ADVENT WEEK 3  ~ JOY

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ."  (Luke 2: 25-26 ) I just love Simeon.  To me, he is like such an adoringly proud Grandpa to this new baby Jesus.  He is part of the family of God, waiting, waiting, waiting, for this new life that he is connected to, to arrive to carry on the family generations. He's been waiting a long, long, time.  As if standing in the family background waiting, watching, praying for that which appears to be infertile, yet continually holding out hope for the proclamation of a long awaited promised conception and arrival making the family complete; fulfilled.   He stood in that hope disappointed month after month, perhaps even anguished in dashed hope and longing, year after year as each passed without seeing his hearts desires.  He grew old in it.  Yet, he held on to the revealed promise of it.  What God promises, He does in His own timing. Scripture tells us "there was a man" ~ Simeon.  It doesn't call him a prophet, a saint, a priest ... just an ordinary individual like you and I.   Albeit, he was "righteous and devout".  This ordinary man was spending time with God, and in so doing, his life became righteous and devout.  He spent his time in the presence of God.  In that, "the Holy Spirit was upon him."   What does that matter?  What good is the Holy Spirit anyway? "Revealed to him by the Holy Spirit" ~ that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.    THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ~The Holy Spirit is a part of the Holy Trinity with the Father and Son.  Most Christians understand Jesus the Son, and God the Father as two very distinct Persons within the Godhead; however, there has been much confusion over the identity of the Holy Spirit.  There are three very distinct Person’s that make up the Godhead. They are all equal in every way. They (The Father, Son and Holy Spirit) are all: Omnipotent – All powerful. Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. Omnipresent – At all places at once. Psalms 139:7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence? Omniscient – All knowing. 1 Corinthians 2:10 But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. Eternal - Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Equal - Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own power? why have you conceived this thing in your heart? you have not lied unto men, but unto God. Four important principles to remember 1)The Holy Spirit is a distinct Person within the Godhead, not a force, a thing, or an "it" 2) We cannot focus on the Holy Spirit too much. Why? What is the Holy Spirit’s mission? To reveal Jesus. What is Jesus mission…to reveal the Father. What about the Father…to send Jesus and the Holy Spirit so we can come to Him. Perfect Harmony. They never had a crisis management meeting in Heaven. They never tried to sit down and work things out. They never had a power struggle amongst themselves. 3) The Holy Spirit gives gifts for use in ministry and empowers effective ministry Qualities that a person has…(a force or thing does not) 1) The Holy Spirit has intellect. 1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 2) The Holy Spirit has knowledge. 1 Corinthians 2:11 even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 3) The Holy Spirit has emotions. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve (lupeo (pronounced loo-peh'-o)); to make sad or sorrowful, heavy of heart) not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 4) The Holy Spirit has his own will and he makes decisions. Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia (pronounced froog-ee'-ah) and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 5) The Holy Spirit Loves. Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; Things only a person would do (a force or thing does not) 1)  He teaches you things about God and yourself. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 2) He tells the truth. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 3) He guides. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 4) He convinces. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 5) He prays for you. Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 6) He commands. Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. In fact, the Holy Spirit has always worked hand-in-hand with Jesus Christ His Birth - Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. The life and ministry of Jesus - Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness AND… Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, His death and offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice- Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? The resurrection of Jesus – Actually all 3 members of the Godhead had a part in the resurrection! Father - Ephesians 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Son (He had the power to take His own life up again) - John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. Holy Ghost - Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: In fact, the main purpose of the Holy Spirit is to tell us about Jesus and Glorify Him. John 16:13-14 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.   QUESTION:  What would you like the Holy Spirit to reveal to you about Jesus? PRAYER:    Lord, hear my prayers ...

Traditions From Around The World In JAPAN Christmas was introduced in Japan by the Christian missionaries, and for many years the only people who celebrated it were those who had turned to the Christian faith. But now the Christmas season in Japan is full of meaning and is almost universally observed. The idea of exchanging gifts seems to appeal strongly to the Japanese people. The tradesmen have commercialized Christmas just as our western shops have done. For several weeks before the day, the stores shout Christmas. There are decorations and wonderful displays of appropriate gifts for men, women, and children -- especially children. The story of the Child Jesus born in a manger is fascinating to the little girls of Japan, for they love anything having to do with babies. In the scene of the Nativity they become familiar for the first time with a cradle, for Japanese babies never sleep in cradles.

 

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