The Great Commission

What then can we say, If God be for us, who then can be against us! Romans 8:31.

As I was meditating on God and how incredibly awesome he is for what he is doing in my life and in the church right now. I got in my spirit to write a newsletter of sorts to the body, encouraging and talking to them about how it’s time to move in the power and authority that we were called to walk in. As I began this work, the Holy Spirit whispered “The Great Commission”. So I started thinking about the word “commission” and exactly what it means.  I looked at the word commission and started to break it down on my own, and immediately three words popped out at me. The first is of course the word as a whole, the second is the word omission, and the third is the word mission.  I am not sure exactly what studying these words is going to lead me too, but by the end of this, I believe we will be thoroughly convinced that the Holy Spirit is speaking and it is time to move individually in our callings and collectively as a body to perform the great works He has put us in this earth to fulfill. His word will not return to Him void, and neither shall we!

Hate to be lengthy here, but just take a moment and look at Mirriam-Webster’s definition of the word commission.

1: a formal written warrant granting the power to perform various acts or duties b: a certificate conferring military rank and authority; also: the rank and authority so conferred

2:an authorization or command to act in a prescribed manner or to perform prescribed acts : charge

3a: authority to act for, in behalf of, or in place of another b: a task or matter entrusted to one as an agent for another

4a: a group of persons directed to perform some duty b: a government agency having administrative, legislative, or judicial powers

 My goodness, I don’t know about you, but reading this immediately had me shaking my head and laughing at the goodness of God. As Christians we know we have been given power over the enemy according to Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Nothing Shall by any means harm you! When Jesus selflessly died on the cross some 2000 years ago, He set us free from sin, and he also gave us back the power and authority that was lost with Adam and Eve. He literally went to Hell, took back the keys and gave them to us. So many times we are waiting for a lightning bolt in the sky, or some loud booming voice to cause us to move into what God has called us to do. But I have realized through obedience and faith that God doesn’t work like that. Not with most of us anyway. There is that still small voice that whispers in our hearts. It’s up to us whether we heed to the voice’s instructions.

 The other thing we need to realize is that being a Christian means that we are in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God represents a government. A government is a body that has powers and ability to make laws and change the face of society. We need to understand, that just as the United States Government has this power to create laws, and abolish others, so do we as Christians have this same Power living on the inside of us through the guiding of the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 18:21 tells us the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. We need to be certain that what we speak lines up with God’s promises and that we don’t go against His word.

 Going back to the definition of commission, we see power is given to a group of persons selected to perform a duty. Our duty is to spread the word of God. Isaiah 61 exemplifies this best. We also see this parallel in Luke 4:18-19, where Jesus is handed the scroll of Isaiah in the temple, and he reads of himself and declares his mission:

 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 Our mission is no different than that of our Lord and Savior. If Jesus proclaimed and fulfilled these scriptures, then we, who are alive in Him also must speak boldly and hold true to our profession of faith. “Profession of Faith”, that brings me to another thought. The word profession speaks of an occupation. So I’m looking at this and seeing that it is our occupation to have faith as believers. It is a prerequisite for our relationship with Christ. We know that without faith it is impossible to please Him. So when we read Isaiah 61, we should profess the scriptures with faith knowing that if Christ spoke it, and we live in Him that it is true for us also.

 I remember in the beginning of the ministry Pastor asked me to read Isaiah 61 before the church. I believe he was trying to get me to understand who I truly was, and acknowledge and receive the power that has been given to me. I initially received this calling, but after years of assaults and hard times, I began to withdraw my belief that this passage of scripture was meant for me also. I lost my vision, my hope, and my desire for ministry seemed to vanish. I was so frustrated with myself. I had a heart to please God, but somehow my heart, my actions and my words were all on different pages. I struggled to get back to Him, but then I felt guilty all the time if I didn’t wake up early to pray and seek Him, and spend time in His word. The guilt led me further away, and I became angry with myself and probably with God also because I felt he wasn’t doing anything to help me get back up. I hadn’t fully accepted his grace, and the more I tried to prove my love with works, the more defeated I became. Don’t give up though! God never gives up on us and we can’t give up on Him. He said I will never leave you nor forsake you according to Hebrews 13:5.

