Holy Spirit church growth

Acts 9: 31

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

Churches today, spend lots of money to find someone to show them how to grow their church.

Some of the national church growth experts say, you should do the following in your congregation;

·         Teach the people the importance of the church…

·         Provide opportunities for people to serve…

·         Motivate the membership to give financially…

·         Expose membership to church business…

·         Develop inter-generational relationships…

The church grows according to God’s Word, when they are encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and while they lived in the fear of the Lord.

I happen to think we listen to way too many outside influences, relative to doing church.

We should listen more to the Holy Spirit, for that’s how the church grows stronger.

Because the people of the church, listen to the ways of the world so much, loyalty in the church often comes into question.

Folks leave churches for all the wrong reasons, and rarely tell anyone they’ve even left.

Then they take that attitude to another church. That can’t be a good thing!

The early church enjoyed a time of peace, according to this verse, but that peace didn’t last very long.

They learned, and sometimes the hard way, to depend on the Holy Spirit for their very sustenance.

Can you imagine, what might happen to our/your church, if we truly listened for God’s prompting, sent by the means of the Holy Spirit?

Maybe it would actually grow in strength and numbers if we did that……….

Is Jesus your Sabbath?

Matthew 12: 8

“For the Son of man is the Lord of the Sabbath.”

Back in the days of Jesus, it was necessary to observe many traditional and trivial regulations on the Sabbath.

You couldn’t even feed your chickens, more grain than they were able to eat. The fear was, that if the left over grain actually sprouted, you would be guilty of sowing on the Sabbath.

Sounds pretty bogus if you ask me. It was even unlawful to swat a fly on the Sabbath.

Jesus was trying to correct the thinking of the religious Jews of His day, because they had made the Sabbath something it was never intended to be.

Don’t we do that today? I wonder how many people truly make Jesus the Lord of the Sabbath?

Most of us, as soon as church is out, we use the Sabbath as a catch up day to do laundry—prepare meals for the week—pay bills, and this list could go on and on.

That is if we even go to church! Maybe we’ve made the Sabbath, something it was never intended to be?

The Sabbath was set aside as a day of worshipping God, and a day of rest for us. DO people rest anymore on the Sabbath? We’re going 80 miles an hour, in 10 different directions!

The Son of Man is our mediator, who sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding on our behalf—no wonder He’s the Lord of the Sabbath!

Do you make Jesus Lord, on the Sabbath day? Better yet, is Jesus truly the Lord of your life?

People often say….. “I don’t have to be in church on Sunday to worship Jesus.”

Do you know how foolish that sounds?

I wonder how many people, follow that kind of irrational thinking?

I wonder how many people see that, and then also begin to follow that kind of irrational thinking?

Jesus said in Matthew 13: 41…. “The Son of man will send forth His angels to gather out of His Kingdom all stumbling blocks…”

Jesus is the One, who will one day come out of Heaven and separate the righteous from the wicked, and execute God’s plan of wrath.

He can probably do that, because He is the Lord of ALL………..

Forgiveness

Matthew 18: 34 – 35

In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

I meet people fairly often, who refuse to forgive the person who offended them.

Sometimes the offense is relatively minor, that needs to be forgiven.

In any case, it seems as though Jesus takes forgiveness, and the offering of it, pretty seriously.

“Tortured”, is a pretty strong word, don’t you think?

If the One who represents unbridled love, uses that kind of language, I guess He must mean business relative to forgiveness.

Has the Holy Spirit identified anyone you need to go to?

Forgiveness has to come from the heart, and unless it does, it could be considered a big waste of time.

Do what’s right, before our Heavenly Father does what He thinks is right………

Be a new creation

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.

For the person who is in Christ, there is a brand new identity.

They are a new creation, because they have been born from above.

The old things have passed away, and the things in a person’s life are brand new.

Are you identified with new things? Is that what people would say about you?

Or are there things, that still identify you with the old? Your old life—old habits—old ways of thinking—old ways of acting.

A person in Christ, has been created to operate in the realm of the new.

It’s because they take their marching orders from a totally different Kingdom.

This Kingdom is Holy—perfect—stable—new—lovely……

So does this verse mean, that if we’re still holding on to the old life, that we might not be in Christ?

Sure seems to indicate that.

The old has to pass away. The old has to die.

