If you love desserts and you love movies, then Highway is the place to be this Friday. Not only will you have a great movie, there is a great selection of desserts as well. Come early for dessert and then stay for the film.

The Christmas Dessert and Film Fellowship will take place this Friday, 16th November at HCC at 6.30 pm. Please feel free to bring a dessert to share.

Most of us know Billy Graham as the self-assured and charismatic preacher who became one of the most important figures of 20th Century Christianity. Now, with the release of Billy: The Early Years, we meet Billy as the earnest and promising young man at the crossroads of faith and doubt, ultimately facing the moment of decision that launched one of history’s most powerful evangelistic careers.

Most compellingly, Billy: The Early Years paints its portrait of Graham against the backdrop of his relationship with Charles Templeton, another gifted young preacher who’s faith could not withstand the onslaught of scientific skepticism. He and Graham parted ways and in the film, Templeton comes to personify the rising tide of disbelief into which Graham launched his crusades.

Filmed in Tennessee, Billy: The Early Years captures the feel of the Depression-era tent revival where Graham heeded the altar call, and follows him through the doubt and resolution of the next decade. The film was directed by the versatile actor/director Robby Benson – the voice of The Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The movie’s power lays in its honest portrayal of Billy’s struggle with the ideas represented in Templeton’s eventual unbelief and shows how Billy’s faith, so dramatically portrayed in the film, goes on to change the face of modern evangelism.
EVERYONE KNOWS WHO HE IS. NOW FIND OUT HOW HE GOT THERE.

For a trailer of this movie go to

http://billytheearlyyears.com/video-trailer1.htm

The Story of Christmas – An Animation from Grace in Cranberry on Vimeo.

Francis Chan encourages us to get out of our religious routine and to pray for a new encounter with God.

I would challenge you to surrender to the call of heaven. This destiny provides meaning and significance.

Have you seen the movie Antwan Fisher? This film tells the moving story of a young man who struggles with anger and pain because of the abuse he experienced growing up in a foster home. He feels disconnected because he doesn’t know his family. His deepest desire is for family, to know to whom he belongs, to have a home.

While serving in the navy, Antwan is encouraged to find his family by a navy psychologist (played by Denzel Washington), who serves a mentor and father figure in his life. With bits and pieces of information, Antwan heads out on his search, and he is successful. He learns his father is dead but meets his father’s family. Then an uncle takes him to meet his mother.

As he enters the apartment of the woman who gave birth to him in prison, he is filled with anticipation and hope that this is going to be a joyful reunion. But it’s not. She sits there, not knowing how to respond. It’s as if she’s in shock. The meeting is a disappointment.

Disappointed and once again rejected, Antwan returns to the home of his aunt. He walks through the door, and to his surprise he finds a room full of people – his extended family that has gathered to meet him. He is swallowed up in a sea of love and acceptance. And when he walks into the dining room, there is an enormous feast, a banquet in his honor. His grandmother, the matriarch of the family, says, “Welcome home.”

As we live the Christian life, we must embrace the tension of both living this life to its fullest down here and at the same time understanding that this is not our home. We are pilgrims on a journey to our real home, where there is a family and a banquet waiting for us, and a Savior eager to say, “Welcome home.”

Purpose, Passion, Perspective

The apostle Paul points us to the perspective and the motivation that should anchor us on our journey. Read carefully these words from 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Weigh them. Let your mind absorb them.

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

There are four observations I want to make based on this passage. First, the foundation of our lives is Jesus Christ (v.11). The Christian life is the life of Christ living in and through us. Jesus Christ should be everything to us. He is our reason for living, and as our foundation, He brings strength and stability to the structure of our lives.

Second, we must approach life with discernment and great care because our lives reflect the foundation upon which we are built (vv.10-11). Ever time we trade in the motivation of responding to god’s love and provision for the stuff of this life, we introduce foreign substances to our foundation. It weakens the building (our lives) and cheapens the structure.

Some of us have absorbed the “foreign substances” of this life. It weighs us down and it is causing damage to our spiritual structure. In a word, we need to strip our foundations and return to the bedrock: Jesus.