  I want to encourage you, that no matter where you are today, you can always go back to that place where you had God’s peace and His joy living on the inside of you. In the beginning of any relationship, it is new and exciting. Everything about the person can put you into a tailspin of emotions. And then, after time and trials come to thwart that relationship, you don’t have that same “new feeling” anymore. That desire to want to know more about the person dissipates and you no longer want to please them in every way possible. It’s just the same ole, same ole. Life is a mundane routine. You aren’t complete anymore. Does this sound familiar? Have you done this with your relationship with God? I certainly have. I believe we all have at one point or another. But you know what? His Grace is sufficient for you and he will perfect that which concerns you. So if you know, you’ve straggled away in your intimacy with God, turn back to Him.  2 Chronicles 7:14 shows us the heart of God in this matter. If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Seek His face, turn back to your father in heaven.  He is surely waiting for you. He will restore your vision, your passion for ministry, and your love for serving his people. He did it for me and He is no respecter of persons.

 Let’s look at the word omission. Miriam-Webster dictionary says it is something neglected or left undone; apathy toward or neglect of duty. We know that commission is the authority given to an individual or group of persons to act in a prescribed manner. We already said that our commission as Christians is summed up in Isaiah 61. So when we neglect the calling of the “The Great Commission” to spread the word of God and do his work, we are in omission. Now if you want to practice this neglect in school, or on your job, or with your house chores that’s on you, but to neglect an order that comes directly from the very throne of God is straight disobedience. No matter how you want to slice it or dice it, it’s out of order. No excuse will justify your lack of response to the calling. Financial matters, a wayward child, loss of job, divorce, death of a loved one; whatever your excuse is it’s not acceptable. Of course I am not saying that in these things that there is not an appropriate time for grieving and healing. But even God had to say to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:1 “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” My goodness, do you hear what God is saying hear? He is practically screaming at us. Whatever that thing is that you are holding on to, that is paralyzing your ministry, God is telling you today, let that thing go! He is telling you to fill your horn with oil and be on your way…The oil represents the anointing!! He is telling YOU, not Himself to fill your life with the anointing again! And then he says be on your way…Get out of that stuck place and move to the place he has called you to. In Samuel’s case, he was to anoint another King. What King is out there that you have neglected? What ministry is waiting for you to get out of yourself and do the work? I can promise you something from experience, when you get out of you, God will get into you. He alone will restore you once again.

 The third and final word we will look at is mission. A mission is a specific task with which a person or a group is charged. Again, you have been charged to carry and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. If your wondering what your purpose is on a broad level it is just that. Now on a personal level, God has assigned you to a specific task, or calling. That is something that God will reveal to you when you seek Him. Often times you need to look at your skills; gifts that come naturally to you; whatever your passion is; those are the little secrets of what God may use to bring forth your ministry. Another important thing to remember is that if you have been assigned to a ministry; you get under that covering and you stay there, and don’t move from there until God moves you. Furthermore, whatever mission or vision has been given to the shepherd of that house, you are tasked with the work that is to be done there first, before you try and venture out into what God has for you. You build God’s house first unselfishly, without complaining, bickering, back biting, or gossiping. You get behind the vision of the ministry and you ask God to use you in wherever he deems fit, and you do it graciously as if you are doing it unto the Lord himself. If you are asked to scrub bathrooms, you do it; if your asked to teach Sunday school to a room full of crying toddlers, you do it; if you are tasked with setup, or takedown, you do it. You can try and fake it but remember God looks at the heart of a man and he is able to discern your thoughts. God doesn’t operate in the world’s mentality of I’m just gonna do me! You can “do me!” as much as you want to, but as long as you are stuck in that mentality, you are a part of the Great Omission not commission. You just factored yourself out of the equation. The Body of Christ is called to function as just that “a Body”. We are to work together in unity, because unity commands the blessing.

