THE HOLY SPIRIT

GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.

This is the holy Trinity we believe in.

We are to revere, worship and adore God: “let everything that has breath praise the Lord” Psalm 150 v 6

We are to trust Jesus with our lives and follow Him: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” John 8 v 12

We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit: “be filled with the Holy Spirit” Ephesians 5 v 8 – and not just at baptism/conversion: “repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”.

Being filled with the Spirit opens up the powerful workings of God in the life of both the Christian and the Church.

And EVERYONE receives from the Holy Spirit; sometimes more than one gift and sometimes a gift for a season. He knows us best and knows what is needed.

The purpose of the gifts are “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body may be built up to reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of Christ” Eph 4 v 12

There is a Biblical requirement for everyone to use their gifts – Paul tells us this in his narrative about the body in 1 Corinthians 12.

I’m guessing that, when everyone uses their gifts, a few practical things would be noticeable:

· There would be no shortage of workers for any of the Church’s projects or even the day-to-day tasks

· There would be a natural inclusion of all ages working alongside one another

· Which in turn would be a mentoring system for successive generations

· There would be less ‘burn-out’ of people and enough workers to allow rest periods and necessary sabbaticals.

Alongside this – and more importantly – there would be prophecies, visions, dreams and wonderful signs. In short, the Holy Spirit doing His daily work through us.

God has been speaking to us as a Church and as a Leadership Team for a while now, and we can see some of the gifts being used already – but there is so much more.

In response to God’s leading, we are launching two teaching sessions to run alongside one another.

“MEET THE HOLY SPIRIT” is an 8-week armchair session and this will begin in the week commencing 27th September. The link for this will be on our Facebook page and also emailed out weekly.

“THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT” is a 4-week study for use in small groups and will begin from week commencing 4th October. If you are not already meeting within a group, there is the opportunity for new groups to form, meeting specifically for these 4 weeks. Please do ask about this.

The study will be a practical one because the aim is not simply to gain more knowledge, but to develop your relationship with the Holy Spirit. From that relationship flows love and the knowledge of your place within the body.

My Bible notes today stated: Spiritual growth is a group project. When those who are indwelt by God’s Spirit meet for worship, teaching, encouragement and service, God shows up in a powerful way.

I believe God is wanting to show up in a more powerful way when we meet together, and I believe this focus on relationship with the Holy Spirit and all that He wants to fill us with is necessary right now.

“now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen”