Our Mission Is Empowered By The Living Spirit Of God.

Our mission is to communicate to this generation. We are not to be clones of the Early Church Fathers, the Reformers, the Puritans, Wesley, Whitfield, Spurgeon, Moody. All of that belongs to the past. We are in the present. Here, we must affirm our faith in the living Spirit of God. Where do we most sense the presence of the Spirit of God? We enter into the Lord's presence as we call upon His Name in prayer. As well as our commitment to the ministry of God's Word, there is to be a commitment to continuing to be faithful in prayer (Acts 6:4). How are we to come to God in prayer? - "We have a great High Priest ... Jesus the Son of God ... Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace ... " (Hebrews 4:14-16). The knowledge that Jesus Christ is our great High Priest encourages us to keep on praying. In an age where the methods can be become more important than the mission, we need to be reminded that "prayer is evangelism with all its carnal trappings shorn off" (William Still). That doesn't mean that we only need to speak to God. It does mean that our speaking to sinners should always be grounded in our speaking to the Saviour of sinners.

The Work Of The Holy Spirit

* The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ.

* The Holy Spirit breathes new life into the Church of God.

* The Holy Spirit leads us into a life of worship.

* The Holy Spirit leads us on to heavenly and eternal glory.

* The Holy Spirit leads us in the way of victory.

-----

Here's a link to the full post from which this sermon outline is taken.

Day of Pentecost: Acts 2:1-21 (or Ezekiel 37:1-14); Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:22-27 (or Acts 2:1-21); John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

The Holy Spirit Leads Us In The Way Of Victory.

Jesus was ‘persecuted’. We will be ‘persecuted’ - ‘all who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted’ (John 15:20; 2 Timothy 3:12). We have no guarantee that life will be easy. In all our difficulties, ‘the Spirit of truth’ directs our attention to Jesus our Saviour (John 15:26; 16:13-15). Whatever our problems, we draw encouragement from Jesus’ words: ‘In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33). Here, we have realism and faith. The world is trying to squeeze us into its own mould (Romans 12:2). Sometimes, we feel like faith is slipping away. Sometimes, we feel like giving up. What are we to say to all this? ‘Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?’ - This is our faith’ (1 John 5:4-5).

Learning From the Apostle Paul

Paul was no silent disciple, no half-hearted follower of Jesus. He was not ashamed of his Lord. He was glad to say, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith" (Romans 1:16). Why was Paul bold to say, "God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14)? Why was Paul so emphatic in saying, "I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2)? The answer is very simple and straightforward. He was a man who had been grasped by the power of the Gospel. Through the power of Christ, Paul was no longer his own. He belonged to Christ. This was why he was able to write to the Corinthian Christians, "You are not your own; you have been bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). He was a man filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. This was why he was able to challenge the Corinthian Christians: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? ... So glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). He was a man grasped by the power of the Gospel, a man filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. What kind of men and women are we? This is the challenge of Paul's life for us.

Waiting On The Lord, We Renew Our Strength.

Jesus tells His apostles, ‘the Holy Spirit’ will ‘come upon you’ (Acts 1:11, 8). He gives them His Word of promise: ‘I send the promise of my Father upon you’. He gives them His Word of command: ‘stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high’ (Luke 24:49). They wait upon the coming of the Holy Spirit. They cannot fill themselves with the Spirit. They can only ‘be filled with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18). Waiting for the Spirit, the apostles ‘devote themselves to prayer’ (Acts 1:14). They do not earn the Holy Spirit as a reward for spending much time in prayer. Waiting on God, their strength is renewed as they receive God’s gift (Isaiah 40:31; Luke 11:13).

