Peace Presbyterian Church
9145 Franklin Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95758
(916) 684-8100 voice
(916) 684-7719 fax
www.peacechurch.net
Please join us for Worship and Children’s Church at 10:15 am.
Sunday School, “Growth Hour”, at 9 am: classes for all.
Contact us:
Rev. Brian Spangler, Pastor
or
Office Manager
a member of Sacramento Presbytery, and the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
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Pastor Brian: 2007 June |
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“Pentecost”As we move into the month of June, we are reminded of the gift of Pentecost, the gift of the often overlooked but equally important third member of the Trinity, of the Holy Spirit. Jesus invites us to live a new life in and for Him, and He gives us His Holy Spirit to empower and equip us to do so. Jesus promised us in John 14:16, “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth.” The Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of this promise, and the Holy Spirit is the ongoing presence of God with us and in us, to lead us and guide us in being faithful and fruitful disciples of Jesus Christ. “We can discover these plans...” Why do we need the Holy Spirit in our lives? The Holy Spirit reminds us that our lives are not about us and the Holy Spirit teaches us to put God’s will first. We cannot follow Jesus relying on our own efforts or abilities, so we need the Holy Spirit to show us how to live and how to follow Jesus. Also, God has a greater plan and picture in mind for us, and the Holy Spirit guides us into this divine purpose and plan for our lives. God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The Holy Spirit will reveal His plans to us as we seek Him, as we learn to trust Him and to listen to Him. We can discover these plans as the Holy Spirit speaks to us in and through prayer and Bible study. “If we want more of His Spirit, we need to ask Jesus for more of Him...” Who is filled with the Holy Spirit? Each believer is filled with the Holy Spirit when they commit their lives to Christ. Scripture makes it clear that everyone who follows Jesus will be blessed with the Holy Spirit, for God says in Joel 2:28-9, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people,All of us then who follow Jesus are called to exhibit all of the fruits of the Spirit and to use the particular gifts the Spirit gives us. If we want more of His Spirit, we need to ask Jesus for more of Him and for more of His Holy Spirit. “...without whom we literally cannot live.” What does the Holy Spirit bring us? Paul tells us that now we can enjoy living a new life because of the Holy Spirit. This life includes being free from condemnation, having our minds set on what the Spirit desires, having our minds controlled by the Spirit, having peace and life, pleasing God, having the Spirit alive in us and putting to death the sin in our lives (Romans 8:1-11). The Holy Spirit is to be a constant and abiding presence in our lives, without whom we literally cannot live. God wants us to have the fullness of life now, and the Holy Spirit brings us this gift of new and full lives as we walk and talk with Him. How can we welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives? We must be careful to obey and follow the Holy Spirit. As Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”The only way we can fan the flames of the Spirit in our lives is through surrender, obedience and trust. We welcome the Holy Spirit by pleasing God, by praising God and by serving God. Are we willing to be led by His Spirit? Are we willing to live for God? Are we willing to be set ablaze by His Spirit? May each and all of our answers to these questions be an emphatic yes! Let us embrace all that God has for us as we embrace the gift of His Holy Spirit. In this Pentecost season, let us rediscover the power and the person of the Holy Spirit. Let us rediscover what it means to be alive in the Spirit. Love in Christ, |