 |
| http://www.clker.com/clipart-11123.html |
Fundamental Belief #5--Holy Spirit
God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ's life with power. He draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth. (Find these verses here: Gen. 1:1, 2; Luke 1:35; 4:18; Acts 10:38; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:11, 12; Acts 1:8; John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26, 27; 16:7-13.)
The Story
The Martins were moving. Janie and Thomas had even helped Mom and Dad pick out the new house. They had gone to see several houses for sale and the children's job was to check out the bedrooms to see if they were big enough for their furniture and toys. The new house was bigger and there was a nice back yard where Dad promised he would put up a swing set and make a new, large sand box as soon as the weather got warmer. They were all so excited. Mom loved the new kitchen with lots of cupboards and she was pleased there was a little room off the kitchen for an office. Dad said the garage was big enough for the car and all his tools and there was lots of storage area for other things as well. Janie and Thomas were thrilled because there was a large playroom in the basement where they could play on cold or rainy days.
There was lots of work to do before they could move into the new house. Mom and Dad were packing boxes every night after supper. Janie and Thomas had boxes to fill as well. There were toys, and games and shoes and boots to go into boxes. They were really busy.
Daddy had made arrangements to rent a big moving truck and in a week Dad would back the truck up the driveway and all their furniture and the packed boxes would be put in the big truck and everything would be moved to the new house.
But just a few days before the big move, Daddy's boss at work told him he had to fly to another city because of a work emergency. He would not be at home to help move all the furniture and boxes to the new house. Oh, no! Now what would happen? When Mom heard the news she looked worried. She knew the neighbours were going to help but how could she take care of Janie and Thomas and get everything moved at the same time? But Dad told everyone not to worry because his boss, Mr. Parker, was going to send a helper to take Dad's place while he was gone. The helper's name was Big Jim Turner but everyone just called him Big Jim because he was so tall. He knew how to move furniture and boxes because he had done this work for many years.
And just as Dad had told them, on moving day when he was away, Big Jim came and helped get everything moved to the new house. He knew all about moving furniture and boxes and showed the neighbours how to pack the truck and get everything moved in one trip. He was a good teacher and Janie and Thomas and the neighbours got the job done in record time. How thankful everyone was for such a good helper.
You know boys and girls, when Jesus was on this earth He told his friends that He would be going away. They were sad Jesus would be leaving because they loved Him and would miss Him terribly. Jesus knew His friends would be sad and worried but He told them He would send another Helper in His place. Jesus told them the Helper would teach them to be like Jesus and help them remember all Jesus had taught them. He also told them the Helper, the Holy Spirit would give them power to preach about Jesus to everyone they met, even in far away lands. This Helper would be the Holy Spirit who had been with Jesus and God the Father from the beginning. He has no beginning and no end. He has always been. This would be God's Spirit, the Spirit of truth.
One day soon after Jesus had returned to Heaven, the disciples and many friends were all together in a house. "Suddenly a noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to do this."(Acts 2:2-4, ERV)
Just as Jesus had promised, He sent the Helper. The Helper gave them the power to speak in different languages. People who were visiting Jerusalem from far away countries could hear the disciples tell about Jesus in their own language. All the people listening were amazed the disciples could speak their language. The Helper, the Holy Spirit had given them this power and now they were not afraid to tell others about Jesus.
Peter preached a wonderful sermon about the good news of Jesus, how He had died on the cross to save everyone from their sins. The people were so sorry they asked Peter and the other apostles what they should do and Peter answered '"Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Then God will forgive your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you. It is also for your children and for the people who are far away. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself."' (Acts 2:38, 39, ERV) That day because of the power given to Peter and the apostles, 3000 people believed and were baptized.
I'm so glad Jesus sent the Helper to Peter and the other people. The promise of a Helper was not just for Peter and the other disciples but it was for everyone who loves Jesus. The Helper is still with us and will give us the same power the apostles received. The Helper, the Holy Spirit will stay with us until Jesus returns and takes us to Heaven.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for sending the Helper, the Holy Spirit to be with us. We are so thankful we are not alone. Amen.
The Bible verse:
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,
He will teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all things that I said to you." John 14:26 NKJV
Have the children sing:
Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, Mold me, fill me,
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
~Writer/Composer: Daniel Iverson
#672 Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal
The colouring sheet:
No comments:
Post a Comment