135- The Holy Spirit and Ministry: What Holds Us Back? (with Paul Berry)

Pastor Paul Berry's passion is to “equip the body of Christ with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the accompanying Spiritual gifts given for the work of the ministry and the flourishing of the church.”

This is also the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, Jesus had much to say to His disciples prior to going to the cross, to prepare them for days ahead, and also for life after He ascended into heaven. His preparation included a strong emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit in (and through) their lives … particularly in John 14-16.

In a recent email thread with other pastors, a question was asked about the ministry of the Spirit in the local church, specifically about believer’s meetings, aka afterglows.

The question was then asked: "why is it that so many churches do not have body life, afterglow kinds of meetings, where gifts like prophecy, words of knowledge and wisdom, healings, tongues with interpretation, will occur?"

Two words became obvious answers to that question: Unbelief. Fear. These twins of discouragement and failure seem to be behind much of the current hesitancy re: the things of the Holy Spirit.

Sit with Pastor Paul as he shares his thoughts on unbelief and/or fear as hindrances to the work of the Holy Spirit being manifest in and through our lives.

Obviously, it’s far easier to focus on what’s wrong than it is to provide hope and direction to do things right.

So, what’s to be done to address the faith issue with regard to the activities of the Holy Spirit in and through the church?

Next, what’s to be done to address the fear issue with regard to the activities of the Holy Spirit in and through the church?