“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness...[then] returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee...And He taught in their synagogues”
- Luke 4:1-2, 14-15
Ahoy Open Road!
Last Sunday was one of the most beautiful afternoons together for a while. The atmosphere of our gathering matched the sporadic, light tinkles, still breeze and silky ocean!
This Sunday, it'd be great to have equally calm seas as Stephen + Alex Harris (parents to Blossom, Elio and Faith) choose to be baptised in accordance with the example and call of Jesus!
If you'd like to join us that'd be very special. If you'd like to be baptised along with them, please call 0402 301 568 or hit REPLY now and let me know :)
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Last week I began a simple explanation of faith in Jesus, summarised as: forgiven, filled and following.
Forgiven by the Father.
Filled with the Spirit.
Following Jesus.
One of the reasons we discuss being "filled with the Spirit" is that Jesus modelled it and promised the same to all who would follow after him. While the biblical examples and directives to be filled with the Spirit are numerous, as Christians, Jesus gives us the primary example to obey.
After Jesus' baptism in Luke chapter 3 (if he did it, why wouldn't we?), we read that Jesus was filled with the Spirit (4:1), led by the Spirit (4:14) and empowered by the Spirit (4:14). While we don't want to ignore being led or empowered, it all starts with being filled by the Holy Spirit.
As we shared on Sunday, Jesus cares about your love and obedience to him. However, this is not about perfection or moral discipline, but about an internal gift of God's Holy Spirit that he says will be like "rivers of living water", bubbling out of you.
In this way, being filled with the Holy Spirit is much more than simply good vibes or emotional experiences. It's part identity (God makes his home in you), part outcomes (His Holy Spirit guides and comforts you) and part empowerment (God accomplishes in you what you could never accomplish yourself).
If we are to be followers of Jesus, then we need the same Spirit-presence and power working in us that he had in him. Gladly, it's what he promises. As we put our faith in God, as Stephen and Alex will express in their baptism this week, we are designed to emerge into the coming season filled, led and empowered by God's Spirit.
While God is always faithful in his promise to fill us, he commands us in the Bible to "go on being filled" with his Spirit, learning to be led by and empowered by him through every season in life.
In the same way that God called Jesus to "teach" others about God after he was filled by the Spirit, God is and will call each of us to serve those around us. Serving others is part of being filled with the Spirit.
While faith comes apart from any favour we could earn from God, part of being filled with God's Holy Spirit is giving our best effort to be led by and empowered by him. This will be the topic of next week's email.
If this makes you nervous in any way, let me encourage you that this journey of loving obedience to Jesus by the power of his Holy Spirit is the most valuable aspect of my 45 years on the life.
Living for God, with God, by the power of God is hands-down the best way to live.
Living for God, with God, by the power of God is hands-down the best way to live.
On a personal note, God challenged me last week to ensure that we are open, upfront, and humbly reliant on the presence and work of the Holy Spirit amongst us. For some people there has been some confusion or even controversy surrounding the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus so clearly taughted and modelled being filled with the Spirit, I want to ensure that we offer his invitation to you with as much enthusiasm as he did.
The picture God used to speak to me was of a flag at half-mast. I felt God encourage me that we should a Full-Mast Holy Spirit church :) Willing to pursue the filling, leading and empowering of God's Holy Spirit just like Christ and the Bible directs us.
So, providing you're happy to be a full-mast, Holy-Spirit filled Christian, I'll see you Sunday :) Much love,
Dan
Dan + Martine Sharing Open Road's Story
Martine and I were recently asked to share a bit of our journey at Beach Church.
Coming Up
November
Mondays - Emotionally Healthy Relationships, Kings Beach - Katie 0412 500 940
Mondays - Young Adults - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Thursdays - Dads Coffee, Bible + Prayer - Dan 0402 301 568
Fridays - 6am Men's Prayer - Fred 0431 437 080
Sundays - Home Church - Marcello + Mariela 0428 986 423
Sun 16 - 3pm Beach Gathering at Moffats + Baptisms
Sun 23 - 3pm Beach Gathering at Moffats
Sun 30 - 3pm Beach Gathering at Moffats
Our Mission
To help people find and follow Jesus.
Our Rhythms
Get to Know Jesus: how are you getting to know Jesus this week?
Invite people into your life: who can you intentionally open up your life to?
Gather and get involved: who can you connect, listen, share or pray with this weekend?
Our Giving
We are slowly being led to needs for our giving kitty! Please take time to ask God if there is someone in need around you whom God wants you/us to help!
Last month's giving: $12,796
Last month's expenses: $11,756
Balance: $80,321
Giving in : Oct 23-Oct 25: $5000
Giving out : Oct 23-Oct 25: $15,663
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." - Proverbs 19:17
If you would like to support what we are doing and our giving to those in need, you can get started giving to Open Road to meet the needs of our church or get in touch with any questions you may have.
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