Holy Spirit Living (3)

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Romans 12:3-8; The first two weeks of the New Year, we investigated the illuminating and guiding ministries of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 12, Paul outlines the gifting of the Spirit of Christ to equip and maintain a properly functioning New Testament church. These seven vital areas are known as the motivational gifts and given […]

Holy Spirit Living (2)

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Galatians 5:16-26; Jesus provided an outline of the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit during His Upper Room Discourse in John 14-16. Paul then experienced the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ as he shared the gospel and coached believers on the path of Sanctification. In Galatians 5, Paul contrasts the act of […]

Holy Spirit Living (1)

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John 15:26-16:15; Jesus introduced the coming Advocate during the Upper Room Discourse in John 14, a topic briefly unpacked in Advent week 4. The next several weeks we will be investigating the scope of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This launchpad message reveals the “Spirit of truth” who will testify about the saving work […]

Advent 2020 week 5-LIGHT

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II Peter 1:16-21: Light is the focus for the final week of the Advent season. Peter points the early church and future generations of believers in Christ towards the return of Jesus in the 2nd Advent. The powerful impact of the Transfiguration gave Peter, along with James and John, the assurance and motivation to preach […]

Advent 2020 week 4-LOVE

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John 14:15-21; The expansive, selfless love of God for the world is framed by John 3:16. However Jesus reveals to His disciples in John 14 during the Upper Room Discourse that Divine Love is also reciprocal. Believers if Christ are to actively demonstrate their love for Him by following his biblical commands, as well as […]

Advent 2020 week 3-JOY

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Isaiah 35:1-10; Yahweh-God communicates His plan to hold accountable those nations who brought destruction on Israel through Isaiah in chapter 34….a future glimpse of His Divine Judgement. Abruptly the scene changes from wrath to complete restoration of nature as the curse of Genesis 3 is finally lifted. The return of Jesus-Messiah provides the Way to […]

Advent 2020 week 2-PEACE

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Luke 12:49-53; Isaiah 9 powerfully describes the spectacular reign of Messiah on earth, including the identifier “Prince of Peace”. Yet Jesus surprises His inner circle of followers with the answer to His rhetorical question, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? by asserting, “No, I tell you, but division”. Why was the […]

Advent 2020 week 1–HOPE

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Romans 8:18-25; Faithful 1st century Jews longed and prayed for the coming of Messiah to deliver them from the oppression of Rome. In God’s perfect timing (Galatians 4:4), Jesus came as the Incarnate Son to bring spiritual deliverance instead. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome about enduring faith related difficulties with a […]