RENDEZVOUS WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

BE ENCOURAGED: Pastors, Ministers, Lay ministers, Church leaders, Christians, Church:

While the disciples hid themselves in fear behind locked doors, I imagine ‘fear’ took center stage in their lives. What if – what if they had used more of their time to have daily rendezvous with the Holy Spirit?

In their weaknesses they were overcome by doubt and fear, due to the turmoil around them. John in his gospel – Chapter 20, told how Jesus came to his disciples after his resurrection. Jesus found them locked away – hiding behind doors. With great love and compassion, Jesus gave them his peace. He said to them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.”

All this happened behind locked doors. I imagine after the disciples saw Jesus; they finally got the idea of having daily rendezvous with the Holy Spirit.  I imagine prayer replaced fear and unbelief. What joy it must have been for them to know that Jesus is alive!

Luke in the Book of Acts gave an account of how Jesus encouraged his disciples, and told them that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them; and they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

The disciples understood that the time had come when they could no longer confine themselves behind locked doors. The disciples also realized that a tomb could not hold Jesus and the power of his resurrection.

Luke gave an account of Jesus and how he commanded his disciples to not leave Jerusalem until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

I imagine they left the Mount of Olive and walked to Jerusalem with great joy. I imagine they gathered together with excitement and expectancy in the room or upper room. It was the season of the Jewish Festivals. I imagine, God had a plan to manifest the power of the Holy Spirit on a day when people from all over the world gathered to celebrate: the Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles.

It was on the Feast of Pentecost when the power of the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:1–31).

The word Pentecost comes from the Greek word Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē), which means “Fiftieth”.  Pentecost is a festival, celebrated on the fiftieth day after  the Passover. it is also known as the “Feast of Weeks” or the “Feast of 50 days”.

The Septuagint refers to the word Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē) as “Feast of Pentecost”. The Septuagint also uses the word to mean “the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:10), an event which took place every 50th year.

The “Feast of Pentecost” was a time to celebrate! It was a time of great significance. I imagine people received freedom from all kinds of things. The disciples received freedom from their locked doors and were empowered to preach the gospel under the anointing and with the power of the Holy Spirit.

(WE CAN TAKE TIME TO RESEARCH THESE SIGNIFICANCE)

In Luke Chapter 4, Jesus before he was crucified spoke to a congregation of people with power and authority. He informed them exactly who he was. That the Spirit of the Lord was on him, that he was anointed to preach good news to the poor, that he was sent to proclaim freedom for prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

God through Jesus Christ chose the day of the “Feast of Pentecost” to manifest his power in and through his disciples, so that those who were present would experience the power of the Holy Spirit. After that the disciples were empower to preached the good news under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. And many were added to the church.

Although Jesus preached in many synagogues in his day, his eyes and mind were set not so much on the narrow sphere of the four walls of the church. His eyes and mind were set on the Mass – the Mass of people. It is because he loves them. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

PENETRATE THE DARKNESS WITH THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL

PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL NATIONS?

In the olive grove – the garden of Gethsemane soldiers came looking for Jesus. They carried torches, lanterns and weapons. When they arrived, Jesus asked them “Who is it you want? Their response was “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus’ responded to them “I am he.” One would think the soldiers would quickly grab Jesus, but instead they were taken a-back and fell to the ground upon seeing him. Well, Paul the apostle did quote Isaiah, where the Lord says, “As surely as I live, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.” The soldiers had to get down in the presence of heavenly authority and power. Jesus had to ask the soldiers the question again, “Who is it you want? When they repeated themselves, Jesus again responded, “I told you that I am he.”

The soldiers arrested Jesus and took him away from his disciples. During Jesus’ ordeal – his sufferings his disciples ran away -left him alone to face the sufferings that was unleashed upon him. The disciples were experiencing a sense of loss. They were discouraged and afraid – afraid of the world and fear for their lives.

Jesus was tried, condemned and crucified. Jesus’ death drove the disciples to shut themselves away behind locked doors. To put it simple, they hid themselves in their house. They were afraid of those they thought were too powerful for them to face. They feared for their lives.

What are we going through at the moment that might send us hiding behind locked doors?

God raised Jesus from the dead and upon his resurrection, he presented himself in the midst of the apostles in spite of the locked doors. When Jesus saw them, he gave them his peace, showed them his hands and sides where the nails pierced him. Then he breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit.

Luke in his 24^th chapter tells how Jesus opened the minds of the apostles so they could understand the Scriptures. How Jesus told his disciples that after his resurrection repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And Jesus promised the disciples that he would send them what the Father has promised, but they are to stay in the city – Jerusalem – until they have been clothed with power from on high. Jesus then blessed them while he was being ascended into heaven.

