Sunday Worship from Hayes Barton Baptist Church (May 23, 2021)
>> LET US GO TO THE HOUSE OF
THE LORD WELCOME TO HAYES
BARTON BAPTIST CHURCH IN
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA . JOIN
US NOW READ THE HOLY
SCRIPTURES, PRAYED TOGETHER AND
PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE
WELCOME THIS MORNING ON THIS
SUNDAY MORNING MAY 23rd IN THE
YEAR OF OUR LORD 2021.
WE ARE GLAD YOU HAVE JOINED US
THIS DAY. WE SEE A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE COMING IN AND WE ARE
GETTING MORE AND MORE BACK TO
NORMAL AND WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT
PROGRESS.
WE ARE GRATEFUL YOU HAVE JOINED
US THIS DAY.
WE PRAY GOD'S BLESSINGS ARE
UPON US.
THIS IS PENTECOST SUNDAY.
WOULD YOU HEAR THESE WORDS FROM
CHAPTER 2. WHEN THE DAY OF
PENTECOST HAD COME THEY WERE
ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE AND
SUDDENLY, FROM HEAVEN, THERE
CAME THE SOUND LIKE THE REST OF
A VIOLENT WIND.
IT FILLED THE ENTIRE HOUSE
WHERE THEY WERE SEEKING.
DIVIDED TONGUES AS OF FIRE
APPEARED AMONG THEM AND THEY
TONGUE RESTED ON EACH OF THEM.
ALL OF THEM WERE FILLED WITH
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEGAN TO
SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE IS AS
THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM ABILITY.
>> LET US WORSHIP.
>>
>>
THANK YOU, LISA AND THANK YOU,
JACK THAT WAS MAGNIFICENT.
IT SOUNDED LIKE A BASS DRUM
APPEAR MY HEART WAS BEATING SO
HARD THANK YOU, BUT THAT AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE.
EACH AND EVERY SUNDAY WE SEE A
FEW MORE PEOPLE NEW FACES,
PERHAPS WE HAVEN'T MET YOU YET
AND THE BUNCH OF FAMILIAR FACES
. WE ARE GLAD TO SEE ALL OF YOU
THIS DAY.
WE WELCOME YOU TO OUR SERVICE.
WE WELCOME THOSE OF YOU WHO
JOIN US BY WAY OF A BROADCAST.
JUST THIS WEEK I HAD THE CHANCE
TO MEET REVIEW FOR THE VERY
FIRST TIME.
IT IS WITH SUCH GREAT JOY WE
WELCOME YOU TO OUR SERVICE. WE
ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS
AND PARTICIPATION. IF YOUR
FIRST TIME VISITOR TO OUR
BROADCAST PERHAPS YOU WANT TO
KNOW OUR WEBSITE HBBC.ORG YOU
CAN FIND OUR BULLETINS ON THE
HAMS WE WILL BE SINGING AND THE
ACTIVITY PAID FOR CHILDREN.
ALSO YOU CAN SIGN IN UNDER
ONLINE FRIENDSHIP PATH AND WE
APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU.
YOU CAN LEAVE PRAYER.
WE PROMISE, WE WILL PRAY FOR
YOU.
WE HAVE A GOOD-LOOKING GROUP
ACQUIRED TODAY.
YOU CAN SEE THEM AND HEAR THEM
AND WE ALSO HAVE A GOOD-LOOKING
GROUP AND OUR FELLOWSHIP HALL.
CHILDREN ARE GATHERING THERE.
WE WILL BE HEARING FROM SARAH
FROM THE FELLOWSHIP HALL AS SHE
GIVES CHILDREN'S SERMON TODAY.
IT'S A GOOD DAY TO BE TOGETHER
AND AGAIN WE THANK YOU.
ON THE BACK PAGE OF YOUR
PROGRAM YOU WILL NOTICE WE HAVE
A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES
LISTED THERE.
WE HAVE GRADUATE RECOGNITION
SUNDAY I BELIEVE TWO SUNDAYS
FROM NOW, RIGHT?
IF YOU ARE A COUNTRY MEMBER IN
SOMEBODY IN YOUR FAMILY HAS
GRADUATED OR IS GRADUATING, WE
WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THAT. WE
WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE YOUR
FAMILY MEMBER IN HER GRADUATE
RECOGNITION.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU CAN GO
AGAIN TO OUR WEBSITE AND FIND
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
YOU'LL FIND OTHER PROGRAMS AND
OPPORTUNITIES ON THE BACK PAGE
OF THE BULLETIN AND YOU WILL
FIND OUR NEWEST UPDATE FROM THE
PAST FORWARD TASK FORCE AND
EACH TIME THIS GROUP MEETS, WE
LOOSEN UP A LITTLE BIT MORE AND
MORE.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
DAY WHEN PAST FORWARD TASK
FORCE WILL BE DISSOLVED BUT
THAT TIME HAS NOT COME QUITE
YET WE APPRECIATE YOU WORKING
TOGETHER WITH US IN FOLLOWING
THE PROTOCOLS.
WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.
AGAIN, GOOD TO BE TOGETHER AND
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE YOU TO STAND TOGETHER
WITH ME AS KRISTIN LEADS US IN
THE RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP.
COME HOLY SPIRIT.
COME HOLY SPIRIT COME HOLY
SPIRIT. COME, HOLY SPIRIT COME,
HOLY SPIRIT MAY WE RECEIVE THE
HOLY SPIRIT IN THIS PLACE.
AMEN.
>>
>> PRAY WITH ME.
COME HOLY SPIRIT AND THE ONE
WHO CANNOT BE CONTAINED BY FIRE
OR FLAME THE ONE WHO BLESSES
THE CHURCH WITH COURAGE, PEACE
AND LOVE. COME HOLY SPIRIT TO US
GATHERED THIS DAY WITH
TREMBLING HANDS AND A CERTAIN
HEART, TEACH US TO SING A NEW
SONG TO DANCE WITH RECKLESS
ABANDON.
IN THIS GATHERING OF BELIEVERS
AS YOU DID WITH THOSE SO LONG
AGO, BREATHED ON US NOW.
BREATHE ON US GOING AWAY OUR
FEARS AND HESITATION.
BREATHE ON US TRANSFORMING OUR
HARD HEARTEDNESS AND THE
PASSION FILLED LIFE.
BREATHE ON US FOR WE NEED
PEACE, PEACE THAT ONLY YOU CAN
GIVE.
READ ON US SO THAT WE CAN BE
MORE FULLY TRANSFORMED INTO THE
AGENT RECURRENT PEACE AND LOVE.
THAT THE WORLD NEEDS TODAY AND
I WAS MODELED BY YOUR SON OUR
SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
HE TAUGHT US TO PRAY WHEN YOU
SAID OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN
HEAVEN HALLOWED BE THY NAME THY
KINGDOM COME THY WILL BE DONE
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY
BREAD AND FORGIVE US OUR
TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE
WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US LEAD US
NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER
US FROM EVIL FOR THINE IS THE
KINGDOM, THE POWER, THE GLORY
FOREVER.
AMEN.
>> [ SINGING ]
>> TODAY WE HAVE A SPECIAL
TREAT.
CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL
FAMILIES TODAY.
LET'S JOIN THEM NOW., GOOD
MORNING.
IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL TODAY IS
ASSERTED TO BE TOGETHER.
I GAVE YOU GUYS SOME THINGS
WHEN YOU CAME UP YOU HAVE SOME
CLASSES IN PARTY HATS.
WHAT ARE YOU USING THESE THINGS
FOR?
FOR A BIRTHDAY.
TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING A
BIRTHDAY.
DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHO'S
BIRTHDAY AND WE ARE
CELEBRATING?
IT'S HER MOM'S BIRTHDAY?
SHE SAYS HER BIRTHDAY WITH
SOMETHING IMPORTANT WE WILL
TALK ABOUT TODAY.
OH, YEAH. LET'S LOOK AT THE
SCRIPTURE TO FIND OUT WHAT
BIRTHDAY WE ARE CELEBRATING.
THE BIBLE TELLS US AFTER JESUS
WENT AWAY SOME FOLLOWERS WERE
AFRAID.
THIS REMEMBERED JESUS TOLD THEM
A HELPER WAS COMING.
ON THIS DAY, MANY PEOPLE WERE
GATHERED IN A HOME TOGETHER AND
THE BIBLE SAID THE SPIRIT CAME
LIKE FIRE AND LIKE WIND.
THE SPIRIT WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT.
A HELPER THAT JESUS HAD
PROMISED.
IT WAS THE SPIRIT AND PRESENCE
OF GOD THAT WOULD LET PEOPLE
KNOW WHAT GOD WANTED THEM TO DO
AND WHAT CHOICES THEY WERE
SUPPOSED TO MEET.
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE THAT
DAY WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
PETER TALKED ABOUT JESUS AND
HOW JESUS SAVED THEM.
ON THAT DAY MORE THAN 3000
PEOPLE WERE BAPTIZED.
THEY FOLLOWED JESUS AND THEY
BECAME THE VERY FIRST CHURCH.
PEOPLE WHO LIVED AND WORSHIPED
AND SERVED AND SHARED TOGETHER.
WORKING TO SPREAD GOD'S LOVE
WHEREVER THEY WENT WITH THE
BIRTHDAY WE CELEBRATE TODAY, ON
PENTECOST IS THE BIRTHDAY OF
THE CHURCH.
THE FIRST CHURCH WAS MADE.
WE ARE STILL DOING ALL THOSE
THINGS THE FIRST CHURCH DID ARE
WE?
WE ARE WORSHIPING TOGETHER AND
SERVING TOGETHER.
WE ARE PRAYING AND SHARING
GOD'S STORY TOGETHER.
I WONDER IF YOU CAN HELP ME SAY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY?
AS LOUD AS YOU CAN, 123.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.
DEAR GOD THANK YOU FOR THE HELP
ARE WE HAVING THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THANK YOU FOR THE CHURCH.
WE ARE GLAD TO BE PART OF THE
FAMILY OF FAITH. HELP US TO
CARE ABOUT YOUR LOVE UNTIL
OTHERS ABOUT JESUS.
IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY.
>>
>> WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS.
THANK YOU.
BEAUTIFULLY DONE.
OUR SCRIPTURE TODAY IS TAKEN
FROM ROMANS CHAPTER 8 AND IF
YOU CARE TO FOLLOW ALONG, YOU
WILL FIND A BIBLE AT YOUR SEAT
AND YOU CAN FIND THIS TEXT ON
PAGE 919.
WE WILL BEGIN READING IN VERSE
18.
A VERY APPROPRIATE TEXT FOR
PENTECOST SUNDAY.
APOSTLE PAUL DECLARED,I
CONSIDER THAT THE SUFFERINGS OF
THIS PRESENT TIME ARE NOT WORTH
COMPARING WITH THE GLORY ABOUT
TO BE REVEALED TO US.
19 FOR THE CREATION WAITS WITH
EAGER LONGING FOR THE REVEALING
OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD; 20 FOR
THE CREATION WAS SUBJECTED TO
FUTILITY, NOT OF ITS OWN WILL
BUT BY THE WILL OF THE ONE WHO
SUBJECTED IT, IN HOPE 21 THAT
THE CREATION ITSELF WILL BE SET
FREE FROM ITS BONDAGE TO DECAY
AND WILL OBTAIN THE FREEDOM OF
THE GLORY OF THE CHILDREN OF
GOD.
22 WE KNOW THAT THE WHOLE
CREATION HAS BEEN GROANING IN
LABOR PAINS UNTIL NOW; 23 AND
NOT ONLY THE CREATION, BUT WE
OURSELVES, WHO HAVE THE FIRST
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, GROAN
INWARDLY WHILE WE WAIT FOR
ADOPTION, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR
BODIES.
24 FOR IN HOPE WE WERE SAVED.
NOW HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT
HOPE.
FOR WHO HOPES FOR WHAT IS SEEN?
25 BUT IF WE HOPE FOR WHAT WE
DO NOT SEE, WE WAIT FOR IT WITH
PATIENCE.
26 LIKEWISE THE SPIRIT HELPS US
IN OUR WEAKNESS; FOR WE DO NOT
KNOW HOW TO PRAY AS WE OUGHT,
BUT THAT VERY SPIRIT INTERCEDES
WITH SIGHS TOO DEEP FOR WORDS.
27 AND GOD, WHO SEARCHES THE
HEART, KNOWS WHAT IS THE MIND
OF THE SPIRIT, BECAUSE THE
SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR THE
SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF
GOD.
28 WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK
TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO
LOVE GOD, WHO ARE CALLED
ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.
29 FOR THOSE WHOM HE FOREKNEW
HE ALSO PREDESTINED TO BE
CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS
SON, IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT BE
THE FIRSTBORN WITHIN A LARGE
FAMILY.
30 AND THOSE WHOM HE
PREDESTINED HE ALSO CALLED; AND
THOSE WHOM HE CALLED HE ALSO
JUSTIFIED; AND THOSE WHOM HE
JUSTIFIED HE ALSO GLORIFIED.
MAY GOD AT HIS BLESSING.
[ SINGING ]
PRAY WITH ME AND JOIN TOGETHER
HEARTS AND MINDS.
YOU ARE ALL-POWERFUL. ALL-
KNOWING. YOU ARE ETERNAL GOD
WITHOUT BEGINNING AND END.
YOU ARE THE AUTHOR OF TIME.
WE PUT OUR TRUST IN YOUR COSMIC
DESIGN.
WE HOPE IN THESE THINGS AND WE
ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR OWN
LIMITATIONS.
UNLIKE YOU, WE ARE FRAGILE,
IGNORANT AND SHORTSIGHTED.
PERHAPS MORE THAN THESE WE ARE
IMPATIENT.
WE ARE IMPATIENT IN YOUR
BLESSINGS.
WE ARE IN FOR HEALING AND
WELLNESS WE ARE AND FOR THINGS
TO WORK OUT THE WAY WE WANT
THEM TO WORK OUT.
GOD WE ARE IMPATIENT FOR AN END
TO THIS PANDEMIC TO WITNESS
THAT THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER
WE RECEIVE A TASTE OF NORMALCY
THAT WE HAVE LONGED FOR FOR SO
LONG.
WE CLAMOR ALL THE MORE THE
SHASTA CLICK TO SHAKE UP THE
RESTRICTIONS THE PANDEMIC HAS
VISITED UPON US.
WE ARE IMPATIENT. WE HUMBLY ASK
YOU ON THIS PENTECOST SUNDAY TO
FILL US UP WITH YOUR HOLY
SPIRIT SO THAT WE MAY HAVE
STRENGTH AND UNDERSTANDING TO
EXPERIENCE YOUR TIMING, YOUR
PATIENCE, YOUR VISION IN ALL
THINGS.
AS WE ENCOUNTER YOU TURN OUR
HEARTS AND MINDS OUTWARD. HELP
US TO BE MINDFUL OF OUR
BLESSINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES WE
HAVE TO SHARE THEM WITH OTHERS.
HELP US NOT WELL ON OUR OWN
PERCEIVED OPPRESSION AND BEING
MINDFUL OF THE PENDULUM RAGES
ON IN MANY COMMUNITIES AND
NATIONS.
WE CAN STILL ACT IN COMPASSION
AND SOLIDARITY TO OTHERS WHO
HAVEN'T WEATHERED THE STORM AS
EASILY AS US.
REMIND US, BEHOLD A SENIOR EVER
LOVING AND EVER ACCEPTING ARMS
AND THROUGH THE POWER OF YOUR
EMBRACE, MAY WE EMBRACE OUR
NEIGHBORS.
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD
AMEN.
[ SINGING ]
THANK YOU ENSEMBLE YOU SOUND
REALLY GOOD AND YOU LOOK REALLY
GOOD.
WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL.
PENTECOST SUNDAY.
YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL IT IN A
CHURCH LIKE OURS WITH PENTECOST
SUNDAY BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY
DAY IN THE YEAR TO GET THESE
RED OUT EXCEPT FOR EVERY NOW AND
THEN WE DO IT ON REFORMATION
SUNDAY.
WE DON'T DO IT EVERY YEAR.
USUALLY IT IS JUST PENTECOST
SUNDAY IT'S THE RED BANNERS AND
SO FORTH.
IT MAKES ME THINK. I'M NOT SURE
WHY BUT PENTECOST SUNDAY IS NO
REALLY CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION
THE SAME WAY CHRISTMAS AND
EASTER HAVE CAPTURED IT.
WE DON'T SEND PENTECOST
GREETING CARDS TO ALL MY FAMILY
AND FRIENDS I DON'T HAVE A
PENTECOST CARD OR MAILING LIST
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T EXCHANGE GIFTS AT
PENTECOST WE DO NOT DRESS
CHILDREN UP IN NEW OUTFITS.
FOR THE MOST PART IT GOES
WITHOUT MUCH FANFARE.
THE CHURCH IS SOME OF US MIGHT
NOT HAVE EVEN KNOWN IT WAS
PENTECOST SUNDAY UNLESS WE TOLD
EVERYBODY IT WAS.
IT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN IRONIC.
BACK IN THE EARLIEST DAYS OF
THE CHURCH, IN ADDITION TO
EASTER THERE WAS ONE OTHER
MAJOR FEAST OR FESTIVAL ON THE
CHRISTIAN CALENDAR AND IT
WASN'T CHRISTMAS.
IT WAS PENTECOST.
AS A MATTER OF FACT IT WASN'T
UNTIL 300 YEARS AFTER THE LORD
BURIAL AND RESURRECTION THAT
THEY ADDED CHRISTMAS TOUR
CALENDAR.
ALL OF THIS TO SAY, A RATHER
LONG PERIOD OF TIME PENTECOST
OCCUPIED A VERY SPECIAL PLACE
ON THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR. I
THINK I UNDERSTAND WHY.
I THINK OF A STORY BY TOM LONG
THAT GREAT PREACHER AND TEACHER
OF PREACHERS HE TAUGHT AT
PRINCETON FOR YEARS AND MORE
RECENTLY AT EMORY UNIVERSITY.
HE TELLS OF A TIME YEARS AGO
WHEN HE WAS TEACHING A
CONFIRMATION CLASS TO CHILDREN.
HE ADMITS IT WAS A VERY SMALL
GROUP.
THERE WERE ONLY THREE LITTLE
GIRLS IN THIS CLASS.
HE REMEMBERS MEETING WITH THESE
THREE LITTLE GIRLS.
REMEMBER THE DAY WHEN HE WAS
TEACHING THEM ABOUT THE
FESTIVALS AND SEASONS OF THE
CHRISTIAN YEAR AND WHEN HE CAME
TO DISCUSS THE COST, HE ASKED
THEM IF THEY KNEW IT PENTECOST
RODS.
NONE OF THEM DID.
HE PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM
PENTECOST WAS THAT DAY WHEN THE
CHURCH WAS GATHERED TOGETHER AND
IN THE SAME ROOM AND BECAME THE
SOUND LIKE THE RUSH OF VIOLENT
WIND AND THE HOLY SPIRIT LANDED
ON ALL THE PEOPLE IN FIRE
APPEARED ON EVERYBODY'S HEAD.
THEY WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY
SPIRIT AND THEY BEGAN TO SPEAK
THE BIBLE IT ALL THE LANGUAGES
OF THE DAY AND 3000 PEOPLE WERE
BAPTIZED.
AS HE SAID THIS A COUPLE OF THE
GIRLS TAKE THAT INFORMATION IN
STRIDE.
ONE OF THEM HE COULD TELL SHE
WAS ASTONISHED. HER EYES WERE
WIDE WITH WONDER.
SHE WAS SPEECHLESS AND
STAMMERED AND SHE EXPLAINED,
GOSH, REVEREND LONGLEY MUST
HAVE BEEN ABSENT THAT SUNDAY.
AND SOMETIMES I THINK WE FEEL
THAT WAY, DON'T WE?
SOMETIMES WE WONDER SOMEHOW IF
WE WERE ABSENT WHEN THE ACTION
TOOK PLACE.
THE HOLY SPIRIT MIGHT HAVE COME
DOWN WITH GREAT FANFARE AND WE
WERE NOT THERE THAT DAY.
THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE.
ONE THING TO READ ABOUT HOW THE
HOLY SPIRIT CAME DOWN ON THAT
DAY LONG AGO.
IT'S ANOTHER TO SAY THE SAME
HOLY SPIRIT IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE
AND AT WORK AMONG US TODAY?
YET THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT
ROMANS CHAPTER 8 TELLS US.
IT'S A PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE
TEXT FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY AND I
TOLD YOU BEFORE I LOVE THE
REMARK THEY MADE IN CHAPTER 8 I
WOULD RATHER LIVE IN THE EIGHTH
CHAPTER OF ROMANS AND THEN IN
THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
WHICH IS TO SAY THERE SO VERY
MUCH AND THIS MAGNIFICENT
PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE. HIGH
PRAISE FROM A GREAT EVANGELIST.
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER ROMANS IS
FILLED WITH SOME OF THE GREAT
PROMISES FROM GOD.
ONE OF THESE PROMISES IS THE
PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT. A
PROMISE AS YOU KNOW, IS A PLEDGE
. IT IS A GUARANTEE AND
ASSURANCE THAT A CERTAIN THING
WILL EITHER BE DONE OR WON'T BE
DONE.
TO MAKE A PROMISE TO GIVE
SOMEONE A SOLEMN OATH AND GIVE
SOMEBODY A SOLEMN WORD.
JESUS KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO MAKE
PROMISES.
HE MADE PROMISES AND ONE OF THE
PROMISES HE MADE WAS SHE WOULD
SEND US HIS HOLY SPIRIT I THINK
OF A PASSAGE IN JOHN CHAPTER 16
HE SAID, IT'S TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
THAT I GO AWAY HE SAID THIS.
IT'S TO YOUR ADVANTAGE GO AWAY
BECAUSE IF I DO NOT GO AWAY,
THE ADVOCATE THE HOLY SPIRIT
WILL NOT COME TO YOU BUT IF I
DO GO, SEND HIM TO YOU.
THERE YOU HAVE IT, JESUS GAVE
HIS WORD TO HIS DISCIPLES THAT
HE WOULD SEND HIS SPIRIT AND HE
DIDN'T DO IT, GOD'S GOSPEL ALONE
HE GIVES THIS PROMISE SIX TIMES
BY MY COUNT. OVER AND OVER
AGAIN ELSEWHERE AS WELL IN THE
GOSPEL.
HE MAKES THE PROMISE HE WILL
SEND HIS HOLY SPIRIT HE GAVE
THEM THIS PLEDGE. HE GAVE THEM
HIS WORD.
A PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY WE USE
THE WORD PROMISE.
SOMETIMES WE USE THE WORD
PROMISE NOT SO MUCH AS A PLEDGE
IS WHEN WE SEE POTENTIAL IN
SOMETHING OR SOMEONE.
FOR EXAMPLE WE MIGHT SAY A
YOUNG PERSON HAS SHOWN GREAT
SIGNS OF PROMISE IN PLAYING AN
ATHLETIC EVENT OR PLAYING A
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT OR MAY BE
STUDYING A CERTAIN SUBJECT IN
SCHOOL.
