This probably won't interest you...

Hey there, Beloved…
 
Sometimes I write about things that don’t interest you. When I do, I trust you just skim on past and delete the email. What’s worse, though, is when I take an entire Sunday (or two) to teach about things that bore you. Someone once said, “it is a sin to bore people with the Gospel.” So, let’s do a check-in and see if I’ve been on a tangent lately that feels irrelevant to you. I bet it does… oh, unless the Holy Spirit has done something miraculous in you. I’ll tell you more in Deeper Thoughts below…
 
But first… a few quick items:
 
·      THIS Sunday evening, December 8, 5:00 p.m. Our annual Christmas Pageant and All-Church Christmas Party!! Our kids and middle schoolers tell the story of Christmas in music and drama. Then, we gather for a festive potluck dinner and fellowship. The pageant program begins at 5:00, dinner around 5:45. Click here to sign up for what you can bring—grab a disposable pan on Sunday; plan to bring your food early!
 
·      Will you take a quick survey for us? We are particularly interested in learning what you most want us to focus on providing for you from Mt. Hope. The survey is only 6 quick questions… click here. Thanks in advance!


·      Our 12-hour prayer vigil is NEXT Saturday, December 14! Will you join us to seek God for the future of our church? We are calling on God for His leadership, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and His miraculous provision for what’s next for us. NEXT Saturday, our Elders will take turns being at the church all day from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Would you sign up to stop by and pray with us for 30 minutes? Or you can pray from home, too. Click here to RSVP and to receive some guided prayer points!
 
·      Ladies: Join us for a Christmas Cookie Exchange December 14 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the church. Come dressed in your Christmas attire and enjoy some fun, fellowship, and delicious cookies! Click here to RSVP… and plan on stopping in upstairs before or after to join the prayer vigil for a bit!
 
·      Christmas Eve!! Two services: 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. Invite your family and friends! If you would like to participate in our Christmas Eve choir, click here to connect with Ryan Sauder!
 
·      Just two more weeks of “The Daily Six”, our 6-minute video released every Monday through Thursday! Click here to receive daily reminder emails—or just find the videos on our YouTube channel each morning.
 
OK…that’s it today for you email skimmers and those who are always bored with whatever I’m saying. BUT…
 
 
Some Deeper Thoughts…
 
Perhaps you’ve picked up on my prodding on a few recent Sundays.
 
Sure, a tiny part of it might be my pesky insecurity wanting to be sure you still like me and that I am relevant. But the truth is, despite my all-too-normal self-doubt, I know I am relevant. The Word of God is always relevant, and the Word of God is all I care about presenting to you.
 
The real motive behind my prodding and poking is that I also know human nature leads every one of us to shy away from this particular corner of the Word of God.
 
I shy away too. There is a very clear reason for it. And that reason is biblical.
 
In fact, without the Holy Spirit pouring out a profoundly unique experience into you and me, this topic needs to be irrelevant, because without a special movement of the Holy Spirit, you should not be interested in it. You’ll do more harm than good to geek out on the topic without the Holy Spirit.
 
“What are we talking about, Chris? You’re being dodgy.”
 
Thanks for asking.
 
The topic is mission. Your mission. Your calling. Your responsibility to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). Your assignment to share the good news about Jesus with your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
 
“Yep… I’m out. Not interested. Scared. Don’t want to do that. Irrelevant. Weird. Not cool. Deleting email now.”
 
Good. Unless…
 
Unless you have been specifically baptized with the Holy Spirit, mission and calling and witness is uncomfortable and irrelevant, and it needs to be. You’ll do a whole host of damage to your relationships and the testimony of the Gospel if you try to share Jesus without the power of the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus told his disciples to wait.
 
Hold up. Pull back. Don’t move.
 
Jesus was precise and commanding: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait…” The disciples were on an out-of-town road trip to celebrate Pentecost. They were undoubtedly in a world of confusion trying to figure out what to do with this recently crucified and resurrected Messiah. “…wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized you with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:4-8).
 
Wait.
 
Without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, do not move. Do not witness. Do not share. But when you have this Holy Spirit baptism, wow… you will have power. This mission will look entirely attractive. You will be entirely capable and equipped. You will want this. And you will be good at it.
 
I wonder. Have you been baptized with the Holy Spirit? If not, this is probably why you’re not interested in being on mission.
 
“So, Chris, if I prefer to not be used by God in sharing my faith with other people, wouldn’t it be best to simply not seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit? If what you’re saying here is true, it seems to me that an ‘easy out’ from this unwanted assignment is to just avoid the Holy Spirit altogether.”
 
Not bad logic. Except that you’ll miss out on the entire reason Jesus created you. You’ll miss out on the whole of what God has for you. Your Christianity will be stale, lifeless, and frankly useless to God’s ultimate agenda. Jesus didn’t save you and me to make our lives better. He saved us to use our lives to accomplish His purposes in the world.
 
I know that sounds lofty. It may even put you under some unwanted pressure. But it’s true. You’ve read Psalm 139:13-16, haven’t you? Perhaps less well-known, but relevant nonetheless, consider Jeremiah 1:4-10. Or Isaiah 6:1-8. Or just buckle down and accept that Matthew 28:18-20 is an actual, present assignment for you and me and that Jesus being with you is the key. Or believe John 14:12 is a promise specific to you. Or Mark 16:15-18. Or Acts 2:39. Or Acts 18:9-10. Or 2 Corinthians 5:18-20.
 
Shall I go on?
 
This Sunday let’s get super practical. Let me tell you some stories about a few people who got baptized in the Holy Spirit, how it happened, and how they were different afterwards. Then, let’s look at the Word of God. Let’s explore the precise pattern of how the disciples found this unique experience. If we can see the pattern, perhaps we can follow it.
 
For those of you who dare, maybe we can seek God together for precisely this same thing.
 
You in? 10:00 a.m. this Sunday. Oh, and then let’s chase after God next Saturday, too… 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 
Unless you’re just not interested. ;-)
 
Much love to you all…
 
Chris Eads
Mt. Hope Pastor
Friend