February 3, 2013

  Be Ready NOW  

Luke 12: 35 - 48

Luke

"Be dressed for service and well prepared, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast.  Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.  There will be special favor for those who are ready and waiting for his return.  I tell you, he himself will seat them, and put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!  He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.  But whenever he comes, there will be special favor for his servants who are ready!

"Know this:  A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would not permit the house to be broken into.  You must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."

Peter asked, "Lord, is this illustration just for us or for everyone?"

And the Lord replied, "I'm talking to any faithful, sensible servant to whom the master gives the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family.  If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.  I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.  But if the servant thinks, 'My master won't be back for awhile,' and begins oppressing the other servants, partying, and getting drunk - well, the master will return unannounced and unexpected.  He will tear the servant apart and banish him with the unfaithful.  The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it.

"But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly.  Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given."     

***

Thoughts.....

Todays lesson provides us with a warning.  In the 'old' days there was a saying, 'Shape up or ship out'.  This is essentially what Jesus is saying here.  He is telling us to get in shape, stay in shape or be ready for things we would not expect, or say bye-bye.  This not only applies to everyday life, but to the end of our life, too. 

In the first paragraph, I am reminded of a story Kenneth Copeland used to tell about how he was ready to preach.  He studied hard, got dressed up in his 'Sunday go to meeting finery', and sat down on the sofa to wait for the phone to ring...for that call to go preach.  He said he sat there quite awhile.  Then the phone rang.  He was ready.  He's stayed ready.  And, by golly, he sure has had special favor. 

Jesus didn't say be dressed and ready.  He said, be dressed for service and be well prepared.  THEN you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.  Knocks for what?  For service.  ALL are called.  Few are chosen.  Let me say that again....ALL are called.  First to be Christians.  Then to serve the Lord and his people.  Are you ready to be a Christian, to accept Jesus as your Savior and make him LORD of your life?  Are you ready to bow down to him and raise him to new heights of glory?  Serve his needs and those of his in the world who have not found him and those who have? 

"There will be special favor for those who are ready and waiting for his return."  He will serve you....meet your needs...he will feed you the bread of life! 

We never know when our end time will come....that moment when our body decides it's time to die, or someone else drinks and drives and kills us, or texts and drives and kills us, or lights that cigarette while driving, or blows smoke nearby, and kills us, or answers the phone and kills us while driving, or we are innocently minding our own business and someone drives by with an AK-47 for sport...and kills us.  Or the surgery goes wrong, or the drugs prescribed for us kill us.  Or God decides to call us home.  Will you be ready?  Will you be ready, if you are going about your everyday home chores?

We've become a world of 'slouches'.  There was a time when everyone was always well dressed.  I've said before I'm a blue jean kinda person.  That is well dressed for some.  Are you clean, if you are blue jean folk?  Have you a nice shirt on, or should it have been abandoned long ago?  Are you doing your job well...even if you are elbows to knees in bearing grease?  Bravo.  Have you taken that office pen home because you liked it?  Oops.  Your spirit is not well dressed. 

Do you want special favor?  The Son of Man will come when you least expect it.  He's watching you......

God is expecting us to be faithful, sensible servants, responsible of managing his household and ours, and feeding his family and ours.  He will reward us if, as his servant, we have done a good job.  We will be put in charge of all he owns, as his servant.  I keep referencing 'his servant' because we are put on earth, not to please ourselves, but to please God, serve him, and all those who are his....including those who are not, that they may turn to him.

But if you think, once you become a Christian, that you can just SAY, "Ya, I accepted Jesus." and then go on about your life, the one you had before, well, oops, you're gonna be in trouble when Jesus returns to check up on you.  And if you have been a great servant for years and decided to try the old life or a new 'poor choice life', you are also going to be in trouble.  Jesus tells us in todays lesson, he will tear the servant apart and banish him with the unfaithful.  The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it.

Did you see the viral blurb about the Pastor who wrote on a restaurant receipt that she gives 10% to God, why should she give 18% to the waitress, and didn't give her anything for the 6 or so parishioners served at the table?  Shame on her.  Uh huh.  THAT's what Jesus is talking about here.  He clearly states in todays lesson that you CAN lose your salvation, when he says he will banish the servant with the unfaithful....after he tears him apart.

