Pentecost Sunday

Today is Pentecost Sunday, a special day in the life of The Church. It was on Pentecost Sunday (40 days after Jesus' resurrection, and 10 days after His ascension) that the Holy Spirit of God came to rest on and in believers. The account of this day can be read about in Acts 2:1-4 (and 5-41);

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

The men that were gathered int he upper room on the day of Pentecost were gathered, waiting and praying. We see that throughout the Bible, especially the New Testament, powerful things happened when believers gathered together to pray. As Rev. Jim Cybala says, "when God's people pray things happen". And, on this particular Sunday, some 2,000 years ago, when God's people prayed His Spirit moved upon them. But, these men weren't simply praying for their needs or for themselves, these men were praying for God's Spirit to move. 

In order to better grasp this, it is important that we look back to Acts 1, to Jesus last words on this earth, and to His direct instructions to His disciples. 

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

The men that were gathered in the upper room on this particular Sunday were waiting just as Jesus had told them to. And, as these men waited, they prayed. They were praying for this gift that Jesus had promised to them as He spoke His final words. They were praying for the baptism of  the Holy Spirit that Jesus had told them about. And, they were praying for the power (more literally the strength or the ability) to carry out the mission and the ministry that Jesus had called them to. 

On this Pentecost Sunday we, as faithful believers, need to pray as well. We need to pray that this gift that Christ has promised us would be made real to us. We need to pray that the baptism of the Holy Spirit would come over us. And, we need to pray for the power (the strength and the ability) to carry out our mission and Christ's ministry would be granted to us.

Without the Holy Spirit nothing makes sense. Without the baptism of the Holy Spirit we do not have the gifts to carry out the ministry of Jesus. Without the power of the holy Spirit we do not have the power to achieve the mission of Christ. And without prayer we will not be given any of these!

Perfection on your Knees

I enjoy cleaning! I am not entirely sure why this is. Perhaps it has to do with the fulfillment of knowing that the job is complete, once a room has been cleaned you can move on and know that it has been done! Perhaps it has to do with the gratification of looking at a clean room and knowing that it is, in fact clean. But, for whatever reason, I like to clean!

The other day my my wife, Kim, asked me if I would sweep the kitchen floor. So I swept the kitchen floor. I picked up the rugs, I pulled the trash can out, I pulled the refrigerator out, I pulled the kitchen table and chairs out, and I swept the kitchen floor. Then I grabbed a mop and I mopped the kitchen floor. It looked perfect! It was done! So, I moved on to the bathroom...

The next afternoon, however, I walked into the kitchen and noticed some crumbs under my feet. How could this have happened? This floor was perfectly clean yesterday! Soon I found myself on my knees picking up the most minuscule crumbs off the floor. I know this sound ridiculous, and believe me it is, but I wanted this floor to stay perfectly clean for at least twenty-four hours. So, I stayed on my knees until the crumbs were picked up and the floor was perfectly clean once again.

That is when the thought occurred to me. If we want to keep certain things perfect, we must get on our knees and take the time to labor, making things right until everything is perfect once again. This applies to a clean kitchen floor and to our life as believers in Jesus Christ.

At church these last few weeks we have been focusing on holiness and Christian perfection. And, in order for Christian perfection to be a reality for us we must get down on our knees, lifting our praise, our needs, our concerns, our trials, and our burdens to Jesus. And, this must happen daily.

If we want to keep our Christian lives perfect we must get on our knees and take the time to labor, communicate, and fellowship with our Lord, and we must make things right with Him until everything is perfect once again. Only Christ can bring a person to perfection. It is vitally important that we get on our knees with Him regularly.

"It is hard to stumble when you're on your knees."

Setting Your Heart for Holiness

Holiness is possible! If it wasn't God would be a liar (Romans 6) and there would be no hope of heaven (Hebrews 12:14).

Set your heart on Christ-like peace

 John 14:27; Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

John 16:33; I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

o   This is a heart that has the peace and knowledge that Christ was victorious over death

o   This is a heart that has the assurance and faith  in Christ’s  promise to us that He will grant us victory as well

o   This is a heart that is confident that Christ is in control of the large and small matters of life.

Set your heart on Christ-like worship

Matthew 15:8-9; “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.”

o   This is a heart prepared to receive the God of all creation

o   This is a heart that craves more of Jesus

o   This is a heart that is deeply connected with His Spirit

Set your heart on Christ-like treasures

Matthew 6:19-21; Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

o   This is a heart that is concerned with matters of heaven

o   This is a heart that desires to build the Kingdom of God

o   This is a heart that longs to do the will of Jesus

Set your heart on Christ-like thoughts

Matthew 15:17-20; Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’

o   This is a heart that has been cleansed from selfish desire

o   This is a heart that is aligned with the will of God

o   This is a heart that has pure motives and actions always.

Set your heart on Christ-like speech

Matthew 12:33-37; “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

o   This is a heart that seeks to honor God with respect

o   This is a heart that aims to encourage fellow believers

o   This is a heart that strives to inspire others with truth

Holy living is all of this – holiness is a heart that is Christ-like. And setting your heart for holiness is all about motive.  

So, what is the motive –  the intent – of your heart?

Remember Hebrews 12:14; “without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Jesus said it a different way in Matthew 5:8; “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

What motives of your heart must you give up - and do away with - for holiness to be a possibility in your life? 

What motives of your heart must you embrace - and better take hold of - for holiness to be a reality in your life?

Being Children of God

1 Peter 1:13-16 states; "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy."


There are several words that stand out as we read 1 Peter 1:13-16, but one stands out the most – "CHILDREN" – we are God’s children. Think about this remarkable truth for a moment;  It is God’s desire that we be His children.

 But, God has a broader desire than that we simply be His children.  So He gives us several adjectives in 1 Peter to tell us what kind of children He desires for us to be.

• Obedient children; Following His commands and directives for our lives – because they are what are best for us.
•  Prepared children; Prepared for action today and prepared for heaven tomorrow.
• Active children; Active in the body of Christ.
• Self-controlled children; Self-controlled and disciplined
• Hopeful children; Hopeful and faithful that Jesus Christ will return and all glory will be given to Him. 
• Alert children; Informed in the wills and ways of God - Alert and conscience of the evil in this world
• Called children; Called by God and set apart for a special purpose.
• Holy children; Without holiness no one will see God. 

Overcoming demons through belief and prayer

I was reading from the 9th chapter of the Gospel of Mark the other day and the account of Jesus healing the boy with the evil spirit (vs. 14-32) caught my attention. 


vs. 24;  Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”


When we go to pray for healing - physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual - we must start by praying that Christ will help us overcome our unbelief. 


vs. 29; Jesus replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”


It is often the case that prayer and deep commitment to prayer is the thing that is discarded when a person is aiming to overcome a demon in their life. 


Jesus, help me to overcome my unbelief.


Jesus, help me to remain commited to prayer. 

Free Car Wash

As a local church family, we have the constant call and desire to serve the community and share the love of Christ in a practical way. Today we accomplished this through an "Absolutely FREE Car Wash"! We set out with the intent to wash as many cars as possible, to charge nothing for the car washes and to accept no money for our act of love and service. Several means of promotion were done weeks in advance and various signs were made up announcing that this car was was, in fact, "absolutely free".

What we were not expecting was how skeptical people are to anything that promises to be "free". Many cars drove right past because they felt like there must be a catch to this free car wash. Some pulled in with expectation that some donation would be asked for and they seemed to be amazed when we told them that this car wash was, in fact, absolutely free. Then there was the man that almost demanded that I take his money, reacted to my statement that we were not accepting money for this act of service, and peeled out of the parking lot without allowing us to wash his vehicle.

I was blessed through this event today but I was also confused by the reluctance of people to accept "free" and skepticism of people anytime the word "free" is mentioned. But, as I thought about everything this evening it struck me that perhaps this is how many unbelievers see the message of Jesus Christ, His love for them, and the grace and hope that He promises to anyone that places their trust in Him. He promises all of humankind these gifts and He offers them "absolutely free". And, the most amazing thing - the most awesome things - is that it is absolutely free - THERE ARE NO STRINGS ATTACHED!  

See, I have been a believer for more than 17 years now and I have been a pastor for more almost six years, and I don't understand all this. I don't understand why God loves me in the first place. I don't understand why He freely gives me the gifts of hope, forgiveness, and an eternal future with Him in glory. I don't understand it but I know that Jesus promises it. And because I know of Christ's promises, because He has assured me that it truly is "absolutely free" - that all I have to do is call on His offer, allow Him to wash me and make me clean, and accept His gifts - I place my faith and my trust in Him.

A Man At Church

A man was driving down the street last Sunday and as he drove past a church building he looked over and saw the sign inviting him to come and be a part of the fellowship. He was not a Christian, he didn't go to church on a regular basis and never thought much about attending. But, as he drove by this church, there was something that was drawing him toward it. 


Before thinking much about it he had turned into the parking lot and found a place to park. As he got out of his car he looked around and saw the people and noticed that his clothes weren't the nicest this morning, he had second thoughts about entering, but there was something drawing him in. 


As he walked inside the church he immediately felt out of place. He avoided much of the crowd at the entrance and quickly went in to find a seat at the back of the Sanctuary. One individual came up to his seat, they said hello, asked his name and asked if he had come with anyone. 


They welcomed him and told him that they were glad he had come. But apart from this casual encounter, no one spoke, no one interacted, no one seemed to care. 


This man sat through the service, still unsure of why he was drawn to this church. He listened as they taught about God and he watched how God's children acted toward him this day.