Their can’t be a newly created being born, unless the old one dies and passes away……….

Want Peace?

1 Corinthians 14: 33

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace………

Do you ever feel confused? I know I do!

Confusion comes, not by spending too much time with God, but by believing the lies of the one who steals—kills and destroys.

When I meet people who have the feeling in inferiority, I recommend they read Psalm 139.

There are times I think I should practice what I preach, or take the advice I so freely give away.

God doesn’t want us to feel inferior. We need to remember, that we were created in His very own image.

What an image to uphold!

If you lack peace and are confused, you need to realize who the author of that condition is.

Our God is a God of perfect clarity. I would agree, that sometimes His Words are often times, crystal clear.

If you feel confused about anything, maybe it’s time you get on your knees, and talk to the One who brings peace.

Lasting peace!!!!!!!!!

Are you holding on to anger?

Ephesians 4: 26 - 27

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Another very simple expression from the Word of God.

Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry—do not give the devil a foothold.

One would expect someone from the outside world, to hold on to anger, long after the sun goes down.

What amazes me though, are those in the church who operate in this fashion.

Paul’s charge was to the church at Ephesus, so he was talking to church people.

Are you holding on to anger this morning? If you are, you’ve already given the devil a foothold.

We need to remember that he doesn’t even need a foothold. Give him a sliver of space to get in, and he’s already accomplished his task.

We’re not even supposed to sin in the midst of our anger!

Do you know the kind of grudge holding person, who allows the sun to set and rise again, over and over, without dealing with their anger?

It’s sad to watch, and it makes the person look rather foolish.

Imagine….people in the church with this issue?

Hold onto the good

1 Thessalonians 5: 21 – 22

Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

God’s Word always sends a very simple message to understand.

Paul in his closing remarks to the church at Thessalonica, says to test everything and avoid evil.

Actually Paul says avoid every kind of evil.

Does that mean we should avoid a TV show that is laden with sexual innuendo? I think that’s exactly when he meant.

Does that mean that if God said we shouldn’t gossip, that should stop? Again, I think the message is pretty simple.

In a world that is filled with stuff the devil has sewn into the fabric of our culture, I believe it would be wise for us to only hold on to the good.

If you’re having a hard time identifying that which is good, filter it through God’s Word.

If it’s something we should abstain from, there’s probably an answer found in the good book.

We could be holding on to something, that we think is good, when in fact it could be something bad—according to God.

Some of the things young people are choosing to read these days, I don’t believe God would condone.

What evil are you holding on to, that you should let go of? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit help you with the testing process?

Hold on to the good—God’s good, and see if it doesn’t change the direction of your life—in a good way……..

Peace

Romans 12: 18

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Professing Christians should desire to have peace in the body of Christ, but I don’t always see that as the case.

Let’s face it, sin and conflict in the church are inevitable, but if we handle it they way Christ would, there would be peace in the situation.

What’s generally missing when sin and conflict come about, is the willingness to put petty things behind us.

There is sometimes the unwillingness to take a look internally and make a change—a 180 degree change—we call that repentance.

Confrontation should always come in a loving and humble manor.

This may come as a surprise, but we are not obligated to find total reconciliation.

Our verse this morning says…. “if it is possible”…..

Resolution is always the goal, it is not always the outcome in some situations.

It comes down to the….. “as far as it depend on you” part of the verse.

There’s a lot riding and depending on each person in the body of Christ so there is peace.

If you’re depending on always being right, there won’t be any peace with anyone—and as a result there won’t be any reconciliation.

If peace is the desired outcome, then peace might depend upon you—you might have to give/surrender/submit, before peace comes about

Maybe you need to make a 180 degree change today? Maybe that change needs to come, before the peace is all but gone………

Pay close attention

2 Corinthians 6: 17

"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."

Come out from them—who or what is Paul talking about?

He’s talking about having fellowship with darkness.

Touch no unclean thing—really?

Sometimes we justify touching something unclean, because we don’t do it every day.

We know the Word of God says…. TOUCH NO UNCLEAN THING!

What do you need to separate yourself from, beginning today?

I know of good “Christian” kids whose favorite books come from the occult, and whose favorite music is produced by hard core rappers.

I know of good “Christian” kids who have recently seen hypnotists. No one can argue, that those things come from the very pit of darkness.

