PASTORAL WORD-IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH GOD – (Mt. 26: 34-35; At. 2: 3-4)

My sisters and my brothers I would very much like to meditate with you on the topic proposed above. I think we all know what the term means, but not all experience the deeply analyzed in terms of concept. However this is necessary so that we understand what that really means. Let's talk a little about the topic? Ok. Have experience with someone means entering the life of anyone, participate, knowing your feelings, know what he like and what he don't like what cheer and what  makes that joy, happy person . So knowing we are in a position to talk about God. God is a person.

And as such has feelings, joy, sadness, likes and dislikes things and attitudes of others, in this case, our (human). But pastor, the Bible does not say that. Yes, talks. Let's see what the Bible speaks numerous times about pleasing the Lord. Well, just like the who can also be displeased. Such feelings of being pleased or displeased are feelings of a being who is person. And I'm talking about the person of God. So He is arguably person. As a person wants and can have an experience with us. Loved and beloved sisters and brothers that he who does not have an experience with God knows not of fact. We can even meet him in theory, but in practice, not in depth. Need to know the God having a personal experience with him. Of course there are collective meetings and these meetings may God give everyone together, the opportunity of having a joint experience. But it is necessary to have a personal experience with God. I would say that even in times of a collective manifestation of the Holy Spirit many people may have at that time a personal experience with God. May have at the same time, experiences differ from each other in one place and in one spilling of the Holy Spirit. God is rich and creative. Let us think of some Bible stories for example, at the Centurion Cornelius. Peter is called and convinced by the sight that had come to the House of Cornelius. In coming to the gate begins his speech making including charges to the Gentiles (Cornelius was Gentile). But when Peter was still talking about the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. Peter who earlier had a trial that people now he say, who can refuse the water to those who like that with us in principle received the Holy Spirit? For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnify God. And ordered them to be baptized in the name of the Lord, and then stayed with them a few more days. Peter was no doubt doing discipleship with all those people. But before anything else when they began to hear the preaching of Peter they had experience with spiritual baptism. (Acts, 10:44 -48). Let's go back a bit in the book of acts chapter 19: 1-7. When Paul imposes hands on those men who were already believers and ardent came upon them the Holy Spirit came. And everyone spoke in tongues and prophesied. That was a different time, but the Holy Spirit comes and gives to those men that tremendous spiritual experience. In 9:14 -25 Acts we read that the Apostles heard that Samaria had received the word of God and sent to the Peter and John and they there once imposed hands on these new believers and those new converts received the Holy Spirit because none of them had yet fallen, but had only been baptized in the name of the Lord. And by receiving and by the hands of Peter and John they received the Holy Spirit. Darlings sister and brothers, today we want to be a church involved with Discipleship. We want and we must make disciples. But we need to have experience with the Holy Spirit and to impose our hands on people they receive the power of God through the Holy Spirit. All without that experience is equal to nothing. I pray that God have mercy of us and pour upon us the experience of the Spirit as it did also with John Wesley on May 24, 1738 on Aldersgate Street in London. Amen.

Reverendo Jesué Francisco da Silva