(by pastor Norman)

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7). When we believed in and asked Jesus into our lives to be our Lord and Saviour (Rom 10:9-10) He came into our lives as the Holy Spirit (Gal 4:6). We are God’s temple with the Holy Spirit living in us (1 Cor 3:16). The disciples of Jesus first received the Holy Spirit when Jesus met with them after His resurrection, “He breathed on them and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22b; NKJV). After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3,4). This second experience with the Holy Spirit was an empowerment for ministry and living the Christian life (Acts 1:8) and is also known as the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Jesus had to be filled with the Holy Spirit while on earth to empower Him to perform all of His signs, wonders and miracles (Matt 3:16). The apostle Paul (Saul) preached and ministered by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:4,5; 1 Thess 1:5). If we ask in faith Jesus will baptize us in the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). This Holy Spirit power gives, “life to your mortal bodies” (Rom 8:11; NKJV), in other words health, healing and wholeness. If we allow, this same Holy Spirit will change and mature us to be more and more like Jesus (2 Cor 3:18; Gal 5:22,23; Titus 3:5) and empower us to spread the gospel with signs, wonders and miracles (1 Cor 12:7-11). Now that’s exciting, how is your faith for the power of the Holy Spirit to work in and through you?

(by Pastor Jean)

“Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things” (NKJV; Jer 33:3). The Hebrew word for “call” means a cry for help. We are told that if we call on God for help, He will answer us. David, in Psalm 31:17 was calling on God for help when he was being persecuted by some wicked men. Then in verse 22 we read, “You heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help” (NLT; see also Ps 18:3,4; 50:15). There are numerous verses in Psalms where the Psalmist called out to God for help and God delivered him. The prophet Isaiah urges us to “Call on Him now while He is near” (NLT). Joel likewise tells us that, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32; NLT). Then we read the New Testament equivalent of this verse in Rom 10:13, where Paul quotes those very words of Joel. (That is how we become a Christian, by simply calling on God to save us). Jesus of course taught us to call out to God but he used the word “pray” and He said that when we pray, we can be assured of an answer (John 17:7,16). There are times in life when circumstances become overwhelming and all we can do is cry out to God for help, knowing that we do not have the answers. Always remember that God does have the answer and He is wanting to help us. Do what the word says and, “call on God” and leave the rest to Him.

(By Pastor Norman)

How are we to live as Christians? Jesus said to His disciples: “If you love Me, show it by doing what I’ve told you” (John 14:15; MSG). Jesus followed His Father’s directions with no deviation (John 14:31) even to the point of a humble death on a cross (Phil 2:8). We are representatives of Jesus (Col 3:17) and everything we do should bring glory to God (1 Cor 10:31). We are to: “imitate Christ” (1 Cor 11:1; NKJV). Let God show us His way; His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours (Isa 55:8-9). The apostle Peter encourages us that as we walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit, we will experience God’s grace and peace to the fullest (1 Peter 1:2). To receive all God’s blessings and follow His instructions in our lives we must be: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22; NKJV). The Bible is our manual for life, every verse, not just our favourite ones. God’s word is our direction for every aspect of our Christian Walk. We read how to be saved or restored in our relationship with God (Rom 10:9,10), how to grow as a Christian in His church (Acts 2:42) and even how His church is to be structured and led (see the books of Timothy and Titus). God’s word describes the abundant blessings He has for us (John 10:10), including healing (Isa 53:5), how to have a successful marriage and family (Eph 5:25-41) and even how to grow our faith to receive all God has for us (Rom 10:17). God’s word really is our complete guide for life!

(By Pastor Jean)

“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth” (Col 3:2; NLT). We must program our minds to do this. In Col 3:1 we are told to “seek the things above”, the Greek word for “seek” is “zeteo” which means to strive after something or seek diligently. The Bible also tells us to look forward to heaven with expectation. We read in Heb 11:10 that Abraham “was (waiting expectantly and confidently) looking forward to the city that has foundations (an eternal, heavenly city)” (AMP). Verse 16 of that chapter also tells us that the descendants of Abraham were, “longing for a better country, that is a heavenly country.” Heaven is referred to as “paradise” by Jesus. He told the thief hanging next to Him on the cross, “today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The Bible doesn’t say an awful lot about heaven but we all know what “paradise “means so this gives a good indication. The apostles Paul and John also used this word. When Paul Was describing a vision he had he said he was, “caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words” (2 Cor 12:4; CSB). In the book of Revelation, John told the church at Ephesus that those who overcome will eat fruit from the tree of life which is in paradise. Regardless of what we do or don’t know about heaven there is one thing that is quite certain which is that Jesus will be there and we will see Him!! (Rev 1:17,19:4,6:1,4:2,3; Col 3:1).

(by Pastor Norman)

In the parable of the Sower (Luke 8:5-8, 11-15), seed was sown into 4 different soils. Some seed that landed on a path was trampled on and birds ate it. Seed sown on a rocky area germinated but died for lack of soil and moisture. Seed that fell among weeds which grew up and choked it but seed that fell on good soil, germinated and produced a great harvest. Jesus likened the seed to God’s word. Some people hear the word but satan quickly takes it from them so it can have no saving effect on their lives; this is the seed that fell on the path. The seed that fell on the rocks describes people who get excited by the word but have no depth, as they face the trials, trouble and temptations of life, the word is forgotten. The seed growing with weeds describes people who lose sight of the word amongst the cares, concerns and materialism in the world around them. The good soil refers to people with a real heart of love for God and who stick with the word, allowing it to change and grow them into all God has for them (2 Cor 3:18; Heb 4:12). God wants each of us to be good soil! We are called to grow beyond the foundations of our faith to become mature Christians and ambassadors for God (Heb 6:1-3; 2 Cor 5:20). The apostle Peter exhorted us to, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18; NKJV). The early church is such a good example of good soil as they, “devoted themselves to the apostles teaching” (Acts 2:42; NLT). We should do the same.