Dear Father in Heaven: Thank You for rolling away a few stones for me today. I love You and I ask forgiveness of my sins. Please, dear Lord, watch over family and friends and also, dear Lord, watch over our enemies also and please, Lord, help us to reach those enemies so they can become saved through You. Please, Lord, keep Andrew in Your hands. Father, be with the mother who lost two sons yesterday and with all the others in that family. Please, Lord, help me now with the message and please help me get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name I give thanks and pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, the people who lost two sons yesterday - a 15-year old shot his 18-year old brother to death, so one is dead and the other life in jail. So sad. All is well here, and the only reason I put out an email that said "File Update" is every now and then people for one reason or another want off the list. People moving from place to place, etc. As long as I get updated email addresses, I can go where you go. (I am not talking bathrooms here.) I am so bad sometimes!!! Tomorrow is April 1, or April Fools Day. I do want to write on this day and hope to get that done. As for the Big Trip, well let's get started today.
Thursday: March 31, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-eight)
John 20: 19-23 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
"Peace be with you!" Here we find Jesus appearing to the disciples, more than likely eleven of them. Was there anyone else in the room? The scripture does not tell us. How did He get into the locked room? He just appeared not walking through a wall like we see on picture shows of old, He just appeared, able to come and go as He pleased. Remember, He is God!! Notice how he showed them His hands and side. The disciples were happy when they saw the Lord. However, Jesus had to show them His hands and side.
My question to you today is this. Is your faith strong enough to believe in Jesus without seeing those nail-scarred hands and the hole in His side? This is why our religions is called "faith-based!"
21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you." 22 And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Now we see Jesus making that same statement again. Peace be with you! More than likely the first time He said that they all looked up, so then He stated it again. Now here is an order that stands today. As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you. So please remember we are the disciples of today and He is sending us out.
Then He breathed on them and had them receive the Holy Spirit. I want to call your attention way back in the beginning of time when God first made man. How did He get life into him? Let us look!
Genesis 2:7 - The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (NIV)
He is breathing the Holy Spirit on them and brothers and sisters, when we RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, it is then we receive Jesus and are "Born Again." AMEN.
John 20:23 If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
What might this mean today? If you have been to the altar at church and have prayed the sinners' prayer and have done it in faith, then you are forgiven and most pastors at that point will tell you that. In fact, I have told you that on this line over and over again. And it does not need to be a pastor or minister or priest or an other church official, for if you lead someone to the Lord and they pray with you to be forgiven, you as a disciple of God can then tell them that according to God's Holy Word, they are indeed forgiven. Always, I said always, give God the glory. In doing this you must remember we can only lead them to Jesus. Jesus will know their heart and will do the saving.
Please go forth now working for Jesus and trying to lead others to Him. He has given those who love Him a lot of power. Use it for good, please, and help others come to Christ. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
And since we are talking about the Holy Spirit, we will sing this one again.
Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome (Dottie Rambo, David Huntsinger)
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of Mercy and Grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of Mercy and Grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
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