Defending Our Faith and Our Lives

Defending Our Faith and Our Lives Contending For The Faith Acts 4.1-31 This was the first adversity the early Christians faced, as a group. However there were already economic problems some widows were facing as we will discover soon. Let the Spirit work and there will be problems… Jesus warned us about this. Let God move in an extraordinary way and there will be conflict. Miracles, Signs and Wonders cause controversy… a the controversy is usually from the Religious Leaders.. John 16. 33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The LORD is our Defender We work with Him in defending our faith It is Christ Jesus we have peace. Not in this world, whatever it has to offer. In Him: No silver and gold Living by faith Freedom Love We think “trouble” is financial stress or time constraints. That is NOT what Jesus meant. Read the context. It is spiritual. There are other promises for those other things. Financial stress can trouble us. Look at the promises of God to meet all our needs. I do not mean at all to disparage real concerns. I know some of you are facing an uncertainty humanly speaking. Family dynamics play a role in this. Those of us who are parents realize sooner or later we are in this for life. Grief cripples some. Living with the consequences of choices can be a heavy weight. Christ Jesus in our yoke fellow. His yoke is easy and his burden light Even Peter’s denial was transformed and he was used by the LORD to preach on Pentecost and in Scripture we just read, before the Sanhedrin, the ones as he said put Jesus to death. In our passage this morning… He is talking about dire straits because of the Gospel. Opposition to our faith. Acts 4. 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified but Whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” (seemed like he may appeared with Peter and John at the interrogation. Jesus Christ, the Nazarene is the focus of this hearing. He promised those followers of His that when they brought before rulers He would give them the words at that time. an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame Persecuted for righteousness sake This is what every true servant of God goes through. People ask me regularly, “How can you believe the Bible?”… until they need prayer! Because of my beliefs, even among some pastors, I have been challenged and some professors have told me that my view of the Scriptures won’t fly in the Scientific Community. Interestingly I am seeing an acceptance as I minister to those! Pastor Marcos, Pastor Linton and I have wrestled through some reactions to the LORD working among us. Here, in our loved ones and over in Bangladesh and India God has brought us through. I remember the first verbal persecution I faced at 12. I walked with my Pastor and made some visits with him one Sunday afternoon in Bellmore. My friends saw me. They said that their mother said we were out looking for new members for our church. We were visiting sick people, families from the church. Not true. Then when I turned 17, working in the grocery store, I was made fun of because instead of going to the company picnic, I went to church. Later when I left for Bible College there were a few coworkers that mocked me. Some however believed, others respected me. These were verbal minor persecutions. The persecution we face still is. Hebrews 12.4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. That is true in the USA, not in Egypt, China, Nepal, Sudan Some have been beheaded in recent days because if their faith. Pastors of House Churches in China face constant danger. That one dear elderly pastor with a House Church of over 400 souls… ever time he got arrested his church grew. Matthew 5. 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. This was beginning of 2,000 years of persecution against God’s people, the Church around the world. They killed Jesus. He told us, “If the world hates Me, it will hate you as well.” There are pronounced blessings on those who suffer persecution. Rejoicing Great Rewards in Heaven Look at the result. Their number grew to 5,000! Look at the places today! Iran and China. They are growing. We are learning from them. “Love Christ Chinese people.” Simple truths of the Scriptures. Intervals in track One of the things, for the most part, that the church has been “protected” from in the USA is persecution. This has been pleasant but has made us fat and lazy, prayerless and wandering. This is where the church in America is at: 1 Timothy 6:12. Fight the good fight of the faith. Jude 1:3. Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Persecution Persecution cleanses the church! No one is going to hang around if they do not love Jesus! Persecution refines believers. Not too many theological debates when they are coming for you. Petty things are swallowed up in persecution. How did Peter defend himself? Remember he failed the night Jesus was arrested. The Spirit had not been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified. Now after Pentecost the Spirit is gushing from his inner most being. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!” You defend your faith by Be filled with the Spirit. Be filled and keep on being filled. Ephesians 5:18 Have you been filled with the Spirit? Are you now filled? Notice at the conclusion they prayed for boldness in proclaiming the Word They were all filled a refilling Be respectful Peter, Jesus and Paul was before this group He did not say, “You bunch of yo yo’s” He addressed them by their positions. Give them Jesus 9-12 When we are defending our faith or contending for it we can get very personal. for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. It may be new to us but not new. 1,000’s of years of this was taking place Peter and John were good representatives of Jesus. Matthew 5 . 14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. If you suffer… We are not contending with humanity. This is a spiritual battle. We are not debating. Many who persecute us know down deep in their hearts they are wrong. We are not only in a time when we must defend our faith but also earnestly contend for it. Jude 3 Be strong in the LORD, in His Word We prepare every day for this battle. Have courage That comes from a strong faith and clear understanding of who we are in Christ Pray 23-30 Not for the threats to stop. You can look at a map in the foyer on the prayer desk. It show the places where persecution of Christians is the greatest. Pray for the nations the 1040 window, Cuba, China, For God to keep working For us to speak the Word with great boldness For us to keep doing what got us in trouble in the first place. 31 God answered their prayer He will answer ours! May we speak the Word of God with great boldness. If we do we will be persecuted.