Third, we will be held accountable for our choices and approach to life (v. 13). It is true that as followers of Christ we will not be judged concerning our eternal destiny. That was settled at the cross, and when we placed our faith in Christ, our sins were forgiven and we received the gift of eternal life. But that doesn’t mean we should live carelessly, following the whims of whatever we desire. According to this passage, we will be held accountable for what we do with our lives. The critical question is: What will be revealed when “the fire itself will test the quality of [your] work”?

This leads me to the fourth observation: The enduring (eternal) quality of our lives will be rewarded (vv.12-14). Every day of our lives we must choose that which endures (“gold, silver, and precious stones”) over that which may be so appealing but is perishable (“would, hay, straw”). It is my view that this passage clearly teaches that although we are saved for eternity, some of us will experience the loss of reward because we settled for the perishable. In this regard, we’re wasting our eternal wealth.

The burden of my heart, and the reason I’m writing this book, is that God has called us to be a people of destiny. We have a longing in our souls because eternity has been written in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Eternity is a powerful motivation. Someone once said that if you have a why for living, you can stand almost any how. Our home in heaven is our motivation and destiny. When we live up to that sense of destiny at the center of our lives, we will experience purpose, passion, and perspective. We have been called to live for a time we cannot see.

Article excerpted from For a Time We Cannot See Copyright © Crawford Loritts.

Crawford Loritts is Senior Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in the greater Atlanta area. He is the former associate director of U.S. Ministries at Campus Crusade for Christ. He has served with American Missionary Fellowship, and was a church planter with the Black Evangelistic Enterprise, helping co-found oak Cliff Bible Felloship in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Loritts is the author of six books, including  Never Walk AwayHe is the host of the daily radio program, Living a Legacy, heard on 330 outlets and is a frequent conference speaker.

Sunday, 23 October from 10am till noon

Cost is FREE

We so need to pray.   Prayer is the battle. Witnessing is just collecting the spoils.

Church Picnic at Laurier Park Site 1

4 September

Who: Everyone!

What: Food, Games, Races, Baseball, and did I say food!

Where: Laurier Park Site 1 (Laurier Park is immediately adjacent to the Valley Zoo – Just use the same parking lot)

When: 4 September 2011 from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Cost: FREE!!!

In her book, Spiritual Revolution Patricia King shows really good Biblical research on the function of the Holy Spirit. This list of the 70 Functions of the Holy Spirit come from her research.

