Pastor's Column 5/26/2024

PASTOR’S COLUMN

“After this prayer, the meeting place shook and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.”  Acts 4:31, NLT

 “Necessary Movement”

Nothing will ever change unless there is some action, that precipitates movement. I can remember as a young boy learning in school about kinetic energy. In simple terms, there is movement inherent in some objects, but the movement must be released by some force. That is science; but even in such principles, we can learn a lesson about the wonderful work of God in our lives. More specifically, we can learn a great deal about the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. As we reflect on the greatest gift of the Spirit, given to the Church; we note that those souls who were empowered by the presence of the Spirit, did not remain still. The Book of Acts describes the early apostles and believers - men and women – as a community dispersed for ministry and action. The receipt of any gift, obligates us to use that endowment for the good of others also. Never should any of us be like the man in the great parable Jesus told; who took money (a talent) given to him and buried it in the cold dirt. There is an aliveness inherent in all what the Lord gives us, and does on our behalf. When the Spirit-filled Christians met others and shared the Good News of a life in Jesus Christ, they shared their faith, through a public Baptism. Fervent prayer accompanied this bold step the new believers took; and the fervency of their worship and prayer was met with a thunderous noise. The Spirit was released into the hearts of the new believers! Like these new Spirit-filled believers, the “movement’ of the Spirit is necessary to transform us. The transformation of others, depends on our witness of God’s love and the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on behalf of all who come to believe, trust, and follow His teachings. When President Dwight Eisenhower commissioned the Interstate Highway System in 1956, there were many roadways blocked by impassable boulders. These obstructions were blasted and removed. The thunderous sound meant progress; which created a network of highways to span the nation. We should listen for that sound, which echoes the Spirit’s call to us. We must travel many roads!