February 5, 2012

Jesus Went....Now You Must Go

Matthew 4: 12 - 17 

Matthew

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.  But instead of going to Nazareth, he went to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.  This fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy:  "In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River - in Galilee where so many Gentiles live - the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.  And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined."

From then on, Jesus began to preach "Turn from your sins and turn to God because the Kingdom of Heaven is near."

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Thoughts.....

Jesus is moving right along.....he's going forward with the ministry God placed before him.  Are you?  Jesus continued what John had started.  Albeit with an added dimension....he was not just a prophet....he was the Messiah.  Because he was the Messiah, should you choose to not do as he did?  Do you think that because someone else has gone to seminary, or studied for years, that you could not possibly have a ministry or an effective one?  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Not everyone is ready for the meat....the depth of information contained in the Scriptures that one learns reading and rereading and having Holy Spirit unfold each layer.  Many, if not most, require the milk....the basics for understanding.  It's what I usually provide here for those who are new, or who are just starting their ministry, or for those needing reminders...perhaps there are those returning to the Lord...starting over. 

This journey was not an easy one for Jesus.  Although he may have stayed close to the river which provided more flat land, he had to also travel over mountain terrain.  He traveled in all sorts of weather.  And he didn't do it in a car with heat and air conditioning from what we know of history.  He went to individuals, he went to open spaces and they came to him.  He went to the synagogues.  He even walked on water.  Should we do any less?  Ok....so maybe not walk on water, but he did tell us we would do more miracles than he had.  How can you do any miracles, if you are sitting on the sofa, not getting started? 

Kenneth Copeland said he sat on the sofa waiting for the call and then the phone rang within the day.  He merely said to the Lord he was ready.  Joyce Meyer was scoffed at...said she couldn't go into the ministry, according to her church, since she hadn't gone to seminary.  She told them Jesus called.  She also told them Jesus didn't say go to seminary, he said go forth.  St. Francis of Assisi didn't wait til the Pope ordained him to be a Priest to go forth, he followed his heart....Jesus was there....Jesus said do what he told him to do.  Missionaries throughout the world, Catholic and Protestant alike, go forth  every day.  Some of the largest churches in the world are in existance because someone answered God's call to go forth.....without seminary.  Tens of thousands of people worship under people that simply did what God said, accept Jesus, read his Word, go forth....tell the world.  We learn as we go...no one is perfect.  But with Jesus, all things are possible.

Has the light shined in you?  Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  Then you have a responsibility to bring those in the dark into the light.  Today.   "Turn from your sins and turn to God because the Kingdom of Heaven is near." 

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Let Us Pray

God, I'm going to need a lot of help here.  I don't know if I have the intestinal fortitude to go forth....what will people think?  Oh....ya....it shouldn't be about what others think, it should be about what you think of me.  I'm sorry, God.  I am human and live in a very different world than Jesus did.  Oh, not so different?  Oh ya, they stoned people, wanted to throw Jesus off a cliff, nailed him to a cross.  Will I have to go through all that he did?  Yes?!  Oh, but I don't have to be nailed to a cross because his death was for all of us.  I know it is still practiced in some countries, but it doesn't have the same outcome as when Jesus was killed.  His death was for the salvation of the world.  I get that.  So help me help others get that.  Help me prioritize my time, so I can spend more time with you.  So I can get to know more about what you want me to do.  So I can DO what you want me to do.  And then empower me with your Holy Spirit, so that I shall have utterance.  Surely I cannot do this by myself.  Can I?  Oh, I won't have to, because I'll have you, Jesus and Holy Spirit within me.  Make sure you are BOLD in me, so I am SURE you are there, ok?  It's kind of a scary prospect putting myself out there.  Oh, I'm not putting me out there.....only you?  I see.  Jesus didn't care what people thought, he cared what you thought.  He cared about the outcome YOU would give him.  Makes everything look totally different.  Lots of people won't understand my motives.  They sure haven't so far.  But you do.  So, in the future, I will not be concerned what others think, I'll be concerned about what YOU think.  Which means I have more work to do for you.  Lead the way.  You, Jesus, are my Savior, and my friend.  I've been missing my brother, and yet I have a brother for all time in you.  Hey, you are both in the same place.  It will be a joyful union when....if....I receive the prize for the high calling of God.  I love you, Lord.  Thank you for being in my life, giving me life, forgiving me of my sins....oh, will you.....?  Thanks.  And thank you for offering me salvation.  Now let me show you my gratitude by what I will do for you in telling others about you and helping them along the way of life.  BIG task.  But together we can accomplish anything. Thanks.  Amen.                

Lord,LordJesJeJeJJjEJJJ     JJThe LORD is king!  Let the nations tremble!  T***

More love.... 

  Benediction....Blessing

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!   

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regularly to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our Current Cause

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, or animals, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart. 

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you!   

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided. 

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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