Pastor Don is on vacation, so different people have been asked to teach Bible studies. Sometimes this causes fewer to show up to Bible studies, and Maria pointed out that if you come to a Bible study expecting to receive from God, you will receive, no matter who is teaching. And sometimes the Holy Spirit will even teach you something that is totally not related to what the speaker is talking about.

In the past few weeks we have seen some special people to our church going through tough circumstances – illnesses, heart attack, and even Pastor Herbie’s death. We have been asked to pray in agreement for God’s intervention in the circumstances in people’s lives. At times it can be puzzling that the responses are different from what we expect or healing isn’t immediate. Maria wanted to address that in her study.

She told us that we are to pray in faith believing God. Worry, contemplating what God seems to be doing or not doing, and the time a prayer takes to be answered are not actions that are connected with faith. God will work with each person individually, doing in their lives exactly what is important for that person, and will at the same time be dealing with us individually. We will be working out our salvation (salvation we received as a free gift), but with our salvation will come life changes that we work out with the Holy Spirit.

We talked about Acts 9, when Saul/Paul was converted. He, before his conversion was against Christians, to the point that he was commissioned to arrest them, and even was present at the stoning of Stephen. Saul was blinded by Jesus and had a revelation of the Messenger, Jesus, who confronted Saul/Paul about the persecutions that he was doing. Jesus then told Saul to go to the city where he would be told what to do. Ananias was praying, and was told that he was to go to Saul and lay hands on him so that Saul could regain his sight. God will pick an individual to do a courageous act, an individual to be used as a vehicle of God. We can be used powerfully if we are willing to obey God.

This instruction to Ananias had to have gone against Ananias’ flesh because tales of Saul and his stance against Christians had gone around the Christian community and it would take great courage to follow Jesus’ command and heal Saul. Saul was still considered the enemy, BUT Jesus had come into Saul’s life. Ananias chose to do what God instructed him to do, in spite of the fears that must have arisen. He chose to obey God. We don’t hear anything more about Ananias in the New Testament, but his one act of obedience was very important to God.

Acts 9:20-25 NIV At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

Saul began to baffle the Jews so that he was now considered an enemy, and the Jews were trying to kill him. His followers, lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. He was let down on a rope. When we pray for someone, we are like that rope, which is being held by the Master’s hand. If we praying in faith about a situation, we do not have to fear or worry, we are just the rope that is being used by God. We too are in the Master’s hand. In our lives we are being held by Him, in our prayers for others we are being held by Him, and when we are in trouble we are also being held by Him. God will plan a way of escape that is perfect for our situation. We have to remember that our life on this earth is short, and that there is a wonderful eternity for believers after our short time here on earth.

God has it covered, and He is not worried about the Body of Christ. God is not shaken or worried when stuff happens. It was brought up about Oral Roberts University and other pastors whose sins are being exposed by the media. It does not shake God up. God knew what was going on, and if lies are being spread, the truth will come out. If there is error in a person’s life, God will use the circumstance to clean up the life. God is perfect no matter what we humans do or don’t do.

Regarding Oral Roberts University there are Biblical errors in how the situation was handled. The accuser went straight to the media, when the Bible states that if there is a situation it should first be dealt with in the Body of Christ before being brought to the public, so there is already error. The accusations will be examined and truth will come out and God will use that circumstance for everyone’s benefit. 

When God gives us a revelation, if we miss it, He will not throw us out of His house. We are to pray for these ministries and ministers that God’s perfect will is done. One thing to consider is how we respond to these situations shows a lot about where we are in our walk of faith. Are we sitting in stern judgment, are we gossiping, is doubt creeping in? We need to remember that our priority is our personal relationship with God and doing His will.

Then we went into the body of the Bible study.

1 John 4:1-3 NIV Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

The Spirit of God is moving in the World. The Holy Spirit that ministers to us is the Person of the Holy Spirit, and He dwells within us. We have the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our counselor, guide, and teacher. We let Him work within us, but it is not a spirit of possession for we have free will in operation when we are led by the Spirit. We have the choice to obey the Holy Spirit or miss His direction.

We are living in a world that is hostile to Christ, who does not want to be led by Him. We want to be the I AM and do things in our own strength, some of the world thinks that God is an absentee God, or they try to convince themselves that there is no God or that there can be no revelations from God or the Holy Spirit. We want so much to reach those who are lost but we cannot minister in the Spirit without God. You can’t force a person to come to God, you can’t pound the Gospel into a person, for them to be able to receive the Gospel (good news), the Holy Spirit has to prepare the person to receive the Gospel. You can’t convince them of the truth of God through philosophy, through research, or great arguments. They have to be ready to receive the Gospel.

1 John 4:4 NIV You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

We can speak words of faith, have the right behavior and the right response, but it is only IN HIM, THROUGH FAITH that the work is done. It isn’t our faith, it is the Faith of Christ that causes healings, deliverances and gave Him the strength to go to the cross. The more we operate in Faith, the more we will see manifestations of faith. When we begin to operate in Christ, in Faith we will do things differently, we will read situations differently and we will act differently.

Maria gave an example of someone who is a seasoned worker on the job being able to handle various situations that come up on the job, but a newcomer would flip out over little decisions, decisions that you have made 1000 times. When the Greater One in us (the One who knows all situations) acts through us, we can move in ways through His knowledge, that we wouldn’t have conceived with our limited minds. The Holy Spirit is with us 24/7, there are no secrets from God, He knows what we are doing, thinking, believing even when we pretend that He doesn’t know these things. And the moment we call out to God, He will be with us.

