Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Esther: Release from destruction (part 3 of 4)



Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration


WEDNESDAY’S WORD

November 20, 2013

Esther: Release from destruction (part 3 of 4)

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Esther 4
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Enter God's Rest: By setting others loose (part 3 of 4)


SUNDAY MESSAGE
Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration

Enter God’s rest: By setting others loose (part 3 of 4)
“The odor remover”

November 17, 2013
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)

John 11:39-44

"Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

I Am Therefore You Are


Exodus 3:14
14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.
Moses was incomparably the fittest of any man. He was taught in the ways of the Egyptians, he was a man of many abilities, yet he asks God, Who am I? When commissioned by God to carryout the plan for of setting the children of Israel free from bondage. Moses gives God his list of why he isn't fit to carry out the task God has placed before him.
This question of identity and one's ability is not uncommon for people today. Many are seeking to find their place and purpose in life, yet the long list of why they are not fit stands in the way. In this quest for identity we listen to many voices and the thoughts of others on who we are. We listen to what others say about us, what we say about ourselves, but we often forget to ask God, "Who do you say I am".
To read the full article, click on the link below:

If you would like to purchase, I Soar: The Chicken is out of the coop, you can go to our website:



Sunday, November 10, 2013

Enter God's Rest: By Setting others loose - Dead things stink

http://www.youtube.com/v/g2rmLjnvYwY?version=3&autohide=1&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=B6m0zoPhhfy8HLqOSYP-rw&feature=share&autohide=1

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Esther: Release from destruction (part 1 of 4)



WEDNESDAY’S WORD

November 6, 2013

Esther: Release from destruction (part 1 of 4)


Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Esther 1:8-17
When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. 10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.11 Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her. 12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name. 15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Enter God's Rest: By setting others loose - Removing the barriers

SUNDAY MESSAGE
Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration

Enter God’s rest: By setting others loose (part 1 of 4)
“Removing the barriers”

November 3, 2013


But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV

John 11:39-44 ~ "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Enter God's Rest: Time for "R & R"



Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration


WEDNESDAY’S WORD

October 30, 2013 

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 5 of 5) 

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.


10 Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” 11 So Ebed-Melek took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. 12 Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, 13 and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard. (Jeremiah 38:10-13)

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Enter God's Rest: By speaking up and speaking out (part 4 of 4)



SUNDAY MESSAGE
Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration


Enter God’s rest: By speaking up and speaking out (part 4 of 4)
October 27, 2013


But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)


Matthew 11:12  And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Dream Makers - Accepting The Call to Ministry, part 2 10/24 by Dream Makers1 | Religion Podcasts

Dream Makers - Accepting The Call to Ministry, part 2 10/24 by Dream Makers1 | Religion Podcasts

Join us tonight at 10 p.m. CST for Dream Makers. We will discuss what it means to accept your call to ministry. This show isn't just for ministers but for anyone seeking to understand God's mission for their lives.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 4 of 5)



Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration


WEDNESDAY’S WORD

October 23, 2013

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 4 of 5)

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare



10 Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” 11 So Ebed-Melek took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. 12 Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, 13 and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard. (Jeremiah 38:10-13)

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Enter God's rest: By speaking up and speaking out (part 3 of 4)



Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration
Enter God’s rest: By speaking up and speaking out (part 3 of 4)
October 20, 2013
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)
I left off last week stating, Before you can move to speaking up and speaking out, you have to know what God has called you to do. We talked about that, now we turn to what John was called to do.


Matthew: 3:7-11(NLT) 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize,[c] he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize with[d] water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.[e]

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Jeremiah: Release from the Pit (part 3 of 5)


Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration


WEDNESDAY’S WORD

October 16, 2013

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 3 of 5)

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.



So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud. But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite,[c] an official[d] in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.” (Jeremiah 38:6-9)

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Enter God's Rest: By Speaking up and Speaking out (part 2 of 4)


SUNDAY MESSAGE
Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration

Enter God’s rest: By speaking up and speaking out (part 2 of 4)
October 13, 2013

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)



Matthew: 3:1-6(NLT) In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.[a] 3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” 4 John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 2 of 5)


Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration


WEDNESDAY’S WORD
October 9, 2013 

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 2 of 5)

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.


