Thirsty?

Sitting here drinking a coke this morning, usually it is coffee. This passage of scripture came to mind:



John 4:1-13



1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria.

5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”



Are you spiritually thirsty? Be careful how you answer it can be a trick question! First we have to answer the question if we have accepted Jesus to fill that unquenchable thirst that only He can fill spiritually. Then the tricky part is can we ever be spiritually full, where we don't need any more? I don't think we can until we one day are home in heaven with Jesus. Now don't get me wrong here....Jesus is all we need but we have to continually keep filling up our daily lives with Him also. I know I thirst for for Him and want more and more of Him as I daily live my life.



So how is your thirst this morning?



Tom

God loves you!

Just a reminder of something we all need to hear often!



1 John 4:8

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.



John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.



John 16:27

for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.



Titus 3:4

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared



1 John 3:1

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.



1 John 4:7-12

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.



Oh my brothers and sisters remember how much God loves you this day and everyday!



Tom

How is your faith?

I was studying in the book of Judges yesterday. I was reading about the great man of God, Gideon. If you get a chance read chapters 6 and 7. When I think of Gideon, I think of how He and 300 men defeated Midian with trumpets and breaking jars! What a feat! God did an amazing thing here. But what I had for gotten is the lack of faith Gideon had. Here are some examples:



1. God told Gideon to destroy altars of Baal his father had built, He did but did it at night because he was afraid of family and men of town!

Judges 6:25-27



25 Now it came to pass the same night that the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image[a] that is beside it; 26 and build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the image which you shall cut down.” 27 So Gideon took ten men from among his servants and did as the Lord had said to him. But because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city too much to do it by day, he did it by night.



2. Gideon wanted God to give him a sign to show He would save Israel by his hand. Then He asked again after God did the first!



Judges 6:36-40



The Sign of the Fleece

36 So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said— 37 look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.



3. Gideon was afraid and needed a sign to go against Midian, God provided!



Judges 7:9-14



9 It happened on the same night that the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. 10 But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant, 11 and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp. 12 Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.

13 And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, “I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.”

14 Then his companion answered and said, “This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.”



Now I give Gideon credit because he was growing in his faith as God gave him these signs:



Judges 7:15



15 And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.”



As I read this about Gideon, I realize we all have weak times in our faith. As we grow in our faith we should be growing stronger and bolder for God has delivered us so many times! So this morning how is your faith? If God calls you right now to do something for Him are you ready to move? Would you need a sign from God? Questions we need to ask ourselves and then do as needed!



Tom

Your Pastor's job.

If you were to ask yourself or your congregation what you Pastor's job is what answers would you get? I imagine you would get answers like this:

1. His job is to win the lost and get people to church.
2. Visit people.
3. Answer my questions.
4. Come to my aide anytime I need him.
5. Be at the hospital when our members are in there.
6. Do weddings and funerals.

And you can add the many things I left out. Many of these things are needed to be done but lets look at what the Bible says:

Ephesians 4:11-16

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ok now let me pick out the things the pastor is suppose to do:

1. Equip the saints for the work of the ministry.

The pastor is to prepare the saints(which is you if you are a believer) to do the work of the ministry! WHAT? That's right the pastor is not to do it ALL! He is to train us to do the work! That should shake many off their rocker!

2. For the edifying of the body of Christ. Our work in the ministry will build up the church! When we all work together amazing things happen! It build all up!~

3.The pastor teaches us until: till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Unity, perfection, and fullness are all a continuing process so the pastor will continue to teach us until Jesus comes or we die first!

4.The pastor teaches so: that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

We won't be drawn away by man to the ways of the world!

5.The pastor teaches us:   but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

He tells us the truth in love even when it hurts! So we may grow up (mature) in Christ!

6. The pastor teaches us:  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

We have a responsibility! To do our part in the ministry building and serving in love!

So what part of ministry do you own? The pastor is to lead not do all! Think on this today as it is straight from God's Word!

Tom

Me Monster!

If you enjoy clean comedy check this clip out:






Why are we so selfish? If you think about it the very first sin started from selfishness! Eve wanted to be like God~!



Genesis 3:1-6



3 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.



Have you ever thought about that? Our lives are consumed with me, me, me! We are starting a new study at church called "Seven daily sins" by Jared Wilson. Some of these thoughts this morning are coming from this study. In the study Jared says this Me Monster has a name and it is Pride. Jesus had an answer for pride:



Luke 9:23

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.



If we deny selves and put Jesus first in everything I can promise you pride will not be a factor! Christ humbles us when we put Him first.



Pride is basically self-worship. Look at how Satan tempted Jesus:



Matthew 4:1-11

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,



‘In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.



I want you to notice a couple of things here of how this temptation of Jesus and the temptation of Eve have in common.



1. Satan told Jesus to turn stones to bread, Satan tempted eve with the fruit. Both events appealed to the appetite. Satan is good at tempting us with things that appeal to our appetite both physically and mentally.(Not just food either!)



2. Satan tempted Jesus to call the angels to appeal to His deity. Satan tempted Eve to "be like God". Again we are me oriented so if we think we can be like God, we want to go for it!



3. Satan tempted Jesus with the kingdoms of the world and their appeal. Satan tempted Eve with the fruit which was "delightful to look at". Oh aren't we a coveting kind of people? We want what the world has to offer!



Notice how Jesus countered Satan's offers, He quoted scripture! This once again shows the importance of knowing God's Word! Pride tells us "I am God and can do whatever I want." The scriptures show us God is God and we are nothing before Him. But He loves us and the truth will set us free!



So think on this some today. Does the Me Monster of Pride have a hold on you? Think before you answer because it may have more of a hold on you than you can imagine!



Tom

Excitement!

So many deer hunters won't be able to sleep tonight. Tomorrow is opening day of bow season here in Tennessee. I get a little excited myself, but trust me I will be able to sleep! Many things in life bring excitement into our lives. Think about your own life and what really gets your heart pumping? Thinking on this it made me think about my excitement for the Lord. Jesus is the greatest part of my life. Do I get excited about serving Him? Do I get excited about telling others about Him? Do I get excited to go to church every time the doors are open? Do I get excited about reading His love letter to me...the Bible? Do I get excited to be able to talk to Him in prayer? All these are questions we need to ask ourselves. If we are not excitied about these we need to find out why!



Hebrews 11:16

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.



Get excited my friends about the King of Kings.....Jesus!



Tom

What are your priorities?

The Holy Spirit has a plan for you today. You have a plan for today. So who wins out? If our lives are in tune with God the answer is easy...the Holy Spirit. But if we are not in tune with God self will win out. Being on fire for God takes so much discipline and self denial. Think about this question, What if you knew today was your last day on earth? How would you sum up your ministry for the Lord? Would others have any doubt you are a follower of Christ? How much of God's Word have you learned? How much regret would you look back on your life about? All these have to do with our priorities. How did you do on answering these?



One of the most important jobs of a believer is sharing the good news of Jesus. Paul summed up the importance with these words:



Acts 20:26

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.



2 Timothy 4:6-8

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.



I wish I could say that! I know I have let witnessing opportunities slip through my fingers many times. I will answer for that one day. Those days my priorities were in the wrong place! I am working for the Lord now but I must let the Holy Spirit lead me and not miss out on the race set before me! I just want to remind you here that our job is not to convert people, only God can do that, our job is to share the gospel so folks have the opportunity to be saved!



I want to encourage you this morning to examine your priorities in your life right now. Are you a faithful servant of God? God wants us to give our all not just half-hearted service to him. It is our choice!



2 Chronicles 16:9A

9A. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.



Tom

Cheer up and be courageous!

Life is tough, no doubt about that. There have been many days where it seems the world was crashing down on me. As I have grown in Christ though I have found no greater joy than serving Him! I like to hunt and fish but there is NOTHING comparable to serving Jesus. We are programmed like that. We are made to have a relationship with God and serve Him. That is why we are most content when worshiping and serving Jesus.



When working for Christ we will have difficult times as we have talked about recently. But we must be bold and continue you on! Paul is a great example for us:



Acts 23:1-11



23 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

4 And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

5 Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. 8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. 9 Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”

10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”



Chances are we will never face the stuff Paul did but we will face things that are difficult when telling others about Jesus, may we take the words Jesus told Paul..."be of good cheer.....you must also bear witness"! In other words you are doing great Paul, continue the good work!



Cheer up my friends, be bold, and fight the good fight!



Tom

On fire for God...the devil is coming!

One thing we learn very quickly in the Christian life is that if you are on fire for God, the devil is coming to try and put that fire out! Look at the book of Acts. Over and over again the disciples worked for God through the Holy Spirit and time and time again the devil worked through people to arrest, beat and even kill the disciples to try and put the fire of the Holy Spirit out! Be ready....opposition will come!



2 Timothy 3:12

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.



It is not a question of will persecution happen but when. Now chances are for us, we will not be killed for our faith in our communities but we will be ridiculed, questioned, and even mocked when are are faithful to God's call and His work. Matter of fact I say if you want to know if you are on fire for God, look at your life and see if you have faced any opposition lately, if not, are you really sharing Jesus and trying to win the lost for Christ?



Here are 3 reasons we should be thankful for persecution! Yes I said thankful!



1. Persecution is a blessing.



Matthew 5:11-12

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.



Nothing more to be said here! Think on this!



2. Persecution is a purifier.



It separates those who are faithful to the end and who are not! In the early church, persecution strengthend believers and those who were fake or weak ran for the hills! Trial by fire will purify you!