Maria told us that we need to acknowledge and call out to God immediately in any situation. Practice calling on Him with little things, so that when the disasters strike, we have built a good relationship with Him. Everything is spiritual anyway, even when the flesh is acting. We are to be IN the world, but not OF the world. We are not forced to be the way we were before, for we are new creations IN CHRIST.

Maria gave a great example, she said that some compare acting in faith is like writing a check – that what is in the heavens (bank) is accessed by writing a check in faith. We may not see the money that the check represents, but we can believe in faith that the bank contains that money. But Maria said that it is more like an ATM card and the Pin number is FAITH. And we access it through the grace of God, Grace is more than unmerited favor, grace is given to us with the power to complete His will. By Grace we are saved through Faith.

Many of us have an uneven faith, we have more faith in certain areas of our life than in others. But God wants us to increase our faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God. God never will miss it. Stay on the side of God. His Word is so – what He says He will do.

Some believers, when things go wrong, get angry at God at the drop of a hat. They blame God for sickness and circumstances in their life. But God is not the author of sickness. Satan is the author of sickness, death, disease. But these occurrences of illness can be used by God for good, but He is not the author of them. When we pray against these circumstances, we need to remember we are the rope. Many times it is not for us to discern the causes of the circumstance, or to analyze it, to wonder why God is acting or not acting. Knowledge kills compassion. We need His knowledge – the people perish for lack of knowledge.

If you seek relationship with Him, if you seek out His word, He will give you revelation that you need. When we need correction He will guide us. At times in our circumstances we need to just keep walking through them in faith, or as Nemo says, “Just keep swimming.” God is with you, and He will accomplish what His perfect will is. We are to do God’s work, to be busy with things of His will.

1 John 4:4-6 NIV You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

We are His little children. The spirit of error is a spirit of delusion, of deception. Many people are in delusion. When we love God, we want to reach out to others to save them. We share our faith with others, but many who have denied God refuse to listen. Sometimes the way we will reach people is through our walk of faith. When they see us going through tough circumstances in faith they will begin to wonder what it is that gives us the strength to walk through these circumstances the way we do. Then we can explain that we have the Master with us. Our lives can be a powerful testimony about God. Of course, the opposite can also be true if we are not acting in love.

1 John 4:7-9 NIV Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

We have the Savior in our lives, The Christ, The Messiah, the Greater One. By means of His love, by reason of His love, on account of His love, we know Him.

1 John 4:10 NIV This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

He took the place on the cross for us, because He loved us, loved us before we even knew about Him. He gave His life for a sure cause, a sacrifice for us. Death was not the issue for Christ, our salvation was. He held onto the greater issues, willing to face the suffering for us.

Why then do we allow the world to seduce us? Why do we choose a death in the world when we need to let our flesh be sacrificed so that we walk in His perfect path for us? We need to keep in sight the tremendous love of God and act accordingly, obeying Him because of His love for us.

1 John 4:11-12 NIV Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

We are not perfect, but we are perfected through love. When we walk in the perfection of His love, we will begin to bear fruit of love in our lives.  When we fail in this walk, we need to come back to Him and get restored by asking His forgiveness and repenting of our failings. We don’t have to have insecurity about His love. We need to dwell IN Him.

1 John 4:13 NIV We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

Whatever we do, God is not afraid of our sin. He knows where we are, who we are, and what we are doing and have done. Jesus ate with the publicans, the tax collectors, and the sinners. The Pharisees and Scribes (also sinners although they thought otherwise) would question Jesus’ choice to hang out with those whom they considered to be unclean. If we blow something in our life we need to go to God with it, for He is not afraid of our sins, and will not abandon us because we have erred. It wasn’t accidental that Jesus told us to forgive 7 X 70. You would really have to do hard work to commit the same sin 490 times a day. He will help us to become less of a knucklehead. The worse it is for you, the more you need to go TO God. The more you spend time with Jesus, the less satan has a pull on your life. People leave the church because of sin, but it is when they are in sin that they need the church the most. Satan likes that we leave the church because of sin because it decreases our time of spending time with God, and then satan can have a field day in our lives. So run to God.

1 John 4:14 NIV And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

He has given us His Spirit. When we are in Christ we have the revelation of Him as savior, but if we are not in Christ, that revelation will elude us.

1 John 4:15 NIV If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.

If a person finds themselves in Hell, it will not be because of murder, of smoking cigarettes, of drinking, of any other action. The thing that brings them to hell is the choice they made to reject Jesus. In Heaven we will find people who did what we consider to be bad stuff on earth, but they know Jesus. His justice is not like our justice. We are all imperfect, we have all sinned and fallen short of God, but the revelation of God is perfect, and Jesus is Lord.

He is larger than we know. It isn’t about denominations. In the church right now we have a tower of Babel with various denominations spouting their doctrines. But the real Truth is that Jesus died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and is now seated at the right Hand of God. It is through accepting the free gift of salvation that we are saved, not through the doctrines of a particular church.

1 John 4:16 NIV And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

The greatest thing we can do is love. The mission is love. The gifts we want operate in love.

1 John 4:17 NIV In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

We are perfect and complete in love, and it is His love that makes that so.

1 John 4:18 NIV There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

This is an important verse. THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE. In what is happening, we do not need to face it in fear and torment. We need to see things through the eyes of God, the eyes of Love, for love casts away what frightens you. Satan comes and tries to cause us to fear, for if we fear we are not acting in faith. Healing comes from believing in faith. God wants us to have faith, and He is not pleased when we are freaking out. We are in Him, and He in us. He can help us. We have to give in faith our troubles to Him. It is a choice we make, though. Who do we trust, God or the enemy.

