May 18, 2014

You Are Needed !

Acts 5: 12 - 16

 Luke

Meanwhile, the apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people.  And the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon's Colonnade.  No one else dared to join them.  And more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord - crowds of both men and women.  As a result of the apostles' work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter's shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.  Crowds came in from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.

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Thoughts....

Are you ready to answer God's call to perform miraculous signs and wonders among his people?  Are you a believer willing to meet regularly to answer God's call to worship him, have fellowship with other believers, help to support the other members and further the  mission to get THE Word out?  Are you sick, possessed by evil spirits and need to be healed?  Where are you?  Why aren't you answering the calls?  God is calling YOU!

Meanwhile.  What does the word 'meanwhile' mean?  'While everything else is happening...going on; during the process of things occurring.' 

So far since we started reading in Acts, the Holy Spirit came upon them; Peter preached to crowds; Peter healed a crippled beggar; Peter and John had to go before the council to save lives....most especially their own....and promote the message that Jesus is the foundation, that he heals and he saves;  Peter and John brought the believers together to pray for courage in the midst of persecution and attack; believers shared their possessions to support the church, other Christians, and to further spread the Gospel message; then some folks chose to lie and died; etc.; MEANWHILE, the apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people.  AND the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as the Colonnade [Colonnade:  an area of the temple built by King Herod the Great in an attempt to strengthen his relationship with the Jews;  an entrance or porch supported by columns.]  AND more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord - crowds of both men and women.  AND as a result of the apostles' work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter's shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.  AND crowds came in from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed. 

So MEANWHILE, what are you doing for the Lord?

I left a line out above.  On purpose.  Verse 13 reads 'No one else dared to join them, though everyone had high regard for them.'  I left it out because it SEEMS out of context.  BUT....big but....but is it?  No.  At first, read as one is reading along, it says 'no one dared join them', and then it says, 'more and more people believed'.  'What's up with that' as my friend would say.  It would SEEM contradictory on the surface.  It is not.  Verse 13 refers to the leadership positions.  Maybe folks wouldn't become leaders because their faith was not strong enough, or they didn't bother to listen to the Lord, or believe that the call they heard was of the Lord, or they believed they lacked the education, training, strength, support, WHATEVER, to perform the duties of the position of leader. 

Another 'but'.  But, Jesus said, "....you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."  Acts 1:5  And he also said, "....when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  To the ends of the earth includes your home town.  Hek, your family!  And by including Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, he infers to not just stop with your loved ones, but spread out into your town/city, your county, your state, your nation, unto the ends of the earth!  

Jesus didn't say you had to go to school or seminary to do this.  Remember his life story?  He hungered for the word of God and sought answers at the feet of those who taught it.  That does not mean he paid for an education at an establishment of higher learning as we call college and seminary today.  He went to the Word of God.  He went to those who read, learned, prayed, and taught.  He most importantly went to his Father, God, and listened to HIM and HIS Holy Spirit.  Jesus was then baptized with water [cleansed to receive], and then he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit....remember the dove that descended upon him?  And he was on fire to preach, and teach, and tell the world about his Father, God, and all he had to offer everyone through and with him, and with Holy Spirit.  He expects the same for and from us.

He did not wait til he had a degree from a higher learning institution to 'go forth'.  He did not settle for sitting back with those needing to just listen.  He heard the call and stepped up to the plate....and swung a mighty home run.  It is what we are all to do.  It is not enough to just go to church to worship and fellowship.  Do you even worship him there?  Or is it just a place to fellowship, have fun, and LOOK as if you are praising him?  Is Jesus IN your heart?  Are you OBEYING him?  Have you made him LORD of your life?  He doesn't just want to be your Savior, he wants to be your LORD.  The difference is in obeying him.

