Message for Sunday, May 11, 2008
"Finding God's Power in our Lives"
Text - Selections from Acts 2

Today is Pentecost Sunday, the celebration of the promised arrival of the Holy Spirit. So, so what? In fact, this passage in Acts 2 shows the start of the church. This means that with the coming of the Holy Spirit, God entrusted His plan to people like you and me. Hey, WE are God’s messengers to tell the good news. But the church sure hasn’t done a good job – especially for gays and lesbians.

In the beginning, the church did a great job, spreading the message across the known world of the time. In the past couple of centuries, the church has washed out. Let’s get it back by getting to know the message.

• First, already stated, it’s given to us, we’re the ones selected to do the telling and show the meaning.
• Second, we’re not abandoned. Jesus said he was going away but would send One after Him to enable us to do what we have to do.
• Third, power from on high – this is God’s dynamo, lighting the way, correcting the message, giving us the courage and keeping us close to God.
• Fourth, control – God is in control and will find the people and circumstances to keep His Word alive and relevant. Times change, priorities are different but the Word of God is being fulfilled. God is in control – we may think it’s chaos, it is not. God knows what’s happening and God will prevail. In the meantime, God wants to be in control of our lives.
• Fifth, hope. This ties into four, history is unfolding according to God’s plan for restoration and we can know that God is managing the outcome. Not to believe this should lead to despair. To know this is to be assured that human history and your life is in the Hands of the One who designed this and you.