Sometimes we want to try and fix things in our own understanding and power, forgetting that God has to do an orchestration to cause what He wants to happen. We need to rely and trust on God. We need to trust that no matter what our circumstances seem to be, God has it in control. That is why Paul could say that he was content whether he was abased or abounded.  God gives us the eyes to see. When we rebuke something, we need to rebuke it from faith, not from fear. When God is behind something it will not fall for the foundation is the Rock. If God says it is so, it is so. We need to believe God.

In the midst of healing and ministering to multitudes Jesus did individual miracles. He never said, “No.” to anyone. He will say yes. He is the Good Father, and when His answer is not what we are expected we know that He is the good father that will also help us get corrected, for He does not want us staying in the dark. He wants the best for us because He cares for us. God has all situations in His perfect control.

Daniel 4:34-35 NKJV…For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”

God is not worried about anything. He knows who He is. It is very easy to get along with other denominations if you talk the truth of who God is, who Christ is, and believe that what God says is so, is so. God is ministering to us. No matter what is happening He is with us. He has a plan for everyone.

Philippians 4:6 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

When we dwell in Him, He has a plan. It is for our good, and we do not need to worry.

Some people will look at us when we are in a tough situation, not reacting to our circumstances, and think that we don’t care. Just because we cast our cares on God, doesn’t mean that we don’t care. We just do not want to be run by a spirit of worry.

Pastor Don does not get upset because we are in crisis. He doesn’t always react to our perception of emergency. Neither did Jesus. He didn’t race to Lazarus’s side the moment he heard of his sickness. He was not worried, He acted the way God wanted him to act to give God the greatest glory. We can pretty much assume that Martha and Mary wanted Jesus to act immediately, but that would not have given God the greatest glory. God was not worried. He knew what He was going to do.

Matthew 6:25-30 Jesus said:  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

Maria told us to watch where Jesus throws in the words, “little faith.” It is an alert to us that in these situations we need to increase our faith – we need to use that ATM pin code FAITH. To believe that He is, and that He can do what He says He will do.

Matthew 6:31-33 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

We are not in a Church (although we attend church), we are in the KINGDOM OF GOD. Jesus did not preach denominations and churches, He preached the KINGDOM OF GOD.

When we realize what the Kingdom lifestyle is like, that we seek Him, the rest is provided to us. The church is only mentioned once in the Synoptic gospels, but Jesus preached the Kingdom of God. When we come to God in faith, and only concern ourselves with the matters of the day, trusting God, we have a lot less pressure on us.

Maria then took us to Matthew 6:34 AMP So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34 KJV Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

She then brought us to a section she called, A day in the life of Jesus (perhaps these events occurred in more than a day, but probably He did all these things and more in a day for John told us that he did not write all that Jesus did for He did so many things). I will share that tomorrow.

I pray that this blesses you!

Heather

One of my friends from church was asked to give her testimony for a woman’s luncheon at another church. I asked if I could attend and listened as she shared from her heart. Valerie has been a Christian 31 years!  She shared that at times it has been very difficult for her to be in a Word of Faith Church because of how other members can sometimes treat someone who has an ongoing challenge that they are facing. Valerie has battled cancer for several years, and has battled in faith. But, while God has answered her faith, it has not always been an easy battle. There have been advances and setbacks. Some of her fellow Christians, once they heard of her challenges started avoiding her. Others told her that there was something wrong in her life for the disease to persist, others blamed unthankfulness, unconfessed sin, or lack of faith for the condition. Although they spoke in love (Heather’s comment, at least I hope so), those kinds of thoughtless comments can hurt. We are all working on our faith walk, and many who make these kinds of comments never had to face something so challenging to their faith as cancer – and if they did, who knows how they would react when their faith was tested. It is easy to speak bold words of faith when you are not in the midst of a storm. She was very pleased that Pastor Scales, when he visited our church, spoke about kindness and love among the brethren. We really need to be careful how we approach people. All are in need of edification, encouragement and someone to walk alongside of them, not tear down their faith.

She gave us several scriptures during her testimony.

Jeremiah 31:15-17 Thus says the LORD: “A voice was heard in Ramah. Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” Thus says the LORD: “Refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the LORD, that your children shall come back to their own border.”

Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works.

Valerie has shared that Pastor Don did not know for many years that she had been dealing with cancer and he has been amazed at how the disease has not held her back from her ministry. She is a firebrand for the Lord, one who has a powerful prayer ministry. And lately she has been speaking up with boldness because of the unthinking comments people made. Just because a battle is challenging, does not mean that a person is not battling in faith – and if the results are not apparent to the senses does not mean that God isn’t working the healing from the inside out. Her faith is strong and she knows that God will give the victory, but that God is also using her life to speak out for others who are facing similar battles.

Psalm 107:29-30 He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven.

When we face the storms of life we have to depend on Him, lean on Him. Our walk with Him becomes stronger and He calms our storms and the fears.

Valerie told us that God does not shield us from storms, but He shields us within our storms.

Psalm 118:7 The Lord is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.

Psalm 26:7-8 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works. Lord I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

Valerie says that she looks for thankfulness for she want to walk in the storm with thankfulness, with an attitude of gratitude.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.

She holds to this verse when she faces her trials. Notice, it does not imply that there will be no trials, for it says WHEN – there will be trials but God will walk through them with us.

Mark 4:35-40 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

What the disciples forgot is that Jesus told them that they were going to cross over to the other side. But when they were in the midst of the storm they forgot that Jesus told them that they would cross over. Jesus would not have let the boat sink.

