Have You Received the Holy Spirit Since You Believed?

After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had been "clothed with power from on high"(Luke 24:49). Before His ascension He told them, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you"(Acts 1:8).

After the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter described the coming of the Holy Spirit a prophetic anointing and charismatic empowerment as described by the Prophet Joel. Did you know there are two baptisms? Jesus said,

For John baptized you with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  -Acts 1:5

This second experience is called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is the "promise of the Father" that Jesus spoke about. The Baptism in the Spirit is a separate experience that believers can and should experience after salvation.

Read what the Bible says about the believers in Samaria…

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they came down, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for still He had come on none of them. They were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.  –Acts 8:14-17

Notice that these people were without a doubt, saved and baptized but had not yet received the Holy Spirit… How? They received Him at new birth, but they had not yet been baptized with the Holy Spirit for the power and prophetic anointing to do God's work as the apostles were in Acts 2:1-4. That's why Peter and John came to them

When a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, they speak in tongues as the initial evidence of this experience. That happened to the apostles in Acts 2:4,

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

We also see that in Acts 19:6,

When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied

And most convincingly, Acts 10:44-46.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. All the believers of the circumcision who had come with Peter were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God.

Notice that it was that these people were speaking in tongues that Peter and his companions knew the Spirit had come upon them. It was the initial evidence of the Spirit's Baptism.

When you get baptized in God's Spirit, you will be given the ability to speak to Him in a language that you do not understand as a sign that you have been anointed to speak the Gospel with supernatural power.

We are given this second blessing freely so that we may have power from God to be His witnesses, and live for Him. Do you want more power, more fervor, more fire in your walk with God? Seek the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Your spiritual life will go from black and white to color.

Your prayer time will go from routine prayers to daily communion and fellowship with God. Your devotions will go from just reading scriptures, to feeding on the Word, and hearing God speak to you from the Word. You will be filled and overwhelmed with that boldness you have always wanted to share your faith and live the difference amongst your peers.

I know this because that was my experience when I received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is also the experience of countless others who have also received this second blessing.

Most importantly, I know this because Jesus promised in Acts 1:8 that we would receive power when Holy Spirit comes upon us. Do you want that? Are you hungry for that? Is something important and powerful missing from your walk with the Lord?

Ask God to fill you and baptize you in His Holy Spirit TODAY! It is His promise and free gift for you today. Just ask, and receive.

And when you ask, believe that you have received, and in faith, start speaking and praising God in the new language that He gives you. Go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit saints!

Under the Influence

Everyone says that first impressions are very important and that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. With that in mind, let’s turn our attention to the world’s first impression of Christians.

In Acts chapter 2 we read about the Day of Pentecost; the “birthday” of the Church if you will, the first day of Christianity. On this powerful day, the first Christians were gathered together in an upper room praying. The wind blew, the fire fell, and then this happened.

“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”  -Acts 2:4

A crowd from different countries and different backgrounds gathered at the sound of this. They were bewildered at the fact that they each heard these Christians speaking in their own languages. Not everyone however, heard the first Christians speak in their native tongue.

“Some however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I have to say. These men are not drunk as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!’”  -Acts 2:13-15

Now Christians over the centuries have been mistaken for many things. But I think it’s interesting that the world’s first impression of the Church of Jesus Christ was that they were drunk…

Here is something I have noticed about people who like to get drunk; a lot of them do so because getting drunk makes them bold. It gives them that “liquid courage” to do what they have always wanted to do, and say what they have always wanted to say.

It’s a deceptive and destructive fantasy of course, but people for some reason feel they cannot truly be the person they have always wanted to be until they get under the influence of alcohol.

Now think about the Apostle Peter. Here is a man who on the night Jesus was arrested, denied that he knew the Lord three times. Then all of a sudden, he gets “under the influence” of the Holy Spirit, and is bold.

He speaks to the crowd, he commands a paralyzed man to stand up and walk (Acts 3:6), he tells off the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:5-20), and even his shadow brought healing to the sick (Acts 5:15). In other words, Peter had that “liquid courage”. He was under the influence, he was “drunk” on the “New Wine” of the Holy Spirit and could finally be that person that he always wanted to be, and Jesus knew that he always could be.

