September 30, 2012

    Smack....     

Luke 9: 37 - 43

Luke

The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a huge crowd met Jesus.  A man in the crowd called out to him, "Teacher, look at my boy, who is my only son.  An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream.  It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth.  It is always hitting and injuring him.  It hardly ever leaves him alone.  I begged your disciples to cast the spirit out, but they couldn't do it."

"You stubborn, faithless people," Jesus said, "how long must I be with you and put up with you?  Bring him here."  As the boy came forward, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion.  But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy.  Then he gave him back to his father.  Awe gripped the people as they saw this display of God's power. 

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Thoughts.....

I don't know about you, but I sure felt that smack.  And Jesus didn't seem to stop to take off any gloves like in old movies. 

"You stubborn and faithless people, how long must I be with you and put up with you?"  Can you imagine the shock, perhaps humiliation, recrimination....I hope that's the right word....the disciples may have experienced when Jesus said this?  He spoke this in front of everyone.  He was speaking to ALL the disciples present, not just the Apostles. 

Here's the thing....EVERYONE does indeed fall short of the glory of God.  But EVERYONE is supposed to walk with God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and act in their names. 

You may have just found this website and not be familiar with the fact that lessons have been given on healing.  If you have been part of the family for a while, you've read the lessons and should be familiar with what you are supposed to be doing in God's name as you walk the walk.  The latter is who Jesus addresses, not just the Apostles, but ALL the disciples.  Not just during his time on earth, but all people for all times. 

Throughout the New Testament, you will find Jesus healed people who had not even accepted him as Messiah, Savior, Lord.  Paul and others did the same prior to folks accepting Jesus.  It's elementary really to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit:  HEAL those who are sick.  They will be grateful, want what you have, will follow you....and at some point, realize who you are,  understand your greatness, and bow down seeking you in their life as Lord and Savior, THE Father, Teacher and Comforter.  The people learn how to have a new life, forgiveness of sins, and are given the opportunity to receive eternal life.  And the glory goes to the Trinity.  For those of us lagging in the footsteps of THE greatness, we are to direct others to them.  It is never about us, or what we can get out of healing another.  It is about pointing the way to the Savior, the Father, the Teacher and Comforter.  And we shouldn't be lagging.  We should be proactively reaching out in their names. 

It is clear that Jesus is telling us "The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do [command] the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.  You can ask for anything in my name, and I [HE, Jesus] will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father.  Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it!" [He repeats himself so we 'GET' it.]  John 14: 12-14.

So why aren't we doing it?  Jesus is pretty clear here....we are stubborn and faithless.  That's the 'smack' part.  We THINK we can't, we BELIEVE we can't....we lack faith.  And truly, if someone else can do something, why not let them....is that a thought? 

Faith....as small as a mustard seed.  Which is not much bigger than this 'o'.  There is an old saying that goes, 'Jesus said it, I believe it, that's that.'  Why aren't we believing what Jesus has told us?  Why are we not acting as he has commanded us?  Why do we expect he should answer our prayers?  After all, he knows our faith is weak, if we are not stepping out to heal folks.  Why should we only have faith when WE want something?  Shouldn't our faith be as strong.....STRONGER....when HE wants something? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ?   Hmmmmm....I'm thinkin' you got that lesson.

So THAT's why he is upset.  He's been trying to teach the disciples....us....to do as he does and even greater things.  Here is this child who is tortured by Satan and his assigns....evil spirits.  He's racked with misery and pain....how can he not be?  Who merely needs someone to rebuke the evil spirits to make them leave.  Greater is HE (Jesus) that is in you, than he (Satan) that is in the world.  How could anyone let someone suffer, he is implying here, also. 

OWN THE POWER!   GIVE THEM THE GLORY!  Get out there and start healing people.  Do not care what they think of you....trust me....many will think you are nuts.  Do not go only into your church, or circle, or amongst your family.  They know you and will REALLY think you are nuts by the way.  It's sad that the folks in the churches aren't ready to FULLY hear this, and yet they do, believing ONLY Jesus could do this.  Jesus' whole life was a lesson on how to go forth in his name, how to become one with him, how to do as he did and more.  How come the churches aren't getting it?!  Why aren't folks listening?  SATAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  REBUKE REBUKE REBUKE REBUKE.  Start with rebuking Satan and his assigns from yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Can't do it?  O ye of little faith.

There will be times when the battle is very hard.  Keep at it.  The Arizona Lottery has a promo phrase, 'You can't win if you don't play'.  'Listen up', folks.  "PRESS toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God."  Phil 3:14.  However do you expect to get to heaven if you only play your game by your rules?  Our lives MUST be played out in the world WITH the TRINITY.  If we are indeed WITH them, we are walking in their light of glory.  They shine on us and shine through us.  We have a responsibility not to hide that light under a bushel basket, but shine THEM for the world to see. 

