| As many are aware, I'm quite an advocate
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| | relationship with me. I remember thinking
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| for the growing house church "movement"
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| | He was mad at me and, when I REALLY
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| and love helping others to establish
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| | messed up, I was that much farther away
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| churches in their homes, coffee shops,
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| | from Him than I had been. Regardless, I
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| office breakrooms, etc. I'm having a ball
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| | still worshipped Him, too scared to do
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| doing this and it's VERY rewarding. I was
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| | otherwise.Sadly, there are millions like
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| recently looking at Luke Chapter 10
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| | that! The harvest is abundant, as Jesus
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| verses 1-9 and there are some principles
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| | said. Multitudes need to know that God is
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| found there that will not only prove
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| | not "out there" but wants to live large
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| beneficial to the "house churchers" among
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| | "IN THEM," for WE are the temple of the
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| us, but ANY Christian whose heart is set
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| | Holy Spirit, that same Spirit that raised
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| on advancing the Kingdom of God.Let's
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| | Jesus from the dead.Verses 7 and 8: They
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| take a look at the Amplified version.
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| | were told to "...stay on in the same
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| Here it is:1...the Lord chose and
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| | house, eating and drinking what they
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| appointed seventy others and sent them
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| | provide, for the laborer is worthy of his
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| out ahead of Him, two by two, into every
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| | wages. Do not keep moving from house to
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| town and place where He Himself was about
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| | house. Whenever you go into a town and
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| to come (visit).2And He [Jesus] said to
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| | they receive and accept and welcome you,
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| them, The harvest indeed is abundant
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| | eat what is set before you..." Stay with
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| [there is much ripe grain], but the
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| | them? Imagine it's Tom's first day at
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| farmhands are few. Pray therefore the
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| | work and a fellow named Jerry comes by
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| Lord of the harvest to send out laborers
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| | and invites him to join the gang at the
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| into His harvest.3Go your way; behold, I
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| | local bar to have a TGIF celebration. A
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| send you out like lambs into the midst of
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| | Christian, Tom hardens his brow and says
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| wolves.4Carry no purse, no provisions
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| | to Jerry, "No, thank you, I'm a Christian
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| bag, no [change of] sandals; refrain from
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| | and I don't go to places like that." What
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| [retarding your journey by] saluting and
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| | happened? Tom hasn't merely turned down
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| wishing anyone well along the
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| | Jerry's invitation; he's turned Jerry
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| way.5Whatever house you enter, first say,
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| | down, turned him off and turned him away
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| Peace be to this household! [Freedom from
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| | in the process.How much more effective
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| all the distresses that result from sin
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| | would it have been had Tom RECEIVED
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| be with this family].6And if anyone
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| | Jerry's hospitality - the only kind he
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| [worthy] of peace and blessedness is
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| | knew how to offer, by the way. He was
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| there, the peace and blessedness you wish
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| | being KIND to Tom - a godly quality - and
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| shall come upon him; but if not, it shall
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| | may well be a worshipper of God, the best
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| come back to you.7And stay on in the same
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| | he knew how at any rate. He was extending
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| house, eating and drinking what they
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| | his hand of friendship and inviting Tom
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| provide, for the laborer is worthy of his
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| | into his world to meet his friends, maybe
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| wages. Do not keep moving from house to
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| | even family at some point. "Come and eat
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| house.8Whenever you go into a town and
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| | and drink with us, TOM!" was what he was
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| they receive and accept and welcome you,
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| | saying. But Tom said, "No!" A door had
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| eat what is set before you;9And heal the
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| | been shut by Tom's reaction, when Jerry
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| sick in it and say to them, The kingdom
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| | had graciously opened his culture to
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| of God has come close to you.Known for
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| | him.Remember verse one? JESUS is planning
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| his ministry as a House Church planter,
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| | to show up but He's sending out His team
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| author and speaker Tony Dale emphasizes
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| | FIRST.Guys like Tom.Guys like us.He
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| the fact that House Church is NOT merely
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| | allowed Tom to have that job, not merely
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| a gathering or even a location; it's a
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| | so he could eat or pay bills, but as a
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| way of life. As he says, there must
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| | means for advancing the Kingdom of God.
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| surely be something more to this than
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| | Jesus WILL show up, but not if Christians
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| exchanging pews for couches. How can it
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| | go springing religion and
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| be anything else for Christianity is not
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| | self-righteousness on everyone and
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| merely another of the world's great
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| | squelching those Divine opportunities.
