Hello Everyone,
The question that we want to try to answer this week is what should we do to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
Acts 2:38-39 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off- for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
The answer: You receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit the same way you receive the forgiveness of your sins.When a person repents they receive the forgiveness of their sins.
By repent the Bible means: “a turning away from unbelief, mistrust and rebellion against God and turning towards a complete reliance on His forgiveness and favor on account of Christ.
Salvation brings a release from the penalty of sin; the removal of the presence of sin, along with its consequences.
Romans 8:23 “We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption of sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
When a person repents they receive the forgiveness of sin and the Holy Spirit puts that person into Christ.
Ephesians 1:13-14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of his glory.”
Having repented; having received the forgiveness of our sins and being put into Christ by the Holy Spirit we publicly demonstrate this by being baptized in the name of Jesus.
The Pentecostal message is that in addition to receiving a pardon for your sins you can also receive the power to be witness
Acts 1:8 “And you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in (Anderson, S.C., America, and then the world) Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
With the Holy Spirit, comes an infusion of POWER to BE and to DO.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Hello Everyone,
Read with me Joel 2:28-29“And afterwards, 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. Even on my servants, both men and women I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”
Question 1: Who would God pour out his Spirit on?(On all people; my servants: sons and daughters. old men and young men, both men and women.)God desires every believer to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Question 2: When would God pour out his Spirit?(Afterwards, or after what?)
1. After the ascension of ChristActs 1:7-9 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
2. On the Day of PentecostActs 2:1-4
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came down from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Question 3: What does this mean? (Acts 2:12)Peter answered: “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” (Acts 2:16-17)
And the question that we will be trying to answer this week is: What should we do to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
This is what we need to be searching our hearts for the answer to this week and the days to come.
Until then,
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Read with me Joel 2:28-29“And afterwards, 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. Even on my servants, both men and women I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”
Question 1: Who would God pour out his Spirit on?(On all people; my servants: sons and daughters. old men and young men, both men and women.)God desires every believer to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Question 2: When would God pour out his Spirit?(Afterwards, or after what?)
1. After the ascension of ChristActs 1:7-9 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
2. On the Day of PentecostActs 2:1-4
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came down from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Question 3: What does this mean? (Acts 2:12)Peter answered: “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” (Acts 2:16-17)
And the question that we will be trying to answer this week is: What should we do to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
This is what we need to be searching our hearts for the answer to this week and the days to come.
Until then,
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Friday, June 26, 2009
Great things are waiting
Hello Everyone,
David is anointed into a whirlwind of threats by a giant, by Saul, by enemy nations, and the list could go on and on……David’s only security is the promise of God’s protection!
And that is our only security also!The power of God’s anointing is most always at odds with our ideas of power!The world may not see you as powerful…but You are!And the reason?You have been chosen and anointed by God to turn your city up side down…to bring the love of Christ to a lost and broken people!!!And God will be with you every step of the way!
Don’t let the thoughts and ideas of others slow you down!
There is a story of a young boy who dreamed of the day his father had promised to take him to the amusement park!This young kid was just dying to ride on the biggest, fastest and scariest roller coasters!He dreamed and dreamed about it for days, until the BIG DAY was finally here.As he enthusiastically walked up the ramp to get on the ride, the attendant, pointed him over to one of those height things that looks like a ruler.He stood against it and was heartbroken when he was told that he was two inches too short!
The world will tell you that you are too small to ride the roller coaster of destiny, faith, and holiness …Your own family will tell you are to small to make a differenceThe good news is that God chooses people who other’s think are throw-a-ways or not good enough to do God’s will!
David was only a shepherd boy.
Anderson 1st is only a small church in Homeland Park.
That mother had no arms and no legs!
Jesus was only Joseph the carpenter’s son…
Who Knew the Hidden Potential but God alone?
Be looking. I believe God is about to open up doors of opportunity for our church individually and corporately.
Tradition will say that it has never been done that way before. The flesh will say what about ME! But the spirit man will say what ever it takes to see souls saved, I will do.
I beg of you, get out of the ordinary way of doing and step into what God is doing today.
