Christmas scenes can look so nice. Pretty, even. It’s easy for it all to be sentimental. But births are always messy. And being born in a manger doesn’t help. Being born in a politically fraught time makes it worse. So what does God do? He steps into our mess, embraces it, challenges it and offers alternative ways to do life.
The Spirit helps us hear God In the early church it was normal to expect that you would hear from God – through one another. What does it means to be ready to speak in this way to one another and how can we make sure we can hear properly?The temptation to be self-sufficient is ever present. The Spirit guards us from the temptation by reminding us that we need what others can give us. We all get to play, we all get to join in, we all get to receive.
The temptation to be self-sufficient is ever present. The Spirit guards us from the temptation by reminding us that we need what others can give us. We all get to play, we all get to join in, we all get to receive.
The Spirit takes you on surprising pathways. It’s a familiar mistake to think that being committed to God will protect you from difficult days. The Spirit is not an insurance policy shielding you from problems but a companion who guides you through them.
The Spirit includes the unexpected. There are three stories, one after another, that Luke includes in his story of the early church. Each of these surprising stories are about men who were surprising converts. God still seems to take delight in calling to himself those who feel the least likely to be on his side.
Why do my words matter? God’s Spirit gifts us in many different ways, but the mark of an initial encounter with God in the book of Acts normally included a change in speech. Why is speech one of the main differences when the Spirit fills us?
How is God involved in the world? ‘Where is your God?’ is a question many of us have faced at one time or another. It is a good question, and one that the Bible doesn’t shy away from. The answer is daunting. God is at work in His world through us. But the good news is that He will give us His strength, direction and presence. We will not be alone. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit. It’s why it’s the gift that we can receive.
Who we are on the hard days? Jesus rescues us from the power of sin and then enables us withstand all the attacks that come our way. There is strength in a salvation that is ours.
Who are we when we think no one is watching? Knowing that Jesus is our Saviour changes our everyday relationships – in family life and work life, following Jesus makes all the difference in the world.
Paul’s vision for the church was that it would demonstrate the unity of Jew and Gentile. The wider world could only see their differences. Paul knew that they could be one because of Jesus – and that it was the grace he showers upon us in salvation that is the source of our unity.
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Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance
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