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When needs around you seem to abound

When people you care about around you have so much going on for them and you wanna be there for each and everyone of them and then you start feeling a little burnt out, a little frustrated with yourself for not supporting them and praying for them as best you can - this sermon by this pastor who is doing his PhD on the role of the Holy Spirit is worth a read :)

I feel a little selfish writing this when my friends are going through far worse things than a burn out so I just have to say to my friends reading this: 
I'll always love to and want to listen to you no matter how easygoing/hectic my life is! I just can't do it without God's Spirit  :) <3

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

The Spirit of God comes on the people of God specifically so we can embrace and proclaim the Gospel to the broken and neglected ones.

Jesus tells two stories of prophets Elijah and Elisha in the Old Testament later in Luke 4:
e.g. 1: During a severe famine, God chose to send Elijah (His anointed prophet) to the "gentile scum" (i.e., non-Jews).

e.g. 2: Of all the people affected by leprosy, God sent Elisha (His anointed prophet) to heal a Syrian (enemies of Israel; Israelites thought of them as cursed).

By the end of Jesus' sermon, the congregation wanted to kill Jesus. Not the ideal situation for His first sermon, eh?

The pastor went on to highlight two errors we tend to make when we seek God to fill us with His Spirit.

ERROR 1: Seek the anointing of the Spirit without serving the poor
There is nothing wrong with asking God to empower us with His Spirit so that we may overcome a trial or temptation. But a lot of us (I'm guilty again) seek the anointing of the Spirit solely for themselves, their own comfort and success.

 If we don't seek to embrace others with the spiritual riches the Spirit fills us with (i.e., turn it all inwards and make it about us), that's when it starts to fizzle out.

 ERROR 2: Serve God without the anointing of the Spirit
People try to embrace the neglected without being filled with God's Spirit. He gave the example of when he was a young lad and was so enthusiastic about serving the poor. He kept on going on mission trips to a few third world countries in his twenties, but found himself getting really burnt out.

He noted that He was full of action (I need to give to that person, be there for that person), but He did not seek God to fill him with His Spirit through prayer, fellowship, devotions, spiritual disciplines, community and worship.

I am so guilty in this respect too. Like Martha, I make the mistake of prioritising doing over sitting at Jesus' feet.

If Jesus (the Divine Word) required the Spirit to serve the poor and afflicted, how can we be SO ARROGANT to think we can serve others without the Holy Spirit?

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