the leaders of the last Move of God are the very ones who resist the next Move of God. Behold,I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. ( Rev. 3:20 ) In context Jesus is speaking to His Church not to the lost. Pentecost was an event that birthed the church. There was no grid to evaluate it. Another event is coming that man cannot control or stop. I would suggest that we surrender and get out of the way. I tend to view things from a corporate perspective.
Kathleen Hill