 In closing, the bottom line is it’s time to work and make things happen. Give and it shall be given unto you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give unto your bosom, for the same measure that you mete withal it will be measure back to you, Luke 6:38.

Fertility Fortune Teller

Thank you Lord that your word is a double-edged sword. It shows us both sides of a situation. It shows us our side and God's side. What I mean by that is simple. I was in prayer today asking God to give me strength to love those in my life who have hurt and lied on me. And I asked Him, How am I Suppose to love this person for everything they have done to me. Their disobedience, hurtful words, nasty looks, betrayal...and the list goes on. Here is what God showed me. He showed me how many times I've hurt Him, denied Him and been disobedient to Him. At first, I was comparing God's relationship with Jesus and saying to him "You don't know what this is like, to have a child that hates you, that backtalks you... Jesus was obedient to you, he never sinned. So what could you possible know about what I am dealing with right now? Wow, he let me vent and get that out, and then he was saying "are you done yet??? I am your Father, and look at all the times you disobeyed me. Lied on me, took my name in vain, sold yourself our for a simple pleasure that would never last or buy you eternal peace. Yet, I love you, in fact I called and wanted you, I adopted you, knowing what you would do that would hurt me and be like a slap in the face to me. But I chose you anyway.

Be honest with yourself...If you knew ahead of time the torment your kids would have put you through, would you still have elected to have them? What if you were able to go to a fertility fortune teller before having your children and they said to you, " Well, your first child is going to push you to the limit, push every button, frustrate you beyond what you thought you could bare. You will have a radid growth of grey hairs, chest pain, bouts of depression, anxiety and crying; and days of just wanting it be over. But the good news is that your 2nd and 3rd children will be sweet and kind, compassionate and they will listen to you most of the time and it would pretty much be a joy and a pleasure to raise them. Do you still want them?

You see what we don't know and don't understand is that our Father in heaven gets this "snapshot" like a movie preview in heaven, before he births us in the earth. He knows every scene of our lives. He knows how we will react, the choices and mistakes we will make. He knows it all ahead of time, and he still chooses us. He chose us not because we are perfect and obedient and good children all the time, but because He is a good father all the time. A good father, loves their children inspite of the behavior. His love is never based on circumstance or behavior. He is just, fair, never changing and unyielding.

That is what God showed me today. If you could rewind the hands of time and go to a fertitlity fortune teller, would you?

Thank you Father for showing me my imperfections and allowing me to see you still love me, inspite of me. Your love is perfect at all times. Thank you for showing me how to love those who are imperfect, just like me. Give me more of you today. Thank you for giving me a glimpse of your heart today. Continue to lead me and guide me. Thank you for your rod and your staff for they comfort me. Thank you for your grace and mercy that are made new each day. I am a better mother today for having spent time with you and learning from you. You already watched the movie of my life and you wrote the ending. I trust you as the producer and director of my life, that my movie will end the way you intended it.

Kinsman Redeemer

Just the other day a heated argument errupted in the house that I should have never allowed myself to engage in. However, the damage was done, I said what I said. It is not what I said, but it was just the fact that I allowed myself to even become involved that was the problem. When fiery darts come at us from the enemies campfire, we have to learn to walk away. It is not profitable for us to turn around and  launch arrows back to the enemy. The bible reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Your family is not the enemy! When you allow yourself to engage in a heated discussion instead of walking away, you allow yourself to become entangled again with a yoke of bondage. When we learn to walk away, the fire can be put out much faster, and with less damage, because you are not there adding fuel to the fire by backlashing and trying to prove your point. Besides, we don't have to prove our point with man. As long as we are upright before God, than he alone will justify us.

