Empowered by the Spirit to Live Out Our Mission - Tim Horman
We are currently midway through our Mission Month and on Sunday it was Pentecost and so in our morning service we gathered for a special prayer and worship service - focusing on the Holy Spirit’s empowering us for Mission.
Tim shared a brief message as part of the service (that you’ll find below as a video and audio recording) before inviting all who were there to come forward for a short prayer of blessing.
Below you’ll find a short summary of his message as well as a few questions for reflection and small group discussion.
In John 16, Jesus tells us that one of the greatest ways He is glorified in our lives is through the Holy Spirit. After His resurrection, Jesus promised not to leave us as orphans, but to send the Holy Spirit. This aligns with the Great Commission in Matthew 28, where Jesus instructs us to go and make disciples, baptising them and teaching them to obey His commands. Jesus assures us that He is with us always, through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus told his disciples to wait for the gift the Father promised: the Holy Spirit. He said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses." This power is essential for the church's mission; without the Holy Spirit, we cannot fulfil our calling.
"Our mission as a church is impossible. It depends entirely upon the empowering presence and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We cannot do what we've been called to without that." - Tim Horman
Connecting to Our Lives
While we are filled with the Spirit when we believe, Paul encourages us to continually be filled and go deeper in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. This relationship, like any other, needs nurturing and deepening over time. Our initial faith is just the beginning of what can grow.
This isn't just an individual experience; it's something we share as the body of Christ. In the kingdom of God, there is no one better or less than anyone else. We are all one in Christ, and each of us has a part to play, with different gifts given to individuals. We all should be thankful for what we have received in Christ Jesus.
"We want that as well with our relationship with the Holy Spirit where we began our faith is just the seed of what can grow over time."
The message of the sermon is clear: we need the Holy Spirit to empower us to fulfill our mission. We are called to continually deepen our relationship with the Spirit and to recognise that we are all one in Christ.
One Way to Live it Out this Week
Take some time this week to pray for a deeper connection with the Holy Spirit. Ask for guidance and empowerment in your daily life.
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with your presence and empower us to live as witnesses for Jesus. Help us to deepen our relationship with you and to recognise the unity we share as the body of Christ. Amen.
Personal Reflection Questions:
How have you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in your life?
In what areas of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's empowerment?
Small Group Discussion Questions:
How does the message of the Holy Spirit's empowerment challenge or encourage you?
What are some practical ways we can cultivate a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit?
How can we, as a church, better support one another in our individual journeys with the Holy Spirit?
In what ways can we better pray for one another and our mission partners around the world, that they would be refreshed and strengthened by the Holy Spirit?
What specific areas of our church community do we need to pray for the Holy Spirit to move in?
Take some time to pray a prayer of blessing for one another as Tim encouraged us to do at the end of this sermon.