The Promise of the Father: A Spirit Filled Church

The Promise of Our Father: The Spirit Filled Church Acts 2.42-47 Pentecost resulted in a Spirit Filled Church. The Promise of the Father for the followers of Jesus is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We hear different things today about churches. We hear things like, “the worship in that church is awesome. “We hear, “What great programs they have!” Felix Mapa’s church in a remote area of Papua New Guinea All over Europe and North America The withered fig tree, leaves but no fruit, looked good but fruitless. Temple, what magnificent buildings… going to be destroyed, fruitless. What is a Spirit filled church? We’re going look at that from God‘s Word this morning. Remember there were no church buildings until the 3rd century. Their organization was simple. Pentecost Sunday had taken place and this, and this is the result The marks of a spirit filled church. Pentecost or the Feast of First Fruits The first of the wheat harvest waved before the LORD. Honor the LORD with all of your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3.9 -10. Giving is a blessing. It has promised returns. Marks of a Spirit Filled Church: Those people love Jesus! You can feel the strong arms of Jesus there. The Presence of the LORD is there when it gathers. Their boast is in the LORD, not how great their church is. They don’t say, “You ought to come to my church.” They say, “You ought to come to my Jesus.” Yesterday morning, 35-40 Hindus from Bangladesh coming to Christ. v.42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Devoted= regular and continually, persist, constantly diligent, committed, dedicated, persevere Robe devoted to something or someone is to be loving, loyal and dedicated Clothed With Christ Jesus Romans 13:12-14 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Not a hit and miss. Not an option. Marriage sometimes yes, sometimes no. I don’t feel like being married this week. I am too tired. I have so much going on. How long will that last? There is a need today to patiently persevere in the Word. Pastors need to be faithful to the Word. God’s people need to be devoted to the Word * What was the Apostles Teaching? * It was the Word. What was the Word? It is the Logos. John 1.1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. With great power the apostles continue to testify to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus and much grace was with them all. Acts 4.33 Clothed with the power from on High the apostles taught the soon to be written New Testament The apostles teaching was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, crucified and risen and coming again! I Corinthians 2.2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The early church was devoted to this. Devoted= regular and continually, persist, constantly diligent, committed, dedicated, perseveres We are in a time now that “calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” Revelation 13.10b One of the marks of a Spirit filled church is that they are devoted to the Word of God, to Jesus Christ and that is their focus. Preach the Word Herald, Proclaim Publish They were devoted to the Fellowship. “You yearn for a safe place, a community of friends who are hungry for God, who know what it means to sense the Spirit moving within them as they speak with you. You long for brothers and sisters who are intent not on figuring out how to improve your life, but on being with you wherever your journey leads. You want to know and be known in conversations that aren’t really about you and or anyone else but Christ. “Only a few voices direct us to worship or call us to a new level of trust. Only a few invite us to experience spiritual conversations in a spiritual community.” -      Dr. Larry Crabb (True Spiritual Community, Formerly The Safest Place On Earth Fellowship= community, communion, joint participation, the share in something, intimacy, a gift jointly given The Spirit filled Church or a church filled with people who are Spirit Filled, have community, they participate in each others joys and sorrows, struggles and victories. They encourage each other. We participate in each others lives. Prayer, caring, loving In this fellowship we see Jesus. We see Him in others. We see Christ in eyes, words and deeds and in just the ministry of Presence. What is this need we have. We need community. We were created for fellowship. Fellowship with God. Fellowship with one another. It is based on His Word, by His Spirit. There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus. They care for each other… and they do not broadcast what they do for one another. Edie, Margot, Leah These is holy intimacy among them, the love of God. They share each others lives. A person who stirs up conflict in the community is detestable to the LORD Proverbs 6.19 They were devoted. The early church was devoted to this. Devoted= regular and continually, persist, constantly diligent, committed, dedicated, persevere Biblical Fellowship Old Testament word for fellowship is peace in some translations. It means sacrifice for alliance or friendship, voluntary sacrifice of thanks. Exodus 20.24 “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. Leviticus 3.6 “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. There is a purity, a perfection with our fellowship with the LORD. It is special. Numbers 10.10 Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.” Giving to God is a form of fellowship. We have koinonia as we give. The same with giving gifts to one another. II Samuel 6.17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD. A wonderful time of rejoicing and victory for Israel. They had fellowship with Him. We used to open the school day with a moment of silent prayer. We used to have prayer at graduations. I prayed years ago at Bay Shore High School’s Graduation. We acknowledged God. No more. Sad. God wants to have fellowship, not sure how many were doing that… I know I was. We had prayed the night before at the Family Altar, the sofa in the living room. We had prayed before we went to sleep. My Mom prayed with us before we left for school. So it was appropriate for me to pray at school. II Chronicles 30.22 Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service of the Lord. For the seven days they ate their assigned portion and offered fellowship offerings and praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors. New Testament word for fellowship is koinonia. It means fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse, the share which one has in anything, participation, intimacy, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship I John 1.3 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 1. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. II Corinthians 13. 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. The Fellowship of Sharing In His Sufferings Saint Francis wrote, “We have got a lot of dying to do if we are to have the lives our souls hunger for, a lot of entering into the great mystery of death and resurrection.” That is fellowship. Isn’t that where we connect the deepest? When we bear one another’s burdens, when we show our scars? Of course it is. Philippians 3.10-12 I want to Christ, the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings They were devoted to the fellowship. Bread= food often eaten Barley, Wheat, Mills, Ovens The early church was devoted to the breaking of bread Devoted= regular and continually, persist, constantly diligent, committed, dedicated, persevere * The Breaking of Bread had to do with eating together. Acts 2.46b They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, This was sublime fellowship Extreme joy Not without its challenges but we can have joy in problems, in grief, in struggles! The source of joy is the LORD and our relationship to Him and fellowship with Him? After this service this morning! * The Breaking of Bread had to do with the LORD’s Supper. We do this to remember Christ’s sufferings Proclaiming the LORD’s death until He comes I Corinthians 11. 