Overcoming Pride

By Elder Richard Chanda

14th  October. 2016

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Peter 5:5-6, Daniel 4

Today's Treasure: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time" ~ (1 Peter 5:6).

If every believer had a spiritual day planner complete with a "to do" list, we might find one common denominator—the challenge to overcome pride is at the top.

Perhaps no other spiritual obstacle is quite like this one.

A simple reason exists for its Goliath proportions: pride is Satan's speciality.

Pride is the characteristic that most aptly describes him.

It is the issue that had him expelled from heaven.

It is still one of Satan's most successful tools in discouraging people from accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let's not fool ourselves into thinking that pride is a problem only for the lost.

The most effective means the enemy has to keep believers from being full of the Spirit is to keep us full of ourselves.

No wonder the Bible states and restates that God hates pride. It is the main enemy of genuine ministry. It is the end of many homes.

Scripture exhorts believers, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand" ~ (1 Peter 5:6).

God's Word also makes that very unsettling statement in Daniel 4:37: "Those who walk in pride he is able to humble." I believe the sum total of those two verses is that we can humble ourselves, or God can humble us.

God won't put up with pride in His own children very long without dealing with it.

He's much too faithful—and far too much is at stake.

I know from personal experience that humbling ourselves is far less painful than inviting God to humble us.

He tends to make sure His lessons "take."

I am absolutely convinced that the most painful season God has taken me through to date was primarily to shatter my yoke of pride.

A yoke, incidentally, I didn't even recognize I had. Believe me, I'm on the lookout for it now every single day.

In some ways, Christians have to be more alert to pride than anyone. If we don't presently have an issue that is actively humbling us, we veer with disturbing velocity toward arrogance and self-righteousness.

We are wise to remember that Christ never resisted the repentant sinner.

He resisted the religious proud and Pharisaic. Remember, pride wears many masks. I once spoke on pride only to have someone remark afterwards that she had far too little self-esteem to have pride. Pride is not the opposite of low self-esteem, but rather the opposite of humility.

We can have a serious pride problem that masquerades as low self-esteem. Pride is self-absorption whether we're absorbed with how miserable we are or how wonderful we are.

We are wise to be on the constant lookout for pride in our lives. I believe we can safely say that if we're not deliberately taking measures to combat pride, it's probably doing something to combat humility.

Pride is the welcome mat in every figurative prison cell. All we have to do to remain bound in any area is to refuse to take responsibility for our strongholds and repent of the sin involved. Pride is a monumental boulder in the path toward breaking free.

These are some thoughts God gave me on the subject several years ago. May He use them to speak about the biggest injustice of pride: it cheats wherever it plays.

My name is Pride.

I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny...because

you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment...because you

"deserve better than this."

I cheat you of knowledge...because you already

know it all.

I cheat you of healing...because you're

too full of me to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness...because you refuse to

admit when you're wrong.

I cheat you of vision...because you'd rather look

in the mirror than out a window.

I cheat you of a genuine friendship...because

nobody's going to know the real you.

I cheat you of love...because real romance

demands sacrifice.

I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you

refuse to wash another's feet on earth.

I cheat you of God's glory...because I convince

you to seek your own.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you.

Untrue.

I'm looking to make a fool of you.

God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry...

If you stick with me

You'll never know.

Lord, please help me to remember the ugliness of pride as I go about my day.

Thank You for showing me the dreadful effects of this sin. How I want to live a righteous life, in the name of Jesus!

Take out my prideful heart and give me instead a genuinely humble heart that is pleasing to You.

I love You, gracious Lord.

BE HUMBLE AS CHILDREN BEFORE THE LORD.

"From the mouths of children and nursing babies you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy." ~ (Psalms 8:2).

"and Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." ~ (Matthew 18:3-4).

AMEN!!

“The Blessing of True Worship”.

The Topic for the Sermon at the Sunday Service held on 26^th January, 2014 at St. Margaret's UCZ Church in Kitwe was entitled:  “The Blessing of True Worship”.

Preacher:                    Brother Kapaya

Readings:                    Genesis 22: 1 – 18

                                      2 Chronicles 25: 20 – 27

                                      1 Corinthians 10: 6

                                      John 1: 12

SERMON SUMMARY

·         Everyone has something to worship. This worship can be either true worship ot false worship. Each type of worship has got its own reward.

·         True worship is that of God. True worship attracts blessings.

·         Examples of Worship

              

False Worship

o    An example of false worship is that of King Amaziah as read in 2 Chronicles 25: 20 – 27. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly. After the kingdom was firmly in his control, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. Yet he did not put their children to death, but acted in accordance with what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded: “Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor children be put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.” King Amaziah decided to worship God and yet he worshipped idols as well.

o   You may give offerings to God but if it is done without a true heart it is not true worship at all. The thing you have put in place of God is the source of false worship. False worshippers are full of pride and are stubborn.

True Worship

o   An example of true worship is that of Abraham as read in Genesis 22: 1 – 18

God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

o   True worship will always pass through test to see if it is true or not. If you are a true worshipper you will always pass a test.

o    True worship is a lasting relationship with God.

o   True worship is sacrificial. A true worshipper can give anything to God without thinking of how much it is worth. When you give to God you should give your best.

o   True worship is revelational. God will always reveal to a place of worship as was when he showed Abraham when God called him to a place of worship in the region of Moriah.

o   True worship is full of faith. Hebrews 11: 1 – 2 says:  “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”           

o   The blessings you will receive will be generational. Genesis 22: 16 – 18 says “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

o   Today you have a choice of worshiping according to Amaziah or Abraham.

o   I invite you to choose your worship according to Abraham.

AMEN!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK (From the Church’s Weekly Bulletin)

Most people go to church for what they can get, and they go for what will appeal to them or “bless” them! Well, if one goes to church just for what one can get out the music, or what they can get out of the sermon, or just to get blessed, such a one has missed the point.

 

We go to church to worship God, and that is done by giving and not getting. In Worship we “'give” to Him, not receive from Him. Granted,   we offer Him the praise due to His Name, we’ll be blessed with His presence because He “inhabits the praises of His people". His presence brings healing, restoration, revelation, prophecy, resurrection of every dead thing! (Exodus 23:25)

 

Do you worship God when you come to church? Do you prepare your heart for worship? When you are getting dressed or when you are on your Way to church, is your heart eager to worship God?

 

True worship means "to give homage, honour, reverence, respect, adoration, praise or glory to a superior being". It is giving honour and respect to God. In true worship, we connect our hearts to God's heart, we lift up our spirit to His Holy Spirit, and we give Him our ALL to do as He wills. We prostrate ourselves before God in reverence, and pay Him the glory and honour which is due to Him as the King of kings, and Lord of lords!

Worship is a consuming desire to give to God; it involves the giving of ourselves, our heart attitudes, our minds, our souls, and our possessions.

 God is the Beginning and the End, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and He deserves our worship!

Come; let us worship the Almighty God in spirit and truth!

AMEN!

“He Shall Reign like a King”.

The Topic for the Sermon at the Sunday Service held on 24^th November, 2013 at St. Margaret's UCZ Church (Kitwe) was entitled:  “He Shall Reign like a King”.

Preacher:  Mr G. K. Mwila (Wusakile Congregation) 

Scripture Readings:   Jeremiah 23: 1 – 6

                                       Colossians 1: 11 – 20

                                       Luke 23: 33 – 43  

SERMON SUMMARY

·         A King has authority over the Kingdom on to which he is entrusted to reign.

·         In Jeremiah 23: 1 – 6 the Lord is not happy with the rulers of that time because they had destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for. The Lord therefore decides to pour out judgment on them for the evil they have done to them. Then He appoints responsible shepherds who will care for them, and they will never be afraid again.

·         In Colossians 1: 11 – 20 Paul encourages the Colossians to be strengthened with the glorious power of God so that they will have all the endurance and patience they needed. The Kingdom has been defined as the Kingdom of Christ who is going to rescue the people of God.

·         In Luke 23: 33 – 43 Jesus is crucified with two criminals at the cross. The Kingdom of God is displayed at the cross when one criminal despises Jesus and the other on receives salvation, at no cost to him, after he appealed to Jesus to remember him when He comes into his Kingdom.

·         In the Kingdom of Christ there will be peace. God has rescued us from the power of darkness and he has brought us into the Kingdom of God.

·         In our present day situation the Kingdom is the Church and we Christians are the rulers.  God is not happy with the rulers of his Kingdom (Christians) because they are not doing the work according to his wish. God expects us to rule according to his plan. Instead of taking care of God’s people we are destroying and scaring them away from his Church.

·         God will punish the rulers and appoint others rulers and they shall become former Christians, former Ministers of God, former Elders and former Stewards. Etc.

·         As we sit here in Church we should reflect on our lives. Are we really rulers of the Kingdom of God?

AMEN!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK (From the Church’s Weekly Bulletin)

 Yes, the clouds will be rolled back like a scroll, the trump shall sound, and the Lord shall descend!

 

1st and 2nd Thessalonians talks about the second coming of Jesus Christ, our coming King. The Lord shall descend. It is going to be a great contrast between the First Coming of our Lord and His Second

Coming.

 

When Jesus came the first time, He came to die for the sinner, He poured out His blood for our redemption, but when He comes again, He’s not coming as Redeemer, He is coming as ruler.

He is coming to reign as righteousness and in judgement.  

The first time He came in love and grace, but when He comes again He's coming in vengeance to take vengeance against those who do not know our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The first time He came in humility, but when He comes again He is coming in great great power as King of Kings. The first time He came He was despised and rejected of man, when He comes again we will come to receive the power and glory that is due to His Name.

No longer will He wear a crown of thorns, but He will wear a crown of glory. He will reign forever and ever, as Lord of lords, and King of kings!

 

And now to the King Eternal, Invisible, who alone is God, glory and honour forever and ever.

AMEN!

The Lord, Our Redeemer

"May my words and my thoughts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my sheltering rock and my redeemer." (Psalms 19:14).

"They remembered that God was their protector, and that the sovereign God was their deliverer." (Psalms 78:35).

"This is what the Lord says, your protector, the Holy One of Israel: "For your sake I send to Babylon and make them all fugitives, turning the Babylonians' joyful shouts into mourning songs." (Isaiah 43:14).

"I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will get drunk on their own blood, as if it were wine. Then all humankind will recognize that I am the Lord, your deliverer, your protector, the powerful ruler of Jacob."" (Isaiah 49:26).

"For you are our father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not recognize us. You, Lord, are our father; you have been called our protector from ancient times." (Isaiah 63:16).

"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that as the last he will stand upon the earth." (Job 19:25).

""Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in my Father's house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you." (John 14: 1-2).

"And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too." (John 14:3).

"Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

"(Look! I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy expressed in this book.)" (Revelation 22:7).

"(Look! I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to pay each one according to what he has done!" (Revelation 22:12).

"The one who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all." (Revelation 22:20-21).

"From his mouth extends a sharp sword, so that with it he can strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful. He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: "King of kings and Lord of lords."" (Revelation 19:15-16).

AMEN!

“Give Thanks in All Circumstances”.

The Topic for the Sermon for the Service at St. Margaret's UCZ Church on 23^rd June 2013 was entitled:  “Give Thanks in All Circumstances”.

Preacher:  Reverend Chipasha Musaba

Scripture Reading:   1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 18

                                    Psalm 100: 1 - 5

                                    Acts 17: 27 -28

SERMON SUMMARY

The Service was opened with a Sketch from the “Go Team” drama group in which a rogue husband wanted to leave his family because of his bad behaviour. His wife could not agree to this, because she loved him so much. After so much persuasion the husband saw sense and decided to remain with his family.  The message we get from the Sketch, which in not possible in real life, is that God still loves us despite whatever we have done in the past.

The theme for our Service is “Give Thanks in All Circumstances”.

In every language there is word for “Thank You”. Culture has taught us that when someone has done something good for us we should say, “Thank You”. However, when someone has done something bad to us we tend to fight or insult. As Christians we should give thanks in all circumstances.

In Psalm 100 we read about David who saw favour of God in all circumstances. When you find yourself in the presence of God you have to praise Him in spite of the circumstances you find yourself in.

God is telling us that we do not deserve to be here, however, because of his grace we are here. No one has ever chosen to be born or to belong to any family or race. David, who was a great inspiring psalmist, is telling us that no matter what you have done you still deserve to be in the presence of God. The message from the sketch by the “Go Team” represents God’s love for us.

In 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18 we learn that in every situation we find ourselves in we should thanks to God in all circumstances.

