One In Christ

One In Christ Acts 15.6-18 Does a person need to become a Jew first before they receive Christ? This is the question of Acts at this point This is the issue of Galatians. It was settled in the first century. Today, is there anything other than faith in Christ, repentance of sins, and following Him that are necessary to be saved? Romans 10. 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” The Church at Galatia was heavily influenced by the men who traveled from Jerusalem. They told those at Galatia they needed to become Jews first. Paul wrote to them. Galatians 3.1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Phillips: O you dear idiots of Galatia, A person comes to Christ by believing on Him alone for salvation. Whenever it happened to you that is how you came. For me it was November 22, 1963. I was 7 years old. For my friend, Keith it was a week ago Saturday, for 13 souls in Bangladesh it was at one of our livestream meetings. Photo of Baptism It was not Jesus plus some work. It was simply Jesus. I prayed. I had begun to read the Bible. I was already attending church. My Mom wisely had me call my Sunday School teacher and tell her. * Peter and Cornelius were in part for this time. v.7-11 God wonderfully saved Cornelius, his family and friends in Caesarea Acts 10 This was for them. God took note of this man’s prayers and sacrifices. It is a beautiful story. This was for years later. God was going to use this wonderful account He will use your story. It is His Story. Wait. I was texting with a friend who just lost his wife. I was trying to encourage him. He asked if I had experienced loss. It opened up his heart as I opened up mine. People need to know they are not alone, that someone has experienced what they have experienced. There are things for this time. There is no place for prejudice when it comes to the Gospel. Christ died for everyone! He came for everyone! Jesus loves the little children of the world Some children see Him… Some children see Him lily white,
the Baby Jesus born this night.
Some children see Him lily white,
with tresses soft and fair.
 Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
The Lord of heav'n to earth come down.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
with dark and heavy hair.

Some children see Him almond-eyed,
this Savior whom we kneel beside.
some children see Him almond-eyed,
with skin of yellow hue.
 Some children see Him dark as they,
sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they,
and, ah! they love Him, too! 

The children in each different place
will see the baby Jesus' face
like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
and filled with holy light.
 O lay aside each earthly thing
and with thy heart as offering,
come worship now the infant King.
'Tis love that's born tonight! There are things that transcend language in communicating. * Music * A smile * Love * The need of a Savior Our actions affect the future. More than we can imagine. The congregations of Patchogue and Bellmore saw the people moving into this area after World War II and decided we need to start a new church here. We are here today because of their faith and vision. We are seeing people moving in. Suffolk County is growing. Bay Shore is an epicenter of growth. How will we reach those thousands in the apartments? Peter was able to say this happened first with me. The LORD was bringing His Church to be a House of prayer for all nations! All the Ethnos… all the ethnicities Mark 11.17 John 16. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. (The Gentiles being included.) 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. This was the ongoing work of Jesus. He died for all the ethnos. We are to pray for all the ethnos. We are a House of Prayer for all Nations. Ethnos What else could the Ethnos be? The Gentiles were viewed by the Jews as unclean outcasts, unable to approach God. In the First Century the Jews looked at the Gentiles in a horrible way: * They were on the same level as dogs Jesus said to the Syro Pheoncian woman, “ It’s not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the .”dogs.” Matthew 15.26 He was expressing a common thought among the Jews, among His disciples. He gave her what she asked for because of her faith. The Centurion got his request and Jesus said that He had not found such faith in all of Israel. He was getting His Disciples ready for the unthinkable in their Jewish minds. Salvation was going to be offered to Gentiles without becoming Jews! * The first century Jews thought the Gentiles were created to fuel the fires of Hell. * However if a non Jewish man (like the Centurion in Galilee) was kind and religious he was commended. The temple did have a Court of the Gentiles and was called a House of Prayer for all nations. Who are the “Gentiles” of 2025? What about those struggling with addictions, those in alternative lifestyles? They need Christ. If they come to Jesus they will be free from the Chains! Let’s go after those not like us! We don’t give up our faith when we share it. We gain more faith when we see people come to Christ. The answer to that question is in the words of Jesus in regard to His Father’s House being a House of Prayer for all Nations. The Ethnos is what God is doing throughout the world through this little church! Beautiful Lady from India leading the worship a week ago at the Pastor’s Conference. I joined in with my heart. Didn’t understand the words except Jehovah. The music was in a minor key. I loved it! Our preferences can eliminate ourselves from what God is doing! The Church at Jerusalem was confronted with that. It is also those who engage in socially “unacceptable sins” among the church. I Corinthians 6.9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. The Ethnos came in. Did they have to obey the Jewish traditions? This meeting stopped the church from being another sect of Judaism We would have all to become Jews first. Jesus was building His Church with all nations. The picture of the Body of Christ is “us.” Not Americans and the rest of the world. The whole world! v.11 We believe it is through the grace of our LORD Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” The Worldwide Family here on earth. We are the Church. His Father’s House… * Paul and Barnabas told the most recent events. v.12 God was working wonders through and with the Gentiles. They had recently returned from a missions trip. Those of you who have gone on one know what it is like when you get back. You can hardly keep your mouth shut as you tell the wonders. Your worldview is altered. Your view of the church changes. Missions are exciting. We can learn. Baptism in Bangladesh. Feeding there. It is so helpful to our faith to see what God is doing among the nations. * The LORD had foretold this 750 years before. vs.14-18 Isaiah 56. 8  The LORD God, Who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to Him Others besides those who are gathered to Him.” Even before that the promise to Abram in Genesis 12 that through him and his seed all the nations on earth would be blessed. And after that the our Father’s House would be a House of Prayer for all nations in II Chronicles in Solomon’s Dedicatory prayer of the temple. In Christ the Gentiles and Jews are one. Ephesians 3.6 This mystery is that through the Gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ. All Nations are One in Him. Therefore go into all the world and preach the Gospel Make Disciples of the Nations He is with is always

