The Most Rejected Man in History

Our society is plagued with rejection. We have a Heavenly Father who can identify with us.

Looking Back

You will never move forward, so long as you keep looking back.

 

Somehow, Press On! (Philippians 3:10-14)

“That Just Happened!”

There are times shortly after God does something amazing in our lives that something else happens that discourages us. During these moments, we should reflect on all that God has done and remind ourselves, “That Just Happened!”

Insiders and Outsiders

““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  -Matthew 7:13-14

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” -John 10:16

Have you been to a mall recently? They’re practically empty these days. Except for that time when Build a Bear offered a “pay your age” sale... My wife and I went to a mall awhile back just before most of the department stores open. We went into Belks to browse around. I noticed that all of the entrances were closed off by gates except for the one we entered through. I remember passing by these gated entrances and seeing people on the other side awkwardly staring at me from behind the gate wanting to get in.

Almost as though they couldn’t figure out how we got in. To the customers on the outside looking in, it appeared as though Belks was closed. Closed to everyone that is, except us and the few customers that came in through the one gate that was opened. I am ashamed to admit, instead of informing these puzzled seekers where the open entrance was, I just kept walking around minding my own business.

We Christians do the same thing when it comes to the eternal life we have through Jesus Christ. We are free. We are “in” with God. People on the outside are staring at us, wondering how we got in, and we avoid them when we know how to get in. If we are honest with ourselves, sometimes we treat Heaven as though it is closed off to people except for those who belong to the “in crowd”. That is unacceptable for a people who have been commanded by Christ to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Revelation chapter seven reveals that one day Heaven will be populated by multitudes of the redeemed from “every nation, tribe, people, and language”. That means the exclusion of any group of people from hearing the Gospel violates Christ’s command.

There are two sides to this story however. What is not mentioned in my story is, Belks was actually open for business. Those on the outside looking in just didn’t want to go in through the right door. Heaven isn’t closed off. The curtain has been torn, the door has been opened. We just have to enter through the right door; Jesus Christ. Our society wants Heaven to be like Burger King; “Have it Your Way.” Eternal Life isn’t have it your way, it’s “Have thine own way.”

There are not many diverse roads to salvation each catered to the individual “seeker”. There is one road, one gate, one way to Eternal Life. His name is Jesus Christ. He is not an alternative, He is the answer. All the blessings of the Kingdom of God are ours to enjoy, but we must enter through the one door that has been opened to us. That door was opened by the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

When it comes to Eternal Life, both those on the outside and on the inside are wrong. Those on the outside should realize that the gates to salvation and eternal life are indeed open, but they must enter through the right door; Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Those on the “inside” should realize that we should engage those on the outside and show them the way “in”.

Making Sin Peronal

I would not have known what sin was, had it not been for the law. –Romans 7:7

            Many people have driven back and forth through this area on Hwy 64 speeding under the assumption that there is little risk of them getting caught, only to find themselves staring at blue lights flashing in their rear view mirror. Whether we admit it or not, each and every one of us have been guilty of assuming that our speed is no big deal, especially on a four lane highway.

            We mistakenly assume that since everyone else around us is driving fifteen mph over the speed limit, our transgression of the law is no big deal. That is of course, until we see blue lights flashing in our rear view mirror. All of a sudden we really could care less if everyone else is speeding too. We have become frightfully aware that we are guilty not anyone else. Our transgression of the law is no longer what everyone else is doing, it has become personal.

            It is the same when we apply God’s Law (The Ten Commandments) to our lives. At first we think, who hasn’t told a fib here and there, looked at someone lustfully, had sticky fingers, taken the Lord’s name in vain on occasion in a weak moment? Everybody does it, and so long as we aren’t hurting anybody, what’s the big deal? Then God’s Law enters the rear view mirror of our conscience. That “little fib” becomes a lie or false witness. Our sticky fingers make us a thief. Our lust becomes adultery. Taking God’s name in vain becomes blasphemy.

