November 20, 2011

Are You Listening To The Spirit Of Truth?

John 15: 18 - John 16: 15 

John

Jesus said, "When the world hates you, remember it hated me before it hated you.  The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you don't.  I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you.  Do you remember what I told you?  'A servant is not greater than the master.'  Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you.  And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you!  The people of the world will hate you because you belong to me, for they don't know God who sent me.  They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them.  But now they have no excuse for their sin.  Any one who hates me hates my Father, too.  If I hadn't done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be counted guilty.  But as it is, they saw all that I did and yet hated both of us - me and my Father.  This has fulfilled what the Scriptures said:  'They hated me without cause'. 

"But I will send you the Counselor - the Spirit of truth.  He will come to you from the Father and will tell you all about me.  And you must also tell others about me because you have been with me from the beginning.

"I have told you these things so that you won't fall away.  For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a service.  This is because they have never known the Father or me.  Yes, I'm telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember I warned you.  I didn't tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer. 

"But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and none of you has asked me where I am going.  Instead, you are very sad.  But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Counselor won't come.  If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment.  The world's sin is unbelief in me.  Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.  Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged.

"Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.  He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard.  He will tell you about the future.  He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me.  All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me.       

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Thoughts.....

The Spirit of truth.  John tells us in the book of 1 John 2:26-27, "I have written these things to you because you need to be aware of those who want to lead you astray.  But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true.  For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what he teaches is true - it is not a lie.  So continue in what he has taught you, and continue to live in Christ."

So I ask you, "Have you received the Holy Spirit?" 

In the Gospel of John 3:3, Jesus said, I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God."  He goes on to say in 3:5-7, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.  Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.  So don't be surprised at my statement that you must be born again.     

In Matthew 3:11-12 John the Baptist says, "I baptize with water those who turn from their sins and turn to God, but someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am - so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

So I ask you again, "Have you received the Holy Spirit?"  The Spirit of truth, the Counselor? 

Better yet, let me say it this way:  "You may have been baptized with water, but have you been baptized with the Holy Spirit?" 

If you have not, todays lesson will not be easily understood.  But if you have, you will understand the truth. 

If you have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and you have not prayed the prayer at the opening of this page (towards the top), let me give you a prayer you can pray now to ask God and Jesus to send him to you:

God, Jesus, I have not clearly understood the fullness of being born again.  I thought I just had to ask for forgiveness of my sins and receive a water baptism.  But I see now, in order to be born again and enter the Kingdom of God, I must receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  So I come to you, Jesus, now, and ask you to please baptise me with the Holy Spirit.  Please fill me with all the fruits, the gifts, the truths necessary for me to know who you are and how wonderful you are....so I may be born again and enter the Kingdom of God.  Fill me fully, so that I may go forth as you have commanded to tell everyone what I have learned....how great thou art.  And so that they may, too, be born again and enter the Kingdom of God.  Thank you.  Amen.

See, it's easy.  Now, let's look more fully at todays lesson.

The first paragraph is a warning:  Be prepared.  You will suffer hatred, persecution, separation.  But it is also a gift....you will do miraculous things as he, and some may listen to you...those God and Jesus have chosen to listen to you...to hear the message they send through Holy Spirit to give others.  You will offer others the Kingdom of God and some will hate you....without cause.  Because they don't know the cause....their hearts are hardened.  

Understand that if you are hated, it is not you they are hating, but God in you.  Do not let the outcome of one or many, keep you from reaching out to even more.  Someone once said to me, "Don't be attached to the outcome."  It isn't about you....it's about them, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  Let nothing stand in your way of going forth to share fullness of the Gospel message. 

