Messages

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
This is one of the most famous lines connected to the Christmas story, "Peace on Earth". This phrase is written in lights, crocheted on pillows, and painted on coffee cups. We love to talk about peace this time of year. Peace on earth is a message that everyone can get behind. But don’t miss this, the peace that Jesus came to give isn’t for everyone.

Zechariah was a priest and the father of John the Baptist. He and his wife were very old and unable to have children. Then one day the angel Gabriel visits Zechariah to tell him that God has chosen his family to fulfill the final promise of the Old Testament, that they would give birth to the "prophet of the power of Elijah" who would declare and pave the way for the Messiah. Because of his doubts, Zechariah was made mute (and possibly deaf as well) until the birth of his son. When Zechariah names him John, his tongue is released, and the response is praise and thanksgiving in the form of Zechariah's Song.

We don't know a lot about Mary, but we do know from the Book of Luke that she was highly favored by God. But why was she so "highly favored?" Why did God choose her as the one to birth and raise the Messiah? What made Mary so special? The answers are found in "The Magnificat" also known as "Mary's Song of Praise" in Luke 1:46-55.

God once resided with His people in the sinless garden, and later in the Holy of Holies. But today, when the Holy Spirit dwells in us, our bodies become the Holy of Holies. We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. How should that affect the way we live our lives?

People get fixated on the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some say those supernatural gifts don’t apply to us today, while others say that spiritual gifts like healing, prophecy, speaking in tongues, etc, are the only way to know that the Holy Spirit truly dwells in us. Which is correct? What does the Bible say about it?

Most people who believe in God expect to be led by the Spirit. The issue isn’t that we don’t want to be led by the Spirit, the issue is that we don’t know how to be led by the Spirit.

What proof do we have that the Holy Spirit is actively producing something in our life? What is our flesh trying to produce instead? In this sermon, Pastor Jason contrasts the acts of the flesh versus the fruits of the Spirit.

What won’t the Holy Spirit do for you? You can rest assured that the Holy Spirit will never: Speak for you, control you, overpower you, replace your need for scripture, or contradict God’s word.

So what does the Holy Spirit actually do? In a quick summary, He comforts, advocates, intercedes, convicts, guides, teaches, seals our adoption, gives us words to speak, empowers us, helps us, and sanctifies us (just to name a few).

The Holy Spirit can’t be purchased, so how do I receive Him? Is it when I believe? When I am baptized? Does someone need to lay hands on me? Can the Spirit be taken away?