October 12, 2014

 Staying....To Produce A Harvest....Of Fruit

 Acts 9: 43  

 Luke

And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a leatherworker. 

***

Thoughts....

I do realize that this was the very last sentence of last weeks Scripture reference and therefore part of last weeks 'Thoughts'.  However, this is a foundational reference whereby we can gain more information for the journey ahead.  And an important one to realize as we 'go forth' for the Lord. 

Throughout the New Testament we see the believers/apostles/disciples traveling everywhere.  From verse 32 of Chapter 9 it clearly states that 'Peter traveled from place to place to visit the believers'.  But in todays reference, we learn that Peter stayed a long time in Joppa.  Recall from last weeks lesson that, while in Joppa, Peter didn't just heal a woman, he raised her from death!  She was dead.  And he raised her up to life!  Pretty astounding information.  But not just information.  This is documented history.  It really happened.

Peter, some guy who believed in Jesus Christ and everything he did, who told him he could do what he [Jesus] did, did indeed do it!  He raised a woman to life from death....literally. 

Okay, so you and I are walking around and some guy comes up to us saying he has raised the dead and shows us he can.  What's your first thought?  Mine would be 'WHAT?! What is happening here?  What is going on here?  Why am I seeing this?  Did I die?  Is this a miracle?  Of course it is!  Oh my goodness, now what?'  Folks, never say 'now what'.  Unless you are prepared for what could come after.

So, here is this guy, Peter, who has just brought back to life a woman who was dead.  I'm thinking folks would be freaking out.  First with joy that their loved one is alive and literally with them on earth.  Secondly,  I'm thinking that they are thinking, 'who is this guy'?  Yet they knew he was a follower of Jesus and that miracles were being performed through him, which is why they called upon him to come to them to help.  Note that I said 'miracles were being performed through him'.  This is a 'WAY' (a very) important lesson to learn.  WE do not heal, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit heal others through us.  Remember last weeks lesson.... we are a 'conduit' for them. 

As a result of Peter being a conduit whereby Tabitha/Dorcas was healed and raised from the dead, 'the news raced through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord'.

At this point in Peter's journey, knowing he was called to preach 'The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus' (Acts 5:42), he could not exactly then say, 'So long, fairwell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye' like was sung in the Sound of Music many years later.  And neither can we. 

Remember the parable about seed that was planted?  Let's turn to Luke 8: 1-15.  Let me provide it for you here:

'One day Jesus told this story to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him:  "A farmer went out to plant some seed.  As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds came and ate it.  Other seed fell on the shallow soil with underlying rock.  This seed began to grow, but soon it withered and died for lack of moisture.  Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades.  Still other seed fell on fertile soil.  This seed grew and produced a crop one hundred times as much as had been planted."  When he had said this, he called out, "Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!"  [Note exclamation point.]

'His disciples asked him what the story meant.  He replied, "You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God.  But I am using these stories to conceal everything about it from outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:  'They see what I do, but they don't really see; they hear what I say, but they don't understand.'

"This is the meaning of the story:  The seed is God's message.  The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message, but then the Devil comes and steals it away and prevents them from believing and being saved.  The rocky soil represents those who hear the message with joy.  But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep.  They believe for a while, but they wilt when the hot winds of testing blow.  The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the message, but all to quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life.  And so they never grow into maturity.  But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people who hear God's message, cling to it, and steadily produce a huge harvest.'

So, based on Luke 8, what do you think Peter is trying to do in Joppa?  He is staying....to produce a harvest....for fruit. 

Remember what it says in Galatians 5:23-24:

'But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Here there is not conflict with the law.   

'Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy spirit's leading in every part of our lives.  Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.'

So not only is Peter planting seeds to grow a harvest, but he, God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are expecting fruit from the harvest.  In order to achieve that he must stay to 'feed and water' those who received the seed. 

Where are you standing on the soil?  Is your soil hard?  Rocky?  Thorny?  Good? 

Have you planted any seeds for Jesus?  Have you stayed....to produce a harvest....for fruit?  

Have you laughed with others as they've laughed at your God?  Have you enjoined others who are not believers in Jesus...and have you told them the 'Messiah you are looking for is Jesus'?  It's a hard thing to 'come out' to others in the name of Christ, and to rise above, sharing who he is, that he is, and how wonderful he is....letting others know for whom you stand and with whom you stand.  You can face being ostracized, made fun of, attacked on many levels, lied about, laughed at, put down, experience employment and family woes, and so many more things of which many cannot even be imagined.  A life for Jesus....with Jesus, like Jesus' life, can become a solitary life, as you lead the way, forge ahead, gather the troops for him.  

But it's worth every moment of everything bad to know that it means that everything good will come about to bring God glory ultimately.    And that is everything about why we all come together, and for which we are 'staying', because that translates into Kingdom living for us.  It gives us more than a leg up against the enemy, it gives us a life 'up' with God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....eternal life.  See John 15 for more on staying power.  Also what happens if you don't stay:  Jude 5&6; Matthew 3:11-12; Hebrews 6:4-6, 26-31; James 2; 2 Peter 2:20-26 to name a few references. 