So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah (Mal-ki-jah), the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud. But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite,[c] an official[d] in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.” (Jeremiah 38:6-9)

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Enter God's Rest: Time for R & R (part 5 of 5)

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration
September 29, 2013
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)


But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. 12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. 15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. (Titus 3:9-15)

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Daniel: Release from the lion den (part 4 of 4)

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration


WEDNESDAY’S WORD

Daniel: Release from the Lion den (part 4 of 4) 
September 25, 2013

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den.20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” 23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. 25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: “May you prosper greatly!

26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[b] the Persian (Daniel 6:19-28)

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Enter God's Rest: Time for R & R (part 4 of 5)


Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration
September 22, 2013
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)


But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.  12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.  15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.  Grace be with you all. (Titus 3:9-15)

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Daniel: Release from the lions den (part 3 of 4)


Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration


WEDNESDAY’S WORD

Daniel: Release from the Lion den (part 3 of 4) 
September 18, 2013

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. (Daniel 6:11-18)

Thursday, August 29, 2013

C.O.M.E. 2013-2014 Season!


It is time for the new season of C.O.M.E.

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”
Release and Renewal/Restoration

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)


Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Friday, March 29, 2013

I am thirsty - one of the seven last words of Jesus



I am Thirsty

28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. ~ John 19:28-29

Christ even in the midst of agony and suffering, was aware of fulfilling and finishing the work God sent Him to do.  Never, did we hear Christ give an utterance of complaint, yet one could think here He complains by stating “I am thirsty”, not so.  Here Christ deliberately seeks to be obedient.  His declaration of “I am thirsty” speaks to a greater truth.  The truth is Christ’s thirsting was a thirsting after the glorifying of God and the accomplishment of the work of our redemption.

Christ statement of “I am thirsty” reminds us of the man who was in hell and looked up and asked could Lazarus dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue; for he was being tormented in the flame (Luke 16:23-25).  This man’s torment was all humanities fate, an eternal thirsty that could never be quenched from the bitterness of sin’s drink.  Yet, had Christ not called out, “I am thirsty” and taken the bitterness upon his tongue, we could not taste of the eternal water that quenches our thirst.

Finally, when Christ took the bitter drink from the hyssop, it was a foreshadowing of the cleansing of our lives.  David in Psalm 51:7 asked God to cleanse him with hyssop and he would be whiter than snow.  Christ takes the sour wine offered on the hyssop branch so that you and I no longer have to have the bitterness of sin upon our lives, upon our tongues.  We can speak and know we are cleansed and that words that were once bitter now can be life giving words.  Isaiah said, I am a man of unclean lips, then God cleanses His mouth and make him able to go forth and speak the truth (Isaiah 6:5-6).  Today, know that Christ’s sacrifice gave you the ability to not only live for Him, but also to speak live giving Words, so that your thirsting will be filled from the fountain of the living water.

John 4:14 ~ But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

 

Friday, March 1, 2013

Godly Power: Are you ignited?


 
Godly Power: Are you ignited?

Many things need power to work.  The power comes in many ways; through electric, or fire for example.  If you are in a dark room you would turn on a lamp or light a candle to illuminate the darkness.  If you want to feel heat in your home, you fire up your furnace or light the fire place.  However, these things will not bring forth the desired results if you do not ignite the flame or turn on the power source.  If you do not ignite the flame within your furnace for example, you will be cold until the fire is ignited.  The power source has to be turned on or ignited if you want your stove to produce heat to cook your meals.  Today, I want us to look at another source of power, godly power and what happens when it is ignited.
 

ACTS 1:1-8

 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

**6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.”

 

~ I wrote about Jesus (acts 1:1) Former book:

The book of Acts starts with us reflecting back on the foundation that was set before us in the “former book.” The book of Luke was written to give a reliable and precise record of the history of Jesus Christ's life.  Luke paid great attention to detail, including dates and events that happened throughout the life of Christ.  His account shares with us the suffering of Christ and all He did for us.  A theme that is emphasized in the Gospel of Luke is the humanity of Jesus Christ and his perfection as a human.  Jesus was the perfect man who gave the perfect sacrifice for sin, therefore, providing the perfect Savior for humankind. The message of this Gospel was intended for instruction (1:4) for those among whom the book would be circulated.  He wanted to commend the preaching of the gospel to the whole world.

