Sunday Words of Encouragement June 5, 2022

Our Sunday School group prayed for many local needs as well as the families in Uvalde and the situation in Ukraine. Our secondary leader then showed an excellent message from Tim Sheets about Israel and Moses. The message was for Memorial Day and focused on Moses last sermons and exhortations to the people. Moses told the people to Love God and teach his word to the next generations. 'Speak about the commandments while you sit at home, while you walk, when you go to sleep and when you wake up’! Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
The nation that obeys will be blessed -- or cursed if it disobeys. Deuteronomy 28:1-13.
Be mindful -- we have the same God today.

In service we recognized seven of our eight graduates (one went off last week to Basic training) and four college graduates. We were also recognizing Missions Sunday (the first Sunday each month). It is also Pentecost Sunday.

We had a guest speaker who is highly involved in the Fire Bible program. He noted that the Fire Bible is a Pentecostal Study Bible – based on relying on the Holy Spirit. It has now been translated into 60 languages and it is the most used study Bible.

As Christ followers it is important to be filled with the Spirit and to allow the Spirit to work in you and through you. He compared the Spirit with a guest rather than a homeowner. A guest is invited to limited rooms and limited closets and drawers. The homeowner can go in any room and open any drawers. What access have we given the Spirit in our lives?

Ephesians 5:18 tells us to be filled with the Spirit. This verse tells us four features of the Holy Spirit:

1. It is an imperative.
2. It is continual (and gives evidence the Spirit is alive in us).
3. It is for everyone.
4. It is the work of God.

We can also identify four reasons why we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit:
1. The Spirit helps you overcome your past. The Holy Spirit gives us strength to walk away from the negative temptations as we exercise reverence towards God.
2. The Spirit allows you to overcome the trials and tests of the world. He is with you so you are not left comfortless. John 14:16-18.
3. The Spirit helps you find your destiny. He has a work for you! John 16:13.
4. The Spirit makes you able to win your world for Jesus. Luke 24:49.
Pray for baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Believe it and receive it.

I found this song today: Spirit Lead/Spirit Break Out.

Verses for Today
Ephesians 5:18-20 NIV
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Holy Spirit – Thank You for always being with me and being my comforter.