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     Harry Potter was a kook until he found his crew. The story is similar for followers of Jesus.

     Becoming a follower of Jesus begins with each of us receiving and believing what Jesus Christ did for us at the cross through the power of the Holy Spirit and letting him be king.   In Romans 12:1,2 it says, “... in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices ...” It means “All-In.” Surrender your thinking, your feelings, your wants, your will, your actions, your body to the Holy Spirit’s control. Life by the Holy Spirit is the unbeatable hand, so you push all the poker chips to the center of the table.

     Now, when we hear this, some of us may be saying: “Yea baby! Let’s go. Bring it on!” Others are like: “Yea sounds good, but what does that require? What is that going to actually look like?” Others of us may be thinking: “I have no clue what you just said.” All of those responses are great. There is not a right or wrong response. But in Romans 12: 3 it says to consider our response with “sober judgement.”

     For those who feel hyped by going “All In” with the Holy Spirit, have you counted the cost? Do you know what that increasingly means? For those who are cautious, what is holding you back? At what point do you let go and let the Holy Spirit take control? For those who feel clueless, what do you need to know? Are you curious?

     At Heartland Vineyard Church, we will all be growing in what it means to be “All-In” to the Holy Spirit’s control in our individual lives and in this church. We will discuss that here on Sunday. We will talk about it at the Neighborhood Groups. We will learn about it in Reality: Life With the Holy Spirit and the Kingdom of God class on Wednesday. We will continue to grow in how to be “All-In” the rest of our lives.

     In Romans 12:4-8, the writer, the Apostle Paul, writing to the early followers of Jesus in the Roman capital, seems to switch gears by talking about being part of a body. However, you have to surrender to the Holy Spirit first, before you can function as part of Jesus’s body. That’s why he talks about “All-In” first. Just as every cell in our human bodies has life, the Holy Spirit fills each follower of Jesus with new life. Just as those cells join together to do different things—eye cells see, muscle cells do, brain cells think—we who are filled with the Holy Spirit together can then do what Jesus wants to do.

     Because of COVID, disruptions at former churches, and any number of distractions, many of us have been exercising primarily “Me Christianity” rather than “We Christianity.” It’s been me and Jesus for a long time for many of us.

     Maybe you have amazing devotionals and read incredible Christian books, but maybe it’s now time to help others grow rather than just yourself—or simply climbing your own intellectual mountains.

     Maybe you follow all kinds of prophetic blogs, visit online healing and deliverance seminars, but maybe it’s time to bring it back to the biblical practice of gifts within the local church so others are strengthened, encouraged, and comforted. Maybe it’s time to help others learn to practice the gifts as well.

     Maybe you color code your pantry, your meals, your socks, your friends’ pantries, meals, and socks. You daily clean out closets, cars, weeds.  Maybe it’s time to get to know some people you don’t know at all or very well to serve those who are weak or assist those who are overworked.

     Please join us as we move from a “Me Christianity” to a “We Christianity.” As we do, we’ll discover the Holy Spirit has given us each a wealthy gift in each other.  The Holy Spirit has worked in each of our lives in such a unique way, so thoroughly, that we can now possess through each other what we never possessed before.

     Maybe you personally have been trying to discern your own job situation. Well now, you have access to the wisdom of numerous people in the church who have successfully discerned that process. Maybe you’re wrestling in your relationship with young kids or adult kids. Guess what? Dozens of us have had those struggles that you can learn from. Maybe you’re younger, or older, or single, and you don’t have a lot of friends. Many of us have stories of when we felt lonely that may encourage you.

     Let us each and collectively grow from “Me Christianity,” by ourself in our own power, to “We Christianity,” by the Holy Spirit’s power with and through others.

     Harry had Hogwarts. How much more does the Holy Spirit have for us!