Weekend Rewind

Sunday was a great day! Attendance was good considering several regular people were out for various reasons. In the 10:15 service we had an amazing response! Seven people indicated that they were making commitments to Christ. I am praying that they will continue to experience God today and this week as they learn to trust him.

I preached on the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the fullness of the Holy Spirit, from Acts 9:1-19. Interestingly when Ananias visited Paul he added something to the message God gave him in a vision to give to Saul/Paul. The vision told him to restore Paul's sight. When he spoke to Paul he said he was there fro that reason and that he may be full of the Holy Spirit. Why did Ananias add this to the message from God? Did he not fear God enough to give the message without adding other things? Why did he add it?

It was already a matter of doctrinal discipleship for the early church to encourage new believers who trusted Jesus to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Paul followed this same practice in his ministry later in Acts 19 where he met what he thought were disciples of Jesus Christ and asked a discipleship question, "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?" The baptism, or fullness of the Holy Spirit is a part of normal Christian growth.

I encourage you today to read Acts 2:1-4, Acts 9:1-19 and Acts 19:1-7 to learn more and know what to expect from God as you pray about this important Christian growth opportunity. The fullness of the Holy Spirit is for every believer. God does not show favorites and has promised this fullness of the Holy Spirit to all who trust in Jesus. Begin to pray and ask.

Here is what is amazing. When you have people experiencing the Holy Spirit in a prayer time, people are pointed to Jesus and people get saved. The Pentecostal Church is Spirit empowered, but it is always Christ centered.