I know what you may be thinking….. “You’re not going to go and get all legalistic on me, are you?”

You can’t argue that the Word of God says to come out from them. Maybe there’s a reason why God gave such an order?

There’s an old saying that goes something like this….. “Sin is what the devil allows you to play with, until he uses it to kill you.”

Maybe we should pay closer attention, to the Word of God………..

Sowing & Reaping

2 Corinthians 9: 6

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Here is a biblical principal, that applies to every area of our lives.

Our immediate thought is one of prosperity and monetary reaping, but think about it this way.

If you sow hatred and discord, chances are you’ll reap the same.

If we continue to carry a grudge, we’ll continue to reap a terrible heaviness of oppression and discontent.

What will you sow today, so as to bring about a fruitful harvest in your life?

Why not try sowing love today, and see if down the road, love won’t be returned tenfold.

Here’s a great idea! Why not try sowing into your prayer life today, and see what comes of answered prayer.

What a novel idea!!

Whatever you’re willing to put into something, is exactly what you’ll get out of it.

Go crazy today, sowing into the kingdom of God—but be ready for a generous time of reaping……

Prepare your mind for action

1 Peter 1: 13

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Prepare your minds for action.

Is that what we do in the church today? 

What Gospel action have you taken so far this week?

Peter is writing to the church, about what’s required to be holy, and to live a holy life.

Being self controlled is probably a good thing if you want to be holy.

But for us to be holy, we must set our hope fully on the grace given to us through Jesus Christ.

Think of the action commands that Jesus gave us for a moment…..

“when you pray—go and make disciples—baptize them—love your neighbor—obey my teaching—pray for your enemies”

Everything we do in this walk of faith requires action, done so through the power of living God.

What will you do to prepare your mind for action today?

We’re supposed to have the mind of Christ, those of us who say we’re believers/followers of Jesus.

It might be a good idea, if we started this new day by renewing our minds, before we take any action……..

What is love?

1 John 4: 10 – 11

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

On this day that the entire world celebrates love, do we even understand what real love is?

Paul told men that they should love their wives like Christ loved the church.

What men need to understand, before they love their wives, is the love that Jesus has for us all, and what that love cost the Father.

The love that God demonstrated wasn’t a box filled with chocolates, or a bouquet of flowers, or a teddy bear. The love the Father sent, was His one and only Son.

The atoning sacrifice probably isn’t something Hallmark would consider using as an ad campaign for Valentine’s Day.

That love was sacrificial—that love was painful and gory—that love was messy—that love was poured out, as the blood flowed down.

The reason it was all of that, is because of our collective sins. Not a pretty sight!

Because of our lost state and sinful nature, the atonement required real love. Love that most of us don’t understand.

So as you go about this day of love, don’t forget where love came from in the first place. I’m talking about real love……

Is God pleased?

Amos 5: 21 – 23

"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.

Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

This is what the prophet of the Lord says will happen, when the heart of God’s people are far from Him.

He won’t accept their offerings—He won’t even listen to the music of worship being played—He can’t even stand their assemblies.

I have to wonder, how many churches are wasting their time on Sunday morning?

Pretty strong words…… I HATE—I DESPISE—I CANNOT STAND—I WILL NOT ACCEPT THEM.

As you begin a new week, will God be pleased by what you bring Him?

Does He already know, that you may or may not have taken the easy way out in your worship?

I believe He does.

Maybe today’s a good day to assess where you are in your faith.

If changes need to be made, then I suggest we make them together……….

Turn from evil and do good

1 Peter 3: 10 – 12

For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Another tall order from the voice of God.

Keep our tongue from evil, and our lips from deceitful speech.

Maybe someone should tell that to our politicians!

Do you love life? Do you love life with God?

Then we must turn from evil and do good. We must seek peace and pursue it.

Can you imagine if everyone one of us sought peace? I believe the world would look so much different than it does today.

This verse of scripture also tells us that God’s see’s the righteous, and that He listens to our prayers.

Do you have a sense that God is hearing your prayers?

If not, the first question I would ask, is if I was among the righteous.

Being among the righteous looks much different than what’s going on in the world.

Being among the righteous, means that God is at work, and answering our prayers.

Must keep his tongue—Must turn from evil—Must seek peace….

