Hey Northgate,

As we wrap up our Ignite series, I’ve been thinking a lot about what would make this series a success for us. Not just this week, but months and even years from now. I don't think the series would be successful just because we learned more about the Holy Spirit. I think the real success would be if we lived differently because of what we've learned. One of the songs we've sung throughout this series is Holy Spirit, and there are two lines that I keep coming back to:

“Let us become more aware of Your presence.

Let us experience the glory of Your goodness.”

I think that's exactly where I hope we go from here. I don't want the Holy Spirit to be something we talk about during a series and then move on from. I want us, as a church, to become increasingly aware that God is present with us, working in us, speaking to us, guiding us, transforming us, and empowering us every single day.

We've talked about how the Holy Spirit does in us what we could never do on our own. We've talked about His gifts. We've talked about being transformed by the Spirit. We've talked about living by the Spirit and allowing Him to direct our minds, guide our desires, shape our lives, and transform our identities.

Now comes the important part:

What are we going to do with it?
What if we carried that awareness into our everyday lives?
What if before we make a decision, we ask, “Holy Spirit, what are You saying?”
What if, before we respond out of frustration, we pause and ask, “Holy Spirit, how do You want me to respond?”
What if we stopped trying to manufacture spiritual growth through our own effort and instead learned to cooperate with what God is already doing in us?
That's what I hope we carry forward from Ignite. Not just more knowledge about the Holy Spirit, but a greater awareness of His presence. Not just talking about spiritual gifts, but actually allowing God to use us. Not just knowing that the Spirit transforms us, but surrendering ourselves to His work in us. Not just singing, “Let us become more aware of Your presence,” but actually becoming more aware of His presence in our homes, our workplaces, our relationships, our decisions, our struggles, our victories, and our ordinary everyday lives.

Because ultimately, I think that's what will make Ignite a success. Not that the series ended well. Not that you enjoyed listening to the messages, or even that you were challenged by them. But that what God started in us doesn't end with the series. So let's keep listening. Let's keep surrendering. Let's keep making room for the Holy Spirit. And let's keep becoming more aware of His presence and experiencing the glory of His goodness. I can't wait to see what God continues to do in us and through us, individually and as a church!

Pastor John
Lead Pastor