As it turns out, at the end of this fiery discussion where my character came under attack by the enemy, I left the house, and it just so happened that a faithful leader of the church was out front speaking with my daughter. So as I approached her with smoke coming from ears, fuming red, about to explode, her wisdom brought me quickly back to reality and quenched the ungodly fire that was in me. She reminded me, of who I was in Christ, the power that was in me, and gifts that God had so freely given me. I quickly realized how right she was, and the frustration disipated almost immediately. I cannot stress to you the importance of having Godly people in your life. It can mean the difference of life and death. She was able to bring me quickly back to my "reality in Christ." She didn't feed off of my anger, and add fuel to the fire and encourage me to continue to sin. Psalm 4:4 says to "be angry, and sin not!" We are going to be angry at times, but the key is not to sin. You are NOT the "weakest link" if you walk away!! In fact you are the link with the most wisdom.

The title of this message is Kinsman Redeemer and you are probably wondering what this message has to do with that. You may remember in the book of Ruth, where Ruth and Naomi return to Naomi's homeland as widows. The way it was back then, when a woman became a widow, her husband's brother or closest male relative would have the opportunity to redeem the widow's husbands blood line. In this scenario the family member had declined to be the redeemer, and so Boaz who had fallen in love with Ruth became the Kinsman Redeemer for Naomi and Ruth. This is truly an amazing story of love and redemeption and a picture of Christ redeeming us, and reconciling our relationship with the father.

The way this story relates to mine is this: First of all, many of us, including myself have longed for acceptance from our families. Whether it's our father, mother, brother's or sisters. We all have a desire to be loved and to be unconditionally accepted. We want our achievements to be recognized by those we love, and we want our mistakes to be forgotten. The truth of the matter is, your justification will not come from these sources. As my character came under attack that day, I quickly forgot who I was in Christ. I didn't use the weapons I had been given to me, which are the words of God!! I became blindsided by my anger, and to be honest at the time, not one redeeming scripture came to mind. All I could think about, was proving my point with man (which is futile). So now, two days later, during worship, all I heard from God is that he is my Kinsman redeemer!!! When family and friends have left you dismayed and disappointed, God comes alongside you and tells you are anointed and appointed!!! Of course because I am under excellent leadership at Rehoboth, I have heard this before. Although I heard it, I didn't truly hear it. Sometimes God has to allow us to live thru something, in order to teach us something. I now know after multiple teachings on this topic, that Jesus is my Kinsman Redeemer. He is what defines me, he lives in me and thru me, and no matter what anyone else thinks or does to me, I am Redeemed by the blood of the lamb!!! He alone can Justify me, He alone has sanctified me, He alone died on the Cross for me!!! And I know, my Redeemer Lives, and I live in Him!!!

BE THANKFUL!!!

I was so profoundly touched today as I enjoyed worship with the Father. As I began to thank him for so many things that he has blessed me with, even the clothes I was folding. Sometimes when I fold clothes and then have to put them away, I get slightly irritated over such a trivial task. But then I thought to myself, I should change my perspective on how I look at this everyday chore. The reality is that we are a family of four, and as most of you know, four people can create quite a bit of laundry. What if  we didn't have those clothes to even wash, fold and put away? I thought of the countless humans around the world who wear the same clothes day in, and day out. If they do get to wash their clothes, it most likely is in a puddle of dirty water, that they may also use to drink from. We are so conditioned here in the States to having so many amenities at our fingertips. There is nothing wrong with that. God has blessed us to live here in comfort, but how many of us have said thank you for the privilege of living here in the US. Even if you have to go to Laundromat to do your laundry, you are still blessed!!! There are so many things we have to be thankful for in this life, lets start today by saying thank you to Jesus for making it all possible. He alone is worthy to be praised in the morning and at night and all through out the day!!! Shout unto the Lord with a joyful noise and BE THANKFUL!!!

REMAIN IN THE VINE

John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.

