November 11, 2012

Instructions For The Harvesters

Luke 10: 1 - 20

Luke

The Lord now chose seventy-two* other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit.  These were his instructions to them:  "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few.  Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, and ask him to send out more workers for his fields.  Go now, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.  Don't take along any money, or a traveler's bag, or even an extra pair of sandals.  And don't stop to greet anyone on the road. 

"Whenever you enter a home, give it your blessing.  If those who live there are worthy, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you.  When you enter a town, don't move around from home to home.  Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide you.  Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.

"If a town welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you and heal the sick.  As you heal them, say, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.'  But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 'we wipe the dust of your town from our feet as a public announcement of your doom.  And don't forget the Kingdom of God is near!'  The truth is, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.

"What horrors await you, Korazin and Bethsaida!  For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have sat in deep repentance long ago, clothed in sackcloth and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.  Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on the judgment day than you.  And you people of Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?  No, you will be brought down to the place of the dead."

Then he said to the disciples, "Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me.  And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me.  And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God who sent me."

When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!"

"Yes," he told them, " I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning!  And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.  Nothing will injure you.  But don't rejoice just because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven." 

*Some texts say that he chose 70, rather than 72.  No special significance.   

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Thoughts.....

To all Veterans of all wars throughout the earth, I salute you.  Today, America celebrates Veterans.  Although it can be said I should not salute everyone of every war due to many not being part of America or their alliance, and who may even be radically against us, a Veteran is someone who has weathered a storm of war he or she has believed in and given their life for....living or dead.  We may not know our brother's or sister's reasons as to why they went to war or are currently in a war, or why a war was really started in the first place.  But those choosing to fight, do not fight with just their armor, they fight with their hearts, their bodies, their sheer will sometimes, to keep them going because they believe it will right a wrong against someone(s) or something they care about or keep those they love or care about safe.  We must not judge others.  Christians fight a battle against evil daily.  Christians should understand the heart and mind of every Soldier, every Veteran.  For those helping to keep America free and safe....I thank you with eternal gratitude and bow down to you today.    

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Hello out there in cyber land.  I'd say space, but it is too close to the way my brain feels just looking at all the text for today.  I kind of feel like my eyes are glossing over.  Bless your hearts for being in the trenches with me today.  Hang on, it could be a long ride.  Chocolate.......

Jesus chose folks to go ahead of him to test the waters of acceptance, to prepare the way for him, and for his message of  salvation to be received.   

Accountability....loneliness of being alone....authoritative confirmation.....just a few reasons for the 'why' behind the choice to send 2 together.  And why send 'regular' disciples rather than just the 12?

First, there is no such thing as a 'regular' disciple.  Although Jesus had an inner circle of 12 who were learning a little extra or faster by the nature of being closer and spending more time together, they were also people who were chosen to compensate for his aloneness, to provide accountability, credibility, integrity, and act as body guards, if you will.  We are all equal in God's eyes.  And we are all equally called.             

Second, God's plan was for ALL to come to him, be saved, receive eternal life through Jesus Christ.  There is no way 12 people could possibly reach everyone in the world to say "Come".  Ok, chocolate....kick in now.  God designed the first multi-level marketing plan ever.  He knew it would take all to reach all.  I am not a mathematician by anyone's standards, but I wonder, if someone were to do a statistical analysis, if one could be done, starting from the 12, branching out with 70/72 variable, continuing with the expansion of disciples with/to? the power of two, through today, utilizing the population then and todays population that we are aware of in the world, at what point in historically documented time would/will all have been/be reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  (Yes, I've watched the show 'Numbers' on TV.)  Interesting to consider.  Jesus gave the equation, what is the answer?  If anyone wants to attempt this and let me know....I'd love to hear that answer....and how it came about.  Well, sort of....I really am not a mathematician.

Wouldn't it be sad to know how many....of us....missed a divine appointment?  It IS sad.  Surely many were missed....I do not see every Christian, everyone from every denomination going out with someone else to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, proclaiming the Kingdom of God is near.  I preach the Gospel every week.  I live it always.  Ok, almost always.  Wasn't it St. Francis of Assisi who said, "Speak the Gospel at all times, if necessary use words."?  Will you ask God what he wants you to do for him this week....today?

So Jesus told the disciples to start praying for more workers to go into the fields ripe with need to spread the Word.  Will you be an answer to those prayers for God?

