The whole world needs Jesus, and that means we must share the Good News. To keep it a secret would be criminal. If you knew the cure for Alzheimer’s or AIDS or Cancer and you didn’t share it, that would be criminal. But we have something even better than a cure for disease. We know the cure for the human heart and the deepest needs of mankind. They need a Savior. They need forgiveness. They need their past forgiven, a purpose for living, and a home in Heaven. The world needs hope and that hope is Jesus Christ. We cannot hold back. We have to share it. God expects us to share His good news. So go and make disciples.

Spread the Good News!

The Ordinary Days!!!

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

Go and make disciples. A disciple is someone who knows and loves God. They grow in spiritual maturity by the power of the Holy Spirit. They serve God with their whole heart and share the Good News. We have been given the authority of Jesus Christ to make disciples in His name.

What’s our authority? It’s not some government or the CIA. It’s Jesus.

The whole world needs Jesus. Jesus said this very clearly over and over. In Matthew 28:18-20 he gave us the Great Commission: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Holy Spirit gives us supernatural power to do extraordinary things in this world. It is easy to focus or overly focus on the gifts the Holy Spirit has given to us. At times, I believe, giftings can cause us to limit ourselves or even fall short of Gods intended plan for us.

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What is our assignment? It is “Go.” This is not a suggestion! It’s not optional. If you are a child of God, God expects you to go and make disciples. This is the plan of God for your life. Even the preacher, teacher, apostle, evangelist and prophet must submit to the Great Commission. No one out grows or out ranks the Great Commission. We are disciples first.

Spread the Good News!

The Ordinary Days!!!

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Matthew 10:7-13

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16

The story of salvation starts with God’s people making a huge error. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God and brought sin into the world (Genesis 3). If you and I were in God’s position, would we have felt like restoring Adam and Eve? We might have wanted to start over with someone else. Maybe we’d even make an entirely different world and fill it with something other than ­human beings. But God chose not to abandon his creation. Even though we humans don’t deserve it, God stays in relationship with us. He clothes us. He guides us. And he promises that Satan will be defeated. Throughout the Old Testament we find that God’s people fell into sin and dysfunction again and again. But God remained faithful. He stayed with his people and promised that one day a Savior would come, break the cycle, and free people from the curse of sin. Jesus was that promise and by His blood we are free.

Spread the Good News!!

The Ordinary Days!!!

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

“For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How do I put on the mind of Christ? I’m glad you asked! To hear means to attend to, understand, and perceive. It’s not just about audible sounds but recognizing the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart and guiding your steps. The word, know, in the Greek implies an intimate, personal relationship. It’s not mere head knowledge; it’s a deep, heart-to-heart connection between you and your Savior. When you take time to attune your heart to His voice through prayer, reading His Word, and seeking His presence; you are putting on the mind of Christ. The more you do, the clearer His voice becomes. Don’t doubt your ability to hear Him; you are His sheep, and He longs to speak to you. So forget everything you think you know; except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified and rose again.

“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭20‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Every issue flows from the heart. God created us this way. You don't have to guess or wonder who a person is or even who you are genuinely. Watch and listen for what is coming out of their mouth and your own mouth. What you meditate on will come out because it's in your heart.

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭45‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you are concerned about what is coming out of your mouth, your husband’s mouth, your childrens mouth, your concern is correct. Instead of looking for behavior modification we need a heart investigation.

The Ordinary Days

“Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As we go through life it is easy to forget that the Lord is coming back. I encourage you today to live in this truth. The return of Jesus Christ puts every circumstance, situation and event in perspective. The God of peace is with me is the perspective we should view everything through; no matter what it looks like. This is how we pray about everything and worry about nothing. This is why we thank Him for everything He has done and everything He is going to do. The God of peace is with me. His hand is on my life. We must live for Christ to experience this goodness. Then and only then can His peace guard our hearts and our minds. Never forget to focus on the things above. Look up and refocus your focus. The Lord will lift you up. When we are positioned above a situation things “perspective” is different.

So fix your thoughts, words and deeds. The God of peace is with you. Allow the Holy Spirit to remind you of “The Way” and incline your heart towards heaven. All of this takes practice. I encourage you today to start practicing and practice more. Start by just acknowledgeing that the God of peace is present and His hand is on my life.

