West Main

WALKING IN THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

PART THREE

At the end of our previous article we were wrestling with the idea that Jesus thought it was better for Him to leave. We were talking that as hard as that was to grasp, we believed it to be true. We acknowledged the importance of the Holy Spirit in ministry! Think about it…after Jesus left, he lived in ALL of us, ALL over the world who belong to Him. How much more was his saving grace spreading out to the world??? We MUST have the Holy Spirit if we want ministry efforts to be important.

Now let’s look at some essential questions we should each work on this week:

1. Who is The Holy Spirit? How do you answer this? What do you tell people? It’s funny to watch some believers squirm when trying to describe the answer to this question. It really is not a hard answer. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD IN FULLNESS! He is God from start to finish. He was there in Genesis 1:2 hovering over the formless waters. He was there in Matthew 3 as a dove when Jesus was baptized. And He is there in EVERY part of this grand story.

I wonder if we truly believe this is the right answer, then how does that change us? Do we REALLY get this? WE ARE GIVEN THE FULLNESS OF GOD! When we receive this gift, we get the one who created us, who comes again as the Holy Spirit to “re-create” us.

2. What Does the Holy Spirit Do?   How do you answer this one? If there was ever a question that could elect thousands of answers, surely this is it! We could poll the next ten people you see and you’d have enough different ideas to debate for a week. You may hear that it convicts us of sin, guides us into truth, glorifies Christ, sanctifies us, seals us, teaches us to pray, etc. And these are all correct! How then can we take ALL of these answers and make sense of them on a simpler level? Try this: THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS MAKES US FRIENDS WITH GOD. Because now, we can actually KNOW God! God dwells inside of us now. We are adopted into God’s family. We have power!

Do we take the time to meditate on these things? How amazing! Let’s look at some inspiring words of Jesus. “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.” John 14:12-16

Yes, Jesus had to leave. And when He did, we FINALLY GOT ALL OF GOD!

The HOLY SPIRIT is God’s gift to the spiritually bankrupt children on this earth, and not His reward to the spiritually elite. It is for US!

I challenge all of us this week to consider these things. Who is the HOLY SPIRIT to me? What does He do in my life?

Blessings,    – Pannell

The “U” in Jesus

Before U were thought of or time had begun, God stuck U in the name of His Son. And each time U pray in His name, you’ll see it’s true, you can’t spell JesUs and not include U.

You’re a pretty big part of His wonderful name, for U, He was born; that’s why He came. And His great love for U is the reason He died. It even takes U to spell crUcified.

The stones split away, and the gold trumpet blew; this word resUrrection is spelled with a U. When Jesus left earth at His upward ascension, He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.

“Go into the world and tell every creatUre it’s true that I love them all just like I love U.” He sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day; He started the chUrch to show men the way.

So many great words are spelled with a U; don’t forget jUdgement is, too. Will we be ready? It all depends on what U will do; He’d like all to know, but it all starts with U!

               “The Son of God...loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

(From the Files)

The Daddy-Daughter-Dinner-Dance will be held on April 18 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Space is limited to forty girls and their dates. The cost is $24.00 per couple. If you think that you will be coming - please register with Marcie Dixon. You may call her, e-mail her, or see her this Sunday. Payment will be due by April 5 and is non-refundable.

Youth Update – If you think you may be going on the Arizona Mission trip this summer, please let Pannell know ASAP, so he can begin some of the fund raising efforts.

Dinners for Eight is happening in the second half of April!!!! The dinners in April will be hosted by several of our deacons.

We need you to sign up with Don or Zana Walker by April 6, either at church, or by phone, e-mail or text message (no Facebook please) if you are interested in participating in Dinners for Eight. We will organize the names into groups of eight people. The host provides one dish and each person or couple brings a complementary dish to share.

This is open to all adults, singles, couples and older teens. Children participating are at the discretion of the host.   Please come join us as we share a good meal and the great conversation that goes with it.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – If you would like to help with VBS in any way, please contact Denise Beeks.

Prayer Requests . . . For Diane Liles who will have a thyroid biopsy on Thursday - please pray that all is normal...For Martha Gentry who is having knee pain...For Connie Kennedy who is having back pain...For Jenny Way to be more sure of herself and able to complete her brain book...For Reed Barlow who is still not feeling well...For Evelyn Bates as she continues to recover from her stroke - she is doing well...For Maggie Cushman who is not feeling well...For Joan Nelson as she recovers from knee replacement surgery...For all of our members who are traveling to Mexico this weekend to work in San Felipe - prayers for their safety while they are there and for their safe travel...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.

Thank You Note:  Hello, West Main Family!

I received your care package and I couldn’t be more grateful. I really do appreciate your support during this deployment. Thanks again and again. God Bless, Cory Murray

Calendar of Events

March 21-29: Mexico Mission Trip

April 18: Daddy/Daughter Dinner Dance

June 28-July4: CAMP

July 13-17: VBS