Learning From Philip - A Man Filled With The Holy Spirit

In Acts 8, we see Philip, a man in step with the Spirit. The Ethiopian eunuch is reading the Old Testament Scriptures, but he does not understand what they mean. The Spirit of God is at work - "And the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go up and join this chariot" (Acts 8:29). Philip led the Ethiopian eunuch to faith in Christ. Philip, then, continued in the way of the Spirit - "the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip" (Acts 8:39). The Spirit continued to use Philip in the preaching of the Gospel of Christ - "he preached the Gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesarea" (Acts 8:40). From Philip, we learn this - the importance of going where the Spirit leads us. If we are to lead others, we must follow the leading of the Spirit. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Philip had been transformed. In John 6, where Jesus fed the 5,000, Philip knew nothing of the power of God to do mighty things. At that time, Philip said, 'It can't be done. We cannot feed this great multitude.' In Acts 8, we see a very different Philip, a new Philip. No longer does he say, 'It can't be done.' Now, he says, 'It shall be done.' When Philip saw what Christ could do for the hungry multitude, he caught a glimpse of what Christ could do in his own life. Now, Philip - a man led by the Spirit of God - was leading others to Jesus, the Son of God. The Spirit leads us to Christ that we, in turn, might lead others to Christ. This, we can only do through the power of the Holy Spirit. With His power, we dare not say, 'It can't be done.' With His power, we dare to say, 'It shall be done.'

Jesus Christ Gives The Holy Spirit To All Who Trust Him.

As we come to Christ, confessing Him as God's Son and trusting Him as our Saviour, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (v.33). Christ gives the Holy Spirit to all who trust Him. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to confess Christ before men and to live as His witnesses. We can learn a great deal about what the Holy Spirit seeks to do in our lives, as we look at four of the first followers of Jesus - (1) John the Baptist (v. 36), (2) Andrew (v. 41), (3) Peter (v. 42), (4) Nathaniel (v. 51). First, in our witnessing for Christ, we are to point people to the Saviour of sinners. Second, we are to give our personal testimony - "We have found the Messiah." He has fulfilled the meaning and purpose of our lives. Third, we are to give the testimony of transformed lives, lives which are founded on Christ, the Rock of our salvation. Fourth, we are to live and speak as a people of hope, looking to Christ who is our Hope of glory.

-----

This is the third and final post in a series on John 1:19-51.

Open Your Ears

Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so [do] ye.

inhisgloriousnameministriesonline.blogspot.com

The Inexhaustible Treasure Chest Of God's Precious Word

Sharing my Bible Reading Notes, on this blog, is a God-given privilege.
It is my prayer that these notes will help others to dig more deeply into the inexhaustible treasure chest of God's precious Word and its wonderful message of salvation.
In all of our study of Scripture, may we learn to say, with Jesus, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have ... revealed these things ... " (Matthew 11:25).
Let us always rejoice in this: "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13).

Preaching, Prayer And The Power Of The Holy Spirit

'Pray ... for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel' (Eph. 6:18-19). There is no true boldness in preaching without the prayers of faithful man and women who call upon God on behalf of the preacher. With the supporting prayers of God’s people, the preacher goes into the pulpit. Through the continuing witness of God’s people, the preached word goes beyond the pulpit into the world. The preacher is one among many within the fellowship of the Lord’s people. His minstry is significant, but so also is the ministry exercised by others. As we consider the relationship between the pastor and the people we must never forget that the spark which gets the fire going is the power of the Holy Spirit. If there is to be a fire lit in our day, it will not be the work of man but the mighty working of the Spirit. In all the works of ministry - the ministry of the preacher and the ministry of the people - there is something we must never forget: 'We are servants of the word and not its masters ... Not only are we servants of the word ... we are unprofitable servants.'
-----
This post is an excerpt from my article on The Use of the Bible in Evangelical Preaching Today.

May Our Preaching Be The Spark Which Sets The Church On Fire For Christ.

