Header Graphic
Thoughts Archived > How Far Will You Go?


17 Jun 2012

                                   

 

June 17, 2012

    How Far Will You Go?    

Luke 7: 11 - 17

 

Luke

Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, with a great crowd following him.  A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate.  The boy who had died was the only son of a widow, and many mourners from the village were with her.  When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion.  "Don't cry!" he said.  Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped.  "Young man," he said, "get up."  Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk to those around him!  And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, "A mighty prophet has risen among us." and "We have seen the hand of God at work today."  The report of what Jesus had done that day spread all over Judea and even out across its borders. 

 

***

 

Thoughts.....

 

Happy Father's Day to you, if you are a Dad....most especially....Happy Father's Day, God!

It amazes me how many places Jesus visited and how far he went while on earth.  In footsteps, he traveled A LOT!  How far will you go to share the message of God?  Will you walk into your kitchen to share him?  How about your workplace?  Will you talk to people on the streets?  Pick up the phone?  Will you enter a hospital, go to a funeral?  Why can't WE raise the dead?  O WE of little faith. 

In Matthew 17: 14-21 Jesus rebukes the people who were unable to rebuke a demon stating:  "You stubborn, faithless people!  How long must I be with you until you believe?  How long must I put up with you?"...."You didn't have enough faith," Jesus told them.  "I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible."

How far do you need to go to move the mountains in your life?  I have only to look within for starters.  How about you?

Then....the world!    

We've been told we will do greater things than Jesus.  Ya, so, how's that workin' for ya?  Are you even attempting to step out and step up?  How far will you go to do greater works than Jesus?  Will you even try?  In John 14:12 Jesus tells us "The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.  You can ask for anything [ANYTHING] in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father.  Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it!"  Choose carefully, folks.

Do you have to go into foreign nations, cross large bodies of water to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and do as he has done?  Isn't there a lack in your home, your church, your neighborhood, workplace, town, city, state, your own country?  I'm in the United States of America, and I can tell you without a doubt, we have problems right here that need the touch of believers all over this country in the name of Jesus for God. To those in other countries....lets all pray for one another....as well as our own country.

Are you a believer in Jesus Christ?  Have you accepted him as your Lord and Savior?  Have you asked Holy Spirit into your life?  If yes to all of the aforementioned, how far will you go in reaching out for God?

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, nor asked Holy Spirit into your life, please consider doing so right now.  Do not be intimidated by all that you see around you that needs fixing.  First off, there is probably a gentle need within you that may need to be touched with his healing touch.  Or a radical one.  Work with God, Jesus and Holy Spirit on your personal needs first, so that as you step out for others, they will see the change God placed in your heart and your testimony will be more strongly believed.  Then you will be able to do greater works than he.  Probably not in your own home town however.  Jesus had trouble with this because he was just himself to all those who knew him and they didn't think he had what it took to be anybody else.  But GOD did!  God and Jesus had a strong relationship....they want to have a strong relationship with you, too.  Believe what God thinks about you, in the gifts he's given you.  Do not listen to the nay sayers about who you are....listen to GOD!  

I want to be perfectly clear on one point.  Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior will not make your life easier.  But the gift of forgiveness of sins and the opportunity to receive eternal life is priceless.  Do not expect to be able to raise the dead right away.  You may not have the faith for it even later on.  But do believe you can, and expect to do greater things than Jesus as you reach out.  What you are able to do will be a testimony of the strength of your faith.  How far will you go?

Will what you do classify you as a prophet?  Probably not.  Will it show you are a child of God?  One would hope so.  Will others see the hand of God at work as a result of what you do?  Pray it would be so.....to give GOD the glory, not yourself.  Will what you do be made known worldwide?  Gosh, big concept.  ONLY if it brings GOD the glory and not you.  It's going to be hard to remain humble.  But you must be as a little child in your faith and humility.  One is great...the faith you must have.  The other, it, too, must be great....great humility.  To a child, everything outside themselves is great.  They want to reach for it all.  They believe they can.  Wherein lies your faith?  Your humility?  Think as a child.  A first step into Daddy's arms can be a vast cavern.  Your faith makes the steps shorter and more easily accomplished. 

Will others be able to say they have seen the hand of God at work today as you reach out?  How far will you go to make that happen for God?  Don't wait.  Your end time may come sooner than THE end times.  Act now.  Go far. 

May God grant you many blessings as you go forth in his name.              

 

 *** 

 

Let Us Pray

 

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, you can't be serious that I can move a mountain....and yet....I guess you are...you wouldn't be you otherwise.  Nothing less than great for you.  But have you any idea how great my mountains are?  Ya, I guess you do....you are God.  Forgive me for my lack of faith.  Forgive me for not stepping out...being far reaching and going far.  It is not for want of trying.  But some days, God, I am really tired, beaten down....downtrodden....isn't that what you would call it?  I know you are there, but maybe you aren't fully there for me because I am not fully there for you.  Please forgive me for not being there for you....or myself....and those around me.  Please help me to be a better person, a better child of yours.  Help me to look out around me and not solely at my own personal problems.  I do know that as I reach out to others, you will reach out to me.  You reach out to me every moment I have breath....it is because you do that I HAVE breath.  Thank you.  I am sincerely grateful.  I do want to do more for you....reach out....go far for you.  Please help me onward with my load.  Open doors you want me to go through, but if you don't mind, don't open too many at once, so I get confused as to which one I should go through first.  And Lord, I don't always do well with decisions, so if you could make the journey a little easier by not giving me so many options, that would be great.  I don't do well with tests.  Have you noticed?  Oh....sorry to be such a burden....I guess you have noticed.  I'm glad you are you and I am who I am, but I sure wish I had a little more of you in me, so I could make better decisions.  Oh, read more you say from scripture?  Okay.  I get that I'm a little lost and could use some reminders, some new knowledge.  You seem to reveal different things to me every time I read scripture and I feel so blessed.  Help me to better appropriate my time to put you first....not last....not maybe....not at all.  Help me to look around me to see where you may lead.  But to not concern myself with places you may be needed that you do not send me.  I do have a tendency to think I am Herculean as regards my efforts.  I am not.  I could use more wisdom and grace please.  Thank you.  And 'thank you for putting your hand into my heaped up heart and passing over all the foolish and weak things you see there'.  I am so blessed to have you in my life, my heart, soul, body, mind...you are my spirit.  The essence of my being....thank you.  To you goes all honor and glory for the good in me and the good I do.  Unfortunately to you goes all the shame and pain as it passes through me for all those things I don't do my best with or those choices I make that may not be your choices for whatever reason.  Teach me to reach and go far.  But teach me wherein lies my foundation from which to reach.....you are that foundation.  Strengthen my faith....please.  Love me still.....all the way....to eternal life.  I love you and I am so grateful for you, God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  Thank 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         

 

*** 

  

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

 

***

   

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!   

 

***

  

 

 

***

 

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."

 

***

 

  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!   

 

 ***

 

  Checks or money orders can be made out to

Trinity Missions

or the

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Trinity Missions

P.O. Box 86076

Tucson, Arizona  USA

85745

 *

If you have any questions, we can be reached at:

1-866-402-GIFT

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Mountain Time

or

TrinityMissions@msn.com

Please note Trinity Missions or CoHS in your subject line.

 *

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.

 

  ***

 

    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."

 

***

  

 

 

*** 

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. 

***

  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.

 * 

Bible Authors and Minister