We should not judge a person who has gone through sickness. There are things that we do not know about their situation. People of faith are quick to judge when they see a situation seemingly going on and on and on, but just because our senses perceive that the situation does not seem to be changing, does not mean that God is not doing a mighty work in and through a person.

In the midst of the storm He can use us mightily.

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD; and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.

We then prayed. It was an important teaching that we could all do well to remember. We do want to edify, not tear down the brethren as they walk through their storms.

Have a blessed day,

Heather

Yesterday I was privileged to attend the homegoing (funeral) of Pastor Herbie Rogers. What a blessed man from God! What a turn around in a life! Two of the speakers were the Kingston Police Chief and the DA. See Pastor Herbie was once hooked on crack/cocaine and had been arrested 86 times and put into jail. The DA stated that in the 30 years that he knew Pastor Herbie (before he got saved), 80 of those 86 jail sentences were because of cases the DA brought against Herbie. But our God is awesome. God came into Pastor Herbie’s life, turned it around, and made Pastor Herbie a mighty man of God’s Kingdom, giving him a powerful ministry. The DA could hardly talk for tears, he had grown to love Pastor Herbie for the person God changed him to be. Pastor Herbie had a great passion for Outreach and was faithful to his jail/prison ministry. These ministries touched the entire Hudson Valley Region and beyond.  At his homegoing he received such honor for all that he did for God’s kingdom. A packed church of people who were touched by this man is a profound testimony of the agape love that he showed people, and those who attended were from many area churches. Pastor Herbie started a ministry called TLC (Tender Loving Care) to reach out to those whose lives people believe will never turn around. He has transformed lives, and has had a tremendous outreach. He is best known for his “Wheelchair Testimony” that brought many to give their lives to Jesus Christ. At one point a hate monger tried to come to our town to spread his viciousness. Pastor Herbie stood up, gathered all the people together to pray against the situation. Churches united, the schools united, and the community united and this hate monger left town with his tail between his legs, not able to do what he had hoped to do. He also left town hungry, for no restaurant would serve him and his minions. That was a work of God. I count myself blessed to have known Pastor Herbie. He will be greatly missed.

A sermon was preached as a eulogy by Bishop Jonathan W. Fowler, who was Herbie’s pastor, and it touched my heart. I thought I would share my notes with you. Yes I even come to funerals with a Bible and notebook for you never know when God will speak.

We read John 8:1-11  But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

We then read 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

John 8:11 He said to her, “Woman where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She said, “No one Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

No matter how you started off, it doesn’t affect your future. We may think that everything is ok in our walk with God, but it may not be, there needs to be self assessment. We may look good on the outside and not be together on the inside. There may be stuff about us that has to be changed, that needs improvement.

Pastor Fowler told us we need to put up a sign, “Pardon our appearance, we are under renovation.” And also, “Please be patient with me, God is not done with me yet.”

As Christians we are not to get into a self-righteous attitude. We need to remember that we are not where we used to be, or where we are going. We need to keep living to arrive at our destiny. We need to ask ourselves, “Am I ready if God called me today?” We don’t want to waste time pointing out others’ faults, but rather look at ourselves.

Romans 7:18-19 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find, for the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

We need to kill our flesh (our actions that do not glorify God) daily. We are tired of being a repeat offenders who keep on going back to what God saved us from. Are we Spiritual Repeat Offenders?  What can free us from this cycle is a sure relationship with God. If we pick up a bad habit, God can set us free. If we get stuck in a cycle of destruction, God can free us. Our Spirit can be changed. You can start all over again.

God doesn’t determine our future based on our past! When you go to a bank to get credit, they look at your credit report and determine if you will be a good risk. God doesn’t do that. In fact, if you read the Bible you will see that EVERYBODY that He used had bad credit.

Moses murdered someone, Paul murdered someone, Peter was a gossip, David committed murder and adultery, Rahab was a harlot, Jacob was a trickster. Don’t get sidetracked by your past. God has a future for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD; thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

God has a plan for your life. It doesn’t matter where you are now. He is the architect. We may not physically see what God does in a life, but He has plans.

You may be an addict today but God has a plan for you.
You may have had an abortion but God has a plan for you.
You may have been abandoned but God has a plan for you.
You may be ostracized but God has a plan for you.

God sees us in our future, and things are looking a whole lot better.

Regarding the adulterous woman that Jesus redeemed, Pastor Fowler asked, why is it when adultery is committed that only the sisters are blamed, but the men go free? The man is just as guilty as the woman.

Pastor Fowler told us that when God chooses you, He will not let you get away with what everyone else is getting away with. We will get uncomfortable in places we used to be comfortable in.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

We were caught and brought to Jesus, and God has a plan and a purpose for us. God will call us in by any means necessary, he may even use people who don’t like you to be the vehicle to bring you closer to Him.  The best place to be dropped off and let down is in His Presence. When people reject and hate you or turn on you all that does is push you closer to Jesus. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Those people who set you up hoping you will fall will have their plans backfire when they see that you should have fallen, but for Jesus Christ. Pastor Fowler told us that we should pick up the phone or send those people a message thanking them for what they have done.

 Genesis 50:20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

The woman caught in adultery was guilty, caught in the act. She made a mistake but her enemies brought her to the best place. They dragged her to Jesus. Have you noticed that people try and use Jesus as a means to condemn a person for their sins? They try to make you feel bad, but when Jesus comes into your life, that changes. Jesus said, John 10:10 “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

They brought her to Jesus to kill her, but Jesus did not do that. Never once did he instruct them to remove her (the woman caught in adultery) from his presence. Jesus knew she was guilty, but never rejected her. You may be guilty, but Jesus will never reject you.