In the vineyard there are many rows of vine’s bearing grapes. Let’s say that each of those vines represents Christ. The branches of course will represent the believer. Not just any believer, but a believer who believes in and adheres to the Word of God. One who desires to produce fruit. When a farmer finds a vine that he thinks will create a healthy and successful vineyard he duplicates that vine, and plants that vine into the soil that he has prepared, cultivated and watered faithfully. That is what the father did with Christ. He took all the ingredients of himself, deposited them into his Son, prepared the earth to receive Him and then deposited him into the earth in Mary’s womb. She was the fertile soil(the vessel) that the Lord found favor in. Once Christ was placed in Mary’s womb he began to grow and grow until the time came where Mary would have to give birth to the vine that was deposited in her. As Christ came into this earth, so does the vine break forth out of the soil. Initially, a vine does not bear fruit, it takes years and years of faithful commitment, patience (through storms and seasons) and persistent work to bring it to the point of manifesting the fruit. Once the vine has been established and it’s roots are strong and it has it’s own foundation, it begins to give birth to the branches which are simply a continuation of itself. (I say this because, that even Christ did not produce fruit immediately, he had to wait until his early thirties to birth his ministry to the public.)The branches must grow strong and prepare to create it’s own fruit. In the right season of life the branch will produce the fruit it was created for.

There are many different types of wines; with different scents, colors, bodies, qualities and textures. The reason I say this is because there are many different types of believers and although we have come from the same vine, we will bear the fruit that has been intended for us. We are not to create the same sample of wine, that would defeat the purpose of being an original. The fruit we bear has been cultivated by faith, watered by grace, and grown with love. Our fruit was not made for us, but for those that were assigned to us that they may come to know the vine through the fruit (John 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples).

The farmer’s role is to oversee the production of the vine and the branches and to see to it that it bears much fruit. The farmer is the one who cultivates the soil, waters the grounds, and prunes back the branches and removes the branches that have not beared fruit. (²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.) Jesus makes a distinction here between two kinds of pruning: 1-separating and 2-cutting back branches. Essentially anything that hinders our growth and spoils the vine is not needed for our ministry like our attitudes, mindsets, emotions, and sins. These attributes will infect the rest of the branches and destroy the fruit that is good and so it is removed and thrown away. On the other hand when we are producing fruit, God will cut back or prune to help promote growth and build our character and faith.