1. He leads and directs. (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 2:27; 4:1; Acts 8:29; Romans 8:14)
2. The Holy Spirit speaks – in, to and through. (Matthew 10:20; Acts 1:16; 2:4; 13:2; 28:25; Hebrews 3:7)
3. He gives power to cast out devils. (Matthew 12:28)
4. He releases power. (Luke 4:14)
5. The Holy Spirit anoints. (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38)
6. The Holy Spirit “comes upon” or “falls on”. (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 2:25; 3:22; 4:18; John 1:32,33; Acts 10:44; 11:15)
7. He baptizes and fills. (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:15,41,67; 3:16, 4:1; John 1:33; Acts 1:4-5; 2:4; 4:8,31; 6:3,5; 7:55; 10:47; 11:24; 13:9,52; 1 Corinthians 12:12)
8. He gives new birth. (John 3:5,8)
9. He leads into worship. (John 4:23)
10. He flows like a river from the spirit man. (John 7:38-39)
11. He ministers truth. (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13)
12. He dwells in people. (John 14:17; Romans 8:9,11; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
13. The Holy Spirit gives comfort, health, and strength. (John 15:26; Acts 9:31)
14. He proceeds from the Father. (John 15:26)
15. He shows us things to come. (John 16:13)
16. He gives the gift of tongues. (Acts 2:4)
17. He releases prophecy, dreams and visions. (Acts 2:17,18; 11:28)
18. He can transport people physically. (Acts 8:39)
19. The Holy Spirit brings direction and guidance. (Mark 13:36; 13:11; Acts 10:19; 11:12; 21:11; 1 Timothy 4:1
20. He is Holiness. (Romans 1:4)
21. He is the Spirit of life and gives life. (Romans 8:1,10)
22. The Holy Spirit invites us to walk with Him. (Romans 8:4-5)
23. He groans, prays and intercedes. (Romans 8:26-27)
24. He is a Sword. (Ephesians 6:17)
25. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives. (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9)
26. He helps us in our weakness. (Romans 8:26)
27. He bears witness. (Acts 5:32 15:28; 20:23; Romans 8:15-16; Hebrews 10:15; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-8)
28. He is the Spirit of Adoption. (Romans 8:15)
29. He gives power to mortify the deeds of the flesh. (Romans 8:13)
30. He provides power for signs, wonders and preaching. (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4)
31. He ministers love. (Romans 15:30)
32. He searches the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)
33. He quickens the mortal body. (Romans 8:13)
34. He brings revelation. (Luke 2:25; 1 COrinthians 2:10,12; Ephesians 1:17-19; 3:5)
35. The Holy Spirit reveals to us what has been given by God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)
36. He washes, sanctifies, purifies and justifies. (Romans 15;16, 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:2,22)
37. He gives gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Hebrews 2:4)
38. He seals us. (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30)
39. He is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
40. He changes us into the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
41. He is the promise of the blessing of Abraham. (Galatians 3:14)
42. He releases a cry to the Father. (Galatians 4:6)
43. He gives access to the Father. (Ephesians 2:18)
44. The Holy Spirit builds us together for a house for God. (Ephesians 2:22)
45. He strengthens us with might. (Ephesians 3:16)
46. He is unity. (Ephesians 4:3-4)
47. He is wine. (Ephesians 5:18)
48. He supplies. (Philippians 1:19)
49. He is fellowship. (2 Corinthians 13;14; Philippians 2:1)
50. He is grace. (Hebrews 10:29)
51. He is glory. (1 Peter 4:14)
52. The Holy Spirit speaks to the churches. (Revelation 2:11,17,29; 3:6,13,22)
53. He calls for the Bridegroom. (Revelation 22:17)
54. The Holy Spirit has the power of conception and anointing for God’s purposes. (Matthew 1:18,20; Luke 1:35)
55. He teaches. (Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 John 2:27)
56. He gives commandments. (Acts 1:2)
57. He provides power to be a witness. (Acts 1:8)
58. He provides boldness. (Acts 4:31)
59. He give sight. (Acts 9:17)
60. He commissions. (Acts 13:4)
61. He restrains. (Acts 16:6)
62. He appoints ministries and gives them authority. (Acts 20:28)
63. He releases love. (Romans 5:5)
64. He is righteousness, peace and joy. (Romans 14:17; 15:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:6)
65. He confesses Christ’s Lordship. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
66. The Holy Spirit brings the gospel. (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6)
67. He is keeping power. (2 Timothy 1:14)
68. He brings renewal. (Titus 3:5)
69. He moves on believers. (2 Peter 1:21)
70. He convicts the world. (John 16:8)

This is the starting point to exploring and experiencing more of the person of the Holy Spirit. Take time to read the verses in context and ask the Spirit to teach even more truth to you. It always amazes me that we can be in relationship with the Creator of the universe. I’m in awe when I consider any aspect of His nature.

Blessings

Trevor

Trevor Lund is a guest blogger. He is a Christian speaker, author and lead dreamer for Expectancy Ministries.  You can read more at www.RevTrev.com
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

In an earlier post I answered a question about How to Filled with the Spirit. I had to clarify what that meant and mentioned I probably don’t hold a “classical” view of the doctrine of tongues held in some circles I’ve been a part of.

It was actually quite funny one day in seminary. I was the one always making pentecostal jokes. I only make fun of what I’m a part of, but I guess this one guy didn’t pick up on it. He had three guys from the pentecostal Bible school in a corner laughing at them because they were pentecostal.

I came up on them and he said to me, “Can you believe these guys thinks tongues are still for today?”

“Awesome” I replied. That stopped his laughter.

“I pray with them every day. What do you do to build yourself up?”

He walked away.