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| religions; it's a moment-to-moment
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| | Granted, there are times when we MUST
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| relationship with the Creator. Bearing
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| | graciously bow out. Time constraints
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| this in mind, it's more easily
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| | might cause us to say, "Sounds like fun,
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| conceivable that wherever we Christians
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| | but can I take a raincheck?" Leave the
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| find ourselves at any moment, that may
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| | door open. Now, if Jerry's gang had been
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| well be the spot where we can begin to
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| | going to a topless club, by all means,
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| influence people for the Kingdom and see
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| | use discernment. "Jerry, I'd love to hang
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| lives transformed.Verse 1: We see that
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| | out with you guys but I'm not comfortable
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| Jesus "sent them out ahead of Him." That
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| | in places like that...can we go somewhere
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| means they went FIRST but He would soon
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| | else? How 'bout lunch tomorrow...my
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| be coming onto the scene. As disciples
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| | treat?" He would probably respect that
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| ourselves, have you found that to be the
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| | and, at the very least, invite you to
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| case today as well? All we have to be is
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| | something more to your liking another
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| available!Verse 2: Despite having
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| | time.Verse 8 essentially encourages us to
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| assembled an outreach team of 72 (some
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| | move into THEIR environment. Jesus is
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| say even more), Jesus laments that
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| | our example of that. Didn't He leave HIS
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| there's so much work to do and 72 is
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| | culture for the sake of planet Earth?A
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| simply not enough. We need more of
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| | lady asked me if I'd speak at her
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| us!Verse 3: The team is reminded that
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| | Brisket, Beer and Bible Study. I didn't
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| they are vulnerable and are about to
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| | hesitate to commit myself. The people she
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| engage in Spiritual Warfare. Yet, they
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| | said she'll be inviting are kids who've
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| were trained. The call to serve is really
| |
| | done drugs, been in jail, people who
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| a call to prepare. Have you been
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| | don't feel accepted in churches. If
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| preparing?Verse 4: They're instructed not
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| | like-minded Christians would join forces
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| to bring anything with them because they
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| | in a similar manner, we could have an
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| won't be staying. They are also told,
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| | incredible impact on our community.
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| essentially, not to dilly-dally. There
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| | (Anybody care to throw a party?)When you
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| was to be no chit-chatting with others
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| | get there - to that place outside your
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| they meet along the way; they were on a
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| | element - love those you find there. Let
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| mission, after all. Instead, they were to
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| | the expression of Christ flow through
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| keep a look out for someone VERY
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| | you. I once officiated a wedding that was
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| important. Who? Read on.Verse 5: Jesus
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| | held in a bar. Everyone, including the
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| told them something very interesting. He
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| | groom, was sipping beer before the
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| said, "Whatever house you enter, first
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| | wedding even began. That was the most
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| say, Peace be to this household!" Today,
| |
| | enjoyable wedding I can remember. I
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| He might have said, "When you go to the
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| | mingled and "worked the crowd."
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| office, the plant, Starbuck's, class, a
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| | Afterward, I sat down and ate with an
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| Chamber of Commerce mixer, BE to them the
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| | Hispanic man about my age, with a shaved
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| expression of God that you are and let
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| | head and a 2-foot braided pony tail
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| them experience the Peace of Christ
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| | hanging down his back. We enjoyed each
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| through you. If you feel that same peace
| |
| | other's company, laughed quite a bit as I
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| returned to you by another, THIS is the
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| | recall. I told him how to reach me and
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| person you can build a church with
| |
| | made myself available. Another man asked
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| (minister to, pray for, etc.)!" Here's a
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| | me if I made a pretty good living doing
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| tip: Instead of inviting these people to
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| | weddings. When I told him that I don't
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| church - asking them to abandon THEIR
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| | charge, he grabbed a $50 bill from his
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| culture in exchange for YOUR church's
| |
| | wallet and said, "Here ya go, I need a
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| friendly confines - why not get to know
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| | blessing and I believe in reapin' and
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| THEM in THEIR world? Chances are, they'll
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| | sowin'." The next day, the bride came by
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| gladly invite family and friends to meet
| |
| | my office and gleefully said "everyone
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| you and... POOF...instant Church! I heard
| |
| | just loved you at the wedding."Verse 9:
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| about an East Indian Christian woman who
| |
| | Jesus says, "heal the sick in it and say
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| was walking around a village, praying.
| |
| | to them, the Kingdom of God has come
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| When someone asked what she was doing,
| |
| | close to you..." Be discerning and see if
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| she said she was looking for people to
| |
| | there's a need where God could step in.