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the LORD’s death until He comes. His Body broken, His blood shed Do this in Remembrance of Me. I Corinthians 11.24 The way He broke the Bread Luke 24.30 When He was at the Table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them. We do this to examine ourselves. I Corinthians 11.28 A man or to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. to test, to scrutinize, deem worthy, If Repentance is needed, then do it, confession, As soon as you come to Christ you can take this, even if it is right before! Jesus served this to men who followed Him and were clean by the Word He spoke but still needing to be converted. We do this to be reminded of His Promise of the Kingdom Mark 14. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” We remember what our salvation is based on The LORD left a meal to remember Him by. Broken unleavened bread. This is My Body broken for you. The Song is of Moses and of the Lamb. Revelation 15.3-4 The Passover lamb in Moses was fulfilled in Jesus, the Lamb of God. Revelation 5.6 I saw a Lamb, looking as if had been slain, standing in the center of the throne. I Corinthians 5.7 Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Prayer Prayer= addresses to / conversations with God, places devoted to prayer/ synagogue and outside if there was no synagogue Devoted= regular and continually, persist, constantly diligent, committed, dedicated, persevere Constantly in prayer prior to Pentecost and a mark of the church afterwards. Acts 1. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, Prayer is conversation with the LORD God Almighty. Both in public and more so private. Missionary and evangelist E. Stanley Jones wrote, “The first thing in prayer is to get God. If you get Him, everything else follows. Allow God to get at you, to invade you, to take possession of you. He then pours His very prayers through you. They are His prayers—God-inspired, and hence, God answered. “Prayer’s like the fastening of the cup to the wounded side of a pine tree to allow the resin to pour into it. You are now nestling up into the side of God—the wounded side, if you will—and you allow His grace to fill you up. You are taking in the very life of God.” Oswald Chambers, —Matthew 6:6 Jesus did not say, “Dream about your Father who is in the secret place,” but He said, “… pray to your Father Who is in the secret place….” Prayer is an effort of the will. After we have entered our secret place and shut the door, the most difficult thing to do is to pray. Devoted= regular and continually, persist, constantly diligent, committed, dedicated, persevere Colossians 4.2 “devoted” to adhere to one, be his adherent, constant to one, to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing, to continue all the time in a place, to persevere and not to faint, to show one's self courageous for, to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly So important being devoted to prayer is that Jesus ruthlessly cast out everyone who bought and sold in the temple, and said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations…. But you have made it a ‘den of thieves’ ” (Mark 11:17). A House of Prayer for all nations: praying for the children of Bangladesh on Tuesday morning, for Haiti on Sunday night Praying for Kenyan Pastor Mathew. The prayer box, the prayer meetings We need to be on our guard for those things that can enter our temples and take the place of prayer. The devil has an arsenal full of stuff… everything from bitterness to busyness. He told His disciples the parable of the widow, the friend at midnight and the unjust judge to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He calls us to faithful, persistent, importune, persevering prayer. Romans 12.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. If you pray only when you have a great need in your life then you are not devoted to prayer. We are to pray always and not give up. What is a Spirit Filled Church? It is described here: v.42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Continue in this way.

The Day of Pentecost

John 14.15-21 Hymn #143 The Comforter Has Come Hymn #659 We’ve A Story To Tell To The Nations Hymn #155 Spirit of the Living God The Day Of Pentecost Acts 2.1-13 Pentecost is a long-standing Jewish harvest celebration, a Christian celebration outpouring of the Holy Spirit and of the birth of the Church. The Greek word that means “fiftieth.” 50 days after Passover. 7 weeks from the Resurrection. They took the sheaves from the first fruits of the wheat harvest and waved them before the LORD in thanksgiving. The Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost, is a Jewish holiday celebrated 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits (the day after Passover). It's a time of thanksgiving for the harvest and commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. In the New Testament, it is associated with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, marking the beginning of the church.  For ten days after Jesus ascended the followers of Jesus waited. About 120 Acts 1.15 They prayed. They prayed continuously. 10 days Rebecca, can you tell of the importance of prayer in the church? Sound like a rushing mighty wind filled the house Tongues of fire upon each of them They were all filled with the Holy Spirit They began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them The people heard these Galileans speaking in their own dialects from where they were from. In Jerusalem God fearing Jews from every nation under Heaven Heard them declaring the wonders of God in their own native tongue dialects where they came from. Jesus said they would be witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. This was the beginning, paving the way For our discussion * Tell how the Gospel is tied into all nations I was going to have Pastor Johnson briefly tell us of the mission work you have done over the years. He is unable to be here. So I will share what is going on right now in my life and our fellowship.o * How do you believe a House of Prayer for all nations fits in here? * Obviously there was quite a change from hiding for fear of the Jews and all of them in Jerusalem with Peter preaching publicly and three thousand being baptized that Day. Talk to me about what made the difference. The Resurrection, being clothed with power from on High Baptized with the Holy Spirit. We see not long after Pentecost a miracle done in Jesus’s Name. Peter and John were arrested. Roberto, can you tell us briefly about your prison experience in Cuba? testimony to when you were filled with the Spirit, when your brother Paul prayed for you. Speak of the difference between inviting people to church and witnessing for Christ Church growth was never a goal of the church in the book of acts. It was the result of being filled with the Spirit. The Church Growth Movement began in the late 1970’s. Look where we are after nearly 50 years. Look where the Church in the Book of Acts was in 50 years. These are the men that have turned the world upside down! Acts 17.6 Ignorant unschooled men… who had been with Jesus and were filled with His Spirit. The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost He came in mighty fullness then His witness through believers won the lost and multitudes were born again. The early Christians scattered o'oer the world they preached the gospel fearlessly though some were martyred and to lions hurled, they marched along in victory. Then in an age when darkness gripped the earth the just shall live by faith was learned the Holy Spirit gave the Church new birth As reformation fires burned. In later years the great revivals came when saints would seek the Lord and pray O once again we need that Holy Flame to meet the challenge of today. --------------------------- CHORUS: Come Holy Spirit Dark is the hour we need your filling your love and your mighty power move now among us stir us we pray come Holy Spirit Revive the church today!

