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9/14/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
LIVE IT!! Alive - Not Dull!!
What is the Church?
Believers in Jesus live in a power world. God does things that can’t be explained any way other than the supernatural intervention that goes far beyond anything we can grasp. Can you say MIRACLES??? Listen to this true story.
It was Christmas in 1968. Missionary Ron Hittenberger looked through the Christmas cards he and his wife, Carolyn, had received. One caught his eye. “What happened to you last February? One day I was returning from work and the Lord impressed me to pray for you. I felt that you were in mortal danger.”
Ron turned the card. It came from a man in Arizona. The Hittenbergers had been to his church for a service. Ron had not met the man nor corresponded with him. But he certainly remembered what had happened the preceding February!
Along with Pastor Theagene, Ron had gone to minister in a remote region of southwest Haiti. They had started very early and traveled on horseback for hours to reach a mountain village in time for a service. When the arrived, the mud and thatch church was full of people, many of whom had walked for hours to attend.
After the service, a pastor from another village asked Ron to travel two hours farther into the mountains for a service at his church. Because of the town’s remote location, this pastor seldom received visits. They knew they could not disappoint him by refusing his request.
When they reached the church, they found it filled with people. Many of them had walked over some of Haiti’s roughest terrain to be in the service. They ministered there and God gave a gracious outpouring of His Spirit.
It was very late in the afternoon when the two men started for Belle Rivere, the town where they planned to stay for the night. Soon the sun faded into pitch-black darkness. They cautiosly picked their way along a rock-strewn trail at the edge of a ravine some 500 feet below.
Without warning, Ron’s horse suddenly took off running. Ron desperately tried to rein him in, but it was impossible. He could only cling to the saddle and cry out “Jesus, Jesus!!”.
For nearly two hours the horse ran full speed through the darkness down the dangerous trail. Pastor Theagene hurried to keep up but was unable to do anything to help. Finally the men reached Belle Rivere and the horses stopped. They were exhausted and trembling, but safe. This, they knew, was a miracle.
The extent of the miracle was not clear until Ron read the message on the Christmas card. Impressed by the Holy Spirit that Ron was in danger, a man far away in Arizona had fallen on his knees and prayed for nearly two hours – the very same time that Ron’s horse had been racing madly through the night.
We can find countless stories like this that show:
□ the concern of God for His people
□ the power of prayer
□ the importance of listening to God’s voice
□ living with and for Jesus is living in the miraculous, the supernatural
As we continue to talk about our life in Jesus, that we must LIVE IT, that we are alive and not dull, we want to look at the living fellowship that is what we call the church.
In a discussion with His disciples, Jesus was asking them who people said He was. And, a followup question, who do YOU say that I am. This is making the question personal. Peter’s response - Matthew 16:16 NIV
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said in verse 18 . . . and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Jesus said He would build his church on Himself and the bold confession of His disciples. They declared that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Jesus used a play on words. For Peter He used a term meaning a small stone. Describing Himself He used a term meaning a massive rock. He said He would build His church on this solid foundation.
Jesus is the Rock, the steady and solid foundation of the church. 1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV says 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The foundation of the church is only Jesus. No human could ever hold that position. Jesus is the foundation and He is the head of the church.
We need this solid foundation for the church because there is a strong and wicked battle to destroy it. Jesus gives us a great word of encouragement here. The gates of Hell will not prevail against it, will not overcome it. The powers of death, Satan and all his evil forces that oppose Jesus and His kingdom will not overcome the church.
A very important picture for us to get here. This leads to a question: are gates an offensive or defensive weapon?
They are defensive. They keep an enemy out but are never used for an attack. The church is not in a defensive position, as if we are simply surviving under the attack of the enemy. These verses describe the church being on the offense, actively coming against the strong spiritual walls of Satan’s kingdom. The gates of areas under evil control will not hold back or stand up against the church as it reaches out to people to rescue them for Jesus.
Yes, the battle is strong. But something even more important, God is stronger. This is why we must be:
seeking God
focusing on living in and using God’s power against the enemy
This is why we cannot become spiritually lazy.
We must demonstrate God’s power over the forces of evil. We must recognize the evil powers and expect to overcome them with God’s power.
