We Are Connected (Acts 18:1-11)
Gary McManus, 08/03/2014Part of the Life With Jesus is Better series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
In the book of Acts, we have the ANCIENT
expression of the faith TO and FOR an ancient
people. Even all over the known world, the
expressions are the same. (Acts 2)
Paul can say “I see that you are VERY RELIGIOUS”
(Acts 17:22) Even in disputes, it wasn’t whether
a person believes this or that but Jesus.
What was true then about that audience back then
is NOT true now. People today are NOT agreed
on how we see the world. Some people don’t
even believe Jesus ever existed.
(That was never a concern in the ancient world!)
Seen the film or read the book, “Heaven is for Real”?
The story explains that life is NOT what you see, hear and
feel everyday. There is another dimension to life. Our life
is spiritual. We ARE spirits as well as flesh.
(Genesis 1:27, John 4:24)
Americans, generally, don’t think that way.
Some will say they are not “religious” but
they are “spiritual.”
But to claim to be spiritual and to actually live
spiritually are two very different things.
The book of Acts up to chapter 18 has a number
of spiritual moments and they are described.
Those events didn’t have to be explained;
just about EVERYONE already believed them.
But not so today. However, there are many experiences
in THIS LIFE that have brought people to understand
and accept that life is a SPIRITUAL experience.
They don’t always lead to seeing life as spiritual.
How to describe the presence of spiritual life. . .?
Imagine your house and you notice a door
that leads to another room only to discover
that it isn't another room but an entire WING
that you did not know even existed before.
You would begin to live differently.
Ever been to the ocean?
That is CLOSE to what a spiritual experience
might be like.
However, we are spirits. Living a spiritual life
is what our Lord Jesus has in mind for us. (John 3:5)
The Apostle Paul told his congregations more than once
. . .live by the spirit (Romans 8, Galatians 5:25,
1 Corinthians 3:1)
Life in the spirit is an on-going spiritual experience.
We are connected by the Spirit of God; the Holy Spirit.
So, in the book and the movie Heaven is for real,
we have a report of someone who has been to heaven.
Is that so remarkable? (Romans 8:9, 1 Peter 1:4,
Ephesians 3:20)
There are dark spiritual forces.(Ephesians 6:12)
Jesus disputed about the source of His power.
(Mark 3:22-24)
But Jesus was light (and not darkness):
John 8:12, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8,
1 Thessalonians 5:5
Connect with the Holy Spirit.
Be reminded of who you are.
The Spirit of the Lord lives in you.
Live by the Spirit. Amen
Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
---|---|---|
« Get Connected | None | Share the New Life » |