At B&A We Rely On The Holy Spirit | The 10:30 | James Stevenson

But before we get to that, um, today I want to talk about one of the things we believe to be true of us as a church, um, that at B&A, we rely on the Holy Spirit.

September is a time when lots of things start again, and, um, over these few weeks, we're reminding ourselves of something that as a church we never want to stop doing, some things that we never want to stop doing.

Um, so last week Wayne talked about at B&A we preach the gospel and, um, this week at B&A we rely on the Holy Spirit is the talk.

And there's plenty of evidence that we do.

So every year we as a church council set a budget, and for as long as I can remember, um, we tend to plan, um, to spend more than we can reasonably expect to receive.

And that's not 'cause we're irresponsible and careless, it's because we believe that God will provide for what he calls into being.

And so we want to set ourselves towards what we believe he's going to do, which is beyond what we have had before.

And year after year, God has provided.

And that faith has enabled us to do crazy things like B&A meals, and if you don't know what B&A meals is, head out into the corridor afterwards and there's a, a board on the wall that explains that to you.

Or talk to somebody who, who looks like they have been around here for a while and they'll tell you.

And that's evidence that at B&A we rely on the Holy Spirit.

And on Sundays, um, we rely on the Holy Spirit to speak through words, pictures, and scriptures.

Um, over the last few months, we've baptized two of our teenagers here, and they brought friends, many of whom aren't Christians.

Um, and some of those friends have had extraordinary moments where they've heard somebody speaking from the front say out a word about something, and it's turned out to be about them.

Um, so last week we had a prophetic word given about somebody having white trousers and wearing a bright shirt and, um, them thinking, oh no, that's gonna distract, um, and I'm gonna become the center of attention.

Um, and it turns out there was somebody who came who was wearing white trousers, who was thinking about wearing a tie-dye shirt.

And when they heard that word spoken, it revealed to them that God sees them and knows them.

And, and that's one of many stories where we rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal the nature of God and his kindness, and it's the kindness of God that leads us to repentance.

And so we believe those are moments that God wants to bring into our every, every week, our everyday lives, where he reveals that he's real.

So in order to do that, we rely on the Holy Spirit.

But here's the important thing.

We don't do this to rely on God for just for techniques, just to do church better.

It's an overflow of who we are as Christians.

It's an overflow of what it means for us to rely on God in our everyday lives.

It isn't something that we switch on when we turn up on, on Sundays or when we have to make a decision about a budget.

But before we get to that, um, today I want to talk about one of the things we believe to be true of us as a church, um, that at B&A, we rely on the Holy Spirit.

September is a time when lots of things start again, and, um, over these few weeks, we're reminding ourselves of something that as a church we never want to stop doing, some things that we never want to stop doing.

Um, so last week Wayne talked about at B&A we preach the gospel and, um, this week at B&A we rely on the Holy Spirit is the talk.

And there's plenty of evidence that we do.

So every year we as a church council set a budget, and for as long as I can remember, um, we tend to plan, um, to spend more than we can reasonably expect to receive.

And that's not 'cause we're irresponsible and careless, it's because we believe that God will provide for what he calls into being.

And so we want to set ourselves towards what we believe he's going to do, which is beyond what we have had before.

And year after year, God has provided.

And that faith has enabled us to do crazy things like B&A meals, and if you don't know what B&A meals is, head out into the corridor afterwards and there's a, a board on the wall that explains that to you.

Or talk to somebody who, who looks like they have been around here for a while and they'll tell you.

And that's evidence that at B&A we rely on the Holy Spirit.

And on Sundays, um, we rely on the Holy Spirit to speak through words, pictures, and scriptures.

Um, over the last few months, we've baptized two of our teenagers here, and they brought friends, many of whom aren't Christians.

Um, and some of those friends have had extraordinary moments where they've heard somebody speaking from the front say out a word about something, and it's turned out to be about them.

Um, so last week we had a prophetic word given about somebody having white trousers and wearing a bright shirt and, um, them thinking, oh no, that's gonna distract, um, and I'm gonna become the center of attention.

Um, and it turns out there was somebody who came who was wearing white trousers, who was thinking about wearing a tie-dye shirt.

And when they heard that word spoken, it revealed to them that God sees them and knows them.

And, and that's one of many stories where we rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal the nature of God and his kindness, and it's the kindness of God that leads us to repentance.

And so we believe those are moments that God wants to bring into our every, every week, our everyday lives, where he reveals that he's real.

So in order to do that, we rely on the Holy Spirit.

But here's the important thing.

We don't do this to rely on God for just for techniques, just to do church better.

It's an overflow of who we are as Christians.

It's an overflow of what it means for us to rely on God in our everyday lives.

It isn't something that we switch on when we turn up on, on Sundays or when we have to make a decision about a budget.