God is UP to the Supernatural. He is about to open up doors that without courage, without faith we will not go through.
But with the understanding that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens me, we can walk through “these” open doors with the boldness that the little shepherd boy David had when he faced Goliath.
Oh How He Loves us!
Phil
David is anointed into a whirlwind of threats by a giant, by Saul, by enemy nations, and the list could go on and on……David’s only security is the promise of God’s protection!
And that is our only security also!The power of God’s anointing is most always at odds with our ideas of power!The world may not see you as powerful…but You are!And the reason?You have been chosen and anointed by God to turn your city up side down…to bring the love of Christ to a lost and broken people!!!And God will be with you every step of the way!
Don’t let the thoughts and ideas of others slow you down!
There is a story of a young boy who dreamed of the day his father had promised to take him to the amusement park!This young kid was just dying to ride on the biggest, fastest and scariest roller coasters!He dreamed and dreamed about it for days, until the BIG DAY was finally here.As he enthusiastically walked up the ramp to get on the ride, the attendant, pointed him over to one of those height things that looks like a ruler.He stood against it and was heartbroken when he was told that he was two inches too short!
The world will tell you that you are too small to ride the roller coaster of destiny, faith, and holiness …Your own family will tell you are to small to make a differenceThe good news is that God chooses people who other’s think are throw-a-ways or not good enough to do God’s will!
David was only a shepherd boy.
Anderson 1st is only a small church in Homeland Park.
That mother had no arms and no legs!
Jesus was only Joseph the carpenter’s son…
Who Knew the Hidden Potential but God alone?
Be looking. I believe God is about to open up doors of opportunity for our church individually and corporately.
Tradition will say that it has never been done that way before. The flesh will say what about ME! But the spirit man will say what ever it takes to see souls saved, I will do.
I beg of you, get out of the ordinary way of doing and step into what God is doing today.
God is UP to the Supernatural. He is about to open up doors that without courage, without faith we will not go through.
But with the understanding that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens me, we can walk through “these” open doors with the boldness that the little shepherd boy David had when he faced Goliath.
Oh How He Loves us!
Phil
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Burn the Box
Hello Everyone,
The sad thing is, that when we look at others’ outward appearance, and make our judgments, and put them in a box, we are really putting God in a box.
When we limit ourselves or others, we really are limiting God!What we are really saying is, “I don’t believe You are big enough, God, to work in this person’s life.”
We need to explode the boxes we have put ourselves in and God in!!!
Jesus was most definitely out of the box, out of control, out of bounds!
A great example of this is when, at the beginning of His ministry, Jesus enters the synagogue, and reads scripture. (Torah)The people love Jesus’ words, His teaching. “How nice,” they say.
But when Jesus challenges them to live it out, to change the way they are living, they said, “Who does he think he is? Isn’t this Jesus the carpenter’s son?”
Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but the Lord had not chosen any of those……instead, God chose the youngest, the one out tending the sheep!What kind of sense does that make? How out of the box is that?
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
The sad thing is, that when we look at others’ outward appearance, and make our judgments, and put them in a box, we are really putting God in a box.
When we limit ourselves or others, we really are limiting God!What we are really saying is, “I don’t believe You are big enough, God, to work in this person’s life.”
We need to explode the boxes we have put ourselves in and God in!!!
Jesus was most definitely out of the box, out of control, out of bounds!
A great example of this is when, at the beginning of His ministry, Jesus enters the synagogue, and reads scripture. (Torah)The people love Jesus’ words, His teaching. “How nice,” they say.
But when Jesus challenges them to live it out, to change the way they are living, they said, “Who does he think he is? Isn’t this Jesus the carpenter’s son?”
Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but the Lord had not chosen any of those……instead, God chose the youngest, the one out tending the sheep!What kind of sense does that make? How out of the box is that?
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Hidden Potential
Hello Everyone,
It doesn’t matter what you are wearing or how you part your hair; God doesn’t care about your skin or even your report card.God looks on your heart!!!
When God sent the prophet Samuel to the town of Bethlehem to the house of Jesse to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king of Israel, even the prophet Samuel got it wrong!