What is the church? Believers are the “called-out ones”. One of the early terms used was followers of Jesus were people of “The Way”. So, Christians are called out of the world and are walking in the way that Jesus taught. Separate!! Different!! The church is not an organization, it is people. People who have made Jesus their Lord and Savior.
1 Corinthians 1:2 NIV
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours:
We are in the process of being made holy. We are being separated from the world and separated unto Jesus. He is working in us. We are saved and God continues the process of spiritual growth in our lives.
II Corinthians 6:16-17 NLT
16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.
What agreement is there with evil? None!! God calls for His people to separate themselves from active participation in sin. The church is called out of the world to proclaim Jesus as Lord and defeat the forces of evil. This is who we are.
We are to live in God’s power. Living in God’s power is not dull and boring, but awesome. It is not just a once in a while thing, but a continual growing life with Jesus. It is not just for some other place, it is for HERE.
God’s power and Word equip the saints to live the life God wants us to live. Let me share a story about one of my father’s good friends, Calvin Olson. He has passed away now. He spoke here many years ago.
In 1971, missionaries Calvin and Marian Olson were living in Dhaka, East Pakistan, holding nightly prayer meetings for a group of Christians. Tension between East and West Pakistan was strained, and war seemed inevitable.
One evening in March, some believers reported having a vision of East Pakistan going up in flames. A prophetic message warned that a time of intense turmoil was coming, followed by a time of unprecedented opportunity for the church.
A few days later, Calvin and Marian were awakened by the sounds of police dragging wooden roadblocks into place. Soon a deluge of automatic gunfire announced the beginning of war. In minutes the city of Dhaka was ablaze.
As the battle raged, soldiers indiscriminately killed everything in sight. Calvin and Marian often wept with the people who came to them. The death, suffering and mourning were overwhelming. Yet they were determined to stay.
When the Indian army joined East Pakistan forces, the war quickly drew to a close. East Pakistan became an independent nation, later to be named Bangladesh. Change became the order of the day as the government shifted from martial law to a secular state. About this time God set a plan in motion to provide land for a church in Dhaka.
The caretaker of an empty lot next to the Olsons’ home was seriously ill with bleeding ulcers. Doctors gave him no hope of recovery. He had heard Christians praying regularly during services at the Olsons’ home. Desperate, he sent word to Calvin, asking him to come.
Calvin was reluctant. What if I pray and the man is not healed? He wondered. Surely this would serve only to discredit the work. But if the man was healed, the result would make a major impact on the area.
Cautiously, Calvin and another Christian man went to pray. The dying man lay on a board bed, his family gathered around him Suddenly, the power of God came upon Calvin. Taking the dying man by the hand, he said, “In the name of Jesus, get up!”
Immediately the man stood. A few minutes later he was eating spicy curry, a dish that would have killed him only a few minutes earlier. When the man returned to work the next day, his boss asked, “What happened to you?”
The man told him of the Christians’ prayers and how the power of Jesus had healed him. The boss insisted on meeting Calvin and hearing more about the gospel. The Olsons then learned that the man Calvin prayed for was the personal driver for the president of Bangladesh!
Eventually, the Olsons asked the president for first option to buy land next to their home should he choose to sell it. Their request was granted.
Through a series of miracles, all permits were approved and supplies purchased to complete the building. Today Dhaka AG stands as the largest Pentecostal church in the nation.
Living in and expecting the miraculous supernatural power of God. This is the church. Let’s talk about this.
QUESTIONS
A question often asked is this: why do we hear the stories of miracles in other places and yet seldom hear of them around here?
What will it take for the church in this area to be a powerful force for the Lord?
What will it cost? (Don’t just think money) The question of cost will help us answer the first question about why do we hear the stories from other places of God’s power.
How will western Wisconsin be impacted when the power and presence of Jesus is actively and consistently felt?
PRAYER
Please respond with the answer to the question of how we should pray right now.
9/7/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
LIVE IT!! Alive - Not Dull
WOW!! That’s really living!! What are the circumstances that cause people to say that? Ask for response.
Fancy cars, mansions, private jets, a staff of personal servants, ???
