Again today we are celebrating with La Vida Church, “One Church, One Family...”

...We welcome Pastor Neftali and Shelia to this day of worship and baptism. What a wonderful day to see all that God is doing! It is truly important to see how Holy Spirit is being poured out on all of our campuses. Holy Spirit! Holy Spirit! Holy Spirit! Why, Pastor Rick, are we hearing so much from you in these last days about Holy Spirit? Great question! The first reason is obvious from Scriptures and I believe what we do and what we believe should be based on the Word of God. Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, after Holy Spirit had been poured out was quoting Joel when he said: Acts 2:17‑18 (NKJV)  “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.”  The first reason we are talking about Holy Spirit is because we are living in the last days when He is being poured out! Amen!

The second reason we are talking about Holy Spirit so much is about as obvious as the first reason.  Jesus said in John 16:7‑8 &13-14 (NLT)  “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.” How cool is that? Jesus said it will be better for you when I leave because Holy Spirit will come to reveal to people their sin, His righteousness, His judgment, His truth, the future, and He will glorify Me! Wow! Why wouldn’t we want Holy Spirit to come?

The third reason is also very important. We want to grow to one thousand plus so that souls will be won into God’s Kingdom...Holy Spirit will enable us to do that! Acts 1:8 (NLT) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  I hope you can see why we speak of Holy Spirit so much and why we constantly are inviting Him...He is the life of the Church in these last days! We desperately need Him! Amen!