Pastor Tim led us in Welcoming Holy Spirit
Pastor Ray…
Napoleon studied history a lot and he said that Jesus brought the most influence to the earth than any man ever. So, I found some things about Jesus from this little book.
The following excerpt is taken from The Greatest Words Ever Spoken by Steven K. Scott:
No theologian or historian would dispute the fact that Jesus was the single most influential figure ever to walk the earth. His actions, His words, miracles, changed the course of history. And that’s true. He inspired entire societies to incorporate compassion, mercy, into their cultures. He redefined the standards of humanity. He not only changed the course of nations, He brought an unexplainable measure of purpose, peace, and joy into the lives of hundreds of millions of individuals.
In His brief life, Jesus fulfilled hundreds of Old Testament prophesies, describing the birth, the life, and the death of the Jewish Messiah.
Peter Stoner and Dr. Robert Neuman (two mathematicians) calculated the statistical probability of one person fulfilling even just forty-eight of these detailed prophesies. The odds turned out to be one in ten times a hundred and fifty-seven.
That’s one in ten and then four lines of zeros. Okay!
To put it in perspective. Let’s say you built a wooden box so big that the solar system would fit inside it. Then you fill that box with silver BB’s and place just one copper BB in the box. The chances of anyone reaching into the box and picking out the copper BB on the first try would be trillions of times more likely than the odds of one person fulfilling all the prophesies that Jesus fulfilled.
No occurrence in history or physical science has been verified with a higher degree of statistical certainty than the fact that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be, the Messiah and the Son of the Living God.
Scripture focus…
(28) Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
(25) Jesus said to her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; (26) and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? John 11:25-26 (NIV)
(12) Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (13) And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:12-14 (NIV) Hallelujah!
Just in case we forgot about that, “He’ll do it!” He said he would. If there is a problem, it’s because we don’t believe him. It’s Jesus speaking these things in the Word.
(23) Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. (24) Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching. And the teaching which you hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me.
(26) But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:23-24, 26 (AMPC)
That’s a big one to me. He said He would do that.
He said, He sent the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, and we’re to be living in an overflow of that precious Holy Spirit, always stirred up, always full of joy and expectation! That’s how He’s created us to be. I love it that! He said He would send the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit will teach us all things! But He’ll continually remind us of everything that He said to us at the right time; at the appropriate place He’ll bring His Word to us. Thank you, Lord!
You do know there’s more to that? He’ll bring to us maybe words that we read in the Word and they’re deep in our hearts. Maybe we hadn’t thought about them for a while but when the time comes and it’s the right time, those words will come back up and out of our hearts, we’ll speak.
To me, that is one of the highest forms of worship. But it’s also the anointing because it’s been stored up, it’s in our heart of hearts, and it’ll come out and we’ll speak things that we didn’t even know we knew. He’ll remind us and remind us and remind us. He said it first. Hallelujah! That’s how I look at that.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 (NKJV)
I don’t know how many times we go over that. No fear! Why should we fear? When we have His Word alive and we have the power of the Holy Spirit. We have that in us. Hallelujah!
(9) As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. (10) If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. (11) I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:9-11 (NIV)
I wish we had His words recorded live so we could just play them back. But we have His Word.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16 (NIV)
Just think about that. If we just know that He chose us personally. He put a plan in us. He’s faithful to us. His Words are sweeter than any words. They bring peace. They bring absolute comfort no matter what storms or whatever is happening in the natural. He is so good to us.
I love it that if we just choose to do what He’s told us to do, stand on His Words, speak it forth, pray, live according to His Word, we’ll bear some fruit that will last—everlasting fruit! And then the Father will just give us whatever we ask for, in His name. Hallelujah!
I know we all know this, but I just thought we’d go over it again. He said it. Basically, He’s talking about Himself.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NKJV)
You know, He keeps talking about Who He is. But He also talks about Who He is in the Father. The Holy Spirit, He does the same. He reminds us. He brings us to Jesus. Hallelujah.
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. John 15:26 (NIV)
Let’s just for a minute, close our eyes and think on how good He is and has been to each one of us. And when we say, that bloodline is behind us and the past is over, we can think on it and know that He did that for us. He took care of our past lives. In a way, they’ve been removed and we’re moving every day into new days. Different ways. New revelations. Greater adoration for Who He is and what He’s done. Greater thanksgiving. Thank you, Father!
