Pentecost

Discerning His Presence

Apr 6 2019

Discerning His Presence

(audio sermon by Gary Sampson)

The Bible describes God’s Spirit as being like wind, fire, weight, water, oil, and new wine. Many believers today can testify to experiencing God’s Presence in these ways. But what do these different manifestations of the Spirit mean? What do they tell us? Taking a look at the Pentecost experience, this sermon attempts shed some light on this, and encourages us to follow what the Spirit is doing.

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When God Gets Personal

Apr 1 2015

When God Gets Personal

Luke 19:1-10  Jesus sees Zacchaeus in the tree and invites himself to his house – he still does it!

Jesus said, “Zaccheus come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” What a day that must have been! Few who heard Jesus got to meet him personally. Think of the 5000 who ate his multiplied bread. Those at the back just met the ushers! But on this day a mere spectator watching from a tree would have his moment. And he wouldn’t just get to talk to Jesus; he would have him round for dinner!
Zaccheus didn’t think a man like Jesus would have the slightest interested in him. He was a tax collector, someone known in those days for being a con man, someone religious leaders avoided. But Zaccheus was interested in Jesus, and because he was short and couldn’t see over the heads of the people he decided to climb a tree.
When Jesus spotted Zacchaeus and invited himself to his house, Zaccheus couldn’t believe it, and nor could the crowds. Many of them wished the famous rabbi would come under their roof, but here he was getting cosy with a con man. And that day the con man got to know Jesus better than many.
There are many people today that are just like Zaccheus’. More

People of the Presence

Jul 25 2014

People of the Presence

“Dad, what’s behind the curtain?” “God is my son” “Wow Dad, so if I go behind the curtain, will I see Him?” “No I don’t think so son … but perhaps you will feel Him. Anyhow you can’t go behind the curtain, only the High Priest is allowed in the Most Holy Place.” “Gee Dad, so the High Priest gets to know what God feels like?”  “Yes son, in fact he comes out of the Most Holy Place shinning, and sometimes he has the word of the Lord for us.”
Can you imagine such a discussion between father and son about the Temple in Old Testament times? The curtain separated all Israel from the Most Holy Place where God’s Presence was. The High Priest went in to the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer a lambs blood for the sins of the nation. There he met with the living God. It was the place of His Presence.
But as Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross the Temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom (from heaven to earth). Did it mean something? More

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