14 Sep 2014
He is not here. He is risen!
Luke 24:6
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Church of the Holy Spirit
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Peeling back the layers to get to the truths Holy Spirit wants us to know!
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PRAY...for all in the world!
'You care for people and animals alike O LORD.'
Psalm 36: 6b
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Who We Are
The Church of the Holy Spirit is a Christian church.
We believe in God the Father....our Father, Creator
In Jesus, the Messiah....our Savior and Lord
and in
Holy Spirit, our Comforter, Teacher, and Guide.
We believe that God made the heavens, the earth, and all creatures therein.
And that He forgives us of our sins.
God has given all creatures His son, Jesus, who died on a cross and arose from the dead.
We believe Jesus went to heaven and is now seated at God’s right hand.
Jesus' death and resurrection has given us the opportunity to receive the gift of eternal life.
God has given us Holy Spirit to teach, comfort, and guide us.
We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God.
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Jesus Christ from Nazareth, the man who was crucified, was raised from the dead by God!
Jesus has now become the cornerstone.
"There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them."
Acts 4: 10 - 12
Holy Bible New Living Translation
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 Who are God, Jesus and Holy Spirit?
God is our heavenly Father who created the heavens and the earth. He lovingly forgives our sins. God gave us His Son, Jesus, who died on a cross, and arose from the dead. Jesus now sits at the right hand of God. He is the Messiah, our Savior. He can be our Lord, if we believe in him and accept him. He gave us the opportunity to receive eternal life. When Jesus went to heaven, Holy Spirit was made available to us to comfort, teach, and guide us.
God in the beginning: Genesis 1 & 2
Jesus: Matthew 1, 2 & 3
Holy Spirit: John 15:26, 16:5-15
Are you one with God, Jesus and Holy Spirit?
If you have not accepted the Trinity (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit) into your life to receive all they have to give you, and you would like to, pray this prayer or use your own words from your heart:
“Dear Heavenly Father God, please forgive me of my sins known and unknown. Jesus, please come into my life, heal me, and make me whole. Give me a new life in and with you. I wish to receive all that you have to give. Baptize me in the fullness of your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn all I can about you, to love you as you love me, so I can love others, and, so I can love myself. Holy Spirit, please fill me to overflowing with all the fruits and the gifts you have to give me to help me grow in Christ Jesus and be able to share the Trinity with others. Thank you for giving me this new life. Please send other Christians to surround me to help me grow and be strong to defeat Satan and the things of the world. Help me to be worthy of your love. Thank you God, Jesus and Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray, by and with the power of the Holy Spirit, to dear Heavenly Father God. Amen.”
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If you have prayed this prayer, or one from your heart, please email us at TrinityMissions@msn.com, so we can agree with you in prayer, praise God, and uplift you with prayer support. We are thrilled to welcome you into the family of believers and encourage you to find a church home nearby where you can study, grow, and fellowship with others. Someone may need your support as much as you need them. We are commanded to come together in fellowship to worship His majesty.
If you choose to fellowship with us via the web, we are honored to welcome you to the Church of the Holy Spirit. We pray you will be enriched and uplifted in the fullness of the Trinity to their glory. Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing from time to time. We hope to have a special page for this purpose. We now have a page where you will be able to list prayers for all to see, so that we may come together praying as a body of believers, for Jesus said, ‘wherever two or more shall gather, there will I be.’ Don’t forget to send prayers of thanksgiving, as well as petitions of tears.
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You are who God calls ‘The Promise Children’, as in Romans 9:25-26 NLT:
“Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before. And, once they were told, ‘You are not my people.’ But now he will say, ‘You are children of the living God.”
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“The Kingdom of God is near you now.”
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The Apostle Paul gave us this “Prayer for Spiritual Empowerment” in Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT. It reads
“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.”
Jesus told us to remain in his love in John 15:9-13 NLT:
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it - the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends."
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September 14, 2014
Be Joyously Real
Acts 9: 26
Luke
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They thought he was only pretending to be a believer!
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Thoughts....
Has this ever happened to you? Has anyone ever doubted who you say you are, what you do, or have accomplished in life? It has happened to me. It's sad really. Someday those folks are going to get to the end of their days and look back on their life and realize how much they have accomplished, realize things that did, who they were, how they lived. And maybe, just maybe, they will realize that others have probably accomplished many things, worn many hats, walked many different avenues, too.
In the meantime, they will remain small minded, perhaps even ignorant....certainly of the salvation message: who died for them, who offers them a new life, and who wants to commission them, ordain them, to go forth to preach the Gospel.
But, big but, Jesus suffered negation of who he was, what he did, too. Remember in Luke 24 when the two from Emmaus were explaining to others how Jesus appeared to them as they walked along the road? Recall that Jesus, at that moment, appeared to the whole group....from 'out of no where'....I might add. Jesus asked the group, "Why do you doubt who I am?" I am gratified when I am doubted, because my Savior was also doubted. Why gratified? It is a reminder to whom I belong, to whom I will be going, that I am not alone, he experienced what I experience. He knows....KNOWS....first hand my journey. We share a special bond. Don't you? I hope you do.
Turn to Luke 9:18-20. It reads:
'One day as Jesus was alone, praying, he came over to his disciples and asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
'"Well", they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead."
'Then he asked them, "Who do you say I am?"
'Peter replied, "You are the Messiah sent from God!"'