In Job 2: 10 Job’s wife asks him why he can say thank when he has been punched in the face? He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

In Job 1:21 he says” "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." No matter what you have gone through you must always give thanks to God.

Scientists tell us that Charcoal and Diamonds come from the same element called Carbon. For Diamonds to be the precious mineral they are their carbon had to subjected to tremendous pressure in order to be transformed.

Some of you were in employment you never thought of being your own boss, but after you left employment you found your talent and now you are your own boss. Had you not lost your job you would still have been working for someone!

Genesis 2 tells us that God created man in in His own image. He breathed his Spirit into the flesh, where man dwells. The body is a perishable thing but God’s spirit is eternal. When you feel hungry God will feed you. When you are sick He will heal you. When you are poor he will make you wealthy, etc.

In all circumstances give thanks to God .

AMEN!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: (From the Church's Weekly Bulletin)

Psalm 100: 1 - 5

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God.

  

 It is He, who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

AMEN!

“Breaking Cycles of Revenge”.

The Topic for the Service of 2^nd June 2013, at St. Margaret's UCZ Church- Kitwe was entitled:  “Breaking Cycles of Revenge”.

Preacher:  Reverend Kuzipa Nalwamba

Scripture Reading:   Deuteronomy 32: 34 – 43

                                     Romans 12: 14 – 21

                                     Matthew 5:38 – 48

SERMON SUMMARY

The theme for our Service is “Breaking Cycles of Revenge.”

Deuteronomy 32: 34 – 43 was part of a departing song of Moses telling the people of God on how to live. Moses was about to reach the end of his life before handing over the reins to Joshua. It was a song telling them that vengeance belongs to God.

In Romans 12: 14 – 21 the Apostle Paul has a similar message to the Romans and the Lord talks about it in Matthew 5:38 – 48.

·         God is the only one to avenge the wrongs that the Israelis had suffered under foreign nations.

·          When the Israelis decided to take revenge on their own God punished them because he found them wanting.

At a personal level how could we revenge when we about injuries that we have done to others? If you take revenge on your own you will be biased and hence the revenge cannot be justified. Leave revenge to God. He is the one who has the power of life and death and alone can be the Judge.

The Israelis had sinned by worshipping idols and they were punished for that by being persecuted by other nations.

Genuine love hates evil but it does not give a leeway for revenge. The Jews thought that a pagan nation should not rule them. The Jews had no right to revenge against the Romans.

In Acts 16: 37 requested to see Caesar after the Jews mistreated him because he was a Roman citizen. He should not have been persecuted for what he stood for as a citizen of the Roman Empire.

In our case we should know what our rights are as citizens of the Republic of Zambia. The recent beating of worshippers in a Church in Lusaka by some political thugs comes to mind. When we are being persecuted as Paul was we are not at the mercy of the persecutors.

God is in charge and he is going to avenge on our own behalf. God’s punishment of our enemies is usually very severe and we do not even rejoice when that happens. God is truly a God of justice. Jesus in Matthew 5:38 – 48 tells us “a Tooth for a Tooth or an Eye for an Eye” type of revenge results in a cycle of revenge.

God’s revenge may not necessarily be a punishment of the enemy but his reformation.

Our sins were forgiven at the Cross and yet we were sinners.

AMEN!

  

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: (From the Church's Weekly Bulletin)

Invitation to the Holy Communion

In many cultures, African cultures included, the sharing of a meal is the   form of fellowship and communion. The sharing of a meal is the most basic and most central family ritual, in which members of the family engage. The invitation to a guest to share in the family is accordingly an important gesture for and communion.

It is significant that Jesus chose a meal as the best context for us to remember Him. There is no

better symbol of communion, friendship and fellowship than a meal. It is instructive that Jesus did to leave to chance the question of how He was to be remembered, but sought to give His disciples very concrete clues,   guidelines and a very definite context. It is also instructive that Jesus chose a communal rather than an individual meal situation for the context of His remembrance. But we live in a world where meals – even family mealtimes-can no longer be taken for granted. In a world where some have more to eat than they can consume, there are millions who go hungry for days on end. Effectively therefore, at the global meal table, there are millions who are excluded.

