May 2004

ARTICLE TOOLS

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PENTECOST was no ordinary experience, but it happened to and within ordinary people as God's Holy Spirit appeared among and within them. Ordinary men and women became full of faith and fearless. Fearful men and women became courageous witnesses to God's mighty and saving acts. ... From that day until this, those who repent and are baptized receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, God with us always and in every circumstance of life (Acts 2:38).

WHEN I AM BAPTIZED or converted by the gospel, the Holy Spirit is present. He takes me as clay and makes of me a new creature, which is endowed with a different mind, heart, and thoughts, that is, with a true knowledge of God and a sincere trust in God's grace. ... The very essence of my heart is renewed and changed.

THE FIRST EVIDENCE of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us is that people will see Jesus in our lives (see Acts 4:13).

THE GATHERED CHURCH is the place of God's own personal presence, by the Spirit. ... The local church is God's temple in the community where it is placed, and it is so by the presence of the Spirit alone, by whom God has now revisited his people.

GOD'S MISSION is nothing less than the sending of the Holy Spirit from the Father through the Son into this world, so that this world should not perish but live. ... The sending of the Holy Spirit is the revelation of God's indestructible affirmation of life and his marvelous joy in life.

THE GIFT of the Spirit is the gift of becoming involved in mission, for mission is the direct consequence of the outpouring of the Spirit.

WHERE THE SPIRIT is poured out on the church, it sweeps the believers along as though in a great river of obedience, praise, and mighty works. Empowered by the Spirit, the community can dare and hope ...