From Disappointed to Dynamic 4

Hello Everyone,

How many know that we, like refrigerators, are dependent creations … without being plugged in, we have potential without power … vision without vitality to make it happen!

Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes they would have POWER … be plugged into the Divine ability they needed to do whatever needed to be done!

As the fire of God … the Holy Spirit enables our conformity to Christ!

John the Baptist told of a day when Jesus would —

"Baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire!"

The fire of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer doesn't destroy us … it's used to develop us!

The Holy Spirit as fire is a study in itself … but let me give you a few examples of the way the Holy Spirit uses fire to conform us into the Christ likeness!

In Matthew 3:11,12 we read about the farmer's fire that's used for a purging purpose — the farmer uses fire to consume the useless and conserve the useful! That's exactly what the Holy Spirit wants to do in our lives!

In Malachi 3 we read about the refiner’s fire that's used for a purifying purpose — the refiner knows when the process is complete because he can see his image in the metal!

Scripture talks about the potter's fire? A fire that's used for a perfecting purpose — once the potter has shaped his vessel ... he covers it and then he puts it in an oven!

Cortland Myers Writes:

"The finest china in the world is burned at least three times, some of it more than three times. Dresden china is always burned three times. Why does it go through the intense fire? Once ought to be enough. Twice ought to be enough. No, three times are necessary to burn the china so that the gold and the crimson are brought out more beautiful and then fastened there to stay.

We are fashioned after the same principle in human life. Our trials are burned into us once, twice, three times, and by God's grace these beautiful colors are there and they are there to stay forever!"

As the initiator and inspiration for unrestricted praise … the Holy Spirit enables our communication with and about Christ!

"All of them were filled, and all of them spoke in tongues!"

They all spoke in a spirit-enabled language of praise … this wasn't an experience or expression reserved for a select few or the super-spiritual!

On several other occasions in Acts … we see the same thing happen again … this is the only repeated initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit!

The need to praise and proclaim in an unhindered and unrestricted way isn't a badge of super-spirituality … it's a bridge to a built up life!

Paul writes that —

"The one who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies or builds himself up!"

That's always the purpose of spirit-enabled praise … to lift Christ up so that he might build us up!

"As the Spirit enabled them" — means that praying or praising in a spiritual language isn't something someone teaches us to do, it's something the Holy Spirit enables us to do!

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil            

From Disappointed to Dynamic 3

Hello Everyone,

The next question is —

Why did these things happen?

What is the significance of the sounds, sights, and Spirit-enabled praising and preaching … that happened on the Day of Pentecost?

Let me offer two reasons for these things the disciples witnessed and experienced on the day of Pentecost:

A.   The Dynamics of Pentecost provided the — evidence the disciples needed!

Jesus had told his disciples to 'wait for the gift my father promised'? But exactly what were they waiting for?

How were they to know if they had waited long enough?

What were the indicators that the promise of a partnership with a new parakletos (Divine Enabler) had really begun?

Key — God chose sounds and sights and speech that immediately registered with the disciples that this was the PROMISE they were waiting and praying for — let me show you what I mean …

1.   In the Old Testament, wind was a sign and symbol of — God's life!

The same Hebrew word translated wind is also translated spirit — the Hebrew word is: 'Ruach'

The ruach of God or breath of God was what God breathed into Adam that made him a living soul!

The ruach of God or breath of God was what Ezekiel was told to prophesy to the valley of dry bones so that they could live!

The sound of a rushing mighty wind said, this is — God's life-giving presence!

2.   On several occasions in the Old Testament FIRE was used as a sign and symbol of — God's acceptance!

God proved He accepted the sacrifice of Elijah by consuming the offering with fire from Heaven!

On two occasions in the Old Testament God accepted the dedication of a new temple (a dwelling place) by sending fire from Heaven!

When the disciples saw the fire from above it was evidence to them of God's acceptance

It was as though God were saying — "I accept you as my dwelling place!"

That's why the apostle Paul would tell the Corinthians — "You are the temple (the house/dwelling place) of the Holy Spirit!"

3.   Throughout the Old Testament, prophetic speech was sign and symbol of — God's presence!

A couple of examples — Numbers 11:25-30, Joel 2:28,29

Prophetic speaking was an undeniable sign of God's presence on an individual and as the disciples began to proclaim God's greatness and mighty works in languages they had never learned it was an incredible confirmation that God was not only with them He was working in them and through them!

B.   The Dynamics of Pentecost not only provided the disciples with evidence they needed … the Dynamics of Pentecost provided them with the — enabling they needed!

 I believe the dynamics of this day were more than a statement about the Holy Spirit's presence … each sign and symbol speaks to us of the Holy Spirit's ENABLING role in our lives!

As the breath of God … the Holy Spirit enables our connection to Christ!

