indwelling

We are seeking to learn more about the Holy Spirit and His role in our lives as individuals and as a church. We began at the very beginning last week, from the opening sentence of Genesis, and found the Spirit at work from then until now. As Christians we benefit from a drastically different experience of the Spirit than even the prophets of the Old Testament. Ezekiel prophecies that God will put a new, softer, undivided heart in us, and because of that Spirit, Paul writes that we can - are able to - walk in the Spirit in a new way unattached to the law but instead driven by Jesus’ faithful righteousness and empowered by His Spirit.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

We look back on the Gospel of John and see how strong and clear its message about Jesus is. How close He is to the Father, how present He is with us, how important the Spirit is. The beauty of John's masterpiece all boils down to Jesus being the center of everything that matters. 

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

Today we look at one of the most powerful symbols in our Christian walk, baptism. It’s a practice that launches the story of Jesus by way of his kinsman herald, John the Baptist, who proclaims the nearness of God’s kingdom and plunges people beneath the Jordan River in an act of renewal and repentance. The practice of immersion in water is part and parcel of life in Israel at the time, often accompanying sacrifices at the temple (e.g., Mary’s cleansing after giving birth to Jesus). And BTW, “baptism” as a word in Greek means to dip or submerge something. 

Baptism takes on all new meaning with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It becomes the covenantal act that joins the people of God to Himself, much as the symbol of circumcision did in the former covenant. In ever instance in the New Testament, baptism is accompanied by an aspect of will, be it faith, repentance, or confession. Paul powerfully describes the moment to burial under water in the act of baptism to be the point of contact with the death and burial of Jesus, and the rising out of the water to be the point of contact with His resurrection. It is a beautiful parallel to Jesus’ victory that brings His power (and the Holy Spirit) into our lives forever!

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

The Gospel of John is taking us into Chapter 7, where Jesus draws onto Himself even more deeply than before the role of the temple, and where He amplifies the wondrous message He'd already given to the woman at the well in Samaria in John 4. "Let anyone who is thirsty, come to Me," He cries out, promising rivers of living water to those who believe. What a promise! We will only be able to scratch the surface of Jesus' profound promise, but we hope you can come along on the journey with us.

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

We are building on the base knowledge that Holy Spirit is God, a person of the Trinity, and worthy of our pursuit. We begin to look at when we are "baptized" in Him. When we desire to be immersed in His presence, He will fill those who seek Him. As we surrender, Holy Spirit begins to become unmistakable to us and those around us. Seek Him.

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This week Steve and Tim sit down with Cherith Nordling to discuss the humanity of Christ. This is a particular point of interest to Cherith as she is writing a book on the topic. For updates on this book, follow her at www.facebook.com/cherith.nordling

For more from Cherith, check out her Open Table conference in June at https://www.opentableconference.com/otc-online-iv.​
or
Register for her Revelation study which will start in September at https://www.opentableconference.com/revelation-class

This week's episode is brought to you by the "From Survive to Thrive" program in Uganda. Every day they are rescuing girls as young as 13 who have been abused, impregnated, and left to live on the streets. The Remnant Generation takes them in, provides the medical care that they need to deliver their child safely, and begins a process to set them back on their feet.

Check out Robinah's story as mentioned by Steve at here.

Through May 23, every gift will be doubled by generous friends of Impact Nations. Give today and rescue two lives! www.impactnations.com/thrive

Notes:
John 14:16-17
John 14:25-27
1 Cor. 2:9-13
John 20:19-22
Ephesians 2:21-22
Psalm 51:11
Ephesians 1:13-14
2 Corinthians 1:22
2 Corinthians 5:5
Philippians 1:6
Romans 8
Hebrews 12:1-2