German Company Develops $4,000 Toothbrush
In January 2013, a team of “dental hygiene experts” and design gurus gathered in Germany and decided the modern toothbrush needed a makeover. The resulting product: a $3,200 Euro (about $4,300 USD), full-titanium toothbrush. The company’s website offers a video that likens its creation to a world-class sports car:
Undulating curves of the sleek and slender body encompass elegance and sumptuousness. A unique design … German precision engineering … A decisively lightweight full-titanium body which has unparalleled durable strength. The accomplished silhouette captures elegance and timelessness where beauty, functionality and utility complement each other. A timeless luxury is now an option.
Their entry-level “Premium” package price includes one “everlasting” titanium toothbrush in a color of your choice, one titanium toothbrush holder (with “anti-slip pad”), a bumper, and what they call “Fresh Service” for three years—every six months, they’ll send you six bristle heads (choice of soft or medium) and a new bumper. You can also personalize it with an engraving for an extra $540. But keep in mind that after the three year “Premium” plan runs out, you’ll need to pay a few hundred bucks for another upgrade. Who said luxury was cheap?
Adapted from Zachary Crockett, “The $4,000 Toothbrush,” Priceonomics blog (8-7-14)
The December 2013 issue of GQ magazine quoted actor Matthew McConaughey, named GQ’s “Man of the Year,” argues, “I’m a fan of the word selfish. Self. Ish. When I say I have gotten a lot more self-ish, I mean I am less concerned with what people think of me … Selfish has gotten a bad rap. You should do for you.”
Jessica Pressler, “Man of the Year,” GQ (12-13)
What do you think of that attitude? Would you like to have that person as your best friend? Do you think that would make a pleasant atmosphere to be in? What about that toothbrush that cost more than my first car, which was brand new? I wonder what happens when you lose it?
As believers in Jesus, as Christians, we have a life in Jesus that is what the world is really seeking. There are many times that might not seem to be true on the surface. But the issues of serving Jesus and growing a strong personal relationship with him make the true Christian life the most awesome life possible. The by-products of peace, hope, joy, etc. that come with following Jesus are amazing.
As we enter this fall season, we are going to take some time to look at the life we have as Christians. We are going to look at the thought of Live It!! We are Alive -- Not Dull. God has given us His power and Word and we are to be equipped to live this awesome Christian life. The supernatural power of God has NOT diminished one bit.
Here’s a challenging, as well as awesome, passage to start out. These are the words of Jesus just before He was arrested and crucified. These are some of His final parting words to His disciples.
John 14:12-14 NKJV
12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
This statement needs to get our attention. Jesus said “greater things” would be done by His followers.
It is Jesus’ plan that Christians do what He did. The gospel will be spread and people will be saved. Miracles will continue to happen. We have just spent several weeks going through the Book of Acts and we saw the supernatural was a normal part of the life of the church. We can expect that many will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
The power of the Holy Spirit will flow through believers and things beyond our belief will happen. God will do amazing things.
Jesus told us to ask in His name. We recognize that He is fully capable of doing what His plan is. We stand in His name and authority. God’s power is greater than any other source. Our faith must continue to grow. There is no limit as to what God can do. We pray with trust in God.
We must take doubt out to the dumpster and get rid of it. We must get beyond the thought, “I know God can do this, but He probably won’t”.
Ephesians 1:15-23 NKJV
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
One of Paul’s purposes for writing this letter to the Ephesian Christians is found here. He longs for every believer to grow in their walk with Jesus. To grow in faith, love and wisdom in what God has already done. He wants them to know Jesus more and understand his purpose for them. All believers need to learn to live a life that is worthy of identifying with Jesus the Leader of their lives.
Paul wrote to strengthen their faith and spiritual foundation by showing a complete picture of God’s eternal purpose of salvation in Christ.
God has called us to LIVE the life that He gives when we make Him our Lord and Savior. This means living it daily.
LIVE IT!! Alive - Not Dull
APPLICATION & DISCUSSION
What has God done in our lives, in our fellowship? Supernaturally?
Let’s talk about the miracles. Let’s talk about the expectation of the awesomeness of God’s involvement in the challenges of life. It is too often too easy to think that nothing really happens here. That is a mentality that God wants us to dump.
PRAYER
What do we need to see that doubt would convince us can’t happen? We need to pray for those things and ask God to help us increase our faith.
