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Prayer Book English Service

A modern prayer book service, with well known hymns and the Lord's Supper

Family English Service

A contemporary, family friendly service with a creche, kid’s & youth program.

Family Mandarin Service

A contemporary, family friendly service in Mandarin, with an English speaking kid’s & youth program.

Cantonese Service

A service in Cantonese, with a friendly group of around 70 adults.

Korean Service

A contemporary, family friendly service in Korean.

Modern Mandarin Service

A service mostly in Mandarin, with some English, especially for young adults whose main language is Mandarin, and second language is English.

Indonesian Service

A contemporary service in bahasa Indonesia.

Modern English Service

A contemporary evening service with modern music and worship band.

Sermons

Devotion

Weekly Lift

#99. What happened after Easter?

Bruce Stanley

April 25, 2022


A gospel surge

Something extraordinary

No one expected the floods we've just had. Not many thought they would be as huge as they were. We are often limited in our human thinking and imaginations as to the possibilities that the world might bring.

A couple of years ago, we set a vision to reach all of Eastwood and a little bit more. In God's goodness and extraordinary work, he opened the door for us to Ermington. And now we seek to reach all of Eastwood and Ermington and a little bit more. God often exceeds our expectations, reminding us that our thinking about God's possibilities is often too small.

The day of Pentecost was such a day...

Acts 2:1-4

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

God's Holy Spirit came upon the people of Jerusalem in an extraordinary way, and a way never seen again. His Spirit rested on the disciples like tongues of fire. And then...

Acts 2:5-8

5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?

The disciples speak in tongues - and everyone hears them in their own language. Amazing! Extraordinary! It defies human logic. But this is the power of God. An extraordinary outpouring of the Holy Spirit for one big purpose - to launch the church of Jesus from Jerusalem... and a little bit more. You see, it just happened to be at a time during Passover when Jews from all over the world were in attendance. They would then return home taking the news of this event, and the message they spoke, across the globe. Amazing Spiritual work, and amazing timing!

But of course, there were some who interpreted this differently:

Acts 2:12-13

12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”13Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

There are some who are amazed and others who think "They must be drunk!" Ignoring the miracle, ignoring the facts, they walk away, dismissing God's power as just some weird silly moment of drunkenness.

How small we can be sometimes! We really need to open our eyes to the extraordinary work of God in this passage - the overwhelming power of the Holy Spirit. Although we do see the gifts of tongues among some believers, we do not see it in the way we do at Pentecost! God still works in extraordinary, although different, ways. The most amazing miracle of all is when the Holy Spirit works in a believer's heart for them to recognise and worship Jesus as Lord. This continues to be the most amazing miracle and work of the Holy Spirit ever!

Are there times your thinking is too small about the power of God to change lives? Are there times you doubt God's power in day to day circumstances? Maybe it's time to change our thinking!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for the work of your Holy Spirit in my life. Thank you for changing my heart to trust Jesus as Lord. Please help me to trust you for extraordinary work under your power and for your purposes. May I never limit the possibilities of your work in this world, and in my own life. Amen.

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    St Philip's Eastwood Anglican Church

    Cnr. Shaftsbury Rd & Clanalpine St, Eastwood NSW 2122

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