October 30, 2011

Layers

John 16:  31 - 33

John

Jesus asked, "Do you finally believe?  But the time is coming - in fact, it is already here - when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone becuase the Father is with me.  I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many tirals and sorrows.  But take heart, becuase I have overcome the world.   

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Thoughts.....

Every time I read the Bible, I can get a different understanding from the same scripture reference.  This is because Holy Spirit is speaking to my heart at that very moment, and, at that very moment....each time....I am experiencing different things.

I am, and you are, at different levels of growth.  We change, we grow, we become different people, as a result of our experiences, yet we can remain the same.  If we are in Christ, and he is in us, then we grow to be more like him.  If we are not one, then we will grow in ways that are not of him, not scripturally descriptive of being a Christian.  Those of us who are Christians, are intrinsically good, yet we mature in ways more like him.  So intrinsically we remain the same.....the basis of who we are is good, yet we learn to be really good.  (Way different than perfect.)  So our Lord hopes....and most probably prays for us to do so....earnestly.  Although he may have gray hair and it standing on end while doing so. 

I've chosen a brief reference to unwrap a couple layers at a time.  This may speak to you a bit differently because we are not all on the same page of life and experiences.  As long as what you learn aligns with scripture overall, it is of God, and you are on the right track.  Trust Holy Spirit, but double check what you learn because Satan CAN and DOES deceive. 

"Do you finally believe?"

Based from verse 16 on, the fullness of this scripture reference is about believing in Jesus.  He was speaking to the disciples....more folks than just the Apostles....all those who were gathered there listening to him, and to those of us listening today, as well as those learning about his life in the future.  Do you finally believe in him and what he says? Do you believe he came, came again/back, he will be coming still again?  That you can go directly to Heavenly Father to ask him for things using Jesus' name, believing you will receive what you have asked for, having joy, no longer needing parables and able to hear direct truths from Jesus about Heavenly Father, asking in Jesus' name and not needing Jesus to ask for you?  Believing Heavenly Father loves you dearly because you love Jesus and believe that he came from God?   That Jesus will leave the world and return to the Father?  That there is life after death.....eternal life?

And then there is another layer to this same question.  He speaks to us personally, and to anyone listening to him in the future....us and others just getting to know him.  Do you finally believe what he has told you for your life?  Where you are going, what you need to do to get where he wants you?  That what you heard was indeed him telling you that what you asked for you will get....or won't.  Do you believe he is there to run to in your sorrows as well?   

Next sentence....."But the time is coming - in fact, it is already here - when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone."    

This is prophetic refering to him walking to the cross, denying him as a friend, as a member of his group...being a Christian.  Being alone on the cross....going to the cross without the others.  It is experiential as well.  It is a reference to the planted seeds, some dying off and going away, some having been watered who stick around for awhile, others being firmly rooted in him....his Word.  Those who say they are Christian versus those who really are Christian determined by their steadfastness, learned growth, proof of what they do for him and in his name....who they are at the core of their being...intrinsically grounded in Christ: his way, his truth, his life.     

It can refer to who you are now, today, and your relationship with him at this moment and every day.  Which seed are you?  Do you SAY you are a Christian because you accepted him one day and may have been baptised?  Then what?  What did you do after that?  Did you continue your relationship with him?  Or, did you walk away?  Do you read your Bible, do you pray thanking him, or just ask him for things?  Have you lived your life by Christian standards as outlined in the Bible?  Can you measure yourself by the world's standard definition of a Christian?  Can you define yourself by the LORD'S standard?  Did I hear 'Oh, oops."?   Do you need to make some better choices........?

"Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me."

Jesus is telling the Disciples he is not alone even if he is without people who care about him or believe in him.  He has the Father.  He is telling us today....and those who come on the morrow....that we are never alone.  We have only to go to Heavenly Father to bare our soul, bask in his love, live with him, live for him, be in his being....and he in ours.  We can have him in our lives and in our hearts.  We can talk to him....LISTEN TO HIM.  We can live the life he intended for us, or, we can live the life we think we must, based on our current circumstances....our finite minds....our limited resources. 