Jesus tells us that we are to remain in Him. John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Remaining in the vine isn’t difficult to do when life is good, but do you remain in Him when circumstances present themselves and you find yourself on your knees, crying out to God and asking Him to remove the burden that has plummeted into your lap, or better yet, your heart. When your heart if filled with grief, and you feel as though you can’t breathe or you won’t make it, and you just want to give up, what is your recourse at that moment. I’ll tell you what it is. You stay on your knees, you continue to cry out to God, you glorify Him, you praise Him, you declare victory at the beginning of that situation, you declare that He is Jehovah Raffe “My God who heals!!”, my God who delivers!, you declare that he is Jehovah Mekeddeshem “My God who sanctifies (who separates me from the enemy), You declare that he is Jevohah Nissi “My banner, my protector, my strong tower”, You declare that he is the God who prepares a table before you in the midst of your enemies and then at the end of your cry after you have done all you can, you STAND and you watch the Lord see you through. Remain in Him, Stand in Him, Praise Him, Glorify Him, Rejoice in Him, Bless His Holy Name, for He is the Lord your God who will fight for you, who says there is not a fight that he doesn’t like to get into, who says the battle is His, Vengeance is His, Leave it in the hands of the Lord and watch Him work all things together for your good. Why do u have to remain in Him???? Because he is Risen, He is seated at the right Hand of the father, and everything that is under His feet is now under your feet, because you have victory in Christ Jesus, The name alone will set you free, and because the father desires to give His children good gifts.

~~~~Evangelist Nadia Marinaccio~~~~~

REMAIN IN THE VINE

STRESS

As I prepared what I would talk about this month in regards to health. The topic of STRESS was beating down the door to my brain. As a senior in nursing school with only 9 days left, and 2 tests including a final. I became overwhelmed. And of course with anxiety comes the inability to process thoughts and decipher my priorities. It is so easy when life throws many darts at us to be able to run and hide and shut down from the problems. Of course nothing is accomplished with this cowardly retreat. I found myself in a vicious cycle over the past few weeks, of studying, taking care of the kids, bringing the baby to the doctor 3x in 1 week and 1 trip to the ER. All of this running around produces anxiety and stress. As I went to bed late and got up late because I was too tired to get up early like I knew I should, I cut out the most significant part of my day. “Time with the Father.” Why do we do this to ourselves? We know we can’t function without him. He says in John 15:5, that He is the vine and we are the branches and without Him we can do NOTHING!!! Yep, that pretty much sums it up. NOTHING!!! I can’t study, take care of the kids, organize my day, go to work, or help anyone else because I have not stayed in the vine. That time spent with the Lord everyday is essential to our health. When I don’t set the time to be with the Lord I find that I am anxious, overwhelmed, and I feel like everything is happening so fast around me, but I am moving slow as a turtle.

There are many therapeutic remedies to help us relieve stress. We can exercise, meditate, do yoga, deep breathing exercises, talk to a friend, scream in a pillow, hit a pillow (or shoot a pillow if you’re Robert DeNiro). Whatever your coping mechanism, nothing can be more satisfying than time with the one who created you. Who knows your limitations and abilities, and what your threshold for stress is. Have you ever been through a trial where in the middle of it, you didn’t think you would make it out alive, but then somehow, a few weeks later you are looking back and realizing that you did get out? I think if we can focus on God in the midst of everything and not the problem, we will find that before you know it, you are looking back at a problem solved. The irony is the problem was solved even before you knew it was there. The provision was made, and the solution was manifest. We just needed to trust God that he would do it.

Power Scriptures to help you overcome Stress

Philippians 4:6 says ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

2 Timothy 1:7 say that God did not give you a spirit of fear; but of power, love and a sound mind.

1 John 4:4 says You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

1 Peter 5:7 says we are to cast all of our cares (anxiety) onto him who cares for you.

Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 26:8 I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.

Isaiah 49:16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

From the Mayo Clinic…A high level of stress puts you at increased risk of serious health consequences, including obesity, heart disease and depression. Take steps to lower your level now. Stress is what you experience when the level of your stressors exceeds your ability to cope. To lower your stress level, you have two options. You can start by identifying sources of stress that you can eliminate. Consider internal stressors, such as fears or unrealistic expectations, as well as external stressors, such as family or work demands. Next, seek out effective strategies for coping with stress, including exercise, painting, humor or simply saying no. If you need help identifying stress management strategies, talk to your health care provider. (Please see chart below for more info)

Mayo Clinic                           Effects of stress ...
... On your body	... On your thoughts and feelings	... On your behavior
§  Headache §  Back pain §  Chest pain §  Heart disease §  Heart palpitations §  High blood pressure §  Decreased immunity §  Stomach upset §  Sleep problems	§  Anxiety §  Restlessness §  Worrying §  Irritability §  Depression §  Sadness §  Anger §  Feeling insecure §  Lack of focus §  Burnout §  Forgetfulness	§  Overeating §  Undereating §  Angry outbursts §  Drug or alcohol abuse §  Increased smoking §  Social withdrawal §  Crying spells §  Relationship conflicts