Samuel thought surely it would be one of Jesse’s older sons for they were big, strong, manly men.They fit the image of what we might expect of a “king.”
But God kept whispering to Samuel’s spirit, “No, this is not the one. This is not the one. This is not the one.”Samuel asked Jesse “Are all your sons here?” Jesse said, “There remains the youngest, but behold he is keeping the sheep.”
In other words, he’s only a boy he is just a kid, wet behind the ears, a shepherd boy.“Surely, that’s not what you have in mind for our next king?”
The Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature…for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
YOU—may feel small and insignificant but you love Jesus.…and God has chosen you to do great things in the Kingdom, His Church and for your city!!!
What an awesome privilege!
What an awesome responsibility!
What an awesome God!!!
And Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
It doesn’t matter what you are wearing or how you part your hair; God doesn’t care about your skin or even your report card.God looks on your heart!!!
When God sent the prophet Samuel to the town of Bethlehem to the house of Jesse to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king of Israel, even the prophet Samuel got it wrong!
Samuel thought surely it would be one of Jesse’s older sons for they were big, strong, manly men.They fit the image of what we might expect of a “king.”
But God kept whispering to Samuel’s spirit, “No, this is not the one. This is not the one. This is not the one.”Samuel asked Jesse “Are all your sons here?” Jesse said, “There remains the youngest, but behold he is keeping the sheep.”
In other words, he’s only a boy he is just a kid, wet behind the ears, a shepherd boy.“Surely, that’s not what you have in mind for our next king?”
The Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature…for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
YOU—may feel small and insignificant but you love Jesus.…and God has chosen you to do great things in the Kingdom, His Church and for your city!!!
What an awesome privilege!
What an awesome responsibility!
What an awesome God!!!
And Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, June 22, 2009
Hello Everyone,
The front page of a Texas newspaper a few years ago there was a picture of a young African American mother born without arms and legs!The State Department of Public Welfare had charged in court that she was incapable of taking care of her five-month-old daughter.During the court hearing the mother surprised everyone by proving she was competent to take care of her baby.There…before their eyes…she undressed and then dressed the baby again by using only her lips and tongue.The judge was so impressed that he not only awarded custody of the baby to her, but said, “I have to commend you very much for your courage, spirit and ingenuity……you have proven that physical endowments are only a part of the spectrum of resources that human beings possess.”
Natural people only look at the “outward appearance” of others.Life becomes about…… “Am I too fat?”… “Too thin?”… “Too short?”… “Too tall?”… “Wearing my hair in the right style?”… “Wearing the right clothes?”… “Is my complexion good enough?”… “Am I athletic enough?”… “Popular enough?”… “Do I have the right job?”… “Do I come from the right neighborhood?”… “Am I smart enough?”… “Do I hang out with the right crowd?”
So much of who we are depends on what others say or how they judge us.Into the struggling, striving for approval……into our aching hearts……breaks the Word of God!!!
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Let the Word of God break through in your life this week.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
The front page of a Texas newspaper a few years ago there was a picture of a young African American mother born without arms and legs!The State Department of Public Welfare had charged in court that she was incapable of taking care of her five-month-old daughter.During the court hearing the mother surprised everyone by proving she was competent to take care of her baby.There…before their eyes…she undressed and then dressed the baby again by using only her lips and tongue.The judge was so impressed that he not only awarded custody of the baby to her, but said, “I have to commend you very much for your courage, spirit and ingenuity……you have proven that physical endowments are only a part of the spectrum of resources that human beings possess.”
Natural people only look at the “outward appearance” of others.Life becomes about…… “Am I too fat?”… “Too thin?”… “Too short?”… “Too tall?”… “Wearing my hair in the right style?”… “Wearing the right clothes?”… “Is my complexion good enough?”… “Am I athletic enough?”… “Popular enough?”… “Do I have the right job?”… “Do I come from the right neighborhood?”… “Am I smart enough?”… “Do I hang out with the right crowd?”
So much of who we are depends on what others say or how they judge us.Into the struggling, striving for approval……into our aching hearts……breaks the Word of God!!!
