Tag Archives: advent2020

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Advent – The Holy Spirit Will Come Upon You

Advent – The Holy Spirit Will Speak, Act Upon, Warn, & Instruct

Wait for the Gift My Father Promised

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17
 

Questions to Consider as You Read the Verses Below

  • Who / what is the Holy Spirit? 
  • When and how do we receive the Holy Spirit?
  • What does the Holy Spirit do?
  • What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
  • How can I know that I am filled with the Holy Spirit?
  • How can others know you have the Holy Spirit?
  • What physical attributes does the Holy Spirit express?
  • How does the Holy Spirit assist you?

“Wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” – Acts 1:4

“John baptized with water. In a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 1:5

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” – Acts 1:8

“You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things. The Holy Spirit will remind you of everything I have said to you.” – John 14:26

The Holy Spirit Will Come Upon You

The Holy Spirit will come upon you. The power of the most high will overshadow you. – Luke 11:35
 
After they prayed, the place was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. – Acts 4:31
 
A sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit. They spoke in other languages as the Spirit enabled.  – Acts 2:1-4

When the Spirit of God and Christ comes to you, it is a sacred and holy act. The imagery is striking. A weight pressed upon us, a presence that overshadows. The nearest comparison we have in our physical flesh is when a husband and wife become one on their wedding night. Consider the verbs used to describe the act of receiving the Holy Spirit, of becoming one with God and Christ. Violent sounds, shaking, tongues aflame, being filled, speaking, seeing, hearing, hands roaming, receiving into ourselves this sacred gift from God.

“Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The gift is for all whom the Lord will call.” – Acts 2:38-39

God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey him. Our Prince and Savior gives repentance and forgiveness of sins. – Acts 5:31-32

In the same way that our wedding vows are a promise of fidelity, we agree to turn from all others and love only the one who gave himself for us. Water baptism is our spiritual wedding ceremony, a public profession that we are united with Christ until death in this body.

“We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” – Acts 4:20

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord. – Acts 4:?

They all spoke the word of God boldly. – Acts 4:31

When in love, we cannot help but speak about our spouse, to testify to what she or he does and is. This is as it should be, both at the beginning and throughout the life of our marriage. Should not our love for God be even greater?

Because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, Peter and John placed their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. – Acts 8:15-17

Can you recall your spiritual wedding ceremony, your baptism and public announcement of fidelity to God and Christ? Baptism does not save us, but it is our confession that we will, from that moment on, be loyal to God and Christ and honor this holy union.

Have you experienced the sacred intimacy that comes when you are joined in holy union with God and Christ? If not, find three or four disciples of Christ who will witness your wedding. Be baptized with water. Afterwards, ask your witnesses to lay hands upon you and baptize you with His Spirit. On that day you will experience the gift promised by God. You will become one with your Lord and Savior. Your bridegroom is waiting.

“I, Christ, am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” John 14:20

The Holy Spirit Will Speak to You

The Spirit told Phillip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” – Acts 8:29

“The Holy Spirit says. . .” – Acts 21:11

“The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said. . . “ Acts 28:25

“As the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.’” – Hebrews 3:7-11

“The Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.” – Ezekiel 2:2

“When they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.“ – Matthew 10:19-20

“The Spirit of truth will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” – John 16:13

The Holy Spirit Will ACT UPON You

The Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Phillip away. – Acts 8:39 Phillip next appeared in Azotus, 19 miles away. – Acts 8:40

“Having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in. . . “ – Acts 16:6

“The Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. . .” – Acts 16:7 “Therefore we concluded that God had called us to preach the gospel to. . . “ – Acts 16:10

“Compelled by the Spirit, I am going. . . not knowing what will happen to me.” – Acts 20:23

“The Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” – Acts 20:28

The Holy Spirit Will WARN You

“The Holy Spirit warned me. . .“ – Acts 20:23

The Holy Spirit Will INSTRUCT You 

“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements.” – Acts 15:28-29, Acts 21:25

  • Do not eat food sacrificed to idols.
  • Do not eat meat from strangled animals.
  • Do not drink blood.
  • Abstain from sexual immorality.