8/31/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
Eternal Priorities
What are the most important things in life? We probably all heard the story last January of a man visiting in Chicago when his cell phone fell on the ice. In trying to retrieve it he fell in. A friend tried to help and she fell in. A third person fell in. Two died because someone dropped their cell phone. In their hindsight, I wonder their response to how important is a cell phone?
Let me share a story of two brothers.
Benjamin Kwashi, a Christian leader from Nigeria tells the story of how the gospel came to his part of the country:
Missionaries came to my home area of Nigeria in 1907. One of them was a man named Reverend Fox. Reverend Fox was a professor at Cambridge University, and when he arrived his walk with Christ was so deep that he led many people to Christ. He founded a church and moved about 10 kilometers away to Amper, my own hometown, and founded the church there too. How a first-class person from the University of Cambridge was communicating to illiterates, I don’t know, but God suddenly gave him favor and people were turning to Jesus Christ. So many people came to Christ that he wrote to his younger brother, who was a physician also in Cambridge, and asked him to come and help him because medical practice was needed. As his brother started the journey from England, Reverend Fox fell ill and died. Soon after his brother arrived, he also fell ill and died.
The Church Mission Society wrote to their father, who was also a pastor. When they told him he had lost two sons, he and his wife cried, but then they did something astounding. They sold their land and property, took the proceeds to the mission society, and said, “As much as we grieve the death of our two sons, we will only be consoled if the purpose for which they died continues.” They gave that money and walked away.
Recently I looked through the profile of those two missionaries who came to my hometown. They both had first-class educations and degrees from the best schools. They died as young men—the oldest was only 32. They gave up everything to serve Jesus and bring the gospel to my country. Were they crazy? No, they had heard what Jesus had said, they believed it, and they were willing to stake their whole lives on the truth of Jesus’ words. These men wanted to end their lives well. No matter how long or short their life, it wasn’t going to be wasted, but they would invest it for eternity.
Benjamin Kwashi, “Where Do You Want to Finish Your Life?” PreachingToday.com
To this family, their priorities were eternal. When faced with challenges and difficulties, they kept the eternal focus.
Earlier I asked the question: what are the most important things in life? Another question that we must think about: what is the absolutely most important choice any person can make in life? To receive Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord.
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
With this as the priority, we must be ready to help people know that they, too, can and must come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
1 Peter 3:15 NIV
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
One more time in this series we want to look at the story of the early church in the Book of Acts.
The short form of telling the background of this specific story is that Paul had been arrested for preaching the gospel of Jesus. He had been taken to the beautiful sea-side of Caesarea, along the Mediterranean coast. He was being brought for trial before Felix, who had the power to release him.
The thing that stands out to me as I read this is that Paul didn’t go into a defensive mode. He saw the need of these leaders to know Jesus. That was his goal. We will read sections of these chapters to see the main points of the story.
Acts 24 NIV
1 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor.
5 “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.”
10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 12 My accusers . . . 13 . . . cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.”
23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
Acts 25
1 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3 They urgently requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
4 Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5 Let some of your leaders come with me and press charges against the man there, if he has done anything wrong.”
7 When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.
8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
9 Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”
10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
24 Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome.
Acts 26:1-32
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,
4 “The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, . . . 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.
16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 . . . I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 . . . I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen-- 23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. . .
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long--I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
DISCUSSION
What are the main points of this message?
What impact should John 14:6 have on us today?
John 14:6 NIV
6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Look at these verses. See how they apply to this message. Feel free to share your thoughts.
Jesus provided the only way out of a life of:
Spiritual Darkness 1 Peter 2:9 NIV
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Lostness Luke 19:10 NIV
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
Slavery To Sin Romans 6:6 NIV
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--
Guilt Hebrews 10:22 NIV
22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Condemnation Romans 8:1 NIV
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
PRAYER
Lord, you called some believers to vocational ministry. We see you have called us all to ministry to reach people for you. Help us be burdened to reach the lost.
8/24/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
Spreading the Gospel to a New Continent
It is easy to see the heroes of the Bible and think they were special people. They were ordinary people who were submissive to God and willing to be used by Him. God is still using ordinary people who have a heart and desire to see the supernatural happen. It is through the supernatural power of the Spirit of God that the world will be changed. More than ever we need the power of God’s Spirit to work in and through us. The battle is worse and worse. The enemy wants us to quit and doubt that God can do anything.
