From the Pastor at Trinity!

BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT!

Leighton Ford tells of a visit his brother-in-law, Billy Graham, made to a very large and influential church. His host told him of an unfortunate experience. One of the officers in that church had repeatedly gotten drunk, and so they had to discipline him and put him out of the church fellowship. Mr. Graham asked, How long has it been since you put somebody out of the church for not being filled with the Holy Spirit? His host looked startled. So Mr. Graham continued, The Bible says, (Don't get drunk with wine,) but the very same verse says, (Be filled with the Spirit.) To be sure, Mr. Graham was making a very valid point, which seeks to remind us of the fact that the positive command to be filled with the Spirit is just as binding as the negative command not to be drunk with wine. (Robert J. Morgan, Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, p. 439)

This coming Sunday we will again celebrate Pentecost, which commemorates the descending of the Holy Spirit upon the early disciples and other followers of Christ, as it is recorded in the Book of Acts, chapter two. No doubt this is one of the most important events related to the Christian faith. This is so because of the fact that on Pentecost the Church received the promised gift of power from on high that would enable her to fulfill her mission and ministry of taking the Gospel to the entire world. Had not the Holy Spirit come, as Jesus assured His disciples that He would, the success of the Church, then and now, would have definitely been different.

Therefore, as we approach this special liturgical season, let's do more than celebrate Pentecost. Let's remind ourselves of the value of the Holy Spirit, and our individual need to be filled with this awesome power from on high, by gathering in our own Upper Rooms and praying for a mighty outpouring of God's Spirit upon Trinity and the Universal Church. Then we may witness the same kind of results as did those who were accused of being drunk with wine (Acts 2:13). Otherwise, we will only become those who have a form of godliness denying the power of such a gift, while failing to fulfill our mission and ministry. Make no mistake about it, this is a binding command and contract between Christ and His Church! BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT!!!

In His Name and For His Glory,

Pastor David