What might happen if…

When you read the Gospel, have you ever wondered how it is that Jesus keeps running into people who need his help?  Sure, there are many who seek Jesus out, but again and again, throughout the Gospel accounts, it seems like Jesus just happens upon people in desperate need of his help.  These aren’t lucky coincidences – these are all intentional meetings, even for those who sought out Jesus.  

In Mark 1 we read about the baptism of Jesus and how  the Holy Spirit descended upon him when he came up out of the water.  From that moment on, Jesus was empowered and led by the Spirit.  All of the encounters with people that we read about were actually encounters that Jesus was led into by the Spirit. 

When people came from far and wide to see Jesus, the Spirit led Jesus to be in the right town or place where they could find him.  When Jesus was walking down the road and seemed to just run into someone who needed help, it was the Spirit who had led Jesus down that road.  Jesus lived a Spirit-empowered and Spirit-led life.  The Spirit led Jesus into every encounter and gave Jesus the power to heal, to free, to help everyone he met.  

We are told in Romans 8 that the same Spirit who raised Jesus is in us, as disciples of Jesus Christ.  So we can live Spirit-empowered and Spirit-led lives, just as Jesus did.  This is why Jesus says in John 14:12 that we will do even greater things than he did.  

I wonder what might happen if you and I let the Spirit lead us like he led Jesus?  What if,  before leaving our home in the morning, we stopped and invited the Spirit to lead us through the day?  What if, before we went into a meeting, we stopped and invited the Spirit to lead us in that meeting?  What if we cultivated a lifestyle of listening to the Spirit as we meet and talk with people.  I wonder if we might find ourselves repeatedly in encounters where we are given opportunities to help people, just like Jesus did!  What would it look like to let the Spirit lead you today?  What’s keeping you from doing this?  

This weekend we are going to continue our journey through the book of Mark. We are going to follow Jesus as he is led by the Spirit to the region of Gerasenes.  I hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we explore Mark 5:1-20 and discover more about who Jesus is and who he is inviting us to become.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Kirk

Israel Trip
Join Pastor Kirk and Britton on a journey through Israel, following in the footsteps of Jesus. Grow as a disciple of Jesus as you visit places you have read about in the New Testament. The words and life of Jesus will come alive in a new way. For information, contact Pastor Kirk at kirk@mylivinghope.ca or join us February 24 at 7 pm at the church as Pastor Kirk talks about the trip.

Living Hope 101 – Discovering Church Membership
Have you been attending Living Hope for a while and would like to really make it your home?  Join us for lunch on Sunday, March 3 as Pastor Kirk talks about who Living Hope is and how you can become a member of Living Hope.  

Coming Events