The Ordinary Days

Paul said:

“Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless. But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 Paul didn't give up on his Jesus-given purpose. When Paul was literally locked down he sent his trusted friend, Timothy, to minister on his behalf.  Paul could have selfishly kept Timothy close but cared more for his friends in Thessalonica than for himself.

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬


The Ordinary Days

Imagine during a serious illness receiving an encouraging word from a friend battling a disease which would, in just a few years or less, end earthly life. Think of what grace and strength they would need to reach out from their own troubles with selfless concern for someone else. That is doing what Jesus would do.  

Paul, the apostle, suffered much as one of the first Christian church planters.  Paul found himself behind bars often because of spreading the gospel and clearly he wanted to be with and minister to his friends in Christ.  (Paul wrote majority of the New Testament in prison.)

Satan used circumstances (prison) to block him from going but Paul didn’t make his difficulties into excuses for not doing what was needed.

Satan also tries to block us with difficulties. If we elevate our troubles over our responsibilities as followers of Jesus and give up, Satan wins that battle. Serving others is not always comfortable, but Jesus calls us to do it in spite of the challenges.

The Ordinary Days

A life of supernatural empowerment doesn’t happen by accident. After we ask Jesus into our lives, we have to choose to move forward in our walk with Him. Following Jesus is a journey that happens one committed step at a time.  

Jesus has more planned for our lives than we could ever imagine. But He won’t force us to cooperate. Will we take our next steps with Jesus and experience His power at work in our lives and the life of others? The choice is ours.

Lead people to Christ. No, you can’t make people taste and see that the Lord is good but you can lead them to the One that changes everything with a single word. Those we lead to Christ will be our greatest reward.

“After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes, you are our pride and joy.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Ordinary Days

Information is only valuable if it leads to action. The same principle applies to our relationship with Jesus. It takes more than knowledge in our heads to change our hearts. Transformation begins when we act on what we believe.

Paul tells us that the church of Thessalonica received the Gospel not simply with words but also with power. They not only accepted Jesus message, they were empowered by it. They were empowered to fulfill their calling, love others and endure in hope. They had joy in spite of suffering. They shared their faith and most importantly they turned away from sin and served God.

“We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia. And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Ordinary Days

Have you ever thought about the everyday opportunities God gives us to love, care for and help people take next steps? Discipling people doesn’t always require a big elaborate plan. Maybe it’s a friend who is struggling with reading his Bible every day. Or, maybe it’s the coworker who is going through a difficult time and needs care. These opportunities for discipleship are right in front of us, but we don’t always know what to do.

When we feel like we don’t know what to do, we can look at Paul’s example of what discipleship looks like. Paul cared for people just as a mother would care for her child. He didn’t see people as projects or throw his weight around claiming he was better than them. He only discipled them because he wanted them grow in their faith and take next steps.

“As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory. Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Ordinary Days

Every year a specific Ronald Reagan speech is played at our church. I cry every time I hear it because it’s ranked on my list of my favorite military inspiration speeches. Truth spoken has the ability to turn hearts in a positive or negative way. We celebrate “Women Who Inspire” because we truly believe that every human inspires another. The inspiration could be positive or negative but either way inspiration is happening. Speeches have a way of participating in this process.

The Revolutionary War
- President George Washington

The War of 1812
- President James Madison

Mexican American War
- President James Polk

Civil War
- Abraham Lincoln

The Spanish-American War
- President Williams McKinley

World War 1
- President Woodrow Wilson

World War 2
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt
- President Harry S. Truman

The Vietnam War
- President Dwight Eisenhower
- President John F. Kennedy
- President Lyndon B. Johnson
- President Richard Nixon

The Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm)
- President George Bush Sr.

The Iraq War
- President George Bush Jr.
- President Barack Obama

Before every war there’s a speech. Every war time President listed here gave a speech. Some are more memorable than others but it happened. These wars are a compilation of millions of lost lives. Some of these presidents were the start and finish of the wars. But many started the war, others inherited the war and a few had the privilege to end the wars. They all had their part to play and the American solider was their solution.

A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.
- President Bush Jr.

Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States and one of the most influential figures of the Cold War. The most interesting thing about the Cold War was just that; it was cold. It was a time of conflict, not a war time period. Ronald Reagan was not a “war time” president. The Cold War was called cold because the featured heavyweights, the Soviet Union and the United States, were  "at peace." But they engaged in circling each other, jabbing at each other, testing each others' supposed weaknesses. It was a “war of words” if you will. The Cold War lasted from 1947 to 1991, a period of about 45 years.

How many of you are in the mist of your own “Cold War”? Actual weapons have never been drawn but words and antics are flying left and right. There are casualties based on  the belief of who is wrong or right and it has lasted for years. Are you fighting a “war of words”?

“We know only too well that war comes not when the forces of freedom are strong, but when they are weak. It is then that tyrants are tempted.”
- Ronald Reagan

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
- Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan had a lot of great words. His words caused the Berlin Wall to come down.

As long as this gate is closed, as long as this scar of a wall is permitted to stand, it is not the German question alone that remains open, but the question of freedom for all mankind. . . .General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate.
 Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate!
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
—Ronald Reagan

In the mist of your “Cold War” do your words build up walls and break down walls? Fight the good fight of faith. There are battles to be won daily and they won’t start or end themselves. There will be many casualties but the price of freedom requires it. Someone has to do it and it starts with our words; a speech if you will.

Go win the war!!

Freedom is never free. There is a price to pay.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭4 NLT‬‬

We are thankful to those who poured out the full measure of devotion upon the altar of freedom. There are many soldiers that could and do tell dramatic stories of heroism. Many soldiers remember those situations that resulted in a lose of friend and fellow solider. They have left this realm of time and space, they have out-stripped us in life’s races, but the sacred memory of their selflessness and the freedom they died to obtain will live forever. Many disciples of Christ have come before us. After reading the Old and New Testament we too find stories of dramatic heroism. We to are reminded of great loses that allowed us to obtain religious freedom and eternal freedom. Let us not forget the price that has been paid. We can express our love for Christ freely because someone paid the price. A solider paid the price. Thank God for the bravery of men and women who gave all.

Freedom isn’t Free!!!

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”
John 15:13

Freedom is a gift, it’s a treasure.  And though we all may agree on that truth, it’s often easy to take for granted one of the greatest gifts that God has given us in our lives. We just celebrated Pentecost. We celebrated the gift of the Holy Spirit. He’s the lead and the guide into all truth. He empowers us to do what we feel inadequate to do. The most precious gifts are never free. They came and come with a price. It always takes a sacrifice.  Jesus gave all. His life was a beautiful exchange for our life. The solider understands the final measure sacrifice. Many brave men and women were and are willing to face hard battles in order for us to enjoy that gift of freedom today.

For all those who have protected our nation, for the men and women in uniform who are no longer with us, we say “Thank You.”

Freedom isn’t Free!!!

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”
John 15:13

There are about 1.3 million active-duty personnel, or you could say, less than one-half of 1 percent of the U.S. population. The army is the largest U.S. military service, followed by the navy, air force, marine corps, and coast guard.

There are around 19 million U.S. veterans as of this year, according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, representing less than 10% of the total U.S. adult population.

Less than 10%of the U.S population will put their life on the line for another and yet less than 10% is enough.

The sacrifices of soldiers that are no longer with us has been great, yet the greatest sacrifice of all time was made by a man on a cross who died not only physically but spiritually that men might live. Many of us have neglected Him too long! We have rejected Him as the center of our lives. I challenge you to accept His program of heart regeneration that can transform the society in which we live, and we can know the meaning of genuine peace in our life. Be the change for your town, city, state and nation. Take Jesus to your people. Be a solider for Christ. Lay everything about you down and pick up your Cross.

Freedom isn’t Free!!!

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”
John 15:13

You are being invited into a deeper encounter with the Holy Spirit and into a fresh alignment with the promises of God over your life, your family, and your purpose.

In the Old Testament, Pentecost is associated with God giving the Law which included His Word, commandments, and covenant order. In the New Testament, Pentecost is associated with God giving the Spirit, who breathes life into that Word and writes it on hearts. The Holy Spirit takes the Scriptures and turns them into revelation. He opens your eyes to understand the Word, leads you into truth, and reveals Jesus to you in a living, personal way. Pentecost is God saying to you that He does not just want you to know about Him; He wants you to know Him.

