December 28, 2014

Believers....Givers

Acts 11: 19-30  

 Luke

Meanwhile, the believers who had fled from Jerusalem during the persecution after Stephen's death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria.  They preached the good News, but only to Jews. 

However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was upon them, and large numbers of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  When he arrived and saw this proof of God's favor, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith.  And large numbers of people were brought to the Lord.

Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to find Saul.  When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch.  Bot hof them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching great numbers of people.  (It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

During this time, some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch.  One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings to predict by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world.  (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) Sso the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.  This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem. 

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Thoughts....

Believers preached the Good News! 

Scripture doesn't say 'the chosen apostles'.  It says believers.  All who believe are to go forth to preach THE Good News - THE Gospel message of Jesus Christ.  Recall the message from Acts 5:42:  "The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus."

Scripture doesn't say only those who have gone to seminary, only those with holy orders, only those ordained by the church, only those accepted through apostolic succession.  It says 'believers'.  That would be you and me. 

Believers preached to the Jews and the Gentiles! 

We learned, or were reminded, that Jesus was Lord for ALL.  It does not matter who is sitting across the table, standing in front of you, flanking your side.  Jew, Gentile, Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, or other.  Do not expect that just because someone professes a belief of a religion that they have heard of, know, accept, believe, follow, or obey God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  If you (we) who are impassioned for the Trinity don't lead by example, tell them, AND show them who the Messiah is - Jesus,  and what he offers -  forgiveness of sins and eternal life, how will others learn?

The power of the Lord was upon them!

Is the power of the Lord upon you?  If not, where is your joy - Jesus?  Not 'down in your heart'.  Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?  All you have to do is ask him in!    

Large numbers believed and turned to the Lord!

Would they have through you, or as a result of your actions?  Will others believe now?

The church sent Barnabas.

The church.  What is this?  A large body of people seeking, believing, following, should be obeying, and going forth from and in the name of the Lord - Jesus.

Barnabas.  Barnabas was not one of the original apostles.   Confirm this with Matthew 10:2-4.  He wasn't ordained by a church body, nor was he a seminarian graduate.  He was merely 'a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith'.  Yet through him, and others like him, large numbers of people were brought to the Lord.  (See also verse 21.)

Barnabas saw proof of God's favor when he arrived at the church in Antioch.  He was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.  Are you staying true to the Lord?  Would how you live your life show proof of God's favor?

Then Barnabas went to Tarsas to find Saul (later named Paul) and brought him back to Antioch.  Saul (Paul to be) was also not one of the 12 apostles, nor a seminarian, as we define such today, nor 'ordained' through apostolic succession.  [But keep in mind GOD ordains us all.  See 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.]  Both Barnabas and Saul stayed with the church for a full year, teaching great numbers of people.  Do you teach the Gospel to others? 

Ah....not slated to teach by Holy Spirit?  Are you sure?  If you have the Holy Spirit within you, then you should also be teaching.  How can a seed grow if not planted AND watered?  Tell them AND teach them.  Don't hit and miss, bob and weave.  If you share (preach by word and actions) that you are a Christian, show (teach) why, by sharing the full Word of Christ....the New Testament.

Recall that the Old Testament is documented history of God, and prophecy for Christ come.  The New Testament, also documented history, confirms the prophecy with and through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus.  By sharing and showing, preaching and teaching, you live him by example, letting others know who he is, that he is, how wonderful he is, and all he has to offer ALL.

Prophets.  What is a prophet?  Someone able to see the future; individuals enlightened by God as to what can or will be occurring in the future.

Agabus was a prophet who traveled to Antioch.  We are told through the documented history provided us through Luke, as he continues to share in Acts, that Agabus stood up in one of the meetings to predict by THE Spirit (Holy Spirit) that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world.  We learn this occurred during the reign of Claudius.  As a result of this prophecy, the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters (other Christians) in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.  Note that the relief wasn't provided to a local church, their own, or the 'main' church, but to another church - all together.  The gifts were given to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem (main church) so they could distribute to the church in Judea.

I am not sure why they didn't proceed to Judea sans God's direction to go and do otherwise.  Perhaps the main church in Jerusalem had a protocol and received a portion of the gifts.  It also would also have been prudent for accountability.

In this day and age, as you look around you, people and churches are hurting.  Satan has Christians convinced they should walk away to disband the churches, allowing him more control over the lonely soldiers for Christ in an attempt to further kill, steal, and destroy.  So many Christians have walked away from the churches thanks to Satan establishing disillusionment through many sins listed in Galatians 5:19-21.  I've been surprised and alarmed at the break down - the walks away from the body of Christ.

Yet, if you choose to allow the Holy Spirit to control your lives as outlined in Galatians 5:22-26, you will live as intended by our Lord.  You will give for the sheer joy of giving and helping others along life's way who are in Christ, and help others find him.       

Recall how Jesus met first the most pressing needs of people, seeking no mandates to follow him, yet they came.

Like the apostles were directed by Jesus, as noted in Matthew 10:8, we, too, are to 'heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons'.  And, 'Give as freely as you have received!'

Jesus said, "If you give, you will receive.  Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over.  Whatever measure you use in giving - large or small - it will be used to measure what is given back to you."  Luke 6:38

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  Let Us Pray

Dear Heavenly Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I just praise you and thank you!  In Thessalonians 5:18, it reads, "No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ."  It is so hard some days to put on that happy face for others when Satan keeps 'knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door'.  Guide me, lead me, and direct me as I am forced to move after living for years from a home I always thought would become mine, as I struggle now also without a computer to preach your Word, and having just gone through a car accident.  I am unsure how the finances....yours and mine....will meet my needs and where all I need will come from....okay, from you....  God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....through others.  Will the money really come?!  But I continue to believe in you, trust in you with faith sincere, and KNOW victory IS in Jesus!  I humbly ask forgiveness for any sins I have committed.  I thank you for forgiving those sins.  God, thank you for giving me life.  I thank you, also, for living and dying for me, Jesus.  And Holy Spirit, thank you for rising up within me enabling me to go forth to preach and teach.  (And for putting up with me!)  As I do go forth, I pray you will open the hearts and minds of those growing in and with you to send a gift, or tithe, to further the work for you, Lord, and to also be used help to sustain me and my humble family. Timothy said in Chapter 5 verses 17-18 'Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.  For the Scriptures say, "do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain".  And in another place, "those who work deserve their pay!" (Deut 25:4, Luke 10:7)  May those who read this realize how badly I now need that pay and be empowered by Holy Spirit to give.  Thank you, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  As I go forth, I shall give....more.... and, as I give, I shall receive.  In the name of Jesus I believe, so I preach and teach!  In the name of Jesus, money come!  In the name of Jesus, I blessedly and humbly receive!  Reward and bless those giving because of their kindness. May those giving realize their gifts are a sweet smelling sacrifice that is acceptable to you and pleases you, Father God.  Phil 4: 17-18  'Now glory be to God our Father forever and ever.  And, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.'  Amen!    

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This message was typed on a library computer because the church computer ceased to function.  It would mean the world to me, and to God, were you to make a donation today to enable me to purchase a computer, and hopefully be able to draw from the old computer all 'Thoughts' written for the Lord to complete the book he has slated for publishing.  Thank you in advance, and, may God bless you.   

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  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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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.  

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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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