Category: Uncategorized

We are to Complete what Jesus Started

If we were to try to explain all Jesus did while on the earth it would take more than all the books available (John 21:25).  However, let us look at a sampling.

We see Jesus performed seventeen healings of individuals (fever, leprosy, paralysis, withered hand, blindness, deafness, internal bleeding, dropsy, and severed ear.) He still heals today.

He supplied needs by feeding the hungry on five different occasions; financial need of tax money; stood in the boat and calmed the storm (protection); and walked on water.  He said, “Greater works than these shall he do” (John 14:12).

He did His miracles anywhere and everywhere; weddings, funerals, graveyards, synagogues, houses, mountains, pools, and boats.  Is there anywhere we can allow Him to use us?

How He performed His miracles:  He touched, was touched, spat; wept; groaned; and was moved with compassion.  Couldn’t we touch, weep, groan or be moved with compassion over the needs in this world? We are to complete what He started.

medium_3707503212

Jesus stated what He was beginning to do in Luke 4:18-19 when He said the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him and He was anointed to….

  1. preach the gospel to the poor
  2. sent me to heal the brokenhearted
  3. to preach deliverance to the captives
  4. recovering of sight to the blind
  5. to set at liberty them that are bruised
  6. preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

When He had finished stating what He was going to do He “closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister” (Luke 4:20). This is symbolic of the completion of His earthly ministry and giving us the responsibility to carry on what He began.

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions” (Luke 10:19-20).

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing; it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17-18).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father….I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you” (John 14:12, 18).

We are to complete what Jesus started!

Enhanced by Zemanta

photo credit: I like via photopin cc

by Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

2013: The Year of Increase

I never imagined the airport hall was so long. She purposely walked toward the security check; never looking back. When I yelled out, “I love you MORE” she threw her hand behind her head in acknowledgement but kept moving. My heart leap-frogged into my throat and I lightly pounded my chest a couple of times to hopefully knock things back in place. So, this is how parents and loved ones feel when letting go of their precious AIMers as they leave for the field! Thirty-years ago my own wife made such a journey. A trip of three or four months turned in to a lifetime of mission’s service. Things have come full circle. What will happen to our fledging AIMer? Time and God will tell!

photo

As our own missionary prepared, packed, repacked, and repacked I pondered what the next five or six months on the field would bring. She had purchased white mugs from the Dollar Tree (expensive shopper!). Special friends and family took colorful Sharpie markers and designed a special keepsake for her. (I’m not sure what she is going to do with eight coffee mugs in one hundred plus weather. She doesn’t even drink coffee!) To solidify the ink and art I guess you put the mugs in the oven, bake them, and the ink doesn’t come off. I thought of her time overseas as an opportunity for increase. I designed her mug with life’s purpose in mind and depicted her AIM tour as 2013, the year of increase. Increase of what, you might ask? Well, I will tell you since I think it also applies to you—whoever you are; wherever you are.

I pray that 2013 will be a year of increase for you. I’m sure this involves many things but here are a few I sketched on the mug:

Increased…

  • Vision
  • Purpose
  • Passion
  • Burden
  • Word-view
  • Worldview
  • Friendships
  • Cross-cultural Experience
  • Faith
  • …and last—but not least—souls!

Her time in all of these will increase. Like John the Baptist reminds me, her time with me will decrease. I’m a little bitter about that. Why must I increase? But, she will be a better person because of AIM and I’ll be a better father and leader in the process. So, I leave her and each of you to a time of increase.

I love the picture of her and one of her friends as she was about to step out and walk that long road to the security checkpoint. Her mother and I are in the background, tears in our eyes, smiles swelling in our hearts, backing her up, and cheering her on. So, the Poitras household is quieter this evening, lonelier tonight, but the mission team in Ghana is on the increase.

So, dear AIMer and friend, we back you up, and cheer you on, as you proceed down the path of increase in 2013.

by Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

When Can We Use the Name of Jesus?

6770

In Prayer…

“Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:12-14).

In Preaching…

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47).

When in Need…

“That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16).

To Receive Eternal Life…

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31).

When Healing Is Needed…

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk.

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong whom ye see and know” (Acts 3:6, 16).

“By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?…Be it known unto you all… that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole…But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:7,10, 17-18).

In Salvation…

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

In Deliverance from Demons…

“And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour” (Acts 16:18).

In Water Baptism…

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

“For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 8:16).

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5).

In Everything…

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).

David Livingstone, the great pioneer missionary to Africa, declared concerning the name of Jesus: “It is the word of a Gentleman of the most strict and sacred honour.”

He came as the Word (John 1:1, 14)
and left the Word.
He came with a name and left His name.
Who shall proclaim His name if the
church fails to do it.

by Tags: , , , , 3 Comments

Wanted: Healer of the Hurt of the Human Soul

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

10445_11794_5

Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible gave an interesting illustration concerning Jesus Christ (Page 187). “From the very dawn of history this wicked world has desperately sought to employ the services of someone (or something) who could heal the hurt of the human soul and usher in the long stream of universal righteousness. Many persons have applied for this position, and numerous methods have been employed, but all have led to bitter disappointment and despair. But here the prophet Isaiah introduces a special candidate. What are his qualifications? Can he satisfy the five key positions?

A. What about his personality and character? It is wonderful.

B. What about his education? He knows all things and is therefore the supreme Counselor.

C. What about his nationality? He is the Mighty God.

D. What about his previous work experience? He both planned for and carried out the creation of this universe and is therefore called the Father of Eternity.

E. What is his special talent? As the God-man, he is able to reconcile man with God, and is therefore the Prince of Peace.

In view of all this, Isaiah (along with Peter, Paul, John, and a host of others) earnestly exhorts all sinners to hire this heavenly Candidate immediately” (See Isaiah 1:18).

Enhanced by Zemanta
by Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment