Jesus Followers, Are Given the Holy Spirit as “Counselor and “Helper”, and the Spirit Is, Also, a “Caller; but are you “Listening”

Jesus Followers, Are Given the Holy Spirit as “Counselor and “Helper”, and the Spirit Is, Also, a “Caller; but are you “Listening”

MESSAGE SUMMARY: Jesus, in Matthew 28:18-19, has called you along with all Jesus Followers to: 1) “make disciples” and 2) “Go”: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,’". Even though you may not be called to be a missionary or a minister, Jesus calls all His followers in this “Great Commission”. However, Jesus does not call you without providing you the tools or gifts, through the Holy Spirit, to be successful. Paul, in Ephesians 4:11-13, tells us about God’s focus and reasons for His gifts to us through the Holy Spirit: “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints {that is all Jesus Followers} for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . .". Again Paul, in Romans 11:29, gives us further information about God’s fantastic gifts of the Holy Spirit that are the enablers for you as you answer God’s call – as a Jesus Follower, you are called and given gifts; but not all have answered His call: “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.". In summary, God, in His call to you, has given you the gifts of the Holy Spirit to perform His call to you.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, I now take a deep breath and stop. So often I miss your hand and gifts in my life because I am preoccupied and anxious. Grant me the power to pause each day and each week to simply rest in your arms of love. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 132). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Insensitivity. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit’s fruit of Gentleness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f).

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:10-14; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 3:7-11; Psalms 111:1-10.

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THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Advent Sermons from Isaiah – Part 4: The King of Assyria – A Sign from the Lord”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

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