Please note that I am not so foolish, or ill, as to imply I am the Messiah. However, I am, as is everyone else who preaches the Gospel, sent from God. Having known folks who are Christian, and those who are not, I have experienced being called many things. I have experienced being thought of as a pretender, as Saul was called....and Jesus by many.
There is a light that shines within me. It is THE Light....Jesus Christ. If there are those who do not recognize it, or those who choose not to recognize it, it is their loss. THE Light will still shine, my joy will still increase, our love will still emanate.
My job, if you will, my heartbeat to go on, is THE Light glowing from within, reaching out to others. I do not say, 'Come to me all who are heavily laden' of my own free will. I say it from the heart of God and Jesus from whom I behold. As should you, regardless of who people think you are, what you do, or will become.
In 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 we've learned that "It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment of everything he will give us."
You may have heard the old saying, 'If God can be for us, who can be against us?' Let me tell you....plenty can be against us. But it matters not, if....and God IS....for us....with us....in us....surrounding us....carrying us....uplifting us.
What does matter is that we are being believed. And to do that, we must be real. We must also know the Scriptures so to be able to, if not verbatim, share them, or at least share the thought behind them. By sharing the Lord by our thoughts, words, and deeds, we lend credibility to him, we honor him, we show for whom we stand, with whom we stand, who and what we believe in, and, in living the life set forth by our LORD God and Savior Lord, we show others how to live victoriously as a Christian. The goal being to open the door to belief in THE Sovereign Lord, have others choose forgiveness for their sins, and obey God, Jesus, Holy Spirit to receive eternal life in heaven over receiving hell and all it's ramifications.
For those of us who are Christians, we have this as a reminder:
'But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.' 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
So, for those who disbelieve we are who we say we are, or don't believe we've accomplished what we have, or believe we are pretending to be pastors, ministers, preachers, priests, rabbis, etc., we must pray that the veil is removed from their eyes, so that they can see Christ shining within us, choose him as their Savior, make him Lord of their life, and, like us, become mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord as we do....or should.
For all others, like Jesus prayed in Luke 23:34, we, too, must pray, "Father, forgive these people because they don't know what they are doing."
Daily, what else must we do then? Perhaps we should do as Jesus shouted with his last breath when he called out to Heavenly Father God, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" Luke 23:46
Beyond that, follow the words given, the truths whispered, the directives to march onward as we hear from God, Jesus, Holy Spirit on how to live each day, and go forth in their name. Do not bother with the naysayers. Just 'press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God'. Phil 3:14 (different translation than NLT.)
As Timothy and Paul said in Phil 3:12-21:
'I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us up to heaven.
'I hope all of you who are mature Christians will agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must be sure to obey [Say OBEY] the truth we have learned already.
'Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is there appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waitng for him to return as our Savior. He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer eveything, everywhere.'
And in Phil 3:8b-11 Timothy and Paul said:
'Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death so that, somehow, I can experience the resurrection from the dead!'
So, no matter what anyone says about who you are or who you are not, or believes what you've achieved, or not, know this (per Timothy, Paul, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and me): 'Whatever happens, dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord give you joy.' Phil 3:1a
And continue to be joyously real....just who you are....as you follow Christ....going forth for and with him today and everyday.
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Let Us Pray
God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, it matters not what others think of me, it matters greatly what others think of you. It saddens me that people choose to point fingers, and call names....names not given by you. That people try to lord over me, yet not be with you, Lord. Power, empower. Two different words. Power denotes power not from you. Empowering comes from you, Lord. Why cannot people just empower others? Why must folks attempt to tear others down? Why must folks attempt to derail others on their journey when those who are attempting to derail don't even have a journey....forward....certainly not as apparent with you? I know the answer....because they are not of you, they are of Satan. God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, please keep me strong on the journey of life, keep me focused on you: who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are. You shine from within me making the attacks not about me, so much as all about you. As Paul spoke of in Ephesians 6:10-20: Help me be strong with your mighty power, Lord. Help me put on all of your armor, God, so that I will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For I am NOT fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Help me to use every piece of your armor, God, to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle I will still be standing firm. Help me to stand my ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of your righteousness, God. For shoes, I must put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that I will be fully prepared. In every battle I will need faith as my shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at me by Satan. Help me to put on salvation as my helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Help me to pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. And please help me stay alert and be persistent in my prayers for all Christians everywhere. And then God, I ask for prayers from all other believers. While I'm at it, please God, give me the right words as I boldly explain your secret plan that the Good News is for everyone. Although I am not in literal chains for preaching this message as your ambassador, God, I am in figurative chains nonetheless. I break them right now in the name of Jesus and command Satan to leave me and my family, never enter my body, my space, my family, our home, our lives, nor those of all we call friend, or work with, again! Pray for me, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, that I will keep on speaking boldly for you, as I should. Keep me pure, wholesome, and free to love you. Forgive me of my sins, LORD God, please. Please, LORD God, heal me and make me whole, that I may see you, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly day by day. Thank you for loving me, giving me life, living your life for me, dying for me, and offering me a new life with you eternally, if I but obey....you. I praise you! I love you! I thank you! Amen!
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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.
'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
It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!
Teach tolerance....reach in acceptance....worship as one!
Embrace....Respect....Encourage!
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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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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, show thankfulness for being fed the Word of God, so you can know and obey him.
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Our Continual 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. 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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Bible Authors and Minister
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