Hardships On The Way To Heaven

Facing Hardships On Our Way To Heaven Acts 14.21-25 We must go through many hardships in order to enter the Kingdom of God. I Thessalonians 3.1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. This is a truth we do not particularly like. We are destined for hardships if we are following Jesus. It was never easy to be a Christian in China. Read the hardships of Hudson Taylor in books about him. Google “The Boxer Rebellion.” By 1950, after Mao took over, it became very difficult for Chinese Christians. Mao went out after the church. You can read about this in China: The Church’s Long March by David H. Adney Hardships? You will discover, as in Acts, what Mao meant for evil God meant it for good to the saving of many lives. Hardships oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits, a pressing, pressing together, pressure We are in a battle today. It is Jerusalem against Babylon. It is the Kingdom of God versus the kingdom of this world, it is a battle in the spiritual realm. It is good against evil, Light against darkness. Righteousness against sin. Holiness against wickedness. We are in a conflict greater than we can imagine. The surest way to receive less criticism is to do nothing. The surest way to avoid persecution is to be quiet about your faith and be prayerless. Yes we are persecuted for being a House of Prayer, but we are not going to stop. Pastor Humphrey on Wednesday: We are in a great spiritual battle. Faith Missions does not seek to “benefit” from its investments. Relative asking me when I am going to get something back from the trips. Sadly he does not understand the Kingdom of God. Nor do many American Pastors. They understand the political kingdom of man but not the Kingdom of God. We are servants not Kings. We seek to advance God’s Kingdom, not the church. Jesus takes care of His church. Justin once I would like to read about how an individual was used to expand God’s Kingdom, rather than a denomination! So We must go through many hardships in order to enter the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God and Prayer Prayer is the language of the Kingdom of God. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. I Corinthians 4.20 We see the power of God in answers to prayer. Yesterday! Luke 18.1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, (give up) 7 will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" You will find the Kingdom coming when people are sincerely praying, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk. If this is not sitting well with you, can I ask you, “How is your prayer life?” Are you praying without ceasing? If not keep seeking to. Think about prayer: puny human beings talking to Almighty God on His Throne! Think of His past deeds! He never changes. He is the same! The cries of God’s children, the cries of Israel in Egypt. At that time men began to call upon the Name of the LORD Genesis 4.26 * The Kingdom of God is among us. Luke 17.20 When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. 21 Nor will people say,‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see,the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Jesus is the Embodiment of the Kingdom of God. Wherever there are two or three gathered in My Name there am I in the midst. This was in the context of prayer. The Jews needed a minimum of 12 men to form a synagogue. Jesus sets us free from that. Prayer partners. While invisible we can see the results of the Kingdom of God among us. Build at a 90* angle and the building stands. Cooperate with the law of gravity. Eat right and exercise, you will feel better Give and it will given to you. Mostly in redeemed souls. Their transformation. Changes in their behavior, speech and attitudes. I have been watching it here. Making Disciples is the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. Feed the hungry and you are seeing the Kingdom of God come. Preach the Gospel to the poor… this opens the Kingdom of God. Bangladesh Audio Bible Photo Haiti Church * The Kingdom of God is Coming It is forever. Psalm 145.13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all He promises and loving to all He has made. Jesus is coming again. The Kingdom of God will rule the earth forever. While it is among us, when Jesus comes the kingdom of darkness will be banished. There will be no more battles. All is peace and joy and love. Revelation 21.1-8 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain,for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be My children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” * Hardships We Go Through Paul’s II Corinthians 1. 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers.Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. I Corinthians 15.31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our LORD. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, II Corinthians 11.23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits, a pressing, pressing together, pressure Persecution for the Gospel: made fun of, mocked, accused of being holier than thou, accused of being a holy roller Left out of things Talked about behind our backs Watching people mess up spiritually Financial concerns for the churches. Our own struggle against sin Hebrews 12. 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? Hardship as discipline Don’t run away from it Remain in it, in Christ, persevere, hold fast To the pastors… II Timothy 2.3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Shepherding a flock brings hardships. Sheep who wander off The enemy trying to divide Being alone. In the battle Being falsely accused Through We don’t live in them They are temporary They are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us Romans 8.18 We will be done with them one day. We will lay our armor down and receive a crown. We must go through many hardships in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