The Coming Of The Holy Spirit

Luke 11.9-13 The Coming of the Holy Spirit John 16.7-15 Associate of Dwight L. Moody, R.A. Torrey’s testimony: I shall never forget the eighth of July, 1894, to my dying day. It was the closing day of the Northfield Students’ Conference — the gathering of the students from the eastern colleges.(Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth and others) Mr. Moody had asked me to preach on Saturday night and Sunday morning on the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. On Saturday night I had spoken about, "The Baptism With the Holy Ghost: What It Is; What It Does; the Need of It and the Possibility of It." On Sunday morning I spoke on "The Baptism With the Holy Spirit: How to Get It." It was just exactly twelve o’clock when I finished my morning sermon, and I took out my watch and said: "Mr. Moody has invited us all to go up to the mountain at three o’clock this afternoon to pray for the power of the Holy Spirit. It is three hours to three o’clock. Some of you cannot wait three hours. You do not need to wait. Go to your rooms; go out into the woods; go to your tent; go anywhere where you can get alone with God and have this matter out with Him." At three o’clock, we all gathered in front of Mr. Moody’s mother’s house (she was then still living), and then began to pass down the lane, through the gate, up on the mountainside. There were four hundred and fifty-six of us in all; I know the number because Paul Moody counted us as we passed through the gate.
After a while Mr. Moody said: "I don’t think we need to go any further; let us sit down here." We sat down on stumps and logs and on the ground. Mr. Moody said: "Have any of you students anything to say?" I think about seventy-five of them arose, one after the other, and said: "Mr. Moody, I could not wait till three o’clock; I have been alone with God since the morning service, and I believe I have a right to say that I have been baptized with the Holy Spirit." When these testimonies were over, Mr. Moody said: "Young men, I can’t see any reason why we shouldn’t kneel down here right now and ask God that the Holy Ghost may fall upon us just as definitely as He fell upon the apostles on the Day of Pentecost. Let us pray." And we did pray, there on the mountainside. As we had gone up the mountainside heavy clouds had been gathering, and just as we began to pray, those clouds broke and the raindrops began to fall through the overhanging pines. But there was another cloud that had been gathering over Northfield for ten days, a cloud big with the mercy and grace and power of God; and as we began to pray, our prayers seemed to pierce that cloud and the Holy Ghost fell upon us. Men and women, that is what we all need: the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. Note the date! It was a year before Phineas Bresee was “thrown out” of the Methodist Church and began the Church of the Nazarene, eventually housed in what became known as the Glory Barn. They moved to that location because Redmond’s Hall owners asked them politely to leave due to “excessive noise”. Just a few years earlier A.B. Simpson founded the Christian and Missionary Alliance (1887) emphasizing Jesus as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King. The Assembly of God was founded in 1914, in Hot Springs, Arkansas The Assemblies of God has a very large global membership, with estimates ranging from 67 million to 86 million members and adherents worldwide. Like the Nazarene Church, at the present time, our growth is seen mainly in world areas, outside the USA. The Free Methodist Church was birthed in 1860 when Benjamin Titus Roberts, a pastor in the Methodist Episcopal Church, could no longer serve in harmony with their practices. He could not see how a church could support slaveholding, rented seats in the church, withholding women from full-time service in the church, and quench the movement of the Holy Spirit in public worship. In 1858 he was finally stripped of his ordination credentials in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In upstate New York he met in 1860 with 15 pastors and 45 lay persons and was elected the bishop of the free Methodist Church. Some Free Methodist ladies had an influence on Charles Finney in his ministry in upstate New York. You can read about that in Power From On High Finney: To the honor of God alone I will tell a little of my experience in this matter. I was powerfully converted on the morning of the 10th of October. In the evening of the same day and on the morning of the following day, I received overwhelming baptisms of the Holy Ghost that went through me, as it seemed to me, body and soul. I immediately found myself endued with such power from on high, that a few words dropped here and there to individuals were the means of their immediate conversion. My words seemed to fasten like barbed arrows in the souls of men. They cut like a sword. They broke the heart like a hammer. Multitudes can attest to this. Oftentimes a word dropped without my remembering it, would fasten conviction, and often result in almost immediate conversion. I want you to see that God was at work from 1860 until 1914 establishing new works out of a Move of His Spirit. Some were simultaneous. All of it by the LORD. HE is doing a similar thing in our day. We don’t understand it. Note that in several situations the founders of these groups when through some painful trials in the Methodist Church they had served in. Stripped of credentials, forced out by the powers that be. They did not grieve much because God had moved them into a new place, unbeknown to them at the time, but with His people and even more, led by His Spirit. Also great missionary moves were taking place. The China Inland Mission was being formed and flourishing! All across the nation, in individual congregations which would eventually become nationally known and band together with those of like precious faith, and around the world with the nations God was pouring out His Spirit. Habakkuk 3.2 LORD, I have heard of Your fame;     I stand in awe of Your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day,     in our time make them known;     in wrath remember mercy. We have been talking about the things Jesus said leading up to Pentecost. A time of new beginnings. Acts 1.1-8 He ascended back into Heaven They remained in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on High as per His command. 