That’s the reason God tells us in Ephesians 5:18,

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

The Word of God says, “INSTEAD be filled with the Spirit” Instead of getting drunk, get filled with the Spirit. In other words, as an alternative. You want that boldness, that courage to come out of your shell, to not be afraid to share your faith with strangers, to live the difference in an unbelieving world, and be the person you have always wanted to be in Christ? Don’t get drunk on alcohol, get “under the influence” of the New Wine. Get filled with the Holy Spirit just like Peter and the others did in Acts 2:4.

Forgiveness and Healing are a Package Deal

“Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” –Luke 5:23

The Bible teaches that forgiveness and healing are a package deal. No clearer is this demonstrated than in the story of the paralytic who Jesus healed in Luke 5:17-25. Jesus was teaching inside of a house and many people were there listening. Some men had brought a paralyzed man with them and tried to get him to Jesus in the house.

The crowd was too large so they decided to dig a hole in the roof of the house and lower the paralyzed man through right at Jesus’ feet. When Jesus saw this paralyzed man, He said two things to him; “your sins are forgiven” and “Get up and walk”.

The religious leaders questioned Jesus’ authority to forgive sins, so in response Jesus says to them,

“‘But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up take your mat and go home.’ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.”  -Luke 5:24-25

The Bible shows us again in the Epistle of James that forgiveness and healing are a package deal.

“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”  -James 5:14-15

Notice what the Holy Spirit is saying to us in this passage. The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well, AND his sins will be forgiven. It’s a package deal. When an interview candidate is hired, they are offered a package. This includes a salary, health care, retirement, etc.
These are not “extras” or a bonus in addition to the offered salary. They are part of the hiring package. Psalm 103:2-3 says,

“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases”

Forgiveness and healing are part of the “Salvation Package” that has been offered to you through the cross. Healing is not an extra, it is not a bonus, it is not an add on, it is part of the package the you receive freely when you come to God by faith in Jesus Christ.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”  -Isaiah 53:5

Yes, Jesus was crucified (pierced) for our sins, but just as His wounds brought us forgiveness, they brought us healing. He carried them both; our infirmities and our diseases (Isaiah 53:4). How would you feel if you were paying for your health insurance out of your own pocket when all along part of your benefits at work, part of the package of your job was to fully cover your health insurance?

You would feel cheated right? That is exactly what you are doing when you only accept half of the package of the cross. There is another part of the package you are cheating yourself out of; the part that includes healing. Heed the words of the Psalmist today to Praise the LORD and “forget not ALL his benefits…” Forgiveness and healing are a package deal.

Jesus Died for Your Forgiveness, AND Your Healing!

My prayer list grows almost daily with those who are in serious need of healing. It feels like almost every week I learn that someone else has cancer. Almost every day, someone I know is in the hospital either for an operation, tests, follow up, or being rushed to the emergency room. We need a major healing touch from the Lord!

Now, either the Bible is true or it is not. Either the Bible is the Word of God or it’s not. If the Bible is indeed God’s Word, then we must believe and trust what it says, or else we call God a liar. The Bible says in Psalm 103:2-3,

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases

We know that forgiveness of sin is a guaranteed promise from God thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. If you don’t know that, let me assure you that no matter what you have done, no matter how far you have gone, because of the death of Jesus on the cross, God can and will forgive you of any and all sins if you will simply turn to him, and put your faith in Jesus Christ.

Healing is just as much a benefit of the cross as forgiveness. You can trust and believe God for your healing TODAY just as much as you can trust Him for forgiveness. How do I know that? Because the Bible says that Jesus carried your infirmities and diseases.

This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”  -Matthew 8:17

That’s right! Jesus took up and carried your cancer! Jesus took up and carried your arthritis! He took up and carried your heart condition! He took up and carried your back problems, joint and bone conditions! He took up and carried your eye condition! Jesus took up and carried your pain! Jesus took up and carried ALL your sickness and disease!