It is not God's, or Jesus', or Holy Spirit's ideal for us to just sit back, hang out, and have fun at church.  It is imperative for our salvation and resurrection unto heaven for eternal life that we obey him by going forth and sharing what we know, so that others can find him, accept him, and grow on.  That is not spelled wrong....I meant to say 'grow'.    

You are called!  You have been chosen! 

Remember in Luke 10, Jesus chose seventy two disciples and sent them onward, ahead of him, where he planned to visit.  He chose two to go together to provide more credibility to each.  To be a prayerful strength one to the other.  It is so necessary in this world to have prayerful strength.  He plans to visit every single person on earth still today.  And he needs folks like you and I now more than ever.  Jesus gave these instruction, "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."   Folks, I have to say,  HAVE to say, if you do not recognize, or have not experienced the wolves in the fields, you have more work to get to know the Savior and love him fully.  For only as you step forth in sincerity, are pure of heart, love the Lord with all your heart, love others as yourself as commanded, and attempt to live the Gospel as well as share it, will you be most assuredly attacked painfully by the wolves.  If you are just going along enjoying life and nothing untoward is happening, watch out.....you may not enter heaven.....because you are not a threat to Satan, his assigns, and are not thoroughly invested in living and promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  AND God, Jesus, Holy Spirit will see this, and KNOW this.  You will be [say WILL BE] cut from the tree of life, a useless branch that withers....and will be burned.  John 15:6 

All of this (John, Luke, Acts) ties in together.  God, Jesus, Holy Spirit need you to answer their calls.....NEED you.  If you don't answer, the calls will stop coming.  The door to heaven will be closed.  But remember to answer THEIR calls.  Many will tell you, if you are involved in a church, that you HAVE to go to seminary to preach.  Is that what Jesus said?  Is that what he implied, taught, directed, commanded throughout the Gospel?  No.  You only have to go to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and LISTEN to know what they are calling you to do, commanding you to do.  They will direct and guide you.  Holy Spirit will [Say WILL] give you utterance (tell you what to say, when, and how), but you must listen to HIM, God, and Jesus, read the Gospel, read other texts written and found (Old Testament, Dead Sea Scrolls, The Gnostic Gospels, other documents of history about Jesus' life and resurrection) that tell us what all God, Jesus, Holy Spirit said, how Jesus lived, what the early church did, to help us learn how we should lead THEIR church today (Some is the baby, some is bath water, by the way.).  And if what you say doesn't help, folks won't listen, people don't want to accept the Gospel, what then?  Just like in moments of conflict, take someone with you.  And if that doesn't work, then what?  Go to the leaders.  And if that doesn't work, dust the dirt off your feet (shoes) and move on.  Those you spoke to are lost and they will [Say WILL] suffer the loss....of eternal life.  Of course it is prayerfully hoped that doors will open, miracles will occur, people will be healed, saved, join the church and grow in the Lord, as they learn more about the Gospel of Jesus' Christ, and then step up to help others know this, as you have to helped them.  

Let me verify what I am telling you by sharing the story of someone else.  Consider this as me 'taking someone with me' to share in this moment, as the disciples went forward together in groups of two.  There is a person preaching and teaching today (there are many, but I do not have everyone's names....impossible....as there are so many) who has reached millions sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, bringing them to salvation at the feet of Jesus.  This person heard God's call and answered it.  This person was chastised and forced out of their church for listening to God instead of the leaders of the church and doing what was 'protocol' in becoming a preacher, minister, pastor per church leadership.  The church wiped their feet, if you will.  But God did not.  God saw the heart of this person, the earnestness of love for him, his son, Jesus.  The call was made.  This person listened.  Can you imagine what would have happened if this person had not answered the call?  How many would possibly be lost still for not having heard the Gospel message and been saved?  What a loss that would have been to them, and to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  What a loss it would have been to the person called....it would have meant loss of eternal life for not obeying.  They would have been cut off.  But not now.  Because they did listen, answer the call, go forth.

