Living Hope Church
31 May Sunday
- Bible TriviaLoading...
- When We All Get To Heaven
- Friend Of God
- Way Maker
- Holy Forever
- Nothing Else
- Moving Forward
- I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
- Majesty
- Majesty
1 Samuel 15:22CSB
- Two weeks ago, we celebrated Pentecost Sunday - focused on when the promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled.We talked about the Unity they had together and the importance for us to also have unity as one family of Christians today.__Last Week, Pastor Adriana continued the Pentecost theme and preached on the obedience of the Christians and how the Lord requires obedience to have the Holy Spirit
Acts 5:32 NKJV 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”With vs. GivenThis “Giving” of the Holy Spirit is much more than His presence. It is His power to renounce sin and fulfill the purpose He has given.The Holy Spirit is ‘with’ every Christian. But only “Given” to those who obey God.We recorded the sermon and hope to have it posted soon.Holy Spirit-formed CommunityActs 2:42–47 NIV 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.I. Jesus is the Focus & Center of Community (v42)II. The forming of the Community Precedes Evangelism (v44-46)They took care of each other. They were supernaturally unified in the Holy Spirit.Contrast with what we see amongst the larger church of Jesus.III. Evangelism naturally overflows from people who are experiencing God (v43 & 47)**Hurt People in the middle for prayer**Remember from weeks ago, the woman at the well. She had to experience Jesus before she could share Him with other people.A Church community that is experiencing Jesus has no problems ‘adding to their number’ or impacting the city for Jesus.The Enemy’s Attack — Comparison & Competition“The devil promotes comparison to turn community into a competition.”How it works:Comparison kills joy.What God is doing here is AMAZING and should not be compared to what God is doing somewhere else.Competition kills compassion.When we feel like we are competing with each other or another Church community, we focus on beating them and love, and grace diminish.Envy kills unity.This is an area where we cannot have the Holy Spirit as envy is disobedience.Instead of “we,” it becomes “me.” or “Them”This goes two ways, either ‘what about me’ or the infamous ‘them’.They say this or do that. No one says ‘we say this or do that’ if it is negative.Instead of celebrating each other, we resent each other.When God blesses others, we either judge ourselves, or resent them for receiving blessings from God.Galatians 5:26 NKJV 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.I am not a fan of formulas, but we see a description of the conditions that allowed the Holy Spirit free reign in the early church.Wanna see the Holy Spirit move?I. Fully surrender to JesusII. Find unity with your brothers and sistersIII. Help each other in prayer and in physical waysIV. Experience Jesus in Worship, Prayer, Fellowship, and CommunionV. Serve each other and the city out of an overflow of Community formed and held together by the Holy SpiritIt is really hard to fight with your brother or sister in Christ when you are following the five listed. Acts 5:32CSB
Acts 2:42–47CSB
Galatians 5:26CSB