= the NEED for the SPIRITUAL =
Nov 1st week - service with Pst Ulf Ekman

χάρισμα, Charisma in original Greek text,
means gift or divine favor.
and so "the Charismatic Church"
fitly describes us who speak in tongues
as it is the gift from the Spirit because of the special favor..

together with the gifts of the Spirit,
the anointment of the Holy Spirit
brings upon the believe a power - grace..
the supernatural power to live a fruitful life..
this power brings LIFE..

Galatians 3:14
'that the blessing of Abraham
might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus,
that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.'

when the Holy Spirit comes into us,
He provides us with whatever we need.
strengths, wisdom, knowledge, and all...

1 Corinthians 2:5, 12
'that your faith should not be
in the wisdom of men
but in the power of God.'

'Now we have received,
not the spirit of the world,
but the Spirit who is from God,
that we might know the things
that have been freely given to us by God.'

but without the Holy Spirit,
we can only rely on our own strengths,
and thus we are limited...
that's exactly what Jesus meant here...

John 15:5
“I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;
for without Me you can do nothing."

indeed outside God we can do nothing..
of course we can do something in that we can do a lot physically..
but the point is that nothing we do can ever LAST..

John 15:16
'You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit,
and that your fruit should remain,
that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.'

sometimes, some Christians say they don't know whether it's God..
well let me tell you that is not..
because when God works,
you just know it's from the Lord..
no confusion.. no mistaking it..

the difference in nature between the Holy Spirit and the world
can be made obvious by studying the ways they operate..

the world ORGANIZES an INSTITUTION; but
the Spirit FORMS a LIVING CHURCH.
the world CONTROLS the institution; but
the Spirit SHAPES the church.
in the world people are TOLD WHAT TO DO; but
in the Spirit things are REVEALED.
so in the world people do things when THEY HAVE TO;
but
in the Spirit people do things 'cos THEY WANT TO and 'cos they LOVE..
and so they do things with enthusiasm..

this is why the character of the Holy Spirit is so beautiful..
it is one thing to know about that..
but man, I tell you it's completely different
when you experience it for yourself..

there is one point in life when you learn to obey..
just so that you can keep the presence of God with you..
because you love Him so much..
and that's how you learn to be more like Him...
as you really strive, to do what He likes..

NOTICE: the Holy Spirit could come only because of Jesus' sacrifice!

Galatians 3:13
'Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law,
having become a curse for us
(for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham
might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.'

=> no sacrifice, no Holy Spirit in your life..

everyone has something he/she gotta deal with..
maybe a sin, a weakness, or an unhealthy part of life..
or it could be just something you hold dear to..
well God wants you to bring that onto the altar to offer it to Him..
because your slaughtering it brings death, then resurrection
and then the power of the Holy Spirit..

James 2:21, 22
'Was not Abraham our father justified by works
when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?'

'...faith was working together with his works,
and by works faith was made perfect...'

you see, this is important..
because although God called everyone
to have a relationship with Him..
but NOT every Christian loves Him strong enough..

Matthew 24:11-13
'Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

And because lawlessness will abound,
the love of many will grow cold.

But he who endures to the end shall be saved.'

to guard against that we need to prepare ourselves now..
and such sacrifices help to grow your love for Him..
because just as love leads one to sacrifice,
consistent sacrifices actually produce love..
and love and it alone can produce life..

and just as importantly, it's gotta be done out of revelation..
because only then the offering become a pleasing one..

1 Samuel 15:22
'So Samuel said:
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams."'

and only a heart of obedience draws the Holy Spirit near..
you could convince yourself you have to do it..
and do it out of an unwilling heart..
[and a real childish one I would say..]
but God wants you to do it out of ρημα, a rhema,
and out of love for Him..

Numbers 24:3~4
'Then he took up his oracle and said:
“The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor,
The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,

The utterance of him who hears the words of God,
Who sees the vision of the Almighty,
Who falls down, with eyes wide open:
(and he blessed Israel).."'

with blind eyes, people utter nonsense..
but with opened eyes, revelations..
with closed ears, you listen to the sermon..
but with opened ears, you hear God..

it's your choice. make it today.

there's gonna be a revival..
we need to prepare ourselves
by being completely filled with the Holy Spirit..
there are many things we want to do..
and probably much more we need to do..
we need the power of the Holy Spirit
yes we do.. like deadly do...
right now.. as soon as possible..
no time to waste.. do all you can...
open your heart today..

Acts 3:19
'Repent therefore and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out,
so that times of refreshing
may come from the presence of the Lord...'