Act’s starts, then with a point of reminding the disciples of the foundation that had already been laid (on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus) and this foundation is what was now leading them into this new chapter, the building of the kingdom.  For sure, the disciples are ready and understand fully what is to come, right?  Sorry, no, we have a problem…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Then they gathered around him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’” (Acts 1:6)

~The disciples did not understand the kingdom. They were expecting Jesus to set up an earthly, Davidic like kingdom where he would appoint them positions of great honor and esteem.  They did not yet understand that the kingdom was HERE, the godly kingdom that would never end.

~Today we do not understand the kingdom.  We are no different today than the disciples of Jesus’ time.  We still do not fully understand the kingdom.  Many are expecting Jesus to set up an “earthly domain” for them to rule or a place that allows them comfort and ease.  They are excepting positions and places where they will be esteemed.  Yet, to live for Christ does not always bring honor and esteem, but ridicule, rejection, persecution and suffering for the cause of Christ (Acts 15:26).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.” (Acts 1:8)

Yet, we do not have to be discouraged! Jesus promises all that will believe and follow Him the power to carry out the work of the kingdom.  In the scripture above, Jesus tells the disciples where they will be able to go and do because of the power being ignited within each of them. (Note: this same power is available to us today to accomplish the same tasks).

The power of God would make them able to go to:

Jerusalem ~ they would be able to go to their home town and to the same temples that crucified Christ.  The power would help them to deal with the different groups and belief systems.

·         The Zealot movement took the revolutionary option. It advocated outward violence, even armed rebellion, to rid Israel of Roman oppression. {God’s power would help them tell the people to stop trusting in their war-plans, and trust in Jesus}

 

·         The Sadducees were the great pragmatists (practical thinkers) of the day.  As wealthy lay-nobles, priests and aristocrats, they sought to conserve their wealth and power through compromise with Rome.  Most of the members of the Sanhedrin were from the Sadducee group. {God’s power would equip them to tell the people to stop trusting in their money and status, and stop going along to get along.  They had to tell them a relationship with Christ was the only thing of great value.}

 

·         The Pharisees were in many ways the idealists of Jewish society.  Most of the Scribes (the 'theologians' of the day) were Pharisees.  In general, the Pharisees sought to live a life of spiritual purity by a meticulous following of the torah (Jewish law).  They did not believe in compromise with the Romans (as did the Sadducees) or in revolutionary activity (as did the Zealots).  Jesus rebuke of the Pharisees was because of the emphasis on the law that resulted in legalism which in turn, became a pretext for hypocrisy.  They believed in the resurrection of the dead.  From their perspective, Jesus seemed to relativize the law which explains their anger towards him. {God’s power would help them tell the people to stop trusting in their observation of the Law or in their traditions. They had to tell them traditions don’t save, heal, set free or deliver only a relationship with Christ does.}

 

·         Finally, there were the Essenes who solved the problem of Jewish identity in a Roman-occupied Israel by withdrawing to a monastic-like setting.  They completely opted out of mainstream Jewish society.  The most notable group in Jesus' time was the Qumran community who lived an ascetic life and was waiting for God's apocalyptic intervention in human history. {God’s power in them would help them tell the people to stop withdrawing from the world, from suffering and being involved, and to get engage in kingdom building.}

 

Judea – They would be able to go to the homeland, which was accustomed to Jewish religion, not Christianity, and share the message that would convert from traditions and relying on the Laws of Moses, to a faith in Jesus Christ.

For the ordinary people of the Jewish homeland, Rome was a kind of dominant political factor.  Although they might not have seen Romans on a day-to-day basis, the imposition of Roman power was certainly there.  Everyone knew that Rome was the source of both the wealth and also the source of some of the problems that occurred in the Jewish state.  So the political reality of the day was of a dominant power overseeing the life on a day-to-day basis. The disciples were empowered to encourage others to trust God and stop looking at the government as the problem or the savior of their situations, but look to God.