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Let the Word of God break through in your life this week.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Today is the Day
Hello Everyone,
We need His POWER to propel us into Spirit-filled and Spirit-empowered ministry.
And we still need the power of the Holy Spirit to confirm our message of the deity of Jesus.
“Let Him breathe on me Let Him breathe on me Let the breath of God now breathe on me.”
A pastor by the name of Rick Kirchoff spoke these words at an annual conference of the Methodist church:
"It is a time to open up to the mind-blowing, heart-warming, life-changing power of God.The power of God can invade the body, inflate the mind, swell the soul, lift the Spirit and make us more than we ever imagined.It’ll make you young when you’re old, and it’ll make you live even when you die.The power and presence of the Spirit will disturb, delight, deliver and lift.When God sends forth the Spirit, "the whole face of the earth is renewed.
"When God sends forth the Spirit chaos is changed into creation the Red Sea opens up to a highway of freedom.
When God sends forth the Spirit:
A young woman says "Yes".
Jesus is born and life is never the same.
When God sends forth the Spirit amazing things happen:
barriers are broken,
communities are formed,
opposites are reconciled,
unity is established,
disease is cured,
addiction is broken,
cities are renewed,
races are reconciled,
hope is established,
people are blessed,and church happens.
Today the Spirit of God is present and we’re gonna‚ have church.So be ready, get ready...God is up to something...discouraged folks cheer up,dishonest folks ’fees up,sour folks sweeten up,closed folk, open up,gossipers shut up,conflicted folks make up,sleeping folks wake up,lukewarm folk, fire up,dry bones shake up,and pew potatoes stand up!But most of all, Christ the Savior of all the world is lifted up...
AMEN
Receive the Holy Spirit!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
We need His POWER to propel us into Spirit-filled and Spirit-empowered ministry.
And we still need the power of the Holy Spirit to confirm our message of the deity of Jesus.
“Let Him breathe on me Let Him breathe on me Let the breath of God now breathe on me.”
A pastor by the name of Rick Kirchoff spoke these words at an annual conference of the Methodist church:
"It is a time to open up to the mind-blowing, heart-warming, life-changing power of God.The power of God can invade the body, inflate the mind, swell the soul, lift the Spirit and make us more than we ever imagined.It’ll make you young when you’re old, and it’ll make you live even when you die.The power and presence of the Spirit will disturb, delight, deliver and lift.When God sends forth the Spirit, "the whole face of the earth is renewed.
"When God sends forth the Spirit chaos is changed into creation the Red Sea opens up to a highway of freedom.
When God sends forth the Spirit:
A young woman says "Yes".
Jesus is born and life is never the same.
When God sends forth the Spirit amazing things happen:
barriers are broken,
communities are formed,
opposites are reconciled,
unity is established,
disease is cured,
addiction is broken,
cities are renewed,
races are reconciled,
hope is established,
people are blessed,and church happens.
Today the Spirit of God is present and we’re gonna‚ have church.So be ready, get ready...God is up to something...discouraged folks cheer up,dishonest folks ’fees up,sour folks sweeten up,closed folk, open up,gossipers shut up,conflicted folks make up,sleeping folks wake up,lukewarm folk, fire up,dry bones shake up,and pew potatoes stand up!But most of all, Christ the Savior of all the world is lifted up...
AMEN
Receive the Holy Spirit!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Power of God
Hello Everyone,
John 20:21-22:
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus did another thing by this gesture and by these words. He revealed His identity as God. He breathed on them: just as the Father had done in creation, just as the Spirit had done in Ezekiel’s vision.
His breath on them infused them with LIFE. (It was a God-thing.)
In Elijah’s day the Lord was not in the wind.
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:11-13)
In Acts the Holy Spirit was introduced by the sound of a violent wind.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)
The sound of a mighty rushing wind on the Day of Pentecost was to stir up in their minds a connection of the (“ruach” Hebrew) the wind, or breath, of God in the Old Testament.
My point is that there was a historical, Biblical, pattern already in place in the mind-set of the culture that was receptive to the suggestion of the Holy Spirit as the Source of life, and anointing, and power for SUPERNATURAL ministry.
