January 16, 2000 Humble Messenger
Humble Messenger
Volume 8, Week 3 January 16, 2000
---------------
Building Knowledge srf
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is found from the beginning to the end of the Bible: Gen . 1:2,
"the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters"..."the
Spirit and the bride say, Come.'" Rev. 22:17.
All we can know about Him, we learn through the revealed Word of God, not through personal
experiences. When discussing the Spirit and His interaction with early saints, the apostle
wrote, "If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge
that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if
anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant," 1 Co. 14:37-38, NKJV.
The Holy Spirit is presented in Scripture as a Divine, rational, Being interested and
active in the salvation of man.
His divine creative power is indicated early: "the Spirit of God was moving
over the surface of the waters," Gen. 1:2 ["moving over" - exercising a
powerful influence over. Compare 2 Pt. 1:21.].
Jesus was glorified through His work in the apostles, revealing and confirming Jesus'
identity, role, and grace: "the Spirit of truth..., He will testify of Me,"
Jn 15:26; "But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into
all the truth...He shall glorify Me..." Jn. 16:13,14. Indeed, those who
come to know and believe in the Christ of the gospels are baptized "in the name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," Mt. 28:19.
The event of Ananias and Sapphira strongly demonstrated the Spiritıs active interest and
involvement in the development of the early church: "But Peter said, OEAnanias, why
has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied to men,
but to God... Then Peter said to her, 'Why is it you have agreed together to put
the Spirit of the Lord to the test?" Acts 5:3,4,9.
As the gospel was spread throughout the world, the Spirit made choice as to who would go
and where they would go: "As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy
Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
called them... so being sent out by the Holy Spirit" Acts 13:2,4;
"having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia..."
Acts 16:6.
When a serious issue threatened the unity of the early church and the fundamental gospel
of salvation by faith for all regardless of race, we see the Holy Spiritıs work appealed
to in resolving this issue and establishing the truth. Some taught the non-Jews, the
Gentiles, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be
saved," Ac. 15:1. However, Peter reminded that God gave the non-Jews "the
Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us," v. 8. Paul and Barnabas related "what
signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles," v. 12. These signs
and wonders were performed by the power of the Holy Spirit. James noted, "the
Prophets agree" that God intended to make non-Jews His people, v. 14,15. These
prophets were "moved by the Holy Spirit," 2 Pt. 1:21. Clearly then, the apostles
and elders of Jerusalem wrote, "it seemed good to the Holy Spirit" not to
require the "burdens" of circumcision and keeping the law as conditions of
salvation, Ac. 15:28.
The early churches, though without the complete New Testament (it was yet being written),
were able to enjoy "the word of wisdom" and "the word of knowledge"
and other spiritual gifts confirming the word of truth in their assemblies "through
the Spirit," 1 Co. 12:8.
Godıs plan for manıs salvation in Christ Jesus was "revealed through the Spirit;
for the Spirit searches... even the depths of God" (1 Co. 2:7-10). Hearing,
believing, and obeying that gospel He revealed, we entered into a relationship with
Christ: "by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (1 Co. 12:13).
If we fail to "walk in a manner worthy of this calling," we "grieve the
Holy Spirit of God" (Eph. 4:1,30), and if we turn away from that gospel of grace
He revealed we "insult the Spirit of grace" (Heb. 10:29). "The
Spirit and the bride say, 'Come'... take of the water of life without cost."
(Rev. 22:17). Let us heed the admonitions given us "by the love of the
Spirit" (Rom. 15:30) and always pursue "the fellowship of the Holy Spirit"
(2 Co. 13:14)!
------------
Resolution: Heightened Alertness, Devotion in Public Worship Jn. 4:24; Mal.
1:6-9,11
Tips: (from David Osteenıs sermon last Sunday evening)
(1) Sing from memory. (2) Bring songbooks when traveling and sing together as a family (3)
Incorporate words of previous song in following prayers (4) Use spiritual songs at
appropriate times in our daily lives, e.g. Acts 16:25.
---------
News
Ralph Robinson was moved to the HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital,
Room 115. Visiting hours are 3:008:30 P.M. weekdays, and 11:008:30 P.M. Saturday and
Sunday (281/446-6148) . . . Sommer Emerson is scheduled to undergo a tonsillectomy
this Thursday . . . Fred Fergusonıs father went for the the VA Hospital last
week for prostate cancer tests . . . The background and purpose of "Resolution
TipsWhat Works For Me" was explained in last weekıs Humble Messenger.
Briefly (in case you missed it), they are practical suggestions submitted by members
of the congregation explaining what they have found to help them keep the
resolutions discussed in the sermon Sunday morning, Jan. 2 . . The sermon last Sunday
morning, Jan. 9, dealt with our attitudes and obligations to those who have fallen away.
In the course of the lesson two were mentioned who, regrettably, fall into that category.
If you were absent, you can obtain a copy of the lesson from John Whitehead. "Take
care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in
falling away from the living God." Heb. 3:12. Keeping the resolutions we
discussed will help us‹and our loved ones‹"take care" against
"falling away" . . . Our gospel meeting with Joe Fitch begins Feb. 13.
A meal list is posted in the foyer. Joeıs wife, Laverne, will accompany him . . .
The "Scheduled to Serve" box in last weekıs bulletin mistakenly listed David
Osteen as the preacher for this eveningıs assembly. David preached last week; Steve
will preach this evening.
-------
Wednesday Jan 19
Song Leader: David Osteen
Close: Eddie Crain
Sunday AM, Jan. 23
Announcements: Gregg Hutson
Song Leader: David Osteen
First Prayer: Jim Porterfield
Lordıs Table
_ Bread: John Lowrance
_ Fruit of the Vine: Lynn Michaels
_ Contribution: Ennis Osteen
_ Assistant: Craig Ottersbach
Preaching: Steve Fontenot
Closing Prayer: Mike Head
Sunday PM, Jan. 23
Song Leader: David Osteen
First Prayer: Mark Laburt
Lordıs Table
_ Bread: John Lowrance
_ Fruit of the Vine: Lynn Michaels
_ Contribution: Ennis Osteen
Preaching: Rocky Rodriguez
Closing Prayer: Eddie Crain
If you are a scheduled song leader but know
you will be unavailable, please notify Jim Crain.
If you are scheduled to serve in any other capacity but cannot serve as scheduled, please
notify Boyd Hurst.
------------
Transportation for Zelma Bobbitt
JANUARY
Sun. 16 pm W. L. Ottersbach
Wed. 19 pm Lauren Hutson
Sun. 23 pm W. L. Ottersbach
Wed. 26 pm Rocky Rodriguez
Sun. 30 pm Boyd Hurst
---------
Lord's Supper Preperation Year 2000
January - Fontenot
February - Knudsen
March - Emerson
April - Hurst
May -
June - Bobbie Crain
July -
August -
September - Legg
October - Hodges
November -
December - Rocky
---------
Wednesday Evening Close
Jan. 19 Eddie Crain
Jan. 26 Jim Crain
Feb. 2 David Dickey
Feb. 9 Kris Emerson
Feb. 16 Gospel Meeting