The method of preaching will vary from sermon to sermon, from one series of sermons to another. The manner in which we preach remains constant. It is to be preaching grounded in the Scriptures, centred on Christ and empowered by the Spirit. Such preaching has relevance, not only for the Church but also for the world. The gospel cannot be kept within the ‘four walls’ of the Church. Paul described the gospel in this way - ‘The gospel for which I am suffering and wearing chains like a criminal’. He then went on to say, ‘But the word of God is not fettered’ (2 Tim. 2:9). Sometimes, the preacher will feel like Paul - imprisoned within his circumstances. He may feel imprisoned within a clerical strait-jacket. He may feel imprisoned within the limitations of being only one man, able to do so much and no more. Like Paul, however, the preacher can lift up his eyes to the Word of God which is able to break free from such imprisoning limitations. When the Word of God is preached, it is not simply a proclamation by one man within the ‘four walls’ of the Church. It is a proclamation which reaches out into the world. It is carried by the hearers into their life-situations. This fact encourages the preacher to believe that his message preached may be just the spark which gets a fire going. His preaching may be just the spark which sets the Church on fire with a real desire to pass on the good news of Christ’s love to the needy world. The possibility of being the spark which lights a fire gives the preacher greater boldness. It assures him that his preaching is not as insignificant and ineffective as he may sometimes feel. There is, however, a humbling factor here. The preacher receives boldness in answer to the prayers of God’s people. 'Pray ... for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel' (Eph. 6:18-19).

-----
This post is an excerpt from my article on The Use of the Bible in Evangelical Preaching Today.

'The Spirit ... Opens Up The Scripture To Us And ‘Opens’ Us To The Scripture.'

In our preaching of God’s word today we must earnestly pray for this dual ministry of the Spirit: 'The Spirit ... opens up the Scripture to us and ‘opens’ us to the Scripture.' Being opened up by the Spirit to the Scripture can be an uncomfortable experience. Where the Word of God is preached in the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the situation described in the letter to the Hebrews: 'The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword ... discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do' (4:12-13). Scripture does not speak of salvation only. It also speaks about sin. Scripture does not speak only of the love of God. It also speaks of the holiness of God. When Jesus spoke of the ministry of the Holy Spirit he said this: 'When he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment' (Jn. 16:8). There are uncomfortable truths concerning which the Lord Jesus says, ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’ (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).
-----
This post is an excerpt from my article on The Use of the Bible in Evangelical Preaching Today.

True Ministry Is Ministry Empowered By The Spirit.

Faithful, relevant, authoritative preaching is preaching which focuses upon Christ, preaching which is empowered by the Spirit, preaching which calls for faith that takes deep root in the heart. With this understanding of preaching, we will take care to hold doctrine and experience together. ... Rightly understood, the words of Scripture are not mere words. They are words which speak with power. Jesus makes this point within the context of his own ministry. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life (Jn. 6:63). Paul, like Jesus, could not conceive of ministry as a thing of words only. True ministry is ministry empowered by the Spirit: My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power' (1 Cor. 2:4); 'Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction' (1 Thess. 1:5).
-----
This post is an excerpt from my article on The Use of the Bible in Evangelical Preaching Today.

It Is The Holy Spirit Who Binds Faithfulness And Relevance Together.

God’s Word is seen to be ‘the living and abiding word of God’ as God’s people believe it to be and proclaim it as ‘the living and abiding word of God’. The faithfulness which is ever relevant involves a real commitment to walking in the Spirit as ‘ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills but the Spirit gives life’ (2. Cor. 3:6).... It is the Holy Spirit who binds faithfulness and relevance together. He ‘makes it clear that this ancient word never becomes antiquated but is permanently relevant.’ This relevance is always a matter of something more than mere words. Our lives as well as our words must be faithful to the Word of the Lord. Faithfulness and relevance do not belong only to the study and the pulpit. There is a life to be lived in the world as well as a sermon to be preached in the church. Our lives are to be a ‘letter from Christ’, ‘known and read by all men’ (2 Cor. 3:2).
-----
This post is an excerpt from my article on The Use of the Bible in Evangelical Preaching Today.

Our Preaching Should Be Grounded In Scripture, Centred On Christ And Empowered By The Spirit.

Our preaching should be grounded in Scripture, centred on Christ and empowered by the Spirit. The Scriptures, the Saviour and the Spirit - here we have a ‘threefold cord’ that cannot be broken. By stressing the importance of the Bible for contemporary preaching we are not simply being ‘traditional’. We ground our preaching in Scripture because we find Christ in the Scriptures (Lk. 24:27; Jn. 5:40; 2 Tim. 3:15). We do not base our preaching on Scripture simply because we wish to be ‘Biblicists’. We preach from Scripture because the Spirit points us to the Son through the Scriptures (Lk. 24:2; Rom. 10:17). This ‘threefold cord’, the Scriptures, the Saviour and the Spirit, must be preserved if contemporary preaching is to be truly evangelical.
-----
This is an excerpt from a post you can find here.

