Steve valued another opportunity to share with his home congregation of New Beginnings Church on Sunday, February 5. During the 8:45 a.m. service, 119 people heard the Good News, as well as during the 10:30 a.m. service, 134 people heard the Good News. Steve was encouraged to share what the “Normal Christian Life” looks like with a total of 253 people, through the scope of Ephesians 5:18.
From the NIV, Paul the apostle writes: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Anemia is the medical condition where there is a lack of healthy red blood cells, which results in fatigue. Left untreated, anemia can cause worse complications. People visibly suffer with this condition easily and get the treatment that they need, but spiritual anemia is harder to detect without transparency and harder to diagnose without surrendering.
During his message, Steve emphasized the practical steps and motivations for how we are to follow the Holy Spirit. “If we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must understand: 1) who He is!, 2) where He is!, and 3) why He is there!”
First, the Holy Spirit is God. Steve shared how Jesus prayed for the Holy Spirit to be known by His disciples and all of us, in his prayer found in John 14:16-17. Steve urged his home congregation to value how the Holy Spirit has been promised and is now actively moving.
Second, the Holy Spirit resides in us. Steve stated that Romans 8:9 shows how we are to be surrendered towards the Holy Spirit, once we surrender our lives to God. This daily surrender of allowing the Holy Spirit to come provides us with the steps towards truly shining for Jesus.
Third, the Holy Spirit is part of us, in order to strengthen us (Ephesians 3:16), to motivate us towards humility, gentleness, peace, patience, love, and unity (Ephesians 4:2-3), and for us to draw closer towards what is good, right, and true (Ephesians 5:9).
Steve concluded his message with encouragement that when the Holy Spirit is present in our lives, we and others will see the difference He causes. “By the way you walk, by the way you talk, and by the way you think, the spirit-filled life will be evident. Walk, talk, and think in faith and be Spirit-filled daily!”
Three people came up for prayer, and Steve was pleased to see what they committed to God. Steve also chatted with his brothers and sisters in Christ of his same congregation who were encouraged and motivated to live Spirit-filled lives. “I was truly delighted with what happened, and I truly know that the services were anointed.”
May the seeds planted at New Beginnings Church continue to prosper and grow, and may the Holy Spirit move freely in this church community, as well as all other churches across our nation and around the world!