Do you know who this person is?  Joyce Meyer.  Surely you've heard her story, listened to her share the message that Jesus saves and he wants to save you....and have you share the message, so that still others can be saved.  She was rather surprised when God told her he needed her.  I felt blessed and honored.  I also thought (I think Joyce said she felt this too,) that God might have been a little nuts, but hey, he's God, so he knows what is best for all of us....and him....and whom he can trust, knowing who are people of integrity and who have credibility....who will go the distance....take the journey to the very end....or beginning of a new life....eternal life.

What will you feel?  You are needed!  He's calling you, too!  Are you ready?  All you need is God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  Oh, and to open your mouth, or start typing, or living your new life.  Some people need healing to speak confidently in Christ.  So, if you can't speak confidently yet, do you write well?  Can you live your life with Christ in such a way as to give testimony to who he is in your life and what he can do?  Are you lacking faith?   Even if you don't feel you can speak confidently, all you have to do is open your mouth to let Holy Spirit speak.  Don't feel you can write well?  Sit down and be prepared, because Holy Spirit CAN and WILL use you, if you just open yourself up to him and allow him into your life.  Is your life not going quite as you planned?   [Maybe you are under attack because of your love and dedication to the Lord.]  It's going to be okay.  God, Jesus, Holy Spirit can still use you.  Believe in them.  Receive them.  Worship, honor, OBEY them.  LISTEN to THEM.  Go forth....no....GO FORTH !!!! 

You, by the power of the Holy Spirit, WILL [Say WILL] perform miraculous signs and wonders among the people.  More and more people will believe and be brought to the Lord.  Sick people and those possessed with evil spirits will be healed.  And you WILL [Say WILL] live your life in such a way, humbly, as to have others feel they, too, can join you in leading others to Christ, heal, and perform miraculous signs and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit, just as you do.  Don't forget to meet regularly to worship, thank, and praise the Lord!  MEANWHILE the Trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, will be doing their jobs.  Can they rely on you?  I hope so.  I'd like to meet/see you in heaven one day.   

P.S.  Need to take someone with you and 'seemingly' have no one?  You have Holy Spirit.  Open the Gospel and lead them to THE Word.  It is documented history.  Take Joyce Meyer, take Kenneth Copeland, take the Pope, take another Christian brother or sister, call your Pastor, Priest, or Minister and take them, or take others to them....invite them to your church.  Turn on the computer and lead them to this church or any of the many others using the web to reach the world (be sure they preach the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and are in line with his teachings.).  Turn on the TV or a radio to listen and learn as support for what you are telling them....but lead them to Christian stations or channels.  I can be reached, too, if you need me directly.   

And remember this:

Jesus said, I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples 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 [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the age."   

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 Let Us Pray

If you are ready to answer God's, Jesus', Holy Spirit's call, pray this: 

Dear God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, thank you trusting me, for believing in me, and for calling me to go forth as a leader.  I have an awesome task before me, once I answer your call.  Help me to be worthy of your calling.  Whether you call me to be a seed planter, someone who waters, or a harvester, help me onward, and thank you for not ever leaving my side.  I will answer your call now, being assured I will never be alone.  I am grateful you have faith in me.  Help me to not judge others, but love them with your love.  And teach them with everything you have to share, so that they, too, might receive the prize of eternal life in heaven per Philippians 3:14.  Amen.

God, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:21 that you, God, give us the ability to stand strong for Christ.  That you, God, have commissioned us and identified us as your own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment of everything you are going to give us.  So we can now go forth confidently, commissioned/ordained/anointed by you, with you, Jesus, and Holy Spirit by our side, in our lives, in our hearts, and in our minds.....in our seeing, our speaking, our loving, our living....as the old hymn goes.  Everyone can now thank you and GO FORTH!  Thank you!  We praise you!  Amen!               

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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. 

'All who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.  For you are all Christians - you are ONE in Christ Jesus.'  Galatians 3: 27

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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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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.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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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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NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

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