And then he gave them a warning:  they would be as lambs amongst wolves.  As Christians we are taught to trust, and love, and give.  And that makes us vulnerable.  And most of us give our all.  And we can get bit.  And bit hard.  Someone once told me 'prepare for the worst, and expect the best'.  Christians are taught to expect the best in everyone, believing Christ dwells within.  However, in our naivety, we forget to test the spirits.  Christ is most definitely NOT in everyone.  And just because God made everyone, does not mean they subscribe to the same precepts, concepts, creeds, that we do as Christians.  In a health class in college many moons ago, a teacher said there are thousands that one can fall in love with.  But there is only one God who is in the wings waiting for our love.

Even Christians can turn....away.  Or make mistakes....choose wrongly.  I've made my share of mistakes in life.  There are certainly many in churches that are not living as Christ intended, or as kind, giving, loving, understanding, principled in the ways we should go/grow as a Christian.  It's no wonder congregations are shrinking and mainline is now non-denominational or inter-denominational and fundamental at it's core.  And yet, the wolves are there, too.  I am grateful to provide info for your spiritual needs, but we are commanded to have fellowship with other believers.  Beyond a computer screen once a week.  Feel free to email, or call, and/or go to another church near you.  If you have concerns about reaching out, or otherwise, stand by.  I am not only a Minister/Pastor, but a Christian Counselor.  I hope to provide info soon on an attached page to help you with your walk in life.  In the meantime,  I pray to God that you are hearing the principles of Christianity I attempt to teach and that you will not be one of the wolves in any congregation, or outside the church.  May you be lambs, as Jesus was, the Lamb of God.   

I guess the chocolate has kicked in....we're still working on the first paragraph.  Sorry.    

The last sentences of this paragraph, I've addressed in previous 'Thought's', but briefly, lets reread/review them.  "Don't take along any money, or a traveler's bag, or even an extra pair of sandals.  And don't stop to greet anyone on the road."  Basically without money you won't be tempted to buy things you do not need, or let your mind stray to go shopping.  Without a traveler's bag, you cannot even barter your clothes for something else, and you won't primp and fuss, worry about what you should wear or how you will look.  An extra pair of sandals could even have been an issue of vanity.  Also a way to measure how many miles....how far you'd gone.  If they are worn on your return, it would stand to reason you were busy in the fields.  Lastly, if you were to greet others on the road, you could get side-tracked with alluring offers to visit, 'eat, drink, and be merry' type of things.  

The next paragraph we learn "WhenEVER you enter a home, give it your blessing.  If those who live there are worthy, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you."  I think I've missed a lot of blessings over my life for not blessing a home I've entered!  I'm certainly going to engage this action post haste!  It's not the friends I keep....it's merely people I know.  Many should not be counted as friends....be wary.  This is not necessarily a directive of instruction to go house to house, due to the term whenEVER.  Had 'ever' not been included, it would have had a different meaning, as some churches have concluded, and therefore send folks out by 2 to every home.  This sentence also allows you foreknowledge that not everyone will accept you as you go forth.  In other words, as I've learned in marketing, "Don't be attached to the outcome."  It's not about you, it's about them. 

Then Jesus said, "Don't go around from home to home, stay in one place eating and drinking what they provide you.  Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.  Ok, a couple things here.  Flitting from house to house could bring attention to you much like a super star status rather than the message you bring.  You are not to bow down to others as important (bowing in gratitude or welcome is different), or have them bow down to you.  Only the message you bring is important....Jesus lives and he can live in you.  Being healed opens the door of opportunity for forgiveness of sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ.  Those are the essential messages.

It's gracious to accept what is given.  I do understand allergies and sensitivities.  However, that aside, 'enter in'.  If they make Italian and you are a meat and potatoes kind of person, learn to eat Italian.  Me, personally, I love Italian sans mushrooms.  I'm just saying.....

And here is another way to get paid, for being a spiritual doctor, if you will.  Jesus is clear that those who work deserve their pay.  Often times, people assume we, who minister to others, who are Pastors, have trees in their back yard that grow money and that is how we are paid.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  For those of us who are full time Pastors, that is not an 8 hour a day job with two 15 minute breaks and a 1/2 hour lunch.  It is a 24 hour a day job.  I'm praying, listening, reading, studying, researching, visiting, answering calls at all hours, responding to emails...when I remember to check them....sorry.....all kinds of things.  And we have families to support.  Many times we need to reach into the community to help someone as well.  Clearly, I can assure you, if you do not pay me, or donate to the church, I do not get paid.  This is not a guilt trip, this is an informational comment.  And, for the record, I am excited to say that you can now donate through Pay Pal.  Woo Hoo!  Yea!  Bravo!  I just added a 'Donate' button below for your convenience.  Please do not let lack of funds or choice to not donate get in the way of being part of the family and listening to the Gospel.  But know that if you do choose to donate, I will be eternally grateful for the thanksgiving, as will my family and others who may have a need that you could meet.

Jesus goes on to say, "If a town welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you and heal the sick.  Interesting that he says to eat whatever is given in a home and then eat whatever a town gives.  So minister in the homes, but minister also to the whole town.  And heal the sick.  Healing the sick opens the path of desire to hear about and receive the Gospel.  All illness gone, a body can easily be swept clean of any remaining sins.  And can you imagine the excitement that would be brought about by people being healed?  Who wouldn't want to listen to the man with the answers as he arrives, or those who arrive in his name with the answers?!  It would be greater than any investment seminar in the market today!

Although you and I are not part of the original 12 or 70/72....we are still part of the family being called by God.  Jesus is speaking to us today as alive as he was when he spoke to those back then by the power of Holy Spirit.  Go into the towns, go into the homes, heal the sick, preach the Gospel, give the answers from THE man that died to set people free...forgive people of their sins, and offer eternal life.  Teach them the same things that Jesus taught, and that Holy Spirit taught, and continues to teach today on how to live a new life in Christ, Father God, and Holy Spirit.

"But if a town refuses to welcome you", Jesus says, "go out into its streets and say, 'We wipe the dust of your town from our feet as a public announcement of your doom.  And don't forget the Kingdom of God is near!'  What a warning!  They were to 'take Him'....'or' you were to 'leave 'em'.  And oh by the way....they would lose out on being a part of the Kingdom of God.  Dangle dangle dangle....like cheese on a string to mice, a worm on a hook to a fish.  And you will be fishers for men....and women. 

Then Jesus goes off on a radical tangent espousing the troubles that will occur on judgment day.  Even Capernaum, where he started his ministry, which was expected to be the mecca of forward movement in every direction geographically, is doomed for not accepting him fully.  Hence, from his experience, he lets us know at another time, a prophet is not accepted in his own town.

He clarifies more simply, perhaps more gently, as he tells the disciples that "Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me.  And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me.  And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God who sent me."  Can you think of examples in your life when you haven't been accepted?  Have you ever tried to share something with someone and they've dismissed you?  How about the Gospel of Jesus Christ....have you shared that with anyone?  If not, will you now?  Have you accepted Jesus as Savior and made him Lord of your life?  If not, now might be a good time to consider that.  He, God and Holy Spirit await the gift of your love....and to give you theirs.

When the 70/72 disciples returned, they were all excited, as they joyfully reported to Jesus that even the demons obeyed them when they used his name.  And a wife can't get a grocery list completed right by a husband.  "What's up with that?", as my friend, Sara, would say.  But hey, a husband can't get a wife to check the oil in the car either.  Surely we all have things we can learn.  Maybe we should be praying more.  Certainly we should be in the marketplaces, in homes, in the fields of life telling everyone about Jesus, using his name to rebuke demons, healing the sick, and inviting everyone into the family of God.  The miracles that can be wrought using the name of Jesus Christ the Lord!  The greatest miracle needed by God is for us to help him grow his kingdom.  I hear ya.....it may take a miracle for you to have the nerve to share the Gospel.  Well, that's what Holy Spirit is here for....to create miracles in you and through you.  Have you asked Jesus to baptize you with Holy Spirit?  Have you asked Holy Spirit to baptize you with fire?  Hmmmmm.....makes me think of a song.....'mighty glad you did....'stuck on you'.... 'got a feeling deep down in my soul'.  Those are the only words I remember.  

Just by using the name of Jesus, demons flee.  Jesus went on to say, ya, he knew that.  He said, "I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning!  Satan in heaven?  Imagine.  Okay, you can stop.  He's not there any more. 

