IN TODAY’S WORSHIP

Fifty days after Passover (our Easter-time) came the festival of Pentecost. Jerusalem was again filled with visitors from all over the then-known world to celebrate the barley harvest. God had chosen this time centuries before, as the time He would give His Holy Spirit to begin a new harvest – a harvest of people. The Holy Spirit came on the first believers, empowering them to scatter the “seed” of the Good News that Christ paid for all sins on the cross and rose on Easter to guarantee this forgiveness. The Holy Spirit today still empowers us, His people. He (1) Brings us to faith through the power of the Word (1 Corinthians 12:3); (2) Helps us understand the magnitude of God’s love and grace to us (1 Corinthians 2:10); and (3) Takes our prayers and enhances our thoughts before God’s throne (Romans 8:26); (4) Lives within us to guide our lives so that we live in holy ways that bring honor to God, our Father (Psalm 51:12-13). Today’s sermon focus is on the Holy Spirit as our Counselor, living with, guiding you to live to the praise of Christ. Today is the day to get into counseling … with the Holy Counselor.