Pastor Adam Noritake
Living in the Holy Spirit Ephesians 5:18-21 “Do not get drunk” Mixing alcohol with religious worship was common They would get drunk on wine and be filled with the “spirit” of Dionysus. There are physical and emotional indicators of drunkenness. Paul compars drunkenness from alcohol and being filled with the Spirit. Imagine the Spirit filling you, and the power of that filling, with change and totality that comes with it. When we are filled with the Spirit, we do not sing drunken songs, but we sing songs of praise to God! Have a BALANCED DIET when it comes to praising God!!! Hymns vs contemporary songs. Hymns were written by Christians who were as God-loving and Spirit-filled as Christians are now! Corporate praise is special. Being a Spirit-filled Christian means having praise on your lips, showing gratitude to God. Complaining is the antithesis to gratitude. God will make us into a thankful people. The Spirit has to work in us on the inside to make us grateful. We need the right perspective: we were created to worship God. The gospel needs to be real to us. How does the Holy Spirit make a broken, hurting person give thanks even in the darkest of places? How does God take that person and make them overflow with thanksgiving? A spirit-filled Christian is subject to one another out of love for Christ. We are all under authority. We are under authority of our parents, teachers, mentors, GOD (in the form of the Trinity: Father, then Son, then Holy Spirit, yet all EQUAL.) Jesus was under authority of God, obedient until death. There is an authority structure amongst Christians, especially in church. We should strive to be LAST in authority within the church. Love the church, serve the church. Spirit-filled people do these things: Praise God Give thanks Serve others
0 Comments
PJames Lee
Church versus Parachurch 1. Theological importance of the universal church
Don’t let involvement in AACF become a practical replacement for local church. Are you doing church just because you have to? Are you actually PRESENT??? You are there, but are you really THERE??? PNathaniel Kwak
Introduction to the Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19-20 Father AND Son AND Holy Spirit
Gal 1:1 - God the Father John 20:28 - Jesus as God Acts 5:3 - The Holy Spirit (as a part of God) 3 persons, 1 in essence/substance Holy Spirit not a force, not a mystical entity. HE is a PERSON. Not an IT. Acts 10:19 - The Holy Spirit speaks to Peter What does the Holy Spirit do?
The Spirit is the great Teacher. Inspires the writers. The Spirit illuminates text and hearts and opens them to God. Take note of which aspect of the trinity does what! Use that in your prayer. Ephesians 1: Different aspects of the Holy Trinity are highlighted Fullnes of an understanding of the Holy Spirit so that we don’t OVER or UNDER emphasize each part of the trinity. Pay attention to your personal practices and theology: don’t raise aspects of the trinity on a pedestal, nor ignore any. Biggest problem of humanity: Broken relationship with God - Out of this, all other problems arise. The Church needs to address these and speak out. God is so completely holy that any sin that comes near is disintegrated. His separation from us is His grace, because we would die. Slow work towards repairing our relationship with God. God trying to reconcile His people so that we have life again. Jesus: Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus is God’s Word turned flesh, and He dwelt with us (John 1) God is dwelling with us now, and we are not being obliterated because of Christ. Christ leaves, but He sends a helper: the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the mystery of the gospel, expounded. The Holy Spirit now dwells in us!!! We are the temple for God. John 14:26 If we are a believer of God, why would we desecrate the temple? Joel 2:28 God will pour out His spirit on all Works can only be produced by the Spirit How the Holy Spirit works: Brings unity to His people (1 Cor 12:13) - All can be in the presence of God Cannot live the Christian life alone. All are drawn near to God Unity in WORSHIP AND PRAISE. Why we come together. Corporate worship. The Spirit fills us Ephesians 5:18 Holy Spirit is passively and continuously filling us. Holy Spirit DRIVES and MOTIVATES us Holy Spirit PERMEATES us Holy Spirit DOMINATES us The Spirit generates fruit within us. Does your life radiate JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, FAITHFULNESS, SELFCONTROL The Spirit gives gifts Goal of gifts is to edify the body!!! How can I edify the body with these gifts? Walk and live in the Spirit constantly, so that you witness NATURALLY, oozing with who God is. Go and be Christian. God is always there with you. He promises to give you not what you want, but what you need. Satan does not care how holy or godly your intentions are, if you leave it for tomorrow. Be in God today. The Holy Spirit is crying TODAY, to not harden your hearts. Do not say TOMORROW. |