There is power where God is, and it is real for us to experience. We celebrated communion thinking of Jesus' amazing love for us and offering ourselves as sacrifices to God. Mike taught about the Holy Spirit who is real for us and shared a LOT of scriptures (see below). In the ministry time afterwards a few persons did experience that God's power is real. See also Eleanor gripping poem here below.
   Steve shared about offering and finances.  Eleanor wrote and read a poem based on Acts 17:28a "For in him we live, and move, and have our being." In Him When amid the deepening darkness Which surrounds us on our way When our mind and soul are troubled And we're weary from the fray; When we're blinded by the nighttime In our struggle to press on, When our strength is pressed beyond all measure And our courage almost gone; When the tempter says: "You're vanquished!" And we're tempted to comply, Suddenly amid the darkness We sense Jesus drawing nigh. Glorious light dispelling darkness So that we can clearly see, That from tangled fear and bondage Jesus Christ has set us free. Free to love him and to serve him Since all fears are swept away, Kept in glorious peace and power As God's Spirit comes to stay. Holy Spirit cleansing, filling Like a river deep and wide, Dwelling in our earthly temple He will evermore abide. | 2 Corinthians 3:18 18 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. NLT 2 Corinthians 3:6 6 He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life. NLT Romans 7:6 6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to its power. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way by obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way, by the Spirit. NLT Romans 8:2 2 For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. NLT Romans 8:4-6 4 He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace. NLT Romans 8:13-14 13 For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. NLT 1 Corinthians 6:19 19 Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, NLT Galatians 3:2-5 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Of course not, for the Holy Spirit came upon you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 You have suffered so much for the Good News. Surely it was not in vain, was it? Are you now going to just throw it all away? 5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law of Moses? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. NLT Galatians 5:18 18 But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. NLT 1 Corinthians 12:13 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit. NLT Ephesians 4:3-4 3 Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace. 4 We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. NLT 1 Corinthians 3:16 16 Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? NLT 1 Corinthians 12:1-4 1 And now, dear brothers and sisters, I will write about the special abilities the Holy Spirit gives to each of us, for I must correct your misunderstandings about them. 2 You know that when you were still pagans you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know how to discern what is truly from God: No one speaking by the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, and no one is able to say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. NLT 1 Corinthians 12:7 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church. NLT 1 Corinthians 14:1 1 Let love be your highest goal, but also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives, especially the gift of prophecy. Galatians 5:22-23 22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. NLT Ephesians 6:18 18 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere. NLT Romans 8:26-27 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. NLT Galatians 4:6 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." NIV 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. NIV Ephesians 1:13-14 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. NIV |