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Walking in the sun

MOMENTS OF MEDITATION


May 28, 2012   Year III Issue 22


 

 


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My Spiritual Birthday

May 28, 1972

I came to Christ in a very dramatic fashion.  It was my senior year in high school.  I had just returned from Georgia Southern University where a group of us athletes had visited the campus to watch the  College competitors perform right before the 72' summer Olympics.  In returning to school, I tried a new floor exercise.  Just as I landed, I felt my knee pop.  At first, I thought I strained it. But by that afternoon I knew it was more severe. The doctors could not determine any tear, but drained the fluid and told me to stay off my feet.  For several days I was laid up, but the swelling continued.  They drained it a second time and wanted to schedule me at the first of that next week for a Specialist to examine me.  On that Sunday morning, I decided to attend church, crutches and all!
When the minister finished his sermon, he made an appeal for those who needed prayer to come forward.  In my innocence I thought he was speaking directly at me, since I was the only one who appeared in need of something.  I went forward and stood before the altar.  In that moment, the presence of the Holy Spirit came over me and I began to weep.  I could not stop weeping.  Something was happening deep within that I could not explain.
Immediately after the service, I was asked if I wanted the guest speaker to pray specifically for my knee. I agreed.  The moment he put his hand on my head, I felt the power of God rush through me like a bolt of electricity.  I fell down.  Completely unaware of what had just happened to me, I picked myself up and I knew in my heart that God had saved me and healed me in that precious moment.  I walked out of that church that morning completed healed, never again to return to the doctor concerning my knee. All the pain and swelling left me, and I was able to walk out without the aid of my crutches.

So today, I celebrate 40 years living for Christ...my healing Savior! What an awesome journey it has been.  I wouldn't trade it for the world!
 
Greetings!
Dad
   

Pentecost...what an awesome moment in the history of the church! Nearly 2,000 years ago, the power of heaven was released in such a way that the common man could enter into a covenant relationship with Almighty God and enjoy a life of supernatural living. It was an incredible moment, but what is even more thrilling is it is still available today! Nowhere in the New Testament do we find the presence of the Holy Spirit departing or ascending up on high like Christ ascended to sit down on the right hand of the Most High. He is still here today, awaiting our reception...

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PENTECOST

The Inauguration of the Church

"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as

of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the

house where they were sitting."

                                                      Acts 2:2

 

     There is a real need within the body of Christ for a definite understanding of the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit in our world today. The advent of the Holy Spirit coming to dwell within the church is just as real and definite as the incarnation of the Son of God. Just as Christ's coming was absolutely essential for our salvation, the presence of the Holy Spirit coming on the Day of Pentecost was essential to the inauguration of the Church. Without his work being done in us, there could be no vitality to our living faith.

     Jesus said, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7). Nowhere in the Bible does it ever indicate that the Holy Spirit finished his work and ascended up to heaven. We see where Jesus ascended up to heaven, but the only thing we see of the Holy Spirit is his descending to take his place here among us. Therefore, it is without contestation that since he is still here, his purpose must be just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago.

     What we know from the scriptures is that when Christ ascended, he offered his blood for our eternal redemption. The work he did in his death, burial, and resurrection had to be completed in heaven before it could be available to anyone on earth. That is why he said to Mary just outside of his tomb, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father..." (John 20:17). If all it took to finish the work was his resurrection, then there would be no need to keep Mary from touching him. The very fact that he refused her touching him means he wasn't finished doing what was needed to complete the final process of his redemptive work.

     When Jesus satisfied the claims of justice against sin, the Father honored him in raising him up to sit at the right hand of his majesty on high. According to the word of God, it was ten days after his ascension before the Holy Spirit descended. As it is recorded in the Book of Acts, his coming occurred on the Day of Pentecost. So, it is fitting that we honor this day, seven weeks from the time of Christ's first ascension that the Holy Spirit made his presence known to the Church.

     We must also understand that in presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost, our appeal to their conscience is that they might receive Christ as their Savior. Without a personal acceptance of Christ the new birth cannot occur. It takes inviting Christ into our hearts to become born again. In much the same way, we must appeal to the living consciousness of the believer to receive the person of the Holy Spirit as their Paraclete. [Note: Paraclete means a comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener, teacher, enabler; one, who convicts, guides, empowers, reveals and compels].

     When Paul came into the coasts of Ephesus, he found twelve disciples whom he presumed were Christians. His first question to them was, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" (Acts 19:2). This might appear confusing to some. Especially, since we know that the Holy Spirit is actively involved in making salvation a living reality. When they answered, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost," his immediate response was, "Unto what then were ye baptized?" (v.2, 3). In other words, the moment a person becomes born again, the Holy Spirit baptizes them into the body of Christ. His presence becomes real through the power of that life now residing in their spirit.

     Since these twelve had not known anything about the Holy Spirit, Paul quickly inquired as to what baptism where they baptized. Apparently, his interest was to ascertain if indeed they were truly born again, since having such an experience should have brought them into a consciousness of the presence of the Holy Spirit. When it was determined that they had only been baptized through the baptism of John, Paul knew they needed more - they needed to be born again. He introduced them to Christ as their personal Savior and then laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:4-6).

     It is profoundly important we understand Paul's initial question: "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?" Even though there is an apparent awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the new birth, it is vital that we take our relationship with him to a new level. We must receive him as our Paraclete. By doing so, we enter into a much deeper experience enabling us to become filled with his presence, where we are able to benefit from all he has been sent to do in us and for us.

     We often talk about making Jesus the Lord of our life, but rarely mention the need to make the Holy Spirit Lord. The moment we invoke his Lordship, then he takes a much deeper and more fulfilling role in our lives.

 

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PRAYER

Father, I thank you for the promise you gave of sending the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, I welcome you into my life. I receive all that you came to give. Come now, and take your place; and live, and move, and have your way in me. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

CONFESSION    

I choose to live my life through the power of the Holy Ghost. Everything I do, I do through his guidance, his leadership. He is my strengthener. He is my helper. He is my advocate and intercessor. He leads me. He teaches me. He empowers my life. I thank you Father for sending me the Holy Spirit. I receive you into my life today.

DEFINING MOMENTS...

One of the most important truths you will ever discover about the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit is that he carries the heart of God. When you touch his presence, you touch God's heart. Having him in your life is having something sacred, something dear and precious.

 

The deepest and most intimate part of the nature of God is his divine love, and who else but the Holy Spirit is the one who introduced us to the love of God (Rom. 5:5). We owe so much to his coming to live and abide in us, and to help us know our Father. Honoring him will bring you closer and closer to the heart of God. Make it a daily routine of practicing his presence in your life.

    

In His Grace,

  

Pastor David
Faith Harvest Church

 

 

 
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 Moments of Meditation is a weekly Enewsletter that is sent out as an outreach ministry of Faith Harvest Church, Savannah, Georgia USA to our partners and friends around the world.  For more information about this ministry, please visit our website at:

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"Where the winds of revival blow...healing rivers flow"