Pencoed Am 19.8.07.

Place: Pencoed AOG.             Date: Am Sunday 19th August 2007.

Text: John 20:22.                            Theme: The fresh wind of the Holy Spirit.

Introduction:                          Reading: John 20:22

          “And when JESUS had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

          When I was a young lad all fathers would like to take their families out in a rowing boat. My father would often take us on the local lake and hire a row boat, where we would spend the next hour, it was a manly/father thing. Some would take their families out on a small sail boat, on the same lake or in the harbour bay. These sail boats would not go far out, and never outside the safety of the harbour walls.

          Can I say this morning are we the type of Pentecostal Christians that enjoy the “Wind of the Spirit” in our lives and in the meetings? We have great blessings when the wind of God moves upon our lives, even the smallest blessing fills our lives. May I also say this morning “Are we spending too much time in the safety of the harbour walls?”

          You see the sail boat goes where the wind leads it, so should we be willing to go there the “Wind of God” takes us. You can sail within the safety of your surrounds or you can catch the wind, and go further, even into new places of the Holy Spirit blessing. So I have called this message “The fresh wind of the Holy Spirit.”

           Are you willing this morning to allow God to breathe His living Spirit on you afresh again? Remember when the true wind of the Holy Spirit blows upon our lives, He may lead us into new spiritual areas.

1ST POINT: OLD TESTAMENT = BEGINNINGS.

Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and (God) breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

          It was God Himself who first breathed life into man, so that “man became a living being.”

Man needed the breathe of God in his life so that he could live, without God there is no life that is worth living. Why did God breathe life into man? The simple answer is “because of fellowship.”

God wanted fellowship with man, and man needs fellowship with God. What is fellowship? It is companionship, friendship, and partnership, being of like mind.

You see when God walked with Adam and Eve together in the Garden of Eden, they spoke together, and shared together their thoughts and desires. Note Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.”

We all enjoy good friendship, but how much more do you enjoy walking and talking with God the Almighty? Adam and Eve had that joy of sharing their closest lives with God, God walked and talked with them in the evening hours, so that their lives where quickened by the breathe of God, and that not only give them life, but renewed life day by day.

2ND POINT: NEW TESTAMENT = NEW BEGINNINGS.

 John 20:22 “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,” Receive the Holy Spirit.”

          I pray that you have a great inner desire to know the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit in your lives today. I enjoy many things, like you do. I enjoy a great film on the TV (with popcorn), a nice meal out, a restful holiday etc. But I can truly say the greatest joy in my life is being caught up into the divine presence of God, when God is so near that it feels like He is standing at the side of us.

          This may come in some private time with God, or when we are caught up in praise and worship, or maybe in some special meeting, but when ever that experience comes I know we become alive, and reach true fellowship with God then. That is where we should want to be every time that we gather together in the name of the Lord.

          That can only come about when we allow the “wind of the Spirit” to move us towards God! Where you go when the Holy Spirit is moving is up to you, you can move safely within your own vision or revelation, or you can catch the wind of the Spirit and be caught up into new things in God, and move deeper into spiritual realms, with greater blessings then ever before.

CONCLUSION:

Where are you today? Do you need “the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit?” A row boat, in the harbour, or sails filled and moving in God?