3. Persecution reminds us of who we are in Christ!



When we are being abused or made fun of for Jesus sake, standing upon His Word, it should be a reminder to you that you are on the right track! Christ suffered and told us we would to on His behalf. Just remember this life in a vapor but life on the other side is for eternity!



Romans 8:18

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.



2 Corinthians 4:17

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,



Oh my brothers and sisters don't let Satan put your fire out for Jesus, we want all saved for God's glory! What we face in trials on this side will be nothing compared to the glory that lies on the other side!



Tom

Discipling others.

Last time we met we looked at sharing the gospel with others and how God expects us to do that. One thing that happens too much in churches today is stopping with leading someone to Christ. Our job is not done at that point. Then we MUST disciple that person. Some may ask what is discipling? In a nut shell, it is teaching others how to live a christian life. It is not just teaching alone, it is encouraging, supporting, and praying with that person you led to Christ. Many who do not get discipling will drift away from the church...this is a must!



Look at Acts 9:9-19 as it tells us a very important part of Paul's conversion:



Acts 9:10-19



10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.



Why do you think Paul spent some days with the disciples? For some training! To be discipled! If it was important for Paul it is important for all! New believers need role models on how the Christian life is to be lived.



One warning to those who are discipling others, be sure you are walking right with the Lord yourself! If you are living a wayward life you are not going to be a good example to someone else!



One encouragement, you will be empowered as you see the growth in the one you are discipling!



So let us be bust about the Lord's work He has for each one of us...winning souls and then discipler the new believer!



Tom

Leading others to Christ with the Holy Spirit!

Faith sharing seems to be lacking in most believers life. My friends this should not be so. I want you to ask your self right now, who have I told about Jesus in the past year? If you can't remember anybody, you have work to do! We all have work to do I am sure! We can all share Jesus more!



1. We all should have a burden for the lost!



Think about it this way, if they don't accept Jesus, they go to hell. Now think of how many friends, co-workers, and family you know that don't know Jesus. Does it bother you that they will go to hell with out Jesus? It should and if it doesn't well their are other issues you may need to deal with. Tell them about Jesus! Everyone you can!



2. You must be led by the Holy Spirit.



When we are following Christ with our lives obediently, we will recognize the Spirits lead! Reading our bibles, praying, and keeping our eyes and ears open for opportunities are key in witnessing and being able to sense the Spirits leading. For example, many times I sense a nudging to talk about Jesus when I an duck hunting with friends. I then have a choice, do I open my mouth or keep it closed. To be obedient to the Spirits moving I must open it!



3. Be obedient!



I covered this under #2 but it is key! It is not enough to know what God wants us to do, we must respond! God brought the early church many opportunities to lead others to Christ....thank God they were obedient! We must be too!



4. Know scripture.



It is very important you know scripture so you can share the Word of God with them, not opinions! The Roman road is great for sharing your faith. Check these verses out: Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10, 10:13...I also like to use 1 John 1:9.



If the person don't believe the bible is the Word of God, use it anyways! It is TRUTH!



Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.



Why God chooses to use us is beyond me! But He does. It is interesting to note that in the New Testament that no person came to Christ with out a human agent of some sort involved. God wants to use you....are you going to listen to the Holy Spirit and be used?



Tom

9-11 Remembered

Today let us remember the victims, firefighters, police, medical, and military from the attacks on 9-11. May God protect those who are protecting our freedoms right now also. We will never forget.

2 Chronicles 7:14
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Sharing the gospel.

As we continue to look at being on fire for God through the Holy Spirit, one of the obvious ways we see the fire is sharing the gospel. Gospel means good news. There is no better news than the gospel...none! Let me define what the gospel is in a nut shell:



1. God loves humans! All of us! Look at the most famous verse in the Bible:



John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.



What else could God do to show He loves us than what this verse tells us?



2. We have broken His law and fallen short of His glory. Which means simply...we have sinned against God and don't meet His standards!



Romans 3:23

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,



3. As a result of our sin we are lost, lonely, dying and on our way to judgement and hell. Not very good news here huh, but it is the truth.



Romans 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death



Matthew 10:28

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.



4. But there is good news in all of this! God sent Jesus to save us! A free gift from God!



Romans 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.



This the only way to God, through Jesus Christ.



John 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.



Once we have accepted this free gift of the gospel(salvation), it is our responsibility to share it with others!



Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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.



Jesus said "GO!" We are to share to gospel to a lost and dying world....are you? It is not an option from what I read it is a command!

Tom

Godly Appointments!

Did you know everyday if you are a follower of Jesus, that He has appointments for you to fulfill that only you can do? Well He does and that is why we must be in tune with the Holy Spirit to do the job that God has in store for us each day!



