General News
30 May, 2024
Combined Christian Churches celebrated Pentecost over six nights
By Simonea Barden, chair of the Combined Christian Churches, and senior pastor of the Heartland Church. Photos inside.
Celebrating the Holy Spirit
Church crowds of passionate believers gathered at the AIM, Uniting/Anglican, Presbyterian, New Life Centre, Lutheran, and Heartland churches during the recent Unity Week from May 13-19. This has been happening yearly in Gilgandra for more than 25 years, offering a wonderful opportunity for churches and visitors to be encouraged and reminded of the reasons to attend church and to worship together.
Jesus, the reason we meet together. The great cause of Jesus Christ. Night after night, message after message filling and building the Church. With deacons, ministers, lay ministers, pastors, leaders, priests encouraging from the pulpits over the time together, there was no doubt that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit made the difference to the fruit and strength in the life of the Christian.
Discussing the ascension of Jesus Christ, the promise of the Holy Spirit and the roller coaster ride of faith, brought to life that the Holy Spirit is life, strength, our comforter, truth and God living within us. The Christian faith is not one of doom and gloom, but a message of hope and strength. A reminder that we are more than conquerors and overcomers. Through challenges of life, loss, hopelessness, raising a family, working and relationships the Holy Spirit gives you the power to overcome, to help, to teach, to forgive and so much more.
Jesus spoke to His disciples saying “but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”- Acts 1:8. What does that mean? Simply, telling others of Gods plan to send His son Jesus, who died and rose again. Sending the promise of the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Jesus Christ.
Testimony after testimony of Gods plan working out in peoples lives and now living with that very present Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a gift, the beautiful expression of a loving good God. What a blessing to be reminded to be a good Samaritan. Our faith brings us together, related, relational, one family. Being there for one another, movement towards one another, beyond customs and boundaries with each person in the image and likeness of God, touching others’ lives.
The Holy Spirit inspires you, challenges you to live out the Christian life according to Gods word in His bible. Loving strangers, enemies becoming friends. God’s love triumphs over hatred. Not because it’s a Christians job to think of others, not because Christians have a motive or agenda but purely made by love, with love and for love. All are invited to this divine call to know the unlimited mercy and infinite love of God through His Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is here with us today, through God’s word, through gathered congregations and through sacraments like baptism, communion and fellowship. The church is the gift to all and fills the God-shaped hole in hearts. In times of doubting Christianity, we can look to the facts of the word of God, the bible. We can look to the person of Jesus Christ – looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:2
Look to leaders that are worth following. Great leaders that are inspiring. There are many leaders that aren’t worth following but Jesus loved the adulteress at the well and she found the truth through Jesus’ respect for her. Peter denied Christ but he loved him back. Look to the miracles in those lives around you, to those that inspire to do great wonderful things like examples in the bible of David, Stephen and Mary. If you are shaky in your walk with Jesus, doubting the goodness of God, read a testimony. Look to others in your community or your church.
The Holy Spirit gives gifts to build up His church, to serve others humbly in love. We can get so caught up in life, but serving others is what we are designed for. It is inspiring to be busy for the Lord and sharpens up your faith. Being in a great church is a good way to beat that doubt of God’s plan for your life. It’s risky to go it alone through the Christian life and cool is the coal that leaves the fire. Don’t forsake the gathering of the saints the bible reminds us.
Because of the Holy Spirit being poured out on the day of Pentecost we can look, listen and talk to God. Reading the bible is an opportunity to be inspired by that very Holy Spirit. In the Bible we are reminded not to be anxious for anything. Don’t be slow to ask for help, let’s not be proud when faith is struggling, speak to Him. Hebrews 12:1 says therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Christianity is a wonderful expression of Gods love. The strength of having people around you amidst pain and meaningless life, sharing responsibility, sharing burdens and not baring life on your own. As the African proverb says: It takes a village to raise a child, it takes the church to bless the community and church itself. Two are always better than one and the Holy Spirit gives plans and goals to believers to mirror Jesus as servants and messengers in our communities.
The Holy Spirit is still being poured out today regardless of tradition, expectations, races and beliefs. The Holy Spirit always shows up. For some, it brings you to tears of repentance, for some in awe of His presence or amazement of His goodness. Be sure to know, when the Holy Spirit comes there is an invitation for you to never be the same again. For those that would deny God or shun Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit was poured out causing wonder, confusion and amazement. Those that looked on and mocked were transformed due to the Holy Spirit’s love, causing them to repent, be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ from the remission of sins and receiving the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost celebrates the power to go out and be a Christian without shame and testifying of the great things God has done in your life. A promise to see visions, dream dreams, and prophesy. Pentecost celebrates the miracle of the birth of the church. Belief in God is accompanied by confession in Jesus which results in the infilling of the Holy Spirit. This will lead to the power of the Holy Spirit within each believer, causing them to witness so that none shall perish but have everlasting life.
John 14:1 – Jesus says – Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. V6 – I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through Jesus. Pentecost – It’s just like you Lord to have a plan for our lives and all humanity. The Holy Spirit birthed the church, and it is still standing powerfully today, unshakeable and multiplying. Acts – 1:8 – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