A Man After God’s Own Heart

A Man After God’s Own Heart Acts 13.21-22 This is during Paul’s First Missionary Journey. He and Barnabas were out together. It is interesting how this came about. The laying on of hands. The Holy Spirit spoke, probably through a prophet. They were sent out. This was in the context of the Church. This is how missionaries are sent. I remember when I went to Haiti for the first time, 11 years ago. I had Pastor Johnson, Rudy Migliore, Ray Toca and Pastor Dennis Hodulick, my prayer group, lay hands on me in a prayer meeting a few days before I left. I wanted to humble myself and be under God’s Blessing. Pastor Dennis said that I would be speaking in a church there on Sunday. I said I don’t even know anyone in Haiti. Yet Sunday Morning I found myself speaking in Pastor Joes Church and the mission began… and it ended it well… with a new church built. They were in Pisdian Antioch. Their pattern was to the Jew first and also to the Greek. So they went to the Synagogue. Paul spoke out of the Old Testament, the Scriptures of the Jews. David was their most beloved King. To this day there is a tomb in Jerusalem which is called the Tomb of David. We know when Acts was written his tomb was there. It is one of the holiest sites in Israel. It is a Memorial to Israel’s most beloved King Paul speaks of David. He was a shepherd, Hero in slaying Goliath, becoming King and most of all in the line of the Messiah. Mary and Joseph were of the house and line of David. This is why they went to Bethlehem to register during the Census. We are sharing about important things today, things of the Kingdom. It is not the Pro 17 iPhone that is important. We are in a time when the news cannot be trusted. Calls are going out since Wednesday for a return to God in our nation. It will happen when the people of God stop talking about Him and begin to cry out to Him. The most important and wonderful thing is that God is at work in the lives of those who are after His own heart. Those who are calling out to Him. In India we are being asked to pray for land for a church. Pastor Johnson’s Indian Village Mission. In Bangladesh a number of hungry children were fed by gifts given through this little church. In Kenya Pastor Daniel had the rim of his motorcycle fixed. He attended a conference in Uganda (6 hour trek on roads that are not like ours) I rode 6 hours thanks to Marcos and Nydia to be with my Mom on her 96th birthday on Thursday. It was a lot different trip than Pastor Daniel had. While there she got to talk to Pastor Humphrey from Nairobi. His church building needs a roof. We have some materials there but more are needed. What is most important? The thing Paul recalls is a deeply spiritual issue. David was a man after God’s own heart. * David was a Shepherd. As the LORD Psalm 80. 1  Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,     You who lead Joseph like a flock. You Who sit enthroned between the cherubim,     shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken Your might;     come and save us. “Shepherd of Israel” is a biblical title for God, emphasizing His role as the loving leader, protector, and provider of the nation of Israel and the Church. I am the Good Shepherd, Jesus said in John 10.11 The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The Sacrificial Lamb of God In the Old Testament the LORD is my Shepherd, Israel’s Shepherd. In the New Testament, Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, the Chief Shepherd Hebrews 13. 20 Now may the God of peace, Who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I Peter 5. 