The Fastest Way to Kill a Church

The Early Church was born on Pentecost while the disciples were hiding in the Upper Room for fear of the Jews and Romans who recently crucified their Master whom they thought would be crowned King of Israel and overthrow the heavy hand of Rome. But Jesus was bringing deliverance from the slavery to Sin and reconciliation to our Father in Heaven.
It wasn't until Pentecost that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit gave them the timid believers the dynamic power and courage to spread the good news of the Gospel. Jesus, just before His ascension to the Father says to the disciples,  " But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8 NIV ) Jesus said in John's Gospel "But when he the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will guide you in all Truth (John 16:13a NIV).
The Church could not be born without the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It was the Spirit of Truth that gave the disciples of Jesus the boldness they needed to spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire and eventually give birth to Saint Marks. Jesus says in Mark's Gospel , "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up snakes in their hands; and when they drink poison it will not hurt them at all, they will place their hands on the sick people, and they will get well. (Mark 16:17,18 NIV). We must all be ever mindful that our call as disciples of Jesus is one of action. If we find ourselves not participating in ministry then we are not entering into the purpose God created us for. Some of the people at Saint Mark’s seem to be carrying the a majority of the load and it is time for all of us to stand up and ask God for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. If not then Saint Mark’s can never become all that God intends for us, and we run the risk of becoming a “dead church”. Dead Churches result from resistance to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Sign up for the School of Christian Healing the next time God announces it through Father Jim. That is God's call. He wants to use and bless the men and women of Saint Marks. It's time for ALL OF US to step up and be counted. Those actively involved in ministry have made St. Mark’s a vibrant powerful force in this community. God has blessings beyond our wildest imagination. Don't let Satan woo you into being complacent. Get involved; empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Ronald C. Spencer