Just as you believe that you can come and find forgiveness through Jesus, you should also believe that you can come and find healing through Him! Healing is not a “maybe one day” possibility. It isn’t an add on or footnote to the Gospel. It is a FINISHED promise accomplished at the cross!

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.   –Isaiah 53:5

We ARE healed. Not will be, not “maybe one day”, not as a possibility, we ARE healed! The Bible says we are healed by His wounds. If you are a Christian, I am sure you are thankful for the forgiveness that Jesus purchased for you with His death.

You can also receive healing through that same sacrifice. Jesus died for your forgiveness, AND healing. Your body was not created to get sick. It is not, never has been, and never will be God’s plan for you to be sick. Sickness, cancer, and all disease are a result from The Fall.

They are works of the Devil. And 1st John 3:8 tells us that Jesus came to “destroy the works of the Devil.” All you need to do is have the same attitude as the woman with the issue of blood. Have faith in God’s promises, then reach out and claim your healing!

Do You Have the Power?

The person of the Holy Spirit has been described in many ways; the third person of the trinity, the Comforter, a dove, etc. What about as "power"? Jesus called the Holy Spirit, "The Promise of the Father"(Luke 24:49). He described the Holy Spirit as being clothed with power from on high, and as power to witness(Acts 1:8).

When the Holy Spirit did come in Acts 2:4, listen to how the Apostle Peter describes the gift of Holy Spirit...

 

These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “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. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.    –Acts 2:15-19

 

Read that passage carefully… The Apostle Peter says that what Joel is describing, is the coming of the Holy Spirit. Now does that describe the work of the Holy Spirit in your life? Prophesying, dreams, visions, signs and wonders, POWER? Also notice that the Gift of the Holy Spirit is not limited to spiritual leaders, older believers, or a particular gender. The “Promise of the Father”, the “power from on high” is for everyone; men, women, young, old, those in leadership, and the common man, and they will ALL prophesy.

The Apostle Peter in Acts 2, the Prophet Joel in Joel 2, along with the Lord Jesus in Luke 24 describe the Holy Spirit as a prophetic anointing with charismatic power. Now, since we are all different, the work of the Holy Spirit in each person will look different. That being said, it cannot be overstated, that Jesus said that a believer's life should be one marked by supernatural power…

 

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will recover.”       -Mark 16:17-18

 

After Jesus left this earth in this ascension, we see that “those who believe” engaged their community with the power of God on their lives.

 

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.    –Acts 2:43

 

When was the last time you saw the Holy Spirit at work like that in your life? Would you describe this precious third person of the trinity as being “clothed with POWER from on high”? Take an honest look at your spiritual life. Is the work of the Holy Spirit in your life a true fulfillment of “what was spoken by the prophet Joel” as Peter said it should be?

Jesus wants more for you than to just be saved. He wants to clothe you with power from on high so that you can do what He has called you to do on this earth.

 

“For John baptized you with water, but in a few days you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.  –Acts 1:5

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you….    –Acts 1:8

If your relationship with the Holy Spirit is not one of charismatic power with a prophetic anointing as described by the Prophet Joel, seek Him today. He is the “Promise of the Father”, “The Gift”, and He is just waiting for you to receive

Ending Gun Violence

It has happened again. Another mass shooting has come to what should be the safest country in the world. As usual, Americans on all sides of the political spectrum are having knee jerk reactions.

Some Americans point to this repetitive pattern of gun violence as clear evidence for gun law reforms or even stricter gun laws. There are renewed calls for an assault weapons ban, mandatory universal background checks, a national gun owner registry, and even gun owners insurance.

Other Americans maintain that this tragedy is just another reason to relax current gun restrictions. The call for banning "Gun Free" zones is gaining momentum as these tragedies take place where citizens have been prevented from protecting themselves. Shooters pick these gun free zones because they know that they will be “gun free” and therefore have no defense.

Our nation hasn't always had this gun problem. As a matter of fact, from 1927-1990 there were less than 10 mass shootings in our schools. Then from 1990 on there has been at least one school shooting every year, most recently, multiple school shootings every year. So what was different about our society back then? Certainly there weren't more gun free zones. In fact, decades ago you could carry guns in more places than you can today.