            All of a sudden we realize the truth that we have become guilty of transgressing God’s Holy Law by which He will hold us accountable to on Judgment Day. We tremble as we remember how God in His righteous justice is so holy that He sees lust as adultery and hatred as murder in our hearts. He has promised to not only bring justice to the murderers, rapists, and terrorists, but also to thieves, blasphemers, and even liars and hypocrites. Our behavior is no longer “what everyone else is doing”, it has become personal sin against a holy God. It seems like every time we turn around, we lose someone tragically to death. What if you’re next? Are you ready?

            Don’t assume that your sin is innocent, of no harm, and no different than anyone else’s. When death finally rips your soul from your body and you stand before God with all your actions, words, and even thoughts exposed, there will be nowhere to run and no one to blame. When the light of God’s Law reveals and casts into the open even the things you thought you did in secret, you will have to answer for your personal transgressions of God’s Law, not anyone else’s. You personally are guilty.

            When that officer of that law hands you that ticket with that hefty fine, there is a moment of finality as you sit on the side of the road. Can you imagine your reaction if before the officer drove away, a stranger pulled beside the both of you and paid your fine for you? Now you’re free to go! You would be overjoyed and grateful. That is exactly what Jesus Christ did for you when He died on the cross nearly 2,000 years ago.

            He took the punishment for your transgressions, the penalty for your crimes, He paid your fine. Now, if you repent (turn from) of your sins and put your faith in Jesus as your Savior, God will forgive your sins, commute your sentence, and dismiss your case. You will be pardoned and granted Eternal Life. You will not face judgment when you die, but an eternity in Heaven. Your sin is your own, it’s personal. Repent and trust the Savior today while your heart still beats.

Reinvent Yourself

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” –Isaiah 43:18-19

          I remember one of my favorite things to do when I was a child was to go out with my family to rent a couple of movies from Blockbuster. It was great except for the fact that we had to return the movies within a few days. It was like a library but for movies.

          Nobody talks about Blockbuster today. Do you know why? Because Blockbuster did not anticipate the changes in culture and reinvent themselves to keep up. Netflix came along giving customers the ability to rent movies and have them delivered to their home. RedBox came along giving customers the convenience of renting movies from a kiosk at the local gas station, grocery story, or pharmacy. Blockbuster had become obsolete and went bankrupt.

          We tend to think that because the way we did things in the past means they will work just fine in the season of life we find ourselves in today. That is not necessarily true. That was then, this is now. What got you to where you are, won’t necessarily get you to the next step. Life is always changing, and likewise we have to make changes so that we are equipped and ready for whatever season of life we find ourselves in. Let me give you an example from scripture.

          During their journey to the Promise Land, the Israelites found food by eating Manna off the desert floor. When they entered the Promise Land however, the Manna stopped and the Israelites were to instead of bending on their knees to pick Manna off the floor, would now stand on their feet and reach up to pick fruit from the trees of the land. The Israelites were entering into a new season of life, and would therefore need to reinvent the way they did life.

          Perhaps you find yourself in a new season of life. Don’t rely on the methods that prevailed in the glory days or on what got you out of the last situation you found yourself in. You will have to learn how to change and do things differently in this new season you’re about to enter.

          The world is different, society is different, culture is different, the economy is different, technology is different, YOU are different. What got you to where you are today may not necessarily get you to tomorrow. What set you apart and caused you to succeed in the workplace in the past may not help you today. Things have changed.

          How you managed your money years ago, may not get you the same results today. The economy has changed. Study habits that helped you excel may not make any difference today. Education is changing. The way you formed meaningful relationships last time may not connect with people this time. Social media has changed the way people relate and connect. The way you have been doing things won’t work forever. If you don’t believe me, just ask Blockbuster…

Take Another Lap

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” –Joshua 6:2-5

          You have to appreciate the faith of Joshua during this moment of his life. Imagine him standing outside the mighty walls of Jericho with the army of Israel standing behind him. Surely the task of bringing these walls down must have been somewhat intimidating at first. But Joshua pressed on.

