Greeting in the Name of the Lord! The scriptures I will share, and the accompanying word, deals specifically with something that the Lord is doing at our church this Sunday morning and evening (November 26).
Acts 8:5-13
"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.
But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God.'' And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done."
Acts 21:8
"On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him."
Ephesians 4:8-13
"Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.'' (Now this, "He ascended'' what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;"
This Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m. and at 6 p.m., we will be having an evangelist by the name of Bill Moore come and minister. I have known Evangelist Moore for over 20 years and have seen God do some powerful things through his ministry. I know that you will be blessed as you come expecting to receive from the ministry.
It would be good for us to understand the various ministries that the Lord has set in the Church; especially the ministry of the evangelist. Some people believe that an evangelist is anyone who preaches and travels. If they're not a pastor then they must be an evangelist. Not at all! As seen in Philip's ministry, there were several things that God did through Philip as an evangelist. Signs and wonders, people receiving Christ as Savior and Lord... even the demon possessed were set free by the power of the Spirit of God working in and through the servant of God. Besides their ministry to people who have not yet received Christ Jesus as the Lord of their life, Ephesians says that the evangelist (along with the apostle, prophet, pastor and teacher) was given to the Church so the saints could be equipped and prepared to minister. As the Church is built up and established in the faith they will (we will) grow unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Hallelujah!
Note the verse in Ephesians where it says of Christ "that He might fill all things...". As the Lord is allowed to express His love and compassion to the world through His servants; as He is allowed to show His "manifold wisdom"; He will "fill all things". See the ministry of Jesus through the Gospels. See Him minister as the Apostle and High Priest (Hebrews 3:1) - the Sent One of God. He is the Prophet Moses spoke of (Deut. 18) and the Evangelist who came declaring the Good News (Luke 4:18). He is the Good Shepherd, (John 10 and Isaiah 40:11) and, of course, He's the Teacher. When He ascended on High (Acts 1) He sent the Spirit of God to anoint and equip His servants with the different distributions and ministrations. As the servants yield to the Spirit of God, and as the people receive the ministry of the Lord through His servants, the work of God will be done. "And the Glory of the Lord will fill the earth..." Understand that I am not promoting a man's ministry...I am saying that the Lord has a special anointing and gift in the ministry of the evangelist and it would be to our benefit to be in position to receive from the Lord.
I have set my heart to receive all that the Lord wants to do in this area. Great things have been declared for central Iowa. God is doing some powerful things. He has been preparing every person who has an ear to hear the voice of the Spirit of God. I believe that at this time He has chosen to send an evangelist into our midst that He may speak a "word in season" and encourage us to continue in the faith.
Please pray and declare with me that the work of God will be effective, without any hindrance whatsoever. Declare that God will be exalted, His Son honored and worshipped above all and that no flesh will glory in His presence. Declare that the works of darkness will be exposed, confronted, overcome, and people set free by the Power of the Living God! This weekend isn't about watching the ministry of a man...it is about receiving the ministry of Jesus through someone yielded and obedient to the Lord. Amen.
By the way, if you are able to come this weekend, since this is the last Sunday of the month, we always have a time of food and fellowship following the morning service. People bring different types of food and we put it all together for a church fellowship meal. You're more than welcome to come and join us.
Above all, please remember that the Lord has is mind each of us growing in Him and coming to Full Stature IN HIM. In order to do that, we must be in position to hear what He has to say to us and then have the purpose of heart to DO what He says. Amen and So Be It!
Pastor Jan
Monday, November 20, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
Are Your Cupboards Full?
Greetings,
Luke 11:1-13 gives us an insight into Jesus' perspective of prayer. Maybe He gave this teaching the day after an election was just held; when people around him were upset because "their guy or gal wasn't elected", or something like that. It would be a good time for us to focus on what's really going on in this world and what will it take to change things for good...
1. And it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.''
2. So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
3. Give us day by day our daily bread.
4. and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.''
5. And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves;
6. `for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him';
7. "and he will answer from within and say, `Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?
8. "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
9. "And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
11. "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
12. "Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!''
The last couple of Sunday nights we've gathered to worship and seek the Lord and not only ask about our individual needs but also to find out what Father has on His heart. We've approached it like the person who is going grocery shopping and wants to stock up the cupboards for anyone who may come "calling at midnight". What a powerful time, though not a "spectacular" time, we had in the Lord. Please understand the difference. God's power can be present without people running around the room, screaming at the top of their lungs, dancing up and down the aisles, or even "falling under the power". Now all those things CAN be a sign that the supernatural God is doing His work, but they don't have to be present for God to be working. If God is working, then that is what matters.