I remember my grandfather telling me of a time when everybody had a gun and sometimes, kids even carried them to school. He told me that "back in his day" you could wake up early, go hunting, go to school after hunting and leave your gun in your truck in the school parking lot with no problem. Yet, there were hardly any schools shootings back then like there are every few months today.

So what was different? Consider America's attitude to God, faith, and the Bible back then. Our society embraced faith back then. We were a people of faith. We upheld the teachings of the Bible and at least tried to govern with its guidance. And we honored God. Morals and right living were not seen as antiquated, restrictive, and "judgmental" as they are today. Immorality was condemned, shunned, and spoken against from the highest office. Not encouraged and legislated like it is today. If we want to stop the cycle of mass shootings in our nation, we need to return to that.

The answer to ending gun violence is neither more gun control nor more relaxed gun laws. The only way to end gun violence is for America to return being a nation of faith, that is committed to biblical principles, and honors God. We have taken prayer out of school, the Ten Commandments out of the courthouse, and the name of Jesus out of our prayers. We have allowed society to degenerate into corruption and to drift away from God, and we wonder why we see a mass shooting on the news every few months. 

The increase in mass shootings in not because of more gun laws neither is it because of the NRA. It is because our nation has abandoned the practice of teaching people what is right and what is wrong. The violence we see today is a direct manifestation of our neglect to encourage each other to live righteously, ethically, and within certain moral boundaries.

We, as a society, have been conditioned to flinch and cringe at the very thought of "moral boundaries". That was from a different time, an oppressive time... It was also from a time where 7 year olds weren't being slaughtered in their classrooms...  Not because of political and ideological control and manipulation, but because our culture reflected our values. So these atrocities were the tragic exception not the routine.

Gun control will not stop this, neither will the NRA. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can stop this. The lifechange that comes from the Gospel will change the direction of our society in numerous ways including gun violence. Sadly, it may take a generation to get back to where we need to be. But we must start today. Let's start today. Not in book of the law in the house of Congress, but in the book of the Bible in the House of God.

Fall Revival: The Johnson Family OCT 23-25

Join us at The Assembly of Praise in Columbia NC for a weekend revival! The Johnson Family will be ministering to us during the weekend of Oct 23-25. This is your weekend to receive what you have been praying for! The services will be at 7pm on Friday and Saturday nights, 11am on Sunday morning, and 6pm on Sunday night. Come out, bring some friends, and enjoy the presence of the Lord with us!

Call to Action

Please listen to this very important message from our Sunday night service. There are far more people in our community who need Christ than you think... We need to engage and reach them. Christ commands us to, and our future depends on whether or not we obey His command...

Messages of Hope from our Sunday Morning Services

I hope you will be blessed, inspired, and empowered through these messages from our Sunday morning services at The Assembly of Praise.

Our mission is to RESORE HOPE to each person by helping them Know God, Find Community, Discovery Their Purpose, and Make a Difference.

We would be honored for you to be our guest on Sunday @ 11am. We are located in Columbia NC right of Exit 562 on Hwy 64. Our physical address is 3138 Travis Rd. Columbia NC, 27925. You may contact us at 252-766-0021 or email us at theassemblyofpraise@agchurches.org


God's Anger and Sadness Toward Your Sin: Mark 3:1-6
The Sabbath: Mark 2:23-28
People Don't Like Change: Mark 2:21-22
These are the "Days of Elijah"?

The Work of the Holy Spirit

The REAL Power

Hannah and Peninnah

Bind Up the StrongMan




What's so "Amazing" about Grace?




Breaking the Curse of Poverty

Taking the Promise Land

Don't Like Organized Religion? Try Christianity

People who are disenfranchised by organized religion should be flocking to Christianity. I hear people say this all the time; "It isn't that I don't believe in God, I just don't like organized religion." Well then we are the perfect community for you! Christianity, especially the Church is anything but organized religion. The church is not an organization, it is an organism. Always growing, changing and adapting.