God’s Word Is A ‘Seed’ Which Bears Much Fruit.

Mark 4:1-34
God’s Word carries this message: ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says...’(9; Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22). We must listen for the voice of the Spirit. Grace has been ‘given’ to us (11). It is God's gift. To God be the glory! Sadly, some refuse to listen. Think about your response to God's Word (15-20). Let your light shine (21-23; Matthew 5:16). Use your gifts, or lose them (24-25). We preach the Word. God gives the growth (26-29; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7). A small child can count the seeds in an apple. Only God knows how many apples there are in a single seed! God’s Word is a ‘seed’ which bears much fruit (30-32; 1 Peter 1:23-25). Parables whet the appetite - for more! They were given to people ‘as they were able to hear it’- ‘a starter’(33-34)! May we be ‘visual aids’ to whet people’s appetite - for God!
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Let The Holy Spirit Lead You To The Saviour.

Mark 3:13-35
The conflict intensifies. The ‘twelve’ are ‘sent... to cast out demons’(14-15). Jesus is accused of being demon-possessed (22). Jesus warns against ‘an eternal sin’- blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (28-30). With the offer of forgiveness - ‘the blood of Jesus... cleanses us from all sin’- , there is the call to ‘confess our sins’(1 John 1:7,9). ‘If we say we have no sin’(1 John 1:8,10) and no need of Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we resist the Holy Spirit who seeks to convict us of our sin and lead us to the Saviour (John 16:8-9,14). Are you anxious about ‘an unpardonable sin’? Let the Holy Spirit lead you to the Saviour. Take your sin to Jesus, and let His ‘perfect love cast out your fear’(1 John 4:17). Do you think you cannot be forgiven ? God’s thoughts are ‘higher’: ‘Return to the Lord... He will abundantly pardon’(Isaiah 55:6-9).
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Call Upon Him

and He will show you great things.

‘No One Can Say “Jesus is Lord” Except By The Holy Spirit.'

Exodus 31:1-32:14
'Called’ by God and ‘filled’ with His Spirit (31:1-3), Bezalel had the support of Oholiab and ‘all able men’(31:6). Few may be called and equipped to lead, but many are required for God’s work to be done - effectively (1 Corinthians 12:4-10). ‘All’ of us receive our strength from the ‘Spirit’(1 Corinthians 12:11). We offer ourselves in service with this faith, ‘Jesus is Lord’. Faith is God’s gift: ‘no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit’. There are many gifts. They are varied expressions of one gift - the faith which confesses that ‘Jesus is Lord’(1 Corinthians 12:3). The people fell into idolatry and immorality (32:6): a ‘warning’ to us (1 Corinthians 10:6-12). We have God’s help - to overcome temptation (1 Corinthians 10: 13). Moses sets for us a godly example: he spent time with God, hearing His voice and prevailing in prayer (32:1,7-14).
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Let Us Worship God.

Exodus 30:1-38
The Word of God (‘the testimony’) declares the mercy of God, leading to our meeting with God (6). We highlight several features of our worship: (a) ‘the blood of the sin offering of atonement’(10) - This points to the ‘how much more’ sacrifice of Christ on the Cross for us (Hebrews 9:13-14); (b) ‘washing’(18) - Christ ‘has washed us from our sins in His blood’(Revelation 1:5; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5-6); (c) ‘holy anointing oil’(25) - We are to be ‘consecrated’, ‘most holy’, servants of the Lord, ‘making holiness perfect in the fear of God’, living in the power of the Holy Spirit (29-30; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Zechariah 4:6); (d) ‘incense’(35) - We are to be ‘the aroma of Christ’, spreading His ‘fragrance’(2 Corinthians 2:14-16). Christlike living is grounded in prayer (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4; Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com