Some Observations as You Consider This Gift God Gives

  • The Holy Spirit is a gift from God. 
  • God gives the Holy Spirit to those who love Christ, keep His commands, and repent.
  • The Holy Spirit is a Helper, and Advocate, and with us forever. The Holy Spirit councils, teaches, and reminds us what Christ and God said. The Holy Spirit speaks, instructs, warns, moves, retrains, and prompts us. 
  • The Holy Spirit is Truth.
  • The Holy Spirit lives in you and with you.
  • The world does not know the Holy Spirit nor can it accept the Holy Spirit. This gift is only for those who accept Christ as their savior and exchange their life for his.
  • We receive the Holy Spirit through baptism. Christ commanded, “Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 
  • Our union with the Holy Spirit often comes with:
    • sounds
    • shaking
    • warmth
    • speaking in words or utterances we cannot understand
    • speaking in different languages 
  • Through the Holy Spirit God, Christ, and you become one.
  • Through the Holy Spirit we have power.
  • Through the Holy Spirit we are witnesses to Christ. We testify about Christ. We speak the word of God boldly. 
  • For most, the coming of the Holy Spirit is the only advent we will experience. The coming of the Holy Spirit is Christ coming to us to be with us and dwell in us forever. We celebrate the birth of Christ and look forward to his coming in glory, but he seeks to be with us now. Will you welcome him in?
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Advent – The Coming of Christ In Us – Wait for the Gift My Father Promised

Wait for the Gift My Father Promised

“Wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” – Acts 1:4

“John baptized with water. In a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 1:5

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” – Acts 1:8

“You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things. The Holy Spirit will remind you of everything I have said to you.” – John 14:26

 

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Advent – Looking With Hope for the Coming of Christ

Matthew 24:4,9,10

Advent - Looking With Hope for the Coming of Christ

“Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:4

What does it mean to “come in the name of Christ?” Though we may not claim to be the Messiah, in our discussions with others we may accidentally insert false teachings and claim they are from Christ.

The Apostle Paul warned: “If anyone teaches otherwise (in this case that we should show disrespect to those in authority over us) and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have been robbed of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 6:3-5

To be clear, Paul wrote these instructions to slaves, which invites a discussion on slavery. But his message remains: show respect to all who are in authority over you and agree with the instructions and words of Christ and God.

Jesus warns that we are to be alert. Test every spirit, every doctrine (1 John 4:1-6). Examine every teaching.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. – Ephesians 5:6-12

Should you find yourself learning under someone who affirms and promotes sinful practices, walk away. Find teachers and leaders who honor God’s instructions; learn from them.

“After wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, and the beginnings of birth pains, you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death. You will be hated by all nations because of Christ.” Matthew 24:9

In America, individuals seeking to serve as judges are attacked for affirming their belief in God’s Word. Christian groups on college campuses are banned for affirming their belief in God’s words. Advocacy groups are demanding that The Department of Education pull the accreditation of Christian colleges if they do not amend their beliefs. In the U.K., Barclays closed the bank account of a Christian charity for sharing the Good News of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.  Christian foster care services  that place children in homes are threatened with lawsuits for affirming God’s design for family. Christians in America continue to enjoy greater freedoms than any in the world, but Christ warned this will not always be the case.

“At that time many will turn away from the faith.” – Matthew 24:10

According to the Barna Group, “rates of church attendance, religious affiliation, belief in God, prayer and Bible-reading have been dropping for decades. Americans’ beliefs and its religious identity is changing.”

Tessa Landrum of Kentucky Today, writes, “Those born between 1995 and 2015 are “individualistic, lonely, and social justice oriented. They were raised on technology and their lives are often built around the online world. They are activists and volunteers who want to make an impact on the world. They were raised during the Great Recession and value financial stability. They are sexually fluid. And they account for 25.9% of the American population. They will change the landscape of our society with their ideas and values – many of which omit the idea of Christian faith and the prospect of church membership.

In his book Meet Generation Z, James White writes, “the most defining mark of members of Generation Z, in terms of their spiritual lives, is their spiritual illiteracy. They do not know what the Bible says. They do not know the basics of Christian belief or theology. They do not what the cross is all about. They do not know what it means to worship.”

What about you? When persecution costs you your job, health insurance, home, friends, family relationships, will you turn away from Christ? Will you love yourself and your neighbor more than God?

Christ gave us the formula for social change.

“Love the Lord your God with:
all your heart (starts with love for Him)
all your soul (the very essence of who you are)
all your strength (energy exercised and exhibited)
all your mind. (transformed through the reading of His word with illumination from His Holy Spirit)

Then:
Love your neighbor
Love yourself.” Luke 10:27

Any time we invert this formula and attempt to:
Love self
Love neighbor
Love God
we, at best, produce individuals who help others through self-sustained good works, rather than through the endless power of Christ’s Holy Spirit.

At Christmas we celebrate the coming of Christ as an infant. He will return as King of Kings. Will you be ready?