Have you joys?  You are not alone.

Have you sorrows?   You are not alone. 

Have you emptiness? 

You are not alone.

Go to the Father....he is with you, and will be with you til the end of time.  Not just YOUR time....the end of all time.  Always and forever.  Eternal life....with the Father.

Ask him into your life and receive him today.  Look at all he's done for you.   Receive all the love he has to give.  Believe that he sent his son Jesus to live and die for you to forgive you of your sins and give you eternal life.  Live out your faith in them.  Live out your faith walk, so that others can know they live and can live in them, too.

"I have told you all this so you may have peace in me."

This message is so special.  Peace in him....Jesus.  He has just told his Disciples that they can have peace IN him.  How is that possible?  By believing he is who he says he is.  By accepting the salvation message.  By placing all your cares upon him.  It's about trusting him.  Although he said this to the Disciples then, are we not also his Disciples?  Those who believe in him are.  So he is speaking to us today and tomorrow as well.  This is a life changing event......to hear Jesus speak.  It does not matter whether he spoke to the Disciples face to face then, speaks to our hearts and minds today, through the Scriptures....or perhaps he has come to you in person since then.  As long as we put our faith in him, we must put our peace in him as well....by believing in him, trusting in him, knowing he cared enough for us to die for us.  How is that not peace giving to know there is a Savior who reigns...or should reign in our life....who can take care of all of our needs?  

"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows."

Yup, well, who doesn't know this sentence to be true?  (!)  Surely....verily I say to you....the life of a Disciple of Jesus back then was horrific.  Just read the New Testament to be astounded by the trials.  Not without sorrows, it holds no candle to the Old Testament.  The drama and trauma of that is nauseating to read as regards bloodshed and fighting.  The New Testament is much like the 'flower children' of the 1970's in America in comparison.  If you prefer, read it as a regular book by reading The Message.  Same story, different formating of text and paraphrasing.  Do not think that everything will be rosy just because Jesus is in your life.  We pray to not have bloodshed and fighting, but it is all around us.  Whether at war in the world, the neighborhood, or the family, there are trials, sorrows and pain, persecution and more.      

Whether or not you are a Disciple of Jesus, have you known trials and sorrows in your life?  Aren't you tired of all you've been going through?  Or is your life one of joy?  For those who have experienced trials and sorrows, you've only to turn to God and Jesus to find your way, your peace.  Turn your life over to them.  Let them help you.  Will the trials and sorrows go away?  No.  But they will be easier to bear knowing you have them to love you, are willing to hold you close to their hearts, and are waiting to hold you in their arms in heaven....if you but live your faith walk as a Christian.  If your roots are firmly planted.  If you live and breathe and have your being in them.

And then Jesus says, "But take heart, because I have overcome the world." 

What does this mean?  To the Disciples, it meant that by his birth and life, prophetically his death and resurrection, he has and will have overcome death, both in the world and of the world.  In and of the world means, if we live in him and he in us, we can overcome the temptations, the trials that Satan and his world attempt to place upon us.  We don't have to fight to try to be good, we can be good by just following his standards....ways of loving and living.  We are less affected, and can be effectual. We can live in the world, but not be a part of the world.  We now live in and with God and Jesus and what they stand for, believe in, built and for which Jesus died.  He has overcome the death of our spirits.  If we are in and of the world, we die.  Period.  End of story. We have no hope of eternal life.  But with God and Jesus and they in us, we are separated from the world's way of life.  We DO have hope and we DO have promise.....if we truly live the walk of faith in them.  

You see, there are a lot of people who have said they have accepted Jesus.  They may have accepted him verbally, but not in their hearts.  They haven't explored the greatness of God to get to know him, and they could really care less what Jesus did for them, or know what his salvation can really mean to them.  They may turn on Christian music to get what they want from someone.  Or they may profess or say nice things to make you think they are a Christian.  They may even go to church on Sundays.  But do they really know and love Jesus?  Do they honor the Word by living the Word?  They may do nice things, but do they do great things?  Do they go out of their way to help others?  Do they share the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  They may share A gospel, but one of telling crude jokes, lying, drinking, cussing, smoking and doing illicit things.  It is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There are many who go to church and then make light of crudeness.  Who talk the talk, but do not walk the walk. 

