New Beginnings in God's Kingdom

Joshua 1.1-9 We have been celebrating Jesus being born. (Jesus in the Greek, Yeshua/ Joshua in Hebrew) "Jehovah/ Yahweh is Salvation" Jesus brought the New Covenant for the whole world. The New Testament begins with the words, "The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Joshua brought in a New Time for Israel They were going into the land God promised them. Secretary of State John Kerry mentioned that land and its alluded to its promise from God when he mentioned 4,000 years of history. in his speech at the State Department this past week. Jacob/Israel... Joshua...Jesus Paradoxes of God *Putting on the Greatest Angel Demonstration in the sky to a group of Bethlehem Shepherds *Taking talented surgeons and putting them in hospitals to the uttermost part of the earth where no one will ever hear of them *Bethlehem itself. Wisdom of the world to look in Jerusalem. * The LORD Using children, young people *Jesus raising the dead but wanting to keep it from the multitudes. *Teachers, very talented ones going to third world countries around the world making next to nothing for the Kingdom of God *God doing things quietly, almost unnoticed. Most of which is never published or heard about. *Dr. Aileen Coleman In Jordan (Google her) * Friend of mine met leader of a major Mission Organization in New Delhi India Airport... Meetings in Port Au Prince Airport.... Mostyns... Yesterday when we announced the Pack and Prayer. Lady from Tennessee speaking about her daughter being a missionary and wanting to do that when they send her packages. *Dr. J. Hudson Taylor, Dr. Nelson Bell, Dr. Howard Hamlin - all who could have been incredible surgeons in England and America but left for China and Africa for a Higher Calling, a Greater Work The rest of us... “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” “…when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10) We are in the world, but we are not of the world (John 17:11, 14) “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…” (Galatians 2:20) New conquests for Israel under Joshua What should have taken 4 months took 40 years due to unbelief. The most successful things in my 40 plus years of ministry have met with the greatest opposition at first. Going into new territory is unnerving and we tend to settle in the wilderness than enter the promises! *We have done it with God's help this year! 1. We entered into an agreement 13 months ago with the Spanish Speaking Church we began 21 years ago. PENIEL = The Face of God, been there at that spot where Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the LORD. We have seen improvements made and have the cost of operating the church building cared for now. Bob Pawson's prayer, "I want to see the church building used every day." When we closed Good Shepherd that seemed to fall aside. But shortly after the Spanish church came and we are there again! 2. The Nazarene Cafe... Really Pat Shea's idea, then Sue Fliss and I began to dream and here we are! Each time new people have come. February 10th we will do another one, Valentine's Day weekend. Begin now to pray and invite. This can become something beyond our imaginations. It can be a net to catch fish, a lighthouse on a stormy sea. 3. The Immigration Assistance Program with our Spanish Brothers and Sisters. A week from this Friday there will be a meeting with an immigration attorney. Pray. Pray. Pray. *Moving in to possess the land Where God wants to take us this year! There are often things sitting right underneath our noses! Ephesians 2:8-10New American Standard Bible (NASB) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. God has prepared good works, foreordained them for us to do! Dr. Suzanne Wolfram, who made that dress for Betchina wrote to me about this upcoming trip to Haiti: Your work on the Haitian earthquake meant that when the hurricane hit, you were already ready with the prayer team, the donors, the work team... "For such a time as this" (Mordecai to Esther) 1. We need to reach out to children and their families! We have more than 50 here in our building each week! We have a leaders meeting on the first Monday of the month with all 17 GS Troop Leaders attending representing all the GS in Bay Shore. They refer to the building as "The Church". How can we reach them? I don't know but if we pray God will use us as He did back in the fall when one of the girls was missing. Pray. Pray. Pray. We need to keep praying for those who are sick but we need to add Jesus' heart to our prayers: Don't say 4 months and then comes the harvest. I tell you look to the fields they are white for harvest. Pray the LORD of the harvest that He may send forth workers into His Harvest Field. God help us dream! God help us change our prayers today and this year. Look to the fields they are ripe for harvest! 2. Between the backyard of the parsonage and the grounds at the church we have a Botanical Gardens. We also have experts gardeners around. How about a community gardening club or group which we own and operate? Creation and its Creator fit right in. Motto of the Daylily Society, "Consider the Lilies". We can bring the rest of the things that Jesus taught. To be continued next week