Look at this from the bible:



Acts 3:1-10

A Lame Man Healed

3 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.



Peter and John most likely had been through this area many times. Matter of fact they probably had seen this man before, He been there for a long time. The difference this day was Peter and John were in tune with the Holy Spirit and on fire for God. It was a divine appointment from God! The man wanted money but the disciples gave him something much more valuable than money, the healed him and gave him Jesus! Many seen the power of God that day and were amazed.



You see we have appointments everyday too to share Jesus. We have power through the Holy Spirit we never tap into. Being obedient to the Holy Spirits promptings are vital to our walk with God. Some examples may be...feeding the poor, paying a bill for someone in need, knowing a co-worked is hurting and praying with them, sharing Jesus with whoever will listen, praying over someone who is sick. These are just a few of the things God will guide us to do if we are available to the promptings of the Holy Spirit!



So are you ready to be used by God today? Listen! If you are willing He WILL use you!



Tom

Be faithful!

Faithfulness is a must to continue to be led by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit guides us everyday not just every once in a while. We must be faithful to His leading. As we look at the early church we see faithfulness was a trademark!



1 Corinthians 4:2

2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.



1 Peter 4:10

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.



If we are faithful in the small things the Spirit leads us to do then God will send bigger things to do knowing we were faithful in the little things! We must remember though that when God does give us bigger things to do remain humble because God does not need us to do anything! But He does want to use us!



Acts 17:24-25

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.



Let us be faithful my brothers and sisters in following the leading of the Holy Spirit in doing the work of the Lord!



Philippians 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.



Jesus showed us the way!



Hebrews 12:2

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.



If we are to be on fire for God through the Holy Spirit we must remain faithful and let our light shine!



Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Tom

ONE OF THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE!

This past Sunday I was honored to be able to baptize my daughter and tWO other girls. They all accepted Jesus into their lives during Vacation Bible school back in the Summer. NOTHING can compare to knowing your daughter and two others are now eternally secure! Praise the Lord!

Prayer = Power with the Holy Spirit.

When you read through the book of Acts it is very easy to see the work of the Holy Spirit through prayer. It is the same for us, when we pray the Holy Spirit can accomplish great things through us! One of the best example sof this is found here:



Acts 12:5-17



Peter Freed from Prison

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”

16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.



The power of prayer is an amazing thing. One thing that catches my attention is verse v.16 where it says they were" astonished"....as followers of the almighty God we should expect great things to happens through the Holy Spirit and believe that God will answer our prayers according to His will!



We must be a people of prayer. It is our direct access to God and it is far under utilized in our faith. Prayers should be second nature to us. A way of life that is normal. In good times, in bad times, in ok times, pray, pray , pray! Let me give you a few principals on praying.



1. Humbly pray.



When you pray recognize who you are praying to....God. God! This is our Creator, make sure you approach Him with reverence! Look how Jesus showed us to pray to God:



Matthew 6:9

9 In this manner, therefore, pray:



Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.



A reverence for God...all our prayers should start with a recognition of who God is!



2. Pray without ceasing.



We are a busy people. God's Word is clear we are to be in prayer often. How much do you pray in a day? Week? If you are like me not near enough. When is the last time we turned off the TV and spent and evening in prayer? We must spend some time in fervent prayer. This is a big reason why our prayers don't do much, because it is not a priority in our lives.



1 Thessalonians 5:17

pray without ceasing,



James 5:16

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.



3. Unity in prayer.



The early church agreed in prayer. Think about the church today....much division. This is not pleasing to God! Let me say this though....do not compromise the truth of God's Word! Look at the promise of Jesus:



Matthew 18:19

19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.



4. Pray even when you doubt!



Hey we all have weaknesses in our faith from time to time. Be faithful and obedient even when you have doubts! We seen in the early church they had some doubts about Peter's release but the prayed anyway! We must do the same.



So many times I am like this man talking to Jesus:



Mark 9:23-25

23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”



Lord help our unbelief but let us always stay faithful and obedient!



God can do great and mighty things through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, may all of us spend much time in prayer!



Tom

Love one another!

As we continue to look at the Holy Spirits work, we see that it guides us to love one another. We definitely seen this in the early church. They not only told others they loved them but the showed them and we need to grab hold of their example!



Acts 2:44-47

44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.



Do you see how they showed their love. As we have always heard "actions speak louder than words." Also note when others seen their love for each others others wanted what they had which was Jesus in their hearts and daily folks were being saved!



Remember Jesus's words in Matthew 20:28:



Matthew 20:28

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”



Love is shown by serving. They Holy Spirit can give us the strength to serve and love others, and who knows what God can do to the hearts of those we serve! Maybe even add to the church! Amen!



Tom

My first Goose!

Killed my first goose this morning...hope to get many more in the future!