Let me share a few quick testimonies of what God is doing these days.
BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. Gustave Lefrère Tshimbalanga, National Youth Chairman, recently sent in this exciting testimony: “We have continued to pray for Holy Spirit revival in our meetings here in the CAR. And we continue the work of missions by planting new churches. God has answered our prayers, and a new church was established here in the city. And God answered another prayer. Last week we received the leaders of our Central Africa Assemblies of God. This will help to advance God’s kingdom in CAR and will reverse what the enemy wanted to do to end the work of God here. Each time we pray for the requests you send to us in the Intercessory Prayer Call, we see the Holy Spirit work in the lives of believers, especially the youth. We ask you to pray much for God’s work in Central African Republic. Glory to God!”
UGANDA: “Thank you for what God is doing through the ministry of Acts in Africa. I am encouraged to read what He is doing through the Acts 1:8 Conferences being conducted throughout Africa. I have been personally blessed, and students are being filled with the Holy Spirit with miracles following their ministries. The Uganda Assemblies of God is engaged in reaching every village with the gospel through rapid church planting, and we are experiencing God’s faithfulness.” —Pastor Henry Elem
MASERU, LESOTHO: “The Lesotho Assemblies of God has taken up the call of a Decade of Pentecost to the high level it deserves. Pastors in each of our 80 churches throughout the country are preaching about the Holy Spirit and how Christians can experience this wonderful gift of God. Our theme for the past national Easter Conference was “Preach The Word through the Empowerment of the Holy Spirit.” In the past year, the Lord has filled 253 people with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues according to Acts 2:4.”
Rev. Gift Ntsonyane, General Supt, Lesotho Assemblies of God
PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN: “Greetings in Jesus’ name from Peshawar, Pakistan. I join you in prayer for the Africa AG “Decade of Pentecost.” I pray that God will send revival and the rain of Holy Spirit upon Africa and the Arabic world.”
—Rev. Dr. A. R. Hashmat, Chairman, A/G, Pakistan
Info taken from the Decade of Pentecost newsletters. Edited
Awesome things are happening. I trust the challenge of the last thought will stir you -- prayer for the Arab world. Please, never write off anyone as a person Jesus can save.
The last time I spoke we looked at the launch of missions. Today we want to look at part of Paul’s second missionary journey. It is the time of the church launching to Europe. This Holy Spirit-guided step is a critical part of church history, literally impacting the rest of human history. Look at map on powerpoint slide.
Read passage from my Bible and talk about it.
Acts 16:6-40
We will see:
□ Paul and Silas’s call of the Holy Spirit to Europe.
□ The first convert in Europe, a woman named Lydia
□ The power of God to set a demon-possessed slave free
□ The persecution of Paul and Silas
□ God’s supernatural impact continued as people were saved and Paul and Silas were delivered.
Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
James 1:2-4 NKJV
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Romans 8:35-39 NKJV
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
DISCUSSION
What are the main thoughts that have jumped out to you today?
What are specific applications you can make that will impact western Wisconsin now?
What do we have to do to see the impact happen?
A question for you to ask yourself, not particularly for discussion: “Do I really want to see the supernatural changes that God can make in our area?” (Let’s take a moment to think about this.)
PRAYER
Lord, we pray for You to supernaturally touch lives in our area and let us see your power change people.
8/10/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
The call of Missions
Why would churches spend hundreds of millions of dollars to send thousands of well-qualified people all over the world? Many of these places are dangerous and thousands of these sent people have given their lives. Why such an emphasis on what we call missions?
What did Jesus have to say about this? One day Jesus went to eat lunch with Zacchaeus, a well known reprobate. When He was criticized for consorting with a “sinner”, Jesus replied:
Luke 19:10 NKJV
10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
This thought of being spiritually lost is at the heart of missions. It must stir us and challenge us.
❏ What does it mean?
❏ What are the implications of a person being lost spiritually?
❏ How long does lost last?
❏ Is there an end to being lost?
❏ What impact should lost people have on believers?