1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. David said He was His Shepherd This is huge. It shows God’s heart. Loving, caring, graceful, gentle It shows mankind’s need. The crying need is for shepherds today. In this time guidance for the soul is needed. We have medical needs at times. We have emotional needs, physical needs. But the overwhelming need is in the soul, for direction, for comfort, to be heard, to be loved, to be affirmed. Take someone who is successful in their career, makes lots of money, has the things money can buy, may even have friends. If they do not have a relationship with the LORD’s, their life is empty. Take someone who lives in a developing nation, say Bangladesh They just get by, they do not have money or really anything. They just have the LORD. They have all they need. They are content. Fitz Chrysler said, “The person who has everything and Christ is not a whit richer than the person who only has Christ.” The soul is where the issues of life are. The soul is that eternal part of man. We need daily guidance. For someone to care without charging. I love it! Shepherds, true shepherds, have a deep love for the flock. I was blessed in my pre shepherd days to have men who loved the LORD and tended to their flock. * David understood the Kingdom of Israel, God’s Kingdom You do not ascend to power on your own. Psalm 75. 6 No one from the east or the west     or from the desert can exalt themselves. 7 It is God Who judges:     He brings one down, He exalts another. This is precisely what happened with Saul and David. God anointed David and rejected. You do not do what you want to with the power entrusted to you. Jesus said, “For the Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10.45 The LORD seeks servants whom He can work through. David fought the LORD’s battles. I Samuel 25.28 “Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The LORD your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the LORD’s battles, What are the LORD’s Battles Today? The souls The soul of this nation How do we fight. Clothe ourselves with the LORD Jesus Christ Prayer You submit yourself to God. Sheep are safe when they submit to the Shepherd. The shepherd sees what is ahead. He gathers the sheep together in times of storms. The shepherd seeks out food for them, leading them to a table prepared for them. It is deadly for a sheep to leave the flock and the care of a shepherd. It is also deadly for the sheep to attack the shepherd. It is unseemly. Actually wolves attack, sheep are defenseless. You do not touch the LORD’s Anointed. Psalm 105.15 Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. His prophets. All of God’s people. We have an anointing. I John 2.20 * David Shepherded them with skilled hands and integrity of heart. Psalm 78.70-72 He had a heart like God. Full of Grace Full of Love He cared about justice. He led the nation in worship. He saw nature as God’s Handiwork. Throughout the Psalms he praised the LORD for it. He had a beginner’s heart, an awe of His Father’s World At the death of Saul, before he took the throne, he led the nation in mourning. Part of God’s heart breaks for human beings on this earth broken by sin. A man after God’s own heart is * humble * Loving * Kind * Willing to suffer, insulted, spoken evil of, forgiving * Worshipful * Seeking guidance from above * Crying out to God * The eyes of the LORD go to and from throughout the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. II Chronicles 16.9 Be a man or woman after God’s own heart.