You can come into His presence guilty.
You can come into His presence wounded.
You can come into His presence hurt.
You can come into His presence confused.

He will meet you right where you are. Pastor Fowler told us that we need to make sure that we allow those who really need God to feel comfortable in our churches. We are not to be self-righteous. Not condemn because of the clothing they wear, the way they smell, or because they don’t know the protocol of your church. We need to have a flashback and remember how it was when we first came to Him. Where would we be if God rejected us? If God left us in the “crap” house, or turned His back on us when we needed Him the most? What if God left us where we were.

Jesus knew she was guilty, messed up and by law should be stoned. But Jesus decided to drop the charges. He defend her. He tells the people that the one without sin should be the first to cast a stone. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all are guilty of doing something, what it was doesn’t matter. No one cast a stone.

Romans 8:33-34 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

No one has ability to change God’s mind about your future. The woman was left alone with Jesus and he asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers?” When Jesus gets involved He will reverse everything and everybody that tries to hold you captive, and everything that reminds you of the past. He removes the stains, blemishes, and sins of our past. A true encounter with Jesus leaves no trace, no evidence, no proof you are guilty. There is no evidence to build a case against you. The jury would have to acquit you of your past, for He has made a new creation.

Jesus tells the woman, “Go and sin no more.” You can start all over again. God gave many people in the Bible a chance to start over again.

Jonah, spent time in a big fish until he chose to do God’s will, but God permitted him to do His will.

Peter denied Christ three times and Christ restored him.

David took another man’s wife and arranged for her husband’s death. He confessed His sin against God, and God restored Him and did not take His Spirit from David.

Miriam (Moses’ sister) spoke out against her brother, and God gave her leprosy for a season, and then restored her.

The Children of Israel disobeyed God, made mistakes, but He kept restoring them and letting them start all over again.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When we confess our sins to Him, we are cleansed

And 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.

This Word is not just for unbelievers, but for believers also. If we have fallen and need to get back up, we can start all over again.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

We can reclaim our liberty and start all over again. We can refuse to be in a state of depression, poverty, failure and faults. We can go to Christ and stand after we have fallen.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Hoping you have a blessed day!

Heather

Can I tell you that I really wish that I could be in two places at the same time. I attended my daughter’s field hockey game, they play so hard.  I had to miss Wednesday’s Bible study and later I learned it was an important topic. I begged a copy of Janine’s  notes to share the highlights with you. I think I will try to get the tape. Janine tells me that when the topic gets good, she stops writing.

Our Wednesday Bible studies have praise and worship, prayer, and then the study. This week there are several that we know who are in desperate situations, that needed prayer so a good portion of the Bible study was agreeing in prayer.

The text used was 2 Corinthians 12.

Pastor Don told the group, Our desperation may not match God’s desperation. God sees the big picture.

Pastor Don used an example of a 2 year old trying to eat jello, having a temper tantrum to the point of self destruction. The child’s situation in his eyes is currently desperate, but to the parent (God) it is something quite minor.

Some things are desperate situations for us as humans, but are seen differently by God. In a desperate situation we must get back to basics – FAITH. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Pastor Don asked the group:

Are you praying in faith? or Are you praying out of desperation?

Acts 4:1-3 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening..Peter and John were to be imprisoned – in a desperate situation. They praised God, taught God’s Word, and verse 21 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Pastor Don taught then when praying in a difficult situation, begin by praising God in remembrance of what He gave to us. Remember all the hard (desperate) times God has already brought you through.

Acts 4:23-24 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them.”

Pastor Don pointed out that they prayed WITH ONE ACCORD. If people are praying for a person and not praying with one accord, there can be confusion in the heavenlies. Some may pray for a person’s passing, another may pray for progressive healing, and another could be praying for instantaneous healing. So to pray effectively you need to pray in one accord.

Pastor Don then told people to find what you’re praying for in the Word and pray that. You must pray the will of God as He has already spoken in the Word. You need to rebuke the enemy.

Constant prayer is needed in a desperate situation.

Acts 12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Daniel 2 & 5 Daniel prayed in Remembrance, Faith, Focus, and constant prayer.

Keep the target small and simple so that God gets all the glory. Don’t change the target. Don’t limit your expectations of what God will do and how He’ll do it. Pinpoint your focus very clearly. Leave all expectations on how God will handle the prayer.

Acts 16:25-26 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosened.

God inhabits the praises of His people.

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

There is a progression: Faith ->Grace. Tribulation produces perseverance, perseverance produces character. Character produces hope. Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

John 11:38-40 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

It MUST, MUST, MUST, MUST be FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

These notes make me hungry to hear more of this teaching, but they blessed me so much that I want to thank Janine for sharing them with me. This Wednesday my daughter is playing a home game, so I won’t have to miss Bible study, PRAISE GOD.

Hoping your day is blessed!

Heather

Well, I have not been on xanga as much as I would like to be, but that will change this week as life has settled back down. My husband put up some pictures from my visit to my oldest son at University of Richmond. Thought I would share a few pictures with you.

We were taken by the chapel on campus, which I was thrilled to find was being attended by my son. He is going to church even when we are not there – Praise God. Here I am looking at the stained glass windows.

Because it was Univ. of Richmond and their mascot is a spider, one of the windows has a spider on it.