The second paragraph tells us he will send us the Spirit of truth...the Counselor to help us, and, here is where he gives us the command:  'YOU MUST tell others about me because you have been with me from the beginning.'  Since the Bible was written for all for all time, this is not just about the Apostles, disciples then.  It is for all disciples, Apostles, for all time.  Technically we have been with him from the beginning from a scientific perspective.....our DNA....the cellular structure of our bodies can be traced.  You can also look at it as from your beginning....your first breath at birth. From a spiritual perspective, God is the author of life and designed you....'You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.'  From Psalm 139:13

Paragraph 3 is another warning.  Even the synagogues, including what we now call churches, will dismiss you.  Those with the fullness of God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, will/should exhort those who are not in alignment with the Trinity, who call themselves godly and are not....exhort even those inside the churches an synagogues.  (Don't think that all those in churches or synagogues all belong to the Kingdom of God!)  Those who pray for others, those who love deeply, those who give of themselves, those who spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ for God's glory not personal gain, in other words, those truly of the Kingdom of God, will be misperceived and will threaten by their mere presence, those who are NOT REALLY of the Kingdom of God.  There may be people in churches and synagogues that you know right now who are not walking the walk FOR and WITH GOD.  But they are still in leadership positions.  And they may have you tossed out.  But count it as a blessing!  For you ARE a child of God!!!!!!!!!!                                

I love this next paragraph due to its conviction.  The exhortation!  The 'see, I told you so', part for the world. 'You can run but you cannot hide.'  None of us can.  It is convicting and validating to those of us in the Kingdom of God, as well!  It convicts us in reminding us of who God, Jesus and Holy Spirit are, who we are, what our job is, and the value of the Kingdom of God.  It validates our work in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It says, 'see, I told you so!'  He lives, he reigns, and he can live and reign in your heart today!  It exhorts us, if we are not doing as we are called to do.

Sin, righteousness, judgment.  Don't think just because you have entered the Kingdom of God that you are not able to sin.  Or that you are always righteous.  And do NOT be fooled into believing that you cannot be judged.  We are still in the world, my brothers, and sisters.  We are just not supposed to be OF the world.  Do not conform to the worlds ways.  But be renewed!  Enjoin yourself with the Spirit of the Living God.   Help the Lord....your Lord....to become the Lord and Savior of others.  Jesus has left us and sent us the Counselor...Holy Spirit.  Receive him, embrace him, share him  Receive all he has to say and to show us, so that we might show and tell others about the Trinity and the Kingdom of God so that God may be glorified, and they might receive him and Jesus today.

Let us believe, let us not sin, let us be righteous, let us not lord it over others, but lovingly share, and, let us live our lives in a manner in which we will not need to be judged.  

So, listen to the Spirit of truth.  Listen to learn about the future.  Listen to him to bring Jesus glory.  Jesus said, "All that the Father has is mine'.  He wants to reveal it to us through Holy Spirit.  Why would you not want to listen?  You can only do that by receiving the Holy Spirit....by being baptised in the Holy Spirit.  Be washed anew and filled to overflowing. 

God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit have so much to give you to live this life so blessed.  Why ever would you turn away?  Why ever would you run?  Why ever would you not want to be loved and loved fully?  Please consider what he has spoken to you today.  Let him into your heart fully.  Enter the Kingdom of God today!  Let today give you a new understanding, a new, more compelling reason to give thanks.

To all of you, may everyday....every moment of life....be a time to say, Happy Thanksgiving!  

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Let Us Pray

Lord, there is so much you want me to know and to have.  I've prayed the sinners prayer for forgiveness, and I've prayed to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Please allow my humanness to be less, so that you can be more and more in my heart and in my life.  I want to be all I can be for you....and for myself, and those who surround me.  I want to tell the world about you....who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are.  And about all the love you have to give through forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  I want to share with them the salvation message and the kingdom message.  I want to be fruitful and multiply for you, Lord.  That means being filled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit, that others may know that you live in me, and I live for and with you.  It means that I want to bring others to you, Lord.  So that they may see your glory.  And that you, God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit may be glorified.  Please help me.  And send others to surround me who are of you that I may be strengthened and built up.  Give me your strength to walk through the valleys as I seek the mountain tops.  For you, that all honor and glory may be yours.  Thank you.  I love you.  I am grateful.  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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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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