March 21, 2010

 John 9: 35 - John 10: 21

  Spiritual Blindness...Keepin' It Real  

John

When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"  

The man answered, "Who is he, sir, because I would like to."

"You have seen him," Jesus said, "and he is speaking to you!"

"Yes, Lord," the man said, "I believe!"  And he worshiped Jesus.

Then Jesus told him, "I have come to judge the world.  I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."

The Pharisees who were standing there heard him and asked, "Are you saying we are blind?"

"If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied.  "But you remain guilty because you claim you can see."  

"I assure you, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!  For a shepherd enters throught the gate.  The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them and they follow him because they recognize his voice.  They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't recognize his voice."

Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn't understand what he meant, so he explained it to them.  "I asure you, I am the gate for the sheep," he said.  "All others who came before me were thieves and robbers.  But the true sheep did not listen to them.  Yes, I am the gate.  Those who come in through me will be saved.  Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.  The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

"I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming.  He will leave the sheep because they aren't his and he isn't their shepherd.  And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.  The hired hand runs away because he is merely hired and has no real concern for the sheep.

"I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father.  And I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold.  I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.  

"The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again.  No one can take my life from me.  I lay down my life voluntarily.  For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command."

When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him.  Some of them said, "He has a demon, or he's crazy.  Why listen to a man like that?"  Others said, "This doesn't sound like a man possessed by a demon!  Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"  

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Thoughts...

Good morning, good morinng, good morning.  Wow.  Lots to take in this morning.  First, let me give you a brief intro to who this man is to whom Jesus is talking.  In the previous text we learn that this man was born blind, but Jesus healed him.  Then many asked who healed him and he was taken to the Pharisees in the synagogue who asked him the same question. The Pharisees accused Jesus of being a sinner stating he couldn't perform miracles.  "But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?"  Then they boasted being disciples of Moses.  The man thought it strange that they could not believe.  The man said, "He healed my eyes, and yet you don't know anything about him!  Well, God doesn't listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will."  He goes on to say, "Never since the world began has anyone been able to open the eyes of someone born blind.  If this man were not from God, he couldn't do it."          

I'd like you to take a look at each paragraph individually from the scriptures above and see where you can apply them to your life.  Keepin' it real, I'd like you to see how you may have been spiritually blinded by Satan, others, and yourself by choice.  This won't be easy, but it will be worth it.  If you keep going back to a sentence, or you rush over a sentence, you need to accept that there might be a truth you are not willing to look at in your life.  Good or bad.  Let's do some together, as I give you some examples that may help you focus a bit.  Hold on, this could be a bumpy ride.  But it's great once you get down from the horse and touch stable ground....in this case we are going for HOLY ground with firm footing.

Do you believe in the Son of Man....Jesus?  Do you know who he is?  Do you know him?  Do you worship him?  Are you ready to be judged...right now...right this minute?  Ouch????  Do you think you see...the truths in your life...the lies?

This next one could hurt....Jesus said, "If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty, but you remain guilty because you claim you can see."  Since you know God, if you truly knew you were not sinning, you would not be guilty.  But you know God's mind in this, and you are guilty because you know you are sinning, and you just are refusing to make the right choices to be clean...to stop sinning.  Therefore you remain guilty of sinning.  That's painful to God....and to you.  I have a dear friend who keeps saying, "With God's blessings."  You can't receive God's blessings if you are walking in sin.  Keeping yourself in bondage with Satan, God cannot bless you.  There is a song that says, "God you know my heart, and I will search for yours."  Many of us know God's heart and we grieve it anyway.  We are so used to not having pure love of God, or from others of God, or being uncomfortable, that we fear giving up what little we think we have, when what we really have is not love, it is manipulation and co-dependency...it is bondage to Satan.  And we cannot receive the fullness God's blessings and the purity of his love. 

Are you a thief or a robber?  Have you done things your way or God's way?  Have you asked him before opening a door?  Just because a door opens, does not mean you should go through it.  Do NOT assume that an open door is a door that God Almighty has opened.  Satan opens doors, too, to derail you from God's purpose and his will for your life.  Some doors lead to heaven.  Others lead to less than all God wants to give you....it is his test for you to see if you have gained wisdom for the journey.  Being pruned is more painful than having the thorns.  Be careful.  Is God calling you out of a painful, less than blessed situation in your life?  Run from it.  Are you a true sheep?  Listen for his voice and let him lead you home to his heart.  Go through the gate.  Run to his arms.  Be saved.  Follow him, he will lead you.   Jesus said, "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."  "Wherever you go, you will find green pastures", he says.   Why ever would you want anything else?  "Simply the best...better than all the rest", as the song goes. 

Have you been in a situation where someone has wanted to leave your life?  Take from you?  Not given fully of themselves to God?  Not had concern or regard for you or all you care about?  Have you had a 'hired hand', someone who you have perhaps coerced to be with you, or who has coerced you to be with them, who doesn't understand you because they don't understand God?  Who runs at the onset of trouble?  Who can't look people in the eye because of their sins?  Who demand their own way?  Who don't help, but they hinder?  Perhaps God is giving you an example of how he sees you?  Either way, a major change needs to occur.  This is not who God intended you to surround yourself with.  This is not the kind of person God wants in his life either.  "Well, God doesn't listen to sinners, but his is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will."  John 9: 31  Are you ready to lay your life down for HIM?  Are you ready to listen to HIS voice?  Let those of his flock become one with him.

Jesus said above, "The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again.  No one can take my life from me.  I lay down my life voluntarily.  For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command."  A command.  Do you lay your life down for the Father?  Do you voluntarily lie down and say, "Here I am, Lord?"  Do you say, "Jesus take my life.....and lead me on."  Jesus could lay his life down and take it back again.  So can we.  If we ay down our lives for another and we find they are not worthy in God's name, we need to take our life back again.  It would be more prudent to not lay our lives down first, but pray wait on the Lord's direction.  But for some reason...the word reason is not fully utilizable in this sentence....we reason that we know better than God and want to act whether he wants us to act or not and we get into all kinds of bondages doing so.

