Hi Church!

For those of you that were able to come to the Gastonia District Rally for the Global Methodist Church, you got to hear a great message from our Bishop Jeff Greenway!  He is an amazing speaker, with such a gift of encouragement - and points us all to the Holy Spirit to guide us. Below is a brief summary of his message:

There are 6 things the Holy Spirit does in us:

1. We believe the Holy Spirit awakens us.  1 Corinthians 2:14

The Spirit does this through prevenient grace - which is the grace that God gives us all.  For some who are spiritually open to receive this, they will awaken to the Spirit - they have a hole in them that can only be filled by Jesus.  For those who are spiritually closed, we must pray for them as they will not feel the Spirit in the same way we do.   

2. We believe the Holy Spirit convicts us.  Acts 2:37

There are two reactions we can have when the Spirit convicts us:  we can become angry or we can surrender. 

3. We believe the Holy Spirit converts us. 

When Nicodemus felt convicted, he went to see Jesus.  And Jesus told him that he must be converted - to be born again. Guilt is the work of the Spirit - we need to feel that guilt to be converted.  But shame is the work of the devil - there is no place for that.  Is Jesus the absolutely primary in your heart from the moment you wake up?

4. We believe the Holy Spirit consecrates us. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

This is also called sanctification or holiness.  When Jesus is in our hearts, He cleans our heart.  But He doesn’t just stay in those clean parts, He finds the parts that keep needing cleaning. Dear God, I pray for Your will, nothing more and nothing less.  Amen. 

5. We believe the Holy Spirit gives us assurance. 

Jeff used the example of being in an airport waiting to depart.  If you have a ticket you are comfortable, at peace, and gently waiting to board.  If you are on standby, you are pacing, worried, anxious.  If you have the Holy Spirit you have that assurance and are at peace. 

6. We believe the Holy Spirit equips us.  1 Corinthians 12:7

The Spirit gives us the same power He gave the apostles. 

So that is an overview of his lesson to us!

Blessings!

Pastor Marcy