Empowered Church

What happened to the Church at Pentecost?

God empowered it - he took a rag-tag group of ordinary people and gave them power to tell His Story throughout the world and throughout history.

Today we continue to be part of a community that also tells his story in word and action. Are you empowered to be those who are telling His Story by- Reaching the Lost, Caring for the Hurting and Growing Disciples??

Why not Ask -

Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Why not have a read of Acts 2 and see the new beginning God gave His people at Pentecost nearly 2000 years ago

Why repent?

The Bible has some impressive stories about people repenting when they met Jesus.
Zacchaeus (“Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”)
Peter: ("Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man.")
A 'sinful' woman weeping at Jesus feet; she had loved much.

What was it about the person of Jesus that drew such powerful, life changing responses?

Have you met the same person?

Do people meet him in you?

Jesus sends when he ascends.
On Thursday we recall Jesus raised into heaven. His final command becomes the first priority of his awestruck disciples. They await the Holy Spirit to empower them to be his witnesses. Can we keep this task in the forefront of our own thoughts and activities? Many years ago a famous preacher gave us a clue to how.
Ah! if we did but love Christ better, my brothers and sisters, if we lived nearer to the
cross, if we knew more of the value of his blood, if we wept like him over Jerusalem,
if we felt more what it was for souls to perish, and what it was for men to be saved—if
we did but rejoice with Christ in the prospect of his seeing the results of his suffering, and
being abundantly satisfied—if we did but delight more in the divine decree, that the
kingdoms of this world shall be given to Christ, I am sure we would all of us find
more ways and more means for sending forth the gospel of Christ.
Focus on these things this week as you pray to the ascended Christ and ask him to move your heart with what moved his.

Caring for the Hurting

Thanks Ray for another great challenge on Sunday.

I have been thinking about who are "the least" in my life?

And what little things could I do this week to serve the needy?

On Saturday while bowling with the family our eldest son says to my wife out of the blue and seeming a little concern, "I have feelings you know, mum!!" Not quite sure of what he was talking about we probed a bit more and found out that he had been watching a young man two lanes up who seemed to have some physical and mental condition and was bowling by himself - getting gutter after gutter - every now and then he would get 1 or 2 pins. Our son was moved by seeing this man by himself and not doing very well at bowling. That night he wanted to pray for this man - nothing huge - but he prayed that God would help in his life and that he would not feel bad about not doing that well at bowling.

We spoke about this after yesterdays service and talked about things we could have done for the young man at the bowling lanes. We probably will never see him again but we will pray for this man - who seemed to be the least significant person at the bowling lanes.

For us as a family said we want to be known as people who like Jesus are moved with compassion for the least - and then those who are known to be moved to action for the least?

I will be keeping my 'Jesus eyes' open again this week - and asking for the strength of the Holy Spirit - as I act and serve.

Glenn

Extending the kingdom... what to do?
(from the web site of Steve Addison. http://www.steveaddison.net... add it to your bookmarks, some inspiring stuff!)
The epistle of Silas
An emailed prayer update arrived today from a worker under cover in a restricted field. We’ll call him “Silas”. He has avoided overtly Christian terms for security reasons.
CPM = Church planting movement and pr = pray. You should be able to work out the rest.

How you can pray
I’ve shared the gospel with a family who live next to our place. They are receptive to me and the message.
Please pr for the HS to work in their hearts for a decision when I meet up with them again.
I’ve passed the Book to a religious store owner, who has passed the Book to his father in another town.
Please pr that HS would open his eyes to the truth
My teacher has asked to hear more about the Message - please pr for opportunity to do so
I prd for another teacher today - she has some problems with her hand. Please pr for healing for her
so that she’ll experience Him.
I shared his testimony and the gospel to a local today, who is interested to get out of the country.
Pr that he’ll come to know the true freedom in Him.
The training with the 2 expat families went well - they are excited with the vision of CPM and are
interested to go deeper with practical hands-on stuff.
The connection with 2 local Xns here - pr for opportunities to share the CPM vision with them.
Pr that we’ll meet people whom the HS is preparing to hear and accept the Message

Thanks for your partnership in this part of the world!
Silas

Notice how he works at a variety of levels:

1. He shares the gospel proactively. He is “hands on” in making disciples.
2. He is sharing with the people he encounters every day—neighbours, a language teacher, and “store owner”.
3. He sees his ministry through CPM eyes. He wants to mobilize local and new believers in evangelism and church planting.
4. He is partnering with other workers from different agencies to get the job done.
5. He believes that the Holy Spirit is present guiding him to prepared hearts and touching lives through prayer.

He’s called a “missionary” because he serves cross-culturally, but isn’t he doing what we should all be doing?

Growing Disciples = Following Jesus

Disciple - means learner or follower

Paul said: "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" 1Cor11:1

Shane Claiborne in 'The Irresistible Revolution' surveyed a group of people who identified themselves as "strong followers of Jesus" - he asked them "did Jesus spend time with the poor?" around 80% said yes - leaving a staggering 20% of these "strong followers" thinking Jesus didn't spend time with the poor - go figure!! He then asked this same group "do you spend time with the poor?" - only 2% replied that they did!!!!

Why is there so much disconnect between our belief about Jesus and our actions????

Two Questions: Are you truely following Jesus as his disciple??

Who is following you as you do??