Life and Death: A Matter of Spirit

Good morning, church. I just want you to know I’ve seen your social media and it looks like you are having a pretty good summer. I see you Heading to the Gulf of Mexico to Yosemite and to the mountains and i’ve even seen some of you heading to Ardmore. Whatever your destination, it’s good to see you here this morning.

THUNDEROUS LAUGHTER (not)

My family and I had the opportunity to head to Florida and visit beaches and relatives. After 5 hours in the car we were closing in on the St Marks Lighthouse near where I grew up. I made an executive call….I was getting out of the car with my fishing pole to just decompress. My wife encouraged me to make it happen and I left instructions for my dad to join me in an hour or two.

So for an hour and a half, I relaxed and threw multiple fishing lures into an oasis of water and lily pads. It was hot but that was okay. I was fishing and it felt great. Over the years I have learned patience… and needed it today because I wasn’t catching anything. My dad pulls up and tosses me a water bottle and I was grateful. He asked if I had any luck and I responded in the negative. He then said, “ Son I hate to tell you this but the chances of you catching fish here isn't too good… they drained this area last month.”

Pause/Frustration sets in

The moral of the story WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE MATTERS is that something can look incredible on the outside but be completely empty on the inside. In fact, when it comes to people, there are really only two kinds. Those with the Holy Spirit and those without the Holy Spirit. In this room, there are people who have committed their life to follow Jesus and are filled with that spirit. There are others here today that have not made that choice yet.

This morning I want you to know that (SERMON IN A SENTENCE) what is inside makes the difference between your eternal life and death??)

In a plot scenario unknown to human minds, God took an enemy of Christians and on the road to Damascus, Paul was saved through an encounter with the risen Jesus. He exchanged a life focused on following the Law of Moses with a life of following the grace of Jesus Christ.

“And it shall come to pass afterward,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your old men shall dream dreams,

and your young men shall see visions.

29 Even on the male and female servants

in those days I will pour out my Spirit.