    We are not an corporation, we are a community. The church is a community where life transformation and restoration takes place. It is a community we marriages are restored, wounds are healed, and lives rebuilt. It is a community where those who are held captive by destructive lifestyles are not only set free, but who also regain a sense of identity that grounds them. The church is a community where those struggling financially are empowered to no longer be a victim to debt, unemployment numbers, or a struggling economy. We are agents of life change.

    We do crazy things like leave the comforts of home and go to another country to help strangers. We share the Gospel in countries where admitting to being a follower of Christ can cost you your life. We speak out against slavery. We do weird things like draw a red x on our hands to let people know that slavery and human trafficking still happens in our world. We feed the hungry, clothe the poor. We drill wells in Africa and ship vaccines oversees. We build schools, hospitals, and orphanages.

    We do much more than worship together for an hour or two on Sundays. We spend time with each other in our homes. We hang out at Starbucks, we go out to eat. We go with one another to the gym. We embrace one another when our children are born or our friends do something crazy like get married, and we cling to one another when we loose a loved one or when life is spinning out of control. We laugh with each other when the times are good and cry with each other when times are bad. We create drama, stop talking when a spat arises, but we're always ready to drop everything and be there for one another at a moment's notice. We share life together. Were a family.

    Call Christianity whatever you want, but don't call it organized religion. Perhaps the reason we are not an organized religion is because our foundation is not an organization, system, or structure. Our foundation is a person; Jesus Christ. The most "alive" person that ever walked the earth. So alive in fact that He came back from death! His life is in us, and we are alive in Him. And that life permeates our entire community bringing about the dynamic transformation this world has come to marvel. So I say to all of you who do not like organized religion, why not try Christianity?

The Purpose of a Lighthouse: To Guide, and to Warn

It has been prophesied that The Assembly of Praise will be a lighthouse.  But what does that mean exactly? If God wants us to be a lighthouse, then it would be helpful to understand what a lighthouse does.

In the dark confusion of the night, a lighthouse guides the way to safety for ships by warning them to avoid the jagged rocks near the shore. Least the ships sink and all on board perish. If we are to be a lighthouse, then we must both guide and warn. Sure, a lighthouse has other purposes, but to guide and warn is it's most important and primary purpose.

We must guide people to safety and the solid ground of Christ while warning them of getting to close to the jagged rocks of sin, least they perish. As lighthouse keepers, this is our primary responsibility and we must not neglect it for other things.

They may seem important to us, and even great beneficial ministries, but we neglect our primary task by giving too much attention to them.

Consider the following story from the "Way of the Master Minute" devotional: A lighthouse keeper, being compassionate and giving, regularly gave free fuel to ships that miscalculated how much they needed. One night during a storm, lightning struck his lighthouse and put out his light.

He immediately turned on his generator, but it soon ran out of fuel because he had given his reserves to passing ships in need. During the dark night, with no light to warn them, a ship struck the jagged rocks and everyone on board perished.

At his trial, the judge knew the lighthouse keeper was a kind and compassionate man, and he wept as he gave the sentence. He accused him of neglecting his primary responsibility-to keep the light shining, to guide and to warn...

The Church can so often get caught up in legitimate acts of kindness-standing for political righteousness, other programs and ministries, etc., but our primary task is to keep the light of the Gospel shining so that sinners can avoid the jagged rocks of sin and see the way to safety. Go shine the light saints. Go guide and warn.

"You Did Not do for Me..."

As I scroll through my news feed and watch CNN, the images of a dead child washed up on a beach as his family fled Syria are burned into my head. I read about dozens of dead refugees being found on a train, hundreds dying at sea as they try to escape a war torn Middle East.

There are thousands lost, wandering, and stranded as they wait to enter Europe. Even in our own country, thousands of children are coming over the border escaping poverty, human trafficking, and the drug lords.

When I see the image of that child, and hear the stories of these people I can't help but think about my grandmother; Zenaida Teresita Castro, and my great grandmother Laudalina Castillo who braved the sea to come here from Cuba as refugees. I think of my aunt and uncle who came with them as children. They too fled cruelty, poverty, and tyranny for a better life.

I think of the first Christians who became refugees in Acts 8 as they were scattered abroad when persecution came to the church in Jerusalem. I think of the Israelites who became refugees when they fled Egypt in search of a better home, a home of freedom.