Here is the complete window – you can see the spider on the lowest right corner

While I really, really wanted to spend all my time with my son, I sent my other two children off with him to attend classes. I wanted them to get a feeling of what college was like. God honored that plan and my next to go off to college sees himself as able.

Christopher, the freshman at U of R standing with books, and Edward sitting next to me, with my daughter Katherine on the other bench.

Here they are going off to classes.

One evening they had a pep rally and Jim got them to pose with the school mascot, Spidey.

But, before they did that, Edward (red shirt) was telling us “NO WAY!!!” One mom was sitting at the table and asked the boys if they would not mind posing with some cheerleaders, the boys agreed. She was the mom of one of the cheerleaders, so she sent over a few, here is a proud moment for Christopher and Edward.

We also went to Virginia beach with the children to give them some fun. After swimming in the water, watching the King Neptune Parade we went to a local restaurant. I think this is one of my favorite pictures, for they were having so much fun with each other.

I miss Christopher, but am so glad that he is happy at college, and now I pray that next year we find the perfect fit for Edward, and in two years Katherine both of whom are still in high school, living at home. My do the years go by so quickly.

Hoping you have a blessed day!

Heather

Jesus is coming back and He wants to come back for a complete bride whose heart is willing and open. He picked us special for this time and season. God chose us to be part of this time of redemptive restoration, fulfillment and the spirit of God. We are led by the Spirit of God and we live in freedom because Jesus came and gave the ultimate sacrifice for us. So we are under a New Covenant, and this newness makes us fresh and clean even when we blow it at times. His mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Pastor Dona told us that we need to pray as never before, because things are moving fast and furious in our world, cataclysmic things, weather patterns, and other disasters are more frequent than ever before. Russia, China and USA will all be selecting new leaders in 2008. These three world powers changing leadership can cause some instability and will affect the economy and the way things go down.

We need to pray for the peace of Israel, for the next president. God hears our prayer. God wants to cover us and protect us. We cannot have an attitude of this does not affect me or I don’t care.

God is looking for an Esther to rise up. Esther was an orphan girl who was raised up to be queen. Through her, the nation of Israel was saved. Her prayers, fasts, and intercession to the King for her people preserved the nation of Israel. We can receive this same kind of favor. God could have raised us up for such a time as this. Don’t give up. Pray like you have never prayed before, real prayers for the nation. We need to learn how to conduct ourselves. Esther went through a twelve month process to purify herself before she met the king, she had to learn how to conduct herself. We too need to learn how to conduct ourselves, how to control our flesh, because people are looking at us. They are watching how we conduct our lives. Our conduct matters. How we act, react, and talk to people matters. People watch you, when favor comes, people watch how you react. Keep your mouth quiet, don’t gossip or tear down others with your tongue.

Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

The Worlds were created by words of Faith. The elders (saints) were not named.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

This is not the time to be ensnared because we live in the end days, there is no time for traps. When we are born again, He reveals his precious plan for the Body of Christ, for His Temple of the Holy Spirit (us). We become one new man. We feel, see, act different, and look at people differently. We need to remember that Jesus loves them too, and appreciate His handiwork. We are renewed every single day when we feed on the Word of God and our minds are renewed every day. The enemy (satan) comes to kill, steal, and destroy, wanting us to get pulled back to our emotions and cause us to lose heart. That’s why we need to put on the whole armor of God, for satan shoots for the heart, to cause discouragement, disappointment, depression to try and paralyze you. He wants our heart to be broken, to have us become ensnared like an animal in a trap. He wants us to fail and give up, and then eventually die of starvation (depressed and not reading the Word of God). Satan wants us to avoid church, to not see people, and pull the covers over our heads. But God wants us to run with endurance the race set before us.

Sin could be an addiction, spiritual blindness, sickness, disease, a hinderance, not fighting the battle. If we find ourselves pulled down, we need to speak the Word of God over the situation (even if our flesh does not mirror what we are saying) until we get it. Keep repeating God’s truth until it gets inside of us. If we fall down, get up, and keep moving toward God.

The devil is not creative, he keeps coming at us the same way over and over and over again. He will come back and look for us at a time of weakness. We can think that we have dealt with an issue and are through with it, but in a moment of weakness, satan will come and try to get us to go back to the old way of thinking and acting. But instead of reacting to satan’s attempts to pull us down, we need to go to the Word of God instead. God is my peace in time of trouble, not matter what the trouble is.

Dodi Osteen in the 1980′s had a tumor, that had metastasized. She researched all healing scriptures and kept repeating them over and over and received her healing. The cancer cells were there but did not impact her body. Dodi made two tapes of those healing scriptures. When Pastor Dona had her cancer she prayed, “God if you can do this for her, you can do this with me.” She wore out those tapes playing them over and over, and received her healing.

If the devil is lying to you and telling you that there is no way to make it, you have to tell him God’s truth about the situation.

Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

WE are the Joy set before Jesus. He knew us before the world was created, and He knew that we would be here at this time and at this place. He has a purpose for us so that we can run the race.

1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed.

Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

The result of not doing anything is to become weary and discouraged in our souls. If we don’t put God first, if we don’t come to Church to feed our spirits, if we don’t feed on God’s Word, we leave ourselves open for weariness and discouragement. God wants everything done decently and in order, then we leave the rest to God. God wants us to do our part, and what we cannot do, He will do the rest.

Hebrews 12:25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven.

When we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit to make a correction in our life, we need to do it. Sometimes God will tell us to do things that don’t make sense or that we don’t understand, but we must trust God. We have to walk and not see the end, or know where He is taking us. God knows. He has a plan and is looking for a willing helper, someone to prosper and move, someone who hears Him when He speaks and will move out when He speaks. God knows. The Israelites did not go into the promised land when God told them to go, they refused Him in the wilderness, and they did not get into the promised land because of their disobedience. They were disobedient to God 10 times in the wilderness.

We live in the New Covenant, and God gives us more than 10 chances.

Hebrews 12:26-29 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

God’s saving grace, but God can also be a consuming fire. God is also a God of Judgment. Do not be fooled. Make a decision to set aside sins that beset you. You are free from this. Time is short, and Jesus is coming back. Choose to obey God, for you are here on earth for such a time as this. Choose to obey God’s Word and be victorious.

Hoping you have a blessed day!

Heather

Before I share the study notes, I want to thank you for your prayers. I will try to put up pictures of our visit with my son in a few days. But God abundantly answered my prayers – we had traveling mercies, Edward and Katherine were able to go to class with Christopher and hang out in the dorm room for some time, getting a flavor of what college is like. I am praying now that Edward gets a move on trying to really apply to college. I don’t think that before this trip he could even visualize himself as a college student. So I am now praying favor for him as he applies this year, that he finds a college that is perfect for him and also offers a great financial package of scholarships and grants - He really wants to go to University of Richmond like his brother. Thanks for your prayers.

I wish you could have been here to hear Pastor Scales from Rhema Christian Center, Columbus Ohio speaking. We were laughing so much as he presented this hard topic with humor.

Pastor Scales told us that Jesus meets us where we are at.

We looked again at Matthew 22:34-40 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  ’ This is the first and great commandment/ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Last night we talked about loving God, and now we are going to deal with commandment two – loving your neighbor as yourself. Pastor Scales went over the Feast of Tabernacles, booths, where the people brought their worship from the Temple to the community. At Passover people were saved, at Pentecost they were empowered. They were cleansed at Yom Kippur, and now the community can witness what God has done. Yesterday we also talked about loving God with all of our heart (motivation), soul (passion), and mind (intellect). We discussed Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Our worship is the life that we live, a life of sacrifice, giving to God of our all. Pastor Scales told us that while all things may be permissable, not all things are beneficial. It may be lawful to eat four pieces of poundcake, but it is not healthful. Some people need to get rid of their caffeine addiction or their food addictions. Some of the things that take us away from God are not evil or bad, but they are addictions anyway.

Yesterday, we also looked at John 21 when Jesus restored Peter to himself, we learned that God wants us to love Him comparatively, personally and qualitatively. In the good times and the bad times.

1 John 3:1-2 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

What manner of love! We are sons of God (children of God).

Now God wants us to love our neighbors.

1 John 3:11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another

We need to love each other with AGAPE love. AGAPE love is seeking the highest good for everybody at all times.

There are four different Greek words for love. 1. Agape, 2.phileo which is brotherly love, companionship, 3.storge which is family love, love of a parent for a child, and 4. eros which is romantic love, what a marriage covets.

So Jesus told us that we are to love one another. It is easy to love God, but tough to love one another. It is easier to love people who are far away from us, like missionaries in the field. But to love people in church is tough. To love our families at times is also tough.

It is easy to say you love someone, but far harder to prove it to the people you know.

Pastor Scales told us of a Promise Keepers’ meeting that he went to for Pastors in Phoenix, Arizona called – Draw Near to Me. The pastors went to this meeting thinking that it was going to be a meeting of pulling people closer to God, but instead it was to draw near to each other.

One pastor got up and talked about Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. God used that to lead the people to Egypt – to draw near to him. The pastor told the attendees that God wants us to draw near to Him, but also to draw near to each other.  Near to God isn’t bad, but near to each other can be a challenge.

The pastors began to be increasingly uncomfortable as various speakers stepped forward.

A Jewish person talking about the holocaust, and Christian persecution of Messianic Jews, and then closed their talk with “Draw near to me.”

Then a Japanese American spoke of the internment camps during World War II, and closed their talk with “Draw near to me.”

An American Indian talked about the European slaughter, and the death and disease that was brought into their camps and they concluded with, “Draw near to me.”

By this time the pastors were looking at each other, very uncomfortable.

The Chinese came up and talked about the railroad, how they lost legs and arms building the railroads, and then were abandoned once the project was over, “Draw near to me.”

And Pastor Scales was talking with a white guy who was even more uncomfortable, and thinking that he wasn’t going to come back the next day.

Then a black person came up and talked about the Selma march, the hangings, “Draw near to me.” Pastor Scales said that at least he was black, but the white guy, after telling Pastor Scales it was nice meeting him,  never showed up the next day. It is hard to face the truth about how much we pull away from people who are different from us.

Jesus told us we need to love God with all of our mind, our soul, and our hearts. It is easy to love God, all you have to do is obey Him. But harder to love your neighbor as yourself.

It is hard to be with people in church who eat the last piece of chicken – you have your fork ready and they snatch it right out from under your fork. Jesus says to Love God and Love your neighbor with Agape love, always seeking their best.

John 3:11 tells us to love one another.

Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

We cannot agape love on our own, it takes the power of the Holy Spirit to help us love one another.  1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter) is (Pastor Scales broke out into song) “To dream the impossible dream…” It takes the Holy Ghost to love like that. We need the Holy Ghost pouring love out into our hearts, the divine love. God’s love goes into us, and then flows through us to others.

“It is well with my soul.” More love to thee, O God. When we give Him love, He pours back in good measure, pressed down. Pastor Scales gave us an illustration of pressed down – he said that when we rake leaves in the fall we fill up a bag with leaves, then we press down on the leaves so that they compact, and put more in. When the bag is full, it weighs lots from all the leaves that have been pressed down inside of it.

