Over the years people have said the following statement to me a number of times, “You are a Christian, you should help me”.
As Christians we should help others. The Bible tells us this is part of the Christian life. It helps us to shine our lights and bring glory to God (Matthew 5:16).
However, there are times when we should not help. I have had people make this statement to me when they are doing nothing to help themselves.
An example is one fit and healthy person never worked, was often on drugs or alcohol and never tried to get help for that. They went from one charity or Christian person after another to get help.
Many people tried to help with the alcohol and drugs issue, but they did not see it as a problem. They just wanted money, fuel or food to get by until there government payments came. Then they would buy drugs or alcohol with it.
Why am I posting on this example? Because as Christians we are called to help. But it is important to not just help everyone as we may be enabling their habits or their laziness.
The key is to prayerfully listen to God when someone comes asking for help. I often pray, “Is this someone I should help Lord” and then I listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Most of the time the Holy Spirit says yes, but there are times when He says not today. I do not always understand why, but I have learned to trust His judgment as He knows everything.
Another example was a man came to my church door when I was a Pastor. He said he was broke and traveling through town. He was honest about his previous issues with alcohol. He just needed some money to get by.
As we talked I felt the Holy Spirit say take him to the shop and buy a basket of food for two days. So we went and got bread, milk, cereal, pasta and a treat to bless him. He was very thankful.
A few days later the man came back and thanked me. He looked a lot better in himself and said he was going to continue his journey. He even thanked me that I did not give him money or a voucher as he would have been tempted to buy alcohol.
I explained that God prompted me to go to the shop with him and buy food, not just give him money. He simply said, “God knows best” and went on his way.
So again, when someone says, “You are a Christian, you should help”. Remember we are called to help, but always pray and ask God if He wants us to help on this occasion.
When I reflect on what legacy I want to leave behind a memory verse comes to mind – 1 Corinthians 13:13. It says…
“Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love.”
This short verse contains three great truths that will last forever.
1. Faith – I hope people will remember me as a person who had faith in Jesus and tried wholeheartedly to follow Him.
2. Hope – I hope that my eternal hope in Christ is remembered. I pray people have seen this hope and are inspired by it when I am gone.
3. Love – I hope my love is evident to all that really know me. I want people to remember a love for my family and love for Jesus.
Legacy is a strange thing to think about to be honest. In this moment we think we have plenty of life left. But the reality is God could call us home any time.
When my time is finally over, I pray those around me would have seen my faith in Jesus, my eternal hope I have, and my love for my family and for Jesus.
This is an interesting question again. How do I feel about cold weather?
I have to admit this has changed as I have gotten older. When I was younger I loved warmer weather, but there is something about ageing and hot weather. It seems to take it out of you more.
Mind you we do have fairly hot summers where I live. In February we had three days above 45 degrees Celsius. That is nearly 115 Fahrenheit! In winter our coldest nights are about -2 Celsius, 28 Fahrenheit.
I just find that where I live I can do most things when it is cold. You just have to put on multiple layers of clothes. But when it is hot, we go in to survival mode and do everything early in the day.
So how do I feel about cold weather? In my context I prefer it to the heat of summer.
Today is Pentecost Sunday on the Church calendar. It is when we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit to the first followers of Jesus.
As we saw in our first reading the disciples were meeting in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came. It made so much a commotion that people came from all around.
Bible scholars tell us this was the beginning of the church age. The age when the Holy Spirit would fill and empower Christians to love one another and fulfil the Great Commission. The last words of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20.
Today I want to look at five reasons why we needed Pentecost to happen. Five reasons why we need the Holy Spirit today.
1. We need the Holy Spirit because Jesus promised to send another one like Him
In John chapters 15 and 16 we see that Jesus told the disciples that after He returned to the Father He would send another Counsellor (John 15:26, John 16:5-7).
When Jesus said that He would send ‘another counsellor’, the word ‘another’ here means ‘another of the same kind’. Jesus was saying that all that He had been to them the Spirit would continue to be once he had returned to the Father. I believe it is important for us as Christians to understand this role of the Holy Spirit.
While we trust Jesus for our salvation, it is the Holy Spirit who is our ever present help, comfort and counsellor today in the same way Jesus was to the disciples two thousand years ago.
2. We need the Holy Spirit because He teaches us and illuminates Scripture
The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit teaches us and reveals the truth of Scripture (John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:10-14). This teaching and revealing work of the Holy Spirit is often described as Illumination.
Bible scholars tell us that Illumination does not concern the impartation of new knowledge, but a clarification of the text as it stands revealed and inspired by God. I believe that it is especially important for the Christian to understand this teaching and illumination role of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible makes it clear to understand the “deep things of God” we need the wisdom, teaching and illumination of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:6-16).
3. We need the Holy Spirit because He assures us we belong to God
The Bible tells us that as soon as we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ we are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
A seal is a symbol of a finished transaction, of ownership and of security. Because we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, we can be assured of our salvation. In Romans 8:16 we see that the Holy Spirit also testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children and Ephesians 4:30 assures us that we are sealed until the day of redemption.
Understanding that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and assured of our salvation is very important for the Christian, especially the new Christian, as they are often prone to doubts and uncertainty about the decision they have made.
4. We need the Holy Spirit because He makes us more Christ-like
The Bible tells us that as Christians we are being transformed into likeness of Christ by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
When a person becomes born again, he is sanctified or set apart for God. This happens only once, but sanctification is also a daily process for the rest of one’s life. To achieve this work the Holy Spirit indwells the believer (Romans 8:11) and works in their life to produce the fruit of the Spirit as we saw in our second reading (Galatians 5:22-23).
I believe as Christians it important to realise that as we submit every area of our lives to the indwelling Holy Spirit, we allow Him to work in us to progressively reflect the character of Christ. This is what God intended for humankind when He originally created us.
5. We need the Holy Spirit because He equips us for service
The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit equips us for service with gifts and empowers us to be Christ’s witnesses (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit equips us to serve God by imparting His gifts, directing our ministry and anointing us with His power.
For the Christian it is vital to understand that while we have been called to serve God and be Christ’s witnesses, we have not been called to do this alone. We have been equipped by the Holy Spirit with gifts to undertake God’s work and we are empowered with the Holy Spirit’s power to be Christ’s witnesses.
Closing summary
Today we looked at five reasons why we needed the Holy Spirit to come at Pentecost. We saw…
1. We need the Holy Spirit because Jesus promised to send another one like Him
2. We need the Holy Spirit because He teaches us and illuminates Scripture
3. We need the Holy Spirit because He assures us we belong to God
4. We need the Holy Spirit because He makes us more Christ-like
5. We need the Holy Spirit because He equips us for service
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