What excludes them? Poverty, injustice, ethnocentrism, racism, sexism and HIV/AIDS, do. As long as the global meal table excludes some people, the church is unable to witness to and remember Christ. We must be careful that the Holy Communion does not become just mother of the many

exclusive immoral meals where few are nourished and many go hungry. Not only does Communion remind us a basic human act, it also inspires us to work for a world in which there is genuine communion among all human beings, and between God and humans.

To the table of Christ we bring bread and wine; Made by people's work in an unjust world; Where some have plenty and most go hungry; some are applauded and others despised.

At the table, everyone is fed, and no-one has to pay; Everyone shares the cup of pain and celebration; Everyone is honoured and no-one is despised.

AMEN!

“Trinity – The Eternal Divine Wisdom”

The Topic for the Service of 26^th May 2013, at St. Margaret's UCZ Church- Kitwe was entitled:  “Trinity – The Eternal Divine Wisdom”.

Preacher:  Reverend Bellington Kabaso

Scripture Reading:   Proverbs 8: 14, 22 – 31

                                     Romans 5: 1 – 5

                                     John 3: 1 – 17

SERMON SUMMARY

The theme for our Service is “Trinity - The Eternal Divine Wisdom”. Looking at the meaning of the three words:-

·         Eternal – means everlasting or continuous without end.

·         Divine – means something provided by God and not of human nature.

·         Wisdom – means the ability to use knowledge and experience to make a sensible decision or judgement.

In Proverbs 8: 14, 22 – 31 we learn that wisdom was the first to be there during creation. In John 1: 1 we are told that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This Word is the wisdom. Nothing was created without the Word or wisdom of God.

Everything we see in the world was created before man. Everything in this world was created to be used by man.

In Romans 5, Paul is telling the believers in Rome that there must be a change in the one who becomes a believer. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”  (Romans 5:  1 – 2). Through peace we are able to talk to God in prayer.

God cannot continue to be in peace with a person who claims to be a Christian but continues to live in sin. The peace with God can only happen if we take Jesus as our Saviour and we get justified with God. Jesus has taken away that sin and we are able to be in the presence of God and we become His children. If we repent of our sins we are forgiven and become justified with God.

 However, we have taken that forgiveness for granted by continuing to sin and saying forgiveness will be given to us in Church at the next Sunday. God is not only found in Church. God is omnipresent so sinning deliberately is mocking God.  Ecclesiastes 5:  4 – 7 says “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfil it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfil it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?  Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.”

Nicodemus was an educated and rich man who was full of knowledge and lacked nothing. In John 3: 1 – 17 we read that when Nicodemus met Jesus, despite his knowledge, he was taught what it was to be “born again”.  Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”

For every Christian to be saved he or she must be born again. It is not a matter of coming to Church every Sunday and looking very humble. One must be born of water and the Spirit of God. Let us not take being born again lightly. Ask yourself whether you are on the right pass to be born again.

We should prepare our lives before it is too late, and do not say that “I shall be born again at a latter date”.

Nicodemus was taught on how to enter the Kingdom of God in heaven. We should emulate what has been told to him.  It is time to change our ways of living.

May the Lord bless his Word!

AMEN!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: (From the Church's Weekly Bulletin)

Trinity Sunday Prayer

Almighty and Eternal God, through your Word and Spirit you created all things.

In Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh; you revealed your salvation in the entire world.

Through your Holy Spirit, you give us a share in your life and love.

Keep us Firm in this faith, and fill us with the vision of your glory, that we may serve and praise you all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

(Book of Common Order, Church of Scotland P. 674)

AMEN!

“Pentecost – God’s Gift to His People”.

The Topic of the Service of 19^th May 2013, at St. Margaret's UCZ Church was entitled: “Pentecost – God’s Gift to His People”.

Preacher:  Mr Boniface Chirambo

Scripture Reading:   Genesis 1: 1 – 9

                                     Acts 1: 1 – 21

                                     John 14: 8 – 17

SERMON SUMMARY

As parents we often do promise our children gifts after coming from visiting some places.

 Today is Pentecost day, the day that when the gift of the Holy Spirit that the Lord had promised to give his disciples came upon them. It was exactly 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ when the gift of the Holy Spirit was given.  Pentecost is the birth of the Christian Church, which coincided with the time when there were celebrations by the Jews to mark their first harvest.

