Another Terrific Message

Yesterday Pastor Peter gave another encouraging message as he shared about the reality of the Holy Spirit. He pointed out some points that are so good to remember. First of all, the Holy Spirit is God and He is a person. Just as His title describes Him, He is holy...and we take Him with us everywhere. That's a good thing to remember when we are tempted with sin. He is there as we choose what to pour into our minds and hearts, when we decide our words and actions and carry them out. His work in us as believers is that of holiness...not emotional experiences. I was so blessed that Peter emphasized this aspect of the Holy Spirit's character because all too often people live by their emotions. There is a quest for excitement and Holy Ghost goosebumps, if you will. But in the passage in Ephesians chapter one where Paul is writing, he prays for wisdom and revelation by the Spirit of God, of course within the realm of God's Word. The encouragement here was to not be content with just getting by in our Christian lives, but to be a searcher for treasures in God's Word. Certainly there can be excitement when we sense the Lord in close communion and He is able to touch our emotions, but that should not be the ultimate goal. Knowing Him better and becoming more like Him and bringing Him honor and glory...that's the goal.

"that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" - Philippians 3:10

"but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." " - 1 Peter 1:15-16

"that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory" - Ephesians 1:12