We cannot live our lives as flower children running around saying, 'if it feels good, do it'.  We have to KNOW by the power of the Almighty ever living ever loving God that what we are doing is what he intends for us to do to further his kingdom and bring him glory.  Love fully.  But remember, HE loved you first, and we must receive and give HIS kind of love, respect, nurture, care and concern.

Do you hear his voice?  Do you hear his voice in the people around you?  Do you see his actions in the people who surround you?  Mooooooove over, move away, move out, move on, move, move, move, if God is not in your midst.  It's one thing to preach to the unchurched, as you are apart from them.  It's another thing to drown in the bondage of the unchurched.  You cannot preach to them because you are one of them.  Raise you eyes to the hills and see where your help comes...it comes from Father God Almighty.  Now focus your eyes on him....your heart, your mind, your soul, and put your life in HIS hands....in his outstretched arms.  Do you feel his love surrounding you?   Melt in his embrace.  Let his love just flow through you.  Now ask his forgiveness, and for his help, and to unblind you.  Will you let him open yours eyes?  Will you let him help you out of bondage and cleanse you and make you whole?  Will you let him "Open the eyes of your heart"?  Will you purpose to better listen to him and to surround yourself with those of God?  Will you help to bear one another up?  You've laid your life down, now it's time to take it back up, so you can fully and completely give it back to God.  

Even Jesus was called a sinner.  "But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?"  Don't feel alone.  You are not.  You, too, can receive, and do miracles.  Just believe, and 'come back to the Heart of worship'.  He's calling you.  Hear him, and run to him today.  He loves you so much.  As the song says, hear it as our Lord calling you, "I've been missin' you."  "See how the road turns."  And follow it with him...the man...the Son of God...the Savior of the world...is he yours?  Keepin it real.....is he really LORD of your life?              

***

Let Us Pray  

Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.  Have mercy on me and forgive me of my sins.  God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, thank you for giving me this opportunity at starting my life over...for you.  So you might have the glory.  So I can speak with conviction of how wonderful you are.  You've fed me and led me back to you today.  And I thank you.  From the bottom of my heart.  I can not believe I could have become so confused and believe I know you and know your word, your heart.  I guess I have a lot more to learn.  But I know that you will be there to help me and lift me up....carry me when I fall.  Please let me not fall so far away from your truth again.  It has been a painful journey.  I see now all that I can have with you.  I see what it's like to have people of your love and conviction surrounding me.  I have been missing all that I could have had, even though I did not realize it.  I realize it now and I want all that you want for me, Lord.  Lord of heaven and earth, I realize your majesty.  And I love you.  Thank you for loving me.  I am so grateful.  Lead me on and take me home to your heart Lord.  And fill mine to overflowing with all the love you have to give me, now that I've come home.  I feel like I can't keep saying thank you enough.  The future is all yours, Lord.  And mine will be marvelous because of you.  I want to find green pastures and have life in all it's fullness.  You've promised, and I believe you, and that's that.  Receive my hug, Lord......squeeeeeeeze.  I love you.  Thank you again.  Amen.                 

***

Sing these songs with love and praise, adoration and humility:

LORD YOU HAVE MY HEART *

Lord, You have my heart

And I will search for Yours

Jesus, take my life and lead me on

Lord You have my heart

And I will search for Yours

Let me be to You a sacrifice

And I wll praise You, Lord

And I will sing of love come down

And as You show Your face

We'll see Your glory here

I COULD SING OF YOUR LOVE FOREVER *

Over the mountains and the sea

Your river runs with love for me

And I will open up my heart

And let the Healer set me free

I'm happy to be in the truth

And I will daily lift my hands

For I will always sing of when

Your love came down, yeah

I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever

Oh, I feel like dancing

It's foolisheness I know

But when the world has seen the light

They will dance with joy like we're dancing now, yeah.

I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever

LOVE YOU JESUS!

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 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         

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

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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 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

I am very excited to share that The Gathering will be 'on the ground' soon in Tucson!  I would sincerely appreciate all prayers focused for this cause and for those involved in the greater picture.  As I attempt a new church plant here in the desert, may streams of prayers, love and financial support flow to achieve this cause.  This is a mountain that I am going to climb, and, I expect all believers everywhere to rise up with me to support this endeavor and do the same.  As I endeavor on this journey, I will be better prepared to help you on yours...to raise up a sanctuary for the ever living ever loving Lord God Almighty, Lord and Savior for the world Jesus Christ, and Comforter, Teacher, Indwelling Fire, Spirit Wind, the Holy Spirit.  I pray you will join with me to provide prayer and financial support for this humbling and annointed journey.  To God goes all the honor and glory!   Alleluia!  Amen.          

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

***

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  ***

    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."

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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.

* LORD YOU HAVE MY HEART

Music and lyrics by Martin Smith c  1992 Kingsway's Thankyou Music (PRS)  All rights in the Western Hemisphere administered by EMI Christian Music Publishing p 1998 Furious ?Records / Sparrow Records.  Delirious?  appears courtesy of Furious? Records / Sparrow Records.

* I COULD SING OF YOUR LOVE FOREVER

Music and lyrics by Martin Smith, c 1994 Curious?  Music U.K. (PRS) Admin. in the U.S. and Canada by EMI Christian Music Publishing. p 2001 Gotee Records.  Produced by Jason Halbert and Dwayne Larring for Rythmic.  From the album SONICPRAISE on Gotee Records. www.gotee.com.

Both recordings from the Worship Together CD

 *