 Samaria – They would be able to go to their neighbor, those that they hated and hated them.

The Jewish inhabitants of Samaria identified Mount Gerizim as the chosen place of God and the only center of worship, calling it the “navel of the earth” because of a tradition that Adam sacrificed there. Their scriptures were limited to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible.  Moses was regarded as the only prophet and intercessor in the final judgment.  They also believed 6,000 years after creation, a Restorer would arise and would live on earth for 110 years.  On the Judgment Day, the righteous would be resurrected in paradise and the wicked roasted in eternal fire.

In the days of Christ, the relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans was greatly strained (Luke 9:52-54; Luke 10:25-37; Luke 17:11-19; John 8:48). The animosity was so great that the Jews bypassed Samaria as they traveled between Galilee and Judea. They went an extra distance through the barren land of Perea on the eastern side of the Jordan to avoid going through Samaria. Yet Jesus rebuked His disciples for their hostility to the Samaritans (Luke 9:55-56), healed a Samaritan leper (Luke 17:16), honored a Samaritan for his neighborliness (Luke 10:30-37), praised a Samaritan for his gratitude (Luke 17:11-18), asked a drink of a Samaritan woman (John 4:7), and preached to the Samaritans (John 4:40-42). Then in Acts 1:8, Jesus challenged His disciples to witness in Samaria. Philip, a deacon, opened a mission in Samaria (Acts 8:5). The empowerment would help the disciples to come to the fullness of Christ and heal the differences between them and the Samaritans.
 
Ends of the earth – This covers everybody else!  Those they do not even know exist yet.  The power would allow them to reach the hopeless, the homeless, the bound and those in prison to sin.  Everyone and everybody!

You may be saying to yourself, “I’m saved and am filled with God’s spirit, so what does this have to do with me?”  Good questions.  My question then to you is why aren’t you igniting or fanning the flame?

2 Timothy 1:6-11

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering {misery to my fleshly man} for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.

Fan the fire: what does that mean? To fan a fire, you must continually give it “air”, oxygen so that it will continue to grow. If air is cut off from a fire, it will eventually go out. This means, we must actively allow the “air” the breath of God, to fuel His Spirit within us. This means, we cannot become comfortable where we are presently.  If we do not continue to “fan into flame” the gifts in us they can become cold and we can lose our zeal for telling the gospel message and for kingdom building.

If we examine ourselves and we are not sharing the gospel with our “neighborhoods”, or “homeland” to our “enemies” and to the “entire world” we must ask ourselves are we truly fanning the flame?  Are we doing kingdom work or have we become comfortable within our own “kingdom domains”?  Have we become like one of the groups God sent the disciples back to reach?  Have we withdraw from the world and become a modern day Essenes?  Have we become comfortable reading our Bible and praying, without every looking outside our church doors to those around us?  Have we become like the Sadducees, wheeling and dealing to accomplish our own agendas and programs?  Have we become like the Pharisees, happy to promote our traditions and heaven forbid anyone try to do anything differently.  We were not mean to become like those that the disciples were sent to minister, we were to become the “disciples” that were sent to make a difference!

Today we need to ask God to re-ignite our flame for sharing the gospel with a lost and dying world. We need to ask Him to help us if we have found ourselves conforming to the patterns of those that Jesus came to change.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for losing sight of what kingdom work looks like.  We ask you to reignite us with your power and help us to go into all the world and share the good news of Christ.  Help us to activate the gifts that are with us.  Help us to become true worshippers, worshiping you in spirit and in truth.  Today we seek to walk in your godly power---ignite us again! Amen.

 

Resources:

Biblegateway.com. http://www.biblegateway.com/

Carson, D. & Douglas, J. (2005). An Introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Elwell, W. & Yarbrough, R. (2005). Encountering the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Whole Bible. (1991). United States: Henrickson Publishers.

Youngblood, R. (Ed.). (1995).  Nelsons New Illustrated Bible Dictionary.  Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.