Whatever we give to Him is like Manna poured out from Heaven. You cannot beat God at giving. We cannot conceive, Ephesians 3:17-19  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

That we can know the love of Christ that passes all understanding!

Then Pastor Scales gave us some practical aspects of how to love our neighbors.

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Pastor Scales read this same verse in the English Standard Version Romans 12:10 ESV  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor

Pastor Scales particularly loved the idea of outdoing one another in showing honor. Can you imagine if Christians had a contest to outdo each other in showing honor? He then told us that what we need is contained in the Aretha Franklin song – R*E*S*P*E*C*T.

We need to look for ways to respect each other, to see the worth of another person, and to view each other with love. We don’t just respect a person because of a title they bear in their name, but respect each other because respect is what we do no matter who the person is.

We are to love people, to outdo one another in kindness, even before we know that they are somebody. You never know who you are sitting next to in church. Treat everyone as someone. Pastor Scales told of a member of his church who was going through difficult times, yet she was always friendly and nice to those around her in church. Someone heard of her plight and anonymously gave the woman a large sum of money – because she always greeted them with a smile and was kind. That money helped the woman out of her difficult circumstances. But when we are kind we are walking in the Kingdom of God.

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Romans 12:16 ESV Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Pastor Scales asked us if we have ever sent someone a gift – a gift WE thought was a great gift, but it was not what the person wanted. So you thought, pretty good, but they thought pretty ugly. When we live in humility, we seek the other’s good, which involves knowing them.

You need to be on the same page with the other person. Pastor Scales told the joke about the $4,000 parrot that someone sent to their friend – this parrot spoke many foreign languages. After a period of time of not hearing from their friend, the person called and asked how they liked the present. The person told them, “I cooked it up and it was delicious.” The phone was silent.

In this day and age when we are told to be ourselves, be humble. Don’t think you know it all, be teachable.

When learning stops, death starts.

The evidence of love is living in harmony with others, seeking common ground.

Romans 15:7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Romans 15:7 ESV Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

When we welcome each other and receive each other as Christ received us, it is not because we were worthy that He received us, it was not because of what we did that He received us. We need to welcome and receive each other, not because of what another person does, but because of Who He is – so that God gets the glory.

Pastor Scales is a person who gets to the point quickly, and does not like to waste time. God wanted to teach him patience, so he sent someone who stuttered into his life – It caused Pastor Scales to learn to slow down and to be more patient in listening to others speak.

The big question is: Can you accept and value people who are different from you. Can you welcome someone who seems crazy, who is an enemy, who is constantly fussing, who does not smell so good, who is funny looking, funny speaking, and see them as valuable?

We need to be more accepting as Christians, to remember that we did not get to where we are in our walk with God overnight. Hopefully in our journey as Christians we have come a long way, but when we look ahead, there is still a long way to go.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another

We are called to serve one another. Pastor Scales reminded us how his wife loves breakfast in bed, so he does that for her on his day off, does it in a wonderful and beautiful way. He talked about a marriage seminar that his church had, where the men were given a task in secret to do during the week for their wives, and the wives were given a task to do for their husband. The man’s task was to call his wife three times a day and tell her that he loved her. The woman’s task was to bake her husband’s favorite dessert. Mrs. Scales  had no idea what it was and asked Pastor Scales what his favorite dessert was. (Heather’s note: you could almost see him salivating when he described the pineapple upside down cake that his wife baked for him.) That was serving one another in love – and then he said that if he had a piece of that cake on his forehead he would have “beat his brains with his tongue to get that piece.”

Galatians 5:13 New Living Translation For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

We need to make allowances for each other, treat each other with love. Love is patient and kind. Be patient with people, don’t treat them with resentment. He described a time when he sat in a restaurant after he and his wife traveled long and were hungry. They were served their tea and water, but then the waitress forgot about them. They sat and sat and those who came in after them were served and left. Finally they decided to pay for their drinks and go up to their hotel room. Instead of berating the service, or being rude, they just quietly paid, saying they were too tired to stay and wait. Before the night was over they were given complementary room service from the hotel, and for the entire time of their stay they were treated well, everyone knew who they were. They knew because of the kind treatment that they returned for a slight that others would have ranted and raved about.

Patience opens doors. Jesus said, John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Pastor Scales told us how his mom endured burnt barbecue until he honed his skills on the grill. Now he is good at doing this and him mom benefits from her patience when she comes to visit her son and his wife.

Pastor Scales reminded us that someone endured all of us when we first came into the church, so we need to be forbearing with each other.

Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Kindness is one of the greatest examples of our Christians walk. Kindness means to be nice. Even when we had all the negative stuff in our life, Jesus was kind to us, and forgave us.

We even need to be kind when we discipline another. He talked about how he used kindness when he disciplined his children when they were in error, and now he sees that they do the same with their children.

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Pastor Scales told us that we need a CONSPIRACY OF KINDNESS, to figure out how we can be nice to people, to each other within our church community. The greatest commandment is to Love God, but then we need to love our neighbor. Pastor Scales told us that if you imagine a cross, to love God is the vertical post, and loving our neighbors is the horizontal bar (Pastor Scales held out his arms to show the cross shape.) We need to love those in the house of God. The Holy Ghost will help us to learn to love one another.

We then took time to pray for each other, breaking into small groups to do this. It was a blessed night.

I am hoping your day is abundantly blessed, I will try to get to your sites later this day to see what is going on in your lives.

Heather