Lift High The Cross

 

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

Matt 16:23-25

 

God grant that we should lift high the cross and follow in the footsteps of Jesus, while knowing that there will be things that must be left behind to die in order that we might live in Christ. 

 

God's Peace - Pr.

It Will Be Given You

"Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." Matt 7:7-8 NRSV

This morning I would really like the Lord to produce a couple of sermons for me. It would be good if I didn't have to focus on writing them; but, that's not how it works. God is not going to send it directly to my printer. I must do some listening, some searching, in order to know what He would have me say at Carol's funeral tomorrow and at worship on Sunday.

God does, indeed, gift us good gifts without our asking. He gave us His only begotten Son without our asking; without our even realizing that we needed him. But, sometimes we must ask in order to for us to be open to hear His word and His will for us. It's not a matter of God not giving them to us freely. It's a matter of whether we are willing to receive them or not.

The older I get, the more I realize that in order to know and do God's will I have to practice the presence of God so that I can hear Him. I have to actively seek Him because my human nature would shut Him out as I attempt to go it alone, without Him. This, I have found, is not a very wise idea. Of course, God is always with me; but, there are times I shut the door on Him and do not listen; do not hear His word or His will. Without Him, I can do nothing good. But, with Him all things are possible.

Search His word and you will find His good will for you and for all people.

"For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess 2:14

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 2:13-21 Get To Know The Holy Spirit

Acts 2:13-21 NIV
No, the disciples were not drunk with wine at 9 a.m. on that day of Pentecost. They were filled with the Holy Spirit just as is was spoken of by the prophet Joel. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come upon them and the Spirit did.

“In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy." (vs 17-18)

I've never quite been sure how it is that the day of Pentecost is taken so lightly in so many congregations in the United States (and probably around the world). It is the day that the power of the Holy Spirit was given to the followers to do the will of God; to proclaim the Kingdom of God, through Christ Jesus. No wonder it is so difficult for so many to understand the Trinity. We teach so little about who the Holy Spirit is. Just as we are to be in relationship with God the Father and God the Son, so we can also be in relationship with God the Holy Spirit.

I remember the day I finally got to know the Holy Spirit. I don't mean know who the Holy Spirit is; but, really "meet and greet" the Holy Spirit. I smiled for at least a week straight. The joy within me simply could not be extinguished. I was almost like a drunk person walking around; except, that I wasn't doing really stupid things. It was a very hard time in my life; yet, the Spirit of Christ led me and comforted me, giving me strength when I needed it the most.

"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which
leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord..." (Eph 5:17-19)

Ask the Lord to help you know the Holy Spirit. "For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matt 7:8)

God's Peace - Pr. J