Skip to main content

Pentecost and Your Soul

This Sunday we will celebrate Pentecost. Why does that matter? Because in the history of the church, this day, Pentecost, became the day when God fulfilled the promise Jesus left his disciples with.

On the day when Jesus ascended to Heaven, he said this to his disciples. (Acts 1:8)
But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
On the day of Pentecost, we see this: (Acts 2:1-4)
When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.  
As we have been discovering the truths of God in relationship to our Soul (Mind, Will, Emotions) we are becoming aware of the need for God to sanctify each one of these areas in our life. Our mind is full of "false stories". Our will is twisted by years of living in a fallen world, and our emotions are affected by the false stories and tend to lead us away from God instead of toward Him.

Pentecost is the opportunity to look again at what it means to be "filled with the Holy Spirit". For some Christians, this is a foreign or "spooky" thing that only the "crazy" Christians embrace. In reality, the baptism, or filling, of the Holy Spirit is meant to be experienced and embraced by all of God's family.

When we open our lives to this, we are inviting the Spirit of God to come into our Soul. To every part of who we are in that area. Our mind, full of God's Spirit. Our will, (desires) full of God's Spirit. Our emotions, full of God's Spirit.

On Sunday, we'll delve into what difference this makes in the life of a Christian. We'll look at how this experience and reality (by the way - the Bible also tells us in Ephesians 5:8 that we are meant to be filled - and then to CONTINUE being filled with God's Spirit) we will see old patterns exposed and we will walk in the power to overcome and begin to walk in new patterns, truly being transformed so that we live the full LIFE in Jesus.

I hope you'll take some time to prepare your heart for our time together. You can do so by meditating on the following passages before Sunday.

  1. Acts 1:1-10
  2. Acts 2
  3. Ephesians 5:1-18
We'll be meeting at the DoubleTree hotel again this weekend, and I look forward to seeing you there. Invite a friend to join us as we continue our journey to a genuine transformation of every area of our lives.

Pastor Kevin Strite

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you!

Popular posts from this blog

Have You Responded to the Invitation Today?

This past Sunday, our focus was on how much God invites us to join Him in the good things He has done and wants to do in our lives. Specifically, Jesus invites us to: Come and Rest Follow Him Live WITH Him (abide in Him) When we accept His invitations, we begin to truly be filled up more and more with Him so that we are enabled to overcome every barrier to being like Him. No, it never happens overnight. (And if you are like me, you grow impatient with the changes you want to see.) Yes, every one of us (myself included) is on a journey and needs to be reminded daily of His invitation. But He is truly at work in us, and He invites you today! Come and rest in Him, in His plan, in His timing, in His promises, in His reconciling work! Follow Him into the great purposes He has for you. His invitation is to the greatness of His life and Kingdom. Live WITH him today. Slow down. Expect Him to speak. Wait for His plans and don't move and act ahead of Him. Here is ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Special Events during our Fasting and Prayer week

SPECIAL EVENTS: I mentioned Sunday that we are joining together in an all-church time of fasting and prayer beginning this coming Sunday, February 9. Please be in prayer about your participation. How will you participate? What will you do if you know there will be a special event during the fast? Who will you ask to be a partner and encourager along the way? As a part of this season of prayer and fasting, I invite you to two special church gatherings. BRING an OFFERING of THANKS This coming Sunday, February 9, you are encouraged and welcome to join with your church family in an evening of giving thanks. By way of preparation, make a list of anything/everything you can recall for which you are thankful to God. Miracles in your life, special moments of provision, healing, peace, sustaining grace, etc. Make a list and come prepared to share some of your items with your church family. Together, we will lift up our thanks as a way of entering into our time of fasting. On We...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Call to Fast and Pray

I mentioned at our VISION 2020 meeting that we are calling the church at River Oaks to a time of fasting and praying in February. We are asking each of you to set aside February 9-16 as a season of fasting and prayer. While we are all called to pray at all times, this is a special season of joining in prayer for specific things we all need, as well as things we pray for in our city/county/region. Isaiah 58:6-12  gives us a clear picture of God's plans for a fast. In those verses, he indicates that His fast is for: Loosening the Bonds of Wickedness Undoing the bands of the yoke Letting the oppressed go free Breaking every yoke Give to those in need of food Help the homeless Not hiding from "your own flesh" - or refusing to see the needs of those around you. The passage goes on to tell us what we can expect when we fast in that way: Your light will break out like the dawn Your recovery will speedily spring forth Your righteousness will go before you The Gl...
Post a Comment
Read more