It was understood that no one but God could impart the Spirit of God. So if Jesus is giving the Holy Spirit to His followers He must be Divine.
By commanding the apostles to receive the Spirit as He breathed on them Jesus was identifying Himself as God.
The Spirit of God is the breath of God. And God’s Spirit brings us to LIFE.
He EMPOWERS us for the works of ministry. And He points us to Jesus as the Son of God.
As we continue to minister, we need the power of the Holy Spirit to do His will.
We need His POWER to make us come to life.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
John 20:21-22:
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus did another thing by this gesture and by these words. He revealed His identity as God. He breathed on them: just as the Father had done in creation, just as the Spirit had done in Ezekiel’s vision.
His breath on them infused them with LIFE. (It was a God-thing.)
In Elijah’s day the Lord was not in the wind.
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:11-13)
In Acts the Holy Spirit was introduced by the sound of a violent wind.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)
The sound of a mighty rushing wind on the Day of Pentecost was to stir up in their minds a connection of the (“ruach” Hebrew) the wind, or breath, of God in the Old Testament.
My point is that there was a historical, Biblical, pattern already in place in the mind-set of the culture that was receptive to the suggestion of the Holy Spirit as the Source of life, and anointing, and power for SUPERNATURAL ministry.
It was understood that no one but God could impart the Spirit of God. So if Jesus is giving the Holy Spirit to His followers He must be Divine.
By commanding the apostles to receive the Spirit as He breathed on them Jesus was identifying Himself as God.
The Spirit of God is the breath of God. And God’s Spirit brings us to LIFE.
He EMPOWERS us for the works of ministry. And He points us to Jesus as the Son of God.
As we continue to minister, we need the power of the Holy Spirit to do His will.
We need His POWER to make us come to life.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Power For Ministry
Hello Everyone,
John 20:21-22:
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Breathing on the disciples, Jesus was ‘saying’ the Spirit of God is the breath of God. He is telling us the Spirit gives life.
He is teaching us the Spirit empowers.
He is calling us, and equipping us for similar acts of service that He performed. He is calling them (and us) into the same ministry that He was involved in.
Jesus was imparting to them the same power for ministry that He depended on.
Zechariah records it best. (4:6), ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.
In John 7 it is water rather than wind, but still there is a clear invitation to receive the Spirit of God from the Son of God.
(John 7:37-39) 37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By 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.
Jesus was so insistent that His disciples receive the Holy Spirit He told them not to begin the mission until they had been clothed with His fiery power.
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. (Luke 24:49)
When God breaths we are EMPOWERED to do the ministry He has called us to do!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
John 20:21-22:
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Breathing on the disciples, Jesus was ‘saying’ the Spirit of God is the breath of God. He is telling us the Spirit gives life.
He is teaching us the Spirit empowers.
He is calling us, and equipping us for similar acts of service that He performed. He is calling them (and us) into the same ministry that He was involved in.
Jesus was imparting to them the same power for ministry that He depended on.
Zechariah records it best. (4:6), ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.
In John 7 it is water rather than wind, but still there is a clear invitation to receive the Spirit of God from the Son of God.
(John 7:37-39) 37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By 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.
Jesus was so insistent that His disciples receive the Holy Spirit He told them not to begin the mission until they had been clothed with His fiery power.
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. (Luke 24:49)
When God breaths we are EMPOWERED to do the ministry He has called us to do!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, June 15, 2009
Power For Life
Hello Everyone,
When God breaths something incredible always happens read with me in John 20:21-22:
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus breathed on the disciples. He exhaled, or blew on them.
He expelled His breath in their direction, on, or over them.
He wasn’t just breathing; He was breathing on them to create an effect.
Both what Jesus does, and what He says, this act of breathing on the disciples brings us back to that original breath of God - the creative breath, the life-giving breath, the spirit-empowering breath of God.
This is at the end of His earthly ministry, after the resurrection and before the ascension, and here Jesus breathed on the apostles to reveal His identity as Divine, and as a foreshadowing of the Spirit they were to receive on the day of Pentecost.
Jesus gives this message; His followers need His Spirit to do His work.
When Jesus breathed on them and commanded them to receive the Holy Spirit He was reminding them of the creative life-force that comes from God.