The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) is a harvest feast, celebrating the wheat harvest and the bringing in of firstfruits of the land. It was also a worship feast, a time when the people would bring offerings, rejoice before God, and remember His goodness. In the New Testament, Pentecost brings in a spiritual harvest: three thousand added in a single day, the launch of mission to the nations, and the beginning of the Church’s witness in the world.

Shavuot (Pentecost/Feast of Weeks) is celebrated from sunset on Thursday, May 21, until nightfall on Saturday, May 23.

Have an awesome Pentecost Weekend!

“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It would be the behavior of a Galilean to be drunk first thing in the morning but not these Galileans. Are there behaviors expected of you because of where you come from?

“And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to be more than where we came from. You still dress the same, look the same and sound the same but something different is coming out of you. A different presence is surrounding you. A different spirit is overflowing in you. Now you are impacting generations for His glory not yours.

The Road to Pentecost

“The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced. Then you will know that I am among my people Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other. Never again will my people be disgraced.

“Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike. And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth— blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the Lord has said. These will be among the survivors whom the Lord has called.”
‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭25‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is what Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. Peter quoted the Prophet Joel. Peter spoke the prophetic Word. The Word was hidden in his heart. He didn’t have a Bible of Old and New Testament. He had the Torah. He watched prophecy being fulfilled over and over in the life of Jesus and on Pentecost he participated in the fulfillment of the prophetic word. What an honor!

Hide the Word in your heart. Hold on the prophetic word spoken. In due season it will happen. There is about 800 years between the book of Joel and the book of Acts. God is not a microwave God; He’s an on time God. We are a product of His timeline not ours. It is an honor to participate in His plans. Allow His spirit to do what only He can do.

The Road to Pentecost

Along with apostles (special messengers(the 11)) and disciples (dedicated followers) was Jesus family in the upper room.

“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And are not His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not [living here] among us? Where then did this Man get all this [wisdom and power]?” And they took offense at Him [refusing to believe in Him]. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And He did not do many miracles there [in Nazareth] because of their unbelief.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭55‬-‭58‬ ‭AMP‬‬

So his family went about their lives but Jesus moved forward with the mission. They did not serve Him or serve with Him. They were not apostles nor disciples. They were His family. John the Baptist (Elizabeths child) was his 2nd cousin. He told of the coming of Christ and baptized Jesus in water but continued his own ministry. James and John (Brothers of Thunder/Mary Salome children) were His 1st cousins and they were with Him faithfully. They were His family. This same John was at the foot of the cross (the one that Jesus loved) charged to take care of his aunt; the mother of Jesus. Not only would he take care of her natural needs he would take care of her spiritual needs.

“Someone said to Him, “Look! Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside asking to speak to You.” But Jesus replied to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples [and all His other followers], He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven [by believing in Me, and following Me] is My brother and sister and mother.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭47‬-‭50‬ ‭AMP‬‬

 He does not reject His attachment to or responsibility for His immediate family. Jesus was the oldest of the children and therefore by tradition carried the responsibility of His family. Biblical law gave preference to the firstborn son. He had the rights to a double portion of his fathers possession. He recieved a double portion because he also inherited the responsibility for the family. Jesus was not only the first born of His natural family but Jesus is the firstborn of God. He uses this moment to radically enlarge the idea of what it means to be a family. Jesus was not subtracting; He was adding those who do the will of the Father. And although His family really didn’t see Him as Messiah until after the resurrection, God saw fit that 6 or 7 of the New Testament books were written by His family. Your family is a decision God made about you. It can never be changed, altered or dismissed. What are you doing with your family? What part do you play in your family and with those who do the will of the Father?

For 40 days after the resurrection Jesus visits and speaks with the apostles, disciples and His family. They are all in the upper room when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. They all received His final gift; the gift of His Spirit poured out.

The Road to Pentecost

“Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them.

“Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.” (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”) Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’ “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.” So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they all prayed,

“O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Holy Spirit would have it that nothing would take us by surprise. Peter encouraged the followers of Jesus and His family with the prophetic Word. He reminded them about what King David said, what the book of Psalm said. Peter reminded them of what the Holy Spirit said as they all followed Jesus instructions and waited. We all must hold on to the prophetic Word in our lives. When it seems strange things are happening view the situation or circumstance through the lens of the prophetic Word. Pray, O Lord, You know my heart. Show me what to do next.

Go with God!

The Road to Pentecost

“In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

While Galilee had a large Jewish population majority of the people were Gentiles. Jesus was from Nazareth, a city in Galilee. For 3 years, Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
The only member of the original Twelve Disciples who wasn't from Galilee was Judas. Jesus was from Galilee. There was a general sense that if you were Galilean, you were mad, bad, and dangerous to know. Galileans were known for being poor and poorly educated and violent. Can you imagine when the elites in Jerusalem heard Jesus speaking with a Galilean accent.

Where we come from matters. I truly believe it speaks to our area of influence. Jesus was born and raised in Nazareth, which is a city in Galilee. When Jesus ascended into Heaven the angle referred to the disciples as “Men of Galilee” while in Jerusalem. Jesus was on a rescue mission to save the world but he started by saving his home, his street, his neighborhood, his city…his state. Are you on a rescue mission?

The Road to Pentecost

Pauls efforts continued in full force, though his circumstances were challenging. It’s the last part of Paul’s life and he expresses mixed results. People come to him and he spends his days unfolding the fullness of the Gospel. It is recorded that some people were convinced of the Gospel and others “disbelieved.”

The work of Paul reminds me of the work of pastoring. Many of us are not as famous as Paul, but certainly are as faithful and committed to obeying: providing top quality teaching so that His children receive a high quality spiritual education. In a very real sense, like Paul, we have more impact with some people than others. I also believe that the promise of the Holy Spirit which Paul recites (quoting Isaiah) is applicable for pastors. We are called to serve our church and every person in it and will do so faithfully believing that God will bring the results that will transform people who will impact and transform their own communities/families.

We have and will face substantial opposition and frequent challenges as we obey God but never waver in the belief of the local church. The physical building is like a neon light that proclaims to all who are in the community: this church belongs to God! This is what it looks like to see compassion for people every day! We will teach and preach, but most importantly people will encounter the Jesus who can transform their lives!

Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back again tomorrow.

Read Acts 28 (recites Isaiah at verse 26)

The Road to Pentecost

“One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is not some sentimental priority that Jesus is commanding us to follow. He is suggesting that it is those, like children, who are often bypassed by the world because they seem so insignificant. Jesus is saying that His focus is towards all people, like these children, who are deemed less valuable.

We as people are only valued by the world when we do what the world does. Stop feeding the beast and watch the world turn on you. We watch how even feeding the beast isn’t enough. If you don’t play by their rules they will still turn on you as if they never knew you. Be in the world but not of the world. Stay on the path of righteousness. Please God! He values you. He knows your name. He calls you His own. He said yes to you before you said yes to Him. He approves of you.

Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back again tomorrow.

The Road to Pentecost

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
John 15:1-8

Five times in this passage, Jesus says: “Abide in me.”  But it’s rooted in a promise: “Abide in me”, he invites, “as I abide in you.”  This is not about being in the same place.  It’s about a mutual sharing.  Jesus declares his sharing in our lives and invites us to share in his.

This gift, however, isn’t forced on us.  It is offered, again and again.  

Lord, we admit that our faith is very small at times. When the impossible is staring us in the face it so easy to be distracted by how big the impossible presents itself. Thank you for giving us opportunities to exercise our Faith muscles. Our faith grows as we experience more of You. We rejoice in knowing that we will see our small seed of faith blossom and grow in the miracle that only you can bring to our life. Abide in me as I abide in you Lord. If i abide in you and your words abide in me, I can ask for whatever I wish, and it will be done for me. In Jesus name.

I’m thanking you this morning and every morning! In Jesus name, Amen!

Is your life being controlled by fear of what might happen because something is happening?

There is nothing too big for God. There is no obstacle, circumstance or situation that can’t be moved by the supernatural power of His spirit. Take heart! Pray in faith believing that whatever needs to change in your life is to the Glory of God.

The Road to Pentecost