THE LOVE-FILLED CHURCH (4 OF 4)
by Lenny Ports
Scripture: John 15:26-27
This content is part of a series.
The Love-Filled Church (4 of 4)
Series: Love So Strong
Lenny Ports
John 15:26-27
The New Testament church began on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the 120 in the upper room waiting for the ''promise of the Father.'' Despite what some modern-day theologians and religious leaders want you to believe, the TRUTH is that the church was founded in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Period. Too many of us have seen abuses or misuses of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, true, but you can't ''throw the baby out with the bath water.'' Here at Encounter, we desire a PURE, AUTHENTIC, and POWERFUL move of the Holy Spirit. What does that look like?
First, it looks like Jesus. The buzz word in a Spirit-filled church is JESUS. Everything we do is centered around Him. We don't play church, we serve the Master. We don't control the service, Jesus is Lord and He has the pre-eminence.
John 15:26 ''But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
So, when the Holy Spirit comes (which He does every time we gather in Jesus' Name), He will move in our midst and He will move through people surrendered and submitted to God, and all the glory will go to Jesus. I love how Jesus said to His disciples in vs 27, not only will the Holy Spirit testify of Me, you also will bear witness of Me. He is saying the same thing to us today, ''you, disciples of mine, with the Holy Spirit living inside, will tell others what you have witnessed and experienced of Me.''
Secondly, it looks like LOVE. Agape Love. We've been talking about it for a few weeks now. It is the God-kind of love. Again, the characteristics of Agape are:
1. Unconditional
2. Unfailing
3. Unchanging
4. Committed
5. Constant
6. Faithful
7. Grace-Filled
8. True
9. Ever-giving
10. Other-centered
11. Sacrifici ...
Series: Love So Strong
Lenny Ports
John 15:26-27
The New Testament church began on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the 120 in the upper room waiting for the ''promise of the Father.'' Despite what some modern-day theologians and religious leaders want you to believe, the TRUTH is that the church was founded in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Period. Too many of us have seen abuses or misuses of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, true, but you can't ''throw the baby out with the bath water.'' Here at Encounter, we desire a PURE, AUTHENTIC, and POWERFUL move of the Holy Spirit. What does that look like?
First, it looks like Jesus. The buzz word in a Spirit-filled church is JESUS. Everything we do is centered around Him. We don't play church, we serve the Master. We don't control the service, Jesus is Lord and He has the pre-eminence.
John 15:26 ''But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
So, when the Holy Spirit comes (which He does every time we gather in Jesus' Name), He will move in our midst and He will move through people surrendered and submitted to God, and all the glory will go to Jesus. I love how Jesus said to His disciples in vs 27, not only will the Holy Spirit testify of Me, you also will bear witness of Me. He is saying the same thing to us today, ''you, disciples of mine, with the Holy Spirit living inside, will tell others what you have witnessed and experienced of Me.''
Secondly, it looks like LOVE. Agape Love. We've been talking about it for a few weeks now. It is the God-kind of love. Again, the characteristics of Agape are:
1. Unconditional
2. Unfailing
3. Unchanging
4. Committed
5. Constant
6. Faithful
7. Grace-Filled
8. True
9. Ever-giving
10. Other-centered
11. Sacrifici ...
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