Browsing the archives for the Holy Spirit tag
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-11, Paul discusses the particulars of our new resurrection bodies to come, the promise and provision of God in accomplishing this, and how we can be proactive as we wait to be “absent from the body and present with the Lord.” Focusing on these elements can help us in our sufferings.
This is my sermon preached on July 1, 2012.
No Comments Rev. Jim and Barbara Hibschman shared their testimonies and a message on The Holy Spirit from Acts 2:-1-4. It was a blessing to have them and hear of God’s work in their lives
On Sunday, Ed shared a message on “giving thanks” from Luke 17:11-19.
He focused on the one leper who was healed and gave thanks and the nine who were healed and walked away. It’s important for us to give thanks, always, for all things, even if it’s hard sometimes.
I was reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 where Paul says to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances, because this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. Again, it’s hard for us to give thanks sometimes, in our flesh, but because it’s God’s will for us, and He works in us to will for his good pleasure, we are able to give thanks, even in the midst of diabetes, cancer, or hard economies. Thank God we are in process and can learn to give thanks, as he teaches and leads us. We humble ourselves to learn and acknowledge His goodness and sovereignty in giving thanks.
Ed’s application was simple = grow and learn to live in an attitude of giving thanks to God, always.
In Matthew 12:22-32, Jesus cast out a demon and the Pharisees attribute this power to Satan. Jesus has strong words for those who would reject God, His Kingdom, and His King. This sermon was given on November 6, 2011.
Acts 20:28 – ”
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
I am thankful for Ligon Duncan’s message on the above text that he gave at Integrity 2011. His five points came straight from the text and are worthy reminders of my job as pastor:
These are valuable lessons for anyone serving in ministry in the local church today.
What is one way we can work on forgiving others? Paul teaches us in Romans 12:9-21, “Serve your enemies.” This is my sermon from March 27, 2011.
St. Ignatius wrote, “Apart from Jesus, let nothing dazzle you.” Christ must so captivate our souls and fill our spirits that, in contrast, the attractions of the world grow pale and cheap. He must become to us more precious and dear until He is “altogether lovely.” Then well we be constrained by the love of Christ! Then will the mere mention of His name, in favored moments, bring a lump to the throat and weeping to the heart! Then will we feel that holiness is not so difficult after all.
Clyde Cranford, Because We Love Him, p. 31
As we continue to hear from the Word about forgiveness, we deal with what Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-48, “love your enemies.” This is hard for us to do – only through the power of the Spirit and the great love that He has shown us in His Son can it be done.
“Our peace and confidence are to be found not in our empirical holiness, not in our progress toward perfection, but in the alien righteousness of Jesus Christ that covers our sinfulness and alone makes us acceptable before a holy God.”
- Donald Bloesch
“The first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished. For I might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to benefit believers, I might seek to relieve the distressed, I might in other ways seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this world and yet, not being happy in the Lord, and not being nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, all this might not be attended to in a right spirit.”
from the autobiography of George Muller, as quoted in John Piper’s Desiring God
Jul 3, 2012 
