Our Guest speaker Rev Jim
Carpenter was ministering as I took notes and present here his digested sermon.
When we receive Jesus, we
receive all that He is: Healer, Deliverer, Protector and friend. He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell inside our
spirit proving that Jesus is alive. He
calls you by name. Jesus knows your
name. You are not just a number or a
blog, but you are precious to him and He calls you by name.
You can ask the Holy Spirit,
“What do you desire me to do? Let Him
speak personally to you.
Early on He lays a foundation
of worship, and there are basic truths to learn. He shows you - - your personal responsibility, and He
walks with you. Listen to His voice as
He speaks.
I believe God speaks today to
instruct, to encourage and to raise up an army of believers.
Acts 16:1 Then Paul and Silas came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a
certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish
woman who believed, but his father was Greek.
While they were there, the
Christians were strengthened. They had a
good idea and decided to go and preach in Asia . God turned the Light on and they asked the
Holy Spirit; What did He want them to do?
It is good to pay attention
to what the Holy Spirit is saying.
The Holy Spirit can change
His mind and remove His presence. He is
easily grieved. He is not pleased with
strife, arguing and disagreements. It is
important to always make the Holy Spirit welcome - - in you and around you.
Acts 16:6-7 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region
of Galatia , they were
forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia .
After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia
Even
though an idea is a good one, it may not be what God desires to accomplish.
They journeyed on to Troas and waited on the
Lord.
Acts 16:9 And a vision
appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia
stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia
Immediately
they determined to set sail and depart to Macedonia
Don’t
be surprised if you are being directed by the Holy Spirit and all of a sudden; you run into
opposition. God wants to see if you are
willing to trust him even in adversity and hard times.
Paul
and Silas met with some believers and preached daily in the streets, but a
woman possessed with a spirit of divination called after them, “These men are
the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
Acts 16:
18-19 But
Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the
name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was
gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace
to the authorities.
Why does contention
come? It is because God is at work
! Expect the devil to come and try to
destroy what God is doing. Hold up a
standard against the enemy and take a firm stand.
The Holy Spirit wants to use
you, to bless and prosper you. He
desires for you to win souls to your account.
The opportunity is open for volunteers, and as a caution, do not become
parties to any strife but be in harmony with your fellow Christians.
It is not about a building,
but it is about a relationship with Jesus.
Focus on the Holy Spirit
because He is qualifying his ministers. Expect
a personal encounter with God.
It is okay to ask, “What does
the Holy Spirit say?”
1 comment:
That Acts portion of the Bible is a filled with a lot of info and where and how to stretch to and for the Lord. There was much going on, and around-and-about. I always think of the people and the towns and roads and rivers. Much goes on!!
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