God’s breath is what brought Adam to life in the garden.
Gen. 2:7. the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (soul, KJV)
In a way Jesus was reenacting that scene from Gen. 2. He was teaching them about the LIFE He gives.
It is the Holy Spirit who gives life. Just as physical breath is essential to physical life, the Holy Spirit (God’s breath) is necessary to spiritual life.
We are never truly alive until we are quickened by the power of the Spirit of God. All we have is religion if we have not been born of the Spirit.
It is the Spirit of God that is the Source of life - both physical and spiritual. In giving us the Spirit He is giving us the POWER TO LIVE.
May God Breath on you this week.
Oh Hoe He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
When God breaths something incredible always happens read with me in John 20:21-22:
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus breathed on the disciples. He exhaled, or blew on them.
He expelled His breath in their direction, on, or over them.
He wasn’t just breathing; He was breathing on them to create an effect.
Both what Jesus does, and what He says, this act of breathing on the disciples brings us back to that original breath of God - the creative breath, the life-giving breath, the spirit-empowering breath of God.
This is at the end of His earthly ministry, after the resurrection and before the ascension, and here Jesus breathed on the apostles to reveal His identity as Divine, and as a foreshadowing of the Spirit they were to receive on the day of Pentecost.
Jesus gives this message; His followers need His Spirit to do His work.
When Jesus breathed on them and commanded them to receive the Holy Spirit He was reminding them of the creative life-force that comes from God.
God’s breath is what brought Adam to life in the garden.
Gen. 2:7. the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (soul, KJV)
In a way Jesus was reenacting that scene from Gen. 2. He was teaching them about the LIFE He gives.
It is the Holy Spirit who gives life. Just as physical breath is essential to physical life, the Holy Spirit (God’s breath) is necessary to spiritual life.
We are never truly alive until we are quickened by the power of the Spirit of God. All we have is religion if we have not been born of the Spirit.
It is the Spirit of God that is the Source of life - both physical and spiritual. In giving us the Spirit He is giving us the POWER TO LIVE.
May God Breath on you this week.
Oh Hoe He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Understanding The Times
Hello Everyone,
In 1 Chronicles chapter 12 there is a list of Warriors who have joined David and who helped him in battle. Not much is said about the Warriors until it gets to verse 32 and then scripture slows down just a little and says:
“men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do…”
The word “understood” represents two words in the Hebrew.
The first means “to know” and indicates personal, practical knowledge. It implies a deep understanding, a keen awareness, discernment, or a competence.
The second means “understanding, insight discernment” it emphasizes these men’s sense of understanding.
“Understood the times”: According to God’s sovereign wisdom, He has a season and a time for all His purposes and for the fulfillment of His promises.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
We see this in the realm of nature, and also in His Kingdom, where there are appointed times.
Psalms 102:13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.
So there are appointed times and there also seasons of change.
Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
These appointed times and seasons of change are crucial and important in His ongoing redemptive purpose.
The MESSAGE has not changed but the METHODS must.
Scripture reveals again and again how God’s people are often blind to what He is doing or about to do.
Israel as a whole was blind and ignorant when God “in the Fullness of time sent His Son to be their Messiah”.
Likewise, to often the church doesn’t know or discern when God is fulfilling some aspect of His purpose.
The men of Issachar from among Israel’s 12 tribes understood the times.
Discernment of God’s times and seasons is necessary in order to cooperate with God in purposeful action and to embrace or sustain a God-given vision during times of change.
Don’t serve God out of religious habit look around and see what New Thing God is doing in this age and then join Him.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
In 1 Chronicles chapter 12 there is a list of Warriors who have joined David and who helped him in battle. Not much is said about the Warriors until it gets to verse 32 and then scripture slows down just a little and says:
“men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do…”
The word “understood” represents two words in the Hebrew.
The first means “to know” and indicates personal, practical knowledge. It implies a deep understanding, a keen awareness, discernment, or a competence.
The second means “understanding, insight discernment” it emphasizes these men’s sense of understanding.