THIS PERSON SHOWED GREAT
POTENTIAL AND IF THIS PERSON
CONTINUES ON SAME TRAJECTORY
THEY ARE ON NOW THEY WILL BE
PROFICIENT, GIFTED IN WHATEVER
IT IS THEY ARE DOING BECAUSE
THEY SHOW SUCH PROMISE.
WE EXPECT THIS BECAUSE OF THE
PROMISE THEY HAVE DISPLAYED.
THAT'S THE WAY I THINK OF THE
PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THIS
MORNING.
SPECIFICALLY I'M THINKING OF
THE PROMISE WE CAN SEE HIM WHEN
ANOTHER.
BY THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT OF GOD.
IF I HAD TO SUM UP THAT PROMISE,
IN A SINGLE WORD, IT WOULD BE
HOPE.
HOPE IN THE FACE OF OUR
SUFFERING.
WE DO SUFFER, DON'T WE?
MOST OF US NOT ALL THE TIME
THANK HEAVENS.
SOME OF US NOT TO THE SAME
DEGREE AS OTHERS, BUT WE ALL
HAVE OUR MOMENTS.
MOMENTS WHEN LIFE DOESN'T WORK
OUT THE WAY WE HAD PLANNED IT.
MOMENTS WHEN WE GET SICK OR
MAYBE WORSE 11 ONE GET
SERIOUSLY SICK.
MOMENTS LIKE WE LOSE OUR JOB
WERE WORSE WE LOSE OUR HOME OR
MAYBE EVEN WORSE, WE LOSE OUR
FAMILY.
LIFE IS FILLED WITH LOSS.
SOMETIMES IT'S ALMOST MORE THAN
WE CAN BEAR.
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT RESIDED
WITHIN A SOMEHOW, WE MANAGED TO
HANG ONTO HOPE.
WE GO ON HOPING EVEN WHEN THERE
SEEMS TO BE NO REASON TO.
WE GO ON HOPING EVEN WHEN
THINGS ARE DARKEST.
WHEN WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM.
WE GO ON WITH HOPE.
PAUL UNDERSTOOD THIS.
PERHAPS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER
WRITER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT HE
TALKS ABOUT HOW WE GROAN
INWARDLY. WE GROAN INWARDLY AS
WE WAIT FOR WHATEVER IT IS WE
ARE HOPING FOR. WE GROAN
INWARDLY AS WE HOPE FOR
WHATEVER IT IS WE ARE WAITING
FOR.
HE TELLS US IT'S IN THIS HOPE
WE ARE SAVED.
WE ARE SAVED NOT BECAUSE WE SEE
THE SIGNS OF HOPE, IN FACT
THERE ARE TIMES CANNOT SEE ANY
SIGNS AT ALL BUT THAT'S OKAY.
THAT IS THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN
HOPE. PAUL ADMITS THIS.
HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE.
WHO HOPE FOR WHAT IS SEEN?
IF YOU HAVE IT YOU ARE NOT
HOPING FOR IT.
WE HOPE FOR WHAT WE DO NOT SEE.
WHEN WE DO THAT WE WAIT FOR IT
WITH PATIENTS.
WHICH IS TO SAY WE GO ON HOPING
EVEN WHEN THERE SEEMS TO BE NO
BASIS FOR OUR HOPE. THAT MY
FRIENDS IS THE ESSENTIAL NATURE
OF CHRISTIAN HOPE.
ALONG WITH THE REST OF CREATION
PAUL SAYS, WE WAKE WITH EAGER
LONGING AS WE ARE IN FOR THE
DAY, THAT PROMISE DAY, THE DAY
THE PROPHET SPOKE ABOUT WHEN
THE WOLF WILL LIE DOWN WITH THE
LAMB AND ALL THE SWORDS ARE
BEATEN INTO PLOWSHARES WATER
BREAKS FORTH FROM THE
WILDERNESS AND TREES WILL CLAP
THEIR HANDS.
WHY DO WE HAVE THIS HOPE?
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE. NOT BECAUSE
WE HAVE REAMS OF EVIDENCE.
NOT BECAUSE ALL THE SIGNS POINT
IN THAT DIRECTION BUT BECAUSE
WE BELIEVE.
WE REALLY DO BELIEVE, DON'T WE?
WHY?
WE HAD A DEACONS RETREAT THIS
WEEKEND ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
ONE OF OUR DEACONS HUDDLED UP
DURING ONE OF THE BREAKS. WE
WERE TO MY BELIEVING AND TALK
ABOUT WHY WE BELIEVE.
MAYBE WHY SOMEBODY ELSE DOES
NOT BELIEVE.
