.“Make your home in me, as I make
mine in you”
–
John 15:4
Intro to this
issue
Let
Christ and His
Word Make
their Home in
You
This
issue overlaps
with the fifty
days between
the
celebration of
the Resurrection
of Jesus
Christ, his
Ascension
forty days
later to the
right hand of
the Father in
heaven, and
the outpouring
of the Holy
Spirit upon
the disciples
of Jesus ten
days later
on the
Feast of
Pentecost in
Jerusalem.
What
is the
significance
of Jesus'
death,
resurrection,
his ascension
into heaven,
and the
outpouring of
the Holy
Spirit at
Pentecost? We
are witnesses
today of a new
Pentecost and
mighty
outpouring of
the Holy
Spirit through
the
charismatic
renewal and a
new
evangelization
to bring
the
Gospel to all
nations and
peoples. God
is shaking the
heavens and
the earth to
purify
his people and
rouse
them
from spiritual
lethargy and
moral
complacency.
God
wants the good
news of Jesus'
victory over
sin, death,
and Satan,
and the new
abundant life,
power, and
gifts of the
Spirit to
reach every
corner of the
earth and
every area of
our personal
lives, homes,
relationships,
and
communities.
Will we
surrender all
to Jesus -
every area of
our personal
lives,
relationships,
and resources
he places at
our disposal?
As we make
more space in
our lives for
him, he, in
turn fills us
with ever
increasing
peace, joy,
and abundant
life.
The
Risen Lord
Jesus spent
forty days
with his
beloved
disciples to
reassure them
that he is
truly alive
and will never
die again. We,
too, are
witnesses of
the Lord's
resurrection
and power
at work in our
lives and in
his church,
the body of
Christ.
We, too,
experience God's
love poured into
our hearts
through the
Holy Spirit
who has been
given to us
(Romans 5:5).
We can know
and experience
the Lord Jesus
personally
because he is
alive
and has chosen
to dwell with
us. The
Lord Jesus
unites us with
himself and he
calls us to
live in his
presence with
expectant
faith,
confident
hope, and fervent
love. If
we yield to
the
Holy Spirit
and allow him
to mold
us like clay
and purify us
as refined
gold, then he
will transform
us, day by
day, into the
glorified
image of the
Crucified and
Risen Lord who
reigns forever.
May
this issue
inspire you to
make room for
the Lord and
his word to
dwell more
richly in your
personal
life, home,
and service
for his
kingdom.
Sincerely
in Christ,
Don Schwager
editor
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