Dear Church,
Take a minute and re-read Sunday’s text.
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:25-27
Sunday was Pentecost Sunday the celebration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church. What was foretold in Ezekiel came to pass. See Acts 2.
Because of the Holy Spirit’s coming, according to Ezekiel, we can have a CLEAN HEART, SINGLE HEART, NEW HEART AND OBEDIENT HEART. This is what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit makes possible!
Salvation is the starting point. Sanctification (the Baptism of the Holy Spirit) will take us to the finish line. It is the transforming work of the Holy Spirit that will enable us to live a holy life. If you haven’t prayed to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, pray about asking for this infilling! Paul said, “I die daily.” He died to self and daily yielded to the Spirit of God. It’s not a one time filling, but a daily recognition that God wants to work on the inside of us, conforming us to His will, giving us His desires, empowering us to do the work of Jesus.
Send me an email if you prayed to receive the Holy Spirit on Sunday or if you do this week. I would love to rejoice with you over this next step toward your maturity in Christ!
Please remember we have a SPECIAL CALLED BUSINESS MEETING this Wednesday. We need every eligible voter to vote. Call the church office if you need an absentee ballot. The meeting will take place at 7:45 p.m. following our regular studies.
God bless you with His Spirit is my prayer!
Pastor Melissa
