Sunday Words of Encouragement February 25, 2018

Our Sunday School teacher was out of town but the substitute added some commentary to the lessons from the last several weeks. We had many different prayer requests and noted that God was blessing but also keeping us on our knees.

Pastor delivered the fourth message in his Inhabited series on the Holy Spirit. He reminded us of last week’s point that the power of the Holy Spirit is continuing for every day. He also noted that he taught on the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Wednesday night’s prayer service. Pastor reiterated that the real spirit will always point toward God, not to the leader or speaker. We can be functional, even effective, but not powerful if we don’t allow the Spirit to lead us.

Influence is powerful and important. Influence is defined as: the capacity to have an effect on the character, development or behavior of someone or something. Assess yourself: Who influences you? and who do you influence? Are you following a good example and being a good example to others? The Holy Spirit living in us should be the #1 influencer of our lives.

Point: When we live full of the Holy Spirit, He spills over into every part of our life.

Does the Spirit spill out of you and splash on others? Do they see that something is different about your life?

Pastor read from Acts 4:8-13 noting that Peter spoke out boldly, even when facing the possibility of prison. Acts tells us that during the ministry of the apostles men and women were being saved, coming to accept Jesus, every day, up to 5000 men by then. (Verse 4.) The power of the Spirit pointed the way to Jesus, not to Peter or the other apostles.

The elders and teachers of the law were astonished at the boldness (verse 13) and they let them go. They were afraid of riot, because everyone was praising God. lifted voices together in prayer. (Verse 24.) Boldness comes with the power of Spirit. Acts 4:21- 35.

The apostles continued meeting with new believers and healing people along the way with ill people being laid along the way so they would be in Peter’s shadow. Acts 5:12-15. The power of the spirit filled believers spilled out along the streets.

Pastor gave a wonderful demonstration of the spirit overflowing so that the body is no longer seen but only the Spirit.
Imagine living each day as Spirit-spilled!

There are three steps to being Spirit-filled:
1. Pursue Jesus every day.
2. As you pursue, the Holy Spirit will come upon you.
3. Cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

If you are Spirit filled, the Holy Spirit can put you to use you each day. Wherever you are you can spill over – at school, college, work, grocery store. Wherever you go and whomever you come in contact with can be touched by the Holy Spirit overflowing in your life.

This song speaks of boldness and the power living on the inside.

A Verse for Today:
Acts 4:31
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Again I pray : Lord, fill me to overflowing and use me each day.