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| pray for. She was invited in by many.
| |
| | As I minister in nursing homes and when
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| Eventually, she established 50 house
| |
| | I've gone to jails and hospitals, I've
|
| churches, that in a nation with millions
| |
| | NEVER had a single person say they did
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| of gods (note the lower case "g").Verse
| |
| | NOT want me to pray for them. What I HAVE
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| 6: Jesus added, "And if anyone of peace
| |
| | heard is people who say, "I don't know
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| and blessedness is there, the peace and
| |
| | how to pray." I've even seen people cry
|
| blessedness you wish shall come upon
| |
| | while I prayed and afterward admit to me
|
| him..." In other words, if that person is
| |
| | that NO ONE has EVER prayed for
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| someone you can work with, you'll know it
| |
| | them.Imagine!Sure, we could offer to
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| by the Spirit! In Acts 16:14, Paul was
| |
| | literally pray for the sick as we enter
|
| preaching by the river and one who was
| |
| | into these strange cultures, but how
|
| listening was a woman named Lydia. The
| |
| | about those with sick marriages or sick
|
| verse says, "She was [already] a
| |
| | finances, sick emotions, a sick spirit,
|
| worshiper of God, and the Lord opened her
| |
| | sick of being unemployed, or just sick of
|
| heart to pay attention to what was said
| |
| | being addicted and failing all the time?
|
| by Paul." No, she wasn't a Christian -
| |
| | The verse says to tell them about the
|
| and she may have not yet even heard the
| |
| | Kingdom of God. It doesn't tell us to
|
| story of Jesus and His Kingdom message.
| |
| | tell them they're sinners. They already
|
| Yet, she was referred to as "a worshipper
| |
| | know that, I assure you. Tell them
|
| of God." She could have been a Muslim, a
| |
| | there's a King who loves them and cares
|
| Satanist, a New Age guru, a
| |
| | about them. The woman at the well is a
|
| Buddhist...she was probably not a Jew
| |
| | grand example of that. Jesus said to her,
|
| because it was the Sabbath and she was
| |
| | "Does anyone condemn you? Neither do I."
|
| not in the temple AND she was working
| |
| | He's been called a Friend of Sinners,
|
| besides. Scripture clearly says, however,
| |
| | more comfortable with the down and outers
|
| says she was a worshipper of God and a
| |
| | than with the religious crowd. He loved
|
| Church was started at her house.I'm
| |
| | them and they loved Him; the self
|
| convinced that the Lord's primary method
| |
| | righteous got His indignation.We can
|
| of evangelism was probably not open-air
| |
| | always find a way to bless and give hope.
|
| crusades. Yes, we have a few examples of
| |
| | People are too often being cursed by the
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| that, but I think there were far more
| |
| | Church, condemned and reminded of how bad
|
| one-on-one situations - the kind of
| |
| | they are. "You're a sinner, bud." We
|
| opportunities constantly available to you
| |
| | forget that, if not for God's grace, so
|
| and me today as well. ALL Christians can
| |
| | are we. Just as God said to Adam, "Who
|
| penetrate pockets of darkness by crossing
| |
| | told you that you were naked?", I can
|
| over to where we are no longer
| |
| | hear Him asking the Church today, "Who
|
| "culturally comfortable." We have to get
| |
| | told you that you were divorced,
|
| out of our Christian ghetto and rub
| |
| | illegitimate, a fornicator, a
|
| shoulders with others in order to find
| |
| | drunkard...who told you - a child that I
|
| those "worshippers of God." They're out
| |
| | love - one I sent My Son to die
|
| there, trust me.Personally, there was a
| |
| | for...that you were the scum of the
|
| time in my life when I was quite a devout
| |
| | Earth? I call you My friend, My child, My
|
| "worshipper of God." Christian girls
| |
| | warrior, my priest, my chosen one. Who
|
| often mistook me for one of "them."
| |
| | told you all those lies about
|
| Sadly, the "god" to whom I paid my homage
| |
| | yourself?"Let us remember to DEMONSTRATE
|
| was named "Mike." It was ME all along. I
| |
| | the presence of God before our preaching
|
| KNEW there was a GOD "out there" but all
| |
| | will ever be received. Spurgeon said,
|
| I saw around me was Religion - not
| |
| | "Before you give a man a tract, wrap it
|
| relationship - and condemnation. Trying
| |
| | in a sandwich." The same principle
|
| to "be good" seemed impossible for me to
| |
| | applies. It's called "Relationship before
|
| do no matter how hard I tried. Sure, I
| |
| | Function." They want to know how much you
|
| heard the old Bible stories, but I wasn't
| |
| | care before they care how much you know.
|
| meeting anyone who testified of what He
| |
| | As God intervenes, your testimony, your
|
| was doing NOW, at this moment in time,
| |
| | ministry will be more than welcome.
|
| and that He wanted an intimate
| |
| |
|