Guess I'd better clean house....what about you?  I'm one that never professed to being perfect, however, I do put every effort into it....well....almost every effort.  I serve with a very faithful heart, I am most always sensible, I'm not always responsible at managing his household by the world's standards, but by his, I'm better than most.  And I do feed his family....food and the bread of life...the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am ever ready to serve as his servant.

Those who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly.  How many fall into this category?  From my  perspective, once someone has asked Jesus into their life, there are many who have not been fed, followed up on by those having invited them in, therefore, they may be unaware of all expected of them.  They may not have even opened a Bible.  They may not even have one.  Then, those to whom much is given, much is required.  Those would maybe be average church goers, those who study.  For those whom much more is given, much more is required.  That would most likely be those answering God's call to the ministry on whatever avenue he has directed them.  Those studied and approved, in conjunction with the approved fresh out of the box answering the call.  Both are in leadership feeding the flock.  Both need to 'watch their back', that they don't give God reason to tear them apart and banish them with the unfaithful. 

Throughout Scripture we are told to fear God.  I was told in my youth that was meant to mean give deep reverence.  I'm thinking, based on the above lesson, fear is fear.  I surely fear being torn apart for not being a faithful, sensible servant.  I fear losing my salvation.  I fear losing the love of God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  I fear losing the relationship I have with them.  I fear not being able to go to heaven to be with my loved ones one day when the last trumpet sounds.  I fear how God, Jesus, Holy Spirit might look at me were I a servant who did not do a good job.  I would regret not receiving a reward....special favor.  And yet, I've experienced not, as well as have.  I can tell you, the not is not good.  The have is wonderful. 

If you are concerned about your salvation, then I suggest you pay close attention to todays lesson and what Jesus is saying.  If you don't really care, I feel sad for you.  I will pray that you....and I....make better choices for the Lord, for ourselves....and those around us.

Spiritually, you are either choosing to live or choosing to die.  Be ready NOW....to live....for him and with him.  "Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God."  Phil. 3:14                                               

*** 

Let Us Pray

God, as you call my loved one home today to heaven, I am so grateful to know you have made a place for her....that you are willing to welcome her into your loving arms.  I am reminded of how dearly I treasure being given the opportunity to be with her in heaven and the rest of my family.  I am reminded of how grateful I am that you give this opportunity to be with you in paradise for eternity.  Thank you, God, for letting her be in my arms all this time.  I am deeply grieved that she can no longer be with me, but from the depth of my soul, I thank you that she is going to be in your arms, and that we can be together again one day.  I pray for all who call themselves Christian....that they may choose the high road, the right path, the better choice in life that can lead them home to you and keep them on the journey with you while they live.  I pray for me....that I may do the same.  I know you've chosen not to heal my loved one on earth, but I am deeply gratified to know that true and total healing exists in your arms, Lord God.  I cannot wait to see her run and jump and play again....in heaven.  Please take good care of her....she's been my heart, my breath, my life....with you.  I love you, Lord.  Let her know I love her....still....always....forever.  Amen.              

*** 

 Visit our NEW rooms in The Family Room! 

And watch for more....

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."

***

There is no better time than now to let God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit know how grateful you are for them being there for you, all they have done for you and will do, and for being fed the Word of God.

Through your donations,

 people will be able to continue to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughout the world,

and lives will be changed!

Not only will people hear the Gospel preached, but healings will be manifested, food and housing provided,

water will quench thirsts, and medical care provided. 

Please consider donating your best gift possible today.

We now offer Pay Pal as a way to donate immediately and safely.  You'll find that option as you scroll down on this page.

Thank you and may God richly bless you!   

***

  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   

 ***

  Checks or money orders can be made out to

Trinity Missions

or the

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Trinity Missions

2321 S. Lazy A Place

Tucson, AZ

85713

USA

OR

You can now donate securely through Pay Pal!

No gift is too small or too large for the Lord. 

 *

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

520-883-6604

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.

 *