Years ago there was a saying, 'If you don't have your health, you don't have anything.'  God, Jesus, Holy Spirit knew that ill health keeps us from having a prosperous, abundant life with them.  It keeps us from most everything.  They knew there is a fundamental need for living....health.  By the thousands of folks that he healed, and the thousands who then joined the church to follow him, I'd say 'the proof is in the pudding', so to speak.

How many went on to continue the church?  Thousands.  I hear you sputtering.  It was not just the Apostles who went forth to preach and teach and heal.  If you read Scripture closely, you will see the intent was for the initial 12 to spread the word, so others would do as they were doing, spreading the word, so others would spread the word to preach, teach, heal, baptize in Jesus' name, be baptized with the Holy Spirit's fire and do greater things than Jesus.

The Lord even 'morphoo-ed' (Greek)....morphed....into a room and out.  Now, I get 'we' find that astounding, and are skeptical that 'we' will do that one day, but hey, Bruce Willis did it pretty good in the movie.....I still can't think of the name of it.  Was it The Walking Dead?  Sorry, I'm not a movie goer, but I did see that one on TV.  Jesus calls us to greater things!  He commands us to do them.  WHERE is your FAITH?! 

Are you feeling smacked around?  Are you wondering why your life is not full?  Are you smacking God, Jesus and Holy Spirit around by your lack of faith?   By your choice to not act in their name?  In not being obedient to their commands?  How painful is that to them?  Didn't Jesus go through enough for you being nailed to a cross?  Do you think he did not carry a cross for you as he walked?   He knew his burden was to die on a cross.  FOR YOU.  Is it any wonder he's a little miffed here?  What ARE you doing for him?  To further the Kingdom of God? 

IF someone isn't healed when you lay hands on them to be healed, is it your technique or your lack of faith?

The only 'technique' is to lay hands and rebuke.  Say 'Begone'.  Some take more prayer.  It could be your lack of faith.  You have to believe HE IS IN YOU and working through you.  You have to believe he will not leave you or forsake you.  You have to believe he is going to do what he says he will do.  If you have asked Holy Spirit to come into your life, you must believe that he has.  Have you evidence in the fruits of the Spirit?  Have you evidence in the gifts of the Spirit?  Then you have proof.  And you are commanded to use those gifts to benefit others, bring glory to God, and lead others to him.

It can't be the lack of faith of the person you are healing.  Look at the fact folks were raised from the dead.  Surely they couldn't speak of their faith or desire to be healed.  And in this reference, the father wanted his son healed.  There is no mention of the child himself seeking it.  Let this be another lesson.  You can heal people even if they haven't asked you to heal them.

It is YOUR faith that allows you to make the choice to step up and reach out.  And it is the faith of others who believe the healing can occur.  The person being healed does not have to believe they will be healed for them to be healed.

And NONE of the people needing healing has to first accept Jesus as Lord.  It is also not a condition for them to KEEP their healing.  THAT is unconditional love.  God is willing to forgive people of their sins and heal them.  Period.  He's willing to forgive you....now.  Ask his forgiveness for smacking him around, ignoring his commands, not being obedient.  And he's willing to heal you, too.  Just ask him.  Perhaps he will heal you through forgiveness, as he did for others.

Will awe grip you as you see the display of God's power in healing?  It better!  But you must be out there doing it to be able to see it.  Remember to use the gift of discernment, so you know when to forgive, or lay hands, or only verbally rebuke.  And know this:  Sometimes it is the Father's will to not heal on earth.  If you are walking in the Light, you will know when lack of healing occurs for this reason, and you will know why. 

  Go forth!  

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Let Us Pray

Dear God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  Help me.  I have not loved you with my whole heart.  I have not loved my neighbor as myself.  I have not been strong in my faith.  I have not been obedient.  I have not done what you have commanded.  Although I have believed in prayer, and have laid hands upon others, and rebuked evil spirits in your name, and acted in your name, I have lacked faith sometimes, not fully believed you would work through me, been skeptical.  Please forgive me.  Heal my lack of faith that rears it head at times.  I know you are fully in me, help me to KNOW you WILL work through me.  Please heal me of skepticism.  Thank you.  I do know there are times that you choose not to heal.  And I accept those times.  I also know that there are times that healing is not complete for some reason.  Sometimes you tell me that reason, sometimes it is not for me to know.  Thank you for receiving me into your arms of love, and trusting me to go forth in your name.  You offer this to all.  May everyone be as grateful as I am that you are in my life...fully.  I love you, I thank you, and I promise to do better.  There is more to life....but it all starts and ends with you.  In between is the wonderful opportunity to live for and with you.  I will now go forth in your name healing, forgiving, uplifting others to you.  May I always do so in a way that brings you honor and glory.  Thank you.  I love you.  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! 

BesidesBesid   

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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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