I know the power of praying in tongues daily. I’ve studied the Scriptures around speaking in tongues and can tell you what I know about it…

What is Speaking in Tongues?

• It’s a gift that builds us up.
• It’s a starter gift that launches us into greater gifts.
• It’s a powerful tool for strengthening us so that in turn we can strengthen others.

6 Things That Happen When We Speak in Tongues

When we speak in tongues we:

1. Build ourselves up, (1 Corinthians 14:4, Jude 1:20),
2. Speak to God directly without any pretense (1 Corinthians 14:2)
3. Fulfill a command to pray in the Spirit on all occasions (Ephesians 6:18)
4. Have words to continue praying when our words run out (Romans 8:25)
5. Pray confidently knowing we intercede for others according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27)
6. Have a sign for unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:22)

When we pray in tongues it’s not like we shut down our minds and go into rote prayer. This can actually lead to unfruitful prayer. When we pray in tongues we need to be aware that our Spirit is communicating with God’s Spirit (See 1 Corinthians 14:14-15). It’s true that at times we may be establishing in prayer things that our mind cannot even grasp. In fact if our intellect could grasp the vastness of some of our prayers in the Spirit, we probably wouldn’t even believe what we are establishing in the Heavenlies.

However as we exercise this gift we can become a lot more aware of what we are praying in tongues for. We may even at times know exactly what we’re praying if we receive the gift of interpretation of tongues.

How to Pray for the Gift of Tongues

Ask for it. If you are a believer in Christ then you have the Holy Spirit within you. It’s your Inheritance. So:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you (Mat. 7:7)

Eagerly Desire it.

Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:31

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit… 1 Corinthians 14:1

Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12

Step Out In Faith.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

I’ll explain these by going over how to overcome common obstacles.

How to Overcome Common Obstacles

What if I’m lead by the wrong Spirit?

Jesus said “…when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. (John 16:13-15)

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil,know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13)

I open my mouth but nothing comes out

It’s true that some people will open there mouth and words will just gush out without any effort on their part. While this is a wonderful testimony of many people who receive the gift of tongues, it doesn’t always happen this way. Remember we can’t put God in a box or designate a strict formula to the way the Spirit of God wants to operate.

Often people expect to be literally possessed by the Holy Spirit. But remember God has given us a free will to choose. Chances are the Holy Spirit will not overtake you and move your mouth and tongue for you.

You are in control: the spirits of the prophets are subject to the control of the prophets (1Cor 14:32)

But you are to be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit of God.

Speaking in tongues is often just like speaking a foreign language. The words sound strange and they can seem very unnatural when forming them with our mouth!

It’s our responsibility to speak the words as we heed the instruction of our Language tutor – the Holy Spirit.

At time, for some people it may even feel extremely uncomfortable. That’s O.K. This is why the Holy Spirit is our Comforter. Be encouraged that God is in the midst of your learning experience to comfort. It’s what he’s promised!

What if I’m making it all up?

Is it your heart’s desire to speak in your God given Spiritual Language? If yes then you will have to operate in Faith. Another way to spell Faith is RISK. Open your mouth and speak out the sounds that are formed in your mind and your heart and remember that:

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

So what if some of the words are made up by you. Never mind, if you are operating in faith be encouraged in that God is pleased with your faith. He will help you get things right!

So form the sounds, speak them out loud. You may only have one or two syllables. Wonderful! Say them in every possible way you can say them. Don’t despise the days of small beginnings. Overtime you’ll grow in confidence and vocabulary.

Paul wished that we would all speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 4:5) and every Christian can speak in tongues. Not everyone is a “speaker of tongues”(the office) (1 Corinthians 12:30), But all are encouraged to pray in the Spirit to build ourselves up (Jude 1:20). When you’re alone in prayer, tongues can be the greatest gift because speaking in tongues builds you up (1 Corinthians. 14:4-5).

So will you eagerly desire it?

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:39

I know this is controversial and I have a lot more I could say about it. Love to have your comments below.