Anyway, God DID show up and I know of at least 3 people that received God's touch and answer to their needs that evening. One person wasn't even there and someone prayed for their situation and the person called me the next day with a testimony that showed that God answered in a way that was even "exceedingly, abundant, above what we asked or even thought", yet it was clearly God.
Another situation was supernatural in that someone requested prayer for his dad's siblings. He asked that people from the congregation come forward and stand in "proxy" for them. He said his dad had 7 siblings so he asked for 7 people to come and stand in as someone prayed the prayer of faith over them. He didn't tell us anymore until after the prayer time was done, but the people that came forward MATCHED his dad's siblings in that there were 4 ladies and 3 men that came forward for prayer. No one other than the person who requested prayer, his wife, AND GOD knew the dad's siblings...it was very obvious to us all that God was much involved.
How about you? Is your cupboard well stocked? Can people "tap into" what you have and are you in the right frame of mind to give? Maybe you're a little put out as to how the elections turned out. Maybe it seems to you like it's no use praying or seeking after God; He seems too far away. Well, He may SEEM far away, but the scripture says, "draw near to God and He will draw near to you." What are you doing? Drawing near or running away? Asking, seeking, knocking? As Jesus said, EVERYONE who asks, receives; everyone who seeks, finds; and everyone who knocks, to that person the door is opened.
God is near. God, through Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, is as near as He can be. He's as near as He needs to be. Ask, seek, knock...and experience the supernatural Presence, Power, and Provision of Almighty God.
Democrats and Republicans will come and go. But God's Kingdom shall prevail. Those who "seek first the Kingdom of God" and the way God runs things (His righteousness) shall have more than enough to meet their needs and those who come at midnight. We've got a whole world to reach. And it is just about the "midnight hour". Stock up and touch the life of those around you. May you and those around you experience the Ever Present God!
Pastor Jan
Luke 11:1-13 gives us an insight into Jesus' perspective of prayer. Maybe He gave this teaching the day after an election was just held; when people around him were upset because "their guy or gal wasn't elected", or something like that. It would be a good time for us to focus on what's really going on in this world and what will it take to change things for good...
1. And it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.''
2. So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
3. Give us day by day our daily bread.
4. and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.''
5. And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves;
6. `for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him';
7. "and he will answer from within and say, `Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?
8. "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
9. "And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
11. "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
12. "Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!''
The last couple of Sunday nights we've gathered to worship and seek the Lord and not only ask about our individual needs but also to find out what Father has on His heart. We've approached it like the person who is going grocery shopping and wants to stock up the cupboards for anyone who may come "calling at midnight". What a powerful time, though not a "spectacular" time, we had in the Lord. Please understand the difference. God's power can be present without people running around the room, screaming at the top of their lungs, dancing up and down the aisles, or even "falling under the power". Now all those things CAN be a sign that the supernatural God is doing His work, but they don't have to be present for God to be working. If God is working, then that is what matters.
Anyway, God DID show up and I know of at least 3 people that received God's touch and answer to their needs that evening. One person wasn't even there and someone prayed for their situation and the person called me the next day with a testimony that showed that God answered in a way that was even "exceedingly, abundant, above what we asked or even thought", yet it was clearly God.
Another situation was supernatural in that someone requested prayer for his dad's siblings. He asked that people from the congregation come forward and stand in "proxy" for them. He said his dad had 7 siblings so he asked for 7 people to come and stand in as someone prayed the prayer of faith over them. He didn't tell us anymore until after the prayer time was done, but the people that came forward MATCHED his dad's siblings in that there were 4 ladies and 3 men that came forward for prayer. No one other than the person who requested prayer, his wife, AND GOD knew the dad's siblings...it was very obvious to us all that God was much involved.
How about you? Is your cupboard well stocked? Can people "tap into" what you have and are you in the right frame of mind to give? Maybe you're a little put out as to how the elections turned out. Maybe it seems to you like it's no use praying or seeking after God; He seems too far away. Well, He may SEEM far away, but the scripture says, "draw near to God and He will draw near to you." What are you doing? Drawing near or running away? Asking, seeking, knocking? As Jesus said, EVERYONE who asks, receives; everyone who seeks, finds; and everyone who knocks, to that person the door is opened.
God is near. God, through Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, is as near as He can be. He's as near as He needs to be. Ask, seek, knock...and experience the supernatural Presence, Power, and Provision of Almighty God.
Democrats and Republicans will come and go. But God's Kingdom shall prevail. Those who "seek first the Kingdom of God" and the way God runs things (His righteousness) shall have more than enough to meet their needs and those who come at midnight. We've got a whole world to reach. And it is just about the "midnight hour". Stock up and touch the life of those around you. May you and those around you experience the Ever Present God!
Pastor Jan
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