December 21, 2014

One Lord Of All

 Acts 11: 1-18  

Luke

Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God.  But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, some of the Jewish believers criticized him.  "You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them! they said.

Then Peter told them exactly what had happened.  "One day in Joppa," he said, "while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision.  Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky.  And it came right down to me.  When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of small animals, wild animals, reptiles, and birds that we are not allowed to eat.  And I heard a voice say, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.'

"'Never, Lord,' I replied.  'I have never eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws.'

"But the voice from heaven came again, 'If God says something is acceptable, don't say it isn't.'

"This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven.  Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where I was staying.  The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry about their being Gentiles.  These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon arrived at the home of the man who had sent for us.  He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, 'Send messengers to Joppa to find Simon Peter.  He will tell you how you and all your household will be saved!'

"Well, I began telling them the Good News, but just as I was getting started, the Holy spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning.  Then I thought of the Lord's words when he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'  And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to argue?"

When the others heard this, all their objections were answered and they began praising God. They said, "God has also give the Gentiles the privilege of turning from sin and receiving eternal life."   

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Thoughts....

One faith, one baptism, one Lord of all.....

"Look!  The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning God is with us).  Matthew 1:23.  Isaiah 7:14, 8:8, 10.

'O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.'  Matthew 2:6, Micah 5:2, 2 Samuel 5:2

'In the land of Zebulun and 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. Matthew 4:15-16, Isaiah 9:1-2

Praise God!  Hallelujah!

"That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared among them.  They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them.  "Don't be afraid!" he said.  "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!  The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him:  You will find him lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven - praising God.  "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors."   Luke 10:25-29

'For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is confessing with your mouth that you are saved.  As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed.  Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect.  They all have the same Lord, who generously gives riches to all who ask for them.  For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."'  Joel 2:32

'We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future.  There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and Father who is over us all and in us all and living through us all.'  Ephesians 4:4-6

'May we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's son [Jesus] that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord [Jesus] measuring up to the full stature of Christ [Jesus].'  Ephesians 12:13

"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.'  Titus 2:11

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Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Oh, Lamb of God, you takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

You are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the most high,

Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the Glory of God the Father.  Amen.  

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O, Holy Night!  The stars are brightly shining.

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Til he appeared and the soul felt it's worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees!

O hear the angels' voices!

O night divine,

O night when Christ was born.

O night, O holy night,

O night, O night divine.

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  Let Us Pray

Dear Heavenly Father God, you gave your words to Paul who told us all, "But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ [Jesus] IS the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God."  1 Corinthians 1:24

For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you.  On the day of salvation, I helped you." 

'Indeed, God is ready to help you NOW.  Today is the day of salvation.'  2 Corinthians 6:1

'I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.'  Ephesians 1:18

May all the earth say, "Amen!"  Alleluia!

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O Come let us adore him,

O come let us adore him,

O come let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

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This message was typed on a library computer because the church computer ceased to function.  It would mean the world to me, and to God, were you to make a donation today to enable me to purchase a computer, and hopefully be able to draw from the old computer all 'Thoughts' written for the Lord to complete the book he has slated for publishing.  Thank you in advance, and, may God bless you.   

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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. 

'All who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.  For you are all Christians - you are ONE in Christ Jesus.'  Galatians 3: 27

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

Teach tolerance....reach in acceptance....worship as one!

Embrace....Respect....Encourage!

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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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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, animals, the earth, 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.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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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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NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

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