I think of Jesus, who when He was born became a refugee when His family had to flee to Egypt out of fear of Herod. These "illegals" crossing over our borders, these "Muslims" who are pouring into Europe have more in common with the first Christians, the Israelites, and our Lord Jesus Christ then we might care to admit.

And I have a lot in common with them. For I am the grandson of a someone just like them; a refugee....

What should be the Church's response? I believe God has a special place in His heart for these "illegals". His children were once refugees, so was His only begotten Son... Our response is clear. He tells us in Matthew 25:42-45,

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Thought for today:

Next time you look into the eyes of a refugee, you are looking into the eyes of Jesus. Treat them accordingly.

Waging War with a Feast

You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies....
                                                                     -Psalm 23:5

How often the Lord's Supper is observed varies from church to church. Some churches observe it every Sunday, others once a month, some once a quarter. What is important is that we do celebrate this memorial of our Lord's death and resurrection. We do this for many reasons, one of those being spiritual warfare.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:28 that the Gates of Hell will never prevail against His Church. The Bible also tells us that the Church is the Body of Christ. In 1st Corinthians 11:26, the Word of God declares,

For whenever you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

Here is how Holy Communion is spiritual warfare. First, when we come together to celebrate the memorial of the death of Jesus, we are united as one.

Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of one loaf.
                                                                                -1st Corinthians 1:17
There are very few things more dangerous to the power of Satan than a united Church. When we who are in Christ become united as one, we become an unstoppable force that has the potential to do unmeasurable damage to the Kingdom of Darkness.

Secondly, as the Word says, when we observe Holy Communion, we proclaim the Lord's death. Every time Christians gather together at the Lord's Table, we remind all of Hell, that it's gates will never prevail against the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. We remember the victory of Heaven, and the defeat of Hell.

In other words, we eat our "victory feast" right there on the battle field rubbing it in the enemies face. Psalm 23:5 says

You prepare a table in the presence of my enemies....

Holy Communion is that table. It is God not only giving you the victory, it is Him making Satan watch as He does it. So as you come together to observe Holy Communion, remember that you are waging war with a victory feast.

Thought for Today:

Not only is God going to give you the victory, He is going to make Satan watch.

Assembly of Praise! I Release You!

Yesterday morning, was a powerful time in God's presence at The Assembly of Praise. As I think over all that God did during our Sunday morning service, I recall how this awesome move of the Spirit started when I released the people to "abandon the pew" and come to the front to praise and worship God as they felt led.

I felt as though some of us felt like we needed to be "released" to do that; released to come to the altar. Forgive me for using a worldly analogy. But it's kind of like a middle school dance... Everyone stands around awkwardly because no one quite knows "the rules" or if they are "released" to swarm the dance floor and get their groove on. Then that one person steps out and next thing you know the dance floor is flooded and everyone has a great time and no one wants to leave.

Corny analogy I know, sorry. But that's kind of what it felt like yesterday.

We just needed to be released to leave the pew, stand at the front, kneel at the front, dance at the front, march around the sanctuary, etc. And as soon as we were "released" to do that, what happened...? The Spirit broke out in a mighty way. Praise God! God wants us to do the same thing this Sunday.

So, Assembly of Praise, I release you! Not only do I release you to leave your pew and worship or just praise God right where you are at during the music, I release you even before service! Read that last sentence again! Why wait until the Praise and Worship team takes the platform? Have you ever got to church and thought, "I can't wait until church starts so I can just worship and spend time in His presence!"?

You can! Feel free, feel released to approach the front, to come to the altar to pray and worship before the music starts, before the welcome video starts playing, even before the Praise and Worship team starts praying. You are released to step into His presence and begin worshiping as soon as you walk through the door! Don't wait for me, don't wait for us. Just enter in! Don't let the worship team lead you into worship this Sunday, let us join you as you already are in His presence

The Scars Remain for a Reason

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!   -John 21:27

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the event that changed history forever. The Son of God not only bore the full brunt of God's wrath for our sin, He also triumphed over death thus giving forgiveness and new life to all who believe. The interesting thing about the resurrection is that all though Jesus was fully resurrected with a healthy body, He still retained the scars from His crucifixion.

