Empowered by the Holy Spirit

To kick off the Year of Making Disciples, we’re learning what a disciple is. Last week we learned that a disciple is not some sort of super Christian. A disciple is an “everyday ordinary individual” who has decided to follow Jesus. This week we learned that a disciple is “empowered by the Holy Spirit.” 

Without the Holy Spirit in our lives, you and I are like flat tires. Without the air of the Spirit (the Greek word for “spirit” is pneuma, aka pneumatic) we’re powerless to live well, love others, and please God. This is what the Bible calls the “Law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-11). However, when we turn to Jesus, God gives us the Holy Spirit and a whole new way of living begins! If you missed Sunday’s message you can watch it on our YouTube channel.

Yours for Christ,

Pastor Steve

The Promise of Power

Jews living under Roman occupation in first century Palestine were looking for a power-filled Messiah to restore Israel’s glory days of King David. Their hopes hinged on promises like that of Micah 5:2-5a. However, Messiah Jesus, who ultimately fulfills Micah’s prophecy, upends our earthly ideas of power. Jesus invites us into the other-worldly Kingdom of God where the first are last and the least are the greatest; where losing is gaining, dying is living, and leading is serving. If you missed Sunday’s message you can watch the 4:00 p.m. outdoor service livestream here.

The Promise of Joy

 

We live in a world full of fear – politically, socially, economically, and more! Fear inclines us to hunker down, isolate, and stick with our own tribe. The Bible’s antidote for fear isn’t bravery. It’s joy. God’s presence in our midst quiets our fears and brings us joy (Zephaniah 3:14-20). Sadly, Old Testament Israel often tried to keep God’s joyful presence to themselves. They mistakenly believed God’s good news was only for those religiously aligned. Christ’s birth shatters any notion that God’s joyful presence can be possessed or contained. As the angel announced to the shepherds, Christ’s birth is “Good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” If you missed yesterday’s sermon, you can listen to it here or watch the entire service here.

Cultivating a Thankful Heart

 

My heart is broken this morning with the news out of Waukesha, Wisconsin. I grieve for those killed, injured, and traumatized during yesterday’s parade. It is yet another reminder that our world is not as it should be. And there’s no way to make sense of such violence without acknowledging that I too am not as I should be. My world is broken and so am I.

Yesterday, I talked about how a life of gratitude in response to God’s grace produces in us “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12). Such qualities seem in short supply these days. Perhaps, as we move toward Thanksgiving Day, by God’s grace, we can live a different way.

If you missed yesterday’s sermon, you can listen to it here or watch the entire service here.

Giving Thanks When Life Hurts

 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says to “Give thanks in all circumstances.” That can be really hard! It’s one thing to be thankful when life is going our way. But what does it mean to be thankful when life hurts?! First, it’s a paradox. As followers of Jesus and citizens of his heavenly kingdom on earth, we can hold two truths equally: that life really hurts AND God is really good. Second, gratitude is a discipline we practice. Being genuinely thankful when life hurts takes effort on our part. Third, gratitude is a gift we receive from God. In other words, embracing the paradox that life is hard and I am blessed, while practicing the human discipline of expressing thanks, even when we don’t feel like it, puts us in a position to receive God’s gift of a joy-filled spirit.

 

In addition to the Psalm 92 Challenge (Reading Psalm 92 at 9:02AM and 9:02PM every day), try making a gratitude list each night before bed. Write down 10 things from the day that you are thankful for. The list doesn’t have to be profound or deep. Just let the Holy Spirit call to mind some things from your day that you can say “thanks” for. Give it a try! I promise, it can change your life. If you missed yesterday’s sermon you can watch it on YouTube or listen to the podcast.

One-Tenth Thankful

 Luke 17:11-19 tells the story of some lepers who experience Jesus’ healing, but only one-tenth of them is thankful. An attitude of gratitude keeps us alert to God’s salvation work in us and around us. We need hearts of thankfulness. And the world needs more genuinely thankful people. (If you missed Sunday’s message you can listen to it here, or watch the entire service on our YouTube channel.) 

 

During November, we’re familiarizing ourselves with Psalm 92, a communal psalm of thanksgiving. Take the Psalm 92 Challenge! Read Psalm 92 every day, twice a day. Once in the morning at 9:02 a.m. and once in the evening, at 9:02 p.m. Let this Thanksgiving Psalm saturate your spirit and increase your gratitude quotient. 

Abiding with Christ

The Fourth Invitation of Jesus is “Abide with me” (John 15:1-11). This invitation, like the other three, corresponds to a fourth stage of faith which is characterized by complete surrender. In this stage, we surrender our will, our mind, our aspirations, and our abilities more fully in oneness with Jesus. This is only possible as we submit to the Heavenly Father’s pruning (John 15:2). Abiding with Christ comes with two startling promises, according to John 15. First, we get whatever we want! Jesus promises, “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”(John 15:7). This isn’t the work of some cosmic vending machine, but rather the fruit of one’s desire fully conformed to Christ. Second, we are promised unbridled joy (John 15:11). Far more than “happiness,” unbridled joy is the fruit of unbridled obedience to Christ.

There are two great scenes in the movie Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks, that illustrate this journey of surrender. In the first scene, Tom Hanks’ character tries leaving the deserted island under the power of his own resolve and with undersized resources (a small rubber raft and a single small paddle). Beaten quickly by the waves however, Hanks returns to the island bruised, bleeding, and defeated. This is what can happen when we try advancing in the Christian life by sheer willpower and with inadequate spiritual equipment (spiritual disciplines). Some 1,500 days later, he tries again. His equipment now is more developed. The small rubber boat has been replaced by a raft of several sturdy logs lashed together. He has two large oars now instead of a single plastic paddle. In the end however, it is only when Hanks stops rowing, hoists a makeshift sail, and surrenders to the wind, that he is finally carried into the freedom of the open sea.

As long as our spiritual equipment consists only of a few Bible verses and an occasional quick prayer, we can never hope to experience the open sea of abiding with Christ. We must cultivate sturdier spiritual equipment and actively surrender to God’s work (pruning) in our lives to move into the deep. If you missed Sunday’s message, you can listen to it here or watch the entire service on YouTube. Also, below are links to the aforementioned scenes from Cast Away.

https://youtu.be/gUEgs7MYUw0

https://youtu.be/R8y-6suAexU