Jesus is the way to life and peace. Jesus gives us eternal life. He commanded and commissioned:
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
Luke recorded:
Luke 24:46-48 NKJV
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.”
What has missions accomplished? Is the world any better off because of missions? Let me share a missions update.
Tanzania Assemblies of God Celebrates 75th Anniversary
One of the fastest growing national churches in the world, the Tanzania Assemblies of God, has planted more than 4,000 new churches in the last five years. The church celebrated its 75th anniversary from the time the first Assemblies of God missionaries brought the gospel to Tanzania.
In 1939, AG missionaries Paul and Evelyn Derr went and a few small churches were birthed. Fourteen years later, the vision and passion of three African believers would result in the formation of what is now the Tanzania Assemblies of God.
Driven by a sense of urgency, three men walked 160 miles to a missionary outpost to request that a missionary come to them.
The missionaries sent a telegram to the Missions Department of the Assemblies of God. Wesley and June Hurst had already raised their funds and packed to journey as new missionaries to South Africa. After receiving the telegram, H. B. Garlock, regional director for Africa, called the Hursts and asked them if they would be willing to go to Tanzania instead. After praying, they felt God confirmed to them that this was His will. They arrived in 1953 and founded what became the Tanzania Assemblies of God.
To lay a strong foundation for the churches, the Hursts opened a Bible school. Soon they were joined by other missionaries. The national church now celebrates 6,200 churches, 32 church planting schools and seven Bible colleges.
Information taken from article written by Kristel Ortiz, AGWM website
I wonder if those three men who walked 160 miles to ask for missionaries had any idea of how it would grow. A thought to ponder: Never limit God.
We have been looking at the book of Acts. We are going to look at a few verses that show us the launch of missions by the church.
Acts 13:1-3 NKJV
1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Paul and Barnabas were called by God into missionary service. The believers commissioned them to go. In the gathering we read about, God confirmed what He had been working in their hearts. Paul and Barnabas knew that God wanted them to travel and win people to Jesus.
God called Paul and Barnabas preach the gospel. Their message was God’s good news of forgiveness and new life through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. They would lead people to a personal relationship with Christ. The missions purpose was to bring people to Jesus as Savior and Lord so they would be rescued and freed from Satan’s power.
As people were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, churches were planted. They taught people to grow in the Lord and local leaders were trained and commissioned.
God is still calling missionaries today. The task is far from being completed. As we think of missions, we must start at home and think around the world. Wisconsin is as big of a missions field as Africa and Asia.
The primary purpose of missions, wherever it is, must always be to bring people to Jesus. He is the only One who can rescue them from the consequences of sin and from Satan’s power.
As people are won to the Lord, they must be taught the Bible and helped to mature as new believers. This is why we spent two months of our Wednesday Bible study showing you how you can help new believers.
Verse 3. The church sent them off. We see the beginning of the Christian missionary movement. The Bible says missions starts -- in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8).
Sending missionaries. We are blessed to be part of a fellowship that gives a high priority to sending people to every conceivable place and need. This is the heart of God. We are blessed because of having a heart to help people reach lost people around the world.
Let’s look back again at Luke 24, one phrase.
repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations
Repentance: repent - verb
1. feel or express sincere regret or remorse.
2. feel regret or remorse about.
The thought that comes to me with repent is that I’m sorry I did it and I don’t plan to do it again. Turn around and go the other way.
Repentance must be proclaimed to the world, because the world is guilty of sin.
Remission: the cancellation of a debt, forgiveness of sins.
Sin must be forgiven, the debt of sin paid. Jesus did it.
An old chorus: Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow.
Anyone who has not had their sin washed in the blood of Jesus, who has not received the gift of eternal life from Jesus, is lost in their sin. This is a powerful motivation for missions.
Ask yourself: am I really listening to God’s call regarding my involvement in missions?
DISCUSSION
What questions do YOU have about missions?
Is this statement true? Through our involvement in missions, we are changing eternity. It is? Then what impact should that have on us?
Prayer: what missions involvement is God calling YOU to?
8/3/14 Breakthrough Prayer
Jesus said “My house shall be called a house of prayer”. He expected His people to be people of prayer.
James wrote in his book:
James 5:16 (B) NKJV
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
AMP
The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
MSG
The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.
