Monday 4/4/16 The Big Trip (60)

Dear Father in Heaven: I love You. Please forgive me of my sins and any sinful thinking that I might have done. Thank You, Lord, for rolling away more stones for me this day. Lord, please be with all those families displaced in the big Middletown fire. All glory and honor to You that everyone got out safely. Please, Lord, be with all firefighters and first responders, police, our veterans, active military and all others who work to protect us. Please be with President Obama and protect him as he is the commander-in-chief of our military. Please, Lord, be involved in our election and help us all to remember that regardless of who is elected, we above all want to serve You. Please help me now with the daily message as I try and wrap up the Big Trip, and then, dear Lord, please help me to get it dispatched. In the Wonderful Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters, today, Lord willing, I am going to wrap up "The Big Trip" and  get back to a more normal style of writing. In other words, write on subjects more as the Lord gives them to me. While I feel God gives me all the messages, I have been trying to go from the Birth of Jesus through His life, death and resurrection. So let me have at it. This is not my final writing, just the end of The Big Trip!!!

Monday: April 4, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Sixty): Big Trip Finale!

Luke 24:44-53 New International Version (NIV)

44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." 45 Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Brothers and sisters, how in the world could we ever understand anything in our Bibles if God did not open our minds to understand it? In fact, and I do wish I would have learned this way back in my school days, if I had talked to God back then, maybe I could have understood what I read in the history books, etc. With that said, we all need to learn to pray before we pick up our Bibles so that the understanding becomes easier. I still have trouble with the first testament, but more and more He opens it to me, and He will do the same for you.

46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 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."

The advantage we have is already knowing these things. We just must have faith and believe all of it. Jesus, our Messiah (another name for Jesus) will suffer, and that happened a lot, not just on His Cross, but all the beatings, and He was spit on, cursed at before He died on His Cross. And to think, and again it is spelled out, all of this done for the forgiveness of your sins and mine. Also for all the people in the world. Please read John 3:16, 17 and 18 to confirm this. In other words, check me out!!!

In verse 48 His disciples were told they were witnesses of all those things, and we have witnessed it through believing in The Word in our Bibles. In verse 49 Jesus told them to remain in the city until they were clothed with "Power from on High." What was sent to them? It was the "Power of The Holy Ghost!!!" Just for one minute did you think clothed might have meant a new robe and sandals? Today some religions put a lot of value in all those fancy robes and that is okay if those same people have received The Power of The Holy Ghost. Please remember if you do not have the power of the Holy Ghost, all those  other things MEAN NOTHING!!!

The Ascension of Jesus

50 When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven.

Right here I get really excited. Jesus led His disciples in the vicinity of Bethany. While He was blessing them (meaning us today, so take that blessing seriously) He, Jesus, lifted up His hands and while blessing them He was taken up into heaven.

But wait, a PROMISE HAS BEEN MADE. WHAT IS THAT PROMISE? He's coming back. I said He is coming back. He's coming back.

52 Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Matthew 28:16-20 New International Version (NIV)

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Dear brothers and sisters, I also want you to see what was said to His disciples as He blessed them as recorded in the book of Matthew and this is very important to us today. All the authority is now given over to us. Yes, we are indeed those disciples of today. Now how can people baptize everyone, how can His Word reach everyone? By everyone of us all around the world telling someone else. Also the way I understand this is His Word must reach ALL NATIONS, and then He will return.

Brothers and sisters, I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS BIG TRIP. Why? Here is the reason. The story cannot be completed until Jesus returns, and I am going out when He returns. I WILL NOT BE AROUND TO WRITE IT, EVEN IF HE RETURNS TONIGHT!!! And if you do not want to be around when the story is completed maybe you need to take time right now to come to Jesus. Yes, I am going to once again pray the sinners' prayer. Will you join me today?

Dear Father in Heaven, I confess with my mouth today and believe in my heart that Jesus is Lord and that He did die on His Cross for me. I believe it and have faith in his return. Please, Dear Father, send the Power of The Holy Ghost over me as I want to receive Jesus as my Savior. Please, dear Lord, know that I am indeed a sinner and ask today that You wash me white as snow. Please enter my name in The Lamb's Book of Life. Today I want to be saved, Born Again. In Jesus' Name, I ask this. Amen.

Brothers and sisters, I pray you enjoyed The Big Trip. I pray that through it someone has come to Jesus to be saved. All glory and honor is His with none at all to me.

Now go forth and spread this good, good news about Jesus. Love ya.

Pastor Dan

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (Unknown)

I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back!

Should no one join me, still I will follow.
Should no one join me, still I will follow.
Should no one join me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back!

The world behind me, The Cross before me;
The world behind me, The Cross before me;
The world behind me, The Cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back!