          Joshua and the Israelites marched around those walls once a day for six days. Then on the seventh day, they marched around it six times. It wasn’t until they lifted up a shout on the seventh lap on the seventh day that the walls came tumbling down. Imagine what must have been going through Joshua’s head towards the end of that sixth lap on that seventh day.

          He and the army behind him had been around that wall almost a dozen times, yet still there was no sign of breakthrough. I wonder if Joshua’s faith was tested. I like to imagine that as Joshua began that seventh lap, he stirred up his faith more than ever before. I imagine that during that moment when it seemed like there was no breakthrough, no change, Joshua remembered all he had seen God do while Moses was still alive.

          I imagine that he remembered how Moses stood up to an unyielding hard hearted Pharaoh, and God brought him to his knees setting the Israelites free after 400 years of slavery. I imagine Joshua remembered how when the Israelites were panicking in the desert over not having any food, how God made manna appear on the desert floor. I imagine Joshua remembered how when the Israelites were trapped between the Red Sea and the fast approaching armies of Pharaoh, he saw God Himself fight for the Israelites by splitting the Red Sea giving the Israelites dry ground to cross over to safety.

          I imagine that as Joshua remembered all these mighty acts of God, his faith was stirred to believe that God could do the impossible just one more time, and that’s when he decided to take another lap. And on that last lap, he told the Israelites to lift up a shout and the walls of Jericho finally fell.

          To Joshua and the Israelites the Walls of Jericho represented the barrier that stood in between them and the Promise Land, their destiny. Perhaps today you find yourself staring at a wall that separates you from the calling God has put on your life. If you find yourself around this “wall” in your life again, don’t get discouraged. Take another lap. You are right on the edge of your breakthrough. Remember how God moved mightily in the past. If He did it before, He can do it again. Stir up your faith just like Joshua did, and take another lap. This wall is about to fall.

Love No Dad Can Resist

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! –Matthew 7:11

          I have to be completely honest, as much as I LOVE my two sons, sometimes I just can’t wait to rush them off to bed. The other night, I was tucking my oldest son who’s six, into bed. I remember I was tired, stressed, and just wanted to go back into the living room to relax. So I hurried him into the bed, rushed him through his prayers, and even began walking toward his bedroom door by the time he started saying, “Amen.”

          As I began walking out his door, I heard his sweet voice call out to me and say, “Dad…” I turned to him to see his arms stretched out to me. At that moment, his face lit up and he said, “Hug!” At that moment, any desire to just get out of there and chill faded as my heart melted and not only did I go give him the biggest hug ever, I jumped on top his bed to squeeze the life out of him!

          There is just something about a child with their arms stretched out that is irresistible to a parent. Even when a child who is not our own reaches out for love we can’t resist them! Jesus says something amazing in Matthew 7:11. He says that even though we are evil by nature, we still have enough godly love in us that makes it impossible to resist our children when they need us. If that is true, how much more will God reach out to us when we need Him?

            Just as no loving dad can resist his child reaching out to him, God your Heavenly Father cannot resist you reaching out to Him. If you, with all your flaws, imperfections, and your own selfish ways, cannot find it within yourself to resist the outstretched arms of a little child, what do you think the God who is love wants to do when He sees your arms stretched out to Him? If you even with your own tendency to love people conditionally, can’t resist a child who wants you to pick her up and hold her, how do you think the God who loves you UNconditionally feels when you reach out to Him?

          There are so many in our society that needs that “Daddy Love.” There are people burdened by guilt that need just one Daddy embrace to wash away the stain. Some people battle depression. One hug from the Father will fill them with joy unspeakable. Some go through life full of fear and worry. Once Daddy picks them up, they will know that everything is going to be alright. Some people beat themselves up because they “broke it”. Daddy is here to fix it when we bring our brokenness to Him. Others, live with uncertainty about the future. When Daddy speaks, it will fill them with confidence! Daddy God has what you need, just reach out to Him! When you do, He can’t resist the urge to run to you and embrace you.

