Holy Fire

1. Hayden 6-25-19

The last few Sunday’s, Central Christian has been celebrating Pentecost. The Day of Pentecost is the celebration that takes 50 days after Passover and commemorates the time that Moses met with God on Mount Sinai and the birth of the first fruits of the harvest. It was also the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the 120 disciples of the Lord in the upper room. On that day that Moses came down from the mountain, 3000 Israelites were condemned to die because of their sinful debauchery and disobedience to God’s law in one day, but after Peter and the rest of the disciples experienced this same Pentecost, 3000 people were saved in one day.   We find this account in Acts 2:1-4, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The Day of Pentecost was a day that changed the life of Christianity forever. The Holy Spirit had come! The Church now had the power to exhibit the life and miracles of Jesus to the rest of the world. The Old Testament foretold of this outpouring of the Spirit and Jesus confirmed that this was to be given. In 1997, Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York, wrote the book “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.” It documented the momentous change of a congregation that experienced such an outpouring of God’s Spirit to its members. I would suggest everyone take the time to read this account of what God can do in the life of a congregation that experiences the infilling of God’s Spirit. We still see God move in the life of people totally submitted to the God who created them, the God who saved them, and the very same God who loves them. Fresh wind and fresh fire can belong to anyone who desires all that God would give them if they so wanted it. Jim Cymbala focuses much of the text on what he believes was the catalyst for this outpouring of the Spirit to his church. Next blog, we will reveal to you what it was that Pastor Cymbala tells the world as to what he believes brought this Holy Fire to Brooklyn Tabernacle.

Be blessed even more!!

Pastor Chris         

Here Comes the Son

1. Hayden 5-29-19

“Here Comes the Sun”, one of the most iconic songs written by the late George Harrison, was a reflection of the composers need for a respite period in the midst of all of the chaos permeating the Beatle’s during their final days before their official breakup in 1970. The song was written at the home of Eric Clapton while George was skipping a meeting with the band. He just needed a break from the Apple Records business meetings that were becoming more and more contentious as the group came ever closer to the inevitable dissolution of their musical relationship.

On the same “note”, no pun intended, there are times when we need a respite as well. Every year, couples and families take off for a week or two or three to recapture their energy, taking a break from the daily grind that is life! Oh how we love to vacation, or as they say in Australia, “going on holiday, mate!” The Lord new very well how important getting away from the struggles of existence is, if only for a short time. It is He who instituted the one day of rest each week. It is He who instituted multiple festivals each year for celebration with Him and our families. And it is God who commands us to enter into rest.

Hebrews 4:10-11 NLT says, “¹⁰ For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. ¹¹ So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.” This scripture isn’t necessarily speaking to going on a physical vacation. It includes resting in the finished work of Christ, not trying to work to earn God’s love, but resting in the fact that He already loves us and has provided a way whereby we enter into His rest through our relationship with Him. It is as if God has offered us a permanent luxury cruise from all of the guilt, shame and failures of our past, present, and future.

As we prepare for our next vacation, seeing as how summer is at our front door, let our good times in Florida or wherever, be a reminder that God is pleased with our rest. Rest from work, rest from school, and rest from our normal responsibilities. But more importantly, rest from those things that would separate us from a fulfilling and vibrant relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ!

Be blessed even more!!

Pastor Chris         

Fellowship of the Believers

1. Hayden 4-27-19

                On Sunday, May 19^th directly after the 10am worship service, the church will be meeting for a wonderful time of food, games, music, recognition of volunteers, and fellowship. Nick’s Kitchen will be providing the barbecue pulled pork and chicken for lunch, we will be playing Nine Square along with the erection of the volleyball net, and Rick Fusselman will be calling the Bingo and Trivia game under the tent. It will be worth coming just to see that. And at the end of our day we will have a brief time of song and worship as we close out the afternoon together (Around 2:30pm-ish). We invite everyone and their families and friends to come be a part of that Sunday’s activity as we take time to honor those who volunteer for the church throughout the year. If you have friends and/or neighbors, bring them along, they are invited too!

                As well as honoring our volunteers, we are excited about our time together, just fellowshipping with one another as Scripture calls us to. In 1 John 1:3,7 we read, “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” and “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” This is our opportunity to gather as a family and fellowship around the table, remembering the hard work of so many who have given so much, as well as celebrating our life in Christ…Fellowshipping with one another and with God…Experiencing God Together!

Be blessed even more and thank you for all you do for God’s Kingdom!!

Pastor Chris