WE WERE WONDERING ALOUD. I
MENTIONED TO HIM ON I BELIEVE
IS BECAUSE MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME
TO BELIEVE.
I SUSPECT SOME PEOPLE HERE WHO
WERE JOINING US BY WAY OF OUR
BROADCAST WOULD ADMIT THAT OR
MAYBE WE BELIEVE BECAUSE A
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER WHO LOVED
US TO STEW BELIEVE.
MAYBE WE BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE
FAITHFUL WITNESS OF A FRIEND OR
BECAUSE THE SERMON WE HEARD BY
BILLY GRAHAM OR SOME OTHER
PREACHER OR A BOOK WE READ OF
THE BIBLE OR BECAUSE WE OFFERED
UP A PRAYER ONE DAY AND GOD
ACTUALLY ANSWERED THAT PRAYER.
THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS WHY
WE BELIEVE.
AND YET PAUL TELLS US IN THE END
THERE'S REALLY ONLY ONE REASON
WHY WE BELIEVE.
WE BELIEVE BECAUSE GOD HAS
PLANTED IT IN OUR HEARTS TO
BELIEVE.
ISN'T THAT WHAT HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT A MOST CLOSING WORDS?
THE WORDS THAT ARE BROUGHT
CONFUSION TO SO MANY PEOPLE.
HE PREDESTINED TO BE CONFORMED
AND THOSE HE PREDESTINED HE
CALLED AND THOSE WHOM HE CALLED
HE JUSTIFIED AND THOSE WE
JUSTIFIED HE ALSO GLORIFIED.
WE READ THOSE WORDS AND WE
WONDER WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THOSE WHOM HE PREDESTINED.
SOME PEOPLE USE VERSUS LIKE
THESE TO SUPPORT THE CLAIM
EVERYTHING THAT EVER HAPPENED
WE WORKED OUT THE FOUNDATION OF
THE WORLD AND WE DIDN'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING IT
WAS ALL PREORDAINED.
PREDESTINATION IS WHAT WE CALL
THAT.
IF YOU ASK ME, SOMETIMES YOU
READ SCRIPTURE AND TAKE IT
REALLY LITERALLY AND SOMETIMES
YOU READ IT AND I THINK THE
SUMMER LIKE POETRY.
I THINK WHAT PAUL WAS SAYING
HERE IS GOD HAS SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THE FAITH WE HAVE IN OUR
HEARTS.
HE PLANTED IN OUR HEARTS THE
CAPACITY TO BELIEVE.
HE'S SENT HIS SPIRIT TO US TO
INSPIRE TO BE BELIEVED.
HE EXTENDED TO US, HIS GRACE IN
ORDER WE MIGHT BELIEVE.
WITHOUT HIS GRACE, NONE OF US
WOULD BE BELIEVERS.
WITH HIS GRACE WE BELIEVE
THAT'S WHY WE BELIEVE GOD IS
WORKING IN ALL THINGS NOT
CAUSING EVERYTHING TO HAPPEN.
MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE
OF OUR CHOICES.
EVEN WHEN WE MAKE BAD CHOICES,
EVEN WHEN WE MAKE WRONG
DECISIONS, GOD IS THERE TO HELP
US PICK UP THE PIECES AND PUT
OUR WORLD BACK TOGETHER.
GOD IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS
AT WORK. ALWAYS AT WORK.
TRANSFORMING OUR PAIN INTO
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.
ALWAYS AT WORK TRANSFORMING OUR
DARKNESS INTO LIGHT.
ALWAYS AT WORK TRANSFORMING OUR
SUFFERING.
HOW DOES HE DO IT?
YOU KNOW HOW.
BY THE POWER AND PROMISE OF HIS
HOLY SPIRIT.
AND YOU KNOW, THE LORD IS DOING
THAT VERY THING EVEN NOW.
RIGHT HERE AMONG US.
THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL OF YOU
TODAY IF YOU ARE HERE OR
JOINING US FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE,
AND GOOD NEWS IS THIS.
THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS COME DOWN
AMONG US.
WE WERE NOT ABSENT ON THAT DAY.
HERE WE ARE.
READY TO RECEIVE HIS PROMISE.
AMEN.
AMEN.
OUR COMMITMENT IS NUMBER 614
SINCE JESUS CAME INTO MY HEART,
ONE OF THE OLD GREAT HYMNS AND
WE ARE GOING TO INVITE YOU IF
YOU DESIRE TO MAKE A PROFESSION
OF FAITH IN CHRIST OR UNITE
WITH THIS CHURCH. YOU MAY FEEL
FREE TO COME FORWARD AS WE
STAND TOGETHER.
>>
[ SINGING ]
>> WOULD YOU PLEASE PRAY WITH
ME?