Make Him Your Dwelling

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty…” “If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the LORD, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.” –Psalms 91:1, 9-10

          Psalm 91 is one of the most famous chapters of scripture. It has been read by soldiers, law enforcement officers, first responders, and your average mom or dad going through a difficult time. Its words have encouraged countless hearts for generations. Psalm 91speaks of a wonderful promise from God. That is, a promise of protection for those who “make the Most High their dwelling.”

          In this passage God promises to protect us from four spiritual dangers the enemy (Satan) throws at us. First, God promises to protect us from the “fowler’s snare”. No one is exempt from being tempted (1^st Cor. 10:13). Jesus Himself was tempted. Not only that, each of us have certain temptations of the flesh that are more of a struggle for us than others. This promise insures that God will protect us from that snare that we so easily fall into time and time again.

          Next God promises to protect us from “deadly pestilence” and the “plague that destroys at midday.” A pestilence or plague is a disease or infection that contagiously spreads throughout a community. What do you see others around you being consumed by? Perhaps it’s a mindset or way of thinking such as negativity, hate, racism, bitterness, etc. God promises to protect you from that pestilence and plague that is consuming so many.

          God also promises to protect us from the “terror of night”. The Bible tells us in 2^nd Timothy 1:7 that God has not given us a spirit of fear. Many in our society are paralyzed by fear, worry, and anxiety over the stresses of life and the events that are taking place in the world. For those of us who have chosen to “rest in the shadow of the Almighty”, God’s promise is that we will rest with a peace that “surpasses all understanding” (Phi. 4:7).

          Lastly God promises to protect us from the arrow that flies by day. Ephesians 6:16 encourages us to take up the shield of faith to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. Those of us who love the Lord have a target on our backs and Satan and his demons have us in their crosshairs. But thank God that our faith in our Deliverer protects us from His attacks.

          Now, all this sounds great, but Psalm 91 tells us that all these promises of protection are conditional. Psalm 91:9 tells us that condition; “IF you make the Most High your dwelling-…” Jesus goes even further in John 15:6

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire to be burned.” –John 15:5-6

          These promises to protect us from Satan’s attacks, temptation, fear and worry, and the evil that seems to consume so many others are conditional upon us having a living relationship with Jesus Christ. The “shelter of the Most High” and the “shadow of the Almighty” covers those who make the Most High their dwelling. Are you “dwelling” in Him? Are you daily spending time with Him in prayer, worship, and reading the Word?

          There is nothing more important in this life than your relationship with Jesus. Are you “remaining in Him”? Remain in His love, stay rooted in His Word, drink of His Spirit, make HIM you dwelling, your shelter, your hiding place and these blessings of protection will come upon today. If you do not have a relationship with Jesus, start one by confessing and forsaking your sins and putting your faith in Him. Do it now, while your heart still beats.

Faith That Works the Impossible

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” –Matthew 17:2-21

            This powerful statement made by Jesus follows a very dramatic event. After coming down the mountain, Jesus casts the “deaf and dumb spirit” out of a child. It is interesting that the reason Jesus gives the disciples for their inability to cast this demon out is “because you have so little faith”. Earlier in Matthew 10, the Bible records that Jesus gave His disciples power and authority to cast out demons which they did in the various towns and villages in the region.

            The disciples had seen Jesus cast out many demons and had no doubt cast out several themselves. So why were they lacking in faith to cast out this demon? Perhaps it was because this particular case caused them to ask many questions. This was a child after all. Did they question whether or not it was possible for a child to be demon possessed? Did they have difficulty discerning whether or not this was a spiritual or neurological problem? Was the kid just suicidal?

            Asking questions is good and important. Sometimes however, questions can so seeds of doubt effectively killing our faith. Sometimes, we have to simply trust the Lord with child like faith. That is why Jesus said unless we become like children we would never enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 18:3).

            Jesus goes on to say that if we had enough faith, “Nothing would be impossible.” Now that is interesting. In Luke 1:37 when the angel Gabriel is talking with Mary he says that “nothing is impossible with God”. Yet here in Matthew, Jesus says nothing will be impossible for us, if we have faith just as small as a mustard seed!

