The Holy Spirit, as the third Person of the Trinity, is not an “it.” Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the disciples and then promised a further “baptism with the Holy Spirit,” the promise of the Father. Pentecost ushered in the age of the Spirit who gave the disciples power to be witnesses. Beyond having the Holy Spirit within us, we need to have the Holy Spirit come in power upon us. All we need to do is ask.

In Acts we see the start of persecution after Peter and John are taken to task for healing a paralytic. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter preaches Jesus to the people and to the Sadducees. We can expect persecution if we believe in Jesus, and even more so if we speak His Name. If we haven’t experienced persecution we should ask ourselves “why not?”

In Acts we see the start of persecution after Peter and John are taken to task for healing a paralytic. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter preaches Jesus to the people and to the Sadducees. We can expect persecution if we believe in Jesus, and even more so if we speak His Name. If we haven’t experienced persecution we should ask ourselves “why not?”

During the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus proclaims that as God provided water in the wilderness from the rock, He will satisfy those who thirst with Living Water, the Holy Spirit.

During the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus proclaims that as God provided water in the wilderness from the rock, He will satisfy those who thirst with Living Water, the Holy Spirit.

Jesus gave his disciples a “new” command – to love one another. This was not really “new” but fresh. He is the example of how to love one another with sacrificial love. We need to love and expect nothing in return, and show no partiality. Are we loving people who are hard to love? What is hindering us? We cannot profess to love God and not love people.

Jesus gave his disciples a “new” command – to love one another. This was not really “new” but fresh. He is the example of how to love one another with sacrificial love. We need to love and expect nothing in return, and show no partiality. Are we loving people who are hard to love? What is hindering us? We cannot profess to love God and not love people.

A special Christmas Eve service at Calvary Prineville. Rory's mic is off for the first 90 seconds.

A special Christmas Eve service at Calvary Prineville. Rory's mic is off for the first 90 seconds.

Jesus hangs back from going to the Feast of Tabernacles, but eventually sneaks in to the celebration before he is found out. During this incident five important questions about Jesus are posed: Where is He? How does He know so much? Who wants to kill Him? Who is He? and will you come to Him?