“Understood the times”: According to God’s sovereign wisdom, He has a season and a time for all His purposes and for the fulfillment of His promises.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
We see this in the realm of nature, and also in His Kingdom, where there are appointed times.
Psalms 102:13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.
So there are appointed times and there also seasons of change.
Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
These appointed times and seasons of change are crucial and important in His ongoing redemptive purpose.
The MESSAGE has not changed but the METHODS must.
Scripture reveals again and again how God’s people are often blind to what He is doing or about to do.
Israel as a whole was blind and ignorant when God “in the Fullness of time sent His Son to be their Messiah”.
Likewise, to often the church doesn’t know or discern when God is fulfilling some aspect of His purpose.
The men of Issachar from among Israel’s 12 tribes understood the times.
Discernment of God’s times and seasons is necessary in order to cooperate with God in purposeful action and to embrace or sustain a God-given vision during times of change.
Don’t serve God out of religious habit look around and see what New Thing God is doing in this age and then join Him.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, June 4, 2009
What Do You Want Jesus To Do For you?
Hello Everyone,
The question I want to ask you as we finish up this week is what do you want Jesus to do for you?
People would rush up to Jesus with faith in their heart and faith in their mouth.
And He would do what ever they would ask Him to do.
Look at blind Bartimaeus.
Mark 10:46 -48 46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
He was sitting by the HWY begging when Jesus came walking by.
When Bartimaeus cried out “Jesus stopped” and called for him.
That is what He always did when someone cried out in faith.
Jesus would stop and minister to that person. He is still that way today. When you do not listen to the nay sayers and cry out with out reservations.
THIS SAME JESUS!
Mark 10:49-52 49Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."
52"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
When they brought Bartimaeus to Jesus, Jesus said: “What do you want Me to do for you?”
Jesus asked.
Bartimaeus answered.
Jesus did it.
He has the same attitude toward us today.
He works by faith. Talk to Him and believe He will answer.
“THIS SAME JESUS!” Jesus Christ the Anointed One, the same yesterday, today, and forever wants to move in your life.
He wants to destroy the yokes and remove the burdens the Devil has put on you.
That was His ministry 2000 years ago and it is still His ministry today.
“THIS SAME JESUS!”
And Oh How He Loves Us!
See you Sunday
Pastor Phil
The question I want to ask you as we finish up this week is what do you want Jesus to do for you?
People would rush up to Jesus with faith in their heart and faith in their mouth.
And He would do what ever they would ask Him to do.
Look at blind Bartimaeus.
Mark 10:46 -48 46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
He was sitting by the HWY begging when Jesus came walking by.
When Bartimaeus cried out “Jesus stopped” and called for him.
That is what He always did when someone cried out in faith.
Jesus would stop and minister to that person. He is still that way today. When you do not listen to the nay sayers and cry out with out reservations.
THIS SAME JESUS!
Mark 10:49-52 49Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."
52"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
When they brought Bartimaeus to Jesus, Jesus said: “What do you want Me to do for you?”
Jesus asked.
Bartimaeus answered.
Jesus did it.
He has the same attitude toward us today.
He works by faith. Talk to Him and believe He will answer.
“THIS SAME JESUS!” Jesus Christ the Anointed One, the same yesterday, today, and forever wants to move in your life.
He wants to destroy the yokes and remove the burdens the Devil has put on you.
That was His ministry 2000 years ago and it is still His ministry today.
“THIS SAME JESUS!”
And Oh How He Loves Us!
See you Sunday
Pastor Phil
Lets Do Good
Hello Everyone,
When Jesus was on earth He went about doing good read with me.
Luke 4:18-19 18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Jesus is still preaching that same message today.
If you are blind.
If you are oppressed.
If you are sick.
If you are in bondage.
(Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, worry, anxiety, fear, depression, or simply just beaten down.)
“THIS SAME JESUS!” Is here to deliver and set free.
Today is the your salvation.
This is the day when the FREE FAVORS of God abound and are FLOWING.
Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”
Jesus just went around doing GOOD it wasn’t hard to get Jesus to work miracles.
It was easy!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
When Jesus was on earth He went about doing good read with me.
Luke 4:18-19 18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Jesus is still preaching that same message today.