            The God of the impossible lives inside every born again believer. His power is released and worked by faith. Jesus says that the impossible is achievable if you will only activate the faith necessary to use it. How do we activate that faith? Jesus gives the answer when He says, “if you have faith… you can say ….” To activate this faith that works the impossible, you have to declare it. Declare what? Declare God’s Word over your circumstance.

            For sickness, declare God’s promises about healing. For financial trouble, declare God’s promises about provision. For times of uncertainty, declare God’s promises about His sovereignty and plans for your life. Here’s how God’s Word stirs up that faith.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

 –Romans 10:17

            God’s promises concerning your circumstance will activate the faith you need to work the impossible. So for whatever “impossible mountain” stands in your way today, go see what God’s Word has to say about it. Then let that Word stir up your faith, so that you can work the impossible by declaring God’s promises.

The Root of Bitterness

     One of my traditions during the Christmas is to cook the “Noche Buena”. That is a big meal that Latino families prepare on Christmas Eve. One of my favorite Cuban dishes is Yuca. Cassava is another name for it. It’s kind of like a potato. It’s actually a root. Yuca is a very popular food in the Latin world but here is the thing. Yuca, can be very poisonous. It actually releases the toxin Cyanide. Did I mention that cook this thing?

     Now one of the reasons Yuca or Cassava is such a popular crop to grow is because it will grow in pretty much any soil. Especially in dry soil. But once again, the dryer the soil is, the greater quantity of cyanide in the root. The author of Hebrews writes about another root; the root of “bitterness.”

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. –Hebrews 12:15

    The Bible speaks of bitterness as a poisonous root that can corrupt us. That word corrupt or defile as the NIV puts it in the original Greek is “miano”. It’s a word that means to stain, to pollute, to contaminate. Bitterness is a root that produces a poison, a toxin. A person who is bitter will exude the poison of hatred, anger, and rage. Those things are toxic to relationships.

    Now how does a bitter root start? A bitter root starts in the soil of a hurt or emotional wound that hasn’t been dealt with. A bitter root grows within the soil of a wounded heart, an emotional injury, a hurt. Someone betrays you and instead of handling that hurt biblically, your absorb it. Why do you absorb it? Because that’s what roots do.

   You see, roots absorb, roots grow, roots store. Roots absorb all the water from the soil that they can. In the same way, that root of bitterness in your life will absorb all the pain from that hurt and turn it into a toxin which will contaminate every area of your life. So how do we “uproot” bitterness in our lives? The answer is rather simple. The problem is, not many people like the answer because it involves using the “F Word”; forgiveness…

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. –Ephesians 4:31

    Not an easy solution, but a simple one to uprooting bitterness in our lives. Simple but admittedly often painful forgiveness. Notice to what extent we are to forgive; “Just as in Christ God forgave you.” How much has God forgiven you of your sins? Then for the sake of your own soul, forgive others just as much. Having walked with many people through deliverance from demons, I have seen time and time again that unforgiveness has often been a stronghold that the enemy uses to keep people in bondage. Don't let a root of bitterness poison your life. -PJ


Pastor Joseph Reeder is Teaching Pastor at "Resurrection River" a nondenominational Spirit Filled church  in Columbia NC with an emphasis in evangelism, deliverance, and leading people into powerful encounters with the Holy Spirit. Pastor Joseph is known for connecting the Gospel to the unchurched and helping people receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. To have Pastor Joseph speak at your next revival, youth meeting, church conference, camp meeting, or other church event call 252-796-7781 or email Pastor Joseph directly at joseph.reeder62@gmail.com 

The FULL Gospel

Perhaps you have heard the Gospel, but have you heard the “FULL Gospel”? The Full Gospel or the Four Fold Gospel as some people call it means four things; Jesus is our savior, healer, baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and soon coming king! You may have already been told, Jesus is your savior. The Bible says in John 3:16,

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.

The Bible says that all have sinned and have fallen short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23), and that there is not even one person who is righteous in God’s sight (Romans 3:10). Your sin will keep you out of Heaven. It is not God’s will however, that anyone should perish.

