26 Feb 2017
February 26, 2017
Journey With A Vision
Acts 16: 9-10
Acts
That night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, pleading with him, "Come over here and help us." So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, for we could only conclude that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.
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Thoughts....
Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, pleading with him to go and help the people there.
This was no small feat. Galatia to Phirygia was nearly 200 miles, Phirygia to Mysia about 400. Remember he was not entering into central Asia, so he had to go around. Mysia to Troas about 50 miles, then, from Troas to Macedonia 400 miles. So what is that, about 1050 miles, not in a a Dodge. I often laugh that the speed of our cars are measured in 'horsepower', Does that mean a Hemi would equal a whole lot of horses running at high speed would get us to a destination in equal time? [Per Wikipedia: The term was adopted in the late 18th century by Scottish engineer James Watt to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses.]
Here are two other notes re: Dodge, since I brought up the name. One, if Jesus was the lamb of God as a child (he was), what is he as an adult? He's a Ram! Everyone Christian should own a Dodge with the Ram insignia, or a Dodge Ram! Second, there appears to be Protestant and Catholic Dodge's. The Protestant Dodge is when the Ram insignia is mounted on the hood, representing a risen Lord Jesus. The Catholic Dodge is when the Ram insignia is mounted on the cross in the front of the vehicle representing Jesus on the cross. I love my wit when it shows up. Laugh! And I love my Dodge!
I digress. The point is that it took Paul and Silas a LONG donkey time to get to where they needed to be. Have you ever felt like the folks in the desert who wandered YEARS? Ya, well, we ALL are on a journey to get to the destination(s) of the vision(s) God has given us. Painful as that is....and it can very painful. Consider the dedication, strength, fortitude....and the pain....Paul and Silas must have endured on their journey to answer the call of God. And not for their own vision for their lives per se', but for God's vision for their lives, and that of others - to preach the Good News to those in need.
Maybe folks like you, and I, are going around curves in the road, not just becasue of Satan derailing us, as I indicated last week, but because we're needed on a new journey. Knowing God makes all things right, and that we've dusted off our shoes leaving doors behind (or should), like Paul, let us journey to a new destination, be that local or far away, to fulfil God's vision for us to preach the Good News.
Some may do that verbally, others merely by how they live their lives in being there for others.
However God calls you, where ever he leads you, know that you are not alone on the journey. It may be pain filled, but it WILL BE VICTORIOUS! You WILL reach a new destination. You WILL have a purpose and part of that purpose, the first part of the purpose, will be to be IN Christ Jesus and ensure he is IN you. Only then will you be able to fully hear him, know the vision, and act in the vision. Don't even venture forth, or make a descision, until you know his vision for you.
Don't ever shake the visions, and don't ever NOT heed the warnings. Beware along the way. AND TRUST GOD. The road may be long with many winding turns, as the song goes, and the visions not just be for you but for another, but know this: Jesus WILL carry you, and I, as our brother and our Lord, but he expects us to do the same for others.
A few weeks ago, I gave you the lyrics to 'We Are The World'. Today, I will give you the lyrics to 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' by the Hollies. See below.
Paul got a vision from God for someone miles away that he did not even know. Paul presumed he needed to preach the Good News. Maybe the person in need just needed to know the foundation of the Good News: that someone would reach out and carry him/her and those around them with LOVE. As God carries you, and me, and gives us visions, realize it may not be for us, but for those around us.
I hope, as you go about your day today, and for all the tomorrows you have left, you'll share the foundational message of not only the Hollies, but Jesus Christ who said,
"You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is EQUALLY important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Matthew 22: 37-40
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13: 34-35
Jesus opened his arms when he said in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
Jesus didn't delienate who, he said ALL. He wasn't divisive, discriminatory. He didn't choose individually who to love and care for, or for specific reasons. He just said ALL. As Christ, so should we....love ALL, reach out to all, and give rest along the journey. It's only one of God's visions for your life, and mine.
May we understand what James tells us in Chapter 2:14, 'Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone.' Your faith will be complete by what you do. [James 22:2b].
Hillary Clinton does not believe, based on her history and actions, that ANY people are deplorable. She has always shown her respect and embracing belief in folks of all ages, statures, backgrounds, faiths, etc. She merely stated what Donald Trump thought of others who were not like him: white, wealthy, supremist, xenophobic, discriminatory, hateful, and hurtful in his divisiveness. [I state this as a causcasian woman and Pastor, age 64, not weathly financially, absolutely NOT supremist on any level regarding anyone, most assuredly NOT xenophobic, discriminatory, hateful, hurtful, nor divisive, etcetera.] Donald Trump put all classes and races of people beneath him and then twisted Hillary's words back at her, as he took a shaky stance from putting everyone down, to lying to raise them up to a new level, just to get their vote. But his true color is now shining through and it's still white, wealthy, supremist, xenophobic, discriminatory, hateful and hurtful in his divisiveness. ETC. That is VERY clear by his actions to date, now as President, and, he is NO believer of faith based on such. Here is Hillary's speech in part, so you can see the truth....may it set you free. [P.S. This is not about a political process nor party,]
"I know there are only 60 days left to make our case — and don't get complacent, don't see the latest outrageous, offensive, inappropriate comment and think well he's done this time. We are living in a volatile political environment.
"You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? [Laughter/applause]. The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic — you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up. He has given voice to their websites that used to only have 11,000 people, now have 11 million. He tweets and retweets offensive, hateful, mean-spirited rhetoric. Now some of those folks, they are irredeemable, but thankfully they are not America.
"But the other basket, the other basket, and I know because I see friends from all over America here. I see friends from Florida and Georgia and South Carolina and Texas, as well as you know New York and California. But that other basket of people who are people who feel that government has let them down, nobody cares about them, nobody worries about what happens to their lives and their futures, and they are just desperate for change. It doesn't really even matter where it comes from. They don't buy everything he says but he seems to hold out some hope that their lives will be different. They won't wake up and see their jobs disappear, lose a kid to heroine, feel like they're in a dead-end. Those are people we have to understand and empathize with as well."
Raise up, ladies and gentlemen. We have a world to whom we need to show Christ's love....all those in Amercia from all countries, nations, walks, etc. Just as many in America and from the world have love to show us. May God's, Jesus', Holy Spirit's vision....and by history, Hillary Clinton's vision....be yours. Journey with a vision while being loving and accepting of ALL along your journey.
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He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother
The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where.
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
I'f I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
that everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
while we're on the way to there
why not share
And the load
doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
He's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
Song writer's Bob Russell, Bobby Scott copywrite Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group MUSIC SALES CORPORATION. Data from Lyric Find.
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Let Us Pray
Lord God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, please forgive everyone of the sins of exclusion, discrimination, xenophobia, divisivenss, supremecy, bitterness, selfishness, fear, ridicule, extremeism, hatefulness, hurtfullness, and more, We can't be a family with all this evil, pain, and suffering. Most of the world just wants to be a family of love....to give and receive it from others. May we ALL make the choice to better understand and get to know others to realize we are one, and be willing to carry our brothers and sisters along the journey....it is your vision....may it be that of everyone in the world, not just in America. I thank you. I praise you. I love 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
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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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.
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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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