And Jesus goes on to say, "And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.  Nothing will injure you."  This sentence gave me goose bumps.  It was an 'aha moment' for me.  Did I tell you I got bit by a rattlesnake this last summer?  Yup, well, I didn't even have to be transported to the hospital, although I did have the paramedics here.....hysterical as I was.  So maybe God was reminding me of the authority he vested in me when I received him as Savior and Lord of my life.  Guess I am reminded now.  Wow.  Know this:  he spoke this to the 70/72 and probably anyone else around.  Remember, they were brand new Christians.  So he is certainly speaking to you....and me.

He didn't tell these guys to hang around and go to seminary until they were saturated with the word and could recall it by memory.  For the record, I can't recall most scripture by memory....I'm convinced it's because it's attached to numbers....I'm really not a mathematician/numbers person.  Now that I think of it, it must have been that trauma of the Algebra teacher telling me my first day of class, which was 2 weeks into the class, that I would never get it.  I was sick the first 2 weeks.  Note that he never tried to teach me what I missed, just proclaimed to me and everyone in the classroom I was a dunce essentially.  Didn't stop me from being a Design Consultant for years.  Or a Minister/Pastor/Teacher, etc.  Don't ever let anyone tell you 'you can't'....and don't ever let your dreams die because of someone else.  Don't let those little voices in your head affect who you are or who you can be.  That's just Satan using others to put you down and keep you down....he is the father of lies.  TRUST ME, Satan will try everything.....e v e r y t h i n g....to keep you from sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus just said, NOTHING will injure you.  Don't let the negatives, the bad things, the sad things, get to you and injure you.  Wipe it away.  Jesus wants to heal you of all of it right now, today.  Let him.  Be HEALED in Jesus' name!    

He also said he has given you all authority over the power of the enemy.  Use it.  Whether you are sharing the Gospel or living every day life.  Use the authority you've been given to overcome the power of the enemy.  Just today, Satan tried to keep me from being timely.  Unfortunately, he won.  I wasn't prepared, armored for the snares of the Devil today.  And when I became aware and was attempting to get timely, he was relentless.  Please forgive me for the late hour which this is being posted.  I had just decided this week that I needed to do better and get this out to you folks at a regular church hour based on my time, and I fell at the onset.  The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, as Paul indicated in Romans.  Please pray for me.  And please realize from this example, that all fall short of the glory of God and no one is perfect.  Be human, but be a child of God.  Accept him into your heart today, or renew your relationship with him.  And then receive all the authority he is giving you.  Thank you, God, for chocolate.    ;  )

The last line of todays scripture is compelling.  Jesus said, "But don't rejoice just because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven."

Amen.                   

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Let Us Pray

Lord God, Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, forgive me please.  I'd like to renew my relationship with you.  I want to praise you more to open up the doors of heaven, that you may pour down your abundance on me and all those accepting you as their Savior and willing to make you Lord of their life and praise you.  Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit fill me with all you have to give me.  Make me whole.  Heal my body, my mind, my soul, and heal all those who call upon your name.  Heal my finances, and everybody else's who accept you as Lord.  Heal my family, Lord.  And keep us all safe.  Let there be an outpouring of Holy Spirit through great praise and worship to all believers everywhere.  May I choose, and others choose, to do all we can to bring you glory.  May we become more Holy.  Please reach out miraculously to all those suffering as a result of war, economic stress, disasters from weather.  Thank you, Lord, for our safety and well-being.  Help me, and all others, to praise you, thank you IN all things, for this is your will.  There are a lot of people needing you in this world, even Christians who need more of you, as they open themselves up more to you.  We pray right now to you, the Lord of the Harvest, to send more workers. Help those of us who have been given your authority to help them along their way, so they may in turn help others and so on.  Although this gives new meaning to a pyramid, this is by no means a scheme.  There is someone at the top of every business.  But not all at the top profit or only profit.  You, God, who sit atop the heavens above and the earth below allow us who are around you and beneath you to profit.  Thank you for raining down your love on us, as you reign supreme in the heavens above and on the earth below.  I bow down to you.....God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  I've listened to your instruction today....thank you.  May the harvest for you be plenty.  I will listen more, praise you more, and be more timely in the future.  Thank you.  I love you.  Amen.    

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If you get a chance, grab a copy of Prison To Praise by Merlin Carothers.  It's about how to unleash God's power through  praise.   It's timeless.   It's brief, but powerful.  Google him to find his website.  

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! 

BesidesBesid   

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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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