March 4, 2012

"I Must Preach" 

 Luke 4: 42 - 44 

Luke

Early the next morning Jesus went into the wilderness.  The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them.  But he replied, "I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other places, too, because that is why I was sent."  So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea. 

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Thoughts.....

'Moving right along' is another title I thought to name todays lesson.  Jesus didn't let dust settle under him.  He knew what the task was before him.  He'd had a long day the day before....preaching in the synagogue, healing Simon's mother-in-law, and then people throughout the village brought sick family members for Jesus to heal them.  Is it any wonder why he chose to go out into the wilderness the next day?  He was probably exhausted...mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually.  He would undoubtedly need some quiet time to be renewed.....time with his Father....God, time to be 'more' infused with his Holy Spirit. 

And yet, the crowds found him.  And they begged him not to leave them.  But he told them he must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other places, too.  That it was why he was sent.  He continued then, to travel around preaching in synagogues and throughout Judea.  Are you ready to go forth to other places?  Are you ready to say to God, "I'm ready, send me?"

Jesus said he must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God.  You and I are called to do the same thing.  It is one way of thanking God for forgiving us of our sins.  Of course there are many ways to thank God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit for all they have and will give us, but the number one priority is to GO......go forth.  Preach the Good News of the Kingdom.  There is salvation....forgiveness for your sins.  But this isn't just about thanksgiving.  This is a command for us.

In Luke 24:47, Jesus said to the followers and disciples, 'With my authority, take the message of repentance to the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.  There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.'  He said 'take', as in 'receive and go forth with'.  He gave us his authority.  We need no other authority than that commanded by Jesus Christ.  In verse 48, he said, 'You are witnesses of all these things.'  But there was a caveat.  He then said, as found in Luke 24:49, he would send the Holy Spirit, just as his Father had promised, and that all the followers and disciples, were to stay put until they received the Holy Spirit, so they would be filled with the power from heaven. 

Why do you suppose they needed to stay put until Holy Spirit filled them?  ................

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The dots are representative of me giving you time to think of the answer before I tell you.  Ok, so this is an easy one to answer.  It is so that they would go forth under the authority of God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit......not.....let me repeat that....NOT of their own decision or on their own.  The VAST difference is that with Holy Spirit teaching and guiding us, we are speaking for the Lord, not for ourselves.  We are preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ as God intends and not for our own glory, but for his.  We are using his words....his intent....his love......giving HIS forgiveness.....his salvation.  We are not doing it BY ourselves or FOR ourselves, but WITH him and FOR him.  We are not self-centered, we are God, Christ, Holy Spirit-centered.  Our world revolves around them, not our own whims or selfish ambitions. 

I am fairly certain you've heard the news in different parts of the world how Pastors, Ministers, Priests, etc. have abused the ministry and gained for themselves through any number of abuses and poor choice making.  And hopefully you've known people who just preach to bring glory to God.  To share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  To raise up the body of believers.  To bring others into the family of God.  I hope you understand the latter is the base from which I go forth. 

You see, none of this matters if not for God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and, what they have done for us and will do for us to empower us to become better Christians and better Gospel presenters, Pastors, Preachers, Ministers, Priests, etc.  Our gift of life is not about us, it's about them.  It's about bringing us to the point when we can realize why we are here and doing what we are supposed to do for them...with them. 

The greatest CEO in the world is God, the greatest telemarketer in the world is Jesus Christ.  It's interesting that Jesus kept telling the demons and evil spirits to be silent and not state that he was/is the Messiah.....in front of all the followers.  He even told the disciples to wait.  Do you know anyone who can honestly say they've never told a secret.  If you feel the need to tell someone 'please don't say anything', then you shouldn't be telling them in the first place, because they WILL go say something.  I often wonder if that is not a reverse psychology of sorts on the part of the Lord.  It will certainly get the word out and fast.  Makes me kind of chuckle and brings a twinkle to my eyes.  God, Jesus and Holy Spirit are asking us NOW to NOT keep the secret.  They are asking us to 'GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAINS, OVER THE FIELDS AND EVERYWHERE'.  They are asking us to lead by word of mouth.....and by action. 

So, I hope you are ready to receive the Holy Spirit, as the first installment of all God will give you, if you have not.  And I hope you will take seriously to heart God's command with Jesus' authority to go forth.....be a witness in the world to others.

I believe the Lord has directed me to offer ordination certificates to those who feel the need to have them to go forth.  You do not need them, but sometimes others need to see them (a negative sign of the times in the world today....even the words from the Gospel are not trusted today) to insure your credibility and integrity.  I will merely be a witness for you.  Just as Jesus stated.  But I must pray about this more to be sure it is definitely HIS direction and not my idea.  Pray with me, will you?  I do not ever want to intentionally step outside his bounds.  There are times when all of us believe we have heard from God, but in stepping out, we step in deep where we shouldn't have gone.  So I will be praying earnestly about this to insure it is the desire of Heavenly Father God's heart and not my latest creative thought.  Standby....there are a lot of things to work out technically, which may take time, if this is indeed his will.

In the meantime.....GO FORTH.  You MUST preach....just as Jesus needed to do.  And do not confine yourself to your own family, they know the real you.  Your heart, who you were/are, your daily struggles.  (Jesus wasn't accepted by his family or his town right away either.)  The world does not want to see your daily struggles.  But they should to keep YOU real....and to show others that NO one is perfect, but all are equally called to receive and go forth.  Go everywhere.....to other synagogues, churches, nations, towns, cities, homes, speaking to people of all walks, nationalities, faiths.....to share the message.....the Gospel.....preach the Good News of the Kingdom.....repentance to all the nations....forgiveness of sins for all who turn to Jesus Christ.  

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Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, this is a very tall order.  I'm just me.  You are hugely you.  Do you really think little ol' me can do as you?  Oh.  If you are in me.  Ok....so....jump in.  God, I believe you are the creator of the universe and everything in it.  Including me.  Jesus, I believe you lived, died and rose again to allow me forgiveness of my sins and offer me eternal life as my Messiah, my Lord, my Savior.  Holy Spirit, I believe you are my teacher and my comforter who will guide me and direct me.  Thank you all.  Please forgive me of my sins.  Please guide me and direct me on your path to righteousness for YOUR sake....to bring you all glory and honor.  Help me press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God....eternal life.  Help me be real, truthful, honorable, filled with integrity and credible, as I go forth everywhere to share who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are, and all you have to offer others.....the Good News of the Kingdom.....forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  Be clear, be loud, be direct as you guide my steps on the rest of my journey with you.  Open the hearts and the minds of those my life will touch for you, that they may hear you through me.  That they might receive all you have to give them starting with salvation.  Bless those who will journey with you.  Bless them in their mind, body, spirit, soul, finances, and bless them economically in all ways.  I'm ready, Lord God.  Send me.  Let this new journey be a blessed journey, please.  May I bring glory and honor to your name through Jesus Christ, my Lord.  May I only speak with the power and authority of heaven, Holy Spirit.  And please send your guardian angels to surround me, to help you, as you work to keep me and my loved ones safe.  I must preach.  In Jesus' name I pray, to dear Heavenly Father God, praying by and with the power of the Holy Spirit.  Thank you.  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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    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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