Our loving strength – the Holy Spirit
As believers we are called to move out into the world and follow the great and new commandment which Jesus gave us to; "love God and love others". Yet we are not to do this on our own. We are given the wonderful gift of Jesus Spirit that works in us and empowers us to move into any and every situation that we find ourselves. The picture I have is walking shoulder to shoulder with Jesus meeting people together and trusting the Holy Spirit to empower me with the wisdom and the words to love people and care for them just as Jesus did. After all Jesus was in the friend making business. And that's our call as well.
My friend Steve Brown in his book WHAT WAS I THINKING (p 59) gives a wonderful explanation of the Holy Spirit's working in our lives.
"The Holy Spirit works in churches. But never forget that he's also working in bars and theaters, in ballparks and stadiums, in museums and concert halls, in politics and government, in novels and journals. In short, our Lord the Holy Spirit has gone wherever believers can go. Everywhere you go, you'll find the Holy Spirit creating beauty, revealing truth, manifesting goodness, and stirring a hunger for the reality of God.
Believers are human beings who rejoice in God's creation and who, with other human beings, enjoy the fruits of culture. We are human beings, but we are also more than that. We are human beings in whom the Holy Spirit who is working in the world resides. The Holy Spirit, by his very presence in our lives, gives us (even if we don't know it) a "baloney detector". While there is much evil in our culture, there's much good too. We've been given the gift of knowing the difference.
Our gift to the world is to show up and engage. Too often we run from the world when we ought to run toward it. Our gift to the world is not one of anger, judgment or condemnation. Our gift to the world is to find where the Holy Spirit is creating beauty, speaking truth, manifesting goodness – and when we find it to identify it, enjoy it,affirm it, and get involved in it." Paul speaks clearly of this in Philippians 4:8.
Philippians 4:8
New International Version (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Featuring Wally Armstrong
As believers we are called to move out into the world and follow the great and new commandment which Jesus gave us to; "love God and love others". Yet we are not to do this on our own. We are given the wonderful gift of Jesus Spirit that works in us and empowers us to move into any and every situation that we find ourselves. The picture I have is walking shoulder to shoulder with Jesus meeting people together and trusting the Holy Spirit to empower me with the wisdom and the words to love people and care for them just as Jesus did. After all Jesus was in the friend making business. And that's our call as well.
My friend Steve Brown in his book WHAT WAS I THINKING (p 59) gives a wonderful explanation of the Holy Spirit's working in our lives.
"The Holy Spirit works in churches. But never forget that he's also working in bars and theaters, in ballparks and stadiums, in museums and concert halls, in politics and government, in novels and journals. In short, our Lord the Holy Spirit has gone wherever believers can go. Everywhere you go, you'll find the Holy Spirit creating beauty, revealing truth, manifesting goodness, and stirring a hunger for the reality of God.
Believers are human beings who rejoice in God's creation and who, with other human beings, enjoy the fruits of culture. We are human beings, but we are also more than that. We are human beings in whom the Holy Spirit who is working in the world resides. The Holy Spirit, by his very presence in our lives, gives us (even if we don't know it) a "baloney detector". While there is much evil in our culture, there's much good too. We've been given the gift of knowing the difference.
Our gift to the world is to show up and engage. Too often we run from the world when we ought to run toward it. Our gift to the world is not one of anger, judgment or condemnation. Our gift to the world is to find where the Holy Spirit is creating beauty, speaking truth, manifesting goodness – and when we find it to identify it, enjoy it,affirm it, and get involved in it." Paul speaks clearly of this in Philippians 4:8.
Philippians 4:8
New International Version (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Featuring Wally Armstrong
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