If you find that any of the above symptoms describes you, take the time to contact the one who created you, who has given you a hope and a future and an expected end. He is able to make all grace abound towards you. He will be your strength, your comforter, your guide and teacher, and most importantly your healer. In addition to Jehovah Raffe, you may need to seek professional help from a physician or counselor. Do not be ashamed if this is the case, after all, the Lord put these professionals in the earth to help you.

Evangelist Nadia Marinaccio

The Truth will MAKE you FREE!!

John 8:32- And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall Make you free.

We have all heard this scripture before, but to what truth is it referring to? The entire bible itself is truth and is the infalliable Word of God. I want to look at another truth in the Word of God. It is Mark 12:30-“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength.” I think many times in the body of Christ we often overlook this powerful life changing scripture. We tell ourselves that we love God but do we really love Him the way this scripture suggests. If we are distracted by loved ones, finances, circumstances, and just life in general than chances are you are not living out this scripture to its fullest potential. It’s not a rebuke, just a gentle correction so that you can begin to live the life Christ intended for you. When you live for Christ with all of who you are, you are not only telling Him that you value Him, but you are now inviting “the rest” of Him to dwell with you.

Let me show you what I mean. In the book of Acts, Paul and Silas were thrown in jail, beaten, and chained in the inner part of the prison. This did not stop their praise.

Acts 16:22-28

 ²²The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. ²³After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

 ²⁵About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. ²⁷The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"

Notice it says, “About midnight”. This was on the same day they were beaten and severely flogged and that did not stop their praise. We have to learn from Paul and Silas here. They did not wait for their wounds to heal, for the situation to look better or to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Instead, at midnight (when grace and mercies are made new) they began to lift up the name of the Lord and Praise Him. Their faithfulness to the father didn’t cease because their situation had gotten worse. They still continued to do the very thing that gotten them thrown into the prison.

Now the jailer woke up and saw the doors open, he drew his sword to kill himself because he thought the prisoners escaped. But Paul shouts to him and says, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” This is where it gets good. Not only were the men in the prison all there, but the bible says in Psalms 22:3  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. If God inhabits our praises than the trinity is present. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When you are fully devoted to God in loving Him with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength, then “We are all here!” is truth. This means that as you love Christ with All of who you are, then Christ can now fill you with All of who he is.

The true blessing comes in what I will share with you next. Continue with me as we read about Acts 16:29-34.

²⁹The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

 ³¹They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." ³²Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

When you come together(within yourself)  in loving God as the First Commandment requires, you and your household will be saved. This love that God shares with us and makes available to us, is not a selfish love. It is a love that gets returned to you with interest. The jailer not only believed in the Lord so that he and his household were saved, but then he turns around and blesses Paul and Silas by cleaning their wounds and preparing a meal for them.  This is a picture of what the Lord does for us. He heals us of all of our hurts, and he delivers us to a place of peace. The Lord has also prepared a table for us in heaven, where someday we will dine with Jesus. Mark 14:25 “²⁵"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."

 A similar account is recorded in Acts 2:1.

¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.  ⁵Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

The disciples were all together in the house (in one accord. One mind, one body, one soul and one strength). When the Holy Spirit’s fire comes upon you it will cause the nations under heaven to wonder what in the world is going on. After these things Peter goes out and addresses the crowd and reminds them of the words spoken of the Prophet Joel. (Joel 2:28-32)

The Day of the LORD

 ²⁸ "And afterward,
       I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
       Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
       your old men will dream dreams,
       your young men will see visions.

 ²⁹ Even on my servants, both men and women,
       I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

 ³⁰ I will show wonders in the heavens
       and on the earth,
       blood and fire and billows of smoke.

 ³¹ The sun will be turned to darkness
       and the moon to blood
       before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

 ³² And everyone who calls
       on the name of the LORD will be saved;
       for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
       there will be deliverance,
       as the LORD has said,
       among the survivors
       whom the LORD calls.

Peter ends his warning to the crowds and pleaded with them in Acts 2:40-41 saying “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Glory to God, what an awesome testimony to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You see, because they were all on one accord with eachother, and within themselves and there was no division among them, 3,000 were added to the church that day. What if we stopped playing God? What if we really loved Him the way we ought to? How many lives could be saved? What power would we see in our own lives, and the lives of those around us? What if the truth will make you free?

 Evangelist Nadia RN