He could have left us to die in our sins but instead He sent His Son Jesus Christ to take the punishment for our sins by dying on a cross. Then He rose from the dead proving that He is God, defeating death, and obtaining eternal life for all who put their faith in Him.

They replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.”  -Acts 16:31

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  –Romans 10:9

Jesus is our savior. Jesus is also our healer. We have way too many people on our prayer lists. We can trust God to heal us of our infirmities just as much as we can trust Him to forgive our sins. For that matter, healing is just as much a part of salvation as forgiveness is. Healing is part of the atonement! 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.

God doesn’t just forgive your sins, He heals ALL your diseases. Healing is part of the Gospel. If healing isn’t being preached when the Gospel is being preached, then only part of the Gospel is being preached. The same scripture that says, “He was pierced for our transgressions” also says, “by His wounds we are healed”. Matthew 8:16-17 says,

When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

Jesus didn’t just carry your sins to Calvary, He carried your infirmities and diseases. Jesus is your savior, and Jesus is your healer. Jesus is also your baptizer in the Holy Spirit. When a person gets saved, the Holy Spirit comes to live in their hearts, but there is another experience separate and after salvation called the “Baptism in the Holy Spirit.”

This experience is given to all believers by Jesus so we can be empowered to be His witnesses.

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.  –Luke 24:49

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

My life changed when I became a follower of Jesus Christ. But my relationship was transformed when He baptized me in His Holy Spirit. It was like being completely immersed and overwhelmed with the Spirit’s presence and power. My prayer life became fervent and full of life. The Word became alive, and I was filled with a passion and zeal for the Lord and to reach the lost. I spoke in tongues which is the initial physical evidence of the Spirit’s baptism (Acts 2:4. Acts 10:44-46. Acts 19:7). If you have not received this “second blessing” you have no idea what you are missing. Seek Him today!

Jesus is your savior, healer, baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and He also is your soon coming king.  This world is getting darker and darker every day. The news is getting more and more gloomy. Violence is not only spreading, but increasing in severity. A couple decades ago, school shootings rarely happened. Now they happen multiple times every year.

Sin and immorality is running rampant in our society. War is breaking out everywhere it feels like. Earthquakes and diseases seem to be increasing. We have hope in all this turmoil.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and remain will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air and so we will be with the Lord forever.  -1st Thessalonians 4:16-17
The word Gospel means “Good News”. Jesus as savior is good news for our souls. Jesus as healer is good news for our bodies. Jesus as baptizer in the Holy Spirit is good news for our calling. Jesus as soon coming king is good news for our world and its future. Don’t settle for a partial Gospel. Make sure you are hearing, believing, and proclaiming the FULL Gospel!

The Reason for Signs and Wonders

We all love some “good preaching”, but how do we know it's true? God left us His holy Word to teach, rebuke, correct, and train us (2nd Timothy 3:16), but did He also leave a way to confirm that Word? He most certainly did; miracles, signs, and wonders.

Before the Lord Jesus left this earth, He commanded His disciples to go preach the good news to all creation (Mark 16:15). After He said this, He said that certain “signs” would accompany the work.

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will cast 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 get well”.  -Mark 16:17-18

After the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, these “signs” were given to confirm the preaching.

“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”  -Mark 16:20

Notice that signs and wonders did two things when it came to the preaching of the Word; they confirmed the Word, and they accompanied the Word. This continued in the book of Acts.

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

“So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.”  -Acts 14:3

When the Word is preached, we know it is true because the Lord confirms it with signs and wonders (Hebrews 2:4). What makes a sermon great? Diligent preparation? Eloquent speaking? Great communication skills? Illustrations that connect the hearers with the message? What about the ability to make the Word relevant and applicable to everyday life? Personally I want to be able to say what what the Apostle Paul said,

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power”  -1st Corinthians 2:4

Let me ask you, when you hear the Word preached, is it a “demonstration of the Spirit’s power”, or just a “good sermon”? Does God confirm the Word with signs and wonders? When the Word is preached, signs should follow just as Jesus said they would.

