y

Our Our birthbirth and our and our lifelife

DietDiet and and exerciseexercise

PrivilegePrivilege and and responsibilityresponsibility

UpwardUpward and and outwardoutward

MaturityMaturity and and dependencydependency

A Fools’ Guide to Following A Fools’ Guide to Following JesusJesus

Birth Birth andand

ourour

OurOur

LifeLifeselected verses from Luke 1, 3 & 4selected verses from Luke 1, 3 & 4

y

A Fools’ Guide to Following A Fools’ Guide to Following JesusJesus

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Question: Question: when Jesus was a when Jesus was a

little boy, was he concerned with little boy, was he concerned with the creation of new galaxies in the creation of new galaxies in

the outer nebulii?the outer nebulii?

Answer: Answer: “… (He) made himself nothing, “… (He) made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human servant, being made in human

likeness” likeness” Philippians 2 Philippians 2 77

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

“…“…of his own free will he gave up all he of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being, and He became like a human being, and appeared in human likeness.” appeared in human likeness.” GOOD NEWSGOOD NEWS

““When the time came, he set aside the When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became of a slave, became humanhuman !” !” THE MESSAGETHE MESSAGE

“… “… he … did not cling to his prerogatives as he … did not cling to his prerogatives as God's equal, but stripped himself of all God's equal, but stripped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man.and being born as mortal man. JB PHILLIPSJB PHILLIPS

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus was Jesus was bornborn of the Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit

Luke 1 30 …the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary … 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus … 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you ….” The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus was Jesus was filledfilled with the Holy with the Holy SpiritSpiritLuke 3 21 When all the people were being baptised, Jesus was baptised too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” … 4 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan …

The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus was Jesus was ledled by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

Luke 4 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert …The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus was Jesus was empoweredempowered by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpirit

Luke 4 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit …

The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus Jesus preachedpreached by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

Luke 4 16 (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus Jesus preachedpreached by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor …. The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus Jesus healedhealed by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit“… He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus Jesus healedhealed by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

Healing ofHealing ofsocietysociety

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus Jesus healedhealed by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

PhysicalPhysicalhealinghealing

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus Jesus healedhealed by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

DeliveranceDeliverance

Matthew 11 Matthew 11 28 28 “ …if I drive out demons by the Spirit “ …if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”you.”

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus Jesus healedhealed by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpirit

Jesus was Jesus was bornborn of the Holy of the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus was Jesus was filledfilled with the Holy with the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus was Jesus was ledled by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus was Jesus was empoweredempowered by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus Jesus preachedpreached by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus Jesus healedhealed by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpirit

Jesus was Jesus was bornborn of the Holy of the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus was Jesus was filledfilled with the Holy with the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus was Jesus was ledled by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus was Jesus was empoweredempowered by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus Jesus preachedpreached by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

How, then,How, then,should should we live?we live?

For SaleFor Sale

Chain Chain SawSaw

Guaranteed Guaranteed to cut down to cut down 50 50

trees a day!trees a day!

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

X

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

BornBorn of the Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit

John 3 3 … Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

BornBorn of the Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit

spiritual birth is the work of the Holy Spirit

… as is the whole process of “conversion”: witness, “divine appointments”, seeing need, recognising Jesus, scriptures coming alive …

it is far, far more than a wise logical decision

it is also far more than informed assent + an experience of God’s presence

“believing-turning-from-sin-to-Jesus-being-baptised-and-receiving-the-Spirit” – 1 event!

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Have Have youyou been been bornborn of the Holy of the Holy

Spirit?Spirit?

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

FilledFilled with the Holy with the Holy SpiritSpirit Ephesians 5 19 … be filled with the Spirit…

The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

filled for the first time … (associated with baptism)

… and then again …

…and again …

continually filled

essential that it happens … not so important how it happens

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Have you Have you beenbeen … and are you … and are you beingbeing … filled … filled with the Holy with the Holy

Spirit?Spirit?

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

LedLed by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

John 16 13 … when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth …

The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

learning to hear His voice …

welcoming His direction …

testing and refining …

and then obeying

Note that in this process,

we do not use the Holy Spirit …

the Holy Spirit is using us

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Are you Are you ledled by the by the

Holy Holy Spirit?Spirit?

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

EmpoweredEmpowered by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpiritActs 1 8 … you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.there may often be a waiting

… and then a waiting again

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Are you Are you empoweredempowered by the Holy by the Holy

Spirit?Spirit?

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

EmpoweredEmpowered by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpirit

Led by the SpiritLed by the Spirit

Empowered by the SpiritEmpowered by the Spirit

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

PreachingPreaching by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpiritActs 4 31 … they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. The New International Version - Anglicised, (London:

Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 984.

not a “human” ability

words to explain the good news

words to prompt repentance

words to defend the gospel in persecution

Note that in this

process, we do not use

the Holy Spirit …

the Holy Spirit is using

us

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Do you Do you speak speak outout for Jesus for Jesus through the through the equipping of equipping of

the Holy the Holy Spirit?Spirit?

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

HealingHealing by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9

to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit … The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.different sorts of healings …

distributed as the Spirit wills

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

HealingHealing by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9

to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit … The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.different sorts of healings …

distributed as the Spirit wills

Note that in this

process, we do not use

the Holy Spirit …

the Holy Spirit

is using us

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Are you Are you availableavailable to to

the Holy the Holy Spirit for Him Spirit for Him to minister to minister healinghealing??

Our Our Birth Birth and our and our Life Life Luke 1, 3 Luke 1, 3 & 4& 4

Jesus Jesus healedhealed by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpirit

Jesus was Jesus was bornborn of the Holy of the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus was Jesus was filledfilled with the Holy with the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus was Jesus was ledled by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus was Jesus was empoweredempowered by the Holy by the Holy SpiritSpiritJesus Jesus preachedpreached by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

and and me?me?