Murder and a Miracle

Murder and A Miracle Part Two Praying Without Faith Acts 12.1-19 God is not obligated to explain why He does things differently with two of His followers. Peter, James and John were fishermen in business together when Jesus called them. Peter was arrested. His fate seemed to be the same as James. God can step in, even at the last minute. It looked like it was all over. It was going to be a double murder. He was being guarded by 16 soldiers, one fisherman, 16 soldiers The sentence of death was upon him. Paul, the Apostle wrote II Corinthians 1.19 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, Who raises the dead. Jesus, Isaac, Peter His situation was helpless and hopeless. Maybe you feel yours is this morning. If so I pray you will receive hope today from the Word. I have been there a few times in my life. It has never helped me when people have asked, “What are you going to do?” I don’t know. Learn this lesson of life. God deals differently with people in the same set of circumstances. God works miracles when He wills. When we look at the circumstances whether good or bad, blessings or burdens, even deep heartbreaking ones we can lose our way in praying. Our focus needs to be on the LORD. Whether in giving thanks for the blessings or coming before Him with our petitions and interecessions, our eyes need to be fixed on Him. Fixing our eyes… Hebrews 12. 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. What were the eyes of the Church at Jerusalem fixed on? Was it the LORD? Was it Stephen and James’ Death by stoning and the sword? Let’s be gracious here…but honest. Death profoundly changes life. Violent death traumatizes us. They were not believing that the LORD was going to deliver Peter. Even if they were praying it, which the LORD lets us wonder about. As God continues to do amazing things through this little church I stand is awe. Photos from Bangladesh Feeding, India Feeding, Kenya on Monday Morning Throughout Kenya and into Southeast Asia the LORD is working in amazing ways. The Church there is exploding with new believers. The LORD is adding daily to the church. They have no gimmicks, no special programs. All they have is God. Other churches in Tanzania and Malawi have connected with us this past week for prayer and encouragement. What about America? Our country and Israel have a different heritage. We were founded in prayer to God from the hearts of people longing to be free… Israel was released from Egypt due to those cries. God’s Hand has been upon this nation. "America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” Our Judeo Christian Ethic I love reading about the beginnings of this nation of ours. The Sanctity of Life All men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness… Our country needs to rediscover its roots. God has blessed America America needs God’s help, desperately We pray today for discernment in distinguishing spirits. Money, sex and power is what tempts men of God. I think power is the most insidious. The Oval Office is the most powerful room on Earth. Many have fallen into its lure. Both Presidents and Ministers of the Gospel. Some, amazingly, have not allowed its power to overtake them, but they are few in number. Been reading about Saul and David. Saul trying to take David’s life. David ducking spears and not retaliating against Saul because he was God’s anointed, as was David. * Even When We Are Faithless, God is Faithful. He definitely desires faith from us. Hebrews 11. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. This makes sense. Believe in Him Believe that those who diligently seek Him will be rewarded. There is this verse in II Timothy 2.13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. The church’s lack of faith here shows that they didn’t believe even when God answered their prayers for Peter’s Release… or were they? Maybe they were praying that God would be with him as he went to Heaven. These could have been prayers of grief. Maybe they were praying for his loss ahead of time. Fervent, earnest prayer, continuous Maybe they were praying, “If you can…” like the man who brought his son to the Disciples in Mark 9.23 if you can? All things are possible to him who believes. Whatever they were praying they did not believe he was going to be released, and definitely not miraculously! There is a prayer offered in faith which makes the sick person well according to James 5. If there is a prayer offered in faith then it seems possible that there can be prayers offered without faith. Matthew 21.22 if you ask anything believing you will receive it, 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Faith the size of a grain of mustard seed. Prayer for wife of well known pastor in the awakening. The prayer for dying grace. Then God healed her! God has Grace that even when the church misses the mark He calls it back. Look at Revelation 2-3, the letters or messages to the Seven Churches from the LORD. Jesus is offering hope. He is calling them to repent of their sins and shortcomings. He is being faithful when they are not. I believe He is calling many churches back to Acts 2:42-47, not gimmicks or tricks, but sincerity. One of the problems with gimmicks is if you win people to the church with them you have to keep using them and even more if you want to keep them, whereas if you let the LORD add to the church you just need to keep following Him. The Apostles Teaching, The Fellowship, the Breaking of Bread and Prayer. The call for the church to return to its first love… Just as you received Christ Jesus as LORD, continue to live in Him… Colossians 2.6 Herein is a mistake many make. They fail to pray. They need to pray: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139.23-24 David’s Prayer, A man after God’s Own Heart How do we pray with faith? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10.17 Get into the Word and prayer. Otherwise you will eventually say, “Sending prayers to you.” Huh? Prayer is to God in Heaven. There is one mediator, Jesus Christ. * God Stirred the City of Jerusalem and His Own People. We want this or at least we say we do but look at the bigger picture here. Are we willing to be persecuted? The early church received a Baptism of Persecution Where persecution is the greatest the church is the strongest. It purifies the church. It strengthens the church. No one would dare join a church when there is persecution unless they are followers of Jesus Christ. There was no casual Christians. The early church embraced the suffering they received. We want to run or be delivered. God did for Peter. James got the better deal. He was home safe. The game of Trouble… get your pieces home! They are safe there. Are we willing to suffer? Jesus was. The LORD’s Supper