Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

December 10, 2012 · 8:33 PM

The Spirit of Christmas

Folks talk about the spirit of Christmas. Different people have different ideas about what the spirit of Christmas is. Many would say that the spirit of Christmas is giving. In other words, a person who enjoys giving gifts at Christmastime is a person with the spirit of Christmas. By this way of thinking, the word spirit simply means attitude, or desire. So, the spirit of Christmas is a feeling. Is that all?

The Bible uses the word spirit in a different way. In Scripture we learn that God is Spirit. The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters on the dawn of creation. The Spirit of God came upon prophets in the Old Testament and enabled them to speak the Word of God. Those same prophets promised that a time would come when God would pour out his Spirit on all his people.

Jesus made promises about the Spirit of God, too. He told his followers that after his death and resurrection he would send God’s Spirit to be with them. He warned them that the world would not receive God’s Spirit because they could not see the Spirit. The Spirit of God is invisible.

Jesus’ promise about God’s Spirit was fulfilled at Pentecost, after his death and resurrection. The Spirit of God arrived suddenly like the sound of a violent wind that filled the house where Jesus’ followers had gathered. What looked like tongues of fire rested on each of them and they were enabled to speak in ways that amazed the people in Jerusalem. The Spirit of God is powerful.

When the time drew near for Jesus to leave his disciples and return to the Father in heaven, he promised not to leave them as orphans. He told them that he would send God’s Spirit to be their Guide, leading them into all the Truth. God’s Spirit would also remind them of all that Jesus said. Jesus had been God’s personal representative in the world, but now God’s Spirit would take over. The Spirit of God is his personal Presence.

When we put all this together it tells us that God’s Spirit is his invisible, powerful, personal Presence in the world today. Christmastime is a reminder that God sent his Son Jesus to be the Savior of the world. Jesus promised to send God’s Spirit so that all who are saved by Jesus can have God’s powerful Presence in their lives. Jesus promised that God’s Spirit would live in God’s people.

For all those in the world who cannot see or receive God’s Spirit, Christmas must be about something smaller, about an attitude, a feeling. For God’s people the spirit of Christmas is about far more than our thoughts or emotions. The Spirit of Christmas is God himself, his invisible, powerful, personal indwelling Presence. May the Spirit of Christmas fill you to overflowing this year.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,

Brother Richard Foster
Grace Baptist Church, Camden AR

How Do We Make Disciples?

Our common love for the Lord Jesus unites us in our work, and our common desire to obey the Lord Jesus binds us together with a single goal: to glorify Almighty God. Our Lord’s commands will keep us focused as we face many challenges and opportunities along the way.

Our Savior summarized his instruction for all of his followers in all places at all times in this age when he spoke to his disciples after his resurrection. As they stood on a certain mountain in Galilee Jesus came to them and gave them, and us, a mandate for action.

Jesus prefaced his instruction with a statement about his right to command the people of God. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him, he said. When we obey the Lord Jesus, we are in step with the highest authority in all the cosmos.

So what has Jesus commanded his followers to do? The short version is this: Go make disciples. In other words, go make more followers of Jesus. Before explaining how, Jesus addressed the question of whom; to whom should we go? He simply said, everyone, make disciples of all nations, all peoples. Jesus placed no limit on the type of person who can become his disciple.

How do we make disciples? First, we baptize them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism means conversion. We announce and explain the Good News about salvation through faith in Jesus. Then we invite people to trust the Lord and become followers of Jesus.

Saving souls is the beginning of a new life that requires instruction. So Jesus has commanded us to teach disciples after we make them. And he has given us the curriculum; we are to teach all that he taught his disciples, which is recorded in the Bible. Our textbook for discipleship is God’s Word.

We have a mandate from the Lord of heaven and earth. Our shared labor of love is to help people find saving faith and then to help them grow in their faith. As we obey our Lord’s command we, too, grow spiritually. Jesus himself is our model. Our goal is to become more and more like him.

Not only is Jesus our model in discipleship and our authority for making new disciples, he also has the power to enable us in our work. He finished his instruction by promising his very Presence will always be with us no matter how long the job lasts. “And look!” he said, “I am with you all the days, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

May we always bring glory to God through our obedient service to Jesus,

Brother Richard Foster, Pastor
Grace Baptist Church, Camden, AR

Jesus Came, We Go

Jesus’ disciples feared for their lives, hiding from the leaders who had crucified their beloved Master. Suddenly the Lord Jesus himself was standing in their midst, speaking with them. They were thrilled to see that he was truly alive.

Jesus showed his disciples the marks left on his body from the nails that had held him on the old rugged cross and the sword that had pierced his side after he gave up his spirit. The fear caused by his death was shattered by joy at his presence.

“Peace to you all!” Jesus said to them. The peace he was speaking about, however, was not one of inactivity. His next words were these: “As the Father has sent me, I also am sending you.”

Jesus promised peace to his followers in the midst of a mission. They were being sent out by Jesus in the same way that Jesus had been sent out by God the Father. In what way did God send Jesus?

Jesus came in the Name of the Father (John 5:43). Now, his followers are sent in the Name of Jesus. Jesus came not to do his will, but the will of the One who sent him (John 6:38). The followers of Jesus carry out the will of God instead of living for themselves, building God’s Kingdom instead of their own and seeking God’s honor and praise instead of accolades for themselves.

God the Father sent Jesus into the world not for judgment (John 9:39), but so that people may have abundant life (John 10:10). As followers of Jesus, we too, are sent not to condemn the world but to announce the true source of abundant life. And what is that source?

Jesus said, “I am Light come into the world so that everyone trusting in me will not remain in darkness” (John 12:46). The source of abundant life is Jesus, the Light of the world. By trusting in him millions have found Life and Light. Billions more still need to hear the message and have the opportunity to choose life.

We go because Jesus came. Jesus came from heaven to earth but he also reached out to his neighbors. We go around the world and across the street because we are sent like Jesus was sent.

May we enjoy the peace of Christ as we fulfill the calling of Christ,

Brother Richard Foster, Pastor
Grace Baptist Church, Camden, AR

Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

The Spirit of Christmas

How Do We Make Disciples?

Jesus Came, We Go

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