1. Genesis 1 1,2 : In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Genesis 1 26, 27 : Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness ….So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.

2. Isaiah 61 1,2  Luke 4 18,19 The Spirit of the LORD is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. John chs. 13 -16 Jesus shared Passover with the disciples, just before He was arrested.

4. After supper, Jesus told the disciples He would soon be leaving them. But this made them sad – He was their Lord, master, teacher, friend and counsellor, the Christ (Messiah), the anointed One. Jesus said – I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever - the Spirit of truth. John 14 15-21

5. Jesus is with us through the Spirit. Jesus is in us through the Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in us – to empower, help, counsel, comfort, encourage, teach, equip, unite & transform the disciples of Jesus. Praise God for the gift of the Holy Spirit – the One who makes God a living reality in our lives. He really is God the Go-Between – Hallelujah!

6. Acts 1 4, 5 & 8 : Jesus said – Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised…In a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit….you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…. Acts 2: The promised gift was poured out on the day of Pentecost. Today God is still pouring His Spirit upon all whom the Lord our God will call. (Acts 2 39 )

7. In the next 3 weeks, Nigel, Keith & David will continue teaching us about the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God. Prepare for each Sunday by reading the scriptures in the series leaflet. But let’s not just learn about the Holy Spirit. Baptism with the Holy Spirit is awesome – but let’s go on being filled with the Spirit! A closing prayer - Romans 15 13 May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.