We just celebrated Easter - the resurrection of Jesus Christ!  Next on God’s prophetic timetable is Jesus’ return!  We don’t know when, only that He is coming again, because He told us so.  But in the meantime, He gave us His great commission to go into all the world and make disciples, to be His witnesses in our sphere of influence. He gave us the mandate to influence our culture, to be His light and the salt of the world.  But before we get too far ahead of ourselves we must realize “The Necessity of the Holy Spirit” in all of this.  It is the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that has the power to transform and change mankind.  The apostle Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit penned in Romans 1:16 - “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.”  Jesus told us in His word that it was needful for Him to go back to His Father so that He could send the Holy Spirit.   It is the Holy Spirit that leads mankind to Jesus and convicts of sin.  It is the Holy Spirit that indwells the new believer through the miracle of the new birth.  It is the Holy Spirit that renews our minds.  It is the Holy Spirit that guides, helps, heals, comforts.  It is the Holy Spirit that give us boldness and equips us for the work before us!   All the experts inform us that the church is either declining or plateaued - which I believe is true.  What I agreeably disagree about is the solution.  I believe we need to get back to the basics - The Word of God and the Spirit of God.  Like Isaiah we need to cry out - “Oh, that You would rend the heavens!  That You would come down! (cf. Isaiah 64)  The church needs revived by the Spirit of God - may it start with me!

In His Service,

Pastor Rod