The message yesterday was very good; very interesting. One of the things our Pastor spoke was that there are four things that cause people to leave a church. Messages on 1) Giving (there they go, asking for money again!) 2) Hell (people don't want to hear where they will go unless they accept Jesus as Lord) 3) Holy Spirit (some people are scared of the Holy Spirit and want nothing to do with Him) and 4) politics (can't go there in case we offend someone!).
Last week the message was on Hell - based on Revelations 20. Read it. Remember the Bible story of the rich man and Lazarus, who sat outside the rich man's gate? The rich man gave him nothing. When the rich man and Lazarus died, Lazarus went to heaven, the rich man to hell. The rich man asked Abraham, who held Lazarus in his bosom, that Lazarus could just dip his finger in water to give the rich man a cool touch. But he was denied. The chasm is there that no one can cross over. Read Luke 16 for the entire story.
Yesterday the message was on the Holy Spirit. There were several scriptures used and my mind is blank as to the main one - but it was a great message and yes, several people in the church do speak in tongues. Some people believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit died years ago when the disciples all died. That is not true. The gifts of the Spirit are alive yet today. We all do not have the same gifts, but each of us have a gift. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts and we all have a responsibility to use them for the glory of God. Some gifts come and go - by that I mean that there may be a time when you need a specific gift and God will provide it, but it may not be there after that one time. Other gifts are there for a season. And sometimes, you lose those gifts when you do not press in and use those gifts. Or pride gets in the way and you pat yourself on the back that you have that gift, and you find you lose it as you try to use that gift in your own power.
Mario Murillo, who is having successful revival messages throughout the country (will be in Chandler this month, I think), and he has the gift of healing. God will tell him of someone who has a specific ailment and he will call them out - and as they stand in faith, God reaches down in His mercy, and brings healing. I've watched some of his meetings and have seen people break out in tears over their healing, they have been in such pain that they could barely walk, and now could walk freely and move their body. Do I believe this is real? Yes I do. I believe that God wants to heal us all, regardless of what our ailments are.
Cindy Jacobs is a prophetic intercessor who heads up Generals International. I've known other people who have given prophetic messages. In fact, hubby and I received one years ago, written out to us by someone we know. I have it still around here somewhere. I am just not sure where it ended up since we moved. We were really puzzled over this Word that was written to us - and as time has passed us by, we have remembered and recognized what was 'spoken' to us. It actually involved a 'religious spirit' of sorts. We had been in this one church for years - and were happy there. But this 'Word' said that we would change how we worshipped, that it wouldn't be orderly like we were enjoying. We couldn't understand that as we had no plans to leave. But leave we did several years later and the last two churches we have gone to have not been 'in order' but 'as the Spirit moved. Especially the church we have now felt we are to make our church home. Some people would be uncomfortable with it; in fact, I have expected hubby to voice his opinion about some things. 'In order' I mean by man's order. Announcements, a couple songs, preacher speaks, we sing another song, go home. Sometimes you just need to let the Holy Spirit lead and you follow. Twenty years ago I can't say we would have even entertained a thought of going to this type of church. But with the Word spoken, we feel this is where we are to be, for this moment in time.
I know that 'Giving' will be a topic soon for preaching. It's one of the 4 and Pastor Pat said that he's done two of them now. It is a touchy subject for some people as they feel their money is their money. My mother always tithed, although we never thought much about it. We have tithed over the years. And because we do tithe, God always provides for our every need. His Word tells us to tithe and Malachi 3:8-10 states that we are robbing God when we do not give Him a tithe of what we have. God owns everything we have anyway, so why shouldn't we give Him back a portion of it? Giving, or tithing, is always a delicate subject for a pastor to speak on because the thought that comes to mind for some people is 'they always ask for money'.
My big brother is really encouraging me to build up my body in strength. He walks most days and sends me a copy of his time/miles off his app. And I do the same back to him. I didn't really want to - but managed to get on the treadmill yesterday and I walked almost three miles. I have discovered that the back room in which the treadmill resides, and although it has a ceiling fan, does not cool down. The treadmill needs to be UNDER the fan.... but it isn't. And for someone who doesn't usually sweat, I am dripping with sweat! That's a good thing, right? I comment it is easier for him to walk because he is retired.... and I work... but. Yes, But. I still have time that I can walk, but I am usually too lazy to do it. I actually sat and thought about it yesterday afternoon. Afterall, I wasn't working yesterday. Yes, we went to church, stopped at Coco's for lunch, and came home. We did stop by one of the rec centers yesterday cause we heard they had a walking track and we wanted to see what it was. It's a quarter mile track and it is cushioned - but it is outside. When we got back home from checking it out, I debated on getting on the treadmill... and knew that I was just being lazy. Hubby kept reminding me Sunday was a 'day of rest'. Almost convinced me, until my brother sent me his walk info for the day - nearly 5 miles. I knew I wasn't going to do that.... but propped my Kindle up on the treadmill and located Prime Video and brought up a movie, plugged in my earplugs, and started walking. I did get nearly 3 miles in before I called it quits. With being back to work today and our Bible study tonight at 6:30PM, I'm going to have to work some time in to get my walking in. And yes, I send my brother my statistics and he cheers me every time I do. It matters. Especially cause I don't feel/see any results of my changing my eating habits and walking. I will, in time, but not right now.
Hubby is going to the movies today with a friend to watch the new Top Gun movie. He did ask me to go... but he knows I'm not a big movie theatre fan. I think it goes back to I was not allowed to go to movies when I was growing up. In fact, we didn't get to do much of anything. No movies or shows, no dancing, no football games, no anything. As for movies, my stepsister and her boyfriend at that time snuck to see The Ten Commandments at an outside drive-in (do you remember those?) and got busted and grounded for it. I just prefer to sit at home and watch movies on TV. Anyway, hubby and his friend are going out to breakfast and then will go to the show. Which means I will have a quiet morning, unless I have meetings to attend. Haven't turned the work computer on yet to see.
And with all that ... I need to hush and get off here. Some days I just want to keep rambling and writing. :-)
Blessings!
No comments:
Post a Comment