NLT
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
Prayer is a powerful weapon God has given to His church. Prayer accomplishes many things. God expects his people to pray.
Let me tell you two stories about prayer. Several years ago, one night, I got extremely sick. By the next morning I couldn’t take it any more and went to the hospital. I was barely able to walk in, I looked horrible. Early the next morning they determined I must have surgery and I went in as they discovered that I was poisoning myself with a major blockage. They repaired it and the doctor said I would go home in a few days.
Well, my inside system shut down and I was extremely sick. I couldn’t even keep jell-O down. Nothing they did worked. On day nine of this saga, my brother, Roger, called me. He asked how I was doing. I told him how bad it was. He prayed for me over the phone. As he prayed I felt something lift out of my body. The next morning I ate some kind of mushy cereal. A few hours later I ate some ice cream. Then the doctor came in and I told him about eating. He said he was waiting for that to happen and I could go home.
Fast forward to two years ago. I got the call that Roger had a heart attack. He was in the hospital and they did surgery to repair the blockage. He laid there unresponsive. We watched him for thirteen days, and then watched him die. During this time there were literally thousands of people praying. We had powerful times of the presence of the Lord in his hospital room. Yet, he died.
Why the two different results? God knows. Hold on to this thought as we look at the book of Acts again.
Acts 12:1-4 NKJV
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
James was the first of the Apostles to be martyred. Herod was an evil leader who was only playing political games. When he saw he got political brownie points for James’ death, he put Peter next on the list and had him arrested. If you are not familiar with the story, you are going to see that the outcomes were completely different.
What was the response of the church?
Acts 12:5 NKJV
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
The early church faced much opposition. They responded with earnest and intense prayer. Their situation looked impossible. James had been killed. Herod took Peter in custody and guarded him with sixteen soldiers. The church lived with the absolute assurance that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”. What did the church do? They prayed.
Let’s look at the story of what happened. It is found in Acts 12:6-17.
What do we learn from this? We don’t always know the outcome. We have to trust God to do what He knows best. However, this is not an excuse to not do anything. This is not an excuse to not pray and pray intensely. The early church set the pace and this example is what has worked down through the centuries.
This story is one illustration of what the church did. They were serious about intense corporate prayer. Remember, Jesus said His house would be a house of prayer.
God’s powerful presence and prayer to together. Prayer meetings are where the battle is fought. Without prayer, preaching, teaching, singing or spiritual activities will never bring the true power and presence of God.
Because we are in a spiritual battle, we must fight with spiritual weapons. The conflict is intense and the enemy is powerful. God is more powerful.
Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
This describes the battle. It is against evil forces that influence the world around us. The battle we fight is not political.
What are we to do?
Ephesians 6:13 NKJV
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Take up God’s armor and use it.
Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, God’s Word.
Ending with:
Ephesians 6:18 NKJV
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
Pray in the Spirit. Persevere with the saints and be a powerful force of prayer.
I would guess that the majority of believers say their prayer life needs improvement.
Questions:
Why is it so hard to pray?
What can we do about the level of our prayer lives?
What is it going to take to make the necessary changes in our prayer lives?
I don’t know if we can really answer this question with words, but -- do you really see the power of prayer and the necessity of growing in our prayer lives? Do you really hunger to have a powerful corporate prayer life together? Do you think God wants to fill us with His power and presence as we get serious about prayer?
Communion - a time of searching our hearts and remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross.
Prayer
7/27/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
God wants to save him??????? Her???????
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Last week we looked at the fact that God wants to use all believers. Today we look at the fact that God wants all to come to Him to receive salvation.
Some historical foundation. A quick review of thousands of years of history.
God spoke to a man named Abram.
Genesis 12:1-4 NIV
1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.
This began an amazing journey that is still impacting the world today. Abram and Sarai were old, too old to have children. Their descendants today are too numerous to count. God promised to be with them and their descendants. God promised a Redeemer, a Messiah to restore what was lost when Adam and Eve sinned. The prophet Isaiah wrote:
Isaiah 53:4-6 NKJV
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Abraham’s descendants had their spiritual ups and downs. But, they looked forward to the time when the Messiah would come. Finally, that day arrived.
Luke 2:6-7 NKJV
6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
There was a heavenly celebration.