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil  

From Disappointed to Dynamic 2

Hello Everyone,

Acts 2 describes what an appointment with the Holy Spirit can do to the disappointments in our lives … and by studying what happened to, in, and through the disciples … we discover how to go from being — disappointed disciples to dynamic disciples!

This week let’s ask some questions —

First of all What Happened?

Let's read it for ourselves — Acts 2:1-16

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷ Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

¹³ Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” ¹⁴ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵ These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

[Luke describes four dynamics that occurred on the day of Pentecost]:

A.   Dynamic Number One — The disciples heard the sound of a blowing violent wind!

B.   Dynamic Number Two — The disciples saw a mass of fire settle over all them then separate into smaller flames that rested on each of them!

C.   Dynamic Number Three — The disciples were filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in languages they had never studied or learned!

The phrase — "baptized with the Holy Spirit" or "filled with the Holy Spirit" —means to be immersed … overwhelmed … saturated or overflowing!

When the Holy Spirit filled them … they began to praise and proclaim Christ in an unhindered, unrestricted way … without limitations of vocabulary or expression!

D.  Dynamic Number Four — Peter proclaimed Christ and over 3,000 accepted Jesus as Lord of their lives!

It's interesting that the same phrase for 'began to speak' is used of both the disciple's praises and Peter's preaching … and it MEANS — both were Spirit-enabled and spirit-directed!

That's a brief and simple summary of —

What Happened?

Tomorrow we will ask the question Why did these things happen?

Greater things are still to come!

Pastor Phil            

From Disappointed to Dynamic 1

Hello Everyone,

See if you can relate to the following —

"I am disappointed with myself. I am disappointed not so much with particular things I have done as with aspects of who I have become.

I have a nagging sense that all is not as it should be.

Some of this disappointment is trivial. I wouldn't have minded getting a more muscular physique. I can't do home repairs. So far I haven’t shown much financial wizardry.

Some of this disappointment, I know, is worse than trivial; it is simply the sour fruit of self-absorption.

I attended a high school reunion and can't choke back the desire to stand out by looking more attractive or having achieved more impressive accomplishments than my classmates … I am disappointed in my ordinariness.

But some of this disappointment in myself runs deeper. When I look back at raising my children, I think of the kind of father I wanted to be. I wanted to create moments of magic, I wanted them to remember laughing until the tears flow … I wanted to have slow sweet talks with them as they're getting ready to close their eyes … I wanted to pray for them in a way that makes them feel cherished.

When I looked on them as they slept at night, and I remember how the day really went: I remember how they were fighting over a game and I walked out of the room because I didn't want to spend the energy needed to teach them how to resolve conflict.

I remember how my daughter spilled her drink at dinner and I yelled at her about being careful as if she'd revealed some deep character flaw; I yelled at her even though I spill things all the time and no one yells at me; I yelled at her — to tell the truth — simply because I'm big and she was little and I can get away with it.

I remember how at night I didn't have slow, sweet talks, but merely rushed the children to bed so I could have more time to myself. I'm disappointed.

And it's not just my life as a father. I am disappointed also for my life as a husband, friend, neighbor, and human being in general.

I think of the day I was born, when I carried the gift of promise, the gift given to all babies. I think of that little baby and what might have been: the ways I might have developed my mind and body and spirit, the thoughts I might have had, the joy I might have created.

I am disappointed that I still love God so little and sin so much. I always had the idea as a child that adults were pretty much the people they wanted to be. Yet the truth is, I am embarrassingly sinful." [pg. 13, 14 —

"The Life You Always Wanted" — John Ortberg]

Could you relate to the authors confession of disappointment with himself?

Have you ever been disappointed with? You?

Have you ever wanted to be a better person? a better friend? a better spouse/parent? a better believer in Jesus Christ?

Have you ever been disappointed because you really wanted to break a destructive or negative pattern or habit in your life? But you couldn't?

Have you ever been disappointed because you wanted to do great things for God and others? But you haven't?

If you answered yes to any of those 'disappointment' questions … good! … Because until we are utterly disappointed with our inability we aren't candidates for the ability God has for us through a partnership with the Holy Spirit!

(It's been called the — gift of inadequacy)

The upper room was filled with men and woman who realized they just didn't have what it takes … they knew that their best efforts weren't good enough!

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Peter meant it when he told Jesus he would die for him? But when crunch time came? He caved!

The disciples all pledged their loyalty to Christ? But when He was arrested they ran and hid? Fearing for their lives!

Acts 2 describes what an appointment with the Holy Spirit can do to the disappointments in our lives … and by studying what happened to, in, and through the disciples … we discover how to go from being — disappointed disciples to dynamic disciples!

This week From Disappointed to Dynamic!

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil                                                                                  1