This morning we turn over our hearts to You completely. We give You all of the glory and all of the honor. Hallelujah! You said You have laid out a table for us. So, we know that on that table is victory! Victory because of your Words and victory because of what You already did on the cross.
Lord, we cannot, we will not get away from the cross. We’ll not get away from the blood that was shed there for each one of us. Today, we come humbly, covered in the blood. We come righteous because of what the blood has done and will continually do.
Thank you. I can see us right now. We’re moving forward. We talked about it yesterday. We’re continually moving ahead. I can’t even turn around. I don’t want to turn around. The only way we go back, is just to bring to remembrance about how good You are and about what You’ve already done for us to get us here in 2020.
Seems like things are speeding up. Time is moving more quickly, seemingly more than ever before. Months, they just seem like a couple weeks and a week seems like a couple days.
But we have no fear because we know we’re on the road. We’ve been made righteous by the blood. We have a plan and it’s inside of us. You put it there before we were born. We have a destiny. We’ve not yet arrived, but we’re on the way. We’re always on the way. We’re moving up, moving out, and we’re moving through.
No weapon formed against any one of us can prosper. We prosper in the things that we put our hands onto. You made us to be this way. By faith today, we take our place, just humbling ourselves, that You actually first called us. Oh, Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Father.
Pastor Tim…
Father, we look to you this morning because you are where our help comes from. There are so many voices that are clamoring for our attention, so much information, so much stimulus, so much noise. I just sense that the Holy Spirit is drawing us to Him this morning, saying to us, be still and know that I am God.
He is our source. He is our help. He is the one that we are to look to, to put our hope and our trust in. He is our helper. Our comforter, our strength, our shield. He is our hope. He’s our rock, our refuge, our fortress, our God. He said, trust in Me, lean not to your own understanding but in all of your ways acknowledge Me and I will direct your steps.
Father, I thank You that when we call on You, You hear us. Thank You that we have eyes to see and ears to hear, that we hear Your voice out of all the voices around us and we follow after You. Thank you, Lord.
He rules and He reigns over every circumstance. He is firmly and completely in control. He rules over every situation that you’re going through. He reigns. Thank you, Lord, that we can put our hope and our trust in You this morning. You’re a faithful God. You never change. You’re the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Thank You that Your Word is true for each and every one of us. We can stand firmly on Your Word this morning. Even when everything seems to be shaking around us, we will not be shaken. We will not be moved because You are our rock, our fortress, our God and it’s in You that we lean, we rely on, and trust in You, Lord. (tongues)
Pastor Ray…
The Isuzu Street Revival keeps coming up in my heart. And I am reminded of how Sister Billye prophesied a few years ago, “There’s only one thing that will change America, an awakening.”
The president alone can’t do it. Man can’t really do it. They can do some good things and we believe our president is, but an awakening… If you look back, you can always trace it back to a day.
Why can’t this be the day? What about today? How about an awakening right now? They were worshiping the Lord, singing in other tongues in the chapel and something happened!
I know you’ve read about the Isuzu Street Revival. It started in Los Angeles and it was led by William J. Seymour, an African American preacher. The start of this revival began on April 9, 1906. It started on a certain date and it continued until roughly 1915.
On the night of April 9, 1906, Seymour and seven men were waiting on God on Bonnie Bray Street when suddenly, as though hit by a bolt of lightning they were knocked from their chairs to the floor. Okay, that would get your attention! And Mr. Seymour and the other seven men had not been baptized in the Holy Ghost. He wanted to be, but he hadn’t been. But suddenly, all seven men began to speak in tongues and shout out loud praises to God!
The news quickly spread, and the city was stirred, and crowds began to gather! A few days later, Seymour himself received the Holy Spirit. The services were moved outside to accommodate the crowds who came from all around and the people were falling down under the power of God as they approached.
Just think, we’re getting closer to the place. People were baptized in the Holy Spirit, the sick were healed, sinners received salvation.
To further accommodate the crowds, an old dilapidated two-story framed building at 312 Isuzu Street, in the industrial section of the city was secured. This building was originally built as a church but then more recently had been used as a livery stable, storage building, and tenement house. In this humble Isuzu Street mission, a continuous three-year revival occurred and became known around the world. Stanley H. Frodsham in his book, With Signs Following, he quotes an eye-witness description of the scene.
The revival was characterized by spiritual experiences accompanied with testimonies of physical healings, miracles, worship services, speaking in other tongues. The participants were criticized by some secular media and Christian theologians for behaviors considered to be outrageous and unorthodox, especially at that time.
