Last week we learned how the first church was born, and this knowledge very much helps us to develop a vision and dream for our church. This morning, let us delve more into what the Bible says concerning God's Holy Spirit.

I know a certain man who lost his eyesight at the age of 4. He learned accupuncture and has recently received a great reward for his work. He once said "Those who say 'unless I see it, I won't believe it" and really very arrogant." They're statement gives us the impression that to see is everything, but it also demonstrates a lack in trust of others.

I know another person who can't see. He says "I'm thankful for being this way. If I could see, my sight might lead me into sins that I cannot commit right now! I'm grateful for being like this. In this situation" he says, "God makes me free from what I might do wrong with eyes that can see."

Turn to John 14:12 please. Note that, in believing God, the very same thing happens to us. "..anyone who has faith.." We really need faith to grasp this verse. Those who believe in Christ will do even greater thing than He did. This is hard to believe. But, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will recieve power. We have lots of "buts" in life. Surrounded by evil and negative situations, we tend to easily get depressed and discouraged. But, we do have the answer and we do receive strength to overcome problems when we trust Christ in our lives. The Spirit of God dwells inside of us.

"Trinity" is the word that we often hear when we talk about God as He is represented in the Bible. Turn please to Philippians 2:6,7. Jesus was God, but He made Himself nothing. He came down to our world, and entered creation by becoming incarnated as a human being. Now, turn with me to Acts 10:38. On the earth, Jesus was a human being but He had the strong presence of the Holy Spirit in Him. This was how He was able to perform His miracles. God doesn't need any extra strength from His Holy Spirit in order to do things. But Jesus was now a human being, so the Holy Spirit was poured over Him giving Him the power He needed to do the great works He did on earth. Notice that the Bible rarely mentions Him before He received this Baptism (by water and Spirit) and started His public ministry, although He was different from common people in many ways.

Turn please to Luke 3:21. When He got baptized, He received the Holy Spirit. In Luke 11:20-22, we read of Jesus saying that our world is under the reign of Satan (the strong man). But when someone stronger comes, who is Jesus, He takes away Satan's power - this is very true! Most of us know that Japan is strongly influenced by evil spirits. Lots of people, being so arrogant, refuse God. Most of them are the slaves of sins they have committed; idol worship, adultery, hurting others, etc.

Read John 16:7. This is what Jesus really said. It is a benefit to us for Him to leave us. By going back to Heaven, Jesus puts us directly into the position of being freely able to receive His Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit that enables us to do greater miracles than He did Himself.

Last week, one of our members had the opportunity to visit churches in Korea. She went with her non-Christian husband. He was so surprised to see so many people, over ten thousand, gathering together even in early morning prayer meetings! Our member and her husband attended a few of these meetings. At every meeting, there were around a thousand. He wondered how this kind of thing could happen. It is the work of the Holy Spirit! With the Holy Spirit nothing is impossible!

Translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido
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