28th january 2018

Jon gives the next talk in our series "Ephesians: who we are in God" using Ephesians1: 19-23

Acts 16 - Lydia’s Lifeline. It’s our responsibility to build churches and preach the Gospel on the new estates, not the Council or builders. We shouldn’t abdicate the responsibility we have to educate and help others. Paul and Silas were led to Philippi to preach the Gospel. Lydia worshipped God. Paul and Silas met her with a group of women in Philippi, though she was originally from Thyatira.God is impressed when men and women surrender their hearts to Him. Lydia surrendered her heart to God. It is God’s work to bring them into His Kingdom. New birth through the Cross is the only way to access this. She had to repent, believe the Gospel, be baptised and believe the Holy Spirit. Chills and tingles are not primarily what the Holy Spirit is about. Jesus didn’t die so that the Church can be like the World. If we are to be used of God, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ask God for His wisdom. Using your own mind and ability isn’t good enough. Ask God for wisdom in normal living.a). The Forbidding Spirit b). The Pleading Vision c). The Place of Prayer.