Pentecost weekend is upon us. It is on the day of Pentecost that we remember and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus. It was the fulfilment of a hundreds year old prophecy by Joel. The promise that the Sprit of the living God would be poured out on all flesh. Those of us within the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement have a deep sense that celebrating great works of God in the past, carries a key to experiencing those same wonderful acts in the here and now.
Kingdom Politics
Jesus never was a political figure, nor did he aspire to be one. In stark contrast to what the Jewish population of the time expected the Messiah to be, here stood not a person that was ready to take power from the oppressing Roman forces by means of political or military activity, but someone who would gain the world by giving his life.
Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
The desire of a true follower of Christ is to know Him more, to go deeper into the relationship that He has called us to. As we go deeper into that relationship we see how the Holy Spirit uses us more and more for His glory. But often and quite typically, people get so focused on the next thing that they forget about the foundation. It’s so easy to want the power of the Holy Spirit, like Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8:18-19; the fact is that the power of the Holy Spirit isn’t the goal but a result of our relationship and obedience. Without a firm foundation, it can be abused.
The Lordship of Jesus Christ
King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is declared in many worship songs and read in church almost every week, but is JESUS really LORD? I have spent much of my adult life so burdened by Matthew 7 where Jesus says, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord! Will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter...many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name.” We sang songs in your name, we “worshiped” you and we love you. The way this question is answered has eternal ramifications. John 15:14 - “You are my friends if you do what I command!” When we allow Jesus to be Lord over our lives, HIS Spirit leads us for HIS glory, not ours. Our job is to say “YES” to God in total, complete obedience.
Leading By Example
Being in leadership in most churches is a case of trial and error — trying to figure out what seems to work, what seems to be effective, and what most people respond to. This process can be very frustrating and difficult, causing much hurt and misunderstanding along the way – not only to the ones you are trying to lead, but also to yourself. The question I ask myself is: what kind of leadership style do I want to have? What kind of qualities others might appreciate and wish to emulate?
Called and Anointed Ones
The children of this generation, will face challenges non before them have had to face. The shifts in culture and law are ushering in a new reality, wherein we cannot simply trust everything that is presented to us from our society, culture, or even our governments. The days of standing tall in the face of severe adversity may be a new reality sooner than we think. The ability to stand tall and stand for Christ, can be hard for anyone, especially without the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. It is for this important reason that we must be praying for our Children to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. There is no “arrival” on this journey. The journey begins the moment the child is born. The only thing that changes, is the level of understanding. God’s calling and gifts are on them from day one.
The Effects of the Spirit’s Breath Upon the Efforts of Man
Jesus walked in the fullness of the measure of the Holy Spirit. He was fully led and directed by the revelation of the Father’s will through the working of the Spirit. It is no understatement to say that Jesus’ life and ministry were greatly impacted by the breath of the Holy Spirit, freely blowing through the heart and mind of the promised Christ. The Holy Spirit desires to do the same in us. Not a lesser, downgraded form of his breath; the exact measure that changed the atmosphere everywhere Jesus set his foot.
The Expectation We as a Community Bring to the Worship Meeting
We all want to be part of church communities where miracles happen. The minute you meet Jesus you realise, anything can happen in his presence. Lives can be changed in an instant, bodies healed, the oppressed set free. The greatest of all, are those awesome moments when a greater measure of the glory of God is revealed to us. We were made to live for his glory and to celebrate his presence. So how does this become the norm instead of the exception? I think the secret lies in what each individual brings to the table. What each of us brings to the house of God.