• Comment below or contact me with your questions. I love adding to the brevity of blog posts when there is a need for clarification. – Trevor 

Trevor Lund is a guest blogger. He is a Christian speaker, author and lead dreamer for Expectancy Ministries.  You can read more at www.RevTrev.com
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

How can I receive the Holy Spirit?

Everyday I get great questions from subscribers to this blog. I got this one this morning and realized I don’t think I have a blog post about it yet. So I took some time to share my thoughts. It got so long, it had to be post. Love to hear your thoughts as I know this isn’t everything the Bible has to say about the question “How Can I Receive the Holy Spirit?”

Hi RevTrev,
Thank you for your interesting story, my question is “How can I receive the Holy Spirit?”

Elia,

That’s a great question. I personally believe every Christian has the Holy Spirit in them.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (New International Version)
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Ephesians 1:13 (New International Version)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

But that’s not the same as being filled with the Spirit. The filling of the Spirit referred to in Ephesians 5:18. We should be so completely yielded to the Holy Spirit and, in that sense, fill us. Romans 8:9 and Ephesians 1:13-14 states that He dwells within every believer, but He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), and His activity within us can be quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19). When we allow this to happen, we do not experience the fullness of the Spirit’s working and His power in and through us. To be filled with the Spirit implies freedom for Him to occupy every part of our lives, guiding us. Then His power can be exerted through us so that what we do is fruitful to God. The filling of the Spirit does not apply to outward acts alone; it also applies to the innermost thoughts and motives of our actions.

We need to define “What does it mean to receive the Holy Spirit?” before we can address the question “How can I receive the Holy Spirit?”

I was raised in a church culture that said, “To be filled with the Spirit you have to speak in tongues.” Problem was I saw that so misused. It became “If you didn’t have sin in your life you could speak in tongues.” If salvation can’t be earned, why do we think we can earn any other gift from God?

The church group I’ve been a part of as a pastor believes “The infilling of the Holy Spirit is an experience subsequent to salvation…with signs following.”

I was drawn to that because I can train people to prophecy, have words of knowledge, see healing and use almost every other gift without them ever having spoken in tongues.

I see more people speak in tongues when I approach it as a psychological misunderstanding rather than an issue of sin. You see most people think God basically possesses them if they are to truly speak in tongues. We’ve all heard stories of people who couldn’t speak English for days when the Spirit came on them. I could only speak in languages I never learned for a number of hours myself one time.

But the problem with those stories is they are held up as the ideal when they are in fact fairly rare. They do happen, but more often than not God uses what we give him. We need to move our mouth. We need to speak out the words forming in our minds. We need to risk playing the fool.

Now should we speak in tongues? YES! Not everyone is a “speaker of tongues”(the office) (1 Corinthians 12:30), But all are encouraged to pray in the Spirit to build ourselves up (Jude 1:20). When you’re alone in prayer, tongues can be the greatest gift because speaking in tongues builds you up (1 Corinthians. 14:4-5).

Does speaking in tongues mean you’re filled with the Spirit?

I don’t care about dogma. I’d rather see the fruit of the Spirit in all of us (Galatians 5:22-23) than the gifts of the Spirit used without love (1 Corinthians 13). The gifts are for today and for you and I and I really don’t like doing ministry without them.

I don’t know if that’s answering your question. I’ve found what keeps people from living in the supernatural is one of four things:

Ignorance – you didn’t know you could or how you could
Arrogance – you didn’t think you had to
Selfishness – you wanted to live a safe life
Pride – you didn’t want to look bad

All I can solve for you today is perhaps the ignorance.

So how can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?

Luke 11:9-13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
“So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give  the Holy Spirit  to those who ask Him?”

Here are 5 things you can do…

1. Understand you’re Father is good and gives good gifts.
2. Act as if you are a child of God, not a servant, not a slave, not an orphan, not forsaken.
3. Keep asking. Keep searching. Keep knocking.
4. Eagerly desire the greater gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1; 14:39).
5. Love God and let him love on you.

Hope that helps.

-Trevor

Trevor Lund is a guest blogger. He is a Christian speaker, author and lead dreamer for Expectancy ministries.  You can read more at www.RevTrev.com