Why is that? I mean, if God was going to bring Jesus back to life, why not make His body completely whole? Why leave holes in His hands and feet, and a gash in His side? Jesus kept the scars of His crucifixion so He could show the world that He truly had come back from the dead. He wanted the world to know that He was not ghost or a resurrected Spirit of some kind. He didn't want people to think that He had turned into an angelic being of some sort.

He wanted people to know that He had faced trials, hardship, and even death, but came back victorious with the battle scars to prove it. As Christians, we claim that we have been born again. That we have been raised with Christ as a new creature. Even after Christ makes into a new creature, He sometimes allows the scars of what He brought us through remain. The world wants to see the proof of our resurrection just like Thomas did. They say to us, "You claim you have been through something and have come back victorious, let me see your scars."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
You may have scars from your past. Don't be ashamed of them, for they are evidence that you TRULY have come back from the dead.

Full of Grace and Truth

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  -John 1:14

People say that Jesus was all loving and never condemned anyone.

Jesus did indeed condemn some people for their sin. In Matthew 23 He called the religious leaders "hypocrites". He told them that they were "blind fools," children of hell, full of hypocrisy and sin. He rebuked them by saying, "You serpents, you generation of vipers, how shall you escape the damnation of hell?" (v. 33). He then warned that He would say to sinners, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). He showed just how sinful sin truly is. He said, "Don't think that just because you have been faithful to your spouse that you haven't committed adultery, looking with lust is adultery too."

Jesus was also full of Grace. Take for example the woman guilty of adultery. Not only was she guilty, she was caught in the act! The Bible however, tells us nothing about this woman's heart concerning her sin. We do not even know if she was sorry for what she did. For all we know, she could have been thinking to herself, "This is ridiculous! I'm no more guilty than these religious phonies. This is a joke." Yet, Jesus didn't even bother to make sure she was truly repentant. He simply said, "So, who has condemned you? No one? Then neither do I. You are free to go, and don't do that again." Just like that, she was free to go, pardoned, and with no questions asked. At that moment, our Lord was full of Grace.

Jesus was not a hell fire preacher half of time, then a feel good preacher the other half. John tells us that He was full of Grace and Truth 100% of time. How do we walk the balance between making sure we are living right before the Lord, and resting in the fact that God approves of us just as we are solely based on the sacrifice of Jesus whether we are living right or not? We don't. We look to the cross. In the cross we see the fullness of truth; the truth that we are exceedingly sinful without hope. In the cross we see the fullness of grace; the grace that has made us perfectly righteous in God's eyes without flaw or fault.

Truth without grace would be legalism, and grace without truth would be chaos. We must have the fullness of both in our lives. That is your hope for today. Now go restore hope to others.

Are You Standing Under an Eclipse?

Most of us know what happens during a solar eclipse. The moon passes between the sun and the earth blotting out the suns light. All that is left is a black disk in the sky with a bright ring around it depending on where you are during the event. I remember the first time I saw one, it was amazing. I quickly understood why an eclipse rattled civilizations centuries ago.

For us, an eclipse is fascinating but not a big deal because we know how it works. Could you imagine what an eclipse would be like if you had no idea what it was or how it happened? Think about it. Everyday you feel the warmth of the sun, you see its light brighten everything giving life to the world around you. Then suddenly out of the middle of nowhere, this dark, thing covers up the sun. Not only are you afraid, your also confused. It was bright outside, now it's dark... but it's only two o'clock in the afternoon!

Maybe that's what life is like for you. Things were going great, everything was the way it was supposed to be and everyone you wanted in your life was there. Then something happened and blotted out the sunshine in you life. Now your standing confused and afraid in the dark and it's only two o'clock in the afternoon.

Notice that during an eclipse, the moon only covers up the sun, but the sun is still there. Don't be afraid. God wants you to know that even though things are kind of dark right now, He is getting ready to move this thing out of the way so the "Sonshine" can light up your life again. Have faith and trust in Jesus the Son. He will bring light to your life again.