Luke in the Book of Acts chapter one gave account: where Jesus gave a command to his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift  his Father’s promised. That John baptized with water, but the disciples would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. That they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them and they will be witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of he earth. Then Jesus was taken up in a cloud.

The disciples returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Upon their arrival they gathered into an upstairs room, about 120 of them. They all joined together in constant prayer. And suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the room. Tongues of fire came and rested on each of them, and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them, and the people heard the message in his and her own language (Acts 2).

As the church, we have received power from on high to do exploit in the name of Jesus Christ.

Is the Church acting like she has been endowed with the Holy Spirit power?

Does the Church want anything to do with the power of the Holy Spirit?

Without the power of the Holy Spirit the church can do nothing great for the Father. Simply because the church rejects the promised power. 

Is the church ashamed of the gospel of Christ. The gospel must be preached in the power of the Holy spirit to allow the kingdom of darkness to shake and crumble in the presence of God.

NOT I WHO LIVES

IT IS NOT I WHO LIVES

In Christ there is no inferiority or superiority. Christ lives in me and me in Him. My old bigoted nature rarely raises its ugly head; its neck is weakened by its submersion under the blood of the lamb. In Christ there is no superiority; that too is weakened by the blood of the lamb. If ever an elevated feeling of bigotry or superiority creep up in me I treat them as feces.  It is not me that lives but Christ who lives in me. Therefore, bigotry and superiority I must treat as feces in order to win the lost for Christ. For Christ in me is the hope of salvation. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20. 

PASTORS: YOU HAD BREAKFAST WITH JESUS

PASTORS: LIKE PETER, JESUS HAD BREAKFAST WITH YOU AT YOUR ORDINATION.
HE SENT YOU SAYING, DON'T FORGET TO "FEED MY SHEEP"

John 21:15-18 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."

Christians, do we love God more than our guns? more than things? more than the world? Then we must feed Christ Sheep for which He shed his blood. We are bought with a price. The price is Christ blood on the cross at Calvary.

Pastors, Christ Jesus has dressed us and He has sent us possibly where we do not particularly want to go. Nevertheless, if we said yes to God we need to keep our promise to feed His sheep. After all that is the reason he sent us.

“ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH”

“ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH”

 As Christians living in today’s society we are often tempted to sacrifice “living a holy life” in order to be popular or to look good in the eyes of the world. When we socialize with friends on FB, Twitter and other types of media, what type of influence do we have on our friends? Is it one that influences our friends to live holy and righteous lives? Or do we as Christians try to impress with worldly impressions to gain popularity.

As Christians we are called the Church, and as the Church we are to live holy lives – we are to live a life worthy of the calling we have received from God, our heavenly father. We need to remember to always wear the full Armor of God, and especially to not leave home without it. The full armor of God helps us as Christians to stay true to the call of God, and to live a life worthy of such a ‘call’. First and foremost the armor of God allows us to be able to stand against evil influences in the world, especially in these days.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said this to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” And Matthew 16:19, forecasts Acts 2:41, which led to Peter’s experience on the day of Pentecost when Peter’s proclamation of Christ Jesus opened the door to three thousand souls. As Christians we are to preach the Gospel of Christ both in Word, deeds, and in lifestyle. We are ambassadors or representatives of Christ; therefore we need to be living testament for Christ.

Many Christians believe that they can live a life patterned after the world because they say, “We are covered by grace – grace takes care of everything”

Paul affirms this “. . . But where sin increased, grace increased all the more . . .” (Romans 5:20).But Paul continues, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  ² By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

In Jamaican Patois we would say, “ Wa sin deh yu ha nuf, nuf more grace”  (Romans 5:20).

In Jamaican Patois we would say “why wee fe continue fe sin God forbid.” (Romans 6:1).

 Stay tune for the more on the armor of God for the Christian.

BUCKLE UP YOUR SEAT-BELT CHRISTIANS

In Jamaican: Buckle yu seet belt Christians.

In the Book of I Kings Chapter 19, we read how Elijah ran from Jezebel for fear of his life.

In I Kings Chapter 18, Ahab called Elijah “you troubler of Israel”. But Elijah responded to Ahab, “I have not made trouble for Israel, but you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.”

On Mount Carmel Elijah stood before all the people and issued a command, “If the Lord is God, follow him, but if Baal is God, follow him.”

Elijah also told the people that he was the only prophet of the Lord who was not put to death by Jezebel. On the other hand, Baal had four hundred and fifty false prophets on his side.  In I Kings 19:18 the Lord told Elijah that there were seven thousand prophets in Israel who have not bowed down to Baal.