If you are blind.
If you are oppressed.
If you are sick.
If you are in bondage.
(Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, worry, anxiety, fear, depression, or simply just beaten down.)
“THIS SAME JESUS!” Is here to deliver and set free.
Today is the your salvation.
This is the day when the FREE FAVORS of God abound and are FLOWING.
Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”
Jesus just went around doing GOOD it wasn’t hard to get Jesus to work miracles.
It was easy!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Jesus is still the same
Hello Everyone,
I know you’ve heard this scripture before in Act 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." but let it be Revelation in your heart.
“THIS SAME JESUS” IS GOING TO COME BACK!
If Jesus was one way when He was on the earth and He is going to be the same way when He comes back. What do you think He is like right now?
He is “THIS SAME JESUS”!
He is the same right now as He was when He walked the earth.
He has the same heart of compassion.’
He is just as easily moved now as He was then.
He is just as quick to want to heal now as He ever was.
He truly is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
DON’T REASON IT AWAY!!!
You might say He is in Heaven. Yes He is but:
He still ministers today through His Word.
He still ministers today through the HOLY SPIRIT.
He still ministers today through His Church.
Matthew 28:20 He said, And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Look at the BOOK of ACTS Jesus continued to minister as He always did.
But it is through His church and His Disciples. That same Holy Ghost Power is in our midst.
“This same Jesus” is available to minister to us and through us today!!!
And Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
I know you’ve heard this scripture before in Act 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." but let it be Revelation in your heart.
“THIS SAME JESUS” IS GOING TO COME BACK!
If Jesus was one way when He was on the earth and He is going to be the same way when He comes back. What do you think He is like right now?
He is “THIS SAME JESUS”!
He is the same right now as He was when He walked the earth.
He has the same heart of compassion.’
He is just as easily moved now as He was then.
He is just as quick to want to heal now as He ever was.
He truly is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
DON’T REASON IT AWAY!!!
You might say He is in Heaven. Yes He is but:
He still ministers today through His Word.
He still ministers today through the HOLY SPIRIT.
He still ministers today through His Church.
Matthew 28:20 He said, And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Look at the BOOK of ACTS Jesus continued to minister as He always did.
But it is through His church and His Disciples. That same Holy Ghost Power is in our midst.
“This same Jesus” is available to minister to us and through us today!!!
And Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, June 1, 2009
This Same Jesus
Hello Everyone,
Read with me if you will our text for this week. It is found in Acts chapter 1.
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
One of the greatest things about Jesus is that He never changes.
· He is not kind one day and harsh the next.
· He is not ready to heal one minute and reluctant the next.
· He is not ready to save one day and the next show no concern.
He is always “Jesus Christ [The Anointed One] the same yesterday, today and forever”. Hebrews 13:8
Always the same just as He was in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
We see Him healing and delivering people at every turn.
People did not have to convince Him they just simply asked and He answered.
Jesus never said NO to those who came to Him in faith. He always supplied their need.
THIS SAME JESUS!
Religious tradition has taught us that at some time during the past 2000 years, Jesus changed.
At some time He started telling people no when they came.
This is not true. He is the same He has always been. “THIS SAME JESUS”!
And “OH HOW HE LOVES US!
See you tomorrow.
Pastor Phil
Read with me if you will our text for this week. It is found in Acts chapter 1.
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
One of the greatest things about Jesus is that He never changes.
· He is not kind one day and harsh the next.
· He is not ready to heal one minute and reluctant the next.
· He is not ready to save one day and the next show no concern.
He is always “Jesus Christ [The Anointed One] the same yesterday, today and forever”. Hebrews 13:8
Always the same just as He was in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
We see Him healing and delivering people at every turn.
People did not have to convince Him they just simply asked and He answered.
Jesus never said NO to those who came to Him in faith. He always supplied their need.
THIS SAME JESUS!
Religious tradition has taught us that at some time during the past 2000 years, Jesus changed.
At some time He started telling people no when they came.
This is not true. He is the same He has always been. “THIS SAME JESUS”!
And “OH HOW HE LOVES US!
See you tomorrow.
Pastor Phil
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