Scripture Readings Leading to
Sunday October 29, 2006
Galatians 5:1-6:10 Fruits of the Spirit
Luke 6:27-49 Love Your Enemies
To love is to risk. Allowing the Holy Spirit of God to have control of our lives is risky. Love is required by the Holy Spirit. Relationships are always risky. Mostly we shrink away from the Spirit because of the unknown risk involved. We would rather retreat into unhealthy attempts to follow laws and regulations rather than fly with the freedom of love.
It is curious; that we believe that there is less risk, less pain with the path that avoids a full movement within the Spirit. And yet the truth of Gospel message is that the opposite is true. When our lives are filled with Spirit and we move to God’s call of love our lives will be less painful, less uncertain.
The Church is no different. A dead church attempts to control everything and everyone. Demands are made to put everyone and everything in their proper place to align with the law of the local church law-giver. This may be the pastor or it may be a controlling family or dysfunctional group usurping Spiritual presence and power for building up personal identity and ego. We have all seen it. Too many times.
The Spirit –filled church will feel chaotic at times, maybe even out of control. However the church alive in Spirit will also be offering the fruits of the Spirit as testimony. Love will abound. Grace and peace will follow. Justice will be demanded by the Spirit. The voice of the one bent low by the forces of this world will be heard singing praise to the King of Heaven. Outward expressions of gratitude and fellowship will prevail. It may be messy at times. Tears of joy may flow. Unrehearsed shouts of joy and hands raised as a banner toward heaven may be experienced in the presence of the gathered body. Even quiet reverence, not a stuffy shushed down quiet, will be offered.
This Spirit-filled church is the one I want to serve. I believe it is also the church to which you seek to build as we all move just a little closer to home. Blessings, Dave Weesner
Sunday Worship
Scripture: Galatians 5:13-14
Sermon Title: “Love-Able”
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