I think God is serious

Confess your sins

1 John 1: 8 – 9

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

I had breakfast the other day with a friend, and the subject came up about how so many people make excuses for their sin.

We blame events and circumstances—we blame other people—we blame our past.

When we deflect the attention of our sin in another direction, essentially we’re saying we’re without sin.

Maybe we should take another look in the mirror this morning?

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just will forgive us our sins. What could be better than that?

When I did something wrong as a little boy at home, (which was fairly often) I remember how good it felt to be back in the good graces of my Mom & Dad.

Maybe today you need purification? Go to the Father and talk to Him.

Tell Him every detail, and allow His love to wash over you.

Is the truth in you this day?

Marked in a certain way!

Colossians 3: 7 – 8

You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Before Christ, there were ways in which I used to walk, that I don’t walk anymore.

Paul gives us a charge of things we’re supposed to get rid of.

Look at the list this morning. Is there anything that still needs to go?

I’m amazed at the number of people who call themselves followers of Jesus, who still post some pretty filthy language on Facebook for instance.

I’m pretty sure the Word of God says that has to go too.

A follower of Jesus will be marked in a certain way. None of what Paul identifies in this passage, should be a part of our lives anymore.

There was a way that we all used to live. The command is that we shouldn’t live that way any longer.

Make it a goal today, to pray over the one thing you still hang on to, and ask God to help you get rid of it.

That’s the way we should walk, and that the way we should talk………

Identify the good you ought to do

James 4: 17

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Isn’t that just like us. We know the good we should do today, and because we’re too preoccupied with satisfying ourselves, we forget to do it.

That’s sin? James, the half brother of Jesus says it is.

Does that mean that if we know we should pray or study God’s Word today, and we fail to do so, that’s sin?

Will reading the bible and praying bring good? If God tells us in His Word that we should—then we know it’s for our good—right?

What will you omit in your life today, that God means for good, but since we’re running in ten different directions, it will actually bring sin into our life.

How about the phone call to the lonely person down the street. How about sending that note in the mail, that you’ve been thinking about for weeks.

Identify the good you ought to do, and do it TODAY………

God inhabits the praises of His people

Psalm 34: 1

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

To Give God praise at all times really takes a concerted effort on our part.

As I visit with believers, I don’t often hear constant praise. Sometimes I hear constant complaining.

When we understand that God inhabits the praises of His people—that He actually draws near when He hears highest praise, we might praise Him more.

We sang this song at adult bible study on Wednesday evening;

God is so good—God is so good—God is so good—He’s so good to me………

You could feel God’s spirit being drawn into that place, as we extolled His name on high.

Will you praise Him today? Will you tell Him that He has all of you love?

Watch what happens to your life, when you stop whining, and start extolling/praising.

The change in your overall attitude, could be dramatic………..

Enduring Hardship

2 Timothy 4: 5

·         But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Paul essentially was saying to Timothy…. “I don’t care what anyone else does, but you keep your head!”

What a tall task—to keep our head in all situations.

Enduring hardship seems to be a plate full these days as we walk this walk of faith.

When something goes wrong, I often seen believers throw in the towel.

That doesn’t seem to me, the thing that God called us to.

Endure: to remain firm under suffering or misfortune….

We’ll be talking more about this subject during Sunday’s sermon.

How are you doing, at enduring hardship?

When things don’t go right in the church, often the knee jerk reaction is to leave that work, and find some other place that understands us.

Maybe the issue, is us? There’s something to ponder……….

Pray without Ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18 (NKJV)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Pray without ceasing……

Do you pray without ceasing?
Another version of the bible says “pray continually”.

Someone sent me an e-mail yesterday, and reported attacks within the spirit realm.

Seems to be the common thread these days among died in the wool believers.

Maybe that’s why God’s Word says we shouldn’t stop praying.

Do you get the feeling that prayer is important?

There are ladies in our church who pray while they walk.

There are ladies who meet every Monday morning, and part of what they do is pray.

There is a group who meets every Sunday morning before church to do what? PRAY!

There’s a small group of women in Omro this morning who are joined by the heart in prayer to their Heavenly Father.

Most American people surveyed, only pray the Lord’s prayer once a week at church—that is when they attend.

Today, stop what you’re doing and beg the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob for His mercy, strength, grace, favor and power.

That doesn’t mean the attacks will stop, but we do know that God answers prayer……..