January 3, 2010

 Luke: 4: 14-21

  Proclaim The Gospel !

Luke

Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power.  Soon he became well know throughout the surrounding country.  He taught in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.  The scroll containing the messages of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him and he unrolled the scroll to the place where it says:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lords' favor has come."

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down.  Everyone in the synagogue started at him intently.  Then he said, " This Scripture has come true today before your very eyes!

***

Thoughts...

 Family of God, Happy New Year!  May 2010 be a year of blessings for all of you.

Proclaim the Gospel!  Let this be a 'tell all' year.  Everyone of us is called to be a minister of Christ, to proclaim the gospel message.  Shout it from the roof tops....Jesus was born...for all.  Jesus died...for you.  Jesus loves...you.  Jesus saved...you...will you accept him and the salvation he offers you today?  

Every single one of us who profess...proclaim...the message of the ever living Christ...should be buying and handing out a copy of either a copy of a Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John), or a copy of the New Testament, or a copy of the whole Bible.  It does not matter if it is the Catholic Bible with all the books, or the Protestant Bible with books removed.  It doesn't even matter what translation it is, however, I prefer the New Living Translation because it is in everyday English.  It does not matter if it is new, or if it is purchased used with underlines and bent covers.    

Now, let me be bold and say, I want you...God would want you...to buy at least one copy, if not many copies of a Gospel messgage and give it to someone or many.  Tell them that what you have in your hands is a copy of an historical document verifying Jesus walked the earth, the miracles done through him by God and the power of the Holy Spirit, and that he became their Savior, if they will receive him.  Tell them this:

"I have in my hands the greatest gift I will ever give you.  The opportunity to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  This book is a copy of an historical document of Jesus Christ's birth, his life of miracles that were experienced by thousands, his resurrection wtinessed by many, and his ascent to heaven that was also witnessed by many.  Today you have the opportunity to be forgiven of your sins and offered eternal life in heaven.  Read it.  No strings attached...except you must share what you've read with someone else.  Here is my gift."  Smile.  The proverbial 'infomercial'.  You may of course use your own words. 

Then walk away.  Make sure your name and number is written on what you have given them and the name of a church, if you attend one regularly, and it provides the gospel message in an easy to understand format for them.  That way they may call you with questions.  If you don't know the answers, tell them you don't know, but you can study together to find out.  Take the time...God takes time for you everyday.  Do not fear....listen to the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 as he says:

"Dear brothers and sisters, when I first came to you I didn't use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you Gods' message.  For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.  I came to you in weakness-timid and trembling.  And my message and my preaching were very plain.  I did not use wise and persuasive speeches, but the Holy Spirit was powerful among you.  persuasive speeches, I did this so that you might trust the power of God rather than human wisdom.

Yet when I am among mature Christians, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world, and not the kind that appeals to the rulers of this world, who are being brought to nothing.  No, the wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God, which was hidden in former times, though he made it for our benefit before the world began.  But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had they would never have crucified our glorious Lord.  That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."

But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God's deep secrets.  No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know Gods's thoughts except God's own Spirit.  And God has actually given us this Spirit (not the world's spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.  When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom.  W e speak words given us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths.  But people who aren't Christians can't understand these truths from God's Spirit.  It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Holy Spirit can understnd what the Spirit means.  We who have the Spirit understand these things, but othes can't understand us at all.  How could they? For, "Who can know what the Lord is thinking?  Who can give him counsel?"  But we can understand these things for we have the mind of Christ."

Do you have the Holy Spirit with in you?  Do you have the mind of Christ?  Have you accepted the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?  How can you pray effectively for others, if not?  Ask God to baptise you with his Holy Spirit and be prepared to receive him immediately.  How will you know if you have received the Holy Spirit?  By knowing what the fruits (Galatians 5: 22-23) and the gifts (1 Corinthians 12: 7-11) of the Holy Spirit are...then you will recognize them.  Now you can pray for others to receive God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  Your prayers for and with them will help them better understand and proclaim the Gospel message.  "To whom much is given, much is expected."  You become the link to a better life.  Don't just hand them the book and walk away.  Like any living thing that must be nurtured, watered, and fed to grow, humans are no different.  Be there for them.  If you cannot, if yours is a life of seed planting, then plant seeds, but hook them up with people and a church that will help them be fed to grow.  Don't have money to buy the book?  Send them this website and others like it.  Share the truths that Jesus lives and he lives for them today and everyday.

Many people believe this info is hogwash.  But those who are shown the words and are told that what you hold in your hands is an historical document of the life of Jesus Christ, might have their eyes opened.  They believe in the Pilgrims, Columbus, the Constitution, that Lincoln was shot, and the Emancipation Proclamation.  All history.  All documented history.  So is the Bible.  All you are asking is that they read it.  All you are expecting is to give truth a chance.  Don't prejudge...let God take care of who will hear...what seeds will fall on rocky soil and what seeds will fall on fertile ground.  Don't be attached to the outcome...that's God's job...so you won't feel rejection.  Remember, this is not about you, it's between God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and whom you give the message.  Don't forget to pray and believe.  Proclaim the Gospel !  Tell everyone that Jesus Christ is Lord !            

***

Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I want to start the New Year out right.  I commit to giving someone your gospel message this week, so they can be given the opportunity to be forgiven of their sins and receive eternal life.  And right here and now I pray to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Fill me to overflowing, so that I may live a full life for you and help others receive all that you have to give them.  Make me a prayer warrior in this life for myself and others.  I want to be heard by you, so please, baptise me now.  Thank you.  From this day forward, I will share this website and others like it, I will hand people your written word, a historical document of the life of you, Jesus, God, and Holy Spirit.  I will do all I can to do all I can to help others know that you, Jesus, are Lord and Savior of all life.  And I thank all of you for making this happen for me and others.  Help me to help myself by learning, and growing, and helping others do the same.  This is not about me...this is about you.  The ever living all powerful Creator God...Jesus, Lord and Savior of life...everlasting, and Holy Spirit, my Comforter and Teacher.  Having been fully baptised in the Holy Spirit, I will proclaim the Gospel !  Thank you !  Amen ! 

 ***

  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 resouces 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         

*** 

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

***

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.  

***

***

If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regulary to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:16 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptising 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."

***

  Our Current Cause

My family and I, and the church, are in crisis and could desperately use your prayers and financial support.  Due to medical concerns, employment crisis, and economic devastation,  I do not have funding to meet everyday expenses right now for the church, or family, and home, nor those necessary to keep this website afloat, for those shut-in or needing spiritual support, nor the ability to help others along the way.  But I am confident that, with your help, balance can be achieved.  As God touches your heart, I hope you will pray earnestly for this church, my family and me, and send any amount of money you can to help.  Please note 'Church and Family' on your check, and, I will see that all funds get divided appropriately.  The church, I and my family, as well as to those to whom we reach out, will be sincerely grateful for anything you can do to help.  

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

***

 Checks or money orders can be made out to

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Church of the Holy Spirit

P.O. Box 86076

Tucson, Arizona

85754-6076

If you have any questions, we can be reached at:

1-866-402-GIFT

10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Mountain Time

or

TrinityMissions@msn.com

As we grow, you will have options for allocating your gifts.

In the meantime, we hope you will trust us to direct them to where the need is the greatest.

  ***

    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rythms 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."

***

***

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.

***

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.

 *