Today the revival is considered by historians to be the primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century.
Because eight men got together, they were sitting on chairs. We’re sitting on pews. Maybe you’re sitting on your bed. You’re sitting in your living room. Wherever you are, let’s begin to turn up our expectation that this could be the day.
It just gets me, Lord. You know what we need. You know everything we need. We don’t have to be knocked off our chairs or pews or whatever. We don’t even know. We just know You promised us in Your Word there’d be the former rain, a latter rain together and the young women, young men will begin to prophesy, and older men would begin to dream dreams, Spirit-given dreams. Things would change.
Today, Lord. Let’s just talk to Him. You said it in Your Word, through the voice of Jesus, Your Word. We would do the works that You did. We’d do even greater works! These are things that are beyond our imagination. We can imagine some things and we have seen some things but there’s more, there’s greater!
So, Lord, I don’t have words to even… We need it. We, we need it. The Church needs it. The earth needs it. We know it. We believe, Lord.
It’s time for the signs to increase, for the miracles, for the changes that need to come. Political changes, nations changing—we believe it’s time, Lord. (tongues)
Revive us. Revive me! Revive, revive us individually. Revive us, Lord, wherever we’ve dropped back on some things and maybe hadn’t been so expectant.
And we, we purpose and desire in our hearts to expect the revival that You promised us, Lord! You said we’d have it. You said so many things and just like Jesus fulfilled the Words of the prophets that were spoken in the Old Testament, hundreds and hundreds of them, He fulfilled. We get out we’re in and we put ourselves in agreement this day. We set ourselves in perfect harmony in agreement. We lift up our flags of expectation! Flags of restoration! Flags of help from Heaven! We know we can’t muster it up. We can’t make it up. We can’t, but we can expect! We can call! We can require it as an absolute necessity! Thank you, Lord. (tongues)
We call on you. You said to ask and we’re asking you this morning. For a new beginning. For a new turn. For a new change in greater expectation. That we might just continually ask extravagantly. And believe that what you said would happen, will happen now. Right now, Lord. If we’re not, (tongues…)
I know You. You do show us areas and places and things that are happening. Where we know there needs to be a great awakening. There’s nothing that man can really do except that man can pray. Man can expect. Man can say and believe and receive. We turn our eyes, our hearts, Lord, up! Can you sing that, Pastor Tim?
Pastor Tim Led us singing Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Pastor Ray…
Like it says in the Old Testament, “Lord, if Your presence doesn’t go with me, carry me not up from here.” I know You’re in us but Your manifested presence in our lives that permeates us and fills us to overflowing, where we make decisions that are directed completely and totally by You. Heaven’s ways right now in these days!
We pray over our eyes to see the way You see. You said You would show us, reveal to us the things that are to come. We can’t get our eyes off You because that’s where all of our help comes from.
We can resist the temptation to not call, not require a greater degree of Your presence. That the importance of it would be so great in us that our innermost being would continue to cry out for revival.
We need revival, Lord. We need an awakening! We have to have the Church lifted up and absolutely set on fire, in one accord, speaking what You spoke, believing what You said, calling on the things that are not as though they were! And in great expectation believing and believing and believing and believing!
Lord, we take comfort in knowing that You are so good to us. Your grace is so great. We don’t deserve it. We don’t deserve anything but You’ve made us to be righteous. You’ve given us that precious blood and You’ve given us Words spoken by and through Your Spirit to call out over the earth and believe for Your glory to move out and move across the whole face of the earth.
Let’s just lift Him up a little bit. It’s Your glory. It is. It’s all in Your glory, Lord. It’s what our hearts long for.
Lord, let it be that way today. Our hearts continually longing, desiring for Your precious, precious glory, that mist of Your Spirit just filling the air. Your glorious presence. (weeping) Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
We’re being saturated. We’re being filled. I’m not depressed. I’m not down. I’m not sad. We’re not sad. We’re happy. We’re joyful. We’re in expectation. But sometimes, Lord, You come in such a way, all we can do is just weep. I know that’s part of crying out for more of You in expectation.
Maybe you would say, “well, I’ve done that before.” Well, keep on doing it!
We will keep in expectation for what the Word says will come to pass! Amen. Hallelujah!
Thank you for coming and joining in. I believe the presence of God came to wherever you are; there was a greater manifestation this morning. And you know what happens when that happens? Change—internal change in Jesus’ name. Amen! Hallelujah.
