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Welcome
Today is Pentecost Sunday when we celebrate Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father, pouring out the Holy Spirit upon His Church!
Testimony
“I was baptised with the Holy Spirit when I took Him by simple faith in the Word of God.”
(R. A. Torrey)
Worship
Word
Please read: Acts 2
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
Acts 2:32-33
Some have suggested that the book known as “The Acts of the Apostles” would, from a theological perspective, be more accurately entitled, “The Acts of the Holy Spirit”. Jesus Himself only began His ministry when,
God anointed Jesus … with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.
Acts 10:38
Similarly, the apostles only began their ministry on the day of Pentecost, when,
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:4
Acts is a record of the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ and His kingdom, in the power of the Holy Spirit, leading to the growth of the Christian Church. The Church began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and Jesus had emphasised the vital importance of this,
On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit … you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:4-5, 8
The Church continued, and flourished, by the Spirit’s empowering and enabling, also attested in other parts of the NT,
This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 2:3-4
You, … are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
Rom. 8:4-27 e.g. Romans 8:9
See also 1 Peter 1:10-12; 1 John 3:24.
Churches came unstuck when they moved away from faith solely in Jesus Christ and complete dependency on the Holy Spirit:
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? … again I ask, does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?
Galatians 3:1-5
Phenomenal church growth followed the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:31. We preach Jesus Christ crucified and risen again but do we totally depend on the Holy Spirit and allow Him to have His way amongst us? Is this why there is such a lack of Church growth throughout this nation?
Quote of the week
“Ephesians 5:18 [see verse below] is not just an experience to be enjoyed but a command to be obeyed. If we do not open ourselves to a daily encounter with the Holy Spirit, then the inevitable conclusion is that we are disobedient Christians.”
D. L. Moody
Verse of the week
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit and Your Son. Pour out Your Spirit upon us afresh and help us to go on being filled with Your Spirit day by day, in Jesus Christ, Amen.