A Surprising Gift

A Surprising Gift A Surprising Gift

The resurrection and the Spirit within.

There is a paragraph in the Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology that speaks of resurrection in the eyes of Jesus. “The concept plays little part in Jesus’ teaching, though He asserts it emphatically against the Sadducees on the ground that a relationship once set up between God and humanity cannot be temporary.”

The Sadducees argued against a resurrection and considered the idea, that if one lived a good life, they would possibly be remembered by God. I can imagine a lot of people threw their hands in the air and said what’s the use?

Pharisees on the other hand believed there was a resurrection, accomplished through law. Again, I can imagine people throwing their hands in the air and saying what’s the use?

The blessed part about resurrection is that it is the power of God established in Genesis 1 and the truth of God satisfied in Revelation 21.

Jesus said as is recorded in John 14, “I must go away so that I can send the Comforter, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, resurrection is justified for the salvation all humanity in the moment when Jesus rose, the curtain was torn, and our sins were forgiven. Resurrection is sanctified in humanity when the Spirit of Pentecost harvested our souls and God’s people are promised eternal relationships.

The not so idle relationship with God.

Since I have been married, sitting on the couch, watching the grass grow and ordering fresh squeezed lemonade has not happened. Relationship has everything to do with interaction, appreciation, and accomplishment. The same is with the resurrection power revealed at Pentecost, its active Holy Living.

Holy Living may be painted with a broad-brush stroke, although the sermon on the mount has a lot to say that helps us to pin point what is important to the Author of resurrection, Christ Jesus. Holy 14 The Connection SPRING 2021

Living is a gift given to every believer at Pentecost. Like every gift it needs to be unwrapped, learned about in the owner’s manual (Bible), and then put into use.

One of the books I read and enjoyed during seminary was titled Practical Divinity. It was a culmination of theological insights and practical insights. John Wesley learned from his mother Suzanna, that God is working in all believers at the right time, revealing the power of resurrection and Pentecost at the same time. It is Trinity at its best. God spoke, Jesus fulfilled, and the Spirit equipped.

The Gift in Genesis:

Genesis 3:22-24: “And the LORD God said, ‘The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So, the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.’” The text gives us insight that eternal life was in the Garden. It cannot be gained through sin; the Way is through faith and trust in God as revealed in Christ Jesus.

The Gift in Revelation:

Revelation 21:3-4: “‘And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.’” Revelation 3:20

A Surprising Gift A Surprising Gift by Rev. Rick Stackhouse

Acts 2:1-4: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and fi lled the whole house where they were sitting. Th ey saw what seemed to be tongues of fi re that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were fi lled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Th e Holy Spirit takes over.

Th e Holy Spirit says, “Let Me have them.”

Th e resurrection opened the curtain for the work of the Holy Spirit to come and reside within all believers, then and now. Th e Holy Spirit is not an idle presence, who waits for the useful person to show up. Th e Holy Spirit is the Author of Holy Living. We do not stand a chance when it comes to arguing with the HOLY SPIRIT. Th e Spirit of God is the God Who was, Who is, and Who is to come.

Current Stuff :

I serve as a pastor with a group of seasoned Christians, who desire to make disciples of Jesus through love (Agape). I work as a Chaplain who sees the rubber meet the road in faith often. And I have to confess that if the power of the Pentecost resurrection were not with me in these tense and precious moments, many souls would perish. Th e tough part is why didn’t they enjoy Jesus sooner? Some of my answers will come in my time with Jesus. I want every pastor and every EMC member to remember there are many hungry souls, looking for the real Jesus and Holy Living.

Rev. Rick Stackhouse is Pastor of the Whole New Life Christian Church, Venice, FL

Living a Truly Abundant Life

“ e thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

In elementary school we learned the “state of being” verbs in English:

Is, am, are, was, were. Be, being, been. Has, have, had. Do, does, did. Shall, will, should, would, may, might, must, can, could.

What is YOUR state of being? How are you?

A standard response might be, “I’m alive and well.” But are you REALLY alive?

In John 10, Jesus speaks about our present reality, noting that our enemy is a shameless thief, and murderer. Death is the devil’s context. He exists, but he does not dwell in true life because life is communion with God. True death, therefore, is separation from God. Satan chose a path of darkness and divorce, severing his connection to the only source of life.

Because of the fall of mankind, that is our context as well. Because of sin, we are separated from life. Th rough the prophet Isaiah, the Spirit says:

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you …” (Isaiah 59:2).

Hundreds of years after Isaiah penned those words, the same Spirit moved Paul to write:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our esh and following its desires and thoughts” (Ephesians 2:1-3).

Interesting to hear the Spirit say that we used to “live” as dead folks.

Our state of being was death!

But the Resurrected Christ off ers a diff erent reality. Jesus off ers abundant life, but note that He says we MAY have it. Th ere’s another one of those state of being verbs. “May.” It