God sent the gift of the Holy Spirit, as promised, to his people.

In Genesis 1: 1 – 9 we read about the creation of earth and we see the Holy Spirit playing a big role in the creation of the world. “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”  ~ Genesis 1: 2

Jesus was part of the creation as written in John 1: 1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The three divine persons of God were involved as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

In John 14: 16 – 17 Jesus is promising the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples when he says “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever, the Spirit of truth.

We are seeing the gift of the Holy Spirit being fulfilled in Acts 2: 1 – 21. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost brought a lot of confusion amongst the Jews. “When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans?’” Acts 2: 6 – 7

The coming of the Holy Spirit amongst the disciples completely transformed their lives. Peter who had denied Jesus three times at the time of his persecution leading to his crucifixion went out to preach the Good News boldly.

The Holy Spirit changes the situation in your life and mine.

The gifts that we get from God are not for our own self- grander but for the use of spreading his Kingdom. In Acts 1: 8 Jesus says “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 world.” You and I are called the witnesses of God. The gifts that we get from God are for the exaltation of God himself.

In Joel 2:28 the Lord says “"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” (See Acts 2: 17 as well)

All of us have received the Holy Spirit for the anointment of our lives. We should therefore come together and be united to complement each other so that we excel in our individual gifts, only then will the Church of God grow. Where there is misunderstanding we should retreat and ask God to help us.

God desires that after we receive the Holy Spirit we should be his ambassadors in the world. It is not enough just to come to church and worship. We should spread the Gospel to others. We should ask God to help us with our weaknesses so that we can effectively spread the gospel. Let us be examples to our families and not to be questioned about our behaviour. Let us first look at ourselves before we go out to evangelise.  Are we relevant to our community?  Christianity is more than being a member of St. Margaret’s Church.

On this Pentecost day as we go out into the community it is very important to remind each other what purpose we are called for? Let us seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we do the work for the Lord. Let us be careful not to look very much to our preachers as examples of our behaviour. Our focus should be on the Holy Spirit.

Let us therefore thank God for all the gifts he has given us. Without the Holy Spirit we shall not be successful evangelists.

May the Lord, through his mercy and love, bless us all.

AMEN!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: (From the Church's Weekly Bulletin)

The Day of Pentecost

The coming of the Spirit was accompanied by supernatural signs – a sound, a sight and strange speech. First, there came from heaven a sound like the blowing of violent wind', and it (i e, the noise) filled the whole house where they were sitting (Acts 2:2). Secondly, there appeared to them visibly ‘what seemed to be tongues of fire' which separated and came to rest on each of them (v.3), becoming for each an individual possession. Thirdly, ‘all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues' (i.e. languages of some kind) ‘as the Spirit enabled led them.(v.4)

These three experiences seemed like natural phenomena (wind, fire and speech); yet they were supernatural, both in origin and in character. The noise was not wind, but sounded like it; the sight was not fire but resembled it; the speech was in languages which were not ordinary but in some way ‘other ‘’. Again, three of their higher senses were affected, in that they heard the wind-like sound, saw the fire-like apparition and spoke the ‘other' languages. Yet what they experienced was more than sensory; it was significant. So they sought no understand it. “What does this mean? “, the people later asked (v. 12)

If we allow other parts of Scripture to guide our interpretation, it seems that these three signs at least represented a new era of the Spirit which had begun (John the Baptist had bracketed wind and fire Luke 3:16) and the work which he had come to do. If so, the noise-like wind may symbolise power (such as Jesus promised them for witness - Luke 24:4-9; Acts 1:8), the sight like fire  symbolised purity (like the live coal which cleansed Isaiah 6:6-7) and the speech in other languages

symbolised the universality of the Christian church. In what follows in Acts 2, Luke does not mention wind and fire, he concentrates on the third phenomena languages. His emphasis is on the international, multilingual nature of the crowd that was gathered round the 120 believers at Pentecost.

Nothing could have demonstrated more clearly than this the multi-racial, multinational, multilingual nature of the Kingdom of Christ. Pentecost is a dramatic reversal of the curse of Babel. At Babel, human languages were confused and nations were scattered. At Pentecost, the language barrier was supernaturally, over come as a sign that ethnicities, nations and races would now be gathered together in Christ!

AMEN!