Is anyone perfect?  No.  We've gone over this before.  But Jesus overcame the world.  We were called out of the world, when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Therefore do not walk in the ways of the world. 

Do you finally believe....in God?  In Jesus?  In everything they stand for and have done for you....will do for you?  Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?  Then stop playing in the world by the world's ways and start living in God and Jesus' world and living by their ways.

Layer upon layer we can read the scriptures.  Layer upon layer our past can be stripped away.  Layer upon layer we will become new....washed as white as snow....in the Lord.  Layer upon layer, step by step, we will make our way on our new journey to our heavenly home where we will have eternal life.  And our journey will be one of joy, and trials and sorrows.  But we will not be alone. 

Reach out to God and Jesus now.  Ask God to forgive you of your sins, to come into your heart.....your life.  Ask God to peel back the layers of what was your life to make room for your new life.....to make you whole.  Ask God to heal you of anything and everything, so you can be everything you can be to them, and for yourself and others around you.  To help you walk your faith walk.  Ask God to send others to help you.  Find a church home near you that you can worship in, learn more, and have fellowship.  Feel free to continue to visit the Church of the Holy Spirit weekly, but find a Christian church  near you who can help to raise you up on eagle's wings, so God will hold you in the palm of his hand.

If you cannot or choose not to visit a church near you, please read your Bible regularly to stay in focus.  Remember that the Old Testament was prophecy of what was to come in the New Testament.  As a Christian, we are to follow what Jesus and followers of Jesus shared with us in the New Testament.  If you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you need to follow what the New Testament says.  We are under the New Testament...the New Law.  Know that the first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels because they are the 'gospel truth' (yes, that is where we get that phrase) of Jesus' life from four different people having experienced living and growing with him.  The other historical books are written by Apostles and other Disciples whose lives Jesus touched.  They were written to the different churches and individuals 'back then', but the message in each applies to each of us today.  They all give rules, which we now are to be living, under the new law....of God and Jesus' love. 

We are all a part of a very large picture.  None of us are alone.  Layer by layer we all strive....I hope.....to 'press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God'....eternal life.  Phil. 3:14.  

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Let Us Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, God.  Wow, lots of layers to work with in me.  Please forgive me of my sins.  Please come into my heart deeply, that I may know you sincerely.  Please peel back the layers of my old life to reveal and make room for my new life.  Please heal me and make me whole.  Please.  Having received you in me, help me to be in you, with you, find peace in you and be there for you, myself and others.  Help me on my faith walk.  Help me to walk the walk, while I talk the talk.  I don't have to run around spewing you forth.  But I do have to live you and share you.  Help me to humbly do both.  Please send others to help me live this new life, that I may be supported and held accountable.  I know you are watching, but Satan can cause me to deceive myself believing I can do something I shouldn't and get away with something I cannot.  Something like driving over the speed limit, not getting off my caboose to do things I should.....letting you down big, others, and myself, too.  Or worse.  Scary to think of what could be worse.  Guess I'm not of the world as much as I fear I may be.  Help me to find a church home, if possible, so that I can have a place to worship with others, that we may be of one voice.  Let me also learn more of who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are.....so that I may further and fully trust in having my being in you....and you in me.  Help me to please have more time, and appropriate it correctly, so I may learn and grow from reading the Scriptures....your Word....the Bible.  Thanks for speaking through the Church of the Holy Spirit.  Raise it up, Father, help it grow.  Thanks to all the Apostles and Disciples who answered your call to write history...your history and Jesus'.  I bow down to you with adoration, love, admiration, hope, and promise.  May I become less that you may become more.  I thank you for hearing my prayers, let me now listen to all you have to say.  I pray all this to you using Jesus' name as he has told me to do in the Bible.  I guess it is who you know.......after all.  Thanks, God.  Thanks, Jesus.   For EVERYTHING you have both done, and will continue to do in my life.  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!   

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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.

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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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