Luke 2:13-14 NKJV
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Jesus went to the cross and rose from the grave. He ascended to heaven and the church was born. Many miraculous signs were happening and thousands were believing. There was persecution against the believers by those who rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Yet, the church moved on.
***One very interesting fact: the church was made up totally of Jews, the descendants of Abraham. Jesus was Jewish and the Jews were looking for the promised Messiah. Many believed in Jesus. They didn’t realize that something was missing. That something was the rest of the people in the world, known as the Gentiles.
***Continuing to look at the Book of Acts --
Enter: Peter and a man named Cornelius.
Peter was visiting a friend in Joppa. It was lunch time and God gave Peter a vision. It included many animals the Jews were not allowed to eat.
Acts 10:13-16 NKJV
13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”
16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
Cornelius had been seeking God, to know the true God. God gave him a vision to send to Joppa to find Peter. He did this. Peter responded to the invitation and went to his house. He began to preach to them.
Acts 10:34-43 NKJV
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
The response of the hearers: they believed the message and believed on Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
Acts 10:44-48 NKJV
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
After this adventure to the home of a Gentile, Peter was in trouble with the folks at the home church in Jerusalem for going to the home of a Gentile. But, when he told them the Gentiles were baptized in the Holy Spirit just as they had been, they accepted the fact that Jesus could save Gentiles as well.
Question: What’s the point of what I have talked about so far? There are many ways we could go. I want to focus on two things.
1. God loves the whole world and Jesus died on the cross for everyone.
The early church had a steep learning curve to recognize that Jesus really did die for the whole human race. They had to grasp the concept that “whosoever” calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. There was no elitism that put them above the rest of the nations.
So, we see the concept of missions. That is both home and foreign missions. Efforts must be made locally, regionally and internationally. We must see people in the same way Jesus sees them. Without salvation, they are lost. This includes the “strange” people you see regularly. There is one way to heaven, His name is Jesus.
There is no one we see that can’t be saved. The foundational need for anyone is to be saved. That decision will put them on the right track to turn their life around. Yes, Jesus died for EVERYONE and our heart must be focused on that. We must be involved in activities that will help lead people to Jesus.
Jesus said:
Acts 1:8 NKJV
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
This verse ties these two thoughts together. We are to reach out to all people. And, we need the power of the Holy Spirit to do God’s work.
2. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is for all believers.
What happened at Cornelius’s house? They were saved. How did Peter verify that to the skeptical church in Jerusalem? The Gentiles received the baptism in the Holy Spirit the same way they had. They had the sign, the evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave them the utterance.
The power in the early church was the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers. The battle was hard and nasty back then. There was persecution. There were many unbelievers. Yet, the church grew and overcame the forces of evil. The power of the Holy Spirit gave them what they needed to do God’s work.
From the writings of one of our AG missionaries, Denny Miller:
In the Purpose of His Ministry
The Bible says that one of the purposes of Jesus’ coming was “to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). Even the demons understood that He had come to destroy them: “Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?’” (Mark 1:23-24).
In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus revealed His agenda for ministry. He would focus on six things:
1. Anointing: He would minister under the anointing of the Spirit. (“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me...”)
2. Preaching: He would preach the gospel. (“...to preach good news to the poor.”)
3. Setting the prisoners free: He would liberate those bound by sin and the devil. (“He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners...”)
4. Healing: He would heal the sick. (“...and recovery of sight for the blind...”)
5. Releasing the oppressed: He would liberate those in bondage—spiritually, physically, emotionally, religiously, and socially. (“...to release the oppressed...”)
6. Proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God: He would announce that the time had arrived for the coming of God’s kingdom. (“...to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”)
Power Encounter, Denzil R. Miller, pp 19-20
Jesus came to give salvation to the world. He gave the power of the Holy Spirit to the church to equip us for God’s work. How can we apply this today?
Two statements we looked at. Think: What do they say to you? What difference should they make in our lives?
1. God loves the whole world and Jesus died on the cross for everyone.
2. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is for all believers.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. What specific works of evil do you see that need to be destroyed in our area?
1 John 3:8 NKJV
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
PRAYER. Lord, we know that it is through your power that the victory will come.
