January 2024
Happy New Year! Jesus came into the world as a baby like us, except born of a virgin with the prophesied name, "Immanuel", meaning "God with us." 1 After His finished works on earth, He arose from the dead as Lord and Savior of the world, promising the Holy Spirit for our empowerment to "Go" into all the world with the Good News of the cross. He said:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded them, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 2
Jesus says, "Come and Go..."
The Beatles gave us their last song, "Now and Then", but God gave us the Great Commission through Jesus Christ, Who said, "Come to Me" and "Go" into all the world.
Now and then, I get frustrated because of my unmet expectations of others, who come to Jesus and never go anywhere with the message. It's like never opening a gift box of See's candy or hiding it; never sharing it with those around you. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all that are in the house." 3 When you taste and see the sweetness of God's love and grace, you will shout it from the rooftops. So, forgive my impatience.
But I truly understand that we share Jesus from the overflow of our lives. We're unable to share what we haven't fully experienced ourselves. If this speaks to your heart, simply invite someone to church, as someone did for me, so I would hear the Good News and receive Jesus. Gradually, you will grow in your boldness to do more. On the site, I've made it easy for you to share the testimony of Jesus, through the Bulletin Board Ministry. It's easy to print off sheets of ministry cards and place them on bulletin boards or hand them out.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." 4
Jesus Came and Went Forth...
In the Gospels, the baptism of Jesus set the example for Spirit-filled ministry. Matthew records: "After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.'" 5 0verflowing with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was tempted by the devil to turn stones into loaves of bread, but He said, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 6 He was living by the Word just spoken to Him from His Father's mouth, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." Likewise, we are to live with the knowledge of God's unlimited love for us, secure in His love and grace -- God's divine overflow.
After Jesus overcame the devil, He entered into the synagogue and read the words of Isaiah about Himself, saying: "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 7 Jesus came into His anointed ministry and went out preaching, healing, delivering, bringing recovery and freeing the multitudes, setting an example for us. "And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing the oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." 8 A relationship with God through Jesus Christ provides these limitless resources to all of us in recovery" (The Life Recovery Bible notes, pg. 1295). For the past 48+ years, I have seen Jesus do an amazing work not only in my own life through the power of the Holy Spirit, but in the lives of numerous others, who have been set free and healed by the love of God in and outside of prison. Below is an example of a message I preached in the early 1980s at the California Men's Colony. It is podcast #221B on the site.
I Have the Anointing…
It may sound like I'm boasting by the title of this message, "But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you... as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him" (1 John 2:27, NKJV). It is the anointing through which the Holy Spirit rightly teaches us the Word of Truth. Without the anointing, we wouldn't have a relationship with God; no security, no seal or guarantee of eternal life. In this message, I share how Isaiah prophesied to the people that "...the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil" (Isaiah 10:27, NKJV). Are you plowing through life yoked up and overcome by people, places and things? As born-again believers, it's a Biblical fact that we have the anointing in us. This anointing is what makes Scriptures come alive for us. Yet many churches today neglect God's written Word, relying instead on worldly programs and psychological teaching. Their members are being starved. The term "Christ" means the "anointed one." And we are anointed for a purpose, to bring the truth of the Gospel to mankind. Are you fulfilling the purpose for which God has anointed you? Is there anything you can do to increase the manifestation of the anointing you have in Christ? There is; and this message addresses what we are to do.
Jesus says, "Come and Rest..."
Jesus not only gives the example for ministry but gives true rest. He said, "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 9 The disciples would learn from Jesus that rest comes by grace through faith in the finished work of the cross. When we meditate on the Scriptures, building our faith in His blood and righteousness through His death and resurrection, the power of the Holy Spirit manifests help, teaching, truth, peace, love, joy, conviction and guidance. 10 This is resting in the Lord, resulting in the Spirit-filled life.
Jude simply put it like this: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." 11 For me, I've learned to rest in the Lord for inspiration and anointing to do God's will and calling. My life is resting in the Lord 24/7 to overcome the trials of prison life, so the Holy Spirit will overflow to reach the world. Otherwise, the Spirit would be quenched or grieved by the burdens of life, disabling me from carrying out God's plan and purpose. Truly, my soul has found rest in the Lord. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light, because of Jesus living through me. Only by coming to Jesus, will you find rest for your soul. His forgiveness and eternal life begin the moment you trust in Him for your salvation. Won't you receive Jesus today?
"There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." 12
A Prayer for You . . .
I ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your life will produce every kind on good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. I also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear son, who purchased our freedom with His blood and forgave our sins. Amen. 13
Scripture References (NKJV):
1) Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23
2) Matt. 28:19,20
3) Matt. 5:14,15
4) Matt. 5:16
5) Matt. 3:16, NLT
6) Matt. 4:4, NLT
7) Luke 4:18,19
8) Acts 10:38, NLT
9) Matt. 11:28-30
10) John chs.14,15,16
11) Jude 20,21
12) Acts 4:12 NLT
13) Col. 1:9b-14, NLT