It is so easy as Christians to feel as Elijah felt, alone in the Christian walk. And with this kind of feeling the Christian can surrender his or her life to the world’s system and way of daily living. But God wants us to remember that as Christians we are not alone. If Christ Jesus lives in us there are more of us than there are of the Baal’s. So then, as Christians we are not to be afraid. We are to hold fast the “Great Commission” given to us by Jesus in Matthew Chapter 28. God has made the Christians a gospel promise to be with us always to the end of the age. This is an awesome promise to keep in mind while proclaiming the gospel to a lost world. Elijah was not ashamed to confront the false prophets even in the face of danger. Christians are not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ but we are to find every opportunity to proclaim it for it is the power of God unto salvation.

So as Christians we are to put on our armor - the full armor of God:

1.      Put on truth

2.      Put on righteousness

3.      Put on peace

4.      Put on faith

5.      Put on salvation and the Word of God

In Ephesians Chapter 6 Paul the apostle tells us how to stand firm by putting on the belt of truth buckled around our waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 

Finally, we are to pray for one another that whenever we open our mouths, words may be given to us that we would fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which we are ambassadors of Christ Jesus. The church is not a building in which we worship. The church is the people of God. And we are to pray for one another – for the church universal to fearlessly proclaim the gospel of Christ to a lost and dying world.

BUCKLE UP YOUR SEAT-BELT CHRISTIANS

In Jamaican: Buckle yu seet belt Christians.

Is the world able to tell whether or not a Christian is a Christian?

Can the Christian tell whether or not the world is the world?

The answer: Matthew 7:20-21 by our fruit the world will recognize the Christian.

And by the world’s fruit the Christian will recognize the world.

As Christians we are urged to live a life worthy of the ‘call’ we received from God.  

THE BRIDE

 What an awesome thing to behold if the church comes together as one people, united under God Almighty. What an awesome sight to witness God’s glorious church of a rainbow-color worshiping together and bringing heaven down to earth. I believe God longs for a ‘Rainbow- color Revival’ in His church, where God’s people assemble together around the table of the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

          There are so many dying around us and around the world, especially our young people. Many are feeling empty and hungry for something and do not know what. But what the emptiness and the hunger stem from is an emptiness of God and a hunger for God. It is a hunger for Jesus Christ and Savior of the world.  May the power of the Holy Spirit burn within the church and equip the saints of God to proclaim a gospel that will satisfy the hungry and emptiness of souls.

I believe God longs for Christ Bride, the Church, to experience a ‘Rainbow Color’ awakening that will spark a reformation of a complacent church.  

          We came through the Lenten season up to the resurrection of Jesus. It was during this time that the disciples got discouraged at the cruel sight of Jesus’ crucifixion. They lost hope in the idea of continuing on in the footstep of Jesus. But Jesus’ resurrection brought about a reformation of the disciples lives and sparked a fire in them to advance the New Testament Church. The Church today needs a fire, the Holy Spirit fire.

          When the fire of the Holy Spirit comes to the church, the church will no longer look the same as it is today.  And when the gospel is preached those who are feeling empty and spiritually hungry will run to the cross of Christ and be made satisfied in Him.

          John in his gospel tells us that Jesus declares, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me.” John 7:37. And Isaiah tells us, “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen, so that you may live. Isaiah 55. Those who are feeling empty and hungry for God come to the water of the Word, eat, drink and live.  

TO RESCUE

The essence of the Gospel is ‘salvation’. Salvation is to seek and to save what was lost. It is to seek and rescue what was lost from the power of sin. Notice, the phrase ‘what was lost’. I invite you to look at a bigger picture. We are often tempted to narrow down the ‘seek and save’ to humanity only. But think of it, ‘to seek and to save what was lost’ also include the whole creation. Ever wonder why there is so much compassion shown towards the animals? At times it seems more compassion is given towards animals than to humans. It is because the Gospel is given for the animals also. It is given for God’s whole creation. The Gospel, although it is about the life, ministry, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of the living Christ, it is not just words on the pages of the Bible. The Gospel is the Good News, the Word of God alive through God’s people in the world. We are ambassadors of Christ, called to do the gospel, and to be the Gospel, to all nations and languages for Christ’s sake. We are God’s hands and feet in the world through Jesus Christ. We are to seek and rescue that which is lost through the saving Gospel of Christ. Therefore, the essence of the Gospel is ‘salvation’. Salvation is to rescue that which is lost from the power of sin. And Jesus Christ came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10.

BIG QUESTION:
What does Christ means to you?
How do you see the Gospel used in your church to rescue the lost from the power of sin?