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Sunday, February 18, 2018

Sunday Words of Encouragement February 18, 2018

We had a strong message in Sunday School continuing the study of death. I loved the testimony shared: You can’t do anything more, nor anything less, to change how God loves us. He already loves us beyond our imagining. Our music worship was beautiful and I broke into tears. (**See below the Sermon notes for comment on this.)

Pastor continued his sermon series on Inhabited. We need to seek the real deal – not momentary experiences or flash in the pain.

The last several weeks have noted how the Holy Spirit lives in us. The Holy Spirit is for anyone who believes In Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us power to defeat sin.

Anyone who has ever been near a lightning strike, or has made a mistake with electricity knows how you can feel the heat and power. Surges can hurt and do damage, so what you want is a steady flow.

The Holy Spirit brings power. Acts 1:8. The Greek word means ‘dunamis’ can be translated to mean dynamite. Don’t let the Holy Spirit be limited to an event. We need changed lives with a steady flow of power, not a surge of dynamite.

The power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is very practical, and for every day. This is shown in the story of Elijah and the challenge with the Prophets of Baal described in 1 Kings 18:16-39. The Prophets spent from morning to evening petitioning their God and Elijah mocked them “maybe your God is sleeping”. (I love God’s humor!) Then, at the usual time for the evening sacrifice, after having the people prepare an altar and offering soaked with water, Elijah prayed a straight forward prayer. And the TRUE GOD (the only God) showed His power and the people cried out “The Lord, he is God”. (v39.)

Point: The power of the Holy Spirit displayed in your life will point people to Jesus.

James 5:17 says that Elijah is just another human man, but he prayed earnestly and fervently.
Elijah lived before the Messiah, before the Holy Spirit so think how strong his faith was.
Why don't we see the power working in our lives?
We can be functional, even effective, but not powerful.
The Holy Spirit wants us to be powerful. Do not let the troubles, stresses and burdens of life steal the power within you. Give the burdens and hindrances back to God and be filled with power instead of worldly troubles.

I had another song in this post but the Spirit took me to this song instead!
(It fits my postscript below too.)
What if His People Prayed?
Verses for Today:
1 Kings 18:36-39 NIV
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”


**I mentioned in the first of this post that I was moved to tears during our worship. We were singing Holy is The Lord and my mind went to the sad comments of Joy Behar of ABC's "The View" who basically said United States Vice President Mike Pence is ‘mentally ill’ for talking to Jesus and listening for God's voice. I have been praying for her since I saw some tidbit about that. I was struck during worship how she rejects, even mocks, the very presence and power of God to be real in our lives. Tears started running down my face as I felt the heartbreak of her being so lost and then the heartbreak for loved ones who do not walk with God and then for heartbreak for all the lost. Then we sang Spirit of the Living God which begins with a phrase "we want to hear your voice" and later says  "You move us to tears".
I thought how the heart of God and Jesus must break when people refuse to accept all that has been created and the sacrifice that has been given for man. I am determined to continue to pray that Ms. Behar and others who are lost will hear the voice of God.

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