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, IT IS
WONDERFUL FOR US TO GATHER
TOGETHER TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GIFTS YOU
HAVE GIVEN US. ESPECIALLY THE
GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
KEEP US MINDFUL THAT THE HOLY
SPIRIT PROVIDE THE GIFTS FOR
SERVICE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE
CHURCH.
PLEASE HELP US TO MAKE GOOD USE
OF THOSE GIFTS TO ASSIST ALL
YOUR CHILDREN THAT ARE IN NEED.
BLESS OUR CHURCH IN THESE
OFFERINGS AND HELP US PUT THEM
TO WORK WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF YOUR KINGDOM.
FORGIVE US FOR OUR SINS AND
BRING PEACE TO OUR TROUBLED
WORLD AS WE CONTINUE TO GATHER
AND RECONNECT WITH EACH OTHER
TO STRENGTHEN US AND HELP US
AND OUR SERVICE AS YOUR
REPRESENTATIVE HERE ON EARTH.
ASK THESE THINGS IN JESUS NAME
FOR SAVIOR AND OUR LORD AMEN.
>>
WE ARE A PLAY DATE PROGRAM
FOCUSED ON HELPING CHILDREN
LEARN DEVELOPMENTAL WAYS TO
PLAY AND ENGAGE IN LEARNING.
WE COMBINE CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES.
CURRENTLY WE ARE DOING BIRTHDAY
BASH FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS.
THE PRETTY BAGS BE DONATED TO
THE CATHOLIC PARISH OUTREACH ON
THE BACK HAVE EVERYTHING IN IT
A FAMILY NEEDS TO HAVE A
SPECIAL DAY FOR THEIR CHILD.
PAPRIKA CLASSES ARE DOING BAGS
THAT HAVE EVERYTHING NEEDED
SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS HELP. FOR
PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN
REGISTERING INFORMATION CAN BE
FOUND ON THE CHURCH'S WEBSITE
AND THERE IS A VIRTUAL TOUR YOU
CAN TAKE TO WATCH WHAT HAPPENS
DURING OUR DAY.
>> AT THE END OF OUR SERVICE WE
ARE DELIGHTED WE HAVE HAD THREE
WHO HAVE COME TO SYRING TO
UNITE WITH OUR CHURCH AND
ACTUALLY FOUR HAVE COME DOWN
WHENCE ALREADY A MEMBER WHEN
YOU STAND WITH ME FOR A MOMENT?
WE HAVE LINDA JOHN WINSTON AND
JOHN COMES TO STAY DESIRING TO
WITH OUR CHURCH AND WE HAD A
WEDDING, DIDN'T WE?
JOHN IS COMING THIS DAY AND
HE'S COMING FROM A SISTER
BAPTIST CHURCH NOT FAR FROM
HERE.
YOU ARE DECLARING TO THIS
CONGREGATION YOU PUT YOUR FAITH
AND TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST AND
YOU HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED.
I WRITE SO, WE ARE DELIGHTED
JOHN HAS COME THIS DAY AND WE
WELCOME YOU GLADLY.
BEFORE WE SAY WELCOME AND WILL
TOSS IT TO WARREN.
HE HAS WORKED WITH ANOTHER
FAMILY.
>> WOULD YOU JOIN ME? LIKE TO
PRESENT PLAN AND SHERRY BUCK.
THIS PAST MONTH DURING THE
DEACONS MEETING WE WELCOME
GLENN AND THE CHERRY AS TWO
MORE OF OUR NEWEST MEMBERS OF
OUR CONGREGATION. THEY ARE
JOINING US FROM OUR SISTER
BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE AREA, AS
WELL.
THE DEACONS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY
AND SO I KNOW YOU'LL BE EXCITED
TO WELCOME THEM.
YOU DO A GREAT JOB OF BUILDING
INTERROGATING QUESTIONS.
>> YOU'VE DONE THAT, YES. WE'VE
HEARD TESTIMONIES ALREADY.
Y'ALL HAVE COME TODAY HAVING
PROFESSED YOUR FAITH IN JESUS
CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND YOU
BEEN BAPTIZED ALREADY IN THE
NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND
HOLY SPIRIT.
YOU'VE HEARD THEIR TESTIMONY OR
YOU HAVE SEEN THEM NOD THEIR
HEADS.
IT'S HARD TO GIVE A TESTIMONY
WITH THE MASK ON.
I KNOW YOU AND WELCOME THEM
INTO THE CONGREGATION.
MAKE IT KNOWN FOR ALL THREE OF
THESE BY SAYING, WELCOME.
WELCOME, INDEED THAT'S A
UNANIMOUS VOTE.
WE ARE GLAD YOU HAVE JOINED US.
HE WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO