It's Beginning to Rain
A Series on the Holy Spirit
Blessing of the Holy Spirit
July 19, 2020 • Pastor Denny Curran
Philippians 3:10 KJV That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death Following salvation and water baptism the next thing that God wants every single believer to experience is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It’s not an option, it is essential. Part of it is you believing and part of it is you yielding to him. Part of it is you allowing the Spirit of God to control you and your yielding yourself to the Spirit in a way that allows him to work in you on a continual basis. Luke 24:45-49 NIV Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Acts 1:4-5 NIV 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. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:8 NIV 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.”
Let it Rain
July 12, 2020 • Pastor Denny Curran
"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord." We are in unprecedented times. People today are facing stress and anger because of our uncertain times! In these times, we are reminded that God promised help, a comforter. He promised strength. God promised faith to conquer. He promises the Holy Spirit. He offers His power! In Acts, we read of five times where people were filled with the Holy Spirit. Each time, it shows us that not only did something happen in them, but also an external manifestation occurred. They began speaking in tongues. 1.) Acts 2:4 NIV 2.) Acts 10:44-46 NIV 3.) Acts 19:1-2 NIV 4.) Acts 8:12 NIV 5.) Acts 9:17-18 NIV These scriptures prove that God has a gift for you! When you receive that gift, you will speak in a language you didn’t previously learn. This gift will empower you to do things you couldn’t do, say things you never thought you’d say, go places you'd never plan to go without Him. It empowers us to speak boldly and walk confidently. If you want to speak supernaturally, you must pray supernaturally. What must we do to receive this gift? Acts 2:37-38 says this, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." We want to challenge and encourage you to read the book of Acts! Dedicate time this week to prayer! Expect God to move and work in your life as you begin to seek the gift He has for you.
Waiting Room
July 5, 2020 • Pastor Adam Haugen
God is rarely in a hurry and normally makes us wait. This week Pastor Adam talked about the importance of waiting well. The word “wait” means to look for, to hope, and to expect. The waiting is where the molding, shifting, and carving happens. In the season of waiting, we learn to trust God! What are you waiting on God for? Could waiting be a blessing? Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience “We must ruthlessly eliminate hurry in out lives.” Dallas Willard Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Acts 1:4 (NIV) 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. Acts 2:2-4 (NLT) Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Breath and Life
June 28, 2020 • Pastor Denny Curran
"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." - Deuteronomy 4:29 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. "I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." - Jeremiah 29:13-14 The Holy Spirit has been compared to the wind. In the Old Testament, a common word for "spirit" was wind, breath, a violent exhaling, etc. In the New Testament, it translates to breath, or strong wind. When we are filled with the spirit, we are filled with BREATH and LIFE. Wind as 4 characteristics that are similar to the Holy Spirit. Wind is unseen. On a warm day, a gust of wind feels good to us. It isn't something weird - it's natural and good. Often times, the Holy Spirit is considered weird because it is UNSEEN. The world often cannot accept the Holy Spirit because they don't see him. Wind parallels the Holy Spirit because it's unseen. Wind is unpredictable. God doesn't do things the same way every time! When things become predictable, we begin to worship a formula rather than God. We trust the process, not the promise. Believers are challenged to embrace the unpredictable nature of God. Wind is powerful. It has the power to generate electricity, move a ship, uproot a tree, etc. When we experience the Holy Spirit, we begin to experience the power of God in a way that transforms us and leads us to a greater life. Finally, wind is refreshing. 1 Corinthians 2:9 - 10 says, "However, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" - the things God has prepared for those who love Him - these are the things that God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." When we spend time in God's presence, we begin to experience a refreshing. In the upcoming weeks as we continue on in our Holy Spirit series, we challenge you to be praying, fasting, and seeking after the gift of the Holy Spirit. Don't take this gift for granted!
Rain Refreshes
June 21, 2020 • Pastor Denny Curran
"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer worm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.” -Joel 2:23 Rain has oftentimes shared a spiritual meaning compared to the Holy Spirit. We know that rain is needed to bring things to life, and rain is needed for things to grow. The Holy Spirit brings things to life and is needed for things to grow. The rain refreshes things. When the rain comes, it brings times of refreshing. Jesus promises us His Holy Spirit. Before He left this earth, he spoke in Acts 1:4-5 (NIV): "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.” He desires us to WAIT for the gift His father promised. It’s a power He gives His followers to experience. Acts 1:8 says this, "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.” When we receive the Holy Spirit, we begin to experience His power. Finally, the Holy Spirit gives purpose to believers. When we have the power, but ignore the purpose, we miss Jesus' point. In the upcoming weeks, we want to invite you to join us as we dive into a study on the Holy Spirit and its importance in our lives as believers. “Before we can be filled with the Spirit, the desire to be filled must be all - consuming. It must be for the time, the biggest thing in our life, so acute, so intrusive as to crowd out everything else. The degree of fullness in any life accords perfectly with the intensity of true desire. We have as much of God as we actually want.” - A.W. Tozer