And speaking more on staying....where did Peter stay?  He stayed with a leatherworker named Simon.  A tanner.  What did they do?  They took dead animals and used their skins to make things....it is where all of our leather comes from.  This is interesting given Peter's penchant for Jewish laws against 'uncleanness'....coming into contact with dead animals was an absolute 'no no'.  In staying with Simon, it was a beginning for Peter showing a break down of his prejudice against people who were not of his kind and did not have the same customs, nor adhere to Jewish religious traditions (per notes from NIV v 43).  

Peter was a fisherman.  But he attained great heights of recognition from people seeking God.  Could he have let all that go to his head?  Could he have denounced his past as a fisherman and been wined and dined in fine homes?  Sure.  But he did not.  He understood the importance of humility, and furthermore, fully grasped that it was not he who was great, but Jesus in him who was great.  'Greater is he that is in me, than he who is in the world'.  1 John 4:4  Remember learning this early on in your walk with Christ Jesus?  It means that Jesus is greater than me....and you, and greater than Satan.  Both Satan and I....and you....are in the world, however, I am not OF the world.  The world I now am from is the Kingdom of God.  And you?  It's obvious Satan is certainly in the world.

God created us all in his image.  All of us are equal.  Do not ever make the choice to believe that you are 'better' than anyone else, or cannot go where angels fear to tread to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Or that you are 'less than' anyone else.  Are you poor, speak to the wealthy.  Are you wealthy?  Speak to the poor.  But don't forget your own 'class' from which you came, for they will need you most of all.  Yet even tho' you, like Jesus', will probably not be accepted in your own home town, go forth!  'Do it anyway.'

In John 8:12 'Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

Remember this to say to others in those tough moments, if necessary, as Jesus said to the Pharisees:

"These claims are valid....."  You can also say as Jesus said, "For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don't know this about me.  You judge me with all your human limitations, but I am not judging anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone - I have with me the Father who sent me.  Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact.  I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other."  "Since you don't know who I am, you don't know who my Father is.  If you knew me, then you would know my Father, too."  John 8:13-19

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.  If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is.  From now on you know him and have seen him!  John 14:6-7 

'For God so loved the world", Jesus said, "that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.'  John 3:16-17

Whoever you are, wherever you come from, you have the choice to follow Jesus or not.  I pray you will follow Jesus and stay....to produce a harvest....for fruit.  And go everywhere for him, who went to the cross for you.  Love Jesus today....now.  Accept him into your heart, your body, your mind, your spirit and soul.  Say 'Come into my life, Lord Jesus.  I believe in you, God, and Holy Spirit.  Baptize me, Jesus, with your Holy Spirit, so that I may go forth for and with you.  Renew me, that I may rise up on the wings of eagles and be with you in paradise one day.  I praise you and thank you.  Amen." 

The Messiah, Savior Jesus, tells us in John 3:5, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit."  Accept the gift.  Be born again!

Jesus said, "You will see greater things [than he has done]."  John 1:50

Jesus also said, "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 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!"

***

  Let Us Pray

Dear Heavenly Father God, my Savior and Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Comforter and Teacher, thank you for revealing your truths to ordinary people like myself.  I fully commit myself into your arms to receive your love and saving grace, having asked you to come into my life.  Lead me onward that I may bring you glory.  Show me the steps I must take, the path I must walk for and with you.  I seek to be a vessel whereby your light can shine.  I know that I am not perfect, just like Peter was not.  And tho' he was a stubborn rock, closed: not willing to always let you in, hard: not always willing to allow your greatness to flow through him, surround him, and refine him, I pray that I will NOT be like a rock.  I pray I will become all you need me to be for you, and for myself and those I love, and who love me, and, also for all in the world to whom you will send me to hear your message:  The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus.  I fully expect to see and do the same works as you and greater works as well.  Refine me, surround me, flow through me now that I've let you fully into my life.  But like Peter, help me 'go forth', staying where you need me to stay to produce a harvest of fruit for you.  I thank you so much for being great in me as I go into the world.  Surround me with your love, your saving grace, and infuse me with your infinite powers against the darkness in the world.  Together, may we raise up many onto eagles wings that we might all be with you in paradise one day!  I praise you,! I thank you!  I love you!  Amen.     

*** 

Grateful for God's lesson today?

We now have Pay Pal!  See below! 

 Visit our NEW rooms in The Family Room! 

Hey....we have a New Blog....'Truth On Main Street'!

Our Catalog Page is here....'Shoppe'!

Did you know there are 6 plus (!) years of 

'Scriptures Archived'?

For when you need The Word any time of day or night!

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. 

'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!

***

***

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, show thankfulness for being fed the Word of God, so you can know and obey him.   

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 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, animals, the earth, 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 to the Lord. 

*

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

520-883-6604

Monday - Friday

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

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

***

  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.

 *** 

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!

*