Educator and Assemblies of God Executive Presbyter D.W. Kerr said, “A signless gospel is a spineless gospel.” When someone walks into your church, they come hungry for a word from the Lord that will change their life. If we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to supernaturally use us and display His power in our services, our preaching will be empty and fruitless, and so will their response to our message. If we allow the Holy Spirit to move however, their response will be like those who heard Philip.

When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city. –Acts 8:6-8

I am personally believing that will happen for Columbia, Tyrrell County, and all of Eastern NC. When we preach with the Spirit’s power, and allow the Lord to confirm His Word with miracles, signs, and wonders, the multitudes will pay close attention to the Gospel and there WILL be GREAT JOY in this city!

This community, which others have said is a “dying community” will experience the resurrection power of Christ and suddenly be a LIVING community! Join me in this prayer saints; Lord, enable your servants to speak your Word with boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and do many miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your Son Jesus Christ! Amen.

Without Holiness No One Will See the Lord!

Without holiness no one will see the Lord. -Hebrews 12:14
God's grace truly is amazing. God demands righteousness from us. In fact, the Bible says that a day is coming in which He will judge the world in righteousness. (Acts 17:31) Now the bad news is that no amount of human effort can make us righteous.

All our righteous acts are as filthy rags. -Isaiah 64:6

Not only that, but no amount of religion can make us righteous either.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous by observing the law. Rather through the law we become conscious of sin. -Romans 3:20

It is only by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross that we are saved and made righteous before God.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
-Ephesians 2:8-9

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe...
-Romans 3:22

This is great news! God demands righteousness from us, but He has given us that righteousness as a FREE gift! The only thing it cost, was the blood of God’s only begotten Son… So now our righteousness depends not on our own works but on His finished work on the cross!

But what about holiness...? Yeah the Bible says, "Without holiness no one will see the Lord" but our holiness is not based on our own efforts but on the sacrifice of Jesus right? Wrong... There is a difference between righteousness and holiness.
Righteous is something we cannot be because of our sinful nature. 

We are naturally from birth, instinctively prone to wickedness, disobedience, and rebellion towards God. We receive righteousness as a free gift of God's grace. Holiness is something that God expects from us after we receive that salvation and are born again. 

Now what does it mean to be “holy”? Let me explain with an illustration. I make a lot of sweet tea in my home as I am sure many of you do. Now after I have brewed the tea and added the sugar to it, I don't stir it with just any spoon in my kitchen. There is one particular spoon that I use to stir my tea. 

It is my special sweet tea spoon. I only use that spoon to mix sweet tea, and I do not use that spoon for anything else except for making sweet tea. I have set it apart for the sole purpose of making sweet tea. That is what it means to be “holy”. It means to have been set apart for the sole purpose of honoring God; nothing else.

You see, after God makes us righteous by His grace through His Son, we are born again, given a new heart, with a new nature, and new desires. Then He expects us to live the rest of our new lives in holiness to Him.

Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship –Romans 12:1

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. -2nd Corinthians 7:1

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable not in passionate lust like the heathen who do not know God.  -1st Thessalonians 4:3-5

Before our salvation, we could not help but to live like the world and commit its many sins. We couldn't have lived holy if we wanted to. But thanks to new birth, we can. We have been born again! Now we have a NEW nature, a NEW heart, with NEW desires! And you better believe, now that we can live in holiness, God expects us to. And He will hold us guilty of squandering and abusing His grace if we don't.

Now perhaps you say, “How can I do this? How can I possibly live a ‘holy’ life?” By the power of the Holy Spirit. God promises that He will move you by the Holy Spirit to walk in holiness.

I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep all my laws. –Ezekiel36:26

So I say live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. –Galatians 5:16

That is why it is so important to seek and receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit which is a separate work of grace that takes place after salvation (Acts 1:5, Acts 2:4, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 10:44-45, Acts 19:1-7) if you have not done so already. The Spirit Baptism will empower you to live a life holy and pleasing to God. Return to holiness saints... For your soul's sake.

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.