10 days later, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples in Jerusalem * Jesus’ Words to the Disciples About Leaving it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. The Coming of the Holy Spirit was in conjunction with Jesus leaving to go back to Heaven. The Comforter = called as one’s aide, to be besides one, an advocate, an intercessor, a helper The Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after His ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the Truth, and give them strength and power needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the Kingdom of God and to remain faithful. He continues His Work, the work of Jesus to this day. Acts 1.1-4 There were times of Revelation of the Persons of the Trinity * From Creation until the birth of Jesus was the time God revealed Himself primarily as the Father. * From the Birth of Jesus until His Ascension was the time God revealed Himself as the Son Hebrews 1.1-4 * From the Day of Pentecost until the Second Coming of Jesus is the Age of the Spirit, the Spirit doing the work of God, glorifying Jesus, the Son. Jesus introduced them to the Holy Spirit. We are now in the Age of the Spirit. He has been outpoured Acts 2.1-7 With this marvelous outpouring comes gifts and graces. He produces His fruit in us. He works in us to make us more like Jesus. We are baptized with the Spirit. Filled to overflowing. Then we grow in Christ. He gives wonder filled gifts to us. Matthew 7.11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! * The Spirit’s Work is To Bring Reality of Sin To The Souls of People -v.8-11 To Make us Holy by bringing us to Jesus. His Spirit speaks to our hearts about sin, judgment After a person has received Christ as his Savior, the Holy Spirit gives them the witness of the Spirit. It's a spiritual assurance that one is a child of God. This witness is not a singular event, but a continuing assurance that comes through the Holy Spirit's work in the believer's heart and life. Romans 8. 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. We pray that everyone will come to know the LORD. He is not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance. He is at work. His work is in the hearts of people. We do not know what is going on inside of people. God has many Pentecosts in His Sky. -E. Stanley Jones This is where persistence in prayer comes in. The Fruit of the Spirit One wing of the Dove In the Bible, the Holy Spirit is described as descending upon Jesus in a bodily form like a dove during his baptism. This is depicted in Luke 3:22, where it says, "heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are my beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.” * The Spirit Guides Us Into All Truth -v.13, 15 Jesus is the Truth. I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. He takes the things of Christ and makes them known unto us. He works in us to refute false doctrine. We have discernment. 1 John 2:20 You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. He guides us in the deeper life. The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. * The Spirit Will Tell of What Is To Come v.13 The gift of prophecy Like we shared last week. Revelation 19.10 The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul, John and Peter to write of the End of Time, the Day of the LORD. This is important, all important. The Spirit speaks through men and women to tell of us what is to come. My friend, Helen Wilk, was used in my life. Another meeting with the pastors in Bangladesh on Wednesday morning. Listen, be open. I have had false prophesies spoken. Things that never came to pass. The other wing of the Dove The Gifts Other gifts Romans 12. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. I Corinthians 12 .1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit,brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as hHe determines. * The Spirit Glorifies Christ vs.13-14 He will glorify Me. He will reveal Jesus to us. Reminding us of Jesus’ words Revealing the things of Christ to us. He will not speak of Himself. We all need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Open your heart to the gift of God. How much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?! The LORD’s Supper

The Prophecy Of The Day of Pentecost

The Prophesy of the Day of Pentecost Joel 2.28 “And afterward,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your old men will dream dreams,
    your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 I will show wonders in the heavens
    and on the earth,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 32 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the LORD will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance
    as the LORD has said,
even among the survivors
    whom the LORD calls. Peter quoted from this passage when he preached on the Day of Pentecost. It was the beginning of the outpouring of God's Spirit. But the prophecy of Joel does not completely pertain to the Day of Pentecost, Joel’s prophecy is also about the last of the Last Days, from verse 19 to the end times. The Day of the Lord will be different from this present day of grace. IIThessalonians 2. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed,whom the LORD Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming. The entire prophecy will be fulfilled during this age and will be culminated at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. What about the first part, about God’s Spirit being poured out on all flesh? There have been many over the centuries who have testified to these verses in personal experience. One of them was a lawyer in the 1800’s by the name of Charles Finney: There was no fire, and no light, in the room; nevertheless it appeared to me as if it were perfectly light. As I went in and shut the door after me, it seemed as if I met the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. It did not occur to me then, nor did it for some time afterward, that it was wholly a mental state. On the contrary it seemed to me that I saw Him as I would see any other man. He said nothing, but looked at me in such a manner as to break me right down at His feet. I have always since regarded this as a most remarkable state of mind; for it seemed to me a reality, that He stood before me, and I fell down at His feet and poured out my soul to Him. I wept aloud like a child, and made such confessions as I could with my choked utterance. It seemed to me that I bathed His feet with my tears; and yet I had no distinct impression that I touched Him, that I recollect. I must have continued in this state for a good while; but my mind was too much absorbed with the interview to recollect anything that I said. But I know, as soon as my mind became calm enough to break off from the interview, I returned to the front office, and found that the fire that I had made of large wood was nearly burned out. But as I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost. Without any expectation of it, without ever having the thought in my mind that there was any such thing for me, without any recollection that I had ever heard the thing mentioned by any person in the world, the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to go through me, body and soul. I could feel the impression, like a wave of electricity, going through and through me. Indeed it seemed to come in waves and waves of liquid love, for I could not express it in any other way. It seemed like the very breath of God. I can recollect distinctly that it seemed to fan me, like immense wings. No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroad in my heart. I wept aloud with joy and love; and I do not know but I should say, I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart. These waves came over me, and over me, and over me, one after the other, until I recollect I cried out, "I shall die if these waves continue to pass over me." I said, "Lord, I cannot bear any more;" yet I had no fear of death. How long I continued in this state, with this baptism continuing to roll over me and go through me, I do not know. But I know it was late in the evening when a member of my choir--for I was the leader of the choir--came into the office to see me. He was a member of the church. He found me in this state of loud weeping, and said to me, "Mr. Finney, what ails you?" I could make him no answer for some time. He then said, "Are you in pain?" I gathered myself up as best I could, and replied, "No, but so happy that I cannot live." At this time and on from Pentecost… God’s Spirit Being Poured Out On All People Pour= distribute largely In the past it was for certain select Israelites, like Moses and Elijah, Kings like Saul, David and Solomon. Chosen servants for an appointed work. Now it for everyone who believes on Jesus. At Pentecost He was poured out. So the big question is having believed are you living an overflow experience with the Holy Spirit? Have you been clothed with power from on High? Are torrents of Living Water gushing forth from you? John 7. 37 On the last and greatest day of the festival , Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7. 9 The Samaritan woman said to Him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and Who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Gushing Rivers A Spring overflowing the well Is this your relationship with the Holy Spirit? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? Men and Women Prophesying. v. 28-29 Not to a select few prophets but everyone… even women! This is an answer to Moses’ desire. Numbers 11:29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them all!” Back story: 26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” Joel’s prophesy For that moment Speaks to us today, 2,700 years later Speaking words by Divine Inspiration Forth telling Whether in the pulpit or the coal pit Whether at home or at the store. Whether between two people texting or by livestream Prophesy can be just futuristic. Helen Wilk 11 years ago “You have gone through a lot of suffering. God is going to bring people back into your life from years ago. (An example of this is Marcos and Nydia) He is going to open up a worldwide ministry for you.” Romaine in 1992 Habakkuk 1.5 Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed, for I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told. Bangladesh Pastors on Wednesday on Zoom. Two invitations to do Pastor’s Conferences this week, one in Myanmar and the other in Bangladesh, this added to one a while ago in Kenya. You all prophesy when you quote God’s Word. II Peter 1.20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. Dreams and Visions v.28 Old men dreaming dreams, not about what they are going to do when they retire but of the Kingdom of God. Retirement is in Heaven. Young men seeing visions of the Kingdom coming. Visions of possibilities in a world wide field. Most of faith missions began with a young man’s vision God has given vision to you in your youth. Tonya’s vision of the word, “Parsonage” on the house in 1984. Dream on May 26, 1992 Lamamuir set sail from London to China with 24 missionaries on May 26, 1866 The beginnings of the China Inland Mission and faith missions I look at the miracle in the mountains of Haiti. The church being built there, a miracle. I am pitiful with tools. I remember trying to build a doghouse and a builder friend coming over and laughing what I had started. Jacob and Joseph dreamed dreams Old men dream dreams They may not be as active as they once were in the Kingdom but they can tell of their dreams… Psalm 92. 14  They will still bear fruit in old age,     they will stay fresh and green, 15  proclaiming, “The LORD is upright;     he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him.” Visions - talk to the young men. Love how God is speaking. Josefina’s son-in-law. Wonders We ought to be in awe and wonder regularly. We will be if we are in a Spirit filled church. Love alone is wonder filled. In awe of His Providence In awe of family reunions In awe of His power In awe of His working In awe of answers to prayer In awe that we are being used in His Worldwide Work. The ability to speak in the dialects of the people who came there for Pentecost from every nation on earth. Walter Crow in Haiti in the early 70’s. The awe of pastors and people around the globe listening to our time in the Word and prayer through livestream. Share our livestream with hungry and thirsty souls. There should be healings from time to time. Miracles happening. Salvation For All Everyone who calls on the Name of the LORD will be saved. We are in a time of Grace. Fill my cup, LORD.

Clothed With Power From On High

Joel 2.28-32 Hymn #67 Blessed Assurance Pastor Johnson praying Hymn #150 Come, Holy Spirit Hymn #155 Spirit of the Living God Clothed With Power From On High Luke 24.36-49 We have been talking about the 40 days from the Resurrection to the Ascension. Jesus had spoken to them about the coming of the Holy Spirit. John 14-16 on the way to the Garden, where He would be arrested. After His Resurrection He gave them many convincing proofs that He was alive. Towards the end of this time He went back to the imminent coming of the Holy Spirit, after He went back to Heaven Whenever Jesus spoke about the coming of the Spirit He used to terms like we read before, “clothed”, “baptized, “ filled”. The relationship of His followers, believers, with the Holy Spirit is total and running over. The Spirit is given without measure John 3.34 Is He in your life? Are you filled to overflowing? Are people being drawn to Jesus as their Savior through you? The greatest need in the church today is for this Promise, the Gift of the Holy Spirit. He is the breath of the church. He gives power to love, live, be a witness. He gives good gifts, spiritual gifts. He produces good fruit, the Fruit of the Spirit. Gifts and fruit, the two wings of the Dove. From now until the Day of Pentecost we will be looking into this. On Pentecost Sunday, June 8th we will be looking into this Promise for you. On the 8th of June we will have a special service with a number of the elders sharing the Word together, team preaching. It will be grand! Let’s talk about this little paragraph in Luke this morning. 45 Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” This prophecy of Jesus continues to this day. We need Scriptural understanding concerning the Holy Spirit. Three times Paul writes about wanting us not to be ignorant. * Israel Romans 11.25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, * Death of Believers I Thessalonians 4.13 we do not want you to be ignorant about those who sleep in death,so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope * Spiritual Gifts I Corinthians 12.1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant We need Scriptural understanding concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We all need it. It is a gift! We need it to be His * Witnesses vs.45-48 More about that in Acts 1.8 and the whole book of Acts and on to this day! We pray for the nations here. We are seeing God work among the nations. Thank you for all who prayed this week for Pastor Liton in Bangladesh, feeding the orphans, for Pastor Felix, in a remote area of Papua New Guinea and for the food distribution in Haiti. A whole pallet full of rice was delivered throughout the mountains where malnourishment and suffering abound. This is a House of Prayer for All Nations. I love how Jimmy Williams in Haiti is praying for Liton in Bangladesh E.M. Bounds wrote men are God’s method. The church is looking for better methods, better men. What the church needs today is not more machinery or organizations or more and novel methods but men whom the Holy Ghost can use men of prayer. He does not anoint plans but men, men of prayer. Notice when He spoke about us being His witnesses it began in Jerusalem, where we are, and spread to adjoining areas, even ones we had previously avoided, and went throughout the whole world. The power of the Holy Spirit in mission work, in being a House of Prayer for all Nations. But first here, now on May 18, 2025. One of the many hindrances to being clothed with power from on High is promoting our own local fellowship. This can be and usually carries with it the thought that we are a tad bit better than the others. God help us! When the Spirit it is the LORD Jesus Christ that is exalted and He adds daily to the church those who are being saved. When He is present we acknowledge Him and leave talking about Him, His goodness and grace, not how tremendous the worship was or how wonderful the sermon was or how good we look. Witness= martyr Share the Word Tell of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Eyewitnesses Heart witnesses Testify This can happen out of hunger for God. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. My Nana, Rose Biggs, nearly 100 years ago now, came to Christ in a little mission in Brooklyn. I have told you the story of the little girl in the apartment there in Bensonhurst, who invited her to some evangelistic meetings. After walking with the LORD for a while, she was hungry for more of Him. One morning she prayed, “LORD, if You have something more for me, would You please give it?” He did. Later she heard a message from God’s Word on the wonderful Baptism With the Holy Spirit and she said, “That is what I received but I didn’t know what to call it!” * The Promise of the Father v.4 of Acts 1 Why wouldn’t you want what God has promised? Whatever He has promised for me, I want! Tis the enduement for life and for service. Acts 2. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the LORD our God will call.” Far off= on the Earth at that time of the First Century, far off in time, the past 2,000 years Mark 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far G3112 from the kingdom of God. And no man after that ask him any question. Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off G3112 are made nigh by the blood of Christ. After His Resurrection Jesus spoke Peace be with you. In the 40 days He spoke about being clothed with Power from on High. He told them not to leave Jerusalem until that happened. * Sent by Jesus v. 49 I am going to send you what My Father has promised; Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirt This is why the Nazarene Church was founded. They were “thrown out” of the Methodist Church. The Methodists in Southern California in the 1890’s were fighting against this preaching a second work of God in the life of the believer. The Christian Missionary Alliance The Assembly of God all proclaimed this and came into being within a few years of each other. Bible Institutes led by local pastors were helping young men studying for the ministry were all around. These fledgling groups and churches and associations had little property, little assets, little influence. All they had was the LORD. Leaving the more affluent and established churches these Spirit filled believers followed the leading of the LORD, even to training their pastors. THIS PROMISE IS for you! Acts 2.39  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” We rejoice over the past, we look forward to Heaven but we live in the moment. And the need of the hour, of this moment is for the fullness of the Spirit. We all need to be filled with Him * Clothed With Power to sink into (clothing), put on, clothe one's self This is God’s Will for us. This is the gift for all believers. It is not just for Pastors or Evangelists. It began with the Apostles but did not stop there. To every believer the Promise of God! Acts 2. 17  “‘In the last days, God says,     I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,     your young men will see visions,     your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women,     I will pour out my Spirit in those days,     and they will prophesy. The Holy Spirit coming upon us in power from above! We need this to witness in our lives and with our lips! We need it for living to please God and for our lives for people to see. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives. Acts 19.2 Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? Child of the Kingdom be filled with the Spirit Nothing but fullness Thy longing can meet Tis the endument for life and for service Yours is the promise so gentle, so sweet I will pour water on him who is thirsty, I pour floods up on the dry ground Open your heart for the gift I am bringing While you are seeking Me I will be found.

The Two Fishing Trips

John 21.1-14 Luke 5.1-11 The beginning and the end Jesus revealed Himself to Peter, James and John in a fishing boat at the beginning. This was not a leisurely trip. I heard Pastor David and Steve Evans talking about going fishing last week. I told them, “When you go, I want to join you.” Fishing with my Dad in New Hampshire… for fun. He taught me to fish. That little tug when a fish nibbled at your bait… This was their livelihood. They were net fisherman. The Sea of Galilee teams with fish. I have swam in it. Jesus comes and bids people to follow Him. He upsets careers and lives with a Heavenly call. 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, LORD; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for men.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him. From Nothing to Everything Paul Rees Jesus always gives us an overwhelming experience… overflowing. Abundance whether it is the water being turned into wine over 100 gallons… equaling conservatively 400 bottles of wine! Or feeding thousands, 25,000 with a boy’s lunch, and having 12 basket fulls leftovers, Jesus does more, much more than we can imagine. John 21 was a career change then back to the call. It was answering a call by Jesus. They were called to be His Disciples and would later, in His ministry, be designated apostles. Christ, then His eyewitnesses, the Apostles The Call of Jesus. We believe in a God called ministry. We all have a ministry. Some are called away from a career (for me it was first it was being a vet because my love of animals, and working in a grocery store) Ephesians 4. 11 So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself upin love, as each part does its work. He didn’t give these office gifts for those in them to amass great wealth, fleece the flock and sit in places of honor. Get advanced degrees. He gave them for spiritual reasons: Equip for works of service Build up the Body Unity in the faith Maturity Measuring up to Christ That should be the goal of everyone of these gifts to His Church Notice there are no numerical goals or financial goals mentioned. Not many of you should presume to be teachers. Those who teach will be judged more strictly James 3.1 John 21 * Jesus Brought Them Back Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. This was a career change. Jesus is going to turn them around with Grace, Power and a Charge (which we will look at next week). God works miracles in the midst of our failures! He directed them to return to Galilee. He knew the temptation would be there. He would call them a second time. No lakes in Jerusalem. The Fish Gate went into the Road to Joppa, on the Mediterranean Sea. Matthew 28.8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them.“Greetings,” He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me.” We know they stayed another week in Jerusalem… for fear of the Jews. We are looking into the 40 day period between the Resurrection and the Ascension. This is the third time Jesus appeared to the Eleven. Two in Jerusalem and now here in Galilee. We are not sure where this fits into the 40 days, from the Resurrection to the Ascension. In the midst of epic events the disciples were struggling! They were back for the Ascension, for 10 days until Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He had great purposes in bringing them back to Galilee. Fisherman are drawn to the water. That is where they work. When Olin Bechtel, whose mother was part of that original group in the mid 1940’s that started this church, took me out on his clamming boat, we arrived to a spot in the Great South Bay where he would clam as I fished and crabbed. He turned off the motor. All was quiet. He looked at me and went, “Ah.” Jesus brought them back to where the whole thing started. He was bring them back to His call to them to become fishers of men. He was recharging them. A Charge Have I To Keep 1 A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify, a never-dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky. 2 To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill, O may it all my pow'rs engage to do my Master's will! 3 Arm me with watchful care as in Thy sight to live, and now Thy servant, LORD, prepare a strict account to give! 4 Help me to watch and pray, and still on Thee rely, O let me not my trust betray But press to realms on high * Jesus Speaks in the Moment They were tired and hungry and defeated. They failed Jesus. Now they are failing at their previous occupation. They are in a perfect storm. Jesus fed them and encouraged them. He didn’t say, “You are some followers! You are back where I found you! Didn’t you learn anything from the 3 1/2 years I was with you?!” He did say: Come and have some breakfast. Bring some of the fish you have just caught. Taste and see that the LORD is good Psalm 34.8 What is He saying to you right now Come, follow Me Where? Where He leads me I will follow. We have the Logos, the Word of God/ Jesus Christ We need a rhema Scripture that addresses a believer's current need.  Example, “Your brother will rise again.” They got it several times Galilee, meet you there Jerusalem, don’t leave You may have had a rough week. Maybe you are going through a tough time right. You may be saying to the LORD, “I blew it. I feel terrible. I do not know what to do. I cannot seem to do anything right.” That is where men were in the moment they said, “We have fished all night and caught nothing.” Maybe today your efforts have come up empty. Perhaps you are facing financial reverses, you are wondering how you will make it. God will not fail you. I have been young, and now I’m old I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37.25 * Jesus Redeems Our Worst Failures It wasn’t just the failure at fishing, Peter had the denial three times of Jesus nail knowing it. Jesus, his questions to Peter was the reinstatement of him as a disciple and apostle. He had failed miserably, and perhaps you feel like there’s no place for you to serve, Jesus says come. Look at what He did to Peter. He gave him his place in the kingdom again. We will talk about this, LORD willing, next week. Reinstatement and Redemption The Reinstatement of Jesus. Charcoal Fire like the night of betrayals Great catch of fish like when they first started The call and the reinstatement The LORD’s Supper