January 15, 2017

Their Way Or The Highway....of Holiness?

Acts 15: 1-5

Acts 

While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the Christians: "Unless you keep the ancient Jewish customer of circumcision taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."  Paul and Barnabas, disagreeing with them, argued forcefully and at lengthy.  Finally, Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question.  The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers.  They told them - much to everyone's joy - that the Gentiles, too, were being converted. 

When they arrived in Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders.  They reported on what God had been doing through their ministry. 

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  Thoughts....

Some men began to teach the Christians: "Unless you keep the ancient Jewish custom of circumcision taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."  Clearly Paul and Barnabas SHOULD have disagreed with them and argued forcefully, and at length. 

What SHOULD have been taught is:

"For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have - Jesus Christ."  1 Corinthians 3:11

"For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures where it says, 'The stone you builders rejected 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."

Salvation is a FREE GIFT.  You've only to ask forgiveness for your sins.  To get to heaven, however, you must stay attached to Jesus and obey him, per what he said, which is historically documented in the Gospel of John 15.  Note most especially verse 6.        

Why ever Paul and Barnabas let Satan in enough to have had to go question the apostles and elders about this question astounds me, based on what they KNEW to be true already. 

John the Baptist said it best about Jesus:  "Look!  There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"  And God said, "He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit."  For those of you who do not believe in the active life giving baptism of the Holy Spirit, you might want to read this last line again and do further study based on it.  Because GOD said it.  Believe it!  Act on it!  RECEIVE it!

"As Paul and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem, they stopped in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers.  They told them - much to everyone's joy - that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.  

Share the conversions, folks.  Report on what God has been doing through your ministry.  Maybe you are a seed planter, and someone else waters.  Or visa versa.  Or you do both.  Share anything you do for the Lord regarding this, so others can pray for those who have received seeds and have been watered.   And for those who have received Jesus!  Remember, we are a team with God.  We all must do our part.

When Peter and John were at the Temple, they said to all the others, "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?  We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard."  Acts 4:20

Have you seen and heard wonderful things through your ministry?  SHARE!  REPORT!

Folks, NO WHERE did Jesus say, nor is it a requirement, for anyone to be literally circumcised to be saved.  That would TOTALLY preclude women from salvation.  Salvation is for ALL.  Please read Romans 8: 19-30 regarding ALL creation. 

Let us NOT see any more, nor hear any more, nor follow at all, the confusion of Satan and his assigns whereby one must be circumcised to be saved.  It is NOT true, never has been true, not ever going to be true. 

We also learn in Acts 4:29-30, after Peter and John were freed, they united with other believers and lifted their voices in prayer.  As then, and now, we must pray like them, "Why did the nations rage?  Why did the people waste their time with futile plans?  The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together AGAINST the LORD [God] and against his Messiah."

And the people praying continued...."O Lord, hear their threats and give your servants great boldness in their preaching.  Send your healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

The Psalmist concluded with "Let us break their chains and free ourselves from this slavery."  Psalm 2:3

This prayer, folks, is a GREAT prayer to be reminded of, at a GREAT time in history, which truly should be prayed with what is going on in America, and, as a result, throughout the world.   

On the Highway of Holiness, evil hearted people will never travel on it.  It will be only for those who walk in God's way; fools will never walk there.  Lions will not lurk there and there will be no other dangers.  Only the Redeemed will follow it.  Isaiah 35: 8  Sigh....there is promise after hope.

Choose the Highway of Holiness....not 'their' way. 

As John heard the vast crowd in heaven shouting, let him now hear us as we BOLDLY preach, and sing, and shout aloud, "Hallelujah!  Salvation is from our God.  Glory and power belong to him alone."  Rev 19:1 

Alleluia!   Amen!

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Let Us Pray

Thank you God, Jesus, Holy Spirit for your love, your guiding light, your FREE salvation, forgiveness of sin, your hope for an eternal tomorrow.  Forgive me of my sins, empower me to preach boldly, truthfully, prayerfully.  And report all the good news of seeds planted, watered, and grown.  Carry me on the paths of righteousness for you....and for me.  Keep me safely on the Highway of Holiness, so I, too, can walk where there will be no fools, no other dangers.  And carry me to insure this as needed, please.  I will pray for those who are against you, my God, my Lord and Savior, my Comforter, that they will cease being against you and be freed through Salvation.....yours.....freely given....and that they will go and sin no more.  May the United States of America be truly a free nation once again.  And the world find our freedom in you embraceable, and choose your free gift of salvation, as well.  May we all obey YOU to keep us free in all ways.  Keep us safe, Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  The road may be long, with many a winding turn.  Let us carry our brothers and sisters as needed, so no one is alone, scared, as risk, vulnerable, hurting, or worse.  And may we all be empowered with all you have to give us, forgiveness in salvation for a new life, a new journey with you, and more.  I love you.  I thank you.  I praise you.  Amen.   

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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

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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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