Dear Precious Friends,
On this Fill Our Soul Sunday, I pray you have a place to worship and fill your soul with other believers, at a church that is led by a Spirit & Truth Filled Bible Teaching Pastor. I also pray that if you can go to service physically, that you go!!! Why you may ask?
We underestimate the significance of our presence when we think it doesn't matter. We undervalue the power of the Spirit of God residing within us when we believe staying home is just as good as showing up. We possibly miss what God wants to do through us and for us when we stay home.
The church – that is, the people of God – needs our physical presence, words of encouragement, and acts of service.
Our gifts, skills, ideas, service, leadership, resources, love – everything we have to offer – is a crucial part to a church & a congregation thriving.
In the same way, we need the 'church' more than we think we do. The church – that is, the people of God – needs our physical presence, words of encouragement, and acts of service,There is so much in Scripture about the relational aspects of the church – love one another, be devoted to one another, encourage one another, instruct one another, greet one another – and these can't be done as well in a virtual environment.
Obviously when you are sick, or compromised, staying home and the gift of watching online is what that option is for... however, once you are able to be with other believers, our physical presence is a must! The fellowship of the saints is a vital means of grace for the disciple of Christ. Believers need the accountability found only within the local church ... We need to confess our sins and declare forgiveness by the blood of Christ together. We need to be deployed for service in Christ's name together. SO I PRAY IF YOU HAVE BEEN ON ONLINE WORSHIPPER AND YOU ARE NOW ABLE TO GO TO CHURCH, TODAY IS YOUR DAY! Rick, Branson and I love, love, love our church and love the Teaching at Lake Mary Church. We serve at the 12:30 service. If you are interested please message me and I'll be happy to meet you out front and walk in with you!
NOW BACK TO THE MESSAGE FOR TODAY...
When the Holy Spirit came upon the believers as Jesus ascended to heaven as told my Jesus in Acts 1:7-8.... "you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere... in Jerusalem, throughout Judea in Samaria and to the ends of the earth."...
The boldness all those gathered on the day of Pentecost (read more in Acts 2) and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. "
The power of the Holy Spirt is referred to as "dunamis" = DYNAMITE!!
The Greek dunamis is used 120 times in the New Testament. Loosely, the word refers to “strength, power, or ability.” It is the root word of our English words dynamite, dynamo, and dynamic.
In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30), the servants are given wealth based on their dunamis, or their “ability” to handle money. In Mark 9:1 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” “Power” here is dunamis.
However, dunamis is not just any power; the word often refers to miraculous power or marvelous works (such as in Matthew 7:22; 11:21, 23; Mark 5:30; Luke 5:17; 9:1; 10:13; and Acts 8:13). Dunamis can also refer to “moral power and excellence of soul,” according to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon. Peter and John, once frozen with fear, when filled with the Holy Spirit, were out preaching the gospel for everyone to hear (see Acts 2:14–41). This soon got them arrested — the very thing that had terrified them before — and their boldness astonished the Jewish authorities, who then “recognized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Don’t you want to bear that bold spiritual family resemblance? It requires the Spirit of Jesus (Philippians 1:19).
When we pray to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, fear melts away and we receive a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit and renewed boldness to keep speaking about Jesus to everyone!
Boldness is not constant or taken for granted. We must keep praying for it whenever we need it. Even the apostle Paul experienced this. That’s why he asked the Ephesians to pray that he “may declare [the gospel] boldly, as [he] ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:20). Boldness is not an option for us, but it’s also not a given. Since it is not a constant gift of the Spirit, we must pray for it frequently.
SO MY FRIENDS, ARE YOU A SPIRIT FILLED CHILD OF GOD?
I truly believe if you are reading this today, you either are spirit filled, or it is your hearts desire... Take time to pray, there are so many examples in scripture. Romans 8 is a great place to really take in each word each verse to read what Life in the Spirit truly is and truly means. We are either walking in the flesh or walking in the spirit... which are we? It takes constant work as we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Yes.. that is right.. .There is a reason there is an I in SIN... Anytime we do things my way, we are sinning! WOW...
As Spirit Filled Christians we are not controlled by our sinful nature, we are controlled by the Spirit if we have the Spirit of God living in us...
Open God's word, read the scriptures I am referencing...
I pray you know the power of what I've posted..
WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN US
WE DON'T FEAR EVIL, EVIL FEARS US
OUR VERY PRESENCE IN A ROOM OF DEONS WILL CAUSE THEM TO FLEE
STAND IN BOLDNESS
WE ARE SPIRIT FILLED CHILDREN OF GOD!
And that my friends is what I was led to share with you today by the HOLY SPIRIT.
AMEN!
