July 3, 2011

True Freedom

John 11: 25-26

John

 JesJeJeJJjEJJJ     JJThe LORD is king!  Let the nations tremble!  T Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life.  Those who believe in me will live again.  They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish."   

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Thoughts.....

Good morning! 

Some may remember the King James Version of this passage when Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life:  He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  Believest thou this?"

Indeed, do you believe?

Like the all powerful Wizard of Oz who stated no one could go anywhere unless through him, Jesus is telling us we can't get to heaven...we can't get to the Father...unless we go through him.  Am I daring to compare the two?  Absolutely not.  There is no comparison between the real...Jesus...and the ridiculous...the wizard. 

So, are these the rantings of a delusional mind, or a securely sane son of God?  Prophet?  LORD?

Are you sure you want to wait to see...or find out the truth?

Your end time will come before the end times. 

Make no mistake.  Make the right choice.

Choose Jesus...and you will have the opportunity to have life everlasting....and forgiveness of sins.

For you who are Atheists, if you are reading this:  If documented history...actual historically documented facts won't convince you....you are not an Atheist, you are not wise, not discerning.  Did you pass or fail history in school?  If you believed history then, why not now...why not about this? 

Here are some references from the Bible which may illuminate more about Jesus and why to believe in him, why repent of your sins, why accept the gift of salvation, why eternal life. 

Jesus as the cornerstone, Acts 4:11-12, also Matthew 21:42, Isaiah 28:16.  Isaiah 28:16b in the Greek version reads, "Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed."

Salvation in no one else:  Acts 4:11-12, Matthew 1:21, 1 Timothy 2:5-6.

Law through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ:  John 1:17

Kingdom of God has arrived:  Luke 11:20

Prove by the way you live:  John 3:7-12

Understanding, receiving, and sharing:  Mark 4:1-20

Judgement of sins:  Ezekiel 18

And the bottom line....Ezekeil 18:31:  "Put all your rebellion behind you, and get for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.  For why should you die....?  I don't want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD.  Turn back and live!"

True freedom exists in the arms of the Savior....he can be your Savior....just ask him into your heart and life today.  Begin to live anew.  Ask him to forgive your sins.  Then show him your gratitude by the way you live your life....dedicate it to him and live well with him.  And then share with others how wonderful he is.  If your life is not wonderful, go back to the first step.....start again.  Did you forget the part about watering the seed?  Read the Bible to learn more about him.  Read it to learn how to live your new life.  "And listen...for he has much to say.  Don't think you can't hear him, that isn't God's way."  Surround yourself with other Christians.  This will help you stay grounded and less tempted, too.

Do not think that because you have accepted him that he will give you everything you want or that life will be easy.  It's not about you....it's about him.  However, consider the gift he gave you when he allowed himself to be nailed to a cross, so you could be forgiven of your sins and offered eternal life....given only by the proof of the way you live.  Anyone else offered to die for you?  My understanding of this act is that he loves you very much.  VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY much.  Do you think you could love him back just a little?  He deserves a lot.  But he's willing to start with you where you are.  Hurt, suffering, disgruntled, frustrated, in pain, dismayed, in shock, devastated, overwhelmed, angry, mad.....are you here?  Are you listening?  He loves you.  Go to him now.  Crawl into his arms.  He hears your tears, the depth of your heart crying out.  Find a new way to live, receive a new life.  Learn to start loving him today. 

Jesus said, "Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a perons who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse, because it is built on solid rock.  But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash."  Matthew 7:24-27.

Jesus also said, "If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven.  But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven.  Matthew 10:32-33.  

Think about this sincerely folks.  Today may be the last day of your life, rather than the first day of the rest of your life.  Either way....make the wise choice....choose Jesus now.

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Let Us Pray

Dear Heavenly Father God, Jesus, Lord and Savior, Holy Spirit, Comforter and Teacher, help...me.   I'm not sure what all this is about, but I am willing to seek you to learn.  I certainly need a new life.  One based on you, not me, because the me part has not worked out well.  So, okay, based on what I've read so far, I need to ask you to forgive me of my sins and ask you to come into my heart and life.  So, Jesus, please will you forgive me of my sins?  Will you come into my heart, my life?  Will you please heal me and make me whole?  Thank you.  I believe you have done this for me and I will earnestly await and observe manifestation of that for which I have asked.  I will read the Bible to learn more about you and how to live my new life.  It's a daunting task.  I know the Old Testament is the old way of life, and the New Testament is the new way of life.  I know the Old shows why the New is important.  Holy Spirit, please come into my life and carry me.  Help me understand what I should know to live my new life and teach others about how wonderful God, Jesus, and you are.  Thank you all for giving me this opportunity to start life anew.  For saving me....even from myself sometimes.  Certainly from the world and everyone and everything that is worldly within it.  Embrace